The Eternal Recalcitrance Club's newest member had not joined up for even seven minutes before he was roped into committing a crime.
Xu Ye lay on his back, staring at the ceiling with a suicidal expression.
"I want to be clear," he said weakly, "I did not join for field activities."
"You joined because fate dragged you by the ankle," Hei Shisan corrected cheerfully.
"Exactly. Dragged. I didn't have to walk."
Jin Huang clapped once, golden energy pulsing faintly around him. "Gentlemen. It's time."
Xu Ye didn't move. "For?"
"I'm going back to the Abyssal Demonic Star System." Jin Huang said simply.
The temperature in the room dipped slightly.
Hei Shisan grinned. "First stop: the Void Crossing Array."
Xu Ye closed his eyes. "I see," he muttered. "I see us escaping... and paperwork. So much paperwork."
"Do you see yourself resisting?" Jin Huang asked.
"Unfortunately," the lazy young man sat up with an exhausted exhalation, "I see myself going right alongside you all."
Jin Huang and Hei Shisan were frantically scouring the wall, tapping it and relaying information to one another. "Then get up and help us find the weak spot."
Xu Ye sighed the sigh of someone who had lost an argument to destiny itself and rolled onto his feet.
The Detention Center was, in theory, secure.
There were disciplinary formations, rotational patrols, and the disciplinary staff member named Twinkle who took his job way too seriously.
However, Hei Shisan had broken out so many times that he knew exactly how to find flaws in the repairs. While the staff was wondering how he managed to get out so frequently, he would be busy locating the new weak point for his next breakout.
Hei Shisan suddenly stopped and got their attention with a solid harrumph.
"Observe," he said, then knocked on the wall twice.
The sound was distinctly different, indicating that something about this area was off.
Xu Ye stared. "Don't tell me you're going to-"
Hei Shisan didn't let him finish.
He took one casual step back, rolled his shoulders, and then drove his fist forward. The wall shattered dramatically, giving up after the first bit of force was applied.
The stone caved inward with a dull, offended thud, revealing a hollow gap behind the formation-lined surface. Runes flickered, sputtered, and died like candles embarrassed to have been discovered.
Dust drifted lazily through the air as the booming sound reverberated and the detention center shook.
Jin Huang blinked. "That easy?"
Hei Shisan dusted off his sleeve. "They reinforced the outer layer but forgot to reconnect the load-bearing rune chain. A schoolboy error."
Xu Ye stared at the clean, fist-shaped cavity in the supposedly fortified detention wall.
"You should consider a career in structural critique," he muttered.
Hei Shisan beamed. "Thank you."
Before either of them could say another word, Hei Shisan's ears twitched and he suddenly grabbed them- one under each arm.
Xu Ye went limp instantly. "I object to being carried like luggage... however I do not have the energy to resist so..."
Jin Huang, by contrast, flared golden energy instinctively. "Wait, are we gonna-"
Hei Shisan bent his knees slightly, then jumped. The floor instantly cracked, then the ceiling vanished. They blasted straight out through the weakened stone like an enthusiastic meteor, sounds of alarm ringing out behind them.
Somewhere below, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Twinkle shouted, "NOT AGAIN!"
Hei Shisan twisted midair, spiritual energy roaring to life around him. The wind screamed past as he adjusted his trajectory, kicking off a watchtower and launching himself toward the far edge of the Academy grounds.
Xu Ye dangled under his arm, hair whipping violently.
"I would like to reiterate," he said flatly, "that I did not sign up for criminal activity."
"Can it! You already broke the rules by not attending classes!" Jin Huang shouted over the rushing wind.
"That doesn't mean I approve of this!"
Hei Shisan laughed wildly.
The Void Crossing Array came into view in the distance, its illusory star chart shimmering faintly under the daylight sky as Mr. Yuanshi yawned.
Hei Shisan leaned forward, accelerating.
"Let's do this!" he declared gleefully.
Xu Ye closed his eyes as the wind howled louder, seeing glimpses of a time even further than before.
"Why am I a part of this future as well?"
Standing beside the array, arms folded, was the unfortunate Mr. Yuanshi, who spotted them instantly.
"Why are three students- who are supposed to be in detention- approaching my Array?"
Hei Shisan smiled radiantly. "We escaped!"
Xu Ye closed his eyes and massaged them.
Mr. Yuanshi's gaze sharpened, but all he said was, "Hm."
"We temporarily exited confinement to conduct research," Jin Huang corrected.
"What research requires the Void Crossing Array?"
Xu Ye raised a hand lazily. "Longitudinal destiny verification."
Mr. Yuanshi blinked. The thought of what he would have to go through in order to stop them played on his mind, and he immediately rejected both it and common sense.
"Sounds legit," the older man nodded.
Jin Huang heard that and twitched. He was just about to offer up further support for his excuse, but was caught off guard by Mr. Yuanshi's sudden agreement.
"You guys have fun, okay? You can select any place on the star chart. Shisan, a bit of your energy should do the trick." He waved them off, rubbing his eyes.
Xu Ye gasped as he looked at the older man, then his comrades looked at him. His reddish eyes watered as he stared at Mr. Yuanshi, eyes filled with envy. "That is a truly tired man who is on his way to catch up on much-needed sleep. I wish I were him."
They all looked at the array that was now free and beckoning to them.
Hei Shisan hurried to the star chart, and directed them to stand on the mosaic platform. Before long, the array was activated and they vanished from sight.
Mr. Yuanshi sat under a shady tree growing out of the cloudy floor. He looked at the now-dormant Array, and sighed. "I can file a report later."
...
Far, far away, three figures materialized in a burst of light, standing atop the receiving array on the outskirts of Obsidian City.
Xu Ye stumbled slightly; Hei Shisan stretched; Jin Huang inhaled deeply, his eyes shining.
"Gentlemen," he said, "We're here."
Xu Ye looked around at the crimson lightning flashing in the clouds, and the total darkness surrounding the giant obsidian structure. Then, he glanced at the traces of battle that could still be seen around the array.
"I was happier when the sight of this place was only in my visions."
Hei Shisan clapped him on the shoulder. "Welcome to Abyssal Demonic Star System."
Xu Ye said nothing further. Instead, he closed his red eyes and watched as the next disaster formed in his vision.
Unfortunately, he was once again in it.