Hesitation

Beyond First University's main campus, there were many small, relatively secluded functional areas. Though they were also managed by First University, they possessed semi-independent territories. They were not within the domains of academies like Jiuyou Academy or Alpha Castle, but were instead hidden away in some corner of the Silent Forest, much like the institutes within the Research Institute.

Naturally, these territories were also covered by the school's Guardian Array.

At Jiuyou Academy, the bridge connecting these territories to the academy was the deep, shadowy corridor that circled the academy grounds.

The main structure of this corridor was built from obsidian, and its ceiling was decorated with many exquisite sculptures. In summer, it was covered in thick, densely growing vines, making it even more tranquil; by winter, as the vines withered, the corridor itself was exposed to the cold wind, becoming much brighter—and much colder.

The Academy Corridor contained many pavilion-like "nodes," which served as gateways to those semi-independent territories. For instance, Pavilion No. 3 led to the Feiyuan territory where Zheng Qing and the others did their morning lessons; Pavilion No. 7 led to the School Labor Committee's office building; and Pavilion No. 4, bustling with people not long ago, led to Hunting Ground No. 1 of First University, and so on.

A few minutes earlier, the Forest Cat leading the way had taken the black cat past one such pavilion.

But at the time, the black cat had been too busy listening to the others and letting his thoughts wander, so he had forgotten to notice which pavilion they had turned into—Fatty and the others had overlooked the matter as well.

"It's fine. We're still on school grounds. What's the big deal?" Hearing Lin Guo's nervous voice, the black cat immediately reassured him. "I've got so many cats