Zhao Wuji was sent back on a rainy night. All his meridians were severed, and he was also poisoned with a horrible, unbearable poison. The Shrek Academy has been unable to help him recover to this day.
"Sigh… very well, you've endured enough."
Flender gave a long sigh, saying no more.
Together with Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, he led the Shrek Seven Monsters onto the official road.
Watching his former companions, destined to shine on the stage of the Spirit Master Tournament, walk further and further away into the bright future awaiting them…
Ma Hongjun slowly crouched down.
He gasped for air like a drowning man.
Then, unable to restrain it any longer, his sobbing cries tore through the silence of the courtyard.
...
On the official road.
When they had gone far enough that Ma Hongjun could no longer see them, Yu Xiaogang turned toward the tall, twin-tailed girl in the team.
"Bai Chenxiang, don't feel pressured. After the training you've endured, the seven of you will surely shine brilliantly in the Spirit Master Tournament."
"…I understand."
Bai Chenxiang pressed her lips together.
She was the granddaughter of Bai He, clan leader of the Speed Clan.
The Speed Clan resided in White Fortress of the Star Luo Empire.
As one of the four sects once subordinate to the Clear Sky Clan, they lived the most impoverished of all, lacking the means of survival possessed by the other three.
Among them, the Strength Clan had often extended aid to the Speed Clan.
But months ago, the Strength Clan was annihilated.
The entire Speed Clan was shaken to its core.
Yet, upon realizing how deep the forces behind their opponent ran, thoughts of vengeance could only be buried deep within.
At just this time—
With Shrek Academy having merged with Blue Tyrant Academy, and recruiting talents to send to the Spirit Master Tournament—
Bai He, knowing that Shrek had enmity with the one who destroyed the Strength Clan—Sword Wine—sent his granddaughter Bai Chenxiang to join.
Bai Chenxiang had grown up training outside and had little direct connection with the Strength Clan.
Nor did she care much for the feuds of the older generation.
But burdened with the expectations of her family, she could not refuse, and so she joined Shrek.
Perhaps…
In the unseen workings of fate—
Some disrupted trajectory had been quietly set right.
Bai Chenxiang, who should only have joined Shrek in the future, now took the place left open by Ma Hongjun's fall.
..
"Hmph." Dai Mubai let out a cold snort.
Meeting Tang San's and Oscar's eyes, all three showed the same cold gleam.
Though Ma Hongjun's future was ruined, no longer walking the same path as them—
For the sake of their past camaraderie, and thinking of how Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong had been forced to leave Heaven Dou in humiliation, and how Zhao Wuji now lay bedridden in misery—
One grievance after another piled high.
Even without facing Sword Wine yet, hatred had already taken root.
Dai Mubai looked toward Zhu Zhuqing, fists slowly tightening inside his sleeve.
"Sword Wine… at last, we will face you."
Tang San's expression was calm, unruffled.
Toward this so-called Sword Wine, his heart held not the slightest fear.
If they met—
And the other was sensible enough to apologize to Ma Hongjun and Yu Xiaogang, then so be it.
But if he dared show arrogance before him—
In the depths of Tang San's eyes, a streak of purple flickered.
He would let Sword Wine understand, profoundly, what it meant to seek death.
Oscar let out a sigh.
His gaze drifted toward Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong was happily chatting with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, seemingly oblivious to him.
"Zhuqing! Zhuqing!"
"Won't you be seeing your Sword Wine very soon?"
Ning Rongrong's bright eyes sparkled with mischief as she whispered.
Zhu Zhuqing's fair cheeks blossomed with red.
"W-what nonsense are you saying?!"
"W-what do you mean my Sword Wine?!"
Her voice got softer and softer, until it was as thin as a mosquito's, and she was so embarrassed that she lowered her eyes.
"Heehee!"
Xiao Wu giggled and chimed in.
"We're not like those stinky boys. Who told Ma Hongjun he couldn't control his Evil Fire, harming so many girls? To end up like this—he only reaped what he sowed."
To Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun's crippling was nothing worth mourning.
Back then, their acquaintance with him had been shallow.
What little team bond they had felt was far outweighed by the disgust they'd felt at his cruelty toward innocent girls.
Ning Rongrong then added:
"But still, Zhuqing, you said Sword Wine may not even compete. But if by chance we meet him—don't think we sisters will hold back."
Zhu Zhuqing's delicate face bloomed with expectation.
In her dreams, she had countless times longed for reunion with Li Zhexian.
"Just give it your all—it's not like you can beat him anyway."
"Hah! Zhu Zhuqing, already turning your elbow outward?"
Ning Rongrong pretended anger, waving at Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, get her!"
"Alright!" Xiao Wu leapt joyfully.
The three girls chased one another in playful laughter, their voices echoing down the official road.
At the side, Bai Chenxiang's face stayed calm, though a shadow of envy flickered in her eyes.
...
After much chasing and laughter—
As a support-type Spirit Master, Ning Rongrong was the first to run out of breath.
She gazed at the lively figures of Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing ahead, her eyes shining bright at the thought of the upcoming Spirit Master Tournament.
Yu Xiaogang often said:
"After this tournament, the name of the Shrek Seven Monsters will resound across the continent."
Ning Rongrong clenched her fist.
"I, Ning Rongrong, will become one of the outstanding youth of this generation! I'll show Father—without the sect, I can still become strong!"
But as she thought of standing proud on the greatest stage of the young generation, another image rose quietly in her mind—
That day, in the back mountain of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The lonely, unyielding back of the white-robed youth.
Her slender hand subconsciously went to her collar, and through her clothes, she clutched something that she wore close to her body inside.
A hint of sadness flashed in her eyes, which then turned back into calmness.
"Just as you said that day… in the end, we are people of two different worlds…"
"Li Zhexian, why must our views be so different?"
Xue Qinghe put down her porcelain spoon, her fair face full of indignation as she glared at Li Zhexian.
For him to declare their "worldviews were incompatible," simply because she liked sweet tofu pudding while he preferred the salty kind—
She found it utterly absurd.
She did not fully understand what this "worldview" truly meant.
But just that word "incompatible"—
She would never allow it to exist between herself and Li Zhexian.
Li Zhexian swallowed his mouthful of savory tofu.
"Come now, don't take it so seriously. Just a joke."
Xue Qinghe's brows knit tight.
Without another word—
She snatched the half-finished bowl of salty tofu from in front of him.
Tilting her head back, she took a huge gulp, then mumbled thickly:
"See? I ate it!"
"We—we don't have incompatible worldviews!"
Li Zhexian could only shake his head and laugh.
Just as this childish quarrel settled—
From dozens of meters away, at the East City Gate, a commotion broke out.
An indignant young voice pierced through the noise:
"Brother Guard, explain yourself! How does covering our eyes with black silk disgrace the face of Heaven Dou City?!"