"May 7, X023, 20:23..."
Cold, fragmented moonlight struggled through the thick clouds and spilled over the walls of the Teaching Building. Endless dense fog churned outside, and an oppressive atmosphere filled the still air.
Beyond the Covered Bridge of Building D, a procession slowly advanced beneath the dim yellow light. Everyone wore a solemn expression and walked in orderly steps. Their distinct footsteps seemed capable of piercing the whimpering wind in the Wooded Belt. Light and shadow interlaced endlessly in the fog, as though concealing bizarre figures baring their fangs and claws. They followed the procession, slowly, slowly sinking into the far side of Building D's Covered Bridge...
As the last Chef entered Building D's Covered Bridge, the once-soft amber glow began to fade. The scene, like yellowed paper burned through, slowly mended itself as though a wound were healing, as though snow and ice were covering it again, until it became a pristine white wall once more.
It was like someone had drawn a picture on paper beforehand using a revealing watermark. When someone brought a light source close to the picture, the hidden image emerged, and when the light moved away, the image vanished again as though sinking underwater.
"I... what just happened to me?!" Mao Feiyang clutched his chest, panting heavily. "I really wanted to follow the Security Guard just now!"
"I felt like I didn't want to go, but my body was out of my control!"
"Good thing you held me back..."
Mu Daxian released Mao Feiyang and braced himself against the Covered Bridge, breathing a sigh of relief. "That's normal. Very few people can refuse a Security Guard's 'request'..."
He paused, then added, "Only peerless powerhouses whose extraordinary brilliance outshines all of history can manage it."
*Is it really okay to brag about yourself like