The sky was raining.
Wu Zhangkong strode out of the dormitory building, letting the rain fall against his face.
The rain soaked his long blue hair, adding a touch of tragic beauty.
"Look, it's the aloof heartthrob!"
"He's so handsome!"
"I'm telling you, I dreamed about him last night."
The many female passersby stopped to watch Wu Zhangkong and whispered among themselves.
Wu Zhangkong, however, didn't care in the slightest. His heart had long since been sealed in ice for Long Bing.
The office was only a short distance from the dormitory. In less than ten minutes, Wu Zhangkong had reached his office.
He pushed the door open, but his brows unconsciously furrowed.
A man sat at his desk with his back to him, keeping his features hidden.
Behind the man stood a figure cloaked in black, their face concealed.
But from the woman's curvy figure, he could tell that she was female.
"Sorry, I believe that's my seat. May I ask what brings you here?"
Wu Zhangkong spoke in a stiff, cold voice.
The chair slowly turned around, and a voice he could never forget rang out.
"Little Zhangkong from Eastsea, do you still remember me?"
When Wu Zhangkong saw who was sitting in his seat, he immediately bowed.
"Wu Zhangkong pays his respects to the War God Temple Master."
"Judging by your reaction, it seems you don't resent me?"
Wu Zhangkong remained as stiff as ever as he replied, "Everything that happened back then was because I acted on a whim."
"I wouldn't dare harbor the slightest resentment toward you, Master. I should even thank you for stepping in to help me."
Wu Zhangkong paused, then continued, "It was all because I was useless."
"I was too weak. The Soul Master World is ruled by the strong, and I failed to protect her."
By then, Wu Zhangkong's voice had begun to tremble, but he still stood straight.
The woman beside Xie An trembled slightly as she watched Wu Zhangkong.
But remembering the War God Temple Master's instructions, she held herself back and made sure Wu Zhangkong didn't notice.
"Zhangkong, do you resent your teachers?"
Wu Zhangkong stiffened at the question, but eventually answered.
"My teachers... they did nothing wrong."
"They knew she was an Evil Soul Master spy and enforced the law impartially."
"I was stupid. I failed to discover what was wrong with her and stop her in time."
Xie An showed no surprise at Wu Zhangkong's answer.
"But you still can't let go, can you?"
"From what I remember, you'd already broken through to the Soul Emperor level the last time we met."
"Yet all these years later, your Soul Power is still only at level 69. You haven't made a breakthrough."
"That might be understandable for anyone else, but you were the genius once destined for the Inner Court."
Xie An shook his head and didn't continue.
Wu Zhangkong said nothing in response to Xie An's words.
"If you had a chance to start over, what would you do?"
"I'd protect her properly. I'd even gladly die in her place."
"I'd do anything for her."
A flash of light blazed in Wu Zhangkong's eyes, but soon faded.
His gaze filled with despondency and self-reproach.
"Master, please don't tease me."
"Just tell me what you need. If it's within my abilities, I'll do my best."
Xie An smiled and nodded. "You've got a conscience after all, kid. I don't need anything from you today. I just want to give you a chance."
"Miss Long Bing, you two can reunite now."
Wu Zhangkong stared blankly, unable to understand what the War God Temple Master meant.
But the woman beside Xie An burst into tears.
She tore off her disguise and rushed straight to Wu Zhangkong, pulling him into her arms.
Wu Zhangkong had been about to shield himself with Soul Power, but when he saw her face—
His emotions immediately spiraled out of control, and tears streamed down his face.
"I-is it really you, Bing'er?"
"It's me, Zhangkong. I'm your Long Bing."
Long Bing's voice trembled as she sobbed.
They clung to each other and wept.
Just then, a powerful surge of Soul Power suddenly rippled from Wu Zhangkong.
The force knocked Long Bing away. She looked at Wu Zhangkong in surprise, then turned her gaze toward the War God Temple Master.
"Don't worry. He's simply let go of what was holding him back and is breaking through naturally. It's a good thing."
Xie An marveled inwardly that Wu Zhangkong was indeed one of the most talented people of the past century.
As time passed, six Soul Rings appeared around Wu Zhangkong. At last, a seventh black Soul Ring emerged.
His Soul Power gradually stabilized, and Wu Zhangkong successfully broke through to the Soul Saint level.
When he opened his eyes again, the two who were not husband and wife, yet closer than most spouses, began pouring out their feelings to each other once more.
Xie An watched quietly. As the saying went, one day as husband and wife was worth a hundred days of devotion; he could spare them a little time.
After a long while, Xie An finally clapped his hands.
"All right, all right. You can talk more when you get back."
Only then did the two remember that the War God Temple Master was still there.
They quickly composed themselves, though their tears continued to fall.
In the end, Wu Zhangkong was the one who regained his composure. His voice still choked with tears as he said, "Whatever you ask of me, Master, I'll gladly go through fire and water for you."
Xie An felt he'd heard someone say the same thing to him a couple of days ago, but paid it no mind and spoke.
"What I want you to do is very simple."
"I won't ask you to betray your teachers or do anything reckless."
"I want you to teach a group of students."
Wu Zhangkong was clearly taken aback.
He'd thought the War God Temple Master would send him on some mission with no chance of survival. He'd even prepared himself to make the ultimate sacrifice.
"Still, this group of students won't be ordinary."
"Do you know about the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition?"
Wu Zhangkong nodded. "It was held just two months ago."
Xie An smiled and nodded, then continued, "The next competition, five years from now, won't be held in Skysea City."
"It'll be held in my hometown, Eastsea City—the city we're in right now."
"I'll invite Shrek Academy to compete."
"Your job is to train a team capable of winning the championship and bring honor to my hometown."
Wu Zhangkong had been about to agree, but at those last words he gave a wry smile. "Master, it's not that I'm unwilling to help."
"But if we're supposed to defeat Shrek, I doubt little Eastsea City has enough talent."
"You don't need to worry about that. In two years, a group of exceptionally gifted children will come to you. All you need to do is train them well."
"You don't need to worry about resources, either."
"Once you've completed the task, bring the children you've led to the War God Temple."
"Think of it as your token of allegiance."
"Oh, right. I've concealed Long Bing's presence. As long as no Evil Soul Master sees her with their own eyes, she'll be safe."
Wu Zhangkong gave a wry smile. But seeing the faint, happy smile that had never left Long Bing's face, he finally said solemnly, "I'll do everything in my power to fulfill your instructions, Master."
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