Three months later.
Sky Valley.
A very high mountain, the top of which is the base camp of Tiangu.
The highest point is called the Skydome.
A huge clock was hung on it, and its hands moved forward little by little.
Nine top-level psychics spent a lot of time researching and developing a huge and complex psychic array that can transmit energy.
The magic circle lasted for a long time, and just as it fell, a glimmer of white light slowly disappeared.
The young man sitting in the middle was wearing a hood. He opened his eyes and saw his lips were pale with a hint of blood. He raised his hand to wipe it off without leaving a trace.
Shi Ge stood up.
The nine Tiangu psychics around came forward one after another and expressed their gratitude: "Thank you Mr. Shi for informing us in advance that the Yuansui energy is insufficient, otherwise it would have caused a big trouble."
"Yes, yes, thank you very much..."
"If I've offended you before, let's go to a restaurant and have a drink. I'll pay for it!"
A few months ago, Chi Yu brought back a supernatural being who was said to be able to predict the future. He immediately revealed the location where their essence was stored.
It is also said that the energy of the marrow will completely disappear the next time it is sent to the sea.
They didn't believe it at first, but with Lao Chi's strong guarantee, they were half-believing and half-doubting. It took them a lot of effort to test the remaining energy in the marrow with the help of Mr. Shi.
There was actually only a little left.
And the consumption rate is still accelerating.
They quickly developed a magic circle to transmit energy in order to refill their essence, but the mysterious Mr. Shi became suspicious.
Of course, they chose to trust this weird person, and their internal review lasted for a month.
Today is the first transmission.
Shi Ge avoided their excessive concern and said, "It's okay, once a month, it's not a big deal."
Chi Yu was waving at him from a distance. Shi Ge said goodbye to these people and walked towards where Chi Yu was.
The moment he raised his foot, his movements suddenly stopped.
The white transparent chain, invisible to the public, was tightly wrapped around his ankle, and the red pattern on it was brighter.
After a pause of less than half a second, Shi Ge continued to move forward, the moment he landed.
The chain broke and disappeared.
…
It is already December.
The winter in Beiyu was particularly cold, with a light snow in the sky, but fortunately there was no wind. As New Year's Eve approached, businesses on both sides of the street had hung up bright red lanterns in advance.
The young man was still dressed in the same way as when they first met.
He hadn't seen this guy's face for such a long time.
Lately, she put on a thick cotton coat, and asked incredulously, "Aren't you cold?"
Tiangu's base camp and training base were not close to each other, but with their space ability and time ability, they were able to reach the street in front of the training base quite quickly.
He didn't know that Shi Ge was a materialized being and could not be considered a complete human being. As long as he had energy, he could maintain a constant body temperature.
“It’s not cold.”
After a moment's sizing him up, he said, "Well, the energy transfer I carried out today didn't have any negative effects on you, did it?"
Shi Ge smiled and said, "No."
Although that level of energy transfer can be transmitted into the Yuansui, it is completely useless. This method has been tried many times before during the reset.
He was just looking for an excuse to get close to the Yuan Sui in a legitimate way.
"Tell me, how could I believe you? We haven't known each other for that long, and I almost cut off your head and put it on the table before those nagging people agreed..."
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm talking to you, why are you daydreaming?" Chi Yu followed Shi Ge's gaze and found that it was a car full of sunflowers covered with a layer of transparent insulation film.
Shi Ge retracted his gaze and said, "In this season, there are still people buying sunflowers."
"If you have money, you can probably get some sunflowers in the winter, not to mention sunflowers," Chi Yu sighed, "but I don't really like this kind of flower."
"reason?"
"It's so tiring to chase the sun all the time. The flowers are only in full bloom for a few days," Chi Yu said leisurely after taking a puff of cigarette and squinting his eyes. "It's better to just close my eyes and go to sleep."
Small lamp——
Or maybe he didn't like sunflowers when he was a child.
Fine snowflakes fell on the young man's hood and then slid down along with his movements.
Shi Ge said: "Perhaps they don't want to, but it is their nature. When they no longer bloom towards the sun, they will die. If running becomes a habit, they won't feel tired."
Chi Yu felt that this made sense, and the two chatted for a while, and his cell phone vibrated.
It was a call from Zhize. I didn’t answer it and it gave me a headache, so I hung up directly.
Shi Ge: “What’s wrong?”
Chi Yu: "During this period, I don't know what happened to the three bastards under my command. They insisted on recommending someone to be an external aid member of the spearhead team."
He blew out smoke rings, and the fine snow on the firecracker melted away. He couldn't help but feel a little curious. "But I really want to see the person who can be recommended so strongly by them."
"The spearhead team originally wanted to recruit four people, but they were not full. Although three people have been decided now, but... if they are suitable, that would be good."
"When those guys have completed their mission, I will go to inspect the work and see how that person is doing."
Shi Ge: “Yeah.”
A smile flashed across his eyes, and he roughly knew who this person was.
——
City F.
As early as when the first snow fell, Yuan Ting and the other two had completed their mission.
This training was very fruitful. Cen Le was promoted to level 9, Yuan Ting was promoted to level 9, and Zhi Ze temporarily stayed at level 8 due to the upgrade of the entanglement prophecy technique.
He is already a leader among high-level esper, but the threshold from high level to special level is extremely high, and the next upgrade will not be as easy as it is now.
Because the previous incident with the three-tailed fox had revealed some of his hidden abilities, Tokito no longer pretended to be weak and showed some of his abilities, often going out hunting with Haratei and the other two.
After five months of experience, except for the time light which remains the same, the other three have grown a lot.
The four of them worked together very well.
As they were about to leave City F, Cen Le and the other two were very reluctant to let Shi Deng go. After obtaining Shi Deng's consent, they applied to Lao Chi, wanting Shi Deng to become a foreign aid member of the spearhead team.
The so-called external aid members are members who can apply for help when the spearhead team receives a mission or encounters trouble. External aid members can accept or refuse, and have a high degree of freedom.
Of course, this kind of "friend" relationship is purely voluntary on both sides. Foreign aid members do not have the qualifications to enter Tiangu and are not under the jurisdiction of Tiangu.
Shi Deng has agreed to become a foreign aid member, but the spearhead team has yet to give their consent.
Chi came here today to pick them up. Zhi Ze and Cen Le reported the situation to him in the room.
"Shi Deng, don't be nervous. Instructor Chi is quite easy to talk to except during missions," Yuan Ting patted Shi Deng on the shoulder.
"When you go in later, just tell the truth. The instructor won't make it difficult for you."
Shi Deng was not nervous, but he was looking forward to meeting an old friend. He gave Yuan Ting a reassuring look and gently opened the door: "Hello, Instructor Chi."
Chi Yu: "Come in, Cen Lezhize, you guys go out first."
There were only two of them left in the room. Yu's gaze fell on Tokido's hair, he uttered "hmm", and then looked at the boy's face.
An undeniable sense of familiarity and intimacy suddenly welled up in my heart.
He was holding the application form for Shideng in his hand. Cen Le and the other three had a good eye for people and originally just wanted to go through the process, but when they saw this young man, the name "Shideng" seemed to suddenly come alive and have color.
"Your name is Shideng?"
The boy nodded.
He frowned slightly, and after a while, he asked hesitantly: "...Have we met somewhere before?"
Moreover, this child's surname is also Shi.
Is it related to Mr. Shi who suddenly appeared and never showed his face?
Shi Deng knew that Chi Yu was very sensitive, so she didn't show any abnormality and just shook her head obediently.
The room fell into silence.
After a long while, the pen tip crossed the paper of information. He forgot all the words he had prepared. He signed his name and left a badge. He stood up and walked to Shi Deng: "Here."
The time light took over.
Every member of Tiangu has his or her own badge, which they wear on their chest when going out to fight.
His ID card as a foreign aid member only qualifies him to participate in missions and battles, or to get discounts at some hotels and shopping malls under Tiangu's name.
The most direct benefit is the opportunity to get to know some of Tiangu's senior executives.
Apart from that, there is nothing else.
However, the specifications and formats of the ID cards for foreign aid members in different groups are also different.
On the palm of the hand was a black rectangle with his name engraved on it and a small sharp knife pattern in the lower right corner.
However, the difference between Shi Deng and the official members is that the material of his ID card is ordinary iron block, and it is engraved with the two words of his name and a sharp knife pattern, and it will not emit a weak light at night.
Even though he was just an outside player, Shi Deng was stunned for a moment, as if what he had lost had returned to him.
Unable to resist the urge to pat the other person on the head, he extended his hand as required and said, "I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation in the future."
Yes, it can only be considered a voluntary cooperation between both parties.
The young man closed his eyes, extended his hand, and said softly, "It's a pleasure to work with you."
The broad and gentle palm clasped the boy's slender fingers.
"We're leaving right now. Do you want to come with us?"
Shi Deng smiled: "Okay."
He nodded reluctantly and went out to prepare things. The New Year was approaching, and they planned to leave City F today. If they started leaving now, they would be able to reach Tiangu's training base at around eight or nine in the evening.
When he went out, the serious look on his face faded away. He could not understand why he skipped the routine inquiries before signing, and he could not understand the joy that surged in his heart when he saw the young man. He raised his head and muttered something strange.
Facing the bright and expectant eyes of his three subordinates, he smiled slowly: "Okay, I agree. Go in and help them pack their luggage. We will go together."
"Wuhu~" Yuan Ting's mouth was crooked with smile and he shouted excitedly.
The three of them rushed in quickly.
There was sunlight coming in from outside. The young man inside looked at his ID card, his eyes narrowed, and he held it tightly in his palm with care. Then he turned around and smiled brightly at them.
"Please take care of me in the future."
Yuan Ting rushed over and gave him a bear hug: "Hahahaha, it feels like I'm kidnapping someone into my home."
Zhize grabbed the back of his collar and said disdainfully, "Come on, let go, aren't you afraid that Shi Deng will turn around and leave?"
"I won't let go!"
"...Sister Le, save me." Shi Deng looked at Cen Le for help.
Cen Le smiled against his lips.
The four of them were making a noise together, and Lao Chi was watching outside the door, smoking a cigarette, with a smile in his eyes.
The inexplicable feeling of emptiness that I had when I saw the list of only three people admitted that day dissipated a little.
——
Night is falling.
A modified RV was driving at a steady speed on the wide road.
“It’s snowing!”
Lao Chi was driving the car, and the four people sitting in the back looked out the window one after another.
Tiny snowflakes were floating in the sky, and under the gray-blue sky, they looked like elves dancing lightly.
The four lights open the large windows on the top of the RV——
It is said that it was designed so that weapons can be mounted from the vehicle to kill monsters.
The four of them climbed onto the roof of the car, and the cool and stimulating wind blew in their faces, infinitely stimulating their senses. Yuan Ting looked at the scenery that was constantly receding, put his hands to his mouth, and shouted loudly: "Awesome!"
"I like snow—!"
“I want to be friends with my friends forever!”
"I don't want to be alone anymore!"
Emotions are contagious, especially excitement and happiness. The subtle rise in adrenaline easily infects the people around him. Yuan Ting said happily, "It feels so good, why don't you try to shout too?"
Cen Le smiled, but not as noisy as him, and said, "I hope that all the wishes in my heart can come true."
Zhizawa let himself go, stepped onto the guardrail on the roof of the car, and the light of prophecy lit up in his palms. He imitated him and shouted: "I predict that the future of this world must be bright--!"
Full of middle school feeling.
After five months of non-stop high-pressure battles, I felt a sense of suffocation in my heart. Now that I let it out, I feel relaxed from head to toe.
Yuan Ting hummed: "Only when the pollution disappears will there be light."
I heard that more than 300 years ago, when pollution had not yet occurred, the monsters were not as violent as they are now, and humans with special powers and monsters could live in peace and maintain the balance of the ecological chain.
Children with superpowers can go to school normally, instead of becoming superpowers voluntarily or forced to start cruel training and shoulder the heavy responsibility of saving the city.
"If there were no pollution, I would be in the first or second year of high school now, carrying a schoolbag, going to and from school normally, and going home to eat meals cooked by my family."
Cen Le: "I am half a year older than you. I should be in my third year of high school, taking the college entrance exam."
As if remembering something, she turned her head and looked to the side: "Shi Deng, I think we have never asked, how old are you?"
"I?"
Shi Deng didn't know what he was thinking. He was a little slow to react. After thinking for a while, he smiled and said, "I'm almost a hundred years old."
His appearance was frozen at the age of 19 when he first reminisced.
Every time he goes back, he will replace himself at that original time node, and the same goes for Uncle Fu.
However, every time he went back, he could not go beyond the time point of Xiao Deng, when Xiao Deng was 6 years old. All in all, plus his original age of 19, it seemed that he was almost 100 years old.
Yuan Ting laughed out loud without any hesitation, "Who are you framing? I think you are younger than all of us, and you don't even know how to make up a more realistic lie."
They discussed arranging the time light as the younger brother, making faces.
Shi Deng watched them fighting and quarreling, and through the countless torrents of time, he touched the truth hidden behind the illusion.
Not surprisingly, this will be his last time looking back.
If the plan goes smoothly, there is no possibility that Shi Ge will disappear. He will find a way to let Xiao Deng stay. Yuan Ting, Zhi Ze, Sister Le, Instructor Chi...
There will be a very good future.
After going back in time and time again, Tokito has long been accustomed to separation. If the initial purpose of going back in time was just to change the ending of Yuan Ting and others' death, then later on, it was not entirely the case.
I have seen a corner of the world devastated by the full-scale outbreak of pollution. If there is a chance to change it, why not give it a try?
After all, he...
"I like this world," the boy said softly.
They were speeding on the wide, deserted road, talking about the future while standing on the roof of their RV. In the distance across the fields were low-rise houses with their lights just turned on, and further away was a dazzling city.
It’s the smell of fireworks, it’s the human world.
"Huh? What?" The voice was too soft and Zhize next to him didn't hear it clearly.
Shi Deng thought, maybe he would disappear forever.
The future without him will be good.
Shi Deng exhaled, a glimmer of light appeared in the boy's eyes, and he shouted to the night sky: "I like this world——"
Because all the warmth he has ever felt came from the generous giving of people in this world.
Even though he wanted to commit suicide when he was ill; even though he had so many flashbacks and was misunderstood and scolded; even though he felt more pain in the process of completing his plan...
Zhize laughed and said, "I like it too."
Cen Le: "Me too."
Yuan Ting: "Add one plus one."
Inside the RV, the driver, Lao Chi, sneezed because he was frozen, and swore, "Like it or not, get out of here, you want to freeze to death?!"
The little lamp hiding in the old man's pocket yawned.
Laughing all the way.
…
Abyss light.
Shi Ge looked at the four people in the mirror, his gaze fixed on Shi Deng's heartfelt smile that had not appeared on his face for a long time.
After a moment, he grabbed a coat and went out.
…
The entrance to Tiangu training base.
I had a meeting to attend late at night, so I turned around and left.
The residence of Yuan Ting and the other two is at the training base, but they don't know where Shi Deng's home is.
Zhize said, "Why don't you squeeze in with us today and play some games. I feel like we won't have the opportunity to spend as much time together as we did in F City in the future."
Yuan Ting has no family, so he plans to go to Instructor Chi's house to eat and drink. Zhize and Sister Le will both go home.
Shi Deng held Xiao Deng in his arms, a little hesitant.
"I……"
"Well, just register," Yuan Ting took off the ID card worn by Shi Deng and pulled him to the guard.
They swiped their ID cards to enter. Yuan Ting, Zhi Ze, and Cen Le all passed through smoothly, only Shi Deng's was stuck.
The guard immediately felt the difference in the material and looked up: "Foreign help members?"
It was night time now, and the names on the time-light ID badge were not glowing, but the names on the ID badges of Yuan Ting and the other two were glowing faintly.
Zhize said, "Yes, it's getting late, we want to check in and let our friends sleep here for the night."
The guard handed the ID card back and gently refused.
"The rules state that only official members of Tiangu can enter. If you really have nowhere to go, you can go to the hotel owned by Tiangu on the street next door. I can help make a phone call and let your friends stay there for free."
Yuan Ting was a little anxious: "Is it not possible to register?"
Cen Le: "Uncle Gatekeeper..."
The guard shook his head: "Little girl, it's really not possible."
Tiangu’s rules are very strict, and no means no.
Yuan Ting immediately said: "Then let's move out together..."
"No need," Shi Deng interrupted him gently, "I've actually already called before, my brother will come to pick me up soon, the New Year is almost here, it's a good time to go home."
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and some people who can't wait have already started setting off fireworks.
The bang-bang sound sounds lively, but when it stops, it seems lonely.
The boy took back his ID card and teased it jokingly.
"You were so enthusiastic just now, and I was still confused about how to decline. This is perfect. Otherwise, Brother Shi might get angry. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future."
Yuan Ting and the other two thought of Shi Deng's brother who frightened them all. They hissed and Zhi Ze stopped immediately, "Forget it, we won't go with you."
The ID card was clenched in his palm, leaving a faint red mark. Shi Deng rejected their suggestion to wait with him until Shi Ge came over. He smiled and said, "You guys go in. I'll be leaving soon."
"Okay then, let's go back first."
"Um."
Snow fell from the sky, and the hidden light shone on the young man. The long empty street behind him seemed to have no end, and was illuminated only by the light cast by sporadic street lamps.
When their shadows disappeared from view, he lowered his head, stroked Xiao Deng's fur, and turned away.
The new snow that covered the streets was particularly soft when stepped on, leaving a trail of footprints behind.
The boy walked forward with his head down until he saw the tip of a shoe that didn't belong to him. Shi Deng was stunned for a moment and looked up.
"Brother Shi?"
"Um."
"Why are you here?"
Shi Ge was wearing a gray turtleneck sweater, and his profile looked softer than usual in the light and shadows cast by the snow and street lights.
He shook out the long thick coat that was draped over his arm, put it on the boy's shoulders, put a scarf on him, lowered his head and said in a low voice: "Didn't you tell them to call me?"
“But I didn’t.”
"Yes, I know."
“But you came anyway.”
Xiao Deng hid in the warmer scarf, rummaged around, and looked up at Shi Ge together with Shi Deng.
Shi Ge just said, "Chinese New Year is coming soon, Uncle Fu made dumplings."
Thinking of his plan, Shi Deng always felt a little sour on the tip of his nose. When he was stopped by the gatekeeper just now, the slight grievance that had dissipated in his heart in an instant seemed to surface again, and the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.
Shi Ge noticed it, lowered his eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"
After two or three seconds, the boy lowered his head, pulled the corner of his clothes, then stretched out his hand and opened his palm.
The ID card lay quietly, with marks left on the palm. Soft snowflakes fell on it, melted by body temperature, and the name engraved on it was a little dim at the moment.
"Brother, my name doesn't shine."
The kitten meowed.
Brother Shi picked it up and took a look at it. From his distant memory, he found the materials and specifications of the official ID card.
But he said nothing, put it in his pocket, and then held on to his younger self who had made different choices from him.
"Let's go home."
They walked forward together, and around the corner, disappeared in the snow.