Tang Hao's grip on Song Qing's shoulder is like iron, and before Song Qing can even utter a word, the powerful Titled Douluo propels them into the air. The wind whips past Song Qing's face as they ascend rapidly, leaving the Shrek Academy grounds far behind in a matter of moments.
'He's fast,' Song Qing thinks, a thrill mixed with a hint of apprehension running through him. He marvels at Tang Hao's raw power, even though he despises the man.
Tang Hao, completely unaware that the unassuming young man he is carrying through the skies is the same Song Qing he had nearly crushed four years ago in Heaven Dou City, flies with a singular focus. His mind is solely on the plant beast that needs help.
'He has no idea,' Song Qing thinks, a thrill of dark satisfaction coursing through him. 'The man who nearly ended my life four years ago is now unknowingly carrying me towards the very instrument of his future torment.'
Song Qing, on the other hand, is brimming with a suppressed excitement. His meticulously crafted plan, conceived over the past eight months, is unfolding perfectly. He had anticipated this encounter, had subtly steered events to bring him to this very moment. Tang Hao taking him, Su Qing, away like this is exactly what he had hoped for. His target destination: the hidden location of Tang Hao's wife, Ah Yin.
'Yes!' Song Qing thinks, a dark satisfaction swirling within him. 'This is it. The next crucial step.'
With his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, he possesses the unique ability to not only heal but also to restore Ah Yin to her former glory as a hundred thousand year old Blue Silver Emperor, and eventually, to help her regain her human form.
And it is through her, through Ah Yin, that Song Qing intends to inflict the ultimate pain upon Tang Hao. 'Killing him quickly would be too merciful,' he muses, a cold glint in his red eyes. 'He deserves to suffer. He deserves to feel the same despair I felt when I was at death's door.'
But death will not be the first torment. Song Qing's plan includes a far more… personal form of retribution. 'Before I end him,' he thinks, a depraved smile almost forming on his lips, 'I will show him a sight that will shatter his very soul. I will hold Ah Yin in my arms, and she will kiss me. He will witness the woman he loves, the woman he sacrificed so much for, showing affection to the very person he tried to kill.'
Song Qing acknowledges the darkness of his plan, the twisted nature of his intended revenge. 'Perhaps it is depraved,' he thinks, a flicker of his past conscience surfacing momentarily. 'But he left me for dead. He tried to extinguish my existence. He deserves nothing less than the most profound suffering.' This thought hardens his resolve, pushing aside any lingering doubts.
Tang Hao, oblivious to the storm of dark emotions brewing within the young man he is carrying, flies with unwavering speed and direction.
He is focused solely on reaching their destination, on finding someone who can potentially help the plant beast he holds so dear.
He has no inkling that he is carrying the architect of his future despair, someone who will one day bring him unimaginable grief.
After what feels like a couple of days of relentless flight, they finally descend into a secluded area. Tang Hao lands behind a cascading waterfall, the water thundering down, creating a misty veil around their location. The air is damp and cool, and the sunlight barely penetrates the dense foliage and the watery barrier.
Song Qing's eyes widen as he takes in the scene. Behind the waterfall, nestled in a patch of dark, damp earth, is a single, seemingly ordinary blade of Blue Silver Grass. But Song Qing's senses, amplified by his Primordial Life Tree Spirit, recognize the immense life force contained within that fragile-looking plant. This is Ah Yin, the Blue Silver Emperor, reduced to a seed form after her sacrifice.
A wave of disbelief washes over Song Qing, quickly followed by a surge of irritation. He literally facepalms himself, a silent gesture of exasperation.
'This brute!' he thinks, his internal monologue filled with disdain.
'He really is just a muscle-headed idiot! Doesn't he know that a plant beast of her caliber needs sunlight? This dark, damp place is practically suffocating her! It's a miracle she's even survived this long.'
This lack of basic understanding infuriates Song Qing, but he keeps his thoughts to himself. Now is not the time for criticism.
Instead, he adopts a thoughtful expression, carefully examining the seemingly insignificant blade of grass.
"This… this is the plant beast you wish me to heal?" Song Qing asks, feigning a sense of surprise at its unassuming appearance.
Tang Hao nods, his gaze filled with a fierce protectiveness. "Yes. This is… this is very important to me." His voice is gruff, but there is a hint of vulnerability in his tone.
Song Qing sighs inwardly. The sentimentality is almost sickening, considering the pain this man inflicted upon him. But he plays along. "It will take time," Song Qing says, his tone serious. "A considerable amount of time. The energy required to restore a plant of this nature…" He trails off, letting his words hang in the air, implying the magnitude of the task.
Tang Hao nods, as if he had expected this. "Take all the time you need," he says, his eyes unwavering. "I won't leave until she is healed."
Song Qing rolls his eyes mentally. 'Of course you won't,' he thinks sarcastically. 'You'll probably just stand here and glower at me the entire time.'
Aloud, he says, "To work effectively, I will require a significant amount of soul energy. This task will likely require me to work overtime. Unfortunately, I did not bring any spirit tools capable of rapidly replenishing my soul power. Would it be possible for you to procure some for me?" He feigns a look of mild inconvenience, hoping to expedite Tang Hao's departure.
Tang Hao considers his request for a moment, his gaze still fixed on the blade of Blue Silver Grass. Then, he nods decisively. "Alright. I can do that. There's a small city not too far from here. I'll go and get you what you need." He turns to Song Qing, his expression stern. "Don't try anything while I'm gone."
Song Qing raises his hands in mock surrender. "Wouldn't dream of it," he replies innocently, a sly glint hidden in his red eyes.
As soon as Tang Hao's powerful figure disappears from sight, his soul power signature fading into the distance, Song Qing's demeanor shifts completely. The facade of the diligent healer vanishes, replaced by a look of cold determination.
He kneels down beside the blade of Blue Silver Grass, his Primordial Life Tree Spirit sensing the immense, dormant power within. With a gentle touch, he carefully uproots Ah Yin from the damp earth. The single blade of grass, though seemingly fragile, feels surprisingly resilient in his hand.
He then pulls a piece of parchment and a quill from his storage spiritual tool and quickly scribbles a short note, placing it where Ah Yin had been rooted. It reads: "Tang Hao, I, Song Qing, will take good care of your beautiful wife."
Without a moment's hesitation, Song Qing's Silver-Winged Dragonbone Wings erupts from his back, their metallic surfaces gleaming in this dark place.
He spreads them wide, their impressive span filling the confined space. With a powerful flap, he launches himself into the air, bursting through the veil of water and soaring away at incredible speed, heading in the exact opposite direction of where Tang Hao had gone.
As he flies, a sleek, black communication spiritual tool appears in his hand, retrieved from his storage spiritual tool. With a flick of his wrist, he activates it and sends a mental message, his thoughts clear and concise.
'Rongrong, Zhuqing,' Song Qing transmits, his mental voice filled with a triumphant urgency. 'My little task has been completed much faster than anticipated. Meet me in Heaven Dou City! I have a very special guest joining us soon.'
Almost instantly, he receives two excited mental replies.
'Qing! You did it? We'll meet you there!' Ning Rongrong's joyful thoughts echo in his mind.
'We'll be there as soon as we can, Qing,' Zhu Zhuqing's equally happy response follows.
Song Qing allows a genuine smile to finally grace his lips. Everything is falling into place. He has Ah Yin. He has deceived Tang Hao. And his beloved companions will soon be joining him.
~~
True to their promise, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing wasted no time in putting their plan to meet Song Qing in Heaven Dou City into action. The very next morning, while the rest of the Shrek Academy students were still groggily making their way to their morning exercises, the two girls were already executing their clandestine departure.
For Ning Rongrong, sneaking out was practically second nature. Her years of clandestine meetings with Song Qing at the Spirit Hall had honed her skills in evading watchful eyes and navigating secret passages. She moved with a practiced stealth, her petite frame allowing her to slip through shadows and around corners with ease. Zhu Zhuqing, while not as experienced in the art of sneaking, possessed a natural agility and a quiet determination that made her a quick learner under Ning Rongrong's tutelage.
"Remember, Zhu Zhuqing," Ning Rongrong whispered, her voice barely audible as they crept along the edge of the academy's outer wall, "stick close to me and follow my lead. We need to avoid being seen by any of the teachers or the other students."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded silently, her dark eyes focused, her Abyssal Phantom Lion spirit subtly enhancing her senses, allowing her to detect any approaching presence. She trusted Ning Rongrong's expertise in this matter, her own desire to reunite with Song Qing fueling her determination to succeed in this stealthy endeavor.
Their escape was executed flawlessly. Ning Rongrong knew the blind spots in the academy's patrols and the less frequented paths that would lead them away from prying eyes. They moved swiftly and silently, their shared anticipation of seeing Song Qing again overriding any lingering nervousness.
However, their seamless departure left behind a scene of utter bewilderment and growing chaos within the walls of Shrek Academy. As the morning progressed and Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing failed to appear for their classes and training sessions, concern began to ripple through the student body and the faculty.
Principal Flender, a man not easily flustered, paced back and forth in his office, his brow furrowed in deep thought. Vice Principal Zhao Wuji, his usually jovial face etched with confusion, stood by the window, his gaze sweeping across the academy grounds as if the missing girls might suddenly materialize.
"This is… perplexing," Flender muttered, running a hand through his thinning hair. "Where could they have gone? They showed such incredible talent during the entrance exam. Why would they suddenly disappear?"
Zhao Wuji grunted in agreement. "And it's not just them, Flender. Remember Su Qing? He vanished three days ago. I distinctly remember sensing the aura of a Titled Douluo around that time. It was faint, but it was definitely there. I dismissed it as a fluke back then, but now…" He trailed off, a worried look in his eyes.
"A Titled Douluo?" Flender's eyes widened. "You're sure?"
"As sure as I can be," Zhao Wuji replied grimly. "It was fleeting, but the pressure was unmistakable. Could someone have… taken them?"
The thought hung heavy in the air. The safety of their students was their utmost priority. They had seen no signs of struggle, no indication of foul play, but the simultaneous disappearance of three exceptionally talented individuals, including one who had seemingly attracted the attention of a Titled Douluo, was deeply troubling.
The news of the girls' disappearance spread quickly through the academy, eliciting a range of reactions from their fellow students.
Tang San, though outwardly calm, felt a knot of unease in his stomach. He had been impressed by Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's strength and was curious to learn more about them. Su Qing's disappearance had also bothered him, especially after their interactions regarding the Blue Silver Grass. He wondered if there was a connection between their departures. 'Where could they have gone?' he pondered, his deep blue eyes filled with concern.
Xiao Wu, however, was more openly distraught. The disappearance of Su Qing hit her particularly hard. He was the key to seeing her mother again, and now he was gone, leaving her with a heavy sense of loss and a gnawing worry. 'Qing… where did you go?' she thought, her magenta eyes clouded with sadness and a hint of desperation. She had so many more questions she wanted to ask him about her mother.
Among the senior disciples, Dai Mubai was a picture of simmering anger and frustration. Zhu Zhuqing's sudden departure had left him feeling abandoned and confused. His pride was wounded, and the fact that she had seemingly vanished without a word fueled his resentment. 'Zhu Zhuqing! How dare you just leave like this?' he fumed internally, his golden eyes flashing with annoyance.
Oscar was plunged into a state of dramatic despair at the news of Ning Rongrong's absence. His newfound infatuation with the vibrant and beautiful girl had been abruptly cut short. He wandered around the academy grounds, sighing dramatically and muttering about lost love and unrequited affection. "My beautiful Rongrong… vanished like a dream…" he lamented, his goofy grin replaced by a look of utter melancholy.
Ma Hongjun, on the other hand, remained largely indifferent to the disappearances. He hadn't really gotten to know the new students, and their sudden absence didn't particularly affect him. He shrugged it off, more concerned with when the next meal would be served.
Meanwhile, far away from the escalating confusion at Shrek Academy, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were well on their way to Heaven Dou City. A hired carriage sped along the main road, carrying the two girls towards their eagerly anticipated reunion with Song Qing.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the turmoil they had left behind. Both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing wore giddy expressions, their earlier stealth and seriousness replaced by a palpable excitement.
"I can't wait to see Qing again!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed, her cyan eyes sparkling with anticipation. "It feels like ages since we last saw him properly."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement, a rare smile gracing her lips. "Me neither. I hope he's alright." Despite Song Qing's reassurances, a small part of her always worried about his safety.
"And that mysterious guest he mentioned!" Ning Rongrong continued, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Who do you think it could be? He was so secretive about it."
Zhu Zhuqing frowned thoughtfully. "I have no idea. He didn't give us even the slightest hint. But knowing Qing, it's bound to be something… interesting."
Their conversation continued in this vein, filled with speculation and excitement about their upcoming reunion with Song Qing and the enigmatic guest he had promised to introduce them to.