Chapter 154: Departures and Burdens
"Xuan Zu, you were looking for me?" Bei Bei asked weakly as he stepped into the Sea God Pavilion.
After the All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Competition, he had taken some time to recover from his injuries. During this recovery period, Tang Ya had assured him she was fine and insisted on returning to Tiandou City first, taking with her the savings they had accumulated together.
Bei Bei had objected strongly. The Iron Blood Sect, which had taken over the Tang Sect's territory, was not particularly powerful. In his opinion, there was no urgency to confront them.
As long as they waited another five years—no more than that—he was confident he could reach the Soul Emperor level. With his six-ring configuration—two yellow, two purple, and two black rings—and Tang Ya still only at the Soul Sect level, they could easily reclaim what was theirs. The Iron Blood Sect's leader was merely a low-level Soul Emperor without even a ten-thousand-year soul ring. The disparity in power would be insurmountable for them.
Moreover, his martial soul was the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex, one of the top-tier beast martial souls. Once he achieved the Soul Emperor rank, no one in the Iron Blood Sect could stand against him. They just needed time—five years. Even without prodigies in their ranks, they could storm the Iron Blood Sect and reclaim the Tang Sect's legacy.
It was the safest, most reliable plan.
But Tang Ya didn't listen.
She was determined to return to Tiandou City and rebuild the Tang Sect on her own. A three-ring Soul Master challenging a sect led by a six-ring Soul Emperor? It was absurd. But before she left, she said only one thing—and then she was gone.
And what could Bei Bei do?
Naturally, he forgave her.
Love was about compromise, about indulgence—but indulgence could bring its own problems.
One of Bei Bei's main reasons for opposing Tang Ya's plan was fear of her impulsiveness. Despite her reassurances, he had always sensed her promises were unreliable.
And then came the news from Tiandou City.
Tang Ya vanished. The Iron Blood Sect was destroyed.
Bei Bei had no idea how she'd accomplished it, nor did he care. His only concern was:
Where was Tang Ya now?
He used every connection, every favor he could call in, to find her. But from one end of the continent to the other, there was no news—no trace of her.
A terrible feeling had taken root in Bei Bei's heart. He feared he might never see her again.
In his despair, he poured all his pain into his cultivation. He wasn't even sixteen yet, and his soul power had already broken through to level 47. Heartache and sorrow drove his growth; he even found clarity and insight in combat techniques. He could feel his strength rising—but there was no joy in it.
Even now, standing in the hallowed halls of the Sea God Pavilion before his great-great-grandfather, Bei Bei's voice trembled with exhaustion and grief.
When he respectfully called out to Mu En, Huo Yuhao, He Caitou, and the others looked at him in shock. And then, the figure reclining lazily in the chair stirred.
Mu En—revered as Elder Mu—opened his eyes and looked at them with calm, gentle eyes.
"The children are all here. Not bad, not bad," he said with a soft smile.
His voice, aged but full of warmth, soothed their tense nerves like a spring breeze. The second "not bad" especially carried a kind reassurance that eased the heaviness in their hearts.
"You are all the pride of my Shrek," he said. "Before you leave, I have something to give you."
Mu En gestured around the Pavilion. "The Sea God Pavilion was originally a single, great golden tree—extremely rare in the world. It radiates the breath of light and life. Without harming it, our ancestors hollowed out this tree to create the Pavilion you stand in now."
He paused, letting them absorb his words.
"This tree is the foundation of Shrek Academy. Everything you see—the furnishings, the very walls—was made from the same tree. In the future, you will come to understand its significance."
He turned toward them one by one.
"Xiao Xiao, go through the third corridor on the left. Enter the second room. Train there until you are ready."
"Huo Yuhao, go to the end of the first passage on the right. Enter the door there. Focus on your cultivation."
"Ling Luochen, you go…"
One by one, Mu En arranged training locations for each student.
"You are going to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy as exchange students. For the sake of our Shrek Academy, you are making this journey. Therefore, I have decided to allow early access to the Golden Tree's training rooms—an opportunity you would usually only receive upon returning from your exchange. It is the best I can do for your future."
"How much you gain will depend on your own perception and fate. I don't know if I will live to see you all return, but… this is what I can give you now."
The students bowed respectfully and departed to their assigned rooms.
Xiao Xiao had just sat down when Mu En's voice rang in her ears.
"Xiao Xiao, you don't want to go to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, do you?"
"Mu Lao, I…" she hesitated.
"I know. You're not satisfied with the Academy's decision. You want to stay with Wang Dong a while longer."
Xiao Xiao's face flushed. She had not expected to be so directly exposed.
"I understand your feelings. That's precisely why I want to separate you two for a while. Time apart can help you think more clearly."
"But why?" Xiao Xiao protested. "Wang Dong may be great, but I'm not inferior. Even if his family is powerful, I have twin martial souls! Why can't I stand beside him on my own merit?"
"You cannot be together because of something even greater than strength, talent, or background." Mu En's tone softened. "The Goddess of Light Butterfly—a martial soul that only appears in women. Do you understand what I mean?"
"This… Mu Lao, are you saying…?"
"Yes. Wang Dong is actually a girl, disguised as a boy. Unless you change your gender, there's no way for you two to be together."
"Change… gender?" Xiao Xiao's mind went blank.
"It's a lot to take in. But it's the truth. I don't know why she chose to live as a boy, but you can ask her yourself when the time is right. I have no reason to lie to you."
"I see… No wonder. No wonder she's so close with Huo Yuhao…" Xiao Xiao mumbled. "Thank you, Mu Lao. I think I do need some time to calm down."
"It's good you understand the Academy's intentions. Go. Open your heart and your eyes to the world. And remember—no matter what happens out there, Shrek is always your home."
"Thank you, Mu Lao."
Meanwhile, Ling Luochen had just entered her training chamber when Mu En's familiar presence stirred again.
"You once stood among the united Shrek Seven Devils," he said gently. "Now you're the only one left. Even the senior from your last class who cared for you… has fallen into trouble. It must feel unbearable."
Ling Luochen's nose tingled. A wave of grievance surged within her.
"Mu Lao, I…"
"It was the Academy's fault this time. I apologize on behalf of Xuan Zi."
"No, it's not your fault."
"But it is," Mu En sighed. "After Le Xuan's incident, I should've stopped Xuan Zi from leading again. Twelve students—eight dead, three crippled, only Le Xuan unharmed. That should have been the end of it. But I let him lead again, and more tragedy followed."
"If not for your and Yu Heng's preparation this time, who knows what might have happened?"
"You were once a martial soul specialist who looked down on soul guides. Now you carry soul guide shields with you… even invincibility shields. Can I really claim no responsibility for this?"
"It's my indulgence that allowed it all. I've ordered Xuan Zi to reflect, and I've sworn never to let him lead again while I live. But my time is nearly up. Within ten years, the leadership of the Pavilion will pass to Xuan Zi. After that, my words will mean little."
"Mu Lao…" Ling Luochen's voice was tight with emotion.
"Luochen, I know your grief and fear. That's why I want you to go to the Sun Moon Academy. They have the best soul guide shields and defenses. Learn, buy, equip yourself—whatever it takes. The Academy will cover all expenses. This is the least we can do."
"You don't have to—"
"Please don't refuse. This is my way of making it right. When you leave this time… we may not see each other again."
"Before I die, I have one request."
"Please say it, Mu Lao."
"I don't ask for forgiveness. Just this—if one day, you're able… help this second home that has nurtured you for nearly ten years."
"I will, Mu Lao. I promise."