Cage on Sea God Island

Heaven Dou City, Tang Sect.

A group of people walked out chattering excitedly, their faces beaming with anticipation for the upcoming reward.

"Wulin, when are we going to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? Let Jing Heng know when you have time."

Xie Xie examined the Ice-Fire Seal he had taken from Tang Wulin.

"Isn't this holiday perfect? I can just text him from the hotel later and ask him."

Tang Wulin smiled brightly, his eyes full of anticipation for the future.

Tang Wulin had barely finished speaking when the Soul Guidance Communicator in his pocket vibrated.

He picked it up and looked at it, and the smile on his face widened even further.

A message popped up on the screen; the sender was Yun Jingheng.

The message was very short, just two lines:

"I won't be going to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well; you guys go ahead. I need to go into seclusion soon."

Tang Wulin paused in his steps.

Yuanen Yehui, who was walking next to him, stopped almost at the same moment and glanced at him.

She didn't speak, but her gaze conveyed something from Tang Wulin's expression.

"What's wrong?"

Tang Wulin turned the communicator over to show her.

Yuanen Yehui's gaze swept across the screen, and Xu Xiaoyan, who was half a step behind her, also came over and peeked at it on tiptoe.

"Jing Heng said he's not going to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Tang Wulin read the message aloud. "He's going into seclusion soon."

"Not going?"

Xie Xie turned back, his excitement quickly turning to confusion. "What does this mean? Why aren't we going? Wouldn't it be the same to go and then go into seclusion?"

"Why the sudden seclusion?" Ye Xinglan asked.

"He didn't say."

Tang Wulin shook his head, read the message again, and made sure he hadn't missed a single word.

"Have you forgotten the test that Jing Heng was undergoing?" Gu Yue put it more tactfully, at least not directly mentioning the God Trial.

"Oh... right, it must be Teacher Cai and the others urging Jing Heng." Xu Xiaoyan suddenly realized.

"Hmph! You inherently evil Teacher Cai, I'll just..." Xie Xie snorted coldly.

"What are you going to do? Beat up Teacher Cai? You'd probably get whipped like a top if you did that." Yuanen Yehui rolled her eyes at him.

Xie Xie shrank back, muttering, "I was just saying," but stopped walking.

"Are we still going to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"

Xu Xiaoyan steered the conversation back on track, "If Jing Heng isn't coming, should the six of us go by ourselves?"

Tang Wulin thought for a moment, weighed the Ice-Fire Seal in his palm, and then put it back in his pocket.

"Yes, of course we'll go. Jing Heng's seclusion is his important matter, and we have ours to attend to as well."

"This trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is a reward from the Tang Sect. If we miss this holiday, we don't know when we'll have time again. We'll just pick out a suitable one for Jing Heng and bring it to him."

He looked up at the hotel they often frequented across the street; its neon sign was just beginning to light up in the evening glow, emitting a soft light.

"Let's go back to the hotel and rest first, then we'll set off early tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xie perked up again, quickly moving to Tang Wulin's side and putting his arm around his shoulder.

"Wulin, do you think we can bring back a few more ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs this time? I heard that any herb in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is ten times stronger than those outside. Let's each get one and Xu Xiaoyan Xiaoyan's grandfather refine it into pills for us when we get back—"

"You should cultivate your Martial Soul to the seventh ring first," Yuanen Yehui interrupted him expressionlessly as she walked up from behind.

"No matter how good the elixir is, you still need the ability to absorb it."

"Yuan En, can you please stop being so discouraging!"

I'm stating the facts.

The group chatted and laughed as they walked across the street toward the hotel.

Gu Yue walked at the very back.

Her steps were slower than usual. Her gaze fell on Tang Wulin's back, then shifted to the Ice-Fire Seal in his arms. A faint, unreadable emotion flickered in her pupils.

Then she looked away, quickened her pace, and caught up with the group again.

Sea God Island, Sea God Pavilion.

The setting sun filtered through the branches of the ancient trees on the roof of the attic, casting dappled, golden light on the wooden floor of the study.

Yun Jingheng sat on a chair by the window, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold, his gaze fixed on the sea outside the window, which was dyed orange-red by the setting sun.

His Soul Guidance Communicator lay on the table, the screen still displaying the message he had just sent.

He eventually changed his mind.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well must not be visited.

It wasn't because they didn't trust Tang Wulin and the others. With their current strength, plus the presence of Gu Yue, the Silver Dragon King himself, the poisonous miasma and traps surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well couldn't harm them at all.

He didn't go because of Di Tian.

When he woke up this morning, Yun Ming was already waiting for him at the door.

"Focus on your God Trial and don't go anywhere for a while."

Yun Jingheng put down the communicator and looked at his father.

When Yun Ming said this, his tone was no different from usual—calm, composed, and unquestionable.

"Did Di Tian come looking for you?"

"Last night... after you went to sleep."

Yun Ming didn't sit down; he stood by the doorframe, his back ramrod straight like a gun. "He used his last condition. It was simple—you can't leave Sea God Island until 'that thing' is done."

Yun Jingheng's fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of the communicator.

It happened faster than expected, and in this way. He didn't even take action himself; he just said a sentence to Yun Ming.

Yun Ming, because he owed him a favor, had to comply.

"That's why you told me not to go anywhere recently."

"I'm here to inform you, not to discuss it with you."

Yun Ming said, "Son, I owed you a debt, and I'll repay it."

"But you are the one whose movements are restricted, so you have the right to know the whole story. Di Tian said 'until that one thing is completed,' not forever."

"Once this is over, the conditions will be automatically lifted, and you can go wherever you want."

Yun Jingheng remained silent for a moment.

His first reaction wasn't anger, but a very specific judgment: Di Tian's timing in using this condition was too perfect.

The sacrifice was just made the day before yesterday, and last night I immediately sought to fulfill my promise to Yun Ming, without giving him any time to reconcile.

This indicates that "that matter" is imminent, Di Tian must ensure that he does not appear anywhere that might interfere with the plan during this period.

Which matter is he referring to?

"That wasn't mentioned at all."

Yun Ming's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. "He only mentioned the timeframe—'after that matter is completed,' but he didn't explain what that matter was, and I didn't ask."

"He set the terms and conditions, and I have no choice but to comply."

Yun Jingheng put the communicator back on the table, his mind racing.

Reclaiming the Golden Dragon King Bloodline —that's the matter.

Di Tian confined him to Sea God Island to ensure he wouldn't appear when Gu Yue attacked Tang Wulin.

"The condition is to trap me, or trap you?"

"I'll keep you here. I can move freely within Sea God Island and Shrek Academy, but I can't take you out, nor can I allow you to leave alone."

Yun Ming looked into his eyes, "If you want to force your way in, I will stop you, not because of Di Tian, but because I cannot let you go to your death."

"Di Tian explicitly ordered you to be trapped, which means that what he's doing is so dangerous that you'll die if you get involved."

"You are my son, I don't need to know the specifics to make this judgment."

Yun Jingheng didn't speak; he hadn't intended to force his way in anyway.

He's still far too inexperienced compared to Yun Ming.

Di Tian's move was indeed brilliant—using the conditions Yun Ming owed him to trap him, forcing Yun Ming to carry them out personally.

This way, they can avoid a complete falling out with the Shrek Academy while ensuring that Yun Jingheng is unable to move.

"Okay, I understand."