Why is my anime art style so weird?

However, after a fire, even the roof was burned through. Over the years, some iron pots were filled with rainwater and moss, and the iron sand was also covered with rust, turning from grayish-black to orange-red rust.

After three years of exposure to sun and rain, many stoves collapsed, with broken red bricks and cement falling to the ground.

At the far end of the kitchen, on the steps, sat a rotten armchair, covered in thick moss, with mushrooms even growing from the cracks in it.

Xu Ming could imagine the spirited demeanor of Hisagi Terunori sitting in his armchair, watching hundreds of students below practice flipping woks with synchronized movements.

Unfortunately, all the past events have vanished like smoke, leaving only a dilapidated ruin.

Xu Ming walked from the side of the kitchen into the interior, where there were student dormitories, a study where recipes were kept, a recreation room, a bathroom, and so on.

However, after walking around, Xu Ming had a question.

Where did that coffin go?

Could that really be a misleading photo?!

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Vanished Coffin

Xu Ming wandered around the ruins of the Chinese Culinary Research Institute two or three times, but still couldn't find the coffin.

Stepping out of the Chinese Culinary Research Institute, Xu Ming picked up his phone again, pulled out the photo, and began to carefully compare it.

Soon, Xu Ming noticed something unusual.

Comparing the replica Qing Dynasty house in this photo with the actual site, the exterior, from the walls to the gate, including the two stone lions at the entrance, and even every charred mark, is almost identical.

The change began from inside the door.

Once you cross that threshold, reality and the photograph seem to become two different worlds.

Xu Ming also wondered if the poster had changed the scene inside the door, but when Xu Ming zoomed in on the photo, he couldn't find any signs of editing.

Either this is the work of a Photoshop expert, or the photo is indeed real.

Xu Ming leans more towards the second possibility. After all, it's hard to imagine a Photoshop expert hanging around on such a niche forum with fewer than 100 daily active users.

Perhaps there is another possibility...

Xu Ming suddenly thought of the Polaris Dormitory after the blood moon rose, as if it had completely transformed into another world.

Since even the Polaris Dormitory was affected by the Blood Moon, could the Chinese Cuisine Research Institute, which is related to the evil ritual, have also undergone some unknown changes?

We can only find out the truth after the blood moon rises.

Xu Ming took a deep look at the building, which was almost charred black, and then turned and left.

A gust of wind blew, and the black ash on the floor turned into a vortex, swirling and coiling in mid-air...

After finishing his research on Chinese cuisine, it was already close to noon, so Xu Ming naturally wouldn't spend several hours running home.

So, he naturally ended up at Polaris Dormitory.

Lunch was cooked by Megumi Tadokoro as usual, and Fumio's grandmother also made a stew, which was unusual for her.

Practice makes perfect, and Xu Ming got another free lunch and volunteered to wash the dishes and wipe the table.

It has to be said that those who come from Polaris Dormitory generally have a boost in cooking skills. After eating there two or three times, Xu Ming was no longer willing to touch those cheap, standardized bento boxes.

After lunch, Xu Ming chatted with Wenxu's mother-in-law.

Grandma Wenxu suddenly remembered something and said to Xu Ming:

"By the way, kid, I've cleaned out room 106. You can come and stay here anytime."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Ming's eyes. He had already caused them trouble by coming to freeload a meal, but he didn't expect that Grandma Wenxu would actually prepare a room for him separately.

This old lady is indeed kind-hearted despite her fierce appearance.

Xu Ming was stunned and didn't reply for a moment, and Granny Wenxu immediately frowned.

"What, kid? You don't like this place? Back in the day, if you wanted to move into Polaris Dormitory, you had to pass my cooking test. Now I'm letting you in without the test, and you're still not happy?"

Xu Ming quickly waved his hand.

"You misunderstand. I was just afraid that having another person would cause you trouble."

Grandma Wenxu waved her hand grandly and said with great pride:

"What's the trouble? It's just an extra pair of chopsticks."

Then she showed a look of emotion.

"Sigh~ Xiaohui always cooks too much food..."

Xu Ming fell silent.

The reason why Megumi Tadokoro always makes so much more food is probably because she makes it according to the number of people in the Polar Star Dormitory back then.

Three years have passed, and everything has changed. Yet, in this Western-style mansion hidden in the mountains, time seems to have stood still for the young girl. She and the old lady watch over their friends who may never return...

Xu Ming only hoped that when he solved the conspiracy behind the scenes of the Far Moon Sect, the tragedy of the Polaris Dormitory could also be resolved at the same time.

"I'm getting old, I'm getting old, and I like to nag. The room I prepared for you is on the first floor, room 106. The door is open, go there yourself."

Grandma Wenxu's voice interrupted Xu Ming's thoughts.

It was likely another all-nighter, and Xu Ming needed to recharge, so he readily accepted Grandma Wenxu's offer.

Upon arriving at room 106, Xu Ming pushed open the door and entered. A fairly tidy room came into view, especially the bed, which had been replaced with a new one.

Xu Ming immediately took off his coat and lay down on the bed to take a nap.

It must be said that a clean and tidy bed does indeed help one sleep better. Xu Ming took a nap for more than an hour and didn't get up until 3 p.m.

After his lunch break, Xu Ming immediately felt refreshed and his condition had returned to its best.

After organizing the equipment in his backpack, Xu Ming greeted Grandma Wenxu and then set off again to explore Chinese cuisine.

Around 5 p.m., Xu Ming arrived at the Qing Dynasty-style mansion again.

Then Xu Ming sat at the door, playing on his phone while waiting for the sun to set.

The reason for waiting at the entrance beforehand was that the entire Totsuki Tea House was unsafe at night. Especially when walking through the Totsuki forests at night, the poisonous insects and wild animals that roam at night posed a huge threat, not to mention the various elusive and eerie things that could appear out of nowhere.

After careful consideration, Xu Ming chose to arrive at the Chinese Cuisine Research Institute before sunset.

As the last rays of the sun faded, all around fell silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the howls of wild animals echoing from the distant mountains and forests.

None of the various buildings hidden in the mountains and forests had any lights on, indicating human habitation.

The vast university campus, which occupied the entire mountain forest, seemed to have only Xu Ming left.

Xu Ming stood up, dusted off his pants, then held up the spirit-capturing phone in one hand, activated the 'night vision' ability, and carefully walked into the ruins of the Chinese Culinary Research Institute.

Compared to the daytime, the entire Chinese Food Research Institute appeared even more eerie and terrifying.

Bizarre-shaped wreckage was everywhere, and faint black ash drifted in the air. The surroundings were deathly silent, with only Xu Ming's footsteps echoing through the air.

Xu Ming mustered his courage and walked through it. Gusts of cold wind blew by, lifting the charred curtains and revealing many ghostly figures in the darkness.

Squeak!

A soft sound came from not far away.

Xu Ming immediately raised his phone to look at it, only to find that it was just a wooden door that had been burned down to a small part, being blown back and forth by the wind.

Xu Ming walked cautiously through the dark ruins.

Compared to the daytime, the entire Chinese Food Research Institute only seemed to have become gloomy; nothing strange was happening.

However, the observant Xu Ming noticed a problem.

Whether it was day or night, he never found any small creatures like rats or cockroaches in the ruins.

These two species are known for their incredible resilience; they even survived a nuclear explosion, let alone three years after that fire. Logically, this ruin should have long since become a nest for insects, snakes, and rodents.

This is not normal, it's very abnormal.

There seemed to be some deadly danger lurking in the darkness.

Xu Ming searched the ruins again, but still found nothing.

The coffin in the photo seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Paper Dolls

Xu Ming wandered around the Chinese Culinary Research Institute in the dark, but found nothing except that the entire ruins seemed to have become even more eerie.

Left with no other choice, Xu Ming walked out the gate and began to wander around the perimeter of the ruins.

Behind the Chinese Cuisine Research Institute is a small grove of trees, which exudes a sinister and eerie atmosphere under the cover of night.

Strange bird calls echoed through the grove, occasionally punctuated by the howl of a wild beast.

A soft rustling sound kept coming, like the sound of wind blowing through leaves, or like the sound of insects crawling quickly across the ground.

Xu Ming looked into the woods and saw all sorts of strangely shaped trees swaying in the wind, their branches moving and their shadows flickering, making the whole forest seem to come alive.

What is hidden in the darkness?

Xu Ming felt a chill run down his spine and quickly hurried back to the main entrance, holding his phone while vigilantly watching the surrounding area.

Time slowly passed by.

Xu Ming's fingers were constantly swiping on his phone, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that his eyes were completely unfocused; his mind was not on the phone screen at all.

Xu Ming never forgot Isshiki Satoshi's words of advice.

Kinokuni Nene, who had transformed into a headless female ghost, planted a curse of resentment on him, which would be sensed once he returned to the Totsuki Tea House.

So after dark, Xu Ming kept the spirit-capturing phone in his hand, ready to give her a 'surprise' at any time.

However, what puzzled Xu Ming was that the headless female ghost had not appeared yet.

Is it because she only moves around under the Blood Moon? Or is it because her resentment mark only lasts for one night?

Xu Ming had no idea. 'Strange' was completely foreign to him. He could only constantly remind himself to stay alert at all times.

A cold wind blew by, and Xu Ming suddenly realized that something unusual seemed to have happened around him.

Xu Ming quickly looked at his phone and realized that the time on the phone had unknowingly changed to 11:34.

There is less than half an hour left until the blood moon rises.

All around was silent; the birdsong and the roars of wild animals in the mountains and forests had all disappeared.

It seemed as if some unknown danger was lurking in the mountains and forests.