The morning sun crested over Spirit City, its rays bathing the white stone towers in soft light. Thin wisps of mist lingered along the roads leading out of the city's eastern gate. A formation of armored spirit beasts waited in quiet rows, harnesses gleaming faintly. On the lead beast stood Li Wei, the Diendriver at his hip and a sharp wind brushing his coat. The clothing he wear now resemble Luo Cha clothes from Star Rail. His outfit consists of a black turtleneck with a white coat embellished with green and golden accents, along with a long, green scarf tied around his left forearm. He also wears white pants and black boots with gold buttons and black soles, and a black tassel on the back right side of his coat.
He exhaled slowly.
Behind him loomed the high towers of Spirit Hall, cold and unmoving. Somewhere deep inside, Bibi Dong pulled her strings, wrapped in thorns of prophecy and ambition.
He wasn't sure if this was a farewell, or just a pause.
"You're doing it again," said Zhu Zhuqing softly, climbing onto the beast beside him.
He looked over. "Doing what?"
"Brooding dramatically." She sat straight, her black hair fluttering behind her like a banner.
He allowed himself a small smile. "A habit I'm told is hard to break."
From below, Elder Li Lu stood with arms folded. The old man presence was like a mountain the feeling of immovable, severe, and oddly comforting.
"You've grown," he said, voice raspy. "But growth draws attention. And attention brings the kind of eyes you won't enjoy."
Li Wei bowed from atop the beast. "Understood, Grandpa."
The old man gave a grunt of approval. "Keep walking forward. No matter who blocks the way."
And with that, the caravan moved.
________________
On the Road
The beasts moved swiftly across the rolling plains, their movements smooth and silent. Wind tugged at cloaks and hair, filling the long moments with the soft rustle of travel.
Zhu Zhuqing sat silently beside Li Wei, gazing ahead. Her profile was calm, but her fingers occasionally tightened on the edge of the saddle.
"You're tense," Li Wei observed.
"I'm thinking," she replied. "About the Clan. My mother. What they'll see when I return."
He nodded once. "They'll see someone stronger."
"They'll see someone who left. Who defied orders. Maybe even someone who betrayed them."
She paused. "Would you still stand beside me… if they reject me?"
Li Wei didn't look at her. His gaze remained on the horizon.
"I already am."
A flush crossed her cheeks, but she said nothing more.
A few beasts behind, Xiao Wu leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. "Can we stop for a snack break soon?" she called.
"You're not even walking," Ning Rongrong said, rolling her eyes. "You're just sitting and complaining."
"Thinking burns calories," Xiao Wu replied seriously. "Especially when I'm planning what to do when we get back."
She looked toward Li Wei. "Do you think they'll be mad?"
"They'll be relieved," he said. "And suspicious."
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Especially Flender. He doesn't trust anything that comes from Spirit Hall."
The girls fell into thoughtful silence.
Then Xiao Wu sighed. "I missed the dorm roof."
"Me too," Ning Rongrong murmured.
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Shrek Academy – Reunion
By late afternoon, the outer perimeter of Shrek Academy came into view. The rolling forest path ended at the academy new fortified gates, now watched by a few students an upgraded surveillance.
The gates opened before they even had to knock.
Gasps and cries rang out.
"They're back!"
"It's Li Wei!"
"And the others—they're all alive!"
Li Wei was the first to dismount. His boots touched the soft earth of Shrek again after what felt like a lifetime.
Flender emerged from the crowd, cloak flapping behind him, eyes narrowing.
"You're late."
"Didn't know I was expected," Li Wei replied flatly.
Liu Erlong shoved past Flender and pulled him into a rough embrace.
"Brat," she muttered. "You worried us sick."
Zhao Wuji clapped his hand on Li Wei shoulder, hard enough to jolt his spine. "Glad you're alive. We had bets on whether you'd be eaten by a Rift beast or not."
"Both tried," Li Wei muttered.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun approached next, with wide grins.
"I don't believe it," Oscar said. "You're actually alive."
"I told you he would be," Ma Hongjun said, poking Oscar. "Still. How are you back so clean? Where's the dramatic limp? The desperate final words?"
"I left them in the Rift," Li Wei said dryly.
Behind him, Zhu Zhuqing landed silently. Xiao Wu jumped down next, spinning once and waving. Ning Rongrong stepped down with practiced grace.
Seeing all of them survive, Meng Yiran run to ward them. "You survive. Stupid, do not do something that again." Hugging Li Wei angrily hitting Li Wei chest. She felt a happy that they survive. Meng Yiran then move toward the girls side.
The crowd began murmuring.
"They're all okay…"
"Zhu Zhuqing even stronger now…"
"Did you see Xiao Wu's aura just now?"
Tang San appeared at the edge of the crowd. His expression was neutral, but his eyes flicked immediately to Xiao Wu, then Li Wei, then back.
He gave a nod—formal, distant. He still do not know what he is feeling. Guilty. Helpless. Jealousy.
Li Wei returned it. Nothing more.
Dai Mubai stood near the entrance. His jaw tightened as he saw Zhu Zhuqing, eyes briefly softening—then hardening again when she didn't look his way.
Oscar leaned toward Ma Hongjun and whispered, "Think anything happened between them while they were gone?"
Ma Hongjun smirked. "With that kind of group? If nothing happened, I'll eat my boots."
"Shut it," Ning Rongrong muttered as she walked by, face calm but her ears faintly red.
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Evening Calm
That night, under a starry sky, Li Wei sat alone on the dorm roof, staring out over the silent academy grounds. The breeze was cool, and the quiet was deep.
Footsteps came, light and familiar.
Zhu Zhuqing sat beside him without a word.
A moment later, Xiao Wu climbed up and flopped next to him with a groan. "My legs hate those spirit beasts."
Ning Rongrong joined last, more composed, brushing imaginary dust from her sleeves before settling.
They didn't speak for a long time.
The silence felt peaceful. Familiar.
Li Wei finally broke it. "Do you think they'll treat us differently?"
"Maybe," Zhu Zhuqing said. "But they don't know."
"And they don't need to," Ning Rongrong added firmly. "Not yet."
Xiao Wu smiled faintly. "Let's keep it just for us a little longer. It's kind of nice, don't you think? Like a little secret."
Li Wei closed his eyes.
"Then we move forward. Quietly." He know that the others will suspect something. It's not hard to see when someone change.
"Together," Zhu Zhuqing said.
The wind whispered between them, like a lullaby of old bonds and new beginnings.
For now, the world could sleep. Tomorrow would come soon enough.