Dream in the Rain

The current scene was completely different from what Yu Jing had imagined. There were no organizations welcoming new students. Yu Jing walked alone on an empty road, using the brim of his hat to shield his contemplative face. After all, tomorrow was the official start of the school year, and Yu Jing figured one day was enough to reach the main gate.

He walked on the spacious main road for an unknown duration before raindrops, small as beans, suddenly fell on his forehead.

"It's raining?"

When Yu Jing looked up, he saw that dark clouds had gathered, turning the daytime sky dim.

The sudden downpour forced Yu Jing to head towards the densely wooded mountain area, at least to ensure the clothes in his suitcase wouldn't get wet.

As Yu Jing walked through the forest beside the road, he was about to seek shelter under a large tree, about five people wide, when his gaze caught sight of wisps of smoke rising from a spot about two hundred meters up the mountainside.

"I should go check it out. If this heavy rain continues for a long time, hiding under a tree won't help."

Following the muddy mountain path, Yu Jing arrived at the source of the smoke. To his surprise, there was a three-story inn nestled halfway up the mountain. It was a medium-sized establishment, built entirely of wood, giving it a rustic, forest-like feel.

"The taxi driver said this area is under the jurisdiction of the Dihua Ability Institute. This inn must be related to them as well, right? I'll go in to escape the rain and ask the owner how far it is to the Dihua Ability Institute."

Yu Jing walked towards the entrance on the first floor, above which hung a sign with the four large characters 'Deep Mountain Inn'.

The moment he stepped into the first-floor lobby, a damp, peculiar odor assailed Yu Jing's nostrils. He couldn't quite place the smell, something like a mixture of decaying matter and sandalwood, which made him feel nauseous.

On the counter inside the lobby, a small wooden sign read 'Rooms Available Today,' but Yu Jing couldn't see any innkeeper behind the counter.

He briefly observed the interior of the counter. There was a teacup that was still warm, and an old television set playing silently, indicating that the innkeeper had likely been there not long ago.

Finally, Yu Jing's gaze settled on a bell tied with a rubber band to an iron rod behind the counter. A strange force compelled Yu Jing to pick up the bell and ring it.

"Ring, ring, ring!" The clear sound of the bell echoed through the inn.

"Bo, bo, bo... G-guest?"

A chilling voice emanated from the second floor, sending a shiver down his spine.

A grotesque woman with four arms crawled down the stairs, her twisted head turning towards Yu Jing with a smile. A large amount of saliva dripped from her dark mouth.

As she rounded the corner of the staircase, she began to crawl frantically towards Yu Jing.

"Screech!"

As if the scene were being torn apart, the terrifying sight before him vanished instantly.

A sharp stinging sensation made Yu Jing jolt. As his eyes gradually opened, he found himself sitting in a moderately fast-moving taxi. It was pouring rain outside, and there was a small cut on the back of his right hand.

"You must be tired from the journey?" the driver asked, looking at the awakened Yu Jing.

Yu Jing quickly covered the wound on the back of his right hand and didn't answer the driver. Instead, he recalled the memory of seeking shelter in the mountains and discovering the 'Deep Mountain Inn' nestled on the mountainside. Every detail seemed vivid, not like a dream.

"Driver, this is Dihua Ability Institute territory, right? Can an outside car like yours drive in?"

"With a disciple like you, of course, I can."

The driver's statement was inconsistent with what Yu Jing had heard before. Yu Jing deduced that he had likely fallen asleep just after exiting the ring road. However, the torrential rain outside the window was exactly the same as in his dream.

"The main gate of the Dihua Ability Institute is just ahead."

As Yu Jing was contemplating, the driver navigated around the last mountain. On the plain ahead lay an Ability Institute that stretched as far as the eye could see. A large number of vehicles were already heading towards it from various directions, parking outside the hundred-meter-high gate.

The people alighting from the vehicles were all distinguished in appearance and demeanor, seemingly the new students for the year.

As the taxi approached the gate, a man in black stepped forward and motioned to stop the taxi. It seemed that outside vehicles could only reach this point at most.

"Young man, if you need taxi service in the future, feel free to call me anytime."

Yu Jing nodded, paid with his card, and got out of the passenger seat. As he did, the man in black who had stopped the taxi handed him an open black umbrella to shield him from the heavy rain.

"Please complete your new student registration procedures within today. Physical training will begin early tomorrow morning, so be prepared," the man in black said briefly before quickly departing.

"Physical training starts at midnight on September 1st?"

Yu Jing was slightly startled but quickly regained his composure. Holding the black umbrella, he walked towards the majestic main gate of the Dihua Ability Institute. Outside the main gate, at least three hundred new students were gathered, some chatting with parents and friends about the physical training, delaying their entry into the institute.

Yu Jing tried his best to cover his face with his hood, as he currently preferred not to interact with these new students.

Just as Yu Jing was about to approach the main gate, he felt a light pat on his shoulder from someone's hand.

Turning around, he saw a girl with delicate features dressed in a tight-fitting gray tracksuit. She was an acquaintance of Yu Jing.

"Yu Xiaoxiao..." He had met her at the research institute, and she was also someone who had helped his mother.

"You survived?" Yu Xiaoxiao asked with a hint of surprise, lowering her voice.

"I passed the assessment. My score was 93.5."

As Yu Jing replied, he glanced at a beautifully dressed woman in luxurious attire and heavy makeup standing beside Yu Xiaoxiao. The moment Yu Jing made eye contact with the woman, he felt as if his entire body was being sliced by blades. He instinctively took a step back, his hair standing on end.

"I'll go register first."

Yu Jing clearly felt the oppressive aura emanating from the woman. He understood that this beautiful lady did not want him to have any dealings with Yu Xiaoxiao, so he politely excused himself, being quite sensible.

"Don't die," Yu Xiaoxiao said coldly, causing Yu Jing to pause slightly. He offered a somewhat awkward smile.

Upon reaching the main entrance, Yu Jing was immediately stopped by similar men in black. They conducted a thorough scan of his entire body and all the contents of his luggage, verifying his identity and the authenticity of his admission notice. After five minutes, Yu Jing was finally allowed to enter the gates of the Dihua Ability Institute.

"What is this?"

Yu Jing stopped at the gate, as what was supposed to be a grand entrance was actually a mirror-like object. Only upon closer inspection could he discern its nature. As Yu Jing touched it with his hand, ripples spread across the mirrored surface.

When Yu Jing stepped through, immersing his entire body, it felt as if he had entered a world completely cut off from the outside.

What unfolded before Yu Jing's eyes was not the bustling scene of new student registration he had imagined. The area inside the gate was completely empty, and the entire institute was shrouded in thick white fog. Vaguely visible ahead was a sign indicating the direction to the new student registration area to the right.

A sense of inexplicable eeriness and a multitude of questions filled Yu Jing's mind.