Yun Lintian stared at his three other selves, his gaze unwavering.
"My goal has always been clear," he said, his voice steady. "I will save my people. And to do that, the world must still be intact."
"Ahahahaha!"
The old ruler suddenly laughed—a deep, hearty sound that echoed across the desolate wasteland. His laughter carried both bitterness and nostalgia.
"Forgive me," the old ruler said, wiping a nonexistent tear from his eye. "Your words just reminded me of my past."
He calmed down, his expression turning solemn.
"I was the same as you. That was my goal too." His aged eyes darkened. "But a goal is just a goal. It doesn't mean you'll achieve it perfectly. Things... never go as planned."
Yun Lintian frowned. "What happened?"
The old ruler exhaled slowly. Then, he smiled—a sad, knowing smile.
"Let me show you."
The world around them shattered.
"Huh?"
Yun Lintian gasped as his consciousness was thrown into another body—another timeline.
