Two Destinations

Shen Nianzu tightened his grip on the paper until the edges crumpled in his trembling hands, and even then he still did not realize anything. Anxiety quickened his breath and hot sweat gathered between his brows as his mind raced through a myriads of possibilities. 

He could somehow understand the circumstances that might have led to Gu Luoxin's death – most likely they had gotten themselves into some kind of trouble like they previously did – but what about Jin Jiuchi? Why… why would he be missing? To the extent where the future Shen Nianzu was desperate enough to decide that there was no other way to salvage the situation than to alter the past?

He might not know everything about Jin Jiuchi, but at least he knew that the man would not vanish on his own accord. So that left only one possibility: an unforeseen accident had befallen him, leaving him with no choice but to be separated from Shen Nianzu. 

But what could it be?