Winterfell City.
After sneaking into Winterfell City, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord found themselves walking along the streets of the city's eastern district.
Though the Mist Lord had absorbed fragments of human memories, this was his first real experience within human society. Along the way, he displayed unrestrained curiosity about his surroundings.
This was also Feng Qi's first visit to Winterfell City. However, he had already gathered some information about the city prior to his arrival.
Winterfell City was a historically significant metropolis. Due to its geographical location, heavy snowfall persisted year-round. The city had thus developed an advanced snow management system with assistance from research institutes in Future City.
The system included automated, unmanned robots working 24/7 to clear the snow, while heated road infrastructure melted snow quickly, channeling it into underground drainage systems for processing.
Winterfell City had long been known as one of the eastern region's most food-scarce areas. However, its abundant resources—including mineral deposits and oil reserves—helped the city resolve its food supply challenges through trade, exchanging natural resources with larger cities for food to meet the demands of its population.
The city's inhabitants were famously tough. During multiple crises caused by domain field expansions, the population almost achieved universal conscription.
This character was reflected in the city's educational system.
Winterfell Academy, the city's most prestigious institution, was notorious for its survival-of-the-fittest atmosphere, standing out even among other elite academies as a uniquely intense environment.
Despite its controversial practices, Winterfell Academy had produced a significant number of exceptional combat talents for humanity. At the same time, its graduation mortality rate was the highest among all academies, particularly during the pre-graduation internship phase.
Each year, the academy sent large numbers of students into domain fields for practical training. Even with top-tier battle groups accompanying them, casualty rates remained alarmingly high.
Feng Qi glanced sideways at the Mist Lord, who was now wearing a battered suit of armor. Standing over 1.8 meters tall, his current appearance had been altered completely, except for his unmistakable purple hair and eyes, which could not be changed. This new body had been acquired during their journey by taking over a human warrior.
Throughout their journey to Winterfell City, Feng Qi had undergone significant internal adjustments.
While this "sacrificial" timeline also involved joining domain forces, it was markedly different from the timeline where he joined the Technology Research Institute.
In the Technology Research Institute timeline, Feng Qi had killed fellow humans who were already imprisoned in biochemical labs and facing inevitable deaths. Whether or not he acted, their fates would remain unchanged, as other researchers would ultimately take the same actions.
However, in this villainous timeline, Feng Qi had to take the initiative to commit atrocities.
The resistance he felt in his heart was far stronger here than it had been before.
But along the way, he made a firm decision: no more mercy.
Hesitation would yield no intelligence and only lead him to failure. To survive and uncover the truth on this villainous path, he had to make sacrifices and choices.
"We'll need to stay in this city for a while to get used to the environment," Feng Qi said as he turned to the Mist Lord. "Then we'll look for opportunities to develop."
"Understood. With this new identity, I should be able to blend into human society quickly," the Mist Lord replied with a nod.
"I think your first step should be learning how to eat. That's a basic requirement for blending in."
During their time together, Feng Qi had come to understand the Mist Lord's species. Unlike humans, they didn't rely on food for sustenance. Instead, they absorbed the blood and energy of other living creatures to fuel their bodies.
"I can do it. Just put things in my mouth, right?" The Mist Lord appeared indifferent.
"Eating isn't just about stuffing food into your mouth. You also need to chew and display appropriate facial expressions," Feng Qi explained.
Listening to Feng Qi's detailed instructions, the Mist Lord nodded repeatedly.
Although he had taken over a human body and absorbed some memories, those memories were fragmented and incomplete.
Moreover, even if he possessed the memories, they lacked the authenticity of personal experience. It was like reading a textbook—you could understand the content, but it was entirely different from living it yourself.
At that moment, Feng Qi felt like a teacher explaining the intricacies of human society to the Mist Lord.
These lessons were things the Mist Lord would inevitably learn over time. Feng Qi's goal was to accelerate this process and help him adapt more quickly.
In fact, Feng Qi even intended to use the Mist Lord to confront other domain forces violently, hoping to uncover their secrets through conflict.
The Mist Lord was the cornerstone of this sacrificial timeline. The stronger he became, the smoother this path would unfold.
As they talked, the two crossed the street and headed toward a Chinese restaurant to conduct a "field test."
The meal left Feng Qi fully satisfied.
For the Mist Lord, however, it was a miserable experience.
His digestive system was fundamentally different from a human's. Human digestion involved breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and expelling waste.
The Mist Lord, on the other hand, could only convert energy and absorb blood essence.
As a result, when food entered his body, he had to manually grind it down, extract nutrients, and then figure out how to expel the waste.
The whole process felt like shoving foreign objects into his body—unbearable and unnatural.
After the meal, Feng Qi led the Mist Lord to a nearby garbage bin, where he vomited everything he had eaten.
Watching his awkward struggle, Feng Qi couldn't help but smile.
"What are you laughing at?" The Mist Lord glared at him.
"You'll get used to it. If you plan to infiltrate human society, this is just a small price to pay, right?"
"No big deal," the Mist Lord replied coolly.
"Let's go. Next, we'll head to the library. I'll help you understand human society better." With that, Feng Qi turned and began walking toward Winterfell Library No. 2.
The Mist Lord glanced at the food scraps in the garbage bin before following Feng Qi.
Driven by ambition for the future, he was determined to adapt to human life and seize every opportunity to rise.
...
Five months later, driven by ambition and plans for the future.
The Mist Lord had integrated into Winterfell City by taking up a job at a steel mill, becoming a "proud laborer."
This decision wasn't suggested by Feng Qi but was a proactive step by the Mist Lord himself to adapt to human life. Working alongside humans allowed him to understand their habits and behaviors.
Before settling on this job, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord had switched through several positions, typically lasting only a month at each. During this time, the Mist Lord gained a progressively clearer understanding of human society.
After finishing their shifts today, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord headed to a familiar park restaurant for dinner.
Once their orders were placed, Feng Qi glanced at the grime-covered Mist Lord with a teasing smile.
"How's it going? Are you getting used to it?"
"It's fine. But I think we can end this lifestyle experiment and stop wasting time on it," the Mist Lord replied straightforwardly.
Hearing this, Feng Qi nodded without hesitation. "What's the plan, then? What do we do next?"
"I've analyzed human society carefully. If we want to rise to the top and take control of resources, there are three viable paths."
"The first option is to establish a research institute. As long as the institute has enough strength, it can secure a substantial resource allocation from the city, attract resources from other cities, and gain access to classified intelligence. This would be incredibly advantageous for our development."
Feng Qi was caught off guard by this suggestion.
He hadn't expected the Mist Lord to already consider creating a research institute. Historically, the Mist Lord's strategy had been infiltration rather than founding one himself.
"The second option is to join the city's defense forces and aim for a high-ranking position. This route also grants access to intelligence and resources. But I don't think it suits us—military structures don't allow for rapid promotions."
"The third path is to form a domain battle group. This is the simplest of the three options. While it offers the least in terms of intelligence gathering, it allows us to build our strength quickly."
Feng Qi nodded thoughtfully. "So, which one are you choosing?"
"Form a domain battle group and train our first batch of elite fighters."
Seeing the Mist Lord's determined expression, Feng Qi chuckled and raised his glass.
"My thoughts align with yours."
"Cheers!" The Mist Lord grinned, raising his glass in return.
After draining the contents of his glass, Feng Qi looked at the Mist Lord. "Then let's head to Winterfell Supply Zone and register as frontline warriors."
Unexpectedly, the Mist Lord shook his head.
"Let's go somewhere else. Old Day City."
"Why?" Feng Qi asked, intrigued.
In the previous timeline, he had met the Mist Lord at the supply zone in Old Day City. However, he didn't understand why the Mist Lord had gone all the way there.
Winterfell Supply Zone seemed like an equally good place to recruit a battle group. The Mist Lord was also more familiar with this area.
The Mist Lord hesitated briefly before answering, an embarrassed look crossing his face. "There's someone in this area—a very dangerous person. I'm afraid they might remember my aura. If we encounter her again, it could end very badly for us."
Feng Qi couldn't help but chuckle at this revelation, realizing what had likely happened.
Clearly, Mu Qing must have injured the Mist Lord so severely that it left a lasting psychological scar.
The Mist Lord's reluctance to stay here likely stemmed from his fear of running into Mu Qing again and suffering another beating.
Getting beaten wasn't the worst possibility. This time, she might not leave him alive.
Feigning curiosity, Feng Qi asked with a raised eyebrow, "Who is this person? You're so strong—are you saying you can't beat her?"
The Mist Lord looked even more embarrassed. "It's not that she's much stronger than me. She's just slightly better. Right now, I'm not her match, but my growth potential far exceeds hers. One day, I'll surpass her. But for now, it's best to avoid direct confrontation."
"Was it this person who left you injured?" Feng Qi pressed, trying to suppress his laughter.
"She didn't get away unscathed either. She was badly injured. Who knows—maybe she's already dead by now."
Feng Qi couldn't help but silently applaud the Mist Lord's bravado. Even in front of someone who knew the historical events, he still maintained this facade. Truly, bluffing seemed to be a universal trait across species.
As they chatted, night fell over the city.
After paying their bill, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord returned to their dormitory.
After careful preparation, Feng Qi and the Mist Lord purchased tickets to Old Day City.
Before leaving the dormitory, Feng Qi double-checked his backpack, ensuring he hadn't forgotten the most crucial item: the "vitality needle."
Since meeting the Mist Lord, they had been inseparable. To maintain safety, Feng Qi had avoided contacting Wei Wei during this time, making the vitality needle indispensable.
Embedded in his brain was a tracking device. As long as the syringe was used in time, the Crimson Research Institute could monitor his physical condition and act accordingly.
To support him, the institute had formed a specialized "Brain Recovery Unit," staffed with elite fighters. Their job was to ensure they stayed in the same city as Feng Qi and could retrieve his brain in emergencies.
However, whether the recovery would succeed was uncertain. Feng Qi knew the chances of unexpected complications were high. Nothing was guaranteed.
His only safeguard was carrying the vitality needle—to at least preserve his body if the worst happened.
With this in mind, and future plans occupying his thoughts, he left the dormitory with the Mist Lord.
Outside, snowflakes swirled in the icy wind. The streets were quiet, with few pedestrians braving the harsh weather.
Walking along the snow-covered roads, Feng Qi pulled out his phone to hail a cab.
Suddenly, the instincts enhanced by the Dragon Demon modifications screamed a warning. His head whipped toward the right, eyes narrowing.
At the same moment, the Mist Lord shoved him aside.
A dagger, glinting coldly under the dim streetlights, appeared out of thin air and slashed toward the Mist Lord's neck in a deadly arc.
Right after, a small figure with blue skin materialized, its movements sharp and precise.
Feng Qi recognized it immediately—it was a Blue-Skinned Assassin.
In previous timelines, he had encountered these creatures multiple times, learning much about their unique abilities. But this time, something felt different.
The assassin's target wasn't him—it was the Mist Lord.
The Mist Lord reacted quickly, his form dissolving into a cloud of dense mist. The mist enveloped the assassin, corrosive energy crackling through the air.
The assassin let out an ear-piercing screech as its body began to disintegrate. Within moments, the sound was smothered, swallowed by the mist.
The Mist Lord reformed a moment later, standing amidst the fading haze. His gaze fell on the remains of the Blue-Skinned Assassin, now reduced to fragments of blue flesh.
"Why does this thing have no substance beyond energy?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
Feng Qi wasn't surprised.
Wei Wei had previously studied these assassins and reached a similar conclusion. They were likely controlled remotely, functioning as disposable tools.
Still, one question lingered in his mind—why had the assassin targeted the Mist Lord?
Unless… it had detected the aura of a Miracle Item on him.
Feng Qi had long suspected that the Mist Lord possessed a Miracle Item. This encounter seemed to confirm it.
He even theorized that the Mist Lord's ability to resurrect after near-death experiences was connected to this item.
However, recalling how the Mist Lord had once asked if Feng Qi was the one who restored his life source, he wondered if even the Mist Lord was unaware of the item's presence.
These were questions he didn't plan to ask immediately. There would be time to uncover the truth later.
Despite his lingering doubts, the Mist Lord didn't dwell on the assassination attempt. He brushed off the incident, chalking it up to another adversary.
Together, they speculated on the assassin's origins while making their way to the street outside the dormitory. Feng Qi used his phone to call a cab, and the pair headed straight for the airport.
By the time they arrived, it was late at night, but the airport was bustling with activity.
The neighboring logistics zone was equally lively, with planes arriving and departing as massive quantities of supplies were unloaded or transported to other regions.
Winterfell Airport's efficiency was unmatched.
After waiting for about an hour, they began boarding their flight.
The plane taxied onto the runway amidst the howling winds and heavy snow. Moments later, it ascended into the night sky, heading toward Old Day City.