The glory of an undefeated run through the promotion rounds shone like blazing sunlight upon everyone at Shrek Academy. The shit-green team uniforms that had once drawn endless ridicule had now become symbols of resilience and strength. Wherever they went, they no longer received mockery, but amazement, respect, and even a barely perceptible trace of fear.
The camp was filled with a relaxed yet excited atmosphere. Dai Mubai's hearty laughter, Xiao Wu's chirping chatter, Ma Hongjun and Oscar slinging arms over each other's shoulders as they dreamed of the future—even the usually aloof Zhu Zhuqing wore a faint curve at the corner of her lips. Ning Rongrong had become the center of everyone's attention. As the young princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and an indispensable member of the team, she seemed to be enveloped in a dazzling aura.
Xiao Xiaoxiao sat at the edge of the crowd, watching the genuine smiles on her companions' faces as immense joy and satisfaction filled her heart as well. Unconsciously, she touched the cool metal hairpin in her hair, her gaze drifting toward that relatively quiet figure.
Tang San sat alone beneath the shade of a tree some distance away, examining the pouch of hidden weapons at his waist. The undefeated promotion run seemed not to have stirred much emotion within him. His profile looked calm and focused beneath the mottled light and shadows. Only when he occasionally moved his right arm did the nearly imperceptible furrow of his brow reveal the burden his body was still bearing.
Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart tightened slightly. She knew that beneath his outward calm, the pressure and pain he endured were far greater than anyone else's. Their undefeated record had merely brought the ultimate trial before them—Spirit City, the finals, the Golden Generation.
She rose