Volume One Chapter One: The Diary of the Future

"I already made him wear it, what more do you want? Last night I really drank too much—who could have expected something like that to happen? My head was filled with thoughts of you, so this isn't betrayal. Darling, I promise you, I’ll never go to a bar with my girlfriends again. Please, just forgive me this once, won’t you? And besides—if we put aside the facts, aren’t you at fault too?"

Unbelievable.

Chu Ge had just returned to his rented apartment when he overheard what could only be described as a top-tier drama, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.

He turned to look.

At the doorway across the hall stood a young man and woman.

The woman’s hair was disheveled, her clothes askew, and her neck was covered in a patchwork of hickeys.

Everything about them spoke of last night’s wildness.

The man was deep in thought, as if debating whether to forgive her.

Chu Ge was stunned.

Brother, you really are something else!

But then, taking in the woman’s figure and beauty—easily an eight out of ten—Chu Ge understood.

She knew his intentions weren’t pure, and he saw through her feigned affection.

With a creak, Chu Ge pushed open his door and entered.

“Woof, woof, woof…” His pet dog, Little Black, scampered over, circling him excitedly.

Chu Ge ignored it, seating himself on the bed.

At that moment, he noticed a diary lying on the bedside table.

But it wasn’t his diary—honestly, who keeps a diary these days?

He picked it up and idly flipped to the first page.

It was densely packed with writing.

“My name is Chu Ge. By the time you’re reading this, I am already dead.”

Chu Ge’s mouth twitched.

Who was so bored they’d pull a prank like this?

“To the eighteen-year-old Chu Ge, hello. I am the twenty-eight-year-old Chu Ge. You probably think this is some silly kid’s prank, don’t you? Don’t panic. I’ll prove I’m your future self with three things.”

“First, in your first year of high school, you rejected the upperclasswoman’s confession, and she cornered you on the stairs, kissing you for an hour.”

Reading this, Chu Ge smiled faintly. That really did happen, but it didn’t prove much.

The incident had been the talk of the school—many people knew about it.

This prankster was probably some school troublemaker.

“Second, your preference is for black stockings and long legs.”

Chu Ge rubbed his forehead.

That hit the mark too.

But the thing is—

Isn’t it perfectly normal for men to like black stockings and long legs? Is there really a man who could resist that?

“When I tell you the third thing, you’ll have no doubts it’s me. Isn’t that right, Chu Ge the traveler?”

At this point—

Chu Ge exploded internally.

If the third thing had come first, he wouldn’t even have bothered with the other two.

He really was a traveler.

And he had already lived in this parallel world, so similar to Earth, for eighteen years.

It was a secret buried deep within him, known to no one.

So, it was certain—the diary was left by his future self, ten years older.

Though it sounded incredible,

But after experiencing supernatural things like crossing worlds, what could possibly be stranger?

Chu Ge read on.

“In ten days, the world will change, ushering in the age of evolution. In the East, it is called the Revival of Spiritual Energy; in the West, the Descent of the Gods…”

Reading this, Chu Ge couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

This world’s technology and culture were almost identical to Earth’s.

He had always believed there was no martial arts or cultivation here.

But it seemed he had been shortsighted.

“Tonight, at Misty Wave Lake, an ancient ruin will appear. Inside is a cultivation technique. In my previous life, a pair of lovers got it. This time, you must get there before anyone else.”

The first page of the diary ended there.

No matter what he tried, the second page wouldn’t open.

It felt as if some supernatural force was stopping him.

“An ancient ruin appearing…”

Chu Ge put the diary down and fell into deep thought.

He had to go to Misty Wave Lake tonight.

If it was all true, his fate would change from this point on.

He waited quietly for nightfall.

At eight o’clock,

He took Little Black with him to Misty Wave Lake.

Sure enough, he saw a pair of lovers flirting by the lakeside, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Chu Ge hesitated, then shouted, “Let go of that girl! If you use that needle on her again, I’ll call the police!”

Hearing this, the couple hurriedly got dressed and left, cursing as they went.

With the troublemakers gone, Chu Ge sat on a bench, holding Little Black, and waited silently.

The arrival of an ancient ruin would surely cause a commotion.

He’d have to act quickly.

And avoid attracting too much attention.

He waited until ten o’clock.

Just as he was growing impatient and Little Black was dozing off, Chu Ge suddenly felt the lake surface tremble, as if something was trying to emerge from beneath.

“Woof woof, woof woof…” Little Black woke abruptly, barking anxiously.

Chu Ge looked up.

In the center of Misty Wave Lake, a gigantic whirlpool had appeared, with fish and shrimp leaping from the water.

“Is this actually happening?”

Chu Ge was both astonished and delighted.

The whirlpool spun faster and faster, spewing out radiance as it did.

Chu Ge marveled at the sight.

Splash!

A golden orb of light shot from the rift, rolling to a stop at Chu Ge’s feet.

He looked down—to his surprise, it was a book bound in unknown animal hide, covered in dense tadpole-like script.

“This is the cultivation method my future self mentioned?”

Chu Ge glanced around, noticing that others had seen the spectacle and were approaching out of curiosity.

He was about to leave with the item.

After all, such a commotion would surely attract official attention.

If they found him, he’d risk losing what he’d gained.

But at that moment, another golden orb flew from the rift, landing at his feet.

Another cultivation method?

Chu Ge was stunned.

He snatched it up, stuffed it in his pocket, and left Misty Wave Lake without looking back.

There might be more treasures in the lake,

But one can only eat as much as one’s appetite allows.

Better to keep what he’d already secured.

Chu Ge avoided all surveillance, leaving Misty Wave Lake with calm composure.

And just as he left, a troop of fully armed soldiers arrived, sealing off the lake completely.

The leading officer ordered, “Seal Misty Wave Lake immediately.”

“Should we bring all these people back to sign confidentiality agreements?”

“That’s no longer necessary.”

“What?” The soldier looked puzzled.

“Obey orders, soldier.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Remember, before the people from Bureau 749 arrive, don’t let so much as a fly slip through.”

…

Chu Ge hurried back to his rented apartment after leaving Misty Wave Lake.

He immediately took out what he’d found.

To his surprise, the other golden orb was also an animal hide book.

The material was unknown—smooth and warm to the touch.

Though he had the treasures, Chu Ge had no idea how to use them.

He picked up the diary, intending to ask about it.

Before obtaining the cultivation method, no matter what he tried, the second page wouldn’t open.

But this time, it turned effortlessly.