The Unchanged

Unknown reality, some unknown city and province, rooftop of a building.

A young man in a leather jacket stood behind another young man who was sitting on the edge of the rooftop, swinging his legs and eating. He gazed at the enormous roots twisting through the distant city and stabbing into the heavens, then sighed silently.

"What, feeling sentimental?" The young man eating drained the last sip of his mucus drink, wiped his mouth, and snorted. "Think Jiang Chi was right?"

The young man in the leather jacket shook his head and laughed.

"Seeking benefits and avoiding harm is human instinct. I can't really comment on that. After all, anyone who found a lifeline in this world would want to clutch it tightly in their palm.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to live in another world. Haven't plenty of people from our side fled there?

"It's just that he didn't find this lifeline himself. You did, boss. So, taking the opportunity of a Fated and then immediately erasing his memories and cutting off contact...

"Heh, trying to pass himself off as a native?

"It isn't that easy. No wonder he no longer has Destiny's protection."

The young man eating gathered up the trash beside him, stood, and likewise took up position on the edge of the rooftop. Gazing into the distance at countless thick, terrifying roots dangling from the sky and endlessly drawing nourishment from the present world, he smacked his lips and said:

"What about over there... what did they say?"

"Nothing unnecessary. They were very cautious, just like you, boss.

"To be honest, if he hadn't made many arrangements for me, I might even have thought he was you.

"But his reaction to Jiang Chi was quite 'strong.' He deliberately slowed down the exchange when talking about him.