Beyond the Timescape

Chapter 26: A Person’s Dusk

South Phoenix Continent, eastern region.

The season had already bled into summer. With the increasingly heavy rains came a stifling, oppressive heat.

“It’s May,” Xu Qing murmured.

The midday sun glared down at him as he stepped out of Master Bai’s tent, his daily lesson complete. He looked up at the endless blue sky. Unconsciously, two months had already passed since he first arrived at the Scavenger Camp.

His harrowing survival in the blood-soaked ruined city felt like a lifetime ago, yet the memories remained seared into his mind, sharp and vivid.

Compared to the starving slum rat he had been just over two months prior, the changes in him were staggering. Between the rapid advancement of his cultivation and his expanding knowledge of toxic flora, Xu Qing could feel himself constantly evolving.

Thanks to Captain Lei’s generous meat rations, his previously malnourished frame had filled out with dense, wiry muscle. The Sea Mountain Technique stoked his vitality into a roaring furnace, causing his body to instinctively radiate a sharp, predatory aura.

Perhaps it was a side effect of endlessly visualizing the god-like knife strike from the ruined temple, but his eyes had grown unnervingly bright. The more he practiced, the more piercing his gaze became. Yet, his time auditing Master Bai’s classes had tempered that feral edge with a deceptive layer of scholarly calm.

He kept his hands meticulously clean. Even though he never washed the grime from his face, it could no longer fully conceal his delicate, handsome features. The women of the night, lounging in their feather-draped tents, frequently cast lingering, hungry glances his way.

Xu Qing ignored them all.

His mood had been bleak these past few days. He still hadn’t found the Destiny Flower, and Captain Lei’s physical deterioration was becoming impossible to ignore. The old man was withering away.

Because of this, Xu Qing ventured into the restricted zone less and less. Every day, the moment Master Bai’s lecture ended, he would head straight back to their shack. Even though he spent most of his time cultivating in his own room, simply sensing Captain Lei’s presence through the thin wall grounded him.

He cherished their evening meals more than ever.

Today was no different. Walking silently through the bustling camp, Xu Qing ignored the surrounding scavengers and headed straight for the grocery store.

The moment the scarred little girl saw him, she dropped what she was doing, scurried behind the counter, and retrieved a jug of wine. She handed it directly to him. She was already used to his daily routine.

“Thank you,” Xu Qing said softly, his eyes briefly catching the jagged scar on her face.

Despite her disfigurement, the girl was relentlessly optimistic. She beamed at him and opened her mouth to speak, but a gruff scavenger barked an order, demanding her attention.

Xu Qing didn’t mind. He took the wine and turned to leave. Catching his retreating figure in her periphery, the girl hurriedly finished with the scavenger and sprinted to the door.

“Kid brother!” she called out.

Xu Qing paused and looked back. The little girl jogged over, extending her small, grubby hand. She uncurled her fingers to reveal a single piece of candy.

“I don’t know why you’ve been so sad lately,” she said, her voice bright. “But whenever I’m sad, my mom gives me candy. I eat it, and then I’m happy again. This is my last piece. I’m giving it to you.”

Afraid he would refuse, she shoved it directly into his palm and bolted back toward the shop. Right before she crossed the threshold, she spun around and shouted, “Kid brother, be happy!”

Xu Qing stood frozen in the dirt street. He watched her disappear inside, then slowly lowered his gaze to the candy in his palm. He stared at it for a long time.

Carefully, he tucked it away into his coat.

Further down the road, a commotion broke out near the camp entrance. Two separate caravans had arrived.

The leading caravan was opulent. The wagons were pristine, the horses massive and robust, far surpassing anything Xu Qing had ever seen. They were escorted by heavily armed guards and several middle-aged cultivators radiating intense spiritual energy. Yet, they were clearly just the hired muscle.

A group of teenagers stepped out of the lavish carriages. They were around sixteen or seventeen, dressed in pristine silks, their skin fair and unblemished. The young men were handsome, the young women beautiful. They carried themselves with an air of absolute superiority, sneering at the filth and squalor of the camp. Refusing to step foot inside, they ordered their massive entourage of nearly a hundred servants to set up camp outside the gates.

The second caravan, trailing behind, was decent but looked utterly shabby in comparison. Clearly aware of the leading group’s elite status, the second caravan had kept a wide berth the entire journey. Their passengers disembarked quietly, keeping their heads down as they slipped into the camp.

Xu Qing barely spared them a glance. Caravans passed through every few days, either posting bounties or preparing to brave the restricted zone. The camp was a revolving door of the desperate and the arrogant. It was nothing new.

When he returned to the courtyard, he found Captain Lei going through his physical exercises. Bathed in the late afternoon sun, the old man looked frail, carrying a heavy sense of twilight about him. Xu Qing’s chest tightened.

“Bought my wine again, eh? Good, good,” Captain Lei chuckled, noticing the jug in Xu Qing’s hand. “Alright, go tidy up the kitchen. I’ll take a stroll and grab some meat.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, the old man shuffled out of the yard. This was their unspoken agreement: Captain Lei always bought the food. Xu Qing never argued, but he quietly increased the rent he paid to compensate. It was just how they operated.

Today, however, Captain Lei returned much earlier than usual. Xu Qing had barely finished wiping down the kitchen counters when the old man walked in with fresh meat. He offered a warm smile and immediately started cooking.

Xu Qing sat in his usual spot to observe and learn, but unease gnawed at him. At this pace, dinner would be served well before dusk.

Realizing what this meant, Xu Qing’s throat went dry. He watched the old man bustle around the kitchen, wanting to say something, but the words died on his tongue. He remained silent.

Captain Lei chatted away as he cooked, casually discussing camp gossip as if nothing was wrong.

The sun was still hanging in the sky when the food hit the table. Captain Lei sat down, looked at the unnervingly quiet teenager, and reached out to pat his head.

“Kid, I bought my entry permit for Songtao City,” Captain Lei said, his voice steady. “I’ll pack my bags tonight. I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning.”

He uncorked the wine Xu Qing had just bought and took a long, deep pull.

Xu Qing froze. He stared at the table for a long time before lowering his head. “So soon?” he whispered.

Captain Lei didn’t answer immediately. A hollow laugh finally escaped his lips. “Actually, I bought it a while ago. Just didn’t know how to tell you. Don’t look so sour, kid. In this world, there’s no such thing as a banquet that never ends.” He took another heavy gulp of wine. “Come on. Eat.”

Xu Qing looked at the weathered, dying man across from him. He silently picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. The food should have been delicious, but it tasted like ash in his mouth.

Watching him, Captain Lei sighed inwardly, but kept the smile plastered on his face. He continued to ramble about trivial camp matters.

Twenty minutes passed in agonizing slowness before Xu Qing suddenly spoke. “Shouldn’t we wait for Cross and Luan Ya? They’ll be back soon.”

“No point. If they come back now, they’ll just mope around exactly like you are. Besides, you kids can always come visit me when you have the time.”

Captain Lei pulled his tobacco pipe from his coat and took a slow drag. The thick smoke plumed upward, obscuring his face, making him look distant and hazy.

He finished his meal quickly.

When Lei finally stood up to pack his room, Xu Qing remained at the table. He stared at his half-eaten food, his appetite completely gone. After a long time, he stood up. For the first time since moving in, he didn’t wash the dishes. Instead, he walked into Captain Lei’s room.

“Are you really leaving?” Xu Qing asked softly.

“Don’t be so sad. I’m moving to the city! You should be happy for me,” Captain Lei laughed heartily, waving the boy over to help fold his clothes.

Xu Qing walked over in silence. He meticulously scrubbed his hands clean in the washbasin before touching the garments, folding each piece with absolute precision.

With his help, the packing was done in minutes. Captain Lei left the vast majority of his belongings behind, pushing them toward Xu Qing.

“The house is yours now, too,” Lei said.

“I’ll pay rent,” Xu Qing replied, his tone dead serious.

Captain Lei just smiled, not bothering to argue. Instead, he pulled Xu Qing down to sit beside him. As the evening bled into night, he began detailing the personalities and threats of the various scavengers in the camp, placing heavy emphasis on the camp leader.

“The camp leader is not a simple man. He’s backed by the Vajra Sect,” Lei warned, his tone dropping. “The Vajra Sect is the absolute hegemon of this entire region. Dozens of cities and camps operate under their thumb. Their patriarch is a Foundation Establishment expert. As long as you’re here, you must always keep your guard up around him.”

By the time he finished, it was pitch black outside. Noticing the deep exhaustion etched into the old man’s face, Xu Qing silently stood up and left the room.

Captain Lei watched the boy’s retreating back and let out a long, heavy sigh.

That night was the first time since arriving at the camp that Xu Qing did not cultivate.

He sat on his bed, staring blankly into the oppressive darkness outside his window. He sat there until the black sky bled into a pale grey, and finally, into the golden light of dawn.

“Too fast,” Xu Qing whispered. A suffocating melancholy gripped his heart.

Unlike his usual routine, he didn’t leave his room at first light. He sat perfectly still, waiting until he heard the familiar creak of Captain Lei’s door opening. Only then did he step outside.

The morning sun spilled into the courtyard, casting long shadows. The old man and the feral youth stood in the light, looking at each other.

“Kid, I’m off,” Captain Lei said, forcing a smile.

“I’ll see you off.”

“No need. Hurry up and get to class.”

“I’ll see you off.”

“You…”

“I’ll see you off,” Xu Qing repeated, his cold eyes locking onto the old man, leaving absolutely no room for debate.

Captain Lei stared at him for a long moment before a helpless, fond smile broke through. He nodded.

And so, the old man and the youth walked through the quiet camp while most of the scavengers were still asleep. As they passed Master Bai’s tent, Xu Qing suddenly broke into a sprint.

Master Bai hadn’t arrived yet, and Chen Feiyuan was nowhere to be seen. Only Ting Yu was outside, quietly reciting from a heavy pharmacopoeia.

“Excuse me. Please tell the Master I need a day off,” Xu Qing said rapidly. He gave her a deep, formal bow, then immediately spun on his heel and ran back.

Ting Yu blinked in surprise, stepping out just in time to watch Xu Qing and Captain Lei walking away toward the horizon.

The morning sun bathed the earth, illuminating the path ahead of them and casting a golden glow over their retreating figures as they ventured further and further away.

Along the road, Xu Qing wordlessly took the heavy bundle from Captain Lei and slung it over his own shoulder.

Captain Lei’s heart ached. He looked at the stubborn boy walking beside him, wanting to casually chat about the camp neighbors like they always did. But after forcing out a few sentences, his voice caught, and he fell silent.

They walked into the mountains, eventually reaching the exact spot where they had first rested together months ago. Back then, it had just been the two of them. Captain Lei had walked in front, tall and imposing, a deep, unsheathed sword. Xu Qing had trailed cautiously behind, a solitary, hyper-vigilant wolf pup.

Today, Xu Qing walked in front, his back straight and unyielding as a mountain peak. Captain Lei hobbled behind, a fading shadow in his twilight years.

When they reached the incline, Xu Qing stopped. Despite the old man’s protests, he crouched down and hoisted Captain Lei onto his back, just as he had carried him through the restricted zone forest.

Captain Lei sighed softly, resting his chin near the boy’s shoulder. He looked at Xu Qing’s sharp profile.

“When you get back to camp, keep a closer eye on the other scavengers,” Lei murmured, his voice weak but steady. “I know your combat strength is high now, but never underestimate them. Scavengers are desperadoes. Playing dirty is second nature to them…”

“At night, don’t forget to feed the dogs. Those little guys are the only things in that camp you can actually trust.”

“And remember to eat properly. Don’t eat cold food just because it’s easier. Take the time to heat it up… You’re still growing. You can’t be careless with your body.”

“If you ruin your health now, you’ll pay for it when you’re my age. Oh, and don’t sleep on the bare wooden boards anymore. Don’t worry about getting the bedding dirty. Just wash it and leave it out when the sun is shining.”

“And…”

Captain Lei’s voice grew softer, his fragmented rambling filled with a profound, fatherly warmth.

Xu Qing walked steadily, nodding gently at every word, carving the old man’s advice into his very bones.

Eventually, the rhythm of the walk and the sheer exhaustion of his failing body pulled Captain Lei into a deep sleep. Hearing the soft snores by his ear, Xu Qing immediately lightened his footsteps.

He moved with absolute precision, avoiding any sudden jumps or drops. Even if it meant taking a massive detour, he kept his gait perfectly smooth so as not to wake the frail man on his back.

He carried Captain Lei across the sprawling wasteland and navigated around the massive basin. By the time the sky began to darken and the setting sun stretched their conjoined shadow across the dirt, the towering walls of Songtao City finally appeared on the horizon.

Captain Lei stirred awake. He blinked at the massive city gates in the distance. After a long silence, he whispered, “We’re here.”

“Mm,” Xu Qing replied softly, a suffocating knot forming in his chest. At Lei’s request, he knelt and gently set the old man down.

Captain Lei took his bundle back. He looked at the imposing gates, then turned back to the boy. He smiled, reaching out to roughly ruffle Xu Qing’s hair, messing it up completely.

“Go back, kid. If you ever miss this old man, come find me anytime. I’ll be living in the south district, Water Clear Road, Sector Earth, Residence C.”

With that, Captain Lei turned and walked toward the gates.

Xu Qing stood rooted to the spot. A thousand words screamed in his mind, but his throat was locked tight. He didn’t know how to say goodbye. He could only stand there, staring blankly as the only family he had walked away.

Just as he reached the gates and handed over his entry permit, Captain Lei suddenly stopped. He turned around.

He gave Xu Qing one last, deep look, raised his hand in a final wave, and then, urged forward by the impatient guards, stepped into the city and vanished from sight.

Xu Qing stood in the dirt, utterly desolate. He waited for a long time.

When the last rays of dusk finally died and the massive city gates slammed shut with a resounding boom, an overwhelming emptiness hollowed out his chest.

“Take care…” Xu Qing whispered into the wind.

He turned around, the bitter taste of absolute isolation washing over him once more.

As the black night descended, it swallowed his lonely figure.

He walked alone toward the wasteland. Alone toward the basin. Alone toward the mountains.

Further… and further away.