Future City.
At this moment, Feng Qi was walking down Street 23 in the eastern district of the city. Wrapped tightly in a trench coat and wearing a mask, he had concealed himself thoroughly.
Future City was a technological marvel where every street and alley was outfitted with surveillance systems integrated into the city's defense network. These systems boasted advanced facial recognition capabilities.
As an S-rank fugitive in Future City, Feng Qi had to ensure his movements remained undetected—even though the surveillance was managed by the Future Research Institute.
But as Li Xingchen had reminded him, not everyone in the Future Research Institute could be trusted.
It was near midnight, and the streets were mostly empty. The weather was damp and chilly from a recent rain, leaving the pavement slick. In the distance, a cleaning robot playing light music slowly made its way down the road, scrubbing the wet surfaces.
Reaching the end of the street, Feng Qi pushed open the door to a bar.
Inside, soft music played while the lively atmosphere buzzed with people coming and going. It was a stark contrast to the desolate streets outside.
He moved toward a corner table and sat down, glancing toward Li Xingchen, who was drinking alone.
"Thanks for everything," Feng Qi said.
"What for? I've done so much using your name; it's been a blast. And the resources I've seized? I can't bring them back to the Future Research Institute anyway, so giving them to you works just fine. If you guys get caught, it'll only further confirm you did all of it."
Li Xingchen grinned and downed his drink in one go.
"Care for a drink?"
"I'll pass. Why did you ask me to meet?" Feng Qi replied, turning down the offer.
Hearing Feng Qi's refusal, Li Xingchen poured himself another glass and shook his head.
"You're no fun. Pursuing your ideals and enjoying life don't have to be at odds. Why carry this constant burden? Learning to find joy in hardship is what we should do. That way, even if we die, at least we'll have lived well and without regret."
"I just don't like drinking. If you'd prepared a feast instead, I'd definitely out-eat you," Feng Qi said with an eye roll. "Now, let's get to the point. What news do you have for me this time?"
Setting his glass down, Li Xingchen lit a cigarette and took a deep drag before speaking.
"Keep a low profile for now. The domain forces behind the Institute of Technological Research are planning to take action."
Feng Qi frowned. "Tell me the details."
"Yesterday, the domain forces held a high-level meeting and decided to target you soon.
"For a while, they didn't act because they'd received some intel suggesting you might be a representative of another domain force. They believed your actions against the Institute of Technological Research were just a test of their response.
"Similar to how the Institute of Technological Research probes the Tiger Soul Research Institute, your activities were interpreted as a probing challenge. So, they held back, focusing instead on gathering intel on you to assess your background."
"But now, they've changed their stance. They've concluded that no domain force is backing you and have decided to act decisively against your Breaking Dawn organization."
Feng Qi's expression darkened. He quickly pieced together what had likely happened.
Clearly, the Shadow Hunter had sold his information to the Institute of Technological Research.
Ironically, this betrayal had actually helped him. The domain forces' hesitation due to their suspicions had bought him valuable time.
Understanding the situation, Feng Qi glanced at Li Xingchen, who was exhaling smoke again.
"Cut down on the smoking, will you? You never stop."
Li Xingchen chuckled.
"My body is 76% spiritually mechanized. Any toxins I take in are completely expelled, so it's harmless."
"To prove it, watch this." Li Xingchen suddenly spat a black, oily liquid onto the floor, the residue from his smoking.
Feng Qi: …
Watching Li Xingchen's roguish grin, Feng Qi couldn't even muster a retort.
"Anything else?" Feng Qi asked, trying to refocus.
"The domain forces behind the Institute of Technological Research suspect there's a mole in their ranks. Every operation they've planned has been preempted by you. I suspect they'll conduct an internal purge soon. For now, I won't be carrying out any more covert actions against the institute. I'll wait until the heat dies down."
Hearing this, Feng Qi's thoughts turned to the "Veritas Apparatus" used during his Sacrificial Line timeline.
At that time, the Crimson Research Institute had deliberately leaked false intel in Twilight City, suggesting a mole from the Tiger Soul Research Institute had infiltrated their ranks. This prompted the Institute of Technological Research to conduct an internal investigation.
During that investigation, Mo, one of their core figures, developed a piece of black technology specifically for interrogating their inner circle members.
Realizing the danger, Feng Qi immediately shared details about the Veritas Apparatus with Li Xingchen.
After hearing the warning, Li Xingchen remained unfazed.
"Don't worry. That device might work on others, but not on me. I'm practically a spiritual cyborg now. That thing won't affect me."
"What about your brain?" Feng Qi shot back with a skeptical look.
"It's partially mechanized too."
"You're really hard on yourself," Feng Qi muttered.
"Anyone aiming for greatness has to be," Li Xingchen replied with a grin, downing another glass of wine.
"Stop using the communicator to contact me for now. I'll reach out to you. With the institute's internal purge underway, they could pop up around me at any time."
"Understood."
"Oh, by the way, did you reach out to everyone on that list I gave you?"
"I've recruited several. They're all exceptional people. Where did you get that list?"
"Every name on that list is on the Institute of Technological Research's assassination list."
Hearing this, Feng Qi felt a sense of clarity.
Li Xingchen's list had helped him recruit many like-minded individuals, rapidly strengthening Breaking Dawn.
Still, one regret lingered in Feng Qi's heart—no other human factions had contacted him yet.
But he understood why.
Each hidden human faction undoubtedly had its own strategies for saving humanity. Reaching out to him at this stage could risk jeopardizing their entire plans.
For now, his priority was to continue growing Breaking Dawn's strength and influence, showing these hidden factions that the Institute of Technological Research could indeed be toppled.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Feng Qi looked at Li Xingchen with a smile.
"If there's nothing else, I'll head out. Staying outside too long feels unsafe."
"Where are you staying these days?" Li Xingchen asked curiously.
"Homeless and moving every day, I've recently taken to living in the sewers. They're relatively safe," Feng Qi replied.
"That sounds rough." Li Xingchen grinned, but there wasn't the slightest trace of sympathy in his expression.
"They say the most dangerous places are the safest. Maybe one day I'll crash at your place for a night?"
"Don't drag me into your mess." The smile on Li Xingchen's face froze instantly.
After some casual banter, Feng Qi stood and left the bar. Retracing his steps along the street, he turned into a dark alley and disappeared.
…
In the days that followed, Feng Qi led Breaking Dawn into temporary seclusion.
Three months later, a piece of shocking news reached Feng Qi from the organization's external investigation team.
Li Xingchen, along with over a dozen core members of the Future Research Institute, had been arrested.
During their trial, they were convicted as "traitors to humanity" and scheduled for public execution at Future City's execution grounds three days later.
Feng Qi was stunned when he heard the news.
Li Xingchen's sudden exposure raised countless questions in his mind.
While Li Xingchen was indeed constrained by the domain forces backing the Institute of Technological Research, the power he wielded was far from insignificant. Even if he couldn't openly challenge them, he could still cause significant disruption and force them to pay a price.
But now, with Li Xingchen set to be executed, there was no response from the Future Research Institute.
More suspiciously, the Institute of Technological Research had chosen to execute only Li Xingchen and a dozen others.
Feng Qi couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story.
With his doubts growing, he immediately mobilized members of Breaking Dawn to investigate Li Xingchen's exposure.
In the days that followed, nearly half of Breaking Dawn's members were dispatched to gather intelligence.
From the information they obtained, Feng Qi learned that the charges against Li Xingchen were extensive. Among the most severe were three key accusations:
The murder of his mentor, the former director of the Future Research Institute.
Secretly aligning with domain forces to overthrow human civilization.
Collaborating with Breaking Dawn to hinder the Institute of Technological Research's development and attempting to seize control of the Future Research Institute for personal gain.
These charges, among others, were enough to justify a death sentence.
Yet the details of why Li Xingchen had been exposed were absent from the intelligence they had gathered.
The three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the day of the execution, Future City became eerily quiet as its residents tuned into the official live broadcast.
The live feed focused on Future City's primary execution grounds.
Though Li Xingchen had yet to arrive, the area surrounding the metal execution platform was already packed with residents. Fueled by official reports detailing Li Xingchen's alleged crimes, the crowd seethed with anger, eagerly awaiting the execution of this so-called traitor to humanity.
Feng Qi, dressed in a trench coat, blended into the crowd, quietly observing the scene.
Though he was frustrated with Li Xingchen's fate, he knew there was nothing he could do to change it.
At its current stage, Breaking Dawn was incapable of confronting the Institute of Technological Research head-on.
To act rashly would be to court destruction—a path that would lead to nothing but annihilation.
This timeline had a greater purpose, one that Feng Qi could not afford to abandon here.
Still, his two years of cooperation with Li Xingchen had fostered a sense of camaraderie, and he couldn't stay away. He had come to send off a friend one last time.
For safety's sake, Feng Qi had undergone minor cosmetic adjustments with the help of a disguise expert from Breaking Dawn. His face and features were subtly altered, reducing the risk of being recognized.
As the crowd buzzed with anticipation, Li Xingchen was finally escorted onto the execution grounds by two city defense soldiers.
His clothes were torn, his mechanized limbs heavily damaged, and his appearance was haggard.
The soldiers led Li Xingchen to the metal chair at the center of the platform, forcing him to sit before securing him with special restraints. A metal helmet was placed over his head.
Li Xingchen was sentenced to death by spiritual execution.
This method, reminiscent of the electric chair from pre-Cataclysm times, involved channeling a special type of energy extracted from high-purity necrominerals. When infused into the body, this energy rapidly devoured the victim's consciousness, resulting in death through excruciating pain.
…
Seated in the execution chair, Li Xingchen stared indifferently at the enraged crowd before him.
His expression remained calm, devoid of any visible emotion.
As the minutes ticked by, the time for the execution drew near. Standing behind him, the executioner performed the routine inquiry:
"Any final words?"
"Give me a cigarette," Li Xingchen replied without hesitation, a faint smile appearing on his face.
The executioner's eyes burned with anger as he responded,
"You were once my idol. Your inspirational rise motivated me throughout my life."
"Apologies if I've disappointed you," Li Xingchen said nonchalantly, his expression indifferent. "So hurry up and give me that cigarette. According to Future City's rules, fulfilling such a small request before death is allowed, right?"
"You don't deserve it!"
The executioner was about to launch into another tirade when his companion grabbed his arm, stopping him. The second executioner reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, placed it between Li Xingchen's lips, and lit it.
"According to the rules, we've granted your final request."
"That's all. I have no other last words," Li Xingchen said, taking a long drag on the cigarette. The glowing tip burned brighter as he exhaled a cloud of smoke, his expression one of pure contentment.
Seeing Li Xingchen's composure, the crowd below erupted in rage.
They began shouting, demanding harsher treatment for the "traitor to humanity," throwing small stones they had prepared in advance.
Li Xingchen's gaze fell upon the angry citizens below. His heart stirred with an indescribable mix of sorrow and fury.
I lived for you, yet you see me as a devil.
That bitter thought surged through him, but as the memory of a kind and familiar face surfaced in his mind, the anger melted away.
Taking another deep drag, he exhaled slowly, his lips curling into a faint smile.
Just then, the time for the execution arrived. The two executioners simultaneously pressed the activation switches.
In an instant, black spiritual energy surged through Li Xingchen's body. His eyes turned blood-red as intense pain wracked his mind.
As he endured the searing torment, countless memories flashed before his eyes. Among them was the voice of that familiar, gentle figure:
"Li Xingchen, I made you stand beside the devil so that you could kill it."
"I am your proof of loyalty. This death has meaning—there's no need for grief."
"Turn your sorrow into strength. Don't disappoint me. I've given you the perfect starting point."
…
The story began with a couple who perished during a domain creature attack.
Their five-year-old son, clutching a stuffed toy, wandered the streets crying for his parents, now an orphan.
Cold and starving, the boy encountered a kind old man who took him in and gave him a home.
The old man raised the boy, guided him through Victory Academy, and watched him join the frontline as a warrior in a domain combat squad.
When the boy lost an arm in battle, it was the old man who showed him how to stand again.
Under the old man's mentorship, the boy eventually gained admission to the Future Research Institute and became a researcher.
That old man was the former director of the Future Research Institute.
As his consciousness began to fade, Li Xingchen felt a strange sense of relief.
When he had killed the old man, he knew the person he once was had died as well.
But now, in his final moments, he felt that part of himself returning.
In his mind's eye, he saw himself and the old man sitting atop a mountain, watching the first rays of sunlight illuminate Future City. The old man's face, once obscured, became clear in the light.
"Old man, I've let you down."
In his last moments, regrets flooded Li Xingchen's heart.
As a child, he had reached for the stars, feeling they were within his grasp. Now, as a man of seven feet, the heavens seemed unreachable.
A peaceful, warm future had always been so far away.
Ah… it's so frustrating.
The cigarette in his mouth burned to its end, and with it, Li Xingchen's body slumped lifelessly in the chair.
The world would never know that this star had willingly plunged into darkness, striving to shine brightly enough to illuminate the entire world.
As cheers erupted from the crowd, Feng Qi clenched his fists tightly.
In his mind, he recalled something Li Xingchen had once told him with a smile:
"Human civilization is like a tree. The higher it reaches for sunlight, the deeper its roots must dig into the darkness to find strength and sustenance. We are too weak. Only the devil's power can defeat the devil."
Taking one last look at Li Xingchen, Feng Qi silently offered the highest salute in his heart.
…
One month later, at Li Xingchen's cenotaph, Feng Qi lit three cigarettes and placed them into the soil before the grave. Twisting open a bottle of strong liquor, he poured it over the ground.
"If I survive, I'll come visit every year."
At that moment, a voice called from behind him.
"Feng Qi, may I have a word?"
Turning sharply, Feng Qi saw a tall man dressed in the uniform of the Future Research Institute standing a short distance away.
As his guard went up, the man pulled out a communicator and said,
"Channel 11-11, codeword: 'Future.'"
Feng Qi froze, his mind racing. He instinctively asked,
"Who are you?"
"I am the current director of the Future Research Institute, Li Xingchen's successor, and your next ally."
Feng Qi was stunned.
In that instant, he understood why Li Xingchen had died and why the Future Research Institute had remained silent in the wake of his death.
Like the old man before him, Li Xingchen had chosen a trustworthy successor in the face of desperation, sacrificing himself to help that person take root in the darkness.
The domain forces behind the Institute of Technological Research had failed to extinguish this star.
It had merely returned in another form, waiting for the day it could shine brightly once more.