4. Time Traveler

The voice was transmitted to Lu Feng through a spiritual connection by the woman in red.

In the alley, Lu Feng had believed that the power he had accidentally acquired could freeze everything within a space of several dozen square meters. Was this not tantamount to isolating himself from the world, creating an independent realm in which only he ruled?

It was only when the voice reached him that he realized he knew nothing of himself or the world around him.

How powerful was he, really? Lu Feng could not help but ask himself.

“Lu Feng, it’s all my fault. Please, stop,” the voice urged again, hurried and desperate.

“She wants to kill me,” Lu Feng replied angrily, his tone heavy.

“Lu Feng, I know. But please, I beg you, stop.” The voice was tinged with helplessness and regret.

“Why should I? Stop and let her kill me? Is that possible?” Lu Feng demanded, his anger rising, the red aura around him surging and rolling, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.

“Lu Feng, it’s me. I’m Dou Dou.”

Dou Dou?

Lin Dou Dou.

The woman he had wanted to meet at the lounge yesterday—no wonder the voice was so familiar.

But something was wrong.

The little girl in the princess dress opposite him had been using his sister’s voice to lure him. There was only one possibility—they both sought to kill him by means of deception.

Lu Feng was not, by nature, cruel or cold-blooded; even suffering from a grave illness, even utterly alone, he had never hated the world.

Whatever the world gave you, good or bad, was a gift.

The good let you taste the beauty of life.

The bad forged you into steel.

There is always a door, opened onto sunlight and warmth—you only need to choose the right door.

But now, facing those who schemed to end his life, he no longer wished to tolerate or forgive.

Nineteen years of memories surfaced. He had dreamed of defying fate, of transcending the taboo of death; yet when confronted with reality, he had bowed his head in humility, feeling so small and powerless.

But now, he had gained the power to change himself, to command others.

All the humiliation and resentment of nineteen years swelled uncontrollably within him. Those who have never tasted agony cannot comprehend its shadow, cannot understand the fury that now blazed in Lu Feng’s soul.

He was furious, wild, out of control—he wanted to unleash all his pent-up rage and repression in this moment.

Heaven and earth are indifferent, treating all things as straw dogs. Very well, let this world sink further into chaos. If he could not be useful, at least he would not be so useless.

Lu Feng took a long breath, as if making a momentous decision.

His expression grew solemn and grim as he walked slowly toward the little girl.

The red aura around him boiled like scalding water, erupting with bloodthirsty ripples, tongues of fire licking at the edge like blades.

His once-black pupils now gleamed red, pouring forth shafts of brilliant crimson light; every strand was a blade, ready to be wielded at his command.

With each step, the air compressed, and suspended dust crystallized into frost.

In this isolated space, the reflected light from the snow faded, dimming to nothing. Sharp ice spikes erupted from the ground like spring shoots, gathering around the little girl, poised to slaughter at a single command.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

...

The little girl was now within arm’s reach.

“Lu Feng, please, I beg you... don’t...” The voice in his mind was torn with anguish.

In the hotel, a nameless terror rose in everyone’s hearts, overwhelming their minds and electrifying every cell.

Before Lu Feng, they suddenly felt small, helpless.

The woman in red trembled all over, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. She knew she had kindled a fire she could not extinguish.

The circle of sharp ice spikes around the little girl tightened, poised to pierce her body.

“Lu Feng, it was all my idea. If you must kill, kill me first. Please, don’t hurt her. She’s just a child, she knows nothing. Please, I beg you...” The voice was a hopeless plea.

Perhaps it was the woman’s last words that reached him, for Lu Feng stopped in his tracks.

For a moment, everyone in the room held their breath, fearing that even the smallest gasp would set Lu Feng moving again.

At the last moment, Lu Feng halted all action.

“She’s just a child.”

The words echoed endlessly in his ears, haunting him.

They struck straight to his heart.

He remembered himself as a child, filled with boundless yearning for the world.

He remembered himself as a child, facing the cruelty of life with helpless bitterness.

He remembered wishing desperately to grow up.

He also remembered his sister, the sister with whom he shared a complicated bond.

Surely she would not want him to become like this.

His dear sister...

“I’m giving you a chance. Come over,” Lu Feng spoke.

“All right, all right. Wait for me, I’m coming.” The voice in his mind, as if grasping a lifeline, sounded almost excited.

In the hotel, the woman in red dashed out the door in panic, knocking over a man as she fled.

Lu Feng looked up at the sky; the heavens were pale—it was nearly dawn.

As his murderous intent faded, the aura around him thinned, the ice spikes melted into the ground and disappeared.

Everything returned to the state it had been at the beginning of the space.

Soon, a woman in red appeared at the mouth of the alley.

Her scarlet dress stood out vividly against the white world.

She walked toward Lu Feng, her steps unwavering.

When she came near, Lu Feng saw clearly.

Lin Dou Dou.

But how could it be her? Why was it her? Wasn’t she the manager of the lounge? Why did she want to kill him?

A thousand questions flooded his mind.

“Lu Feng, I’m here. Please let her go.” Outside the space, Lin Dou Dou’s voice was soft, yet Lu Feng heard it distinctly.

“Who are you, really?” Lu Feng demanded.

“I am Lin Dou Dou, a Time Walker from Time Bureau Nine. What happened to you also happened to me, though our experiences differ.” Lin Dou Dou spoke sincerely, with no hint of deceit.

“Why do you want to kill me?” Lu Feng asked, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

“I never wanted to kill you.”

Lin Dou Dou hurried to explain, but seeing Lu Feng’s expression darken, she pressed on: “Listen to me. Strictly speaking, it’s not about killing you—it’s a test.”

“A test?” Lu Feng was puzzled.

“We’ve been watching you for a long time. Do you remember telling me you once had a dream, where you traveled through time and space to a strange place?” Lin Dou Dou looked at Lu Feng with hopeful eyes.

Lu Feng nodded.

“I had the same dream as you. So we suspected you might also be a Time Walker. But you hadn’t been awakened yet, so we kept a quiet watch over you.”

“Until recently—the red sky, snow in August—you told me your illness was worsening. We thought that might be your awakening point.”

“What does that have to do with killing me?” Lu Feng asked.

“I told you, it’s not about killing you, it’s about probing you. Fine, if you wish, think of it as me trying to kill you.” Lin Dou Dou let it go, then continued:

“Time Walkers are extraordinary beings, still classified as a secret. The reason for the test was that I had to confirm you are one of us.”

“You know the rest—as it turns out, your abilities surpass anything we expected. Lu Feng, please believe me—I truly mean no harm.”

After she finished, Lu Feng, whether out of trust for Lin Dou Dou or moved by her anxiety, chose to let go of his murderous intent despite his doubts. He then turned to the little girl and asked,

“Who is she? Why is she so powerful?”

“Her name is Xiao Xue. She’s also a Time Walker. Her talent is strong, but nowhere near yours.”

“Lu Feng, I beg you to let Xiao Xue go. Dawn is near; this is no place for conversation. Could we talk somewhere else?”

“Besides, you’re so powerful—if you sense anything amiss, you could open this space and kill us at any time, couldn’t you?”

Lin Dou Dou’s voice was almost pleading, and Lu Feng’s heart twinged slightly.

“I hope you can give me a reasonable explanation,” he said, retracting his will. The space vanished, and Lin Dou Dou collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Xiao Xue, released from his control, fell heavily and, after glancing at Lin Dou Dou, glared at Lu Feng with a pout.

What are you looking at, you little brat? You actually tried to kill me! Not killing you is mercy! Lu Feng cursed inwardly.

“So every conversation in the lounge was just a test?” Lu Feng looked at Lin Dou Dou and asked.

Lin Dou Dou was stunned, avoiding his gaze, and said nothing.