The separation happened more hastily than anyone imagined.

No one anticipated that this time-space abduction would end in such a way.

The staggered return of the teammates left everyone who got into the capsule with a strong sense of unease—they had fought so hard to regain what was rightfully theirs, yet it still felt too easy.

Every time they thought they could go home, they were sent to an even more challenging situation.

Especially that bubble world, the illusion that made it difficult to distinguish between reality and fantasy… would this “Sky Vault of all eras” really let them achieve their desires so easily?

Team Seven of Sky Vault shouldn’t have been separated like this.

They wanted to return together, all seven of them, whole and intact.

But Song Qinglan was right.

He was the captain; he had the authority and the ability to arrange who would stay and who would go.

Everyone had things they wanted to do. The sooner they went back and finished their reports, the sooner they could reunite with their families and achieve their personal goals.

Ji Yushi had already fastened his safety harness, but his hand lingered on the buckle, as if the next move would be to unfasten it again.

He was alone here, so there was no need to hide his emotions—confusion and hesitation were evident on his face.

If he hadn’t encountered an old acquaintance this time, he would have chosen to stay, but in his current state, he was no longer suited to remain in the task. He removed his hand, allowing the safety harness to envelop him from his calves up to his neck.

The communicator on his wrist emitted a green light, displaying the positions and physical conditions of his teammates in the other three capsules.

This was a sign that the equipment had returned to normal operation.

The last time he entered the capsule, it was the first time he heard Song Qinglan’s voice through the subcutaneous communicator.

“Everyone ready, Sky Guardians Team Seven, starting the thirteenth A-level mission, go!”

This time, his mind was silent.

The Sky system’s voice appeared: “Ji Yushi, before returning to your era, you have a reward that has not been redeemed. Would you like to redeem it now?”

Ji Yushi kept his eyes closed.

Unbeknownst to him, his thoughts had already been read by the Sky system through the subcutaneous communicator.

The female voice of the Sky system asked, “Would you like to be sent back to April 6, 1439, at 7:00 A.M.?”

Ji Yushi’s eyes opened, revealing deep darkness.

The Sky system continued, “It has been detected that you have enough points in your timeline to fulfill the conditions for redeeming this wish. Therefore, it is not recommended to exchange this reward for this wish. If you insist on redeeming it, you should be aware of the following: as a person involved in the event, you can only return to that time as an observer and cannot interfere with that time—”

“Redeem.”

Ji Yushi interrupted the Sky Vault system.

His tone was relatively calm, and the clarity in his eyes gradually returned.

For some reason, after saying these words, Ji Yushi’s previously dormant heart began to pound, each beat growing heavier.

Sky Vault system: “Please confirm once again.”

Ji Yushi said, “I choose to redeem the reward now.”

His heartbeat quickened.

The embarrassment of hoping for others’ approval faded, as did the fantasies of a new life.

He hadn’t lied to anyone, for he had never made any promises.

Ji Yushi’s heart beat faster and faster—that was the thrill of approaching the truth.

That was the intense desire for release.

“Alright. Redeeming your current reward now.”

“After the reward is fulfilled, you will return to your journey with your teammates. Now, locating that time coordinate for you.”

“Please wait.”

“Connection successful.”

All the lights in the capsule gradually dimmed.

A second later, the familiar dizziness began.

A massive sense of weightlessness surged up, and Ji Yushi was tightly secured in the safety seat, plunging into darkness as the capsule shook violently.

[06:00:21]

The transparent panel lit up.

Immediately, all the lights in the capsule turned on.

In the slightly glaring light, Ji Yushi saw a mechanical arm delivering a nutrition drink. He took a few sips, barely suppressing the nausea from the aftereffects of the jump.

Six o’clock.

The Sky system had given him an hour to prepare.

The capsule had landed in an empty warehouse nearby.

Ji Yushi emerged from the capsule and used the communicator on his wrist to switch it to stealth mode.

It was drizzling outside.

Ji Yushi walked to the corner of the street and noticed that the old cake shop he remembered had already opened.

The early spring morning was cold, and the drizzle soaked Ji Yushi’s hair and clothes.

“Would you like to buy a cake?”

The chubby shopkeeper stepped out of the shop with a smile and asked.

She looked exactly as he remembered, wearing the floral apron she always wore, surrounded by the scent of cakes.

Ji Yushi said, “I don’t have any money.”

The shopkeeper, still smiling, said, “No problem, you look familiar. I’ll treat you.”

Unexpectedly, Ji Yushi was handed a warm honey cake by the enthusiastic shopkeeper. She said, “Eat up, it’s just out of the oven and still warm! Something warm in the morning is good for the stomach. If you like it, come back and buy more next time!”

Ji Yushi thanked her.

He walked step by step toward a nearby apartment building.

The rain continued to fall.

At that moment, the early risers in the building had turned on their lights, casting a hazy glow in the rain.

Every home was filled with the warmth of life.

It didn’t take long for Ji Yushi to reach the outside of the apartment complex, where he slowly came to a stop. He found a bench on the street, sat down, and lowered his eyes to look at the small cake in his hand.

In an hour, more people would be on their way to work.

In an hour, a child in a yellow raincoat would pass by here.

In an hour, someone would meet their death.

Ji Yushi took out his black-and-white handheld game console from his pocket.

Something fell to the ground as he moved.

It was a piece of golden foil.

“Just picked it up, only one, and it’s very clean.” A voice had once said to him, “Now you can think clearly.”

The memory easily brought back the taste.

The bitter flavor of the chocolate seemed to still linger on his tongue.

Ji Yushi picked up the golden foil, rolling it between his fingers, and faintly smelled the scent of chocolate from the wrapper.