Baili Qing sat behind her desk, her gaze a bit vacant—it might not have only been her gaze that was empty.

After a while, she muttered to herself quietly, "How does he always manage to come up with something unexpected?"

Seated across the desk, Song Cheng didn't know how to respond and pretended not to hear by looking down.

After two seconds, Baili Qing repeated, "How does he always manage to come up with something unexpected?"

"Because... he is an unexpected being after all," Song Cheng finally managed a smile and bravely responded, "Anyway, regardless, we've found the cause of the abnormal spatial-temporal misalignment, and the 'characteristic parameters' recorded by the technical department will be adjusted more accurately, which is good news."

"Yes, it is good news—we also incidentally found out that he can even open gateways in the Abnormal Type Exotic Realm," Baili Qing shook her head, "Let's not talk about this for now, let's continue our previous topic. What was the conclusion of the samples sent for inspection last time?"

Song Cheng immediately adjusted his sitting posture and pushed forward the documents he had brought with him.

"This is the analysis report about those hairs—we sent the 'fox fur' for independent analysis to three different labs and shared the data with organizations including the academy, and the conclusion... you can see for yourself."

Baili Qing took over the documents and quickly scanned through the key information, her expression gradually becoming more serious.

"Not found any matching species within the known universe?" She raised her head and looked into Song Cheng's eyes.

"It's not just that no matching species were found, we didn't even find any 'biological tissue' that matches the microscopic structure of those hairs. In other words, if we weren't certain that they came from a speaking, thinking, and feeling 'humanoid creature', the analysts would even suspect that these samples were part of a cruel joke played on them."

As Song Cheng spoke, he pointed at a section in the document.

"The 'substance' composing these hairs isn't a metabolic or growth product that any known creature can produce. Additionally, although it's confirmed that over ninety percent of its composition is organic, it also contains a variety of inexplicable 'inorganic impurities.' The role of these impurities in biological organisms is unclear, and..." Song Cheng paused for a moment, then continued with a bizarre expression, "until now we've been unable to determine what elements they actually are."

Baili Qing pursed her lips, and after a long time, softly said, "How does he always manage to come up with something unexpected..."

Song Cheng wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Well, strictly speaking, it's not really him who caused this..."

"But the person was brought out by him," Baili Qing pressed her temple with a finger and spoke wearily, "What about the other aspect? Have organizations like Qianfeng Ling Mountain responded?"

Song Cheng nodded, "Yes, they collaborated with several influential sects to conduct a large-scale investigation, screening all 'fox' species with spiritual attributes, considering the aspect of 'Time Tunnel' incidents in Hu Li's experiences, so the scope was very broad. They even investigated anything remotely related, essentially considering 'thousands of years ago might have crossed' and 'thousands of years later might possibly cross', not just limited to those who have already entered the interstellar era.

"Their investigation sample list is here, apart from typically understood Fox Demons, Fox-like Subhumans, it also includes those with partial animalistic traits, such as those with fox ears, fox tails, a bit of fox fur—according to the Messenger who came over, they were so thorough they almost wanted to pin those with even fox smell down to complete the forms before letting them go... the conclusion was still no match found."

Baili Qing's motions stiffened as she flipped through the documents, then looked up at Song Cheng, "How did they make such a big fuss? They've never been this earnest about helping before."

"In summary, when they heard about a fox that was capable of moving its clan between heaven and earth and whose homeland was full of Immortals, everyone was eager to know who secretly managed the mass ascension without telling others," Song Cheng spread his hands, "You know that the competition in that area is fierce among them, although most of the Seekers who have entered the enlightenment phase these days wouldn't fight over this, the descriptions Yu Sheng gave of Hu Li's homeland... it was a big stimulus for them."

"It's a big stimulus for us too," Baili Qing sighed, setting down the document in her hands, "I have grasped the situation now, continue the investigation as a long-term task, and if that 'Fox' really comes from 'outside'..."

She paused, then nodded slightly towards Song Cheng: "You understand what I mean."

"Yes, I understand."

...

On the way back from the Orphanage West Building to the East Building, Yu Sheng detailed his solo investigation in that dark room to Little Red Riding Hood—including the marks he found on the floor under the cabin bed and his encounter with the Hunter.

The plethora of details astonished Little Red Riding Hood.

"I've dealt with the Black Forest for many years, yet never before today have I suddenly learned so much," she couldn't help but reflect, "and all the past Little Red Riding Hoods like me, also got swallowed by that 'story' without knowing anything..."

"Perhaps they eventually discovered something, but they no longer had the ability to pass on the message to the real world," Erin, sitting on Yu Sheng's shoulder, swayed as she spoke, "Like those marks under the bed, clearly left by some past Little Red Riding Hood."

"Those marks are very concerning," said Yu Sheng, "and I suspect similar traces might exist in other parts of the Black Forest, or even... not just in the Black Forest."

Little Red Riding Hood pondered: "Are you saying..."

"Other 'Subsets'," Yu Sheng paused his steps, "like the ones you mentioned, Cinderella's ball, the long-haired princess's tower... In those 'subsets,' aren't similar events happening like in the Black Forest? Maybe other Cinderellas or long-haired princesses found something at the end of their dreams too, but just like in the cottage draped in red cloaks... Those who finally discovered the truth, never had the chance to relay the message to the real world."

As Little Red Riding Hood heard this, she fell into thought, and after a moment, Yu Sheng suddenly sighed, somewhat emotionally, "Thinking about it, this actually fits the pattern of childhood."

Little Red Riding Hood didn't react immediately: "Why do you say that?"

"You write down childhood secrets in your diary, carefully locking it up, but then as an adult, you can't remember that once significant password anymore—childhood memories stay at the edge of childhood, unable to be conveyed to the grown-up you, many people experience this."

For the first time, Little Red Riding Hood looked somewhat dumbfounded: "Is... it really like that?"

"It is," Yu Sheng smiled, "So, this is when you need a horrible, meddlesome, unreasonable adult to brutally open that notebook—often, you yourself will become that horrible adult, but since it's hard for you all to grow up, I'll take over that role."

"...You make yourself sound like a villain."

"To 'Fairy Tales,' I am the villain, after all, it doesn't like me."

Just then, a noisy commotion suddenly came from down the corridor, interrupting the conversation between Yu Sheng and Little Red Riding Hood.

A group of children were shouting and running through the hallway, even including some older kids.

Yu Sheng and others looked up and quickly hurried towards the commotion.

Little Red Riding Hood, quick on her feet, grabbed a teenager running by her with an authoritative parental tone: "What happened?"

The caught girl, looking nervous, pointed in a direction: "Teacher Su fainted! She's been taken to the infirmary!"

Yu Sheng listened in confusion: "Teacher Su fainted? Why?"

"I don't know, I just heard," the girl, appearing to be around thirteen or fourteen, rapidly explained, "It seems she was in the activity room with the other kids when Xiao Xiao suddenly pushed the door to greet her, and then she just fainted..."

Yu Sheng: "..."

Little Red Riding Hood: "..."

Erin: "Oh no—"

"This... I really didn't consider it, I was too happy at the time," Little Red Riding Hood let go, turning away with an embarrassed expression, "We should have sent someone to notify Teacher Su first."

Yu Sheng didn't know what to say, could only helplessly spread his hands: "Talking about it is useless, let's go see the situation."

The group then detoured to the infirmary, and by the time they arrived, the long-haired princess had already half coaxed and half deceived all the nosy children away.

A young council employee lay on the sick bed, already awake, and despite looking a bit pale, seemed alright.

The girl called "Xiao Xiao" sat on a chair next to the bed, hanging her head as if she had made a great mistake, neck shrunk in, and she seemed to have cried.

Yu Sheng suspected she cried when the teacher fainted.

"It's nothing serious, the doctor checked, just emotional excitement and excessive fright," the long-haired princess came over from the side, "The recommendation is to lie down for a bit longer—everything has been explained, there's nothing to worry about. I'm also responsible for this, shouldn't have let Xiao Xiao push the door open abruptly."

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Teacher Su quickly waved her hands from the bed, "It startled me at that moment, but now I'm just happy..."

While speaking, she sat up from the bed, her eyes landing on Yu Sheng.

"I remember... Your name is 'Yu Sheng,' right? I have something to tell you."

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