I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

In the desolate ruins of the city, Feng Qi moved cautiously, staying vigilant with each step.

After leaving the dilapidated residential area and confirming his safety, he decided to return to the Star City Shelter to check the database for more information. Exploring this domain-covered world could wait until he had more funds to replenish his energy.

After all, this world was riddled with danger, and venturing out recklessly could lead to his untimely demise. He still had one remaining permission to access the database for cultivation techniques and was determined not to waste it.

On his way back, he chose a different path, deliberately avoiding the streets he had previously taken. The route he had used earlier was infested with strange, writhing vines, and there was a real chance of running into Little Black again. This time, he might not get so lucky.

Looking down at the eight-legged creature suctioned to his chest like an octopus, Feng Qi sighed helplessly.

Even now, he had no clue about this little girl's origin.

As he traveled, boredom crept in. To amuse himself, he pried the little girl off his chest and held her in his hands, poking and prodding her face and nose, tapping her tiny head.

"Huh?" Feng Qi muttered, realization dawning on him.

The little girl seemed to lack any identifiable gender. This only solidified his theory that she wasn't human.

Through further experimentation, Feng Qi discovered a peculiar pattern: as long as she maintained physical contact with him, the girl remained quiet and kept her eyes shut. However, the moment contact was broken, her eyes would snap open, and she'd crawl back to latch onto him like a magnet.

Throwing her away didn't help either. She'd simply return and stick to him again. After several attempts, the voice of the narrator echoed in his mind:

"Be a decent human, would you? She's just a child!"

Feng Qi: "..."

"Hey, Narrator, who do you think would win in a fight between this thing and Little Black?" Feng Qi asked, half-joking.

"I don't know who'd win, but you're definitely the real monster here."

Feng Qi: "..."

Heading west, the scenery around him gradually transformed. The towering buildings thinned out, replaced by sprawling vegetation. Wild grass, growing unchecked, obscured his view in several directions.

Remaining vigilant, Feng Qi scouted his surroundings, ready to respond to any unexpected threats. After walking for about half an hour, the environment around him grew even more desolate, with fewer structures in sight.

At that moment, the little girl opened her eyes. Smoothly sliding off Feng Qi's chest, she landed on the ground and began crawling to the right, her gray-white pupils fixed intently on something unseen.

Feng Qi watched her, his curiosity piqued.

Despite wanting to know where the girl was headed, his survival instincts told him not to get involved. The world of the future was filled with unknown perils, and curiosity could easily lead to an untimely death.

However, just as he turned to leave, a deafening roar echoed from the direction ahead. His foot, mid-stride, froze in place.

"Getting cold feet? What are you waiting for? Go secure that safety net!" the Narrator teased.

"Afraid? Me? Never!" Feng Qi retorted indignantly.

"I know you're not scared, but you're broke!"

"Come here and say that to my face," Feng Qi growled, his temper flaring.

"Why don't you come in here and fight me? Let's see how that works out!"

Feng Qi: "..."

Deciding not to waste any more words on the Narrator, Feng Qi set off after the little girl. While she might not be entirely reliable, her presence could at least provide some measure of security.

Running in her direction, he bypassed a massive tree that towered over 30 meters and reached a rocky hillside.

The little girl was crouched on her knees at the base of the hill, her vacant eyes staring at a seemingly empty patch of earth.

"What's she up to now?" Feng Qi murmured, puzzled.

Taking a step forward, Feng Qi approached the little girl. He scanned the surroundings but still couldn't figure out what was so special about this place.

While he was puzzling over it, the little girl suddenly leaped into the air and darted into a patch of wild grass with incredible speed. Feng Qi instinctively moved to follow her.

Before he could take another step, the girl's tiny figure emerged again, moving just as quickly. Clamped between her teeth was a vibrant yellow flower.

She returned to the hillside, knelt down, and carefully placed the flower in the soil. Her gray-white pupils shimmered briefly, and to Feng Qi's astonishment, a tear slid down her face.

"Bong...jee...boo," she mumbled.

Feng Qi: ???

The sequence of inexplicable actions left Feng Qi utterly baffled. However, one thing was clear—the little girl seemed to have an unusual emotional connection to this spot.

Unable to decipher the meaning behind her behavior, he crouched down and asked softly, "Suction Cup, are you coming with me?"

The little girl gave no response. Her vacant gaze remained fixed on the ground, entirely absorbed in her thoughts.

Realizing she wouldn't follow him any further, Feng Qi sighed and rose to his feet. He turned and continued westward on his own.

Even without the little girl's protection, he had to return to the Star City Shelter. Surviving in this cruel world came down to one thing: resourcefulness—or lack thereof.

The truth was simple: he was broke.

If he had sufficient resources, he wouldn't have to worry about dying. He could simply reset everything and start over without hesitation.

Pressing onward, Feng Qi walked for another twenty minutes before he heard movement behind him. Turning his head, he saw a small figure hurtling toward him.

The little girl slammed into his chest and latched on with her usual unyielding grip. Feng Qi was thrown backward by the impact, landing hard on the ground, his head smacking painfully against the dirt.

Groaning, he got back up and looked at the tear-streaked face of the little girl. His expression was one of resignation.

"Here we go again," he muttered under his breath.

With the little girl clinging to him once more, he continued on his journey. He walked for what felt like an eternity before finally leaving the dilapidated buildings behind. The open expanse of the Bone Pile Zone stretched out before him, offering a familiar yet unsettling view.

After orienting himself, he set his sights on the Star City Shelter and began moving purposefully in that direction.

Along the way, he encountered several wandering undead. Unless they actively attacked him, he chose to let them be. His priority was time, not picking fights.

Little Black was likely still tracking him, which only heightened the urgency of his mission. For Feng Qi, strengthening himself was a long-term goal, but the chance to access a cultivation technique was a rare, one-time opportunity in each dream cycle.

The choice was obvious.

After roughly an hour of running, he reached the imposing black monolith marking the shelter's entrance. But just as he prepared to step into the metal corridor, the Narrator's voice rang in his mind:

"The moon waxes and wanes; people come together and part ways. And now, at last, we've reached this moment. I can't help but reflect... (dramatic pause, background music swells): Some people drift apart while walking, and some dreams shatter mid-slumber. Only then do you realize it was foolish hope all along, and reality is so cruel."

Feng Qi: "..."

He turned his head, and sure enough, Little Black was closing in from the distance.

Compared to the blood-red-eyed creature he had encountered earlier, it seemed the horned domain beast hadn't lasted long against Little Black.

There was no time to flee now. Little Black's speed was far too great.

Watching the shadowy figure rapidly approach, Feng Qi took a deep breath and grabbed the little girl off his chest. Without hesitation, he shouted, "Here's to you!" and hurled her in Little Black's direction.

The girl's face was a mask of confusion as she hurtled through the air. "I'll come back to avenge you next time!" Feng Qi called over his shoulder.

Not waiting to see what happened, he spun around and dashed into the metal corridor without looking back.