Xuan Zi: Mu En Defected!

Shrek Academy, Zhang Lexuan's office.

"Senior Sister, tell me... when do you think that brat Long Yaochen will be back?"

Ma Xiaotao propped her chin in her hand, looking utterly bored.

Zhang Lexuan glanced at her, then lowered her head to continue reviewing the documents in her hands, replying indifferently: "Why? Missing your beloved?"

Over the past few months, not only had the relationship between Long Yaochen and Zhang Lexuan progressed by leaps and bounds, but the bond between Ma Xiaotao and Zhang Lexuan had also deepened significantly.

"W-what are you talking about!" Ma Xiaotao's face flushed red at Zhang Lexuan's sudden remark.

For some reason, when Long Yaochen wasn't by her side but she knew he was still in the Outer Court, she didn't feel this way.

But he had been gone for several days now; although he had told her in advance, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Besides, they had agreed on seven days... and this was already the eighth, yet he still hadn't returned!

It wasn't just Ma Xiaotao who felt this way; even Zhang Lexuan was no exception.

As she looked down at her documents, a flash of complexity crossed her eyes.

What kind of magic did that brat possess? It was one thing for Xiaotao to be pining for him like this.

But why even...

Just then, a streak of black light tore across the Shrek sky, heading straight for Sea God Island.

"That is..." Ma Xiaotao recognized the source of the light instantly and, without hesitation, turned and headed outside.

Zhang Lexuan's gaze also sharpened. She tossed the documents onto the table and followed Ma Xiaotao toward the Inner Court.

Sea God Pavilion.

The streak of black light flew into the Sea God Pavilion without the slightest attempt at concealment. Several auras within the pavilion instinctively flared up, only to be slowly suppressed under Mu En's silence.

"Old thing, I hear there are quite a few people in your Shrek who have their eyes on my good disciple."

As soon as Long Xiaoyao entered, he plopped himself down in the middle of the Sea God Pavilion's main hall, not acting like an outsider in the slightest.

"Xiaochen has such natural talent and appearance; isn't it normal for him to be admired?" Mu En raised his eyelids from his recliner, looking at Long Xiaoyao with a hint of surprise.

This old thing, actually swaggering into the Sea God Pavilion like this?

Was he truly not afraid that he would make a move on him?

Thinking of this, he glanced at Long Yaochen, who was standing to the side in silence.

This brat... it felt as if something had changed about him.

It seemed his harvest from this trip was not small.

Long Yaochen, meanwhile, looked at the two old men with a strange expression.

The Chief Supplicant of the Holy Spirit Cult sitting in the Sea God Pavilion drinking tea... this opening sequence felt a bit wrong.

"Since I'm here, why don't you call over all those disciples who admire Xiaochen?" Long Xiaoyao said with an arrogant air. "I'll just pick out a few suitable ones and arrange some betrothals; we can get them all done at once."

Mu En's face darkened.

What did this old man think Shrek was?

Picking out a few suitable ones?

Just as he was about to speak, two graceful figures entered from outside the Sea God Pavilion.

The figure in red at the front, in particular, rushed toward Long Yaochen with incredible speed.

The next second—

Ma Xiaotao pulled Long Yaochen into her arms.

"Ugh—!"

Long Yaochen felt himself sink into a soft embrace.

"Long... you brat, you finally returned! Didn't we agree on one week!" Ma Xiaotao said with some dissatisfaction, subconsciously sniffing Long Yaochen's scent as she spoke to confirm that the familiar aura was still there.

The familiar holy aura finally allowed the heart she had been holding for days to settle.

Zhang Lexuan, following behind Ma Xiaotao, paused for a moment at the sight before continuing to walk over.

"Ugh... let go of me first!" Long Yaochen struggled to break free from Ma Xiaotao's embrace.

The sudden ambush had nearly left him unable to breathe.

"Not bad, this little girl is even prettier than before; she's almost catching up to Xiaochen." Long Xiaoyao stroked his beard with a smile.

Over the past few months, as Long Yaochen continuously helped Ma Xiaotao suppress her Evil Fire, the faint, lingering evil aura on her had faded significantly, replaced by a touch of holiness in her temperament.

"Elder Long, Elder Mu."

Ma Xiaotao's face flushed red; she had been too excited just now and had forgotten there was a group of people present.

"I could have returned a few days ago, but the Teacher and I stopped to handle some other matters along the way, which delayed us," Long Yaochen explained while smoothing out his wrinkled clothes.

This wasn't just an excuse; he and Long Xiaoyao had indeed made a detour to the Sunset Forest.

Although the location of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was relatively prominent, one only needed to search where the toxins were most concentrated.

However, it still took them quite some time to pinpoint the exact location.

In that case, once Long Yaochen reached level forty and the semester ended, they could head straight to their destination.

This period of time would also be perfect for Elder Yi to refine the Soul Spirit system.

"Just come back safely," Zhang Lexuan said at this moment.

"Senior Sister," Long Yaochen grinned.

Mu En watched as Zhang Lexuan instantly recovered from the somewhat somber state she had been in over the past few days.

Long Xiaoyao's words from just a moment ago subconsciously echoed in his ears, and he couldn't help but feel a wave of dizziness.

Was my decision back then... really right?

For the first time, he felt doubt regarding his own choices, a sensation that his family legacy was about to be handed over to someone else welling up in his heart.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the stairs of the Sea God Pavilion.

"Elder Mu... why do I feel an extremely powerful aura entering the Sea God Pavilion? Who has come to visit?"

A disheveled figure walked down from upstairs, speaking as he descended.

"I wondered who it was... so it's you, Xuan Zi."

Long Xiaoyao gave a disdainful laugh; he hadn't seen this guy last time he was here, otherwise, he would have beaten him up along with the others.

"Long... Xiaoyao?" After seeing the figure clearly, Xuan Zi's expression darkened instantly. "Long Xiaoyao, how dare you trespass on Sea God Island?"

"Oh? And what of it? What can you do to me?" Long Xiaoyao stood up, hands clasped behind his back.

The atmosphere in the Sea God Pavilion instantly became tense.

Seeing this, Mu En felt a headache coming on.

"Enough! Xuan Zi, you've only just come out and you're already looking for trouble?" Mu En barked in a low voice.

"Elder Mu, you..." Xuan Zi's eyes were instantly filled with disbelief.

What was going on?

This was the Chief Venerable of the Holy Spirit Cult, Long Xiaoyao!

He had only been in seclusion; had Elder Mu defected to the enemy?!

"Long... Xiaoyao is Xiao Chen's teacher; for now, we cannot be considered enemies," Mu En said helplessly.

"Elder Mu! Have you lost your mind? Long Xiaoyao is from the Holy Spirit Cult! That means this kid must be from the Holy Spirit Cult too! How could you let them come to Shrek?!" Xuan Zi shouted loudly.

...If you had become a Limit Douluo sooner, would we be seeing this scene today?

Mu En cast a look of disappointment at Xuan Zi once more before explaining, "Xiao Chen is not a member of the Holy Spirit Cult, and the matter of Xiaoyao is more complex than you think. At the very least, he is not an enemy of Shrek right now."

Hearing Mu En's explanation and looking at Long Xiaoyao, who stood with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face, Xuan Zi subconsciously took two steps back, only one thought remaining in his mind:

It's over, Elder Mu has defected!

The Sea God Pavilion... is no longer a place to stay!