I Hijacked the Timeline (IHT)

Closing his notebook, Feng Qi realized it was already afternoon. He stretched lazily and prepared to leave the dormitory.

During the day, Lin Ran had called him, inviting him to study at the library again, but he had declined.

This afternoon, he had a more pressing matter—he wanted to talk to Bai Fusheng about Mu Qing.

Since Bai Fusheng was the Principal of Star City Academy, Feng Qi figured he must know more details about Mu Qing's situation.

Pulling out the business card, Feng Qi dialed the number. Soon, Bai Fusheng's voice came through from the other end of the line.

"Who is this?"

"Shi-gong, it's me, Feng Qi. I need to consult you about something."

"Oh, Feng Qi, huh? Come straight to my office. It's easier to talk in person."

Bai Fusheng's response was brisk and straightforward. After exchanging a few words and noting the location of his office, Feng Qi left the dormitory and headed toward the Principal's Office.

Star City Academy was enormous. After half an hour of walking, Feng Qi finally arrived at Building No. 1.

He entered the building, took the elevator to the top floor, and soon found the door labeled "Principal's Office". Knocking on the door, he heard Bai Fusheng's voice from inside.

"Feng Qi, is that you? Come on in."

Pushing the door open, Feng Qi saw Bai Fusheng holding a small watering can, carefully tending to the potted plants that lined the office.

Upon seeing him, Bai Fusheng's face lit up with a warm smile.

"Come, take a seat. What do you want to ask?"

Feng Qi sat down at the large desk across from Bai Fusheng. After a brief pause, he got straight to the point.

"Shi-gong, I'd like to know more about Mu Qing."

Hearing Mu Qing's name, Bai Fusheng's expression shifted slightly, a look of surprise crossing his face.

"What do you want to know about her?"

"She's my friend," Feng Qi replied calmly.

"Your friend?" Bai Fusheng frowned slightly and said with a hint of seriousness, "I'd advise you to keep your distance from her."

"Why?" Feng Qi narrowed his eyes. "Do you also discriminate against her because she's a Rune-Enhanced Human?"

Bai Fusheng shook his head, not at all offended by the question. Instead, he patiently explained:

"I wouldn't have allowed her into Star City Academy if I were prejudiced. The main issue is that her emotional state is extremely unstable. Her strength is formidable, and there's a real risk of her losing control and hurting you. During her time here, Mu Qing has already lost control more than once."

Realizing that Bai Fusheng's concern was for his safety, Feng Qi decided to press further.

"Shi-gong, can you tell me what you know about Mu Qing's background?"

"I don't know much about her personally," Bai Fusheng said thoughtfully. "Her entry into Star City Academy was arranged at the request of the Crimson Research Institute. That's the main reason I agreed. What I can confirm is that Mu Qing is a subject of observation and research for them. Her transformation into a Rune-Enhanced Human is a direct result of their experiments."

Hearing this, Feng Qi's heart sank, his suspicions deepening.

"The Rune-Enhanced Human project was banned long ago. How is the Crimson Research Institute still conducting such experiments out in the open?" he asked with a frown.

"Yes, it was banned," Bai Fusheng admitted. "But the Crimson Research Institute is unique. It's an independent research organization directly overseen by the military. They have special privileges that allow them to carry out small-scale experimental projects, including the Rune-Enhanced Human program. The rationale is simple—while this path has been considered a dead end in the past, any breakthroughs could significantly accelerate humanity's advancement."

Feng Qi's brows furrowed deeper as he asked, "Even if the Crimson Research Institute has the authority to conduct such experiments, does that give them the right to force people into these experiments without consent?"

Hearing this, Bai Fusheng was momentarily stunned.

"All of the experiments conducted by the Crimson Research Institute are formally approved and reported to the military. Every participant in their human trials has signed up voluntarily. Forced participation would be impossible. Did Mu Qing tell you otherwise?"

Bai Fusheng's words made Feng Qi realize something important.

It seemed that many of the Crimson Research Institute's actions were officially sanctioned. However, Feng Qi couldn't bring himself to believe the organization was truly innocent.

In Mu Qing's fragmented memories, he had seen a particular scene.

A black-clad woman had taken the already orphaned Mu Qing away, claiming she needed to "complete unfinished experiments."

At that time, he could clearly feel the young Mu Qing's internal resistance and struggle.

This alone was enough for Feng Qi to believe that the Crimson Research Institute was definitely hiding something.

With this thought lingering in his mind, Feng Qi looked at Bai Fusheng and continued to ask:

"Was Mu Qing's transformation into a Rune-Enhanced Human truly voluntary?"

"She was indeed willing," Bai Fusheng replied with certainty. "I specifically questioned the Crimson Research Institute about this. They told me that Mu Qing's parents were originally scavengers living outside the city. Years ago, when Star City accepted and resettled a group of scavengers, her family was among them."

"After they settled in the city, her parents voluntarily signed up when the Crimson Research Institute began public recruitment for live experimental subjects. They underwent a series of Rune Enhancement experiments, but due to rejection between their bodies and the rune energy, none of them made it."

Feng Qi frowned and retorted immediately, "That doesn't make sense. Why would Mu Qing's parents willingly participate in a dangerous experiment? Didn't they know the risks involved? If something went wrong, what would happen to young Mu Qing? Wouldn't they have considered that?"

"I was just as confused at the time," Bai Fusheng admitted. "So I asked the Crimson Research Institute representative handling the matter the same question. Their answer was that Mu Qing's family volunteered because… they didn't have long to live anyway."

Seeing Feng Qi's puzzled expression, Bai Fusheng continued explaining:

"The information I received was that Mu Qing's family had encountered an attack from a Domain Transcender while they were scavenging outside the city. Although reinforcements arrived in time, Mu Qing and her parents had already inhaled the poisonous mist exhaled by the Domain Transcender. The dose wasn't fatal, but with modern medical technology, there was no way to cure them. At most, they had about three years left to live. So, they negotiated specific conditions with the Crimson Research Institute and then voluntarily participated in the Rune Enhancement program."

"What kind of conditions?" Feng Qi pressed.

"They wanted Mu Qing to grow up healthy and receive the best possible education. The Crimson Research Institute honored their promise a year ago by sending Mu Qing here to Star City Academy."

Bai Fusheng's answer only deepened Feng Qi's doubts.

If Mu Qing had been forced into becoming a Rune-Enhanced Human, why would the Crimson Research Institute willingly let her go and send her to a cultivation academy to study?

From what Feng Qi had gathered from the future, the Crimson Research Institute hadn't interfered with Mu Qing's life after that point. She had graduated, joined a Domain Combat Squad, and become a Domain Warrior.

If the Crimson Research Institute was truly an evil organization, wouldn't they have imprisoned Mu Qing and continued their experiments on her?

Thinking this through, Feng Qi suddenly felt like his assumptions about the Crimson Research Institute being utterly malicious might have been… off the mark.

His thoughts were in turmoil. Could there be hidden truths he wasn't seeing?

At this moment, he recalled that the image he had seen in Mu Qing's memory was just one fragment, just a single piece of the puzzle. After listening to Bai Fusheng's explanation, even he started to doubt his earlier conclusions.

If Mu Qing later voluntarily continued participating in the Rune Enhancement experiments, what exactly had led her to develop such intense hatred toward humanity?

Unable to figure it out, Feng Qi felt his head begin to ache.

The truth, which had seemed so close to being within his grasp, had once again turned into an unfathomable fog.

After chatting for a while longer, Feng Qi finally bid Bai Fusheng farewell and returned to his dormitory.

Since he couldn't make sense of it now, he decided to visit the Dream Realm again to search for more clues. Maybe this time, he could uncover something useful to piece together the full truth.