Chapter 353: A Glimpse of Ten Thousand Years Again

The class‑ending bell rang, and the classroom atmosphere instantly livelied.

San Yue Qi practically sprang from the seat at once, her pink hair swinging cheerfully as she headed straight for the two newly seated classmates with clear purpose.

Enthusiasm and curiosity radiated from her face, and her powder‑blue eyes sparkled.

"Hello there! Tengwan Lixiang, Mashu!"

San Yue Qi stopped beside their desks, her smile radiant, "Welcome to our school! I'm San Yue Qi! Since you just transferred, feel free to ask me anything unclear! By the way, which country did you come back from? Do schools there also wear this kind of uniform? …"

She chattered, question after question, full of the lively spirit typical of girls her age, a textbook example of an enthusiastic classmate.

Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu quickly exchanged a glance.

(Senior, Miss San Yue Qi's status is off. Her Cognition is fully immersive; she has no prior memory of us.)

(Hmm, it seems her state syncs with that statue outside; her consciousness was pulled into this Illusion Realm scene and assumed a student identity. Mashu, proceed cautiously, don't give yourself away, first gather information.)

"Hello, San Yue Qi classmate."

Tengwan Lixiang displayed an impeccable, fresh smile, "We came back from... um, a rather distant country; the details are a bit complicated. In any case, please look after us!"

Mashu also gave a slight bow, her tone warm and polite: "Thank you for your concern, San Yue Qi classmate. Please continue to guide us in the future."

Their replies were natural and fluid, fully assuming the role of "students."

San Yue Qi seemed more pleased with their proper responses and was about to continue discussing "important topics" like which cafeteria dish is the tastiest or which teacher is the strictest—

A figure suddenly slipped in, blocking between San Yue Qi and the two newcomers.

It was A Xing.

She had left her seat at an unknown moment and silently stood in front of San Yue Qi's side.

Beneath her shoulder‑length gray hair, golden eyes gazed calmly at Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu, lacking the curiosity of a high‑schooler and instead bearing an almost icy scrutiny.

"Star?"

San Yue Qi was startled by A Xing's move, tilting her head, "What's up?"

A Xing did not answer immediately, her gaze still locked on Tengwan Lixiang's face.

Tengwan Lixiang returned the stare without hesitation.

Two equally Awakened, equally role‑playing, equally probing gazes collided in the air.

A breeze outside the classroom window brushed the curtains and lifted strands of hair from both foreheads.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew a bit stagnant.

San Yue Qi watched their silent stare and inexplicably felt a sense of déjà vu…

This scene, this feeling, seemed familiar from somewhere not long ago?

Ah! I remember!

In front of that mapo tofu stall, Xinghe and that odd vendor also exchanged such a look!

(How... again?)

San Yue Qi muttered internally, (Has Star recently activated some special "One‑Glance Ten‑Thousand‑Year" skill? Can she match eyes with anyone now?)

She couldn't help breaking the silence, glancing at A Xing then at Tengwan Lixiang, and cautiously asked, "Do you... know each other?"

A Xing finally turned her head, gave San Yue Qi a glance, then faced Tengwan Lixiang again, her voice flat, "No, we don't know each other."

San Yue Qi: "…"

(A slight twitch at the corner of the mouth. This line, this tone, this déjà vu… replicated far too perfectly! Not a single word off!)

Mashu quietly tugged at Tengwan Lixiang's sleeve, asking with her eyes:

(Senior? This gray‑haired classmate…?)

Tengwan Lixiang received Mashu's signal; her expression switched instantly, the earlier deep scrutiny vanishing.

She smiled, waved her hand, and said to San Yue Qi and A Xing, "Yes, we don't know each other. But aren't we getting to know each other now? I'm Tengwan Lixiang, and this is Ma Xiu·Ji Lie Lai Te. San Yue Qi classmate, and this… is Star classmate, right? Please look after us in the future!"

She deliberately used the vague phrasing "aren't we getting to know each other now," answering San Yue Qi's question while not fully denying the implication behind A Xing's probing gaze.

A Xing's golden eyes lingered another second on Tengwan Lixiang's face, as if receiving some signal.

She gave a slight nod, then reached out and gently tugged San Yue Qi's arm, "Let's go, the next class is about to start."

"Eh? So soon? We just finished class..."

San Yue Qi was pulled back, turning back reluctantly to wave at Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu, "We'll chat next time!"

"Sure, next time!" Tengwan Lixiang also smiled and waved.

When A Xing and San Yue Qi returned to their seats, Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu also sat down, exchanging rapid glances.

(Senior, that Star classmate is definitely an Awakened. She's protecting the girl named San Yue Qi.)

(Hmm, and she's highly wary of us. She may see us as part of the Illusion Realm or a potential threat. For now, don't act rashly; continue playing the student and figure out this Illusion Realm scene's rules and exit.)

(Yes, senior.)

A Xing pressed San Yue Qi back into her seat, sat down herself, and redirected her gaze outward, though a corner of her eye still watched the newly arrived "transfer students."

(Their gazes are off.)

(They don't seem fully immersed here.)

(That purple‑haired one… aura is especially distinct.)

(Needs observation.)

(Also must protect Xiaosanyue.)

Her hand, placed under the desk, unconsciously brushed her waist.

(No weapon… a bit troublesome.)

(However…)

Her gaze swept over an empty metal drink can on the windowsill.

(Not entirely without a way.)

The class bell rang again.

Perspective shift.

Heimu Lady lazily sank into the soft sofa of the hotel suite, her violet‑black eyes half‑closed, appearing to be resting with eyes shut, but in fact her consciousness was processing information streams from different worldlines.

A message from A Xing popped up, concise to the point of being telegram‑like:

【Transfer student. Stranger. Contact. Probe. Process? Attach image.】

Attached were two slightly blurry snapshots— a short orange‑red‑haired girl with a bright smile, a purple‑haired girl with dignified bearing, exactly the scene of Tengwan Lixiang and Mashu in the classroom.

Although the resolution was low, Heimu still instantly recognized those two faces that had left deep marks in countless pan‑human historical records.

"……"

Heimu was silent for three seconds, then raised a hand and rubbed the bridge of her eyebrows.

"Chaldea… Gudazi, colored eggplant…"

She muttered softly, her tone carrying a sense of helplessness, "Truly… a big hodgepodge."

She could even imagine the chaos that might exist on the Suppression Force side, leaving a crack in every possible channel.

However, the appearance of Chaldea people here might not be entirely a bad thing from a certain perspective.

At least, their experience in this regard is frighteningly extensive.