Five days passed quickly, and it was now the day for the Far Ocean and Heavenly Sea ships to set sail back to the Douluo Continent.
The Far Ocean and Sky Sea City were already packed with people.
To ensure safety, the military had specially dispatched a warship and three fighter jets to escort the Far Ocean and Heavenly Sea ships throughout their journey.
It was only after the ships had been sailing for more than an hour that Yali returned to the Far Ocean.
"Your Holiness, how did it go?" Pan Wen immediately stepped forward and asked.
"Secretary Pan, I'm sorry. Because of Shrek Academy's matter, I've troubled you. However, this is Shrek Academy's private affair, so there's no need for the Federation to get involved." Yali slowly closed her eyes.
Aside from being students of Shrek Academy, Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan were also members of the Sun Moon Federation exchange delegation.
They had gone missing while traveling with the Sun Moon Federation exchange group.
Shrek Academy could have simply let the Sun Moon Federation investigate this matter.
Even though Yali was in unbearable pain, she did not want the Sun Moon Federation to handle the investigation.
The Sun Moon Federation was preparing for a large-scale invasion of the Star Luo Empire and the Tian Hu Domain.
If they were allowed to investigate the deaths of Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan, who knew how many people would die once the Sun Moon Federation conquered the Star Luo Continent?
Once the Sun Moon Federation took over the Star Luo Continent, they would inevitably need to establish their authority through bloodshed. Yali did not want Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan's deaths to become the excuse for the Sun Moon Federation's violent suppression.
Yali turned to look at the remaining members of Shrek Academy. No one at Shrek Academy had expected such devastating losses from this exchange program.
Including Ye Xinglan and Yuanen Yehui, Shrek Academy had lost a total of seventeen students and teachers.
It had been countless years since Shrek Academy had suffered such a tremendous loss.
Yali felt like dying.
"Dean!" The students of Shrek Academy looked toward Yali. Over the past few days, they had learned about how Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan had sneaked into the Tian Hu Domain.
Seeing that Yali had returned without them, an ominous feeling rose in their hearts.
"I will explain everything once we are back in our quarters. By the way, nothing happened to Xia Yi, right?" Looking at the surviving students of Shrek Academy, Yali suddenly felt an urge to cry.
It was over. Finally, it was over.
Once the Far Ocean and Heavenly Sea ships returned to the Douluo Continent, this exchange program would officially come to an end.
"He boarded the Far Ocean early on," the Shrek Academy members replied, shaking their heads.
They all felt indignant—why was it that so many people had tried to kill Xia Yi, yet he was completely unharmed?
Aside from Yun Ming, no one else even dared to make a move against him.
Yet, Shrek Academy had to suffer such heavy losses.
"You all wait here. I'll go see him," Yali sighed in relief. Over the past few days, her greatest fear was that Yun Ming would attack Xia Yi while she was away.
If that happened, who knew how many more complications would arise?
"Brother Yun didn't attack Xia Yi, which means he wasn't secretly watching over me and Xia Yi this entire time. Where did he go? What is he planning?"
Thinking of Yun Ming, Yali felt even more uneasy.
The fact that Yun Ming had disappeared without a word made her feel an inexplicable sense of dread.
Knock, knock, knock…
Xia Yi opened the door and saw Yali standing there with her head lowered. He asked, "You're back. So? Did you find Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan?"
"They're gone." Yali's eyes instantly reddened.
"Gone?" Xia Yi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Was it the Star Luo Empire's doing, or was it the Heavenly Fox Domain?"
"I don't know. I found no clues. I failed them. I let them down." Yali's beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow. Though she was a Rank-98 Super Douluo, at this moment, she looked like a helpless young girl.
Because she was facing Xia Yi, she held back her tears. If it had been Yun Ming, she would have broken down sobbing.
"Then why did you come to see me?" Xia Yi asked flatly.
He had expected that Yali would find no clues.
By the time Yali learned about what had happened, the Star Luo Empire had already arranged everything.
The Tian Hu Domain was only pretending to cooperate. There was no way she could uncover the truth.
"I don't know," Yali shook her head. She didn't even know why she had come to Xia Yi first. She just felt that she should.
"Do you feel that because you were protecting me, you neglected Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan, which led to their deaths? Do you think I'm partly responsible for what happened to them?" Xia Yi asked with a raised brow.
"I admit, I have thought that way before… but only in moments of irrationality. I know this has nothing to do with you," Yali shook her head.
"If it has nothing to do with me, then why are you here? You're not here to vent to me, are you?" Xia Yi asked mockingly.
"I'm not," Yali shook her head again.
"Then that means you don't have the courage to face the students of Shrek Academy and are just hiding here with me?" Xia Yi asked.
"I…" Yali opened her mouth, but she had no way to refute it. That was the only explanation.
Even she didn't understand her own thoughts right now.
Her mind was a mess.
All she felt was guilt.
"Brother Yun, where are you? Can you come out and help me shoulder some of this burden?"
Right now, the person Yali wanted to see the most was Yun Ming.
She desperately hoped he would appear by her side. Even if he couldn't, she wished he would at least send her a Soul Communicator message so she could have some peace of mind.
Yet, Yun Ming had vanished as if he had never existed.
Neither Zang Xin nor Cao Dezhi could find him. Neither could she.
"I think instead of worrying about things that can't be changed, you should focus on things that still can be," Xia Yi reminded her.
"What do you mean?" Yali was stunned.
"Wu Siduo was detained in Star Luo City. She didn't board the Far Ocean," Xia Yi said.
"What?" Yali's expression changed drastically.
The Wu Family of the Douluo Continent was accused of treason, but Wu Siduo's name wasn't on the list announced by the Sun Moon Federation.
The Sun Moon Federation had long since abolished collective punishment laws.
So, if Wu Siduo returned to the Douluo Continent, the worst that could happen was an investigation.
With Shrek Academy backing her, the Sun Moon Federation wouldn't be able to falsely accuse her of any crimes.
However, if Wu Siduo didn't return with Shrek Academy and instead stayed in the Star Luo Empire with Wu Tianrong, and if the Sun Moon Federation captured her along with Wu Tianrong after defeating the Star Luo Empire, things would be entirely different.
"Shen Yi!"
Yali immediately found the first-year teacher Shen Yi and asked about the situation.
"Dean, we already tried negotiating with the Star Luo Empire, but Wu Siduo isn't being detained by the empire. Her father, the White Tiger Douluo, refused to let her leave, saying it was a family matter that Shrek Academy had no right to interfere with," Shen Yi explained bitterly.
"White Tiger Douluo, if you want to die with the Star Luo Empire, don't drag Shrek Academy's students down with you!"
Yali dared not waste a second and immediately turned back toward the Star Luo Empire.
Too many students had already been lost.
She would not allow Wu Siduo to get caught up in the Wu Family's treason case.
"Master, when will you forge the Ocean Cauldron for me?"
Just as Yali left, the Demon Emperor suddenly appeared behind Xia Yi.
"Have you decided what materials to use?" Xia Yi asked.
"Shrek Academy has a treasure—the Vast Sea Universe Crystal," the Demon Emperor said with a sly smile, glancing in Yali's direction.
(End of Chapter)