18. The Eyes of the Betrayer

At this moment, Lu Feng felt deeply despondent. Since crossing over, one event had followed another—Liu Dazhuang’s death, the death of Xiao Mu’s father, the killing of the man in black. Even the coldest heart would be stirred by such turmoil. When he first learned he had acquired extraordinary abilities and his illness was cured, he believed that traversing worlds ought to be a romantic adventure. Like the slogan he once saw on the holographic screen in District 17’s Times Square: “Install a mechanical arm, and the stars hold no limits.”

Yet, all that he encountered were wretched and sorrowful affairs. It was as if, from the moment he crossed over, the world’s course had veered into an uncontrollable direction. This did not seem auspicious, especially with all that Wang Hao had done to him, making Lu Feng feel as though fate had destined him for momentous events.

He walked slowly toward Xiao Mu, taking the curved blade from his hand. Looking at the boy, Lu Feng felt as if, in a single breath, the child had matured—innocence replaced by resolve. Only those who endure a painful life reach a higher plane.

He had read this sentiment in a book written by someone named Elbow, and he had committed it to memory, using it to encourage himself.

He gently held Xiao Mu’s head, and the boy obediently leaned against him.

“Brother Feng…” Qing Zhou wanted to speak, but hesitated.

Lu Feng continued to embrace Xiao Mu, not responding.

“Brother Feng…”

Qing Zhou called out softly again.

Lu Feng finally lifted his head and glanced at Qing Zhou, as if reproaching him for disturbing this rare tranquility. To Xiao Mu, perhaps it was the last time he could be with his father, though all that remained was a husk.

“Brother Feng, it’s time to go.” Qing Zhou couldn’t help but say it.

Unnoticed, darkness had begun to fall. Under the cover of night, no one could predict what chaos might erupt in the Sixth Ring.

Lu Feng had considered rewinding time to see what truly happened to Xiao Mu’s father, but as the boy had said, this was not the site of infection, and without the scene itself, there was little valuable information to find. Besides, in such a tangled place, caution was necessary.

After a moment’s reflection, Lu Feng wiped the tears from Xiao Mu’s face, patted his shoulder, and led him toward the door.

As they exited the room, Qing Zhou extended his right hand and made a subtle twist, then snapped his fingers. Instantly, everything in the room vanished.

No sooner had the three stepped out, than countless pairs of green eyes fixed upon them, glinting like targeting lasers on weapons.

“Brother Feng, something feels off. They…” Qing Zhou tensed, his voice trembling.

“Move!” Before Lu Feng could speak, Xiao Mu shouted fiercely at the crowd.

The moment his words fell, the masses parted to create a path, as if marshaled by an unseen commander.

Lu Feng and Qing Zhou were dumbstruck by the scene.

At that moment, Xiao Mu did not resemble a child of eight or nine, but rather a sage, or a revered leader.

---

Sensing Lu Feng and Qing Zhou’s astonishment, Xiao Mu explained earnestly, “They’re not afraid of me—they fear my father.”

“Although this is a place everyone dreads—the Sixth Ring—those standing here have all been helped by my father. No matter their status, he did his best for them.” He finished, glancing back at the house.

Both Lu Feng and Qing Zhou had witnessed Qing Zhou’s earlier maneuver.

As the three walked out of the crowd, Xiao Mu turned to address them, “My father is dead. I’m leaving now; he told me to follow him.”

Hearing this, the crowd all turned to look at Lu Feng. Qing Zhou hastily stepped in front of him, but Lu Feng pulled him aside.

The crowd said nothing, standing silently, then bowed deeply to Lu Feng. Only after he left did they reluctantly disperse.

Now, on the entire street, aside from those whose pupils shone with green light, not a single person remained. Even the animals seemed to have vanished.

The empty streets felt so unreal, one could almost forget this was the Sixth Ring.

“What’s their story?”

Sitting in the off-road vehicle, Qing Zhou finally couldn’t contain his curiosity.

“They weren’t infected by my father. When he and I came here, they were already like this,” Xiao Mu replied to Lu Feng, as if not speaking to Qing Zhou.

“Their eyes…” Lu Feng didn’t elaborate, knowing Xiao Mu would understand.

“They were all warriors conscripted by the Inner Three Rings. Later, whether for mistakes or perhaps none at all, those who hired them marked them with the ‘Eyes of Betrayal.’ Since then, they only appear normal by day; at night, they become like demons,” Xiao Mu answered seriously.

“So at night the streets are so quiet.”

“Yes.”

“What was the name of that orphanage?” Lu Feng recalled the character on the door.

“Blue Heart Welfare Home. Blue Heart is the name of that wretched woman,” Xiao Mu replied truthfully.

“…”

Lu Feng asked no more. Soon, he realized another problem: How was he to bring Xiao Mu back to the Ninth Bureau of Time?

“Do you know who I am?” Lu Feng probed.

“You’re a good person.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“You’re time travelers.”

“…Who told you that?” Both Lu Feng and Qing Zhou’s faces turned uneasy.

“A beggar. I asked him where to find a killing blade, and he said the Ninth Bureau of Time had one.”

A beggar?

For reasons he couldn’t explain, the word brought to mind the man who carried Liu Dazhuang away—he too was a beggar.

“Didn’t you say your father told you where to find a blade?” Lu Feng remembered Xiao Mu mentioning this.

---

“I’m sorry. He didn’t let me tell anyone,” Xiao Mu said, lowering his head.

This beggar was no ordinary man; he knew of the Ninth Bureau of Time.

For reasons unknown, Lu Feng suddenly wanted to meet him.

“Do you know where he is now?” Lu Feng gently stroked Xiao Mu’s head.

“I don’t know. Haven’t seen him for a long time.”

After that, Lu Feng asked no more, pulling Xiao Mu into his arms.

Though their time together was brief, Lu Feng felt a unique affection for Xiao Mu.

“Qing Zhou, do you think they’ll refuse if I bring Xiao Mu back?” Lu Feng voiced his concerns.

“Brother Feng, I think you could try tearing the Bureau down,” Qing Zhou replied, half in jest as he drove.

“Speak properly,” Lu Feng shot Qing Zhou a glance in the rearview mirror.

“Alright. Brother Feng, if you promise to let me follow you in future, I’ll tell you,” Qing Zhou said, his expression solemn, not joking.

“I’m younger than you, stop calling me brother all the time…” Lu Feng didn’t answer directly.

“Doesn’t matter, I’ve decided you’re my brother,” Qing Zhou replied.

“Why?”

“I don’t know, I just feel I should follow you,” Qing Zhou answered.

“Because I have dual talents?” Lu Feng could think of no better reason.

“That’s part of it, but not all.” Qing Zhou paused, then continued, “I feel you’ll accomplish great things, and I long for that.”

“You know, I don’t even know what talent is. I know nothing about crossing worlds,” Lu Feng said with a bitter smile, his heart a tangled mess.

“I can tell you,” Qing Zhou seemed to have finally found purpose.

“Then first say whether there’ll be trouble if I bring Xiao Mu back,” Lu Feng seized the opportunity.

“There won’t,” Qing Zhou replied without hesitation.

“Why?”

“Because you’re Lu Feng.”

What kind of reason was that…