Tang Sect Master, Shrek's Rebirth

Tang Wulin didn't linger; he went to the Blood God Camp as soon as it was dawn.

Cao Dezhi's residence was not far from the main camp, and the lights were on inside.

When Tang Wulin went in, Cao Dezhi had just put away a roll of map.

There was a half-bowl of cold porridge on the table, which had already formed a thin skin.

"Sit down," Cao Dezhi said.

Tang Wulin did not sit down.

He stood in front of the table and briefly recounted the message he had received the previous night.

His parents were being held captive on the border of the Star Luo Empire; he had to go.

He won't linger long in the Far North.

He also mentioned his plans after he left, including that Xu Xiaoyan, Xie Xie, and Yuanen Yehui would be going with him.

After saying that, he looked at Cao Dezhi, waiting for him to speak.

Cao Dezhi leaned back in his chair, not in a hurry to speak.

He looked at Tang Wulin for a long while before slowly saying, "Your trip isn't just about picking someone up. Star Luo Empire and the Federation have already started fighting. Once you join Star Luo Empire, you'll be a member of the Tang Sect."

"You can't get someone out of here just by relying on a few friends."

Tang Wulin nodded. "That's why I came to find you."

Cao Dezhi hummed in agreement.

He got up, walked to a very old iron cabinet by the wall, and opened it.

There was nothing else inside, only a dark bronze wooden box.

He took out the wooden box and placed it in front of Tang Wulin.

The wooden box was covered with old brass at the four corners, its surface polished to a shine. It had no lock, only a tiny iron clasp fastened to it.

Tang Wulin recognized the box.

He had seen the portrait when he was in the Tang Sect; the seals of the successive Tang Sect Clan leaders were kept here.

"Turn it on," Cao Dezhi said.

Tang Wulin froze for a moment.

He didn't move.

Cao Dezhi didn't urge him, but simply sat down opposite him and slowly said, "The position of the Tang Sect Clan leader should have been handed over to you long ago."

"You came from Shrek and traveled all the way to the Far North. The Blood God Legion respects you, and you also have Tang Sect affiliation, so the Star Luo Empire Sect recognizes you as well. If you're going today, I won't let you go empty-handed."

Tang Wulin lowered his head, his throat feeling as if something was blocking it.

He slowly reached out and opened the wooden box.

Inside was a tiny black token, blank except for a fine, dark pattern.

That was the Tang Sect Master Token. Tang Wulin picked up the token and held it in his palm.

The object wasn't heavy, but it made his arm feel slightly sluggish.

"I'm not qualified yet," he said.

The voice was low, but honest.

"Nobody is qualified."

Cao Dezhi said, "When I took it over, I wasn't any better than you. The Tang Sect judges people by their character."

"Your willingness to go to the Star Luo Empire for your parents and to stay in the Far North is more important than what realm you can reach in the future."

"Take it. From today onwards, you're in charge of the Tang Sect affairs."

Tang Wulin looked up, his eyes slightly red.

He slowly tightened his grip on the token and knelt down on one knee before Cao Dezhi.

He didn't speak; this kneeling carried more weight than any promise.

Cao Dezhi reached out and helped him up, saying, "I've made arrangements for Aruheng and Sima Jinchi; they'll go with you."

"I'll be at your service on the road. Aruheng has old acquaintances in the Star Luo Empire, Sima Jinchi has traveled the western route. You take them and bring the people out first."

"After you've settled your parents, then, as the Tang Sect Clan's leader, go and confront the Star Luo Empire border troops. You don't need to reach any conclusions. Just let them know that the Tang Sect's new leader has arrived."

"I understand." Tang Wulin carefully put the token away from his body.

He thought for a moment, then said, "And on this side of the Far North, Jing Heng..."

"Zhang Huanyun and the Blood God Camp are in the Far North. Even without you, Yun Jingheng can hold on."

Cao Dezhi said, "But you must remember, the Tang Sect Master is not only in charge of the Tang Sect. When Shrek returns to the surface, the Tang Sect must stand up first. Your trip to the Star Luo Empire is also to show people that Yun Jingheng's side is not just about swords."

Tang Wulin nodded.

He said no more, gave Cao Dezhi a respectful bow, and turned to walk out the door.

The sunlight streamed in from the east, casting an extremely long shadow over him.

He hadn't gone far when Aruheng and Sima Jinchi were already standing in the wind waiting for him.

When they saw him come out, they both looked at him at the same time.

"Here you are, junior brother."

Tang Wulin nodded to them, and the three of them walked side by side toward their residence.

There, Xu Xiaoyan, Xie Xie, and Yuanen Yehui had already finished packing.

Ye Xinglan and Yun Jingheng stood at the door.

Yun Jingheng looked at him, didn't ask about the result, and simply handed him a cloth bag.

"Go ahead. No matter what, you're still a member of the Shrek Seven Devils," Yun Jingheng said.

Tang Wulin took the cloth bag without saying anything, only giving a heavy "hmm".

The wind followed them from the mouth of the valley all the way to their feet.

Yun Jingheng didn't escort him too far.

He stood in front of the door, watching Tang Wulin, Xu Xiaoyan, Xie Xie, Yuanen Yehui, Aruheng, and Sima Jinchi walk south along the gray-white road.

The shadows of the six people stretched long on the ice.

Tang Wulin didn't turn around. Xu Xiaoyan seemed to turn around briefly, but the wind was too strong, and Yun Jingheng couldn't see clearly.

Ye Xinglan stood beside him without saying a word.

Yun Jingheng only moved after those figures disappeared behind the row of cedar trees to the south.

He raised his hand, loosened his collar, and spoke very softly.

"Half-Sweet Coffee."

"I am here, Master."

"Execute Shrek Revival Plan A."

"Received. Authorization confirmed. Voiceprint verified. Mental state stable. Plan A activated."

The voice of the Half-Sweet Coffee remained unhurried, but it carried a subtle yet palpable solemnity.

The next second, a very short and faint buzzing sound rang out above the Blood God Legion in the Far North.

In a small border town closest to the Far North, a young charcoal seller shuddered, gently put down the fire tongs in his hand, stepped out of his shop, and glanced north.

He took off his dirty, worn-out sheepskin jacket, revealing a faded dark green undershirt underneath.

He handed the stall to an old man next to him and then walked towards the entrance of town.

On a trade route in central China, a caravan that had been scattered by Evil Soul Master was fleeing in panic.

Several masked men suddenly appeared, their weapons shrouded in black mist.

Before they could get close, a young woman had already landed on the roof of the car.

She punched the truck so hard that the ground next to it caved in.

Those masked men were instantly blasted away and never got up again.

The people in the convoy, still shaken, looked up and saw the young woman jump out of the car and whisper, "Keep going, someone's waiting for us up ahead."

Outside the small northern town, several people wearing thick cloaks were talking quietly around a campfire.

The firelight illuminated the small badges on the hem of their clothes.

One of them stood up and threw a very thin whistle arrow into the night.

Only a tiny, very faint light shone briefly in the night sky.

Soon after, fires broke out simultaneously in several villages outside the city that were controlled by the Holy Spirit Cult's strongholds.

They burned the black soul-guided banners hanging at the village entrance.

The villagers ran out of their houses and saw several young men pushing down the last banner post; they did not identify themselves.

He left some food and medicine packets by the well, then turned and left.

In the underground Council Hall of the Sea God Pavilion, Seven Percent Sugar suddenly lit up.

Tang Yinmeng, who was standing by, immediately stood up, and the printer began to spit out sheets of paper one by one.

The entire message read the same line, "Plan A is launched; responses from various regions will be collected within two days."

Yun Ming took the paper.

Zhuo Shi, Long Yeyue, Cai Yue'er, Feng Wuyu, Ya Li, all of you look over here.

Yun Ming didn't speak. He walked to the old map and looked at it for a long time.

Ya Li whispered from behind, "They moved."

Yun Ming nodded and said, "We can't just sit here any longer."

In the Far North, Yun Jingheng was still standing in front of the door.

The wind whipped the hem of his clothes around.

Half-Sweet Coffee reported through the earpiece, "Plan A has been activated. Seventeen action teams have received the signal. Six teams have already departed, and the first batch is expected to make contact with the target tonight. The first phase will be completed within three days."

Yun Jingheng hummed in agreement.

He looked up at the sky; it was already bright daylight, and the moon in the Far North was so pale that it was just a faint white shadow.

"Shrek... it's time to wake up too."