Clap, clap, clap!
Applause sounded.
It was like an old photograph being restored, colors slowly emerging in the space before me.
And as the black, white, and gray rapidly receded, all the mummified bodies it had covered quickly transformed back to their human appearances, one by one stirring to life.
Among them, the one behind the bar, who was even clapping enthusiastically, turned out to be Ji Ping, the one who had given me the badge last night.
"Welcome, welcome."
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"
Ji Ping applauded as he picked up a bottle of liquor and filled the glass in front of Fu Qian.
"A toast to our new friend."
Fu Qian noticed that the grey eyeball in the palm of Ji Ping seemed different from the last time they had met—it was tightly shut now.
The recent illusion must have something to do with that.
"I can't drink while on duty."
Fu Qian casually made an excuse, not taking the glass offered to him.
"Besides, your welcoming ceremony doesn't seem very friendly."
