Guardians in the Shadows: Teachers' Worries, Tang Hao's Relief

The morning light behind the mountain gradually dispelled the thin mist. The sight of Lin Zhixia embracing her companions fell upon the hillside not far away—Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Zhao Wuji stood beneath the shade of a tree, watching the scene with complicated expressions. Not a single word of Lin Zhixia's tearful confession had escaped their ears.

Yu Xiaogang gripped the worn Soul Master's Notes in his hand, his knuckles whitening from the force. He had long vaguely learned from Tang San that Lin Zhixia's background was far from simple, but he had never expected her to bear such a heavy blood feud. "Star River Shattering Bow..." he murmured, a trace of gravity flashing through his eyes. "The Lin Family's inherited martial soul was renowned for its Soul-Shattering Defense-Splitting. Spirit Hall coveted its power and actually wiped them out under the pretext of 'Abnormal Soul Masters.' Their methods were utterly despicable."

Flender's face was unusually solemn as well, and his usual carefree smile had vanished entirely. Looking at the eight tightly embracing youths in the clearing, he spoke with a hint of heartache. "This child has been through so much at such a young age, yet she stubbornly carried everything on her own shoulders. If Ye Jin hadn't pushed her too far, she probably would have kept hiding it from us." As the headmaster of Shrek Academy, he had long regarded these students as his own children. At this moment, he was filled with self-reproach—he had failed to notice Lin Zhixia's distress sooner, and failed to guard against Spirit Hall's malice in advance.

Zhao Wuji stood beside them with his arms folded across his chest, his burly body blocking the wind behind him. He was straightforward by nature, yet he merely watched in silence now, the fury in his eyes nearly overflowing. "That brat called Ye Jin dared to come to the academy and hurt our people. If I run into him again, I'll make him taste the might of the Great Vajra Bear!" Nothing angered him more than seeing children wronged. The wound on Xiao Wu's arm and Lin Zhixia's reddened eyes made him want to immediately settle the score with Spirit Hall.

Yu Xiaogang gently shook his head, suppressing his emotions. "We cannot act rashly now. Spirit Hall is immensely powerful, and Ye Jin has the Law Enforcement Elder backing him. If we make a move carelessly, we will only bring greater danger to the academy and the children. Our most urgent task is to strengthen the academy's defenses while accelerating their training—only when they become strong themselves will they be able to truly face Spirit Hall's threat." He looked toward Tang San in the clearing, a trace of expectation in his eyes. "Tang San is meticulous, Dai Mubai has leadership ability, and now Zhi Xia has opened her heart as well. The eight of them together are the strongest force."

Flender nodded and took several Soul Tool Tokens from his robes. "I'll notify my friends in Suotuo City later and have them keep an eye on Ye Jin's movements. Hand these 'warning tokens' out to the children. If they encounter danger, they can crush them, and we'll be able to reach them immediately."

As the three spoke, a figure quietly appeared in the forest farther away—Tang Hao stood behind a thick tree trunk with the Mysterious Iron Heavy Sword on his back. His gaze fell upon the Star Guidance Bell in Lin Zhixia's hand, and a complicated warmth flickered in his eyes.

Eight years ago, when he had encountered Lin Zhixia in the woods outside Sacred Soul Village, she had still been a little girl covered in injuries, clutching the Star Guidance Bell and refusing to let go. Even her words had been timid. He had taken her in, taught her the basics of Spirit Power Control, and watched her slowly emerge from the shadows, yet he had never dared force her to speak of her past. Later, when Tang San went to Nuoding Academy, Lin Zhixia had taken the initiative to ask to accompany him. Only then had he felt at ease letting her leave—he knew that with Tang San there, Lin Zhixia would at least have someone by her side.

Over the years, he had secretly followed Tang San and Lin Zhixia, watching them enter Shrek Academy, watching them meet new companions, and watching Lin Zhixia continue to disguise herself with indifference, unwilling to open her heart to anyone. Now, seeing her lower her guard in her companions' embrace and finally speak of the pain she had buried for eight years, the tightly drawn corners of Tang Hao's mouth curved almost imperceptibly.

"So you're finally willing to say it..." he murmured, his voice carrying a hint of relief. For Lin Zhixia, letting go of the shackles of the past and trusting the people around her was more important than cultivating Soul Power. Now she had done it, and she also had a group of companions willing to fight alongside her. That meant more than any protection.

Tang Hao raised a hand and lightly touched the wine flask at his waist, but did not reveal himself—he knew she no longer needed him right now. The children had their own companions and teachers like Yu Xiaogang and Flender. They would face the coming dangers together. All he needed to do was continue guarding them from the shadows and wait for the day they truly grew strong.

At the foot of the hillside, Lin Zhixia gradually stopped crying. Xiao Wu wiped away her tears, Ning Rongrong draped her own cloak over Lin Zhixia's shoulders, and Dai Mubai patted her shoulder. "Don't be sad anymore. From now on, we'll grow stronger together. Once we have enough strength, we'll help you demand justice from Spirit Hall!"

Lin Zhixia nodded. Her grip on the Star Guidance Bell gradually loosened, and light rekindled in her eyes—it was no longer the cold light of hatred alone, but a light warmed by companions and filled with hope. She lifted her head toward the sunlight, as though she could see her parents watching her from the heavens and telling her, "You are not alone."

Beneath the distant shade of the trees, Yu Xiaogang and the other two exchanged glances before slowly turning to leave, preparing to strengthen the academy's defenses. Deep in the forest, Tang Hao also carried his heavy sword and quietly vanished into the morning light, continuing his hidden protection.

A malicious attack from Spirit Hall had not broken Shrek's children. Instead, it brought their hearts closer together and made the teachers guarding them even more determined to keep them safe and help them grow. And the story of Shrek's Eight Monsters continued onward, toward an even more magnificent course, amid this protection and unity.