Sitting silently in the confined darkness of the prison cell, Feng Qi's vision was shrouded by the surrounding shadows.
Tomorrow, he would walk to the execution ground.
His heart was unusually calm, free of joy or sorrow.
The tension that had been coiled in his mind for so long finally loosened and relaxed in this moment of respite.
Suddenly, the dim cell lit up.
The prison warden, accompanied by a graceful silhouette, approached the specially designed glass window of the cell.
"This is Feng Qi," the warden introduced respectfully, addressing Wei Wei.
"None of the interrogation methods worked on him?" Wei Wei asked.
"We've tried everything. His life force is nearly exhausted; he can't endure much more. The higher-ups have already abandoned the interrogation. Tomorrow, they plan to execute him publicly, live-streaming the event to provide the public with closure."
"We've already reserved his body for the Crimson Research Institute. Perhaps we can uncover some secrets from him."
"We've submitted your request to the authorities. The approval should come through shortly," the warden replied promptly.
"Can I go in and examine the scars on his body? They appear to be from biochemical modifications. Maybe I can find a way to make him talk," Wei Wei suggested.
The warden hesitated. "I can only give you thirty minutes. He's too important. He can't be allowed to die."
"Thirty minutes, then. If he dies, I'll take full responsibility. Open the door," Wei Wei instructed decisively.
With a nod, the warden pressed the device in his hand, and the metal door slowly slid open.
"Director Wei, please conduct your research carefully. As long as he doesn't die, you can do whatever is necessary. Let me know if you need anything else."
Wei Wei acknowledged the warden's words with a nod and stepped into the cell.
The iron door closed behind her.
The warden moved to a bench in the distance, watching through the glass but giving Wei Wei the privacy she needed.
Approaching Feng Qi, Wei Wei first pulled a small detection device from her pocket, scanning the surroundings to confirm there were no recording devices present.
She then studied him carefully.
"Do you regret it?" she asked softly.
Hearing her voice, Feng Qi slowly lifted his head to look at her, a faint smile on his lips.
"History will condemn you. You'll carry the title of 'human traitor' until the very end of human civilization. Do you regret it?" Wei Wei's tone was steady but probing.
"I only regret not being able to go further," Feng Qi replied without hesitation.
Wei Wei's eyes flickered with emotion as she crouched down and gently touched the scabbed wounds on his body.
"You look terrible," she said, her voice tinged with both mockery and pity.
"I'm not trying to impress anyone. What does it matter how I look?" Feng Qi retorted with a wry smile.
"It's a pity you'll die tomorrow. Otherwise, maybe we could have made something work. I don't mind how ugly you are—I've never been in a relationship, anyway."
Feng Qi froze for a moment at her words, then shook his head.
"Forget it. You're too old for me. An old cow eating tender grass—that's a no-go."
Wei Wei's hand pressed harder against one of his wounds, causing Feng Qi to grimace in pain.
"Ah, pain!" Feng Qi exclaimed.
Through the glass, the warden couldn't hear their conversation but noticed Feng Qi's contorted expression.
For a moment, he was worried Wei Wei's research might actually kill the critically injured Feng Qi.
"Any last words?" Wei Wei asked after a pause.
"I've accompanied you all this way, but I can't go any further. The rest of the road, you'll have to walk without me. Good luck."
Wei Wei took a deep breath as she looked at the faint smile on Feng Qi's face.
"That's it?" she asked.
"Well… maybe burn a blow-up doll for me after I'm gone. I'm worried I'll be too ugly to find a partner in the afterlife," Feng Qi joked.
Wei Wei's heart skipped a beat, but she laughed in response.
"I'll burn two for you—give you a taste of a threesome," she teased.
Their laughter echoed in the small, confined space.
Despite her outward composure, Feng Qi noticed Wei Wei's body trembling slightly.
"All right, you should go. Let me get some rest before tomorrow. I don't want to look too tired in front of the billions watching my live-streamed execution."
"Rest well. I won't disturb you anymore," Wei Wei replied.
"Don't watch the stream tomorrow. It'll be too ugly. If you can, try to block the video entirely. I don't want the future me to see it."
"Tonight, I'll stay up working on research and sleep through the morning. I won't have time to watch. As for blocking the video… are you worried about hurting your other self?"
"He's just a 17-year-old kid. He can't handle too much. It might even make him cry. Let him hold on to a little hope."
"I'll do my best," Wei Wei promised.
"Then… goodbye."
"Goodnight."
After taking one last look at Feng Qi, Wei Wei turned and walked to the iron door.
As the door opened and closed behind her, she didn't look back.
Once outside the United Military Department base, Wei Wei drove along a mountain road.
Her emotions, suppressed until now, finally overwhelmed her.
She stopped the car and gazed up at the bright moon hanging high in the sky. Tears welled in her eyes, glistening like the stars above.
Looking at Feng Qi's scarred body earlier, she hadn't seen ugliness.
What she saw was a radiant sun.
"This timeline, you lived for the rise of humanity. From now on, the Crimson Research Institute will live for you."
At noon the next day, Feng Qi was led to the execution ground of the United Military Department.
Hundreds of cameras were pointed at him, and the live broadcast room quickly filled with viewers. The barrage of comments was nothing but curses and condemnation.
Dragging heavy chains, Feng Qi was brought to the center of the execution ground and forced to kneel.
The execution did not commence immediately. The United Military Department clearly intended to let the audience vent their anger for a while, allowing the number of viewers to climb even higher before proceeding with the execution.
For now, Feng Qi was a vessel for the collective rage of humanity.
Kneeling on the scorching ground, Feng Qi tilted his head back to gaze at the sky. The sun's intense rays heated his wounds, making them burn.
At that moment, the gate of the execution ground swung open. Mu Qing, clad in the uniform of the Dawn Combat Squad, strode in.
The personnel of the United Military Department immediately moved to intercept her but stopped upon seeing the emblem on her uniform.
"Captain Mu Qing, the execution is about to begin. It's not convenient for you to be here," one of them said.
Mu Qing ignored their objections and walked directly onto the execution ground. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Feng Qi, his body covered in scars.
"There must be a reason for this, right?"
Facing her question, Feng Qi nodded silently. He didn't want to extinguish the hope in Mu Qing's heart.
"Come with me. I'll figure out a way to explain everything," Mu Qing said firmly.
"There's no need," Feng Qi replied. "I won't live much longer anyway. Even if you save me, I only have a few days left."
"It's different. If you die here, you'll carry the label of treachery forever."
"Does it matter when I'm already dead?"
Looking at Mu Qing's tightly pursed lips, Feng Qi smiled faintly.
"Senior, I haven't broken our promise. I hope you can carry my dream forward. Don't make a mistake here."
Mu Qing's stubborn gaze bore into him, but she didn't reply.
Feng Qi sighed internally, continuing to persuade her.
He could have told Mu Qing to contact the Crimson Research Institute and that his other self in the future would be able to find Mu Yan's contact information.
But the risk was too great.
He still didn't know who the wolf-like figure shadowing Mu Qing was. If the connection between him and the Crimson Research Institute were exposed, history could be altered.
The Crimson Research Institute might not have time to retreat to their secret base before being annihilated by Mu Qing's mysterious companion.
To ensure everything stayed on course, he chose to remain silent.
Their conversation continued as Feng Qi persistently tried to reason with Mu Qing.
Her resolve was strong, and she wasn't easily swayed.
Time passed quickly, and the moment for the execution drew near. However, Mu Qing's presence made it impossible for the executioners to proceed.
Recognizing that Mu Qing might attempt to disrupt the execution, even the upper echelons of the United Military Department were alarmed and hurried to the scene.
Yet, without a clear sign that Mu Qing intended to interfere, they refrained from acting.
Taking any action now would push her to the opposite side, and for now, they wanted to preserve some semblance of diplomacy.
The situation fell into a stalemate.
Mu Qing's status as the captain of the Dawn Combat Squad, one of the ten most elite domain squads, was undeniable. Her illustrious record in battle made her untouchable.
Feng Qi continued to speak with her as time ticked by.
Gradually, her determination began to waver under his relentless persuasion.
When their conversation turned to memories of their carefree days at Star City Academy as part of the "Meal Trio," Mu Qing finally shed tears.
"Does it have to end this way?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I don't have much time left, no matter what. My path has reached its end, but you still have a long way to go. Someone has to carry on my dream, or I'll die with regrets," Feng Qi said with a gentle smile.
Mu Qing's shoulders shook as tears streamed down her face.
Without looking back, she turned and walked toward the gate of the execution ground.
Fearing she might change her mind, the executioners quickly stepped forward and raised a cold, sharp blade to Feng Qi's neck.
As he prepared to leave this world, Feng Qi's face remained calm, his lips curved in a faint smile.
This life was filled with regrets, yet it had been worth it.
The end was also a new beginning.
This chapter of his journey had reached its conclusion, but it also marked the dawn of another.
As the blade descended, Feng Qi's mind flooded with images of his past.
It was as if he were walking backward through the river of time, revisiting every step of his life.
Countless faces appeared along the way.
He remembered standing with Mu Qing by the shores of Lake Nightfall, making their solemn promise.
He recalled the impassioned lectures of Old Wang, recounting the great achievements of historical heroes.
He saw Wei Wei tirelessly working in her laboratory, her determination unwavering.
He envisioned Mu Yan standing tall with his spear, steadfastly guarding humanity's final glimmer of hope against the tide of monsters.
And lastly, he saw the moment before graduation when he and his classmates made their vows under the starry sky: to strive for the rise of humanity.
A flood of memories surged through him, each a chapter of humanity's indomitable spirit.
As he turned to face the fog-shrouded road ahead, he thought he glimpsed a radiant future filled with the brilliance of his dreams—a world of endless beauty, untainted by despair.
But this timeline was no longer his to follow.
The beautiful future he dreamed of was now beyond his reach.
As darkness engulfed his vision, he heard the soft, lingering sound of a harmonica.
It felt as though Mu Qing was sighing gently beside him.
A song for the departed, without asking who remains when it ends.
The last of his sight faded into blackness, and everything dissolved into silence.
Yet the fire of his belief burned on, spanning the river of time to ignite hope in another version of himself.
The stars wheeled overhead; the curtains drew closed.
This life, which began with lofty aspirations, ended ignobly and tragically, drawing its final period.
Yet the crimson stain he left behind remained vivid and scorching, soaking into the annals of history to illuminate the misty path ahead.