"Hey, wake up, kid!" Xuan Zi shook Tang San. Seeing no response, he directly gave him a slap.
With a crisp sound, Tang San's vacant eyes gradually regained clarity. A large swollen mark appeared on his face. He had the urge to retaliate… but then again, this was his teacher.
"Alright, Xuan Zi, you're still as reckless as ever." Elder Zhuang shook his head helplessly while examining Tang San.
"How is he?" Xuan Zi asked anxiously.
"His body was already severely injured, and now he's taken a mental blow as well. But I'm not a psychologist—I can only tell you about his physical condition… and it's really bad," Elder Zhuang said with a sigh.
Xuan Zi's heart sank. "How bad is it?"
"Both of his legs were pierced through and then frozen for a long time. His bodily functions have been completely damaged, and many meridians in his thighs are blocked. But the most serious issue is that too much time has passed, causing a buildup of stagnant blood. Unless he takes the legendary immortal herbs recorded in history—ones consumed by his ancestors—he will likely suffer from lasting internal injuries that will prevent him from ever reaching his peak state."
"Even you can't heal him?" Xuan Zi's face was filled with uncertainty.
"Support-type Soul Masters have always been extreme in their abilities. For example, the Nine-Star Begonia Martial Soul can even bring people back from the dead—if you die, she can literally pull you back from the gates of hell. My Martial Soul isn't as abnormal as that, but as long as you have a breath left, I can save you.
We primarily cultivate life force, meaning that as long as a creature has life, it won't die under our care. But..." Elder Zhuang spread his hands helplessly. "We don't specialize in healing internal injuries. Even if I pull him back from the brink of death, that doesn't mean his old wounds will disappear. They will still exist, merely suppressed by his strong life force, not removed. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Life force and internal injuries do not conflict with each other. In fact, most people have hidden injuries inside them. But when they're in their prime, their strong life force suppresses those injuries. It's only when they are on the verge of death that these old wounds start acting up again."
"So he..." Xuan Zi still seemed unwilling to accept the reality.
"It's no use. I understand how you feel, but unless Wang Xian'er personally intervenes… Her Healing Angel Martial Soul doesn't just transfer life force—it also has purification abilities. That might give him a chance." Elder Zhuang looked at Tang San and added, "For now, let him focus on his cultivation. The internal injuries won't affect his basic training. At least let him reach the Soul Sect or Soul King level and show his potential before thinking about anything else."
But Wang Xian'er was no ordinary person—she was the continent's number one healer. Was it really worth it for her to help a mere twelve-year-old Soul Master? That was still up for debate.
Xuan Zi fell silent.
Elder Zhuang had a point, but Xuan Zi was still unwilling to let it go.
His disciple had been severely injured by those two damned saintesses from the Body Sect, and he hadn't even had the chance to take revenge. A fire of anger burned within him, with no way to release it.
Seeing this, Elder Zhuang quickly changed the topic. "You mentioned that the Sunset Forest has changed significantly and that the Body Sect is plotting something inside. Why don't we convene a Sea God Pavilion meeting? You can brief everyone on the situation."
"Alright," Xuan Zi nodded.
"Teacher, can I join the Sea God Pavilion meeting later?" Tang San suddenly spoke up. "As a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, I know some secrets. That Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well we found—it's recorded in my sect's history."
Since he couldn't have it, why should those two Body Sect women be allowed to keep it for themselves?
He was going to flip the table and let the entire Shrek Academy know about this.
"You can," Xuan Zi sighed.
A few minutes later, in the Sea God Pavilion—
Tang San's eyes were filled with excitement as he looked around at the golden ancient trees. His mother was sleeping among them. Even though his presence didn't wake her, it was likely because he had concealed his divine soul aura when descending to the lower realm. This meant that even if the God of Destruction scanned the area, he wouldn't necessarily be able to find him.
Feeling the warmth in the air, Tang San didn't rush to seek out his mother. If he acted too strangely but she didn't wake up, it would be embarrassing…
The elders of the Sea God Pavilion gathered once more.
Elder Song grumbled, "We've had more meetings in the past two months than in the last two years combined."
"Xuan Zi, why have you called this meeting again?" Mu En asked softly.
He sat at the head of the table, his frail body resembling a withered autumn leaf, ready to fall at any moment. Everyone knew that his strength had waned significantly, but as long as he was still here, he remained the stabilizing force of Shrek Academy.
"Little San, you explain," Xuan Zi gestured. Tang San's wheelchair rolled forward.
The elders were slightly surprised.
Xuan Zi continued calmly, "This is my new disciple, Tang San. His Martial Souls are the Clear Sky Hammer and Blue Silver Grass. His soul power is low because his Martial Souls only awakened a year ago. But he was born with innate full soul power and is a descendant of the Clear Sky Sect.
However, he was being treated as a servant by Wang Dong. I couldn't stand by and watch, so I took him in."
"You sly old fox," Elder Lin smirked, examining Tang San.
"A true prodigy," Yan Shaozhe's eyes gleamed. He wasn't just impressed by Tang San's talent—his Martial Soul traits were eerily similar to his ancestor, the legendary Tang San.
If they played this right, he could become the golden symbol of the Martial Soul Department.
For the rest of the discussion, Tang San revealed what he and Xuan Zi had discovered in the Sunset Forest—the increased quality of soul beasts, their training at the waterfall, and how the two saintesses of the Body Sect had entered the cave and ambushed him.
When he mentioned the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Mu En's face grew solemn.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!" Tang San declared. "And I read in a Clear Sky Sect record that before ascending, Tang San's ancestor went to the Sunset Forest and cultivated the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well there. He left it behind for a destined Shrek Academy disciple to find. If we can enter—"
"Bullshit!" Elder Song cut him off. "The Sunset Forest has been covered in toxic miasma for thousands of years. Even a Super Douluo would struggle to enter. Not a single Shrek disciple or teacher has ever heard of it before. Why would it be meant for us?"
Tang San's expression twitched.
He had let the toxic miasma spread to make the forest his personal backyard.
As for severing the dragon veins, that was to ensure the continent remained divided. With only two nations back then—Heaven Dou, strengthened by his intervention, was on the verge of expansion—he had used a spirit-gathering array to sever the dragon veins and prevent a unified continent.
"Old Song!" an elderly woman softly called out.
"Hmph!" The latter snorted in response.
Tang San, on the other hand, was somewhat speechless. Haven't I done enough for Shrek? Just look at the declining state of the Tang Sect beside them. The Clear Sky Sect had gone even further into seclusion. If anything, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was favoring Shrek. And yet, just because of this...
"It seems that the Body Sect has already taken the lead in exploring the way forward. Since that voice mentioned choosing young individuals who meet the conditions to enter the secret realm, Shrek cannot afford to fall behind either. Here's the plan—Xuan Zi, take Mei'er and a few Inner Court disciples to investigate. Find out the age requirements and general talent criteria. The Body Sect wants to monopolize this? Absolutely impossible," Mu En said softly.
"Yes!" Everyone nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, back in the present—
"Sunset Forest is stirring?" Xu Cheng rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He had left surveillance devices near the secret realm before leaving. The latest audio transmission revealed both the Body Sect and Shrek Academy searching for clues.
But they would never find anything.
Because only a Heaven's Chosen—like Huo Hang or divine beings like the Silver Dragon King—could enter the secret realm.
Xu Cheng chuckled, shaking his head.
Looks like Huo Hang's presence gave them false hope.
Xu Cheng shook his head with a smile.
After escorting the Auspicious Beast to the dorm assigned to her, he headed straight toward Meng Hongchen's location. At this moment, he was walking along the hallway of the girls' dormitory. After a busy day, dusk had fallen, and the last rays of the setting sun disappeared, plunging the surroundings into darkness. The soul power lamps around automatically lit up, illuminating the area.
As for Xu Cheng, a male walking in the girls' dormitory—no one paid him any mind.
After all, this was a building exclusive to the Mingde Hall, and the space was quite ample. Many female students would even bring their boyfriends back for the night. Given that everything in Mingde Hall was top-quality, the rooms were well-sealed and soundproofed—no matter how rowdy things got at night, they wouldn't disturb the neighbors.
So, it wasn't uncommon to see boys around here.
"Ding-dong~"
Xu Cheng stopped in front of a dorm room and pressed the doorbell.
From inside came the rapid sound of footsteps. The door swung open, revealing a beautiful and delicate face. Meng Hongchen was dressed in a white blouse, with an apron tied over it for protection. Below, she wore a short black skirt, her long, slender legs exposed to the air. Her fair, petite feet were clad in transparent sandals, revealing five crystal-clear toes.
The moment she saw Xu Cheng, her pretty face blossomed into a bright smile. She pulled him inside and shut the door behind him.
Picking up a towel, she gently wiped at his nonexistent sweat before hurriedly dashing back to the kitchen, her slippers making hurried tapping sounds on the floor.
Listening to the occasional exclamations and groans of regret coming from the kitchen, Xu Cheng covered his face.
A few minutes later.
Looking at the spread of delicious dishes on the table—and a single charred, unidentifiable plate of food—Xu Cheng was a little surprised. Didn't expect this little girl's cooking skills to improve.
That was, until he took his first bite.
His expression instantly stiffened.
A banquet of doom! Damn!
But with a whole table of food left… it was hard to back out now.
"Cheng-ge, has my cooking improved?" Meng Hongchen rested her chin on her hands, looking at Xu Cheng with hopeful eyes.
Xu Cheng hesitated, intending to comfort her. But as he looked at the table full of food, he held back and said, "It's… still a little off. Not that it's inedible, just… it's not quite there yet."
Meng Hongchen, unwilling to accept defeat, picked up her chopsticks and took a bite herself.
Immediately, the veins on her fair neck bulged. She chewed for over ten seconds before ultimately giving up and spitting it out, dejected. She couldn't even swallow it.
"Then what have you been eating?" Xu Cheng asked suspiciously. If Meng Hongchen had been cooking for herself all this time, she'd probably be long gone.
"I usually just pack meals from the exclusive Mingde Hall cafeteria," Meng Hongchen said, tapping her fingers together with an innocent look.
"So you were confident enough to not prepare a backup plan?" Xu Cheng sighed helplessly.
Meng Hongchen bit her lip lightly. It had been three years since she last cooked. After that incident, her older brother had strictly forbidden her from stepping into any kitchen-related area. But she was unwilling to give up. This time, she had prepared for a long time, wanting to impress Xu Cheng…
"Alright, let's eat."
Like a magician, Xu Cheng retrieved several neatly packed meals from his storage soul tool and placed them on the table.
As Meng Hongchen's beautiful eyes widened, and she involuntarily swallowed, Xu Cheng grinned and said, "See? Always leave yourself a way out, so you don't end up flustered. This is my own cooking." (Actually, he had just made extra while cooking for Wang Qiuer.) "Try it."
"Cheng-ge, you sound like my grandfather," Meng Hongchen pouted playfully. "We're about the same age, but you always seem so mature and experienced."
"Heh..." Xu Cheng chuckled.
More like a father figure, huh?
In his previous life, that might have been an insult. But in this life, Xu Cheng was determined to be a "father" to everyone.
After all, people dislike being lectured not because of the words, but because the person lecturing them lacks the strength or capability to back it up. If you're powerful enough to provide safety and security, then your words become something else entirely.
"So, do you like it?" Xu Cheng smiled, gazing at the beauty in front of him.
"Hmm... If my brother or grandfather said it, I might get annoyed. But when you say it… I actually like listening to it," Meng Hongchen murmured, elegantly biting into a piece of axe beef, her face radiating happiness.
The two chatted idly for a while. The surrounding environment had clearly been carefully decorated by a delicate hand.
It was like a candlelit dinner. The flickering lights created a warm, intimate atmosphere.
"Hm?" Xu Cheng's expression suddenly changed.
He felt something smooth and cool against his lower leg.
Casually glancing at Meng Hongchen across from him, she still seemed focused on eating… but something felt off.
The cool sensation continued sliding up—along his calf, then his thigh—until…
Xu Cheng hurriedly clamped his legs together.
Looking at the seemingly indifferent girl across from him, he saw her suddenly lower her head slightly, a shy blush spreading across her cheeks.
Yep. This is definitely a trap.
But as he tightly held one small foot in place, the other smoothly continued its movement.
Just as it was about to reach a critical point, Xu Cheng suddenly reached out and grabbed the delicate little foot, trapping it firmly in his palm.
At the same time, Meng Hongchen's blush instantly spread to the tips of her ears, and she let out a soft hum.
"Is the Mecha Control Department that exhausting?" Xu Cheng teased, gently kneading Meng Hongchen's foot. Its silky softness made him reluctant to let go.
"Mmm… it's okay," Meng Hongchen murmured. One foot was trapped between Xu Cheng's legs, while the other was firmly held in his hand. She had to brace herself against the table to keep from losing balance. The warmth spreading from his touch made her slightly dazed.
"Let me give you a massage, then," Xu Cheng said, now in full control. He started kneading her smooth, delicate foot.
"Mmm~" Meng Hongchen's gaze grew hazy, her whole body warming up.
Even though they had known each other for over five years, this was their first time having such intimate contact.
"Forgive me, Xiao, you're destined to be my brother-in-law," Xu Cheng mused inwardly.
Unlike Nana, who was playful and mischievous, or the senior sister, who had the mature and knowledgeable air of a big sister, or even Juzi, who was intelligent and composed—Meng Hongchen was more like the girl next door.
She had a touch of innocence, was polite yet shy, and most importantly… she was someone who would always stand behind you unconditionally.
Someone who evoked a deep sense of protectiveness.
"How does it feel?" Xu Cheng asked with a teasing smile.
Her fair, untouched feet—no nail polish, pure and clean, the gentle arch tensed in embarrassment—looked almost like a work of art.
Xu Cheng gently let go.
Then, he moved to sit beside Meng Hongchen.
Seeing the anticipation in her beautiful eyes, he lifted her into a princess carry and walked toward the bedroom.
The atmosphere grew increasingly charged.
As the bedroom door closed softly behind them, springtime seemed to be locked within as well.
A single, suppressed moan marked the beginning of something new.
A sleepless night.
(End of Chapter)