The Perilous Yuanmeng Middle School and Zhou in His Element

24:15. In the Reflected Ruin Realm, a dense grey fog smothered the entirety of Yuanmeng Middle School. Outside the locked iron gates and beyond the yellow cordons marked with an assortment of occult runes, vehicles bearing the stamped acronym "FZDC" sealed the area off completely. This was naturally the handiwork of the Disaster Response and Investigation Agency. God only knew how they had managed to transport so many vehicles into the Reflected Ruin Realm. The white letters "FZDC," an abbreviation drawn from Federation pinyin, set against a shield backdrop, served as the most famous public insignia of the Tinghai official Disaster Response and Investigation Agency. At that moment, black pickup trucks served as anchor nodes for the yellow cordon ringing the school. Atop each truck's roof sat a pyramidal metal cone, automatically rotating like some bizarre antenna. *Hum!* The metal cones vibrated with a soft, distinct drone, causing the dense occult runes along the cordon to shimmer with faint light and resonate with the hum. As the yellow tape pulled taut as a bowstring, an invisible ritual field expanded, sealing Yuanmeng Middle School within its grasp. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...* Simultaneously, a roar like a swarm of hornets swept through the air. Pitch-black drones circled at low altitude while flame-spitting robotic dogs patrolled the ground. Silent, cold firearms and cannons were mounted atop them, the dark blue enchanted runes on their barrels gleaming faintly. On the ground, FZDC's specialized Disaster Emergency Force stood shoulder to shoulder behind the cordon, clad in heavy exoskeleton armor, holding riot shields and loaded weapons with expressionless faces, forming an impenetrable wall of flesh and steel. Every single gun barrel pointed strictly toward the ground. Higher-ups had issued an ironclad order: under no circumstances was anyone to fire first upon anything that emerged from inside. This precaution was meant to avoid triggering any unknown "rules" bound to the school, lest they provoke the campus or even the entire street. Large searchlights mounted on the pickups illuminated the gloomy street as bright as day. Yet the moment their beams shifted toward the school, the light vanished entirely, as if swallowed whole by the silent darkness lurking behind the iron gates. "Reporting, sir!" *Clang, clang!* An officer in exoskeleton armor jogged over and snapped a salute to a scrawny man standing on the bed of a pickup. The saluting officer bore the rank of second lieutenant on his shoulder. A massive claw mark was torn into his armor, the mangled plating sparking with electric arcs as if recently shredded by some monstrous beast. Right now, his lower body was drenched in chili oil that looked like fresh blood, reeking intensely of spicy latiao strips that clung stubbornly to him... but this was also proof of his meritorious service. "My unit has successfully cleared the anomaly at the school gate's snack shop! Awaiting your orders for the next phase of the operation, sir!" The scrawny man looked down and gave him a gentle nod. "Good work, Lieutenant. Return to ranks and maintain vigilance!" "Yes, sir!" Salute finished, the blood-soaked lieutenant jogged back to his post. The scrawny man then raised an electric megaphone and turned toward the sea of people gathered behind him. "Everyone—" As the amplified voice rang out, the assembled "Subjugators" recruited by FZDC quieted down. Gathered here on short notice, they resembled an undisciplined band of stragglers when compared to the well-drilled armed forces. Among them were figures wearing masks and vintage robes while holding wooden staves; others wore eccentric, countercultural outfits with vibrant, multi-colored hair and carried exaggeratedly massive greatswords. There were students in high school uniforms with sparks of electricity dancing at their fingertips, a bald man sporting a cape cosplaying as Superman, and a muscular man with heavy chains draped around his neck, leaning against a wall with crossed arms to look tough. Gathered together, this diverse crowd looked like a massive anime convention or a delinquent hangout, yet none of them could be underestimated. These were "wild" Extraordinaries who had never been formally absorbed into the official establishment. There were wandering wizards, mediums still in school, lucky souls who had stumbled into Pathway inheritances, and impoverished welfare recipients moonlighting anonymously as vigilantes. Though wild Extraordinaries were usually viewed as unstable elements—subjected to discrimination, suppression, and forced choices between recruitment and arrest—those standing here were different. Almost all of them had passed official vetting, were undergoing observation, had clean backgrounds and decent conduct, and possessed formidable strength as "reservists" for official agencies. Generally speaking, FZDC was the department that absorbed the greatest number of external personnel. After all, they were not merely dealing with one or two oddities; the words "Disaster Response" spoke for themselves. Whenever a "disaster" struck, sheer manpower was the foundation of every operation. To this end, FZDC had created over a dozen labor dispatch positions under titles like "Civilian Consultant" and "Public Welfare Administrator." These roles provided a steady wage and basic benefits, freed holders from fear of official surveillance or arrest, and allowed them to walk tall as noble servants of Federation citizens. Those who performed exceptionally well even earned the opportunity to take examinations or undergo selection to join the permanent civil service, opening an upward path for wild Extraordinaries to secure an iron rice bowl. "Everyone, the Federation's test for you has arrived!" The megaphone crackled with static, vibrating against the eardrums of every Extraordinary outside the gates. "You are all lucky individuals favored by destiny, transforming from ordinary mortals to step into the extraordinary world." "However, the transcendent abilities destiny bestowed upon us also mean we must shoulder responsibilities ordinary people cannot imagine... just like right now!" "Next, I will create the conditions to breach an opening through the school's front gate." "Your mission is to use your respective talents to infiltrate the school and explore, using your issued equipment to survey the environment and transmit detailed conditions back to us." He laid out the situation concisely, his low voice raspy. "This mission will not be easy. At this moment, we know nothing about the conditions inside the school, and the risks may far exceed our expectations." "Therefore, if you face a crisis, you may choose to retreat at any time." "—Once the preliminary investigation concludes, our department will personally take over the hardest breakthrough and subjugation tasks." "Rest assured, FZDC stands with you at all times!" The scrawny man's voice was firm and resonant, offering a reassuring pledge. "There are no cannon fodder here. The agency will provide remote guidance at any moment, and we will wait right here at the school gates to receive you." "If you have any requests, state them in advance. The full resources of FZDC are your staunch backing!" "I must remind you all once more: this journey is fraught with peril." "Yet once the mission is complete, the agency will reward you generously based on your findings inside." "The top ten performers will earn dispatched auxiliary positions within FZDC, an identity recognized by all major official departments..." Standing on the pickup bed, the scrawny man held the megaphone high and spoke eloquently, painting a bright future for these green Extraordinaries. To ensure a smoother resolution to this crisis, beyond the ten dispatched positions... FZDC had even promised that depending on their investigative performance, the agency would grant them limited access to certain low-clearance anomaly knowledge once the incident was resolved. In an occult world where all knowledge was strictly monopolized, such knowledge was what these wild Extraordinaries lacked most. Many of them did not even know the most basic minor rituals. Their understanding of potions and rituals was limited to entering the Reflected Ruin Realm, and their idea of honing their abilities amounted to bending spoons and flicking coins. Consequently, the Extraordinaries grew thoroughly agitated and eager. To be sure, exploring Yuanmeng Middle School was laden with danger, but high risk brought high reward. If they missed this chance, who knew how long they would have to wait for another? The impassioned speech, the grand lineup, and the dazzling supernatural equipment of the soldiers instilled solemnity while inflating the Extraordinaries' confidence to bursting point. Rubbing their palms in excitement and greed, some even thought of this as nothing more than a large-scale exorcism game. Once it was over, they could transform into officially recognized personnel, turning from wild pheasants into golden phoenixes clutching iron rice bowls! Driven by such thoughts, they were itching to test the waters of Yuanmeng Middle School. —No one could hold them back! Next, each person was issued a walkie-talkie and a miniature camera capable of real-time transmission. These cameras utilized cutting-edge technology developed by the Tinghai Branch of the Council of Science Supremacy. Compact and easy to carry, they could capture "unclean things" invisible to ordinary electronics and possessed extraordinary motion-tracking capabilities. Even in a place like the Reflected Ruin Realm, rife with interference, the cameras could faithfully record and transmit everything occurring inside the campus. All the Extraordinaries had to do was pin the miniature cameras to their chests, act as forward scouts to infiltrate the school, and relay everything they saw back to FZDC. When the time came, the staff corps would naturally formulate a final assault plan to keep casualties to a bare minimum! *Rumble!* With a muffled blast, the locked iron gates were blown wide open by an explosive ritual. Drones and robotic dogs bristling with weapons flooded inside like a torrent, launching a probing strike against the mysterious Yuanmeng Middle School. As the churning grey fog slowly parted, a formation of several hundred students was revealed on the sports field. They were twisting their waists and hips, performing radio calisthenics. Yet every single student lacked facial features. Their movements were stiff yet unnervingly synchronized, painting a grotesque, chilling scene. Battle erupted instantly, and gunshots cracked like thunder. "Now!" The man with the megaphone barked an order, and the hundred-plus Extraordinaries behind him surged forward. Taking advantage of the student formation being occupied at the gate, over a hundred "creepers" successfully slipped into the school grounds, blending in like sand mixed into cement or wastewater pouring into the ocean. Within the thick grey fog, the Extraordinaries moved either in small groups or alone, beginning their exploration of the school's interior. *Flash! Flash! Flash!* At the same time, over a hundred crisp video feeds appeared inside the command vehicle parked outside the school. The lights in the spacious yet dim vehicle were switched off. Projection screens covered all four walls, displaying real-time first-person feeds from the cameras worn by the Extraordinaries. Some were gesturing at thin air as though communing with spirits in the environment; some were drawing graffiti on the ground, discerning which direction to take through the fog. Others were cautiously pushing open a rusted iron door, uncertain what lay hidden behind it. In the dense fog, they quickly lost sight of one another, advancing slowly and carefully. Meanwhile, as feeds continued to flow back, a 3D projection model of Yuanmeng Middle School's internal layout gradually took shape in the center of the command vehicle. Beneath the hundred-plus flickering projection screens, monitors reported the final signal calibrations: "Reporting! Transmission signal is stable with low latency. All 112 bio-signals are online, vital signs read normal, mental fluctuation indices remain within standard thresholds... Everything is normal on the technical side!" "Reporting! Surrounding spiritual activity shows no anomalies; continuous monitoring in progress." "Equipment normal, signal normal, personnel status normal. Operation proceeding steadily; infiltrators have not encountered fierce resistance thus far." "..." Faced with the monitors' reports, staff officers scribbled furiously, recording and analyzing the data. Behind the officers, the scrawny man sat in a chair tucked into a shadowy corner, the megaphone resting beside him. *Creak!* The chair beneath him rocked slightly. Leaning slightly forward with his gaunt hands clasped, the scrawny man widened his energetic yet bloodshot eyes, his gaze sweeping across the hundred-plus clear projection screens around him. After a moment of hesitation, he gave a slight nod and delivered his judgment in a low voice: "Maintain contact with them at all times." "Everything is normal. Continue monitoring and advance according to the original plan!" "..." Exhaling softly, the scrawny man shook his messy, greasy mop of hair and rubbed the prominent dark circles under his eyes. Having gone without sleep for three days and two nights, he was naturally fatigued, but that did not stop his mind from running in overdrive. Hopefully... everything would go smoothly. ... The exorbitantly expensive drones and robotic dogs were soon dismantled by the student formation. With a heavy crash, the iron gates slammed shut once more. Those standing outside could only watch helplessly as the thick grey fog surged back up, swallowing everything behind the gates. Everyone understood clearly that for those Extraordinaries, the true trial... had only just begun! Within the grey fog, the formation of several hundred students disbanded on the spot, breaking into small groups to hunt down the "intruders" who had not yet gotten far. At first, the Extraordinaries did not think much of these faceless, dark-eyed students. However, they quickly realized that whenever they were spotted and detained for even a moment, a tall "teacher" would promptly arrive. Then, the teacher would either wield a pointer and whip them like spinning tops, or unbuckle a leather belt and lasso their heads like cattle. In that instant, bruised and battered, the Extraordinaries finally recalled the terror of being dominated by teachers during their childhood... "Reporting! Signals for No. 25, No. 57, and No. 81 have vanished simultaneously!" "They were spotted by patrolling students!" "Not good! No. 3 ran into the patrolling vice principal and is being chased, kicked in the butt, and interrogated about why he was late... No. 3 has suffered a mental breakdown!" "..." A barrage of bad news turned the scrawny man's face ashen. "Assess the 'vice principal's' combat strength immediately!" "Simulate the students' patrol routes based on current intel and warn the infiltrators to be on high alert! If discovered, do not engage—flee at once!" Though he had anticipated that Tinghai Middle School would be heavily guarded, he had never imagined that drones and robotic dogs worth tens of millions would be scrapped in an instant, failing to make even a ripple with their probing attack. The student formation stationed behind the iron gates and prowling the fog was far more terrifying than he had anticipated! In the blink of an eye, nearly ten Extraordinaries had been captured by students, their signals lost. A disastrous start... The scrawny man fixed his bloodshot eyes on the remaining monitors, praying for the first time in his life that these "wild" Extraordinaries would make it out alive. ... On the other side. The moment gunshots rang out at the front gate, an unnoticed black cat squeezed through an inconspicuous dog hole somewhere along Yuanmeng Middle School's perimeter. *Hum!* Amidst the drifting grey fog, accompanied by distant, firecracker-like gunfire, the black cat transformed back into Bai Zhou, clad in his dark trench coat. Yet he swiftly removed the coat and pulled on a blue-and-white school uniform instead. —The uniform left behind by the Exam King was coming in handy right now. *Hum!* The moment his hands slipped through the sleeves, Bai Zhou immediately felt an inexplicable field envelop him. The sensation was difficult to describe, but his visibility in the grey fog improved dramatically. The subtle sense of "rejection" that had lingered around him ever since entering Reflected Tinghai dissipated entirely, replaced by a feeling of being completely in his element. Even the spirituality within him grew noticeably more active. Now, it truly felt like "Tinghai Welcomes You"... *Tap!* Just as Bai Zhou was growing accustomed to the feeling, soft footsteps sounded near his ears. Someone was here! Bai Zhou instantly went on guard, fixing his gaze ahead. Two students devoid of ears, mouths, or noses walked slowly out from the depths of the quiet grey fog, heading past Bai Zhou. Their eyes were hollow black voids without pupils, staring straight at him. A chill ran down Bai Zhou's spine, and his muscles tensed. Trailing behind the two students was a half-bald man wearing a striped polo shirt, a leather belt, and shorts paired with grey socks and sandals! *Damn it!* —It was the homeroom teacher who had nearly dragged him off with a pointer last time! How had he shown up so quickly...? Bai Zhou instinctively scanned for nearby escape routes, his heart leaping into his throat. Though he was far stronger than before, he knew all too well how difficult these entities were to deal with. If he failed to resolve them quickly, the commotion would only draw more terrifying existences. This school was an abyss; any misstep would trigger a chain reaction. The distant gunshots from the Subjugators—flaring up only to be snuffed out moments later—spoke volumes! Yet, just as Bai Zhou instinctively reached for the short baton at his waist— *Tap!* The two students stopped before him, their pitch-black sockets staring fixedly at him as they tilted their heads in slight confusion. Only then did Bai Zhou realize that they hadn't been glaring at him, but rather at the school uniform he was wearing...? Then, in unison, they bowed slightly toward Bai Zhou. Despite having no mouths, they spoke together, a dull, eerie voice rising from their throats: "—Hello, Senior!" *S-Senior?* Bai Zhou blinked, his brain momentarily stalling. Next, the homeroom teacher, who radiated a suffocating pressure, gave a cold snort and pointed a finger at Bai Zhou. "Remember to zip up your jacket properly! Pay attention to your appearance at all times!" "Which teacher is your homeroom advisor? Didn't they teach you?" "—Don't let it happen again!" Moments after the words fell, the scolding teacher clasped his hands behind his back and paced away, his leisurely figure fading into the depths of the fog. The two students hurried after him. Before long, they had all vanished from sight. "...That's it?" Bai Zhou blinked again, his eyes darting as a spark grew brighter within them. Now he finally grasped what had just happened. Even as his heart thumped wildly, he let out a slow, long breath. Straightening his back, Bai Zhou cleared his throat, loosely clasped his hands behind his back, and adopted the posture. *Tap...* With light footsteps, Bai Zhou began to mimic the homeroom teacher's leisurely stroll, melting into the grey fog. Across the fog-shrouded school, faint gunshots echoed here and there, only to be abruptly cut short, tugging at the nerves and making it clear that boundless killing intent lurked within the mist. This Yuanmeng Middle School—a place official forces dared not lightly tread, heavily guarded and bottomless—resembled a monster that devoured men without spitting out the bones. Utterly perilous! No one knew how many Extraordinaries would make it back alive; the Extraordinaries themselves had no idea either. As their exploration dragged them deeper, facing the dragnet searches of the students and witnessing their companions falling one after another... The once-confident Extraordinaries were rapidly losing their nerve. As expected, taking advantage of the authorities was no easy task! Tense and walking on eggshells, every step forward was an uphill struggle, and every escape from a search party felt like a stroke of sheer luck. Yet in stark contrast to them— The strolling youth wandered the campus. Though still cautious on the inside, he looked utterly relaxed on the outside, gliding through like a fish in water, filled with the ease of returning home. Even when he bumped into students searching for "intruders," Bai Zhou merely gave them an aloof nod from a distance. Invariably, they would greet him with the utmost deference. At first, Bai Zhou kept an impassive face while remaining nervous inside. Eventually, however, his heart grew as calm as his expression. What intruders? What Adventurer Bai Zhou? Never heard of them. Call me Senior! —Senior Zhou!