Leaving the noisy Inner Court Cafeteria, they walked along the tree-lined path leading to Shrek Outer Court, where the afternoon sunlight fell with a gentle warmth.
Ma Xiaotao pulled Long Jinyu along at a brisk pace, but as they walked, her steps gradually slowed, and a hint of... confusion and embarrassment appeared on her face.
"Um... kid."
She let go of Long Jinyu's wrist and irritably scratched her head.
"I... My Evil Fire was acting up back then, and my eyes were all red. How could I remember what those students looked like? The Outer Court is so big. How are we supposed to find them?"
Long Jinyu had expected this.
He stopped and looked at Ma Xiaotao, saying calmly, "I only remember their general features, too. It'll be hard to find them in a sea of people. But there's someone who'll definitely know."
"Who?"
"The Director of Teaching, Du Weilun."
Long Jinyu's tone was certain.
"Senior, you've had... well, quite a few 'episodes' at the academy, I imagine. After each 'episode,' isn't Director Du usually the one who calms the students and handles the aftermath?"
He remembered that in the original story, Du Weilun had practically become Ma Xiaotao's "dedicated cleanup man."
Long Jinyu's words made Ma Xiaotao blush, but she couldn't argue with him. She could only snort. "...Seems like it was that old Du."
"Then that settles it." Long Jinyu nodded. "Let's go straight to him. He'll definitely know."
The Office of Teaching.
Du Weilun, who had been bent over his desk writing furiously, abruptly looked up. When he saw Ma Xiaotao at the door and the young man behind her, his glasses nearly slid off.
"You two?"
His gaze swept over the familiar yet unfamiliar figure and instantly locked on him!
It was him!
The "beautiful girl" who had appeared that morning in the woods by Sea God Lake, effortlessly suppressing the out-of-control phoenix with a dazzling display and saving three students...
No, no!
A beautiful boy!
Long Jinyu!
That face... Tsk, he really had been blessed by the heavens. No wonder he'd mistaken him for a girl!
"Hello, Director Du." Long Jinyu spoke first, dipping his head politely.
"Director Du." Ma Xiaotao followed, her voice somewhat subdued—a far cry from her usual brash self.
Only then did Du Weilun snap out of it. He hurried to his feet, a smile spreading across his face. "Student Long! Xiaotao! Please, come in! What brings you here?"
Long Jinyu glanced at Ma Xiaotao. Seeing that she was pressing her lips together and saying nothing, he explained their purpose himself:
"Director Du, we came about the three students who were frightened this morning when Senior Xiaotao's Martial Soul... fluctuated in the woods."
"We'd like to apologize to them in person, but we don't know who they are."
"Do you know which three students they were?"
Ma Xiaotao tried to make her voice sound less stiff. "Mm... That's right. Sorry for the trouble."
Du Weilun: "!!!"
He nearly thought he'd misheard!
Ma Xiaotao, the Flame Fiend! Volunteering to apologize?!
And over her Evil Fire going out of control—a "routine accident"?!
That was rarer than seeing the sun rise in the west!
He glanced instinctively at Long Jinyu, who stood calmly beside her, and understood at once—
This had to be the little guy's doing!
Du Weilun's opinion of Long Jinyu rose several more levels!
He could not only suppress the Evil Fire, but also make this unruly Fire Phoenix bow her head and admit fault?
Just who was this young man?!
Where had Elder Mu and Dean Yan dug up such a treasure?!
"Good! Good! This is wonderful!"
"It's a great thing that Xiaotao feels this way!"
Du Weilun was so moved he nearly wept. He was almost developing a complex from handling Ma Xiaotao's "aftermath."
"I've already calmed those children down and given them compensation."
"They're all in the lounge next door, recovering from the shock. I'll take you there!"
He looked at Long Jinyu with gratitude and admiration, even patting him on the shoulder. "Student Long, you... did very well! Very well indeed!"
Long Jinyu: "???"
Ma Xiaotao: "..."
The lounge.
Du Weilun opened the door to the lounge. Inside sat three children who had only recently recovered from their fright.
One was round and plump, like a ball. He was Xie Huanyue.
The other two were twin sisters who looked almost exactly alike and wore blue dresses: Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu.
When the three children saw Du Weilun and Ma Xiaotao at the door, they sprang up from their chairs as if on instinct. Their faces instantly filled with terror. Xie Huanyue especially shrank behind the twins without thinking.
"The F-Flame Fiend is here!"
Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu's voices trembled noticeably.
But when their eyes passed over Ma Xiaotao and landed on the figure behind her—
"Ah—!!!"
"It's... it's the senior from this morning, the one who saved us!"
Lan Susu was the first to shriek with delight. Pointing at Long Jinyu, she flushed with excitement.
"It really is! It's that pretty senior!"
Lan Luoluo recognized him too, her eyes instantly shining brightly.
Even Xie Huanyue's little eyes sparkled with admiration. "Senior! I'm so glad you're all right! Thank you for saving our lives! You were so cool!"
The three of them instantly forgot their fear and rushed over to Long Jinyu, surrounding him.
"Senior! That move you used this morning was amazing! You froze the fireball in a flash!"
"Senior, senior! What's your Martial Soul? Is it an Ice Phoenix? So cool!"
"Senior! You're the strongest and prettiest senior we've ever met! You're our idol!"
"Senior! Could... could you give us your autograph?"
They chattered excitedly, their eyes brimming with pure gratitude and admiration, as if Long Jinyu were their superhero.
And Ma Xiaotao beside them?
Well... for the moment, she was "eclipsed" by their idol's radiance.
Looking at the three young, enthusiastic faces before him, Long Jinyu felt a warm current rise in his heart.
He smiled gently, not at all bothered by their calling him "senior sister." "There's no need to thank me. It was the right thing to do. I'm just glad you're all right."
He took the notebook Lan Susu offered and carefully signed his name—Long Jinyu.
"Long Jinyu... What a lovely name!" Lan Susu cradled the signed notebook as if it were a priceless treasure.
"Your handwriting is lovely, too! Senior Long is so cool!" Lan Luoluo chimed in.
"Senior Long! Can we become as strong as you someday?" Xie Huanyue asked, full of hope.
Long Jinyu smiled warmly and patiently answered the three chattering little ones, seeming to glow with a soft halo.
The scene stood in painfully stark contrast to Ma Xiaotao beside them, who had been "left out," her expression complicated and even tinged with helplessness.
Ma Xiaotao watched Long Jinyu, surrounded by the children, as if he were shining.
Then she thought of the fear the children still felt toward her, and how they were now "ignoring" her...
"If he hadn't been there..."
"If he hadn't shown up in time this morning..."
"What would have happened to these three children? What would have happened to me?"
Du Weilun's words, "I've already calmed them down," echoed in her ears.
It seemed Shrek could only ever "calm things down after the fact."
But the one who had truly stopped a tragedy, brought salvation, and given them this warmth—
Was the young man standing before her...
The one she had pushed down,
The one she had shouted at,
And yet... the one still willing to accompany her to apologize.
A sharp pang of bitterness rose to her nose.
For the first time, she clearly realized that when her Evil Fire went out of control, it brought not only suffering to herself, but also real harm and fear to others.
And Long Jinyu's presence...
Was like...
Like...
Ma Xiaotao: "..."
Watching Long Jinyu gently pat Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo on the head and softly answer Xie Huanyue's questions, Ma Xiaotao clenched her fists as if making up her mind, then stepped forward.
Long Jinyu had just finished checking the three little ones with Ultimate Life. When he looked up, he met Ma Xiaotao's phoenix eyes, brimming with complicated emotions.
She looked at him, her voice tinged with vulnerability.
"Long Jinyu..."
"Thank you."
"And... I'm sorry."
"If... If you weren't here, what would I do?"
Her whisper fell softly, like a feather, yet landed heavily in Long Jinyu's heart.
He sensed the weight and vulnerability almost spilling from Ma Xiaotao's eyes, and his heart softened.
He gently patted the shoulders of the three little ones gathered around him, signaling them to wait, then turned to Ma Xiaotao.
"Senior, you're giving me too much credit."
"Helping a fellow student is simply what we ought to do."
Then he bent down, bringing himself level with Lan Luoluo, Lan Susu, and Xie Huanyue. His expression was earnest and sincere, without the slightest trace of talking down to children.
"Luoluo, Susu, Huanyue."
He called them by name, correctly.
"I know what happened this morning must have frightened you badly. That fear was real, and no apology or compensation can make it disappear right away."
The three children couldn't help nodding. They felt that this "pretty senior" really understood them.
"But actually..."
"Senior Xiaotao..."
Long Jinyu turned slightly, bringing Ma Xiaotao into the children's view as well.
"Didn't mean to hurt you."
"Her Martial Soul... was born with a flaw that's difficult to control, like someone who's born with a painful illness."
"When that power goes out of control, she suffers terribly herself and can even lose consciousness."
By this point, Ma Xiaotao had lowered her head, not daring to meet the children's eyes.
"I know that's absolutely no excuse for hurting you."
Long Jinyu shifted the direction of his words.
"Being in the wrong is being in the wrong. That's why she insisted on coming here herself today to apologize and take responsibility."
He deftly gave Ma Xiaotao the credit for taking the initiative to apologize, protecting her fragile dignity at that moment.
"I'm not asking you to forgive her."
Long Jinyu's gaze passed over the three young faces, filled with respect.
"Whether you forgive her is your right and your choice."
"I only hope... you can see that she didn't mean you any harm, and that she's willing to take responsibility for what she did."
"If you're willing to give her—and yourselves—a chance to let go of your fear, I'll be very happy for her."
"If you can't do that yet, I completely understand. It takes time."
He left the choice entirely up to the children. His sincerity and respect earned a quiet nod from all three, and even from Du Weilun beside them.
Lan Luoluo, Lan Susu, and Xie Huanyue exchanged glances, then huddled together and whispered for a few moments.
In the end, the more sensible Lan Luoluo looked up and spoke softly to the two of them.
"S-So that's how it was."
"We understand, Senior Ma... You didn't mean to do it... We... We forgive you."
Xie Huanyue hurriedly nodded, too. "Mm-hmm! Senior Long explained it so well! And Senior Ma came to apologize herself... It's okay now!"
Lan Susu added, "Senior Ma, you should take care of your health. Don't 'get sick' again."
The children's innocent forgiveness was like a spring breeze, instantly melting the thick ice and bitterness in Ma Xiaotao's heart.
She jerked her head up, her eyes reddening beyond her control. Her voice choked slightly as she bowed deeply to the three children, utterly solemn.
"Thank you... Thank you."
"I'm truly... sorry."
"I'll... do my best to control it."
Seeing that the mood had eased, Long Jinyu smiled and asked the three little ones, "By the way, what compensation did the academy give you? Did it make you feel better?"
The three children's eyes immediately lit up at that.
Xie Huanyue eagerly answered, "Soul Ascension Pills! Director Du gave us each one!"
"Soul Ascension Pills! They're really rare!" Lan Susu nodded vigorously, just as excited. She was clearly very satisfied with the compensation.
Du Weilun stroked his beard nearby, wearing a smile that seemed to say, "The academy really is generous."
"Tsk..."
The gentle smile on Long Jinyu's face faded slightly.
He looked at Du Weilun. His tone remained calm, even courteous, but his words made the smile on Du Weilun's face freeze instantly:
"Director Du, the Soul Ascension Pill is indeed a good thing. It can raise Soul Power and is very precious to Soul Masters."
"But even the finest pill is useless unless you're alive to take it and have the chance to digest it. Only then can it truly become strength, isn't that right?"
Du Weilun's heart gave a thud.
Long Jinyu continued. His voice was not loud, but every word was clear:
"If not for sheer luck today, the three of them would likely have perished in the flames."
"By then, however many Soul Ascension Pills you gave them, they would be nothing more than dust laid over their graves."
"Knowing that Senior Xiaotao's Martial Soul carried the risk of instability, did the academy take adequate precautions against a possible accident? When it happened, was the emergency response efficient?"
"Afterward, beyond using precious pills to show 'concern' and 'offer comfort,' did you truly reflect on the gaps in your system to prevent the same kind of incident from happening again?"
He had not spoken harshly, but each question struck at the heart of the matter.
"Using resources to make up for failures in management might quiet things down for now. But unless you strengthen safeguards at the root and improve your contingency plans, if something happens tomorrow and the loss cannot be undone, what will you use to make up for it then?"
"This is a failure to take responsibility for the students' safety, and it squanders the reputation of Shrek, the 'number one academy.'"
Du Weilun felt a light sweat break out on his forehead.
If anyone else had said these things—a student, or even a teacher—he could have immediately refuted them and defended the academy's authority.
But the one saying them was Long Jinyu—
Mu En's personal disciple!
A young man who had just displayed astonishing strength and noble character. And his words... every one of them was perfectly reasonable. There was simply no refuting them!
He could only force a smile and nod repeatedly. "Student Long is right... absolutely right! The academy failed to consider everything. We'll be sure to... be sure to strengthen our management and improve our contingency plans..."
Seeing that he had made his point, Long Jinyu stopped pressing:
"Good. I'm glad you understand, Director Du."
"I'll find an opportunity to discuss this with Dean Yan and the other elders."
"The academy... really needs to take a good look at itself."
Du Weilun: "..."
How could he dare utter a single peep? This young master was powerful enough to go straight to the Sea God Pavilion!
Before Director Du personally led the three little ones away from the lounge, they kept looking back, waving reluctant goodbyes to their "Senior Sister Long."
Long Jinyu waved back with a smile, until they disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Only then did he gently nudge Ma Xiaotao, who was still a little dazed beside him.
"Senior Sister, let's head back too. You need some rest after all this."
Ma Xiaotao came to herself. She glanced at Long Jinyu, her eyes complicated, then murmured, "Mm," and silently followed beside him.
This silly girl treats Shrek as her home and is willing to risk her life for it... But has this 'home' really protected her as one of its own?
Or does it only see her as a useful blade that might turn on them at any moment?
A cold sigh rippled through Long Jinyu's heart.
Shrek, Shrek... You owe her far more than a few offhand words of apology.
Comforting someone afterward... that's the act you've always mastered.
He silently recalled the original story, the corner of his mouth curling into a trace of scorn.
If an apology were enough, why offer compensation? If you truly cared, why did you let her fall into enemy hands back then, with no one coming to her aid?
Only after Huo Yuhao dragged her back from the abyss did you remember to give her a Soul Bone and offer her some comfort—
But could a few Soul Bones make up for those years etched away by the Evil Fire, for the pain she suffered against her will?
Concern that comes too late can never erase old wounds. Compensation after the fact can never truly make up for being absent when it mattered.
Because of your negligence and incompetence, she was nearly destroyed beyond repair—not just her Martial Soul and her future, but the proud, fiery soul she once had.
And all you could do was wait until she was battered and bruised before learning to say, "I'm sorry."
Nothing in this world is more helpless than watching bright years wither away and a shining moon be veiled in dust.
She... should never have had to become this way.
Before you continue