Hijacking the Timeline

The next morning, at the academy cafeteria, the ”Glutton Trio” gathered in their usual corner.

Slurp!

After taking a sip of his congee, Feng Qi looked up at Mu Qing and Lin Ran, his heart heavy with the thought of their tragic fates in the future.

”Brother Qi, why are you looking at me so strangely? Is something wrong?” Lin Ran asked, his mouth stuffed with food, mimicking Feng Qi’s hearty eating style.

”I had a fortune-teller read your fate yesterday. Guess what they said?”

Lin Ran: ???

”The fortune-teller said you’re destined to face a calamity that will condemn you to a lifetime of suffering. But there’s a way to avert it.”

”How?” Lin Ran asked, intrigued.

”Abandon your stubborn dreams and embrace the path your talents have chosen for you.”

”Brother Qi, I don’t understand. Can you explain it in a way a carbon-based life form like me can grasp?”

”What’s your greatest talent? Why did the Tiger Soul Research Institute recruit you early?” Feng Qi pressed gently.

”Naturally, it’s my achievements in art magic research.”

”Exactly. That’s the talent you chose. Now tell me, what’s your dream?”

”My dream is to make significant contributions to the field of cultivation technique research, to become a master of cultivation arts, to be remembered by future generations...” Lin Ran suddenly realized what Feng Qi was getting at and lowered his voice. ”Brother Qi, I’ve never believed in fate. I believe my destiny is in my own hands, not determined by the heavens.”

Feng Qi: ...

”You’ll be killed by your own ambition sooner or later!” Realizing Lin Ran wouldn’t listen to reason, Feng Qi couldn’t help but glare.

”To die for my dream? I’d do it without hesitation! A true man burns himself in pursuit of his dreams, pouring out his passion until his last breath!”

And then spend the rest of your life regretting it, cursed by the world, your hair turning white overnight, drowning in tears, and dying miserably in remorse.

Doesn’t he have any self-awareness? Feng Qi thought, watching Lin Ran’s confident expression.

”Oh, by the way, I have something to tell you guys. I’ll be leaving Star City Academy for a while soon.”

”Where are you going?” Lin Ran stopped eating.

Mu Qing, sitting across from them, also looked up, her cheeks bulging with food as she paused chewing, her eyes filled with curiosity.

”I forgot to mention, I’m actually only seventeen. My mission at Star City Academy is to observe and learn, so I’ll be returning to my school in three days to handle graduation matters.”

Lin Ran’s eyes widened in shock. He had always assumed Feng Qi was a senior brother at Star City Academy, but now he discovered Feng Qi was actually a year younger than him. Without hesitation, he blurted out:

”Are you coming back? You’re not planning to enroll in another academy, are you? I still want to learn cultivation arts from you! You can’t just leave!”

Mu Qing, though silent, also turned her gaze toward Feng Qi, awaiting his answer.

Feng Qi was her first friend and the only person who had ever shown her warmth. Hearing he was leaving, she felt a pang of reluctance, though she kept her expression neutral.

”Hey, aren’t you an exchange student from Winterfrost Academy?” Feng Qi asked, looking at Lin Ran with a hint of exasperation. ”Whether I stay at Star City Academy or not, you’ll have to return eventually.”

”But I’m a genius!” Lin Ran protested. ”Geniuses have privileges! Besides, I’ve already been accepted into the Tiger Soul Research Institute ahead of time. There’s nothing left for me to learn at Winterfrost Academy, so I can stay wherever I want. I’ll just graduate as a Winterfrost Academy alumnus.”

”What about you? You still haven’t answered my question. Are you coming back or not? If not, tell me which academy you’re going to, and I’ll transfer there as an exchange student to find you.”

”You can just go wherever you want? It’s that casual?” Feng Qi asked, astonished.

”Of course! Before coming to Star City Academy, I originally planned to study at Galaxy Academy. Their cultivation arts program is more specialized than Star City’s. But my teacher asked me to come here first to help him show off to an old friend, so I came.”

”I was only planning to stay here for a month before transferring to Galaxy Academy. But now I don’t think it’s necessary. I think I’ve already found my goal for learning and catching up.” As he said this, Lin Ran gave Feng Qi a knowing look.

”You’ve indeed found the goal that will save you. I will guide you to flourish,” Feng Qi said, deeply moved.

He had previously worried that Lin Ran, being an exchange student from Winterfrost Academy, would eventually return there. Without his supervision, Feng Qi feared Lin Ran would revert to his old ways.

Learning that Lin Ran could stay here indefinitely, Feng Qi’s worries vanished.

With a smile, he said, ”Don’t worry, I’ll only be gone for a few days. I’ll handle my graduation matters and come right back. Actually, I’ve already been accepted to Star City Academy through early admission, so I expect my official acceptance letter will arrive at my school around graduation.”

And, he added silently to himself, who could leave you two troublemakers unsupervised?

”Hehe, we’ll be waiting for you,” Lin Ran grinned, his face lighting up at Feng Qi’s promise to return.

Beside them, Mu Qing lowered her head again and began eating heartily. For some reason, her appetite had suddenly returned with a vengeance.

After breakfast, before leaving, Feng Qi pulled a silver harmonica from his pocket and handed it to Mu Qing.

”Here, Senior Sister, this is for you.”

Mu Qing’s expression turned to stunned surprise as she stared at the harmonica in Feng Qi’s hand, clearly at a loss for words.

Having grown accustomed to isolation and rejection, she was already overjoyed that Feng Qi had befriended her. She never imagined he would remember her broken harmonica and actually buy her a new one.

”I can’t accept this,” Mu Qing said, shaking her head.

”It’s for you, just a gift between friends. Please accept it,” Feng Qi said, handing the silver harmonica to Mu Qing. Seeing her hesitation, he pressed it into her hand.

He didn’t say anything more to the flustered Mu Qing. Instead, he grabbed Lin Ran’s arm and turned to leave, giving her no chance to return the gift.

Clutching the silver harmonica, Mu Qing watched Feng Qi and Lin Ran’s retreating figures, her eyes welling up. She quickly lowered her head, as if afraid someone might see her vulnerability.

As Lin Ran and Feng Qi left the restaurant and headed toward the library, Lin Ran glanced at Feng Qi with a teasing grin and said:

”Brother Qi, if we’re exchanging gifts as friends, why didn’t I get one?”

Suddenly channeling his inner drama queen, Lin Ran feigned a look of disappointment and sighed, ”I get it. Friendship really is no match for love.”

”Who said you didn’t get one? I’ve already prepared yours. I’ll give it to you later.”

After a moment of surprise, Lin Ran asked with genuine curiosity, ”Brother Qi, can you give me a hint about what it is?”

”The Galaxy Research Institute just released the complete revised edition of Advanced Art Magic Theory 3.9. Three brick-thick volumes, divided into upper, middle, and lower sections. How’s that for a gift? Happy now?”

Lin Ran: ...

(End of the Chapter)

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