Chapter 351: Transfer Student

She didn't move, just kept staring at the dog.

Her gaze was Calm, but a certain indescribable pressure originating from the Star Core silently spread.

The dog stiffened all over, its posture ready to urinate froze.

Its ears twitched, Tail subconsciously clenched, and the "mockery" in its eyes was quickly replaced by "alertness".

One second, two seconds.

"Wuh…"

The dog let out a vague whimper from its throat, lowered its raised hind leg, and cautiously stepped back.

A Xing still didn't move, but her gaze became a bit more focused.

The dog retreated another step, then abruptly turned, let out a "woof", clamped its Tail and darted into the nearby bushes, vanishing.

A Xing finally blinked slowly, and the corner of her mouth lifted up by a mere 0.1 millimeter.

(Won.)

But what followed was an inexplicable emptiness.

Beating a dog didn't seem something to be proud of either.

She was still the one with nowhere to live, surviving by rummaging through garbage bins.

Forget it.

She stood up, brushed off nonexistent dust from her uniform, slung her backpack over one shoulder, and walked toward a fixed direction.

Mapo Tofu stall

Yan Feng Qili had already opened the stall, though at this hour there would be no customers.

He still wore that outfit, meticulously wiping the cooking counter, arranging the cookware neatly, as if ready to welcome Michelin inspectors at any moment.

A Xing walked to the stall and sat down.

The two exchanged a glance, without any verbal communication.

Yan Feng Qili turned around, ignited the fire, heated the pan, and poured oil.

His movements were fluid like clouds and water, silent and focused.

Red oil boiled, tofu slipped in, and the spicy, domineering aroma instantly dispelled the morning's chill.

A few minutes later, a bowl of bright red, scalding, garnished with emerald green scallions—Mapo tofu noodles—was placed before A Xing.

This time even the noodles were omitted, directly a variant of pure tofu over rice—Mapo tofu rice bowl.

A Xing pulled apart the chopsticks and buried her head in eating.

The hot, numbing, spicy triple assault exploded in her mouth; her expression unchanged, she ate quickly and steadily.

The corners of her forehead still showed no sweat, only the tip of her nose faintly reddened.

Yan Feng Qili stood behind the stall, arms crossed, watching A Xing eat.

His expression remained that hollow Calm, but upon close observation, when his gaze fell on A Xing's steady hand picking up food, a faint… satisfaction could be seen.

The bowl was emptied, even the red oil swept clean.

A Xing set down her bowl and chopsticks, and looked up at Yan Feng Qili.

Yan Feng Qili gave a slight nod.

Still no dialogue.

A Xing stood up, turned, and left.

Yan Feng Qili began clearing the bowls and chopsticks she had used.

Everything was conveyed without words.

Their peculiar friendship, built on a shared sense of spiciness and Garbage Bin Philosophy, silently completed a daily affirmation on the morning street.

School·Classroom

A Xing stepped into the classroom as the class bell rang.

She was a "Transfer Student", seated in the second-to-last row by the window—the classic protagonist spot, though she herself was unaware.

She shoved her backpack into the desk, rested her chin on one hand, and her golden eyes stared indifferently out the window.

The playground was empty, and the distant city skyline looked somewhat unreal in the morning light.

(Bored.)

She evaluated in her mind.

Pretending to be a high school student, attending classes, doing homework, interacting with a group of classmates immersed in the Illusion Realm, oblivious to reality...

All of this was meaningless.

But to avoid drawing attention, and to continue operating within the Illusion Realm while seeking a way to awaken San Yue Qi and solve the predicament, she had to maintain this identity.

A few minutes after the class bell rang, Head Teacher walked in, followed by two unfamiliar girls.

A subdued commotion rose in the classroom.

Transfer Students are a novelty at any school.

A Xing glanced offhandedly.

One had orange‑red short hair, bright eyes, a fresh smile, wearing a fitted blazer‑style uniform, with a red bow tie at the white shirt's collar.

The other had purple short hair, a graceful figure, a gentle expression tinged with a barely perceptible wariness, wearing the same uniform, exuding a steady temperament.

The two stood before the podium, and Head Teacher began the introduction: "Class, today we have two new classmates joining us. This is Tengwan Lixiang, and this is Ma Xiu·Ji Lie Lai Te. They transferred back from abroad; I hope everyone can get along amicably and help each other."

Tengwan Lixiang stepped forward, beaming, and waved: "Hello everyone! I'm Tengwan Lixiang, I love traveling and food, please teach me well!"

Mashu bowed slightly, her voice warm and clear: "I am Ma Xiu·Ji Lie Lai Te, I'm delighted to be classmates with everyone, please look after me."

Polite applause sounded.

A Xing's golden eyes lingered on the two for an extra second.

(New transfer student?)

(This time point?)

(Interesting.)

She withdrew her gaze and looked out the window again.

But the information captured in that brief glance was already being processed rapidly in her mind: the two stood relaxed yet subtly guarded, their eyes clear, and there was an anomaly on them that differed slightly from the surrounding Illusion Realm atmosphere.

Especially the purple‑haired girl named Mashu, whose aura… was a bit unusual.

(They're from outside, but how did they get in?)

A Xing's puzzlement requires moving the timeline back a little to find an answer.

Not long ago·at the foot of Yuan Cang Shan

Ailisi Feier, Gui Naifen, Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu, the four of them, arrived at the foot of Liu Dong Si during the darkest moment before dawn.

At the mountain path entrance, a scene of devastation.

Broken stones and splintered wood, the ground charred black, clearly having endured fierce fighting.

What was even more striking was that at the start of the mountain path, several figures stood motionless, like statues frozen on pause.

A pink‑haired girl slightly opened her mouth, as if about to gasp; a pink‑haired, red‑eyed woman holding a Black Umbrella furrowed her brows, her gaze unfocused; a gray‑haired, gold‑eyed girl stared ahead expressionlessly; and another, a blond, blue‑eyed figure clad in a blue skirt‑armor, wielding an invisible sword with a dignified bearing—Artoria Pendragon, Saber.

They all remained frozen in that instant of pose and expression, showing no reaction to the approaching four, as if immersed in a world outsiders could not intrude upon.

"Saber!"

Ailisi Feier let out a light shout, her steps instinctively quickening, but she was immediately grabbed by Tengwan Lixiang.

"Wait, Miss Ailisi Feier."

Tengwan Lixiang lowered their voice, eyes alert, "Their condition is off. Rushing into contact could be dangerous."

Ailisi Feier forced herself to stay calm.

Indeed, Saber appeared unharmed, but… was stunned.

And almost simultaneously, Ailisi Feier, Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu, after scanning Saber, turned their gazes in perfect unison toward Gui Naifen.

They wanted to see how Ge Ni Wei Er would react upon seeing the legendary Arthur Wang.

Excitement? Sorrow?

Guilt? Or something complex and unspeakable?

However—