Time passed.
Though Jin Huang, Hei Shisan and Xu Ye's disappearance was noted, not much else was done about it.
The disciplinary staff were entirely fed up with Hei Shisan's antics, and Mr. Yuanshi was still asleep in the shade. No report was made, and therefore there was essentially no one who knew where Jin Huang and the others had gone.
Of course, the First-Year Dean, Yao LIngzi, knew exactly where he had gone. She knew more than that- even. She saw the entirety of the struggle to get to the heart of Obsidian City, but due to the Old Ones' presence, her token did not let her see anything after that.
She considered doing a number of things: Telling the Headmaster, telling Nagira, telling literally anyone, or just making a mental note of it for future reference.
It went without saying which one she chose to go with.
The student body- those that were affiliated with Jin Huang or cared enough to pay attention to news about him- assumed that Jin Huang was still in detention.
It went without saying that recent news of Jin Huang's trip to the Abyssal Demonic Star System had sent ripples throughout the Academy. Some students were, to this day, debating whether or not it could be believed.
Those who were present would scoff, having seen it with their own eyes. Others had even utilized specialized talismans for the purpose of capturing images, showing it to the non-believers.
This, in turn, sparked another debate: whether or not Jin Huang had gathered all the demonic beast cores himself, or relied on some kind of underhanded trickery.
In essence, it was a conversation that would carry on in some circles- at least until they got bored.
As for the first-year Class Four, or Class 1-4, they were also having their own qualms. Jin Huang had always been the 'odd one out' among them.
He had failed, miserably, at all his classes, come from some backwater with no one to back him, and was more concerned with eating than anything else.
Many of them took his challenge as nothing but hot air- as him just venting his frustrations.
Then, they heard about him coming back from the Abyssal Demonic Star System. They knew it was a place that only students at the Dao Integration stage could go to and survive. The demonic beasts there all boasted powerful bodies that anyone under that level would likely be unable to even scratch.
Him surviving was one thing. Returning with all those beast cores was another.
Some of them bought that he had likely used some kind of trick or scheme, and they were able to more or less come to terms with it all. They sneered and joked, waiting to see if Jin Huang would have the guts to keep his word.
With about a month remaining before the end of the two month period, they wondered if Jin Huang would just stay in detention and hide.
Wu Shen was one of them, his contemptible nature on full display whenever Jin Huang was discussed. Even so, he was fully committed to taking up the challenge, unwilling to let Jin Huang continue living without learning his place.
Others like Dao Yuan, Li Qingyu and Qin Shuyue wondered what Jin Huang was thinking, and also had an inkling that there was more to the story than met the eye.
Li Qingyu and Dao Yuan especially, were uncertain. They knew that Jin Huang was far from ordinary. So, too, did Qin Shuyue, but she also could not grasp the full scope of it.
Shen Wuyou was the only one entirely confident in Jin Huang's capabilities, though he would not say why no matter how hard Qin Shuyue tried to interrogate him.
He would roll his dice, shake his head and cryptically say, "All will be revealed."
Aside from the topic of Jin Huang, classes continued like normal.
Mr. Nagira did his best to work with the anomalous students in his class, further pushing them to discover more and more of their talents.
As someone privy to certain knowledge regarding the Academy's First-Year Hot Topic, Mr. Nagira knew that Jin Huang had likely found a way to cultivate or grow in strength. However, without sufficient information, he chalked it up to the divine herb that Jin Huang had eaten.
Cho Yanshi did as well, to an extent. The methods she had once used to try to examine Jin Huang's body had recorded bits of data. When she was not preparing meals, she was obsessing over this data, trying to figure out what was special about him.
The recent news only served to embolden her obsession with the data, having to be reminded to get to work in the kitchen most days.
So, the Academy carried on, numerous undercurrents working their way throughout.
Then, on a particularly dreary day, the starry expanses saw the unprecedented arrival of pitch black clouds. Above and below, where was once the glittery sight of the void, was now naught but doom and gloom.
As the students and staff alike stood perplexed by the phenomenon, certain individuals braced themselves.
The Headmaster, Tang Zhen, saw the changes and promptly locked himself in his office.
Mr. Nagira had just concluded cultivation class when he saw the clouds, and he flew outside, licking his lips.
Madame Cho was obsessing over the data yet again today, sitting amongst the students that were eating at her place. She did not notice a shift in the air, nor did the notice the sudden disappearance of the light.
Her mind was scouring the jade wherein was recorded the data, her eyes closed as a bead of sweat ran down her face.
The students were whispering to themselves.
"What do you think this could mean?"
"Clearly a storm's brewing."
"But we're in outer space, jackass. How can there be storms in space?"
"How is anything possible in this world? How can animals speak, or mortal men fly through the vast expanse of the void? How can I, Xiao Che, not have a girlfriend despite being the most handsome individual in all the Three Realms? These are the mysteries of the Dao."
"Huh? What? Sorry I stopped listening as soon as you started talking, Fatty Che."
"You!"
Ignoring the chatter around her, Cho Yanshi was oblivious even to the person that seemed to just appear out of thin air behind her.
He stood with the composure of a nobleman attending court, dark robes layering his frame in deliberate folds, trimmed with fur that softened nothing about him.
Chains draped from his waist in elegant arcs, their faint metallic gleam broken by strands of crimson that hung like quiet reminders of consequence.
At his belt rested a sculpted skull, polished and grinning in perpetual mockery. It did not clash with his appearance. It belonged there.
His face was handsome in a way that felt untamed rather than delicate. Sharp lines and a calm mouth, coupled with eyes that did not burn or flash, but simply watched.
There was a bestial patience in those eyes, the kind found in apex predators that have never known defeat. The blade at his side hung low, relaxed, stained and heavy.
His aura was perhaps the most unsettling part of him. It was tranquil, refined- almost aristocratic. The kind of presence that suggested wisdom, experience, and restraint.
At least until one remembered the skull at his waist.
He leaned onto the table that Cho Yanshi was sitting at, silently observing her. Seeing that she had not noticed him, he smiled, reached over and flicked her on the forehead.
The simple action carried with it a specialized kind of force, bypassing her body's defenses and directly permeating her mind. Startled, she tore herself away from the data.
Opening her eyes, she saw him sitting there. If looks could kill, then, in that moment, and attempt on his life would have been made.
"Why are you here and not slaving away in the kitchen? What's got you so invested?" He spoke, his voice a perfect blend of gentle softness and dangerous sharpness.
Cho Yanshi sat back, folding her arms. "Lu Chen. What are you doing here, you criminal?"
Lu Chen grinned, pulled out a chair, and took a seat. "Do I need a reason to visit my old school? Or to visit my lackey?"
Cho Yanshi rolled her eyes. "That was many years ago. I was nothing but a dumb freshman who didn't know any better. I can assure you, you're far from being my idol now."
He laughed, pushing his chair further back and kicking his feet up on the table, evoking a sharp glare from her.
"Ouch. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you hated me now. What could I have done to deserve this?" He shook his head, feigning dejection.
For the shortest of moments, he glanced at the jade, a smile lingering on his lips.
While standing, Cho Yanshi grabbed the jade and spat, "You know what you did, Lu Chen."
His eyes followed her departing figure, that small smile growing steadily. Getting more comfortable, he folded his arms behind his head.
"Jin Huang's got all your attention now, huh? So much so that you didn't even notice me."
The sounds of his chuckling alerted some students. They cast odd glances his way before relocating to more distant seats.
"What kind of person are you, Jin Huang?"