Cracked Porcelain and Aftershocks

Tiantou City, Crown Prince's Residence, afternoon.

Xue Qinghe was flipping through memorials when he suddenly stopped, looking up toward the window.

The Sunset Forest was in that direction, very far away, invisible from here.

Today was the third day since he had left.

"Three days... or five?"

He repeated softly, then shook his head and continued reading the documents.

When the secret agent entered, he had just finished reviewing a memorial, his brush tip hovering in mid-air.

"Your Highness, there is an anomaly in the direction of the Sunset Forest."

His hand paused. "What kind of anomaly?"

"In the southeast, a green light shot into the sky, lasting for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick. According to observations, it was a burst of soul power at the level of a Title Douluo, which then returned to stability."

Xue Qinghe put down his brush, his fingertips unconsciously tightening around his teacup.

Is he alright?

The moment this thought surfaced, he frowned.

He only needed to confirm the movements of Dugu Bo.

Whether that old poison master had broken through or not concerned the political landscape of Tiantou City.

Yes, that was exactly it.

"Continue observing." His voice was indifferent.

The secret agent withdrew.

Xue Qinghe stared at the surface of the water in his cup, only then noticing that his fingers had turned white from the force.

He slowly loosened his grip.

On the side of the teacup, there was a tiny, hairline crack.

He stared at it for a long time; fine kiln-fired porcelain should not crack so easily.

...It was because he had used too much force just now.

He attributed it to the "tea being too hot," pushed the cup aside, and replaced it with another.

But when he picked up his brush, he couldn't bring it down.

He simply stood up and walked to the window.

In the clouds on the horizon, a trace of extremely faint green remained, like embers after a fire had burned out.

"It's good that he's fine," he said softly.

The moment the words left his lips, he froze.

What was he saying? Who was fine?

Turning back to his desk, he picked up the scrolls again, and this time, he was able to focus.

It was just that the tip of his brush paused on the paper for a moment, leaving a small ink blot.

Shrek Academy, afternoon training ground.

Training had ended, and Rongrong sat on the sidelines with a water skin in her hand, though she didn't drink.

Xiao Wu came down from the field and sat beside her.

"I'm exhausted." Xiao Wu stretched, then turned to look at her.

"Why aren't you drinking?"

"I'm not thirsty." Rongrong fiddled with the stopper of the water skin, hesitating for a moment.

"Xiao Wu, let me ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Chen Jieqi, what kind of person is he, really?"

Xiao Wu's movements paused.

Rongrong didn't look at her, keeping her head down as she continued to fiddle with the stopper.

"I'm just curious. A Soul Ancestor at twelve—don't you think that's extraordinary?"

Silence followed for a moment.

"He's alright, I suppose," Xiao Wu said.

Rongrong turned to look at her. Xiao Wu's expression was calm, but something flashed deep in her eyes.

"Have you met him?" Rongrong asked.

"I saw him at the entrance of the Suotuo City Arena and at the original Shrek Academy."

"What did he say?"

Xiao Wu recalled that night.

The youth in white stood at the edge of the crowd, a faint golden light surrounding him. His gaze toward her was calm—no greed, no covetousness.

"Nothing much," she said. "We just chatted for a bit."

Rongrong let out an "oh" and didn't press further.

In the distance, Dai Mubai and Oscar were competing on the field, with Ma Hongjun cheering them on, his laughter loud.

"What about you?" Xiao Wu asked suddenly.

"What?"

"Why do you want to know what kind of person he is?"

Rongrong turned her head away. "Just curious."

Xiao Wu glanced at her, choosing not to expose her.

Not far away, Tang San stood at the entrance of the training ground, watching their backs.

He couldn't hear the content of their conversation, but he saw Xiao Wu lost in thought and noticed the subtle changes in her expression.

He clenched his fists and turned to leave.

That night, he suffered from insomnia again.

Lying in bed, he replayed the look on Xiao Wu's face when she said "he's alright" over and over in his mind.

She was clearly thinking about that person, yet she would only say "he's alright."

He tossed and turned, forcing himself to close his eyes, but his mind was filled with Xiao Wu's face and that person named Chen Jieqi.

He remembered what the other man had said in Suotuo City: "It is also true that Blue Silver Grass has a limit."

He tightened his grip.

That wasn't true. He would prove that Blue Silver Grass had no limits.

Shrek Academy, evening.

Yu Xiaogang stood beneath the brand-new plaque, whispering, "Shrek Academy."

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. After all this time, he had returned after all.

"Teacher."

Tang San's voice came from behind him.

"You've arrived."

Yu Xiaogang turned around. His student had grown taller, and his eyes were deeper, though there was a layer of gloom in them that hadn't been there before.

"San."

He nodded. "How is the academy settling in?"

"Everything is ready. Dean Flender made very proper arrangements."

Yu Xiaogang stepped inside, then suddenly paused.

Liu Erlong stood inside the gate, dressed in a black dress, her posture upright. She looked at him.

They locked eyes in a long silence.

"You're here?"

She spoke first, her voice very soft.

"...I'm here."

Liu Erlong nodded, her eyes turning red, her body trembling slightly.

Then, she turned and walked inside.

Yu Xiaogang stood where he was, watching her back. His lips moved, but in the end, he didn't make a sound.

Tang San stood to the side, watching his teacher's expression, feeling an inexplicable ache in his heart.

"Teacher..."

"Let's go."

Yu Xiaogang interrupted him, his voice hoarse.

"Let's go inside and take a look."

He took the lead and walked through the gate.

Tang San followed, glancing back one last time. At the end of the corridor, Liu Erlong's figure had already disappeared.

He suddenly thought of Xiao Wu, and the way she looked at Chen Jieqi.

Clenching his fists, he quickened his pace to catch up.

Tiantou City, late at night.

Xue Qinghe sat by the window, holding the cracked teacup in her hand.

Moonlight blanketed the courtyard, turning everything a silvery white.

The Sunset Forest was in that direction, very far away, invisible to the eye.

"Three days... or five?" she asked herself once more.

Looking down at the cracks on the cup, she suddenly recalled Chen Jieqi's words, "Some disguises don't need to be worn so exhaustingly in front of those who can see through you."

She thought she had understood.

Now, she wasn't so sure.

She didn't know what she was waiting for. She only knew that today was only the third day.

Setting the teacup down, she stood up and lay down.

As she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with the image of Chen Jieqi standing before her, saying calmly, "Your Highness does not need to be so tense all the time."

The moon tonight was very bright.

Tang San sat alone on the sidelines, hugging his knees and looking up at the night sky.

That sense of loss had seeped from his heart into his very bones.

He didn't know what it was. He only knew his chest felt stifled.

He remembered his teacher's words, "It might be a precursor to Martial Soul Evolution."

Could it be?

He didn't know.

He only knew that he had to become stronger.

Strong enough that no one could ever take anything away from him again.

He clenched his fist.

"No matter who the opponent is," he whispered, "I will win."

The wind swept through the training ground, carrying his voice away.

No one heard him.

Sunset Forest, Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

The night was deep, the moonlight like water.

That blue-gold seedling stretched its tender leaves amidst the mist of alternating cold and heat.

Compared to three days ago, its stem seemed a fraction thicker, and the blue-gold luster was even more mellow.

It grew quietly in the dead of night, unknown to anyone.

It seemed to be responding to the inexplicable void in the heart of the boy named Tang San, thousands of miles away.

The key move on the chessboard had been played, and the aftershocks were only just beginning to spread.