"Come on out, everyone!" Xu Hao banged loudly on two dorm room doors. "The new guy's here!"
The left door slowly opened, revealing a tall man in black with an icy demeanor that radiated "keep away" energy.
"This is Feng Jue," Xu Hao introduced enthusiastically. "The top fighter on our third floor, with an SS-ranked Life Soul - the Startling Swan Sword."
Feng Jue gave a curt nod, his gaze lingering briefly on Su Zhan.
The right door swung open to reveal a meticulously dressed young man wearing designer clothes, a limited edition mechanical watch, and perfectly styled hair.
"This is Liu Ziming," Xu Hao said with a wink. "Heir to the Liu Corporation, one of Daxia's top hundred enterprises. His Life Soul is SS-ranked Purple Thunder."
Then he pointed at himself. "Oh right, I forgot to mention earlier - I'm Xu Hao, S-ranked Life Soul: Teleportation."
Teleportation?
Interesting.
Liu Ziming looked Su Zhan up and down. "New guy? What's your deal?"
Xu Hao straightened proudly. "This is the internet-famous Su Zhan! The awakener with an SSS-ranked Life Soul!"
The hallway air seemed to freeze.
Feng Jue's pupils contracted slightly, his usually expressionless face showing rare emotion.
Liu Ziming actually took a step back, his casual demeanor vanishing instantly. "Wait... you're that Su Zhan from Jiang City? The one who awakened an SSS Life Soul?"
Xu Hao nodded smugly. "The one and only!"
Liu Ziming quickly regained composure, offering a genuine smile. "Looks like our third floor is about to become famous."
Su Zhan didn't know what to say.
He'd wanted to keep a low profile.
But the Doberman incident had spread too widely.
Still, once the hype died down, things should return to normal.
"Let's go eat," Xu Hao waved excitedly.
Liu Ziming glanced at Feng Jue. "I wanted to take everyone to Cloud Peak Pavilion, but someone vetoed it."
Feng Jue remained expressionless, simply crossing his arms against the wall.
Xu Hao hurried to mediate. "Young Master Liu, look at the places you pick - Cloud Peak Pavilion is members-only private dining, Stellar River is Michelin three-star, and that Imperial Bathhouse you mentioned last time... Either too expensive or places poor students like us can't even enter."
"Sigh, I said I'm paying," Liu Ziming sighed, twirling a black-gold card between his fingers. "My dad's supplementary card - unlimited spending."
Feng Jue gave him a cold look. "Awakeners shouldn't indulge in luxury."
"Exactly!" Xu Hao agreed, though his eyes kept darting to the black-gold card. "Plus today's about welcoming Su Zhan - we should go somewhere more down-to-earth. That barbecue place is perfect, real authentic atmosphere!"
Seeing their expressions, Liu Ziming finally shook his head and pocketed the card. "Fine fine, have it your way."
"Come off it!" Xu Hao slung an arm around his neck. "Last barbecue, you devoured forty lamb skewers by yourself!"
Su Zhan observed quietly.
Liu Ziming seemed prone to showing off, but that was human nature.
Feng Jue appeared to be the strong silent type.
...
Pushing open the barbecue joint's glass door, they were greeted by the rich aroma of charcoal and spices.
The four chose an inner booth with old black-and-white neighborhood photos on red brick walls and a small charcoal grill embedded in the wooden table.
"Boss lady! We're ordering!" Xu Hao called familiarly. "The Vermilion Bird Academy student discount still applies, right?"
"Of course, of course," the owner assured repeatedly.
As Xu Hao ordered, Liu Ziming wiped down a plastic chair disdainfully before sitting. "This place doesn't even have a wine list—"
His complaint was cut short as Xu Hao shoved an ice-cold beer into his hand.
"Nothing beats this!" Xu Hao bit off the cap, foam immediately overflowing.
Feng Jue sat quietly, selecting two wooden chopsticks from the holder. With a slight flick, all splinters were instantly smoothed away.
"First round!" Xu Hao raised his bottle. "To Su Zhan joining our third floor!"
All four clinked bottles.
Meat skewers sizzled on the grill, fat dripping to create tiny sparks.
"Once classes start in three days, no more easy living~" Liu Ziming sighed between drinks.
"Hey, we're not here to play," Xu Hao countered. "Carpe diem! Drink up!"
Liu Ziming wiped his bottle mouth with a tissue. "This dump doesn't even have proper glasses." But he took a big swig anyway.
"So," Xu Hao asked around a mouthful of meat, "what school did you come from, Su Zhan? Must be special to produce a genius like you."
Liu Ziming perked up. "Yeah, the net's going crazy saying you soloed the entire Doberman family guard. True?"
Though Feng Jue remained silent, his meat-cutting motions noticeably slowed, clearly awaiting the answer.
"Just a regular high school," Su Zhan said lightly. "As for the Doberman guards, pure fiction."
He wasn't that powerful.
Currently not even at the first awakening stage - Dew Realm - still unranked.
No way he had that capability.
"Hahaha, media will say anything for clicks," Xu Hao laughed. "Another round!"
They ate and drank, chatting about cafeteria food to department beauties, cultivation tips to professor gossip.
As the atmosphere warmed, sudden commotion erupted from the next booth.
"Holy shit! Fog outside?"
"Something's off... too thick... can't see anything..."
Hurried footsteps sounded outside.
The owner's voice carried from the main area: "Please remain calm everyone! Probably just unusual weather."
Xu Hao's meat skewer fell from his mouth. "The Mist? What the hell?"
Feng Jue was already on his feet.
Liu Ziming's expression turned grave.
Su Zhan was first out the booth, finding chaos in the main dining area.
Through the glass door, he saw the entire street swallowed by eerie thick fog.
At least twenty stores lined this street.
Now all their occupants were cautiously investigating like Su Zhan's group.
What's happening?
This was Su Zhan's first encounter with such a phenomenon.
Neither his original memories nor gathered intelligence mentioned anything like this.
"What is this?" Xu Hao's widened eyes voiced everyone's question.
"By appearance, it's the Mist," Feng Jue said with uncharacteristic tension.
"Impossible!" Liu Ziming immediately objected. "The Mist only appears at borders! How could it suddenly show up in Vermilion Bird City!"