Xu Qing's finger hovered over the phone screen, not daring to tap "Accept." The name "Temporal Administration Bureau" was too bizarre, and the profile picture—a quantum entanglement diagram—was something no ordinary person would recognize.
Footsteps of patrolling soldiers passed outside the tent. Xu Qing instinctively hid the phone under his bedding. Only when the sounds faded did he unlock the screen again. The friend request still blinked ominously.
"Screw it." He tapped "Accept."
A message instantly appeared:
**[Finally contacted you, Xu Qing. We are the Temporal Anomaly Correction Team, designation T-1793.]**
Xu Qing's fingers trembled as he typed:
**[Who are you? How do you know my name?]**
**[We've detected severe disturbances in the timeline of the 17th year of Chongzhen. Historical deviation has exceeded safe thresholds.]** The reply came unnaturally fast. **[You must cease transferring modern technology to the Ming Dynasty immediately.]**
Cold sweat dripped down Xu Qing's back.
**[Are you from the future?]**
**[In a sense, we are from all eras.]** An image appeared—a web of intertwining timelines. **[Your current timeline has branched seven times. Six lead to worse outcomes.]**
Before Xu Qing could ask more, Zhu Youjian's voice sounded outside:
*"Minister Xu, still awake?"*
Xu Qing locked his phone and shoved it under his pillow just as the emperor entered. Zhu Youjian wore plain clothes, dark circles under his eyes betraying his sleeplessness.
*"Your Majesty—"* Xu Qing made to rise.
*"At ease."* Zhu Youjian waved him down and sat on a wooden stool. *"We came to ask... is that Lin Lan truly so dangerous?"*
Xu Qing chose his words carefully.
*"He was my university classmate. Quantum physics major. Given resources..."* He suddenly realized something. *"Wait—his time travel might not have been accidental!"*
*"Oh?"*
*"Our lab was conducting quantum tunneling experiments. Lin Lan volunteered to operate the equipment..."* Xu Qing's blood ran cold. *"He may have planned this!"*
Zhu Youjian's brow furrowed.
*"You mean he deliberately came to this era to aid the Jiannu?"*
*"I'm not sure. But he mentioned Dorgon promised him a laboratory... That's suspicious."***
The tent fell silent. The night watchman's clappers signaled the third watch (midnight).
*"Minister Xu."* Zhu Youjian's voice dropped to a whisper. *"We suspect Cao Huachun is just the beginning."*
Xu Qing nodded. Historically, whether Cao Huachun truly opened the gates for rebels remained debated—but now...
*"Your Majesty, we must return to the capital. If Lin Lan teaches the Qing to make advanced weapons—"*
Zhu Youjian stood, resolve hardening his gaze.
*"We march at dawn. Sun Chuanting will escort the Crown Prince ahead."* A pause. *"As for Cao Huachun... We will deal with that old dog personally."*
After the emperor left, Xu Qing checked his phone. More messages:
**[Lin Lan is Temporal Fugitive T-482, sentenced to permanent isolation for illegal timeline alterations.]**
**[He escaped during a lab accident and is now creating chaos across eras.]**
**[You must assist in restoring the original timeline.]**
Xu Qing typed:
**[What's the 'original timeline'? Was the Ming Dynasty fated to fall?]**
The reply took longer this time:
**[History has elasticity, but key nodes must remain. The 19th day of the 3rd month, Chongzhen 17, is an anchor point.]**
Xu Qing's heart lurched—that was the date of Chongzhen's suicide in history!
**[What happens if the anchor changes?]**
**[The temporal fabric could collapse.]** The words were merciless. **[Your era would cease to exist.]**
---
At dawn, the army marched toward Beijing. Zhu Youjian arranged for Xu Qing to ride with him in a reinforced carriage—officially to discuss livestreams, but really for security.
Inside, Xu Qing decided to confess part of the truth.
*"Your Majesty, I've received... a celestial warning. The 19th day is pivotal."*
Zhu Youjian's gaze sharpened.
*"We've dreamed of it. That old locust tree on Coal Hill..."*
*"History can be changed, but some nodes—"** Xu Qing recalled the Bureau's warning and amended, *"—we must eliminate all threats before then."*
Zhu Youjian was silent for a long moment. Then:
*"Minister Xu... if We are doomed, can you take the Crown Prince and Empress to your time?"*
Xu Qing's throat tightened. *"Your Majesty—"*
*"This is not cowardice."* Zhu Youjian watched the fields rush past. *"Perhaps the Ming's fate is sealed. But Our bloodline... We would see them survive."*
Before Xu Qing could respond, the carriage jerked to a halt. Shouts erupted outside. Luo Yangxing's urgent voice:
*"Your Majesty! Qing scouts ahead! Twenty riders!"*
Zhu Youjian frowned. *"Did Sun Chuanting not clear the road?"*
*"They ride... strange carts! Unnaturally fast!"***
Xu Qing and Zhu Youjian exchanged a horrified look. They rushed out—and froze.
Barreling down the road were Qing cavalrymen riding *bicycles*.
*"Impossible!"* Xu Qing gasped. *"How could—"*
A crossbow bolt whistled past his ear, embedding itself in the carriage. The Qing leader had fired a modified arrow—with a *miniature camera* attached.
*"It's Lin Lan!"* Xu Qing yanked the bolt free. *"They're scouting our forces!"*
Zhu Youjian's face darkened. *"Double time! Reach the capital by nightfall!"*
---
As Beijing's walls appeared in the distance, Xu Qing's system screeched an alarm. Historical deviation had surged to *35.7%*. The energy bar now required *twelve days* to recharge.
Worse, a new log entry appeared:
**[Parallel timeline overlap detected. Current timeline stability: YELLOW ALERT.]**
The Forbidden City was in chaos. Reports stated Cao Huachun had "fallen ill" three days prior and secluded himself in the Western Gardens—yet no imperial physician had been summoned.
*"Tear the city apart if you must!"* Zhu Youjian roared. *"Find that traitor!"*
Checking palace surveillance footage, Xu Qing discovered Cao Huachun sneaking into the Palace of Heavenly Purity multiple times during the emperor's absence—*searching for something.*
*"He was after the time-travel equipment,"* Xu Qing realized. *"Lin Lan needs our tech!"*
Night fell. As Xu Qing examined Lin Lan's phone alone, a video call request popped up—from the Bureau.
A blurred figure appeared against a high-tech control room backdrop, voice digitally altered:
*"Xu Qing, time is short. Lin Lan is creating temporal rifts. If unchecked, both eras will collapse."*
*"What do I do?"* Xu Qing whispered.
*"First, cease all livestreams. Each time jump worsens the instability."* Data streams flashed onscreen. *"Second, locate Lin Lan's anchor device in your era."*
*"Anchor device?"*
*"He must have a quantum anchor fixed in your time, or temporal turbulence would shred him."* The image switched to a router-like object. *"Destroy it, and he'll be pulled back to confinement."*
Before Xu Qing could ask more, frantic footsteps approached. He hung up and hid the phone just as Wang Cheng'en burst in:
*"Master Xu! His Majesty summons you! The Crown Prince—he's gone again!"*
---
In the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Zhu Youjian clutched a letter, livid. Xu Qing read Zhu Cilang's hastily scrawled note:
*"Father, I've learned Cao Huachun hides at Lingfu Temple in the Western Hills. I go to investigate—this time, I will not fail you..."*
*"That fool boy!"* Zhu Youjian slammed his fist on the table. *"Straight from the tiger's den into—"*
Xu Qing checked GPS tracking. The Crown Prince's signal *was* moving toward the Western Hills—but so was *Lin Lan's phone signal*.
*"Your Majesty, it's a trap!"* Xu Qing showed the map. *"Lin Lan leaked Cao Huachun's location to lure the prince!"*
Zhu Youjian strode toward the door. *"Saddle my horse! We go—"*
*"No!"* Xu Qing blocked him. *"If you leave, you play into their hands! Lin Lan wants the time-travel devices *here*!"*
The emperor froze, agony and fury warring in his eyes. Never had Xu Qing seen him so torn.
*"Minister Xu."* Zhu Youjian's voice was raw. *"Take the Imperial Guards. Save Our son. We... will hold this place."*
Just as Xu Qing nodded, his system blared:
**[WARNING: Large-scale temporal disturbance detected. Parallel world convergence accelerating!]**
Outside, chaos erupted. A eunuch scrambled in, shrieking:
*"Your Majesty! The—the sky! There are *two moons*!"*
Everyone rushed out. High above, alongside the normal silver moon, hung a second orb—glowing *blood-red*.
Xu Qing's phone vibrated with a final message:
**[TIMELINE COLLAPSE IN 72 HOURS. LOCATE THE ANCHOR OR ALL WILL CEASE TO BE.]**