I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

Pulling the silver-white object out of the dirt, Feng Qi froze in shock as he studied it closely.

He now realized, with certainty, that this familiar-looking harmonica was the very one he had once given to Mu Qing.

Because the harmonica had been crafted from materials unique to the domain fields, it had not decayed even after 1,500 years. However, its surface had lost its luster, appearing dull and worn.

Feng Qi glanced at the metallic box he had set aside, then back at the silver harmonica that had been buried with it. The owner of the box became immediately clear in his mind.

If his guess was correct, this box was his future self's urn.

His expression stiffened into a blank stare as his mind processed the absurdity of the situation. He even had the fleeting urge to applaud himself for this bizarre twist of fate.

"Future you is so pitiful," the narrator voice chimed in with mock sympathy. "He bore immense pain and pressure just to pave the way for you, endured public disgrace, and died a brutal death in full view of everyone. And now? You've gone and dug him up. Look at this moldy green ash—it's tragic, really!"

Feng Qi: …

"I didn't do it on purpose," he muttered defensively.

"And saying it wasn't intentional fixes it? Shouldn't you kneel down and knock your head against the ground a few times in apology to your future self?"

Feng Qi: …

A vein bulged on his temple as his irritation simmered, but another realization simultaneously clicked in his mind.

The execution footage had shown a scene where members of the Dawn Domain Combat Squad negotiated with military personnel and eventually took possession of his body.

This meant his corpse had ended up in Mu Qing's care.

He didn't need to think too hard to imagine what happened next.

Given the circumstances, Mu Qing would have cremated his remains and placed them in this metal box, burying it at this location. Alongside his ashes, she had buried the silver harmonica he had gifted her.

As the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, Feng Qi abruptly turned to look at Fang Tian Halberd.

So… why was she kneeling and crying at my grave?

Under his scrutinizing gaze, Fang Tian Halberd—her empty eyes brimming with sadness—suddenly stood up and scurried into the nearby patch of weeds. A moment later, she emerged, holding a white flower in her mouth.

Returning to the patch of dirt, she gently placed the flower on the ground and pressed it into the soil. A single tear slid down her cheek as she stood silently in mourning.

Is she… paying respects to me?

"Even though she's lost all cognitive abilities," the narrator commented, "she still remembers to bring flowers for you. That means she's done this countless times before. It's become a reflex, like muscle memory. So, what if… Fang Tian Halberd is actually Mu Qing?"

Feng Qi: !!!

Studying her more carefully, he couldn't help but notice that Fang Tian Halberd bore an uncanny resemblance to Mu Qing as a child.

The only difference was her snow-white hair and those shimmering, starry pupils—though their light seemed hollow and lifeless.

This theory would also explain why Fang Tian Halberd clung to him so closely.

He was, after all, Mu Qing's only friend.

After his death, it was entirely plausible that Mu Qing would visit his grave annually to lay flowers. The narrator's conjecture felt completely reasonable.

But as Feng Qi mulled over the possibility, he shook his head.

Fang Tian Halberd's physical characteristics were entirely unlike a human's. The most glaring inconsistency was that she… lacked human anatomy.

Mu Qing, even as a Rune-Enhanced Human, was still fundamentally human and should retain all the anatomical features of one.

"How do you know she'd have all the features? Did you personally check Mu Qing back in the day?" the narrator retorted cheekily.

Feng Qi: …

"I've read up on Rune-Enhanced Humans," he snapped. "Their transformation involves implanting rune crystals from domain creatures into their bodies. A crystal is placed externally to absorb spiritual energy, but their physical structures remain fundamentally human. They aren't completely altered into non-human forms."

Exasperation tinged his explanation, but the mysteries surrounding Fang Tian Halberd lingered in his mind.

"Oh? And how exactly can you prove she's not Mu Qing? Don't forget, Mu Qing's cause of death is classified."

Hearing the narrator's retort, Feng Qi couldn't help but think it made sense.

Still, for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to believe that Fang Tian Halberd was Mu Qing.

The future dreamscape was set 1,500 years into the future. If Mu Qing were still alive, how old would she have to be by now?

Even if a cultivator's lifespan could extend with increased strength, Mu Qing couldn't have survived this long. After all, she was recognized as the world's greatest villain—a world-ending overlord.

Her death had likely been necessary to pacify humanity's anger.

During the dark era Mu Qing created, countless cities were destroyed. Whether her actions were meant to root out hidden threats within human civilization or something else entirely, countless innocent lives had undoubtedly been lost by her hand.

When a city was razed, the sheer number of displaced survivors would have overwhelmed any nearby urban centers. For most of them, there was only one path left:

Becoming scavengers.

Whatever the true purpose of Mu Qing's apocalyptic actions, the killing she committed could not be erased.

The world bore witness to her deeds. The truth could not be falsified, and the falsehoods could not hold as truth. The mass sacrifice of innocents was an undeniable fact.

Mu Qing should be dead.

But as Feng Qi pondered, a conspiracy theory began to form in his mind.

What if… Mu Qing hadn't actually died?

What if she had been secretly imprisoned by a mysterious organization, subjected to a series of human modification experiments, and ultimately turned into her current form?

But then, another question arose.

Why would anyone go to the trouble of transforming Mu Qing into her current state? Humanity had already been wiped out. Why would this altered Mu Qing remain within Star City, now cloaked in the domain fields?

The pieces refused to fit together.

To find answers, he knew he needed to return to the Star City Shelter and search for information about Mu Qing's death.

While her method of execution was classified, there must have been public records released to reassure the populace.

If he could locate these records, he could confirm whether Fang Tian Halberd was really Mu Qing.

Watching Fang Tian Halberd silently weeping, Feng Qi couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

After carefully resealing the urn and burying it back in the ground, he approached Fang Tian Halberd, crouched down, and gently said, "Fang Tian Halberd, let's go. I'm still alive."

But Fang Tian Halberd ignored him, her hollow gaze fixed on the spot where the urn had been buried.

Seeing her unresponsive, Feng Qi reached out and held up the silver harmonica.

"Do you want this?"

At the sight of the harmonica, a glimmer of light returned to Fang Tian Halberd's vacant eyes. To his surprise, she extended her small hand and took it from him.

The scene left Feng Qi stunned.

With time pressing, he decided not to linger. Picking Fang Tian Halberd up from the ground, he hoisted her onto his shoulder and began walking back toward the Star City Shelter.

As they traveled, Fang Tian Halberd, perched on his shoulder, began to play the harmonica.

The music was halting and clumsy at first, but she quickly became more proficient.

The mournful wind howled through the ruins, while the harmonica's melody floated softly above it.

Feng Qi couldn't help but hear a sense of longing in the tune.

Glancing at Fang Tian Halberd, whose expression remained blank and eyes vacant, Feng Qi's heart ached.

Even in her seemingly mindless state, she still remembered to bring flowers to his grave. She even recognized him despite his undead appearance.

Could she truly be Mu Qing?