The morning sun crested over the bamboo grove, casting long shadows across the porch. It was a peaceful morning—a stark contrast to what had happened the day before.
Yang Lujia stood by the railing, sipping bitter tea from a cup. He checked the System's vellum-like interface in his peripheral vision while mentally reviewing the strict parameters of his Origin Evaluation Authority. He had one chance to draft a foundation for his disciple. It had to be flawless.
He set his teacup down and knocked sharply on the doorframe. "Sun's up, kids. Time to wake up."
Inside, Lin Diyu scrambled out of his bed. The door immediately swung open. He stood there, his hair disheveled and his robes torn, stained with dried blood and soot from the chaos that transpired in the Scriptorium Bastion.
Qin Tou, on the other hand, hovered right behind him, still floating upside down with his eyes closed. Unlike Lin Diyu, he was cleaner, though not entirely.
