Chapter 129

The First World remained a place of howling winds and flying sand.

Stepping onto this land, the gale nearly knocked them over. Fortunately, the anti-gravity fishline devices allowed them to steady themselves and stumble forward.

"How's it going?" Tong Yang asked.

Over the phone, Wu Pingxue's voice was heavy: "The one-way passages to the other two worlds are sealed. We can begin the operation."

"Good."

The time was approaching eight in the morning. It should have been sunrise, but the sky was shrouded in a blanket of gray mist.

"The android forces are assembling, dispersed across four key locations in the affluent district. Everyone except Tong Yang will go in pairs to organize. The primary objective is to destroy the four top-tier androids and return to support Tong Yang. The secondary objective is to buy as much time as possible, to win breathing room for Tong Yang."

"Understood."

"Got it!"

The tornadoes brewed by the energy storms were gone, replaced by an invisible resistance in the air, as if hindering their every step. Each movement was exceptionally difficult.

"Take care."

"You too!"

Tong Yang clasped their hands, offering final farewells.

Wu Pingxue informed the others of the android forces' locations, instructing them to depart immediately.

Tong Yang stood in place, watching their retreating figures as wind-blown sand blurred her vision.

A moment later, Tong Yang turned and left, embarking alone on a mission that seemed nearly impossible.

Actually, while talking to Wu Pingxue, Tong Yang had wanted to ask one question.

Was the person who executed the top-secret mission, splitting the magnetic field energy into other timelines, 2036 Tong Le?

Once the temporal displacement between the 2014 and 2026 timelines vanished, Tong Yang's own timeline would form a closed loop. 2036 Tong Le would then exist alone in a separate timeline, exactly like the method used to destroy the magnetic field energy.

So, would the magnetic field energy enter the same timeline as 2036 Tong Le?

2036 Tong Le couldn't interfere with events in Tong Yang's timeline, so why did he come back to find her? According to him, he couldn't wait a moment longer, wanting to see Tong Yang sooner.

But if he lived in 2036, he could see her once the event of Tong Yang's death in 2024 was altered. Even with all the uncertainties in Tong Yang's timeline, for 2036 Tong Le, the change would be instantaneous. Why would he need to engage in time travel...

Suddenly!

A realization dawned on Tong Yang!

It's different! 2036 Tong Le's position is different from the other two world's time travelers!

The time traveler from the First World was from a defeated nation in the world war. Decades later, he found the magnetic field energy, returned to the past, and used it to change the outcome of the war. He could meddle in different timelines!

The parallel world time traveler, Wu Pingxue, after his homeland was invaded by the First World, used the magnetic field energy to return to the past, developed it, and ended the war with the First World. He could still interfere across different times and even different worlds!

Why can't 2036 Tong Le?

Why is he the only one who can't, even needing to borrow Tong Yang's hand? He knows what might happen in the future; wouldn't it be better for him to complete the task himself?

Even to prevent her death on May 28th, 2036 Tong Le could have chosen other methods.

Why? Why!

—Everything was preparation for the final secret operation.

He entered a solitary timeline, bringing the magnetic field energy into his own timeline before the temporal displacement between Tong Yang and the bystander group members vanished and the closed loop formed. This way, even if they existed in the same world, their timelines could never intersect or overlap.

Tong Yang's footsteps halted, staring blankly ahead.

But the magnetic field energy affects the human brain. The parallel world developed a portion of it and already caused certain effects. If the magnetic field energy cores of two worlds fused, and one person faced the full impact of that energy... what would 2036 Tong Le become?

If Tong Yang's speculation was correct...

"You seem troubled."

Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded beside her.

Tong Yang's eyes felt dry. She stiffly turned her head to see a familiar face.

Parallel World Tong Yang leaned against a wall, smiling at her.

Tong Yang lowered her gaze and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Parallel World Tong Yang said, "With such a big event happening in the First World, of course I came to watch the show. Besides, I told you during our first meeting that I was looking forward to seeing what changes you would make."

Tong Yang closed her eyes slightly. "The passage from the parallel world to the First World should have been unilaterally sealed."

"I came in last night," Parallel World Tong Yang replied.

"Where is First World Tong Yang?" Tong Yang asked.

"I know where she is, but I see hesitation on your face. What's wrong? Isn't protecting the real world your unwavering duty?" Parallel World Tong Yang said with a laugh.

Tong Yang wasn't sure if she was hesitating. "Protecting the real world was never something I wanted to do."

She wasn't some selfless hero. Initially, she just wanted to survive and change her and Tong Le's lives.

"Take me to her," Tong Yang said firmly.

Parallel World Tong Yang studied her expression, then after a moment said, "Alright, but you have to tell me your reason for hesitating. I'm curious."

Together, they headed towards First World Tong Yang's location.

"I'm not hesitating."

Tong Yang knew what she had to do. Things had evolved to this point; it was no longer just about her.

It was highly likely 2036 Tong Le would end up in a separate timeline, alone with the magnetic field energy.

Even so, Tong Yang wouldn't stop. Because she wasn't alone. Ye Huai, Chu Shiyu, Xu Junyue, Tang Li... the entire real world was standing with her. She couldn't stop by herself.

Tong Yang was very, very clear about this in her heart. So she would do her utmost to kill First World Tong Yang.

What she hesitated about was: Was there truly no one else who could do this besides 2036 Tong Le?

At this point, it seemed there was no need for further concealment. Tong Yang told Parallel World Tong Yang about the existence of 2036 Tong Le and all her speculations.

"If you succeed in killing First World Tong Yang, 2036 Tong Le will enter a solitary timeline with the magnetic field energy, correct?" Parallel World Tong Yang said.

"Yes."

"How do you feel about that?" Parallel World Tong Yang asked.

Tong Yang said thoughtfully, "What if we used the positional energy to send 2036 Tong Le back to the future, and if I died when the temporal displacement was no more than ten minutes, what would happen if I returned to ten minutes before that point?"

Tong Yang found herself in a time-displaced loop. If the gap between the two timelines was already less than ten minutes, and she entered the loop to go back ten minutes, wouldn't that create a new time difference with the real world? She would be on a separate timeline, always a few minutes out of sync with reality. Couldn't she then carry the magnetic field energy into different timelines?

After hearing Tong Yang's words, Parallel World Tong Yang wore a complicated expression.

"You're overthinking it. At the very least, after defeating First World Tong Yang, that's when you'll need to consider such things."

Tong Yang remained silent, pushing forward against the immense resistance.

"Are you prepared?" Parallel World Tong Yang asked.

Tong Yang was puzzled. "Prepared for what?"

"Didn't I tell you about First World Tong Yang's weakness? It should be useful to you."

Tong Yang lowered her gaze. "Do you know why she's afraid of rats?"

"Why?"

"Because after Tong Le died in the First World, she found his discarded body in a garbage dump, being gnawed on by rats."

Parallel World Tong Yang's expression stiffened slightly. "Is that so?"

"I don't want to dishonor Tong Le's death that way."

"You're so lucky. You have two Tong Les, even one who grew up," Parallel World Tong Yang sighed. "I would also love to see what Tong Le looks like all grown up."

Tong Yang's eyes froze, suddenly thinking of something.

At the same time, Xu Junyue and the others arrived at the areas where the android troops were stationed.

Dark clouds pressed down on the sky. Looking down from a high vantage point, the dense masses of androids resembled ants pouring out of a nest, gathered together, awaiting orders from the top-tier android in a golden cloak standing at the front of the formation.

"This is insane..."

Xu Junyue murmured in disbelief upon seeing this scene.

For them to stop tens of thousands of androids was simply impossible.

Tang Li's expression was grave. "Mi Qi has arrived with the armed forces from the slums. Combined with their firepower, we should be able to hold out temporarily."

Xu Junyue said, "If the boss can't kill First World Tong Yang, everyone will die eventually. It's just a matter of time."

Tang Li nodded. "Correct."

"However, the most likely outcome is that we all die here along with Tong Yang."

The android army cast a vast shadow over the ground, so immense it seemed capable of devouring everything around it. It was unimaginable what tragedy would unfold if such a powerful android force entered the real world.

What lay before them was only death.

"They're here."

First World Tong Yang was lounging lazily on a pile of rubble, looking up at the two of them.

"Long time no see," she greeted Parallel World Tong Yang, then turned her gaze to Tong Yang. "What a pity, our companions aren't here."

Tong Yang lowered her eyes. "Indeed."

"So, shall the game begin?"

Tong Yang looked at her quietly, then suddenly asked, "Aren't you curious about what Tong Le looks like grown up?"

First World Tong Yang narrowed her eyes. "Tong Le is dead."

Tong Yang continued as if speaking to herself, "I met Tong Le from the year 2036. He used magnetic field energy to return to the present and orchestrated all of this."

The ultimate goal of 2036 Tong Le was to separate himself and the magnetic field energy onto other timelines. Everything he and Wu Pingxue did was to facilitate this purpose.

First World Tong Yang watched her, her face expressionless. "What are you trying to say?"

Tong Yang said, "He's somewhere in the wealthy district right now. Don't you want to see him?"

Tong Yang understood herself. Even from different worlds, different timelines, Tong Le was Tong Le. Any version of Tong Le was still Tong Le to her.

First World Tong Yang and Parallel World Tong Yang weren't as fortunate as her; Tong Le had not remained alive by their side.

If it weren't for the young Tong Le supporting her, Tong Yang would have become just like them. It was precisely because Tong Yang had something she cared about in her heart that she could stubbornly persist in doing what she believed was right, at least never becoming a truly cold and heartless person.

First World Tong Yang was silent for a moment. "Where is he?"

"I don't know, but he must be at the place closest to the energy core."

First World Tong Yang looked at her, suddenly let out a laugh, and said, "Your companions are shedding blood and sacrificing themselves to stop the android army. Are you sure you want to talk about this with me now?"

Tong Yang felt she was being naive, but also wondered, since she herself could be this naive, might First World Tong Yang also be naive?

"Go to the real world," Tong Yang said.

First World Tong Yang was taken aback. "What did you say?"

"Since you feel nothing matters and just want me dead, you go be the sister to the Tong Le who is still alive. What 2036 Tong Le can do, I can probably do too."

Tong Yang could enter the loop because of the time difference; she couldn't loop like Parallel World Yan Qing.

Therefore, when the time difference between the two worlds fell below ten minutes, if she entered the loop and went back ten minutes, she would jump out of the time difference. She couldn't affect others' time, and naturally couldn't align with their timeline to complete the loop.

If the time difference was only nine minutes, her time would likely be one minute slower than everyone else's.

Because others only needed nine minutes to align, but she needed ten.

If this works...

2036 Tong Le had said that after the magnetic field energy disappeared, two timelines couldn't coexist in the real world. Even if they existed simultaneously in reality, they would never intersect, only catching faint traces of each other's presence at precisely the right moments.

Parallel World Tong Yang exclaimed in surprise, "Are you serious?"

Tong Yang said, "Utterly serious."

As long as 2036 Tong Le could be sent back to 2036 without anyone noticing.

If Tong Yang became the temporal anchor point for the energy cores of the magnetic fields in both worlds, it should be possible.

"Well?" Tong Yang looked at First World Tong Yang, who remained silent on the collapsed wall.

First World Tong Yang's eyes were deep and dark. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill him?"

"Anyone in the First World might harm him, but you? Absolutely impossible."

Tong Yang thought her idea was excellent. It could accomplish the plan without needing a life-or-death struggle with First World Tong Yang.

Since she would die one way or another, she might as well utilize her death to the utmost.

At that moment, a red beam of light pierced through the building, appearing before Tong Yang.

This was the sensor bracelet Tong Yang had given to Xu Junyue and the others.

It would only emit a red beam when their vital signs were critically bad.

Tong Yang's time was running out.

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