The sun blazed overhead.
The earth lay parched.
In the desolate wilderness stood a lone altar.
A great many people surrounded it, dancing and singing without pause.
They looked as if they had come from some prehistoric age, their bodies clad in leaves and animal hides.
Much of their skin was exposed, covered in strange black symbols that brimmed with primitive meaning. As they danced, the symbols shifted with them, lending them an indescribable eeriness.
At that moment, they were dancing in a state of complete abandon.
"They're dancing. What should we do now? Should we join them?" Sha Qiang asked.
By then, everyone had entered the scene in the painting to take temporary shelter.
Lan Xiu looked toward Gu Yan. "You magic-side people seem to know quite a bit about worlds in paintings. What do you think we should do?"
"I do know a little."
Gu Yan nodded. "In a world inside a painting, you have to pay attention to the overall atmosphere and content. You can't do anything that feels out of place."
"For example, in a painting of a gladiator arena, you either sit among the spectators, clapping and cheering, or go down as a gladiator and fight. If you sit in the stands and secretly doze off, the world will kick you out before long."
"So in this painting, we have to dance?" Gu Qingshan asked.
"Right. As long as most of us keep dancing and singing, the whole group won't get kicked out!" Gu Yan said.
Silence fell.
Everyone stared at Gu Qingshan.
Lan Xiu, Gu Yan, and Su Xue'er said in unison, "You don't have to dance!"
"Fine. I'll run along with you and sing while I'm at it," Gu Qingshan conceded.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
At Lan Xiu, Gu Yan, and