One day later, at Sky Vault Jiangcheng Branch, Third Command Center’s locker room.

Song Qinglan had already changed and stepped out of the locker room.

Aside from him and Ji Yushi, the rest of the seventh team was still on vacation and had not yet returned.

This was the first time Song Qinglan had seen the locker room so quiet. None of the seventh team knew that their captain and Consultant Ji were about to travel back more than ten years in time for a mission unrelated to any specific task.

Song Qinglan double-checked the communicator on his wrist. Hearing the door open, he saw Ji Yushi stepping out as well.

Like Song Qinglan, Ji Yushi was also dressed in outdated clothing—an old-fashioned top paired with ripped jeans that were popular over a decade ago, along with a pair of flashy skate shoes.

“We look like we’re ready to shoot a movie,” Song Qinglan commented, “Two country bumpkins coming to the big city for the first time.”

Indeed, clothing from over a decade ago looked somewhat tacky by today’s standards, far from being considered “vintage.” In fact, the command center had deliberately dressed them this way to help them blend into that time period. Song Qinglan had never worn anything like this in his life.

Ji Yushi told him, “This is actually not bad. There was one mission where I had to wear a bug-infested outfit.”

“Bug-infested outfit?” Song Qinglan asked.

“Yes, I was disguised as a beggar,” Ji Yushi recalled with discomfort, speaking quickly, “They really found me a beggar’s outfit, complete with fleas.”

He emphasized, “Can you believe it? Fleas.”

Hearing Consultant Ji’s rare display of resentment, Song Qinglan couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, this time really isn’t so bad. I’m grateful.”

Ji Yushi was already quite familiar with traveling back in time.

The preparations for maintaining the integrity of the timeline were meticulous. Those traveling back in time were instructed to minimize their presence as much as possible to ensure they wouldn’t interfere with the past timeline in any way.

As an experienced Recorder who had completed 89 missions, Ji Yushi’s impulsive decision to return to the past without any preparation after receiving his reward from the Cube mission was considered highly irresponsible and reckless. His failure to pass the psychological evaluation stemmed entirely from that incident.

With both of them fully disguised, they walked toward the command center in sync.

As they stepped out, they noticed some commotion in the hallway ahead.

This time, there was no major mission to execute, so only a few people, including Minister Wang, were present to assist with the time jump.

However, the end of the hallway was crowded with people, all in a state of high alert. Colleagues were bustling about, some from the medical center pushing carts, carrying liquids, and bringing in emergency equipment—something that usually only happened after a significant mission.

A colleague passed by, and Song Qinglan grabbed them. “What’s going on?”

The colleague, in a rush, replied, “The Twelfth Team has returned!”

Both Song Qinglan and Ji Yushi were stunned.

Song Qinglan still held onto the colleague, asking, “The Twelfth Team?”

The Sky Vault Jiangcheng Branch had numerous teams, one of which was indeed numbered twelve.

But given the situation and the way the colleague referred to it as “the Twelfth Team,” it was clear this was not just any team, or there wouldn’t be such a commotion.

“It’s the Twelfth Team that went missing on a mission fifteen years ago!” The colleague, still in shock, brushed off Song Qinglan’s hand. “Captain Song, we’ll talk later!”

With that, they joined the crowd at the end of the hallway.

Song Qinglan looked at Ji Yushi, who was also looking back at him.

They exchanged a glance, both of them shaken to the core.

In the time rift, they had saved the Twelfth Team from fifteen years ago, creating the Bubble World because the past and future timelines could not coexist.

They both knew that after their detailed mission report, the Twelfth Team would be cleared of the charges of treason, and Sky Vault would restore their name. But they hadn’t expected the Twelfth Team to return to the current timeline.

Their feet felt glued to the floor as they stood there.

Ji Yushi, with his exceptional vision, scanned the crowd and zeroed in on a familiar face.

Time had reversed the graying hair of the middle-aged minister.

The traces of age faded away.

The young face in the crowd overlapped with it.

In the pouring rain.

The city reflected in the mirror was like a kaleidoscope.

Raindrops ran down the face of the young captain as he drew his gun, pointing it at the traitor. “Xie Si’an, in the name of the Time Witness, in the name of the Time Guardian, I sentence you for treason.”

Qi Lang wore a black combat uniform with the number “12” on his chest, surrounded by teammates in similar attire.

One of them, with his hands cuffed behind his back, had a sullen side profile—none other than Xie Si’an.

Fifteen years had passed.

Yet they returned looking as young as they had been.

They were surrounded by people as they walked out, a sea of heads in motion.

None of the Twelfth Team members noticed the two people they had encountered in the time rift.

They brushed past each other.

As the transport capsule opened, the crowd left the underground base, and the corridor returned to its usual quiet. Song Qinglan frowned deeply. “How could this happen?”

Ji Yushi, deep in thought, remained silent for a moment before replying, “It’s just as we suspected…”

Song Qinglan’s tense expression relaxed slightly. “You mean the concept of ‘all eras existing simultaneously.'”

“Yes. Don’t you think the situation in the time rift was somewhat similar to what we experienced in the Cube?” Ji Yushi said. “If that concept had been fully developed, situations like today’s would become quite common.”

But this wasn’t something they needed to worry about right now.

Perhaps they would get more information once they returned.

The two of them arrived at the Third Command Center.

Everything here was as usual. People were at their posts, seemingly unaware of the major event of the Twelfth Team’s return after fifteen years.

[14:23:07]

The massive system projection displayed the current time coordinates.

Minister Wang and the chief commander were present. After briefly speaking with them, Minister Wang received a phone call and hurriedly left. Judging by her expression, she had just been informed of the Twelfth Team’s return.

Before leaving, she glanced at Ji Yushi and then said to Song Qinglan, “Come back soon.”

Song Qinglan nodded. “Don’t worry.”

After Minister Wang left, the inspector approached them to perform a final physical check to ensure they were fit for the time jump. The dispatcher began testing the compatibility between their subcutaneous communicators and the target time coordinates. Everything seemed no different from previous missions.

Until they were assigned simulated faces.

“To maintain the integrity of the timeline as much as possible, we need to minimize our presence when returning to the past,” the chief commander approached them. “Xiao Ji has experience in this; he’s undergone professional training. But Xiao Song…”

The chief commander’s tone paused, and everyone understood why.

Song Qinglan’s presence was simply too strong.

Even if he simulated a face with no memorable features, his build and height would still be highly noticeable.

“Before the last mission, you said in a meeting that after the mission ended, you wanted to apply for an S-level mission. Who knew that after you went out, not only did you complete an S-level mission, but you even handled a super S-level mission.” The chief commander, however, did not seem intent on making things difficult for him, and with a change of tone, said, “Xiao Song, this time, don’t say anything. Don’t jinx it.”

Ji Yushi: “…”

Song Qinglan: “Yes, sir!”

Five minutes to countdown.

“To retain talent, Xiao Song has made great sacrifices to help his teammate this far, which is commendable,” the chief commander praised Song Qinglan, unaware of their close bond.

Then he turned to Ji Yushi. “Ji Yushi, with your captain’s help, I hope you can resolve your emotional burden and quickly become one of our Guardians, so you can repay Captain Song’s support as his right-hand man.”

Ji Yushi lowered his lashes. “Thank you, Chief Commander.”

The two of them entered the teleportation platform.

This time, without their teammates accompanying them, only two capsule pods stood alone on the platform, indicating that they would rely on each other during the time jump, closely connected.

The capsule pod doors opened.

Ji Yushi took a step forward, only to be called back, “Ji Yushi.”

Before he could react, Song Qinglan had already strode over. With everyone watching through the glass, he grabbed the back of Ji Yushi’s head and kissed him.

Ji Yushi felt the softness on his lips.

Behind them were the precision-operated machines, the colleagues in the Third Command Center, and all those who had witnessed their last mission. Even though the sound was completely isolated by the glass of the teleportation platform, Ji Yushi felt as if he could hear everyone gasping.

“Let’s make it official.” Song Qinglan’s eyes were as cold as a deep pool, but his lips curved into a mischievous smile. “Let them know this isn’t a sacrifice, and you don’t owe me anything.”

At that moment.

Ji Yushi realized how fast his heart was beating, and he even noticed an imperceptible tremor in his body, with cold sweat covering his palms.

This time was different from the last, where he went to that day alone, different from the scenarios he had long imagined.

This time, he would truly face that day, and he would not be alone. The silver capsule pod stood silently; once he stepped into it, he would begin a journey to say goodbye to his past self.

“Let’s go.”

Song Qinglan released him and turned to sit in the capsule pod first.

Ji Yushi followed and sat in the capsule pod as well.

One minute to countdown.

The pod door closed, and the safety locks gradually encased him from his calves upward. The communicator on his left wrist emitted a green light. No longer displaying six dots, there was now just one small dot—Song Qinglan’s current location and physical status.

[You are connected to the public channel.]

A brief notification sounded, and the transparent panel displayed the Sky Vault Protocol.

“I am a Time Witness. I hereby swear.”

“Never to alter the past!”

“Never to discuss the present!”

“Never to be obsessed with the future!”

Song Qinglan’s voice echoed in the public channel: “Prepare.”

Just like the first time Ji Yushi heard Song Qinglan’s voice through the subcutaneous communicator, he gently gripped the safety seat’s armrest, ready to set off at the command.

But unexpectedly, Song Qinglan called his name on the private channel.

“Sheng Han.”

Ji Yushi’s grip on the armrest tightened, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

No one knew what those two words meant to him at that moment.

That familiar male voice told him, “Let’s go.”

[06:00:21]

The capsule pod landed in a secluded spot in the city, silently concealing itself.

It was drizzling.

The two walked along the quiet streets in the early morning, neither of them speaking.

The simulated face covered Ji Yushi’s features, making it difficult for Song Qinglan to discern his true emotions. There were occasional passersby on the street. They walked for a long time, passing a corner bakery, where they encountered an early riser who had just bought something.

For a moment, as they walked alongside these people, Song Qinglan almost lost track of which one was Ji Yushi.

But fortunately, they were heading in the same direction.

In the spring rain, there was a slight chill in the air.

Suddenly, Ji Yushi stopped and hid at the corner.

Song Qinglan stopped as well and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Perhaps it was too cold, as Ji Yushi’s teeth were chattering when he spoke: “Ahead, at ten o’clock.”

Song Qinglan looked in the direction he indicated.

He saw a man in a black combat uniform sitting on a bench by the roadside.

The man was handsome and cold, his face pale, holding a small cake in his hand. In the rain, he was staring down at it, unmoving.

Song Qinglan retracted his gaze and leaned against the wall.

Ji Yushi looked at him, his breathing slightly erratic. Facing all this again left him somewhat at a loss.

Song Qinglan’s face was unfamiliar, but his gaze and tone were as steady as ever. “You sneaked back here alone last time and even ate a little cake behind our backs?”