BOOM! The Time Machine erupted in a cataclysmic explosion, a tidal wave of heat hurling everyone nearby into chaos. Instructor Two slammed against the wall, a trickle of blood seeping from her lips. Ignoring the pain, she scrambled to her feet, eyes darting through the wreckage-strewn room, searching desperately for the old man.
A faint crackle broke through the debris. The mountain of rubble shifted, and the old man emerged, his usual icy demeanor replaced by a manic grin. For the first time, he stood, his frail body radiating newfound vigor. His arms twisted, joints popping with a crack-crack as he flexed. With a sweeping gesture, the scattered debris ignited, disintegrating into ash in an instant. His eyes blazed with triumph as he threw back his head and roared with laughter. He'd done it. Success.
Lei Zhengyang stirred, his eyes opening to a starless night sky. Where was he? Reality or another twisted dream? He craned his neck, the cool air sharp in his lungs, yet strangely comforting, tinged with a haunting familiarity.
His last memory was stepping into the Time Machine. Instructor Two's tear-streaked face as she wailed. The old man's feverish excitement as he slammed the activation button. Then, his consciousness had unraveled.
Am I back? Is this my world?
He needed answers. A person, anyone, to tell him where he was, what year, what day. Glancing around, he found himself in a grimy alley, dimly lit by flickering streetlights, the air thick with the stench of rot.
Footsteps echoed—light, rapid, unmistakably a woman's. Then heavier steps, pursuing her. Lei Zhengyang's senses sharpened. Trouble was brewing.
A woman burst into view: sleek, stylish, her long legs and graceful curves screaming modern beauty. The faint scent of liquor clung to her, and a surge of euphoria hit Lei Zhengyang like a lightning bolt. I'm back. I'm really back!
Three men chased her, their gaudy appearances—dyed red hair, unbuttoned shirts, and sleazy swagger—marking them as thugs. Predators hunting a lone woman in the dead of night. Her short skirt and exposed thighs were a siren's call, tempting any man with a pulse.
"Stay back!" she snapped, her voice icy as she brandished a bottle from her bag. "This is sulfuric acid, imported straight from hell. Come closer, and I'll give you a face-lift you'll never forget!"
Lei Zhengyang grinned. She wasn't just gorgeous—she was a firecracker. Back in the day, he preferred docile women, but this spitfire felt like a breath of fresh air. The first person he'd met in this reborn life, and she was already unforgettable.
"Bitch, you think you scare me?" the lead thug sneered, his vest barely covering his tattooed chest. "I'm the king of West Street. Play nice, and we'll have some fun. Cross me, and I'll make you wish you were dead—after I'm done with you."
He waved his lackeys forward, but stayed back himself, wary of the "acid." The two goons crept closer, fear flickering in their eyes. The woman retreated, clutching her bottle with one hand, shielding her chest with the other. Panic crept into her expression. That bottle wasn't acid—just a bluff to fend off these wolves. She was scanning for an escape.
Damn, what a night, she thought. She'd dodged her lecherous boss's advances, only to stumble into this den of creeps. Maybe enduring his sleazy pickup lines would've been better than this.
"Excuse me," a voice cut through the tension, calm but firm. "I don't mean to interrupt, but could you point me in the right direction?"
Lei Zhengyang sat in the shadows, unnoticed until now. His sudden words startled everyone—the thugs froze, but the woman's face lit up with hope.
"Help me!" she cried, her voice steady despite the danger. "These creeps are trying to assault me! Be my hero, and I'll make it worth your while!" Her expression shifted in an instant, a perfect blend of vulnerability and allure, as if daring him to abandon her would be a sin.
A beauty worth fighting for, Lei Zhengyang thought, a smirk tugging at his lips.
The lead thug burst into laughter, spotting him. "Thought we had a problem, but it's just a filthy beggar! You two, keep an eye on the girl. I'll deal with this trash—he's ruining my appetite."
He drew a gleaming dagger, sneering. "Three seconds to vanish, or I'll carve you up and leave you bleeding in this alley."
If he weren't so distracted by his prize, he'd have already broken the "beggar's" limbs. But Lei Zhengyang wasn't in the mood for mercy. Before anyone could blink, the dagger was in his hand, plucked from the thug's grip with effortless precision. He ran a finger along the blade, voice casual. "Sharp. Nice craftsmanship. Oh, and one thing—I'm no beggar. Just passing through."
The woman's eyes sparkled with excitement. How did he do that?
Every woman dreams of a dashing savior swooping in to rescue her from danger, sparking a love story for the ages. Most wake up to marry men they barely tolerate, living out dull lives. But this moment, this man—she dared to hope he was her knight in shining armor.
"What are you waiting for?" the lead thug roared, humiliated. "Take him down, then we'll have our fun with her!"
The goons charged, blades flashing. Lei Zhengyang moved like a phantom, and in seconds, the thugs were sprawled across the alley, limbs twisted, howling in agony. The dagger? It was now buried in the leader's knee, pinning him to the ground. He wouldn't die, but he'd limp for life.
"Woo-hoo!" The woman didn't flee. Instead, she leaped with joy, her long, tantalizing legs stealing the spotlight as she cheered.
Lei Zhengyang ignored the spectacle, focused on his questions. "Where am I?"
"You don't know?" she blinked, incredulous. "This is Tianhai, the glittering jewel of the East, the richest city in the nation! Hey, wait—where are you going? Hold on!"
He had his answers. June 15, 2012—one year after his departure. He was back in his world, but something had gone wrong. Instead of Beijing, he'd landed in Tianhai.
As the woman called the police, Lei Zhengyang slipped away. He had no time for cops. The old man had fused his memories—decades of his future life—into Lei Zhengyang's mind before the jump. He knew the stakes. After the Song Yingfei incident, the Song and Lei families had clashed, plunging Beijing into chaos. To restore order, the government had weakened both clans. The Lei family, once a titan, slid into obscurity, reduced to a third-rate power. The Song family fared no better. It was a war with no victors.
He had to return to Beijing. He had to rewrite this tragedy.