In front of Shrek Academy's gates, morning light fell across the weathered wooden pillars, casting fragmented shadows. Tang San and Lin Zhixia stood to one side of the entrance while Ning Rongrong leaned in close. The faint glow of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda lingered only around the three of them—they were discussing the secret of reviving Xiao Wu. Ning Rongrong would use the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's connections to investigate the whereabouts of the Ten-Thousand-Year Nine-Rank Ginseng King, while Tang San and Lin Zhixia planned to visit Sunset Forest soon to replenish their Soul Power.
"Rongrong, the others can't know about this, especially Spirit Hall's spies." Tang San kept his voice low, tapping lightly on Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night with his fingertips as he pulled out a hand-drawn map of the ginseng king's possible locations. "Be extra careful while investigating. Use this code to contact us if you find anything."
Lin Zhixia added, "I left a Star Guidance Bell for you. Crush it if you run into danger, and I'll be able to locate you through Star Breath Perception." She took a miniature Star Guidance Bell from her sleeve and placed it in Ning Rongrong's palm. Their arms brushed together by accident.
This scene happened to fall into Oscar's eyes as he returned from outside the city.
He stood behind a tree some distance away, still clutching the fried dough sticks he had just bought. Seeing Ning Rongrong standing so close to two "strangers," even touching them, the smile on his face instantly vanished. Five years of wandering had worn away his youthful innocence, leaving traces of hardship on his face and making his figure taller and straighter. Yet the inferiority he felt toward Ning Rongrong had never disappeared—he had always believed himself unworthy of the young