I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

The blood moon hung high, the wind howling ominously.

In the future dreamscape, there was no poetry or distant places to yearn for—only endless desolation and the twisted creatures lurking in every corner of the world.

After shedding the "Blood Source" state, Feng Qi followed the route etched in his memory, heading toward his future self's grave.

Everywhere he looked, there was nothing but ruin.

In such a grim environment, even someone as optimistic as Feng Qi couldn't help but feel the weight of it all.

But he didn't succumb to despair, nor could he afford to. Confidence and resilience were his only weapons, the only things that would allow him to carve a path forward until this broken world could be reborn.

Luckily, the narrator's constant company spared him from complete loneliness.

Walking along streets filled with rubble and broken buildings, Feng Qi's eyes constantly roamed, alert to any movement in the surrounding area. Even the faintest rustle of grass put him on edge.

"Narrator, don't you have some kind of perception ability? Why don't you take over and let me know if there's any trouble?"

[Oh, so now you want me to work while you slack off? How convenient. Do I look like your underpaid assistant? Tch!]

Feng Qi: …

"You're a spiritual entity. You shouldn't feel physical fatigue," Feng Qi argued, trying to reason with the sarcastic voice.

[Hearing you say that brings back memories. You know, we've actually known each other for much longer than you think.]

Feng Qi frowned, puzzled. He quickly asked, "What do you mean? Didn't we meet after I entered the future dreamscape?"

[Oh no, you're way off. We go way back—much further than this.]

The cryptic reply piqued Feng Qi's curiosity, and he pressed on. "Explain yourself. When did we meet?"

[Well, let's see... it must have been over a thousand years ago. It was a sunny autumn day. We were running through the fields together, and you left a bite mark on my leg... Oh, back then, I was called Lü Dongbin. Do you remember your name before reincarnation?]

For a moment, Feng Qi listened seriously, trying to follow the narrator's story. Then his expression darkened as the truth dawned on him.

He understood the insinuation—the narrator was calling him a dog.

[That's right. You were the little mutt that chased me at 20 mph and sank your teeth into my ankle. You even had the nerve to bark at me!]

"Shut up!" Feng Qi barked, his face twisting in frustration.

Though he occasionally felt grateful for the narrator's guidance, moments like this tested his patience. The narrator's comments often felt like poison-tipped arrows, wearing him down bit by bit until his mental defenses collapsed.

As Feng Qi pressed onward, the vegetation around him grew denser.

This was a sign—he was nearing his destination.

His greatest concern now was that Suction Cup might not be near his future grave. Without her, his plan to stall Little Black would be entirely undone.

After walking a little further, Feng Qi scanned the area for any sign of Suction Cup.

At that moment, a shadow suddenly spread across the ground, and the world around him dimmed.

Looking up, he was greeted by a breathtakingly terrifying sight.

A colossal, menacing beast soared overhead.

Its massive wings sprouted from its back, while its glowing, ghostly green eyes radiated an otherworldly light. Even in the absence of sunlight, the iridescent scales covering its body shimmered brilliantly. Each beat of its wings sent fierce gales roaring across the ground.

It was a king of the skies, lording over the land below. The creature's gaze seemed to pierce through the world as it flew westward toward a stormy sky filled with dark clouds.

As the beast let out a thunderous roar, the very earth trembled beneath its might.

Turning to look in the direction the creature was flying, Feng Qi could faintly make out an enormous figure standing amidst the storm clouds, its silhouette as massive as a mountain. Lightning flashed, illuminating the outline of the looming giant as the beast charged into the storm.

Within moments, the two colossal figures clashed, their battle illuminating the storm-filled skies with flashes of power.

"What the hell... is that a domain creature too?" Feng Qi murmured in awe.

[They're even stronger than they look. And yes, this is the reason domain creatures eventually conquered the entire world.]

"If this thing fought Mu Qing, who would win?" he asked, his curiosity driving the question.

[You underestimate humanity. I've never seen Mu Qing in her prime, but based on the data I've reviewed, this sky beast wouldn't stand a chance. She could probably roast one and stew the other with her eyes closed.]

"What about me? How much of this thing's power do I have compared to it?" Feng Qi pressed.

[Let's not kid ourselves. At best, you'd make for some decent protein for its parasites. You wouldn't last a single round.]

Feng Qi: …

[Don't overthink it. Success comes one step at a time, and your journey is far from over. These terrifying creatures aren't your final goal. One day, you'll reach the true summit of power.]

"And when I do, I'll yank you out of my head and flick your forehead a thousand times."

[Bounce it back!]

"Super bounce back!"

[Moron!]

Shaking his head at the narrator's antics, Feng Qi turned his gaze back toward the ominous west, where the sky was obscured by dense clouds. He now understood why the narrator had directed him east—other directions would lead him straight into the territory of far more dangerous domain creatures.

Yet he didn't feel disheartened. Instead, a grin spread across his face.

The stronger the domain creatures, the more powerful the prefix titles and abilities he could gain by defeating them. There was nothing to fear.

After some idle banter with the narrator, Feng Qi arrived in the area he remembered from his dreams.

While the exact location of his grave might have shifted, he recognized several distant landmarks that helped him get his bearings.

Stopping to take in his surroundings, he began searching for any sign of Suction Cup.

After scanning the area without success, he moved forward a few steps and resumed his search.

The tall grass around him, some of which reached above his head, made the task significantly harder.

Just as he was about to continue deeper into the overgrowth, the narrator's voice echoed in his mind:

[Look to your nine o'clock, about twenty meters away. There's a little cutie crouching in the grass. Go pick her up and hold her tight.]

Hearing the narrator's suggestion, Feng Qi didn't hesitate and turned to walk in the indicated direction.

After about 20 meters, he pushed aside the tall grass to reveal Suction Cup, her hair completely white. She was kneeling motionlessly on the ground, her empty eyes staring at a vibrant red flower planted in the dirt before her.

Seeing her like this, Feng Qi felt a pang of heartache.

[Heartache, huh? But don't forget, when it's time to toss her aside, you'll do it without hesitation. Truly, you never disappoint!]

Feng Qi: …

He walked up and squatted beside her, reaching out to ruffle her soft hair.

"I'm back," he said gently.

But Suction Cup didn't seem to hear him. Her gaze remained fixed on the soil, her eyes unblinking.

Sighing helplessly, Feng Qi decided to pick her up and leave. However, Suction Cup slipped out of his grasp like a slippery eel and fell back to her knees with a soft thud, resuming her original posture.

Feng Qi: …

Squatting beside her once more, he ruffled her hair again, trying to think of a way to take her with him.

Normally, Suction Cup followed him on her own. Forcing her to leave was clearly not an option with his current strength.

As he pondered, his eyes fell on the patch of dirt in front of Suction Cup.

[Oh no, are you about to dig up your own grave again?]

Feng Qi: …

The narrator had nailed it—he was indeed considering it.

The last time he successfully brought Suction Cup along, it was because he had handed her the harmonica buried in his grave. After receiving it, she stopped resisting and followed him willingly. He figured it was worth trying again.

Staying here was wasting precious time, and he had no idea when Suction Cup would decide to follow him.

"Should I give it a shot?"

[Why not? Your future self is already a tragic mess. What's a little more indignity? Just remember to fill it back in afterward and maybe kneel down for a few apologetic bows. You wouldn't want to seem heartless.]

Feng Qi: …

With the narrator's reluctant approval, he began digging.

As he scooped the dirt with his hands, he felt an odd sense of discomfort.

His future self had dedicated his life to saving humanity, only to die branded as a traitor. Even in death, his body couldn't rest peacefully—it was now being unearthed by his own hands.

[Stop overthinking it. If your future self's soul is watching, he's probably urging you to dig faster, frustrated that you're wasting time. If he could, he'd grab the shovel himself, dig even faster than you, and curse you for being a slowpoke.]

Feng Qi: …

The narrator's words swept away his melancholy, replacing it with irritation. He couldn't help but flip the narrator a mental middle finger.

What kind of comment was "grab the shovel himself"? Could this thing be any less human?

[I'm not human, but look at you. Do you even resemble one anymore?]

Looking down at his skeletal hands, Feng Qi chose not to respond, focusing on digging instead.

Meanwhile, Suction Cup remained kneeling nearby, gazing solemnly at the dirt as if mourning.

After digging over a meter deep, his fingers finally hit something hard. Realizing he had reached his goal, he dug a bit further, pulling out a metal box. This time, he didn't open it. He simply set it aside.

As expected, the silver harmonica lay buried beneath the box.

[Wait a second. Why was the harmonica buried under the urn? Could that mean Mu Qing once dug up your grave too?]

Feng Qi: …

Ignoring the narrator's nonsensical speculation, Feng Qi brushed off the dirt and retrieved the harmonica.

Made from materials unique to domain fields, the harmonica's luster had faded over time, but it showed no signs of rust or damage.

After cleaning off the remaining dirt, Feng Qi placed the harmonica on the ground and solemnly reburied the urn, covering it with loose soil from the surroundings.

[Time for a bow or two, buddy. Respect for the dead and all that. Otherwise, it'd be a bad look for you.]

"Not happening."

Tearing off some nearby leaves to polish the harmonica further, Feng Qi walked over to Suction Cup. Squatting down beside her, he ruffled her hair again and held the harmonica out to her.

As he had hoped, Suction Cup's eyes sparkled the moment she saw the silver harmonica. She reached out, carefully taking it in her small hands.

"Can you play it?" Feng Qi asked with a smile.

To his surprise, Suction Cup brought the harmonica to her lips and began to blow.

Encouraged, Feng Qi picked her up again. This time, she didn't resist.

Realizing she was ready to leave with him, Feng Qi hoisted Suction Cup onto his shoulder and started walking toward Star City Shelter.

As they traveled, Suction Cup grew more adept at playing the harmonica.

The melody she produced was deep and poignant, its rhythm fluctuating between fast and slow. It seemed to tell a story of longing, and Feng Qi couldn't help but feel his emotions stir in response.

"What's this song called?" he asked casually.

To his surprise, Suction Cup stopped playing and replied in her soft, childlike voice:

"Through the mountains… and the echoes… of longing."

Her response stunned him. Then, with a gentle smile, he ruffled her hair once more.

…

The melancholic melody carried by the wind echoed into the distance, while their two silhouettes gradually disappeared into the horizon.