Setting Out!

Meanwhile.

On the way back to the dormitory.

Tang Ya walked with her head lowered, not saying a word.

Bei Bei walked beside her in silence.

Xu Sanshi trailed behind with his arms folded, lost in thought.

After walking for a long time, Tang Ya suddenly stopped.

"Bei Bei."

Bei Bei looked at her. "Hm?"

Tang Ya raised her head. Her eyes were a little red, but she wasn't crying.

"Was I being too hasty?"

Her voice sounded a little muffled as she asked,

"He's only six. He hasn't even been at the academy long, and I was already rushing to recruit him into the Tang Sect... Did I seem stupid?"

Bei Bei was silent for a moment.

Then he reached out and ruffled Tang Ya's hair.

"You weren't stupid," he said. "You just want to make the Tang Sect better."

Tang Ya pressed her lips together.

Bei Bei withdrew his hand and gazed into the distance.

"But he was right."

"Six years old, level thirty, and with a hundred-thousand-year Contract Beast."

"Someone like him really shouldn't be bound to any faction."

He lowered his head and looked at Tang Ya.

"Let him go his own way."

"When he gets tired, when he's traveled far and wants somewhere to rest..."

"The Tang Sect will still be here."

Tang Ya froze.

She looked at Bei Bei and suddenly smiled.

"Bei Bei, when did you get so good with words?"

Bei Bei smiled but didn't answer.

He simply raised his head and gazed at the night sky.

Moonlight spilled down.

The stars wheeled overhead.

That boy's journey had only just begun.

And he only wanted to watch from afar.

To see how far he could go.

Late that night.

Sea God Pavilion.

Mu En sat by the window, holding a cup of hot tea.

Yan Shaozhe stood behind him.

"Teacher, did you... deliberately have Bei Bei and the others stay behind today?" Yan Shaozhe asked.

Mu En didn't answer. He simply gazed out the window.

After a long while, he spoke.

"Shaozhe, how long do you think I can live?"

Yan Shaozhe fell silent.

Mu En continued, "A year? Two? Three at most."

"In three years, I'll be gone. Who will protect him then?"

Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth, but couldn't find a word to say.

Mu En turned and looked at him.

"That's why I need more people to know his secret."

"Not so more people can protect him."

"But so more people will be bound to him."

Yan Shaozhe was stunned.

Mu En turned back to the window.

"Those three children, Bei Bei and the others, all have good talent."

"Bei Bei especially. He has the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul and the bloodline of the Radiant Sacred Dragon. He's destined to become at least a Titled Douluo."

"Let them witness Bai Lan's potential for themselves, and let them become his companions."

"One day, when I'm gone, they'll be the ones Bai Lan can rely on."

Yan Shaozhe drew a deep breath.

His teacher had thought much further ahead than he had.

"But, Teacher..." He hesitated. "What if they can't keep the secret?"

Mu En smiled.

"Can't keep it?"

He shook his head, his gaze profound.

"After seeing Bai Lan's true strength, do you think they'd be willing to let him die?"

Yan Shaozhe froze.

Mu En lifted his teacup and took a small sip.

"People are like that. When you have no connection to a genius, you might envy him, or even want to destroy him."

"But once you become his companion, his friend, someone whose fate is bound to his..."

"You'll protect him at any cost."

He set down his teacup and looked out the window.

In the moonlight, the golden Tiangang Bamboo stood quietly by the lake. Yinxing sat beside it, gazing up at the stars.

"Because protecting him is the same as protecting yourself."

Yan Shaozhe fell silent.

After a long while, he spoke.

"Teacher, are you really going to the Shadow Valley in person tomorrow?"

Mu En nodded.

"But your health..."

"My body can still hold out," Mu En said, waving a hand. "Besides, this time, the main thing is to let him fight."

Yan Shaozhe was taken aback. "Let him fight?"

Mu En smiled, a hint of slyness in his expression.

"Last time, he wanted to show what he could do, but I suddenly showed up and ruined it."

"This time, I'll let him fight to his heart's content."

"I'll just be there to keep things under control."

Yan Shaozhe was silent for a moment, then smiled too.

"Teacher, you're letting him get some practice."

Mu En didn't deny it.

He stood and walked to the window.

"A thirty-thousand-year-old Tiangang Bamboo and a hundred-thousand-year-old Void Butterfly Empress."

"It's time to see just how strong he is."

The next morning.

Bai Lan had just finished a night of cultivation when a knock came at his door.

He got up and opened it.

Yinxing stood quietly outside.

"Master," she said. "Elder Mu asked me to call you."

Bai Lan nodded and followed her out of the dormitory.

By the lake, the Tiangang Bamboo's golden light shone brightly in the morning sun.

Mu En stood beneath it with his hands behind his back.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

"You're here?"

Bai Lan walked over and bowed. "Elder Mu."

Mu En nodded and looked at him.

"Rested well?"

"I have."

"Then let's go."

Mu En turned and headed for the academy gates.

Bai Lan followed.

After a few steps, he suddenly asked,

"Elder Mu, is it just the two of us?"

Without looking back, Mu En said,

"What, not enough?"

Bai Lan shook his head. "No, it's just..."

He paused, then asked, "You won't be joining the fight?"

Mu En stopped and turned to look at him.

There was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"You want me to fight?"

Bai Lan was taken aback, then smiled.

"No."

Mu En smiled too.

"Good."

He turned and continued walking.

His voice came from ahead.

"Kid, once we're out there, I won't step in unless you're about to die."

"Let's see just how strong you are."

Bai Lan stood still, watching him walk away.

The morning sun fell on the old man's frame, stretching his shadow long.

Bai Lan took a deep breath and followed.

Behind him, Yinxing silently followed.

The Tiangang Bamboo turned into a streak of golden light and disappeared into the Contract Book.

The lakeside fell quiet again.

Only a faint golden reflection remained on the surface of the lake.

The next morning.

Dawn was breaking, but the morning mist had yet to clear.

Two figures stood quietly outside Shrek City's gates.

Mu En stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the road stretching into the distance, his expression calm.

Bai Lan stood beside him with a simple bundle at his waist, his eyes fixed on the great city gates.

"Let's go," Mu En said, turning to walk out of the city.

Bai Lan followed.

After a few steps, he suddenly asked, "Elder Mu, where is Shadow Valley?"

"Southwest of the Star Luo Empire, near Illusion Valley," Mu En said without looking back. "It's about five days from here."

Five days.

Bai Lan silently calculated.

A lot could happen in five days.

He could meet a lot of people.

And... get in a lot of fights.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Mu En seemed to sense something and glanced back at him.

There was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"What, getting excited?"

Bai Lan didn't deny it. "A little."

Mu En smiled.

"Then let's go."

He turned and continued on.

The morning light fell on his aged back, stretching his shadow long across the ground.

Bai Lan watched that shadow and suddenly asked:

"Mu En, you really aren't going to step in?"

Mu En didn't look back.

"Unless you're about to die."

Bai Lan smiled.

"Good."