After the elders had dispersed amid their exclamations of amazement, Sea God Island returned to its former tranquility. Only Cao Longyan, Mu En, and Bei Bei remained.
Mu En sat in his wheelchair, his withered yet warm hands holding one of Cao Longyan's and one of Bei Bei's.
With Soul Power controlled to just the right degree, he slowly turned his wheelchair and led the two of them to an open area beneath the Golden Ancient Tree.
When they reached the spot, Mu En released their hands and slowly moved forward a few steps. Then he turned around, his kindly gaze sweeping over the two great-grandsons before him before finally settling on Cao Longyan, his voice filled with affection.
"Longyan, go back and rest for a while. You only awakened your Martial Soul yesterday, and today you absorbed a Soul Ring beyond your level. That must have taken a lot out of you, so you don't need to train with Bei Bei."
At his words, Cao Longyan's lips parted slightly, a hint of stubbornness in his eyes. He was about to argue that he was fine and could keep training.
But before he could speak, Mu En saw right through him. His gaze sharpened ever so slightly, and he furrowed his brows, cutting him off with gentle but unquestionable authority.
"Longyan, listen to your Profound Ancestor."
Bei Bei knew how stubborn Cao Longyan could be, too. He smiled and teased him.
"That's right, little Longyan. Profound Ancestor is right. If you keep working yourself to the bone like this, I'm afraid I won't even see your dust before long."
Cao Longyan rubbed the back of his head and gave an embarrassed smile, though warmth bloomed in his heart.
Naturally, he wouldn't turn down their kindness. He bowed slightly, speaking with respect and a hint of childish obedience.
"Okay. I'll listen to you and Bei Bei. I'll go rest right away, and I promise I'll get plenty of rest!"
Mu En smiled with relief and nodded, stroking his long, grizzled beard with one hand.
"That's more like it. Go on and get some proper rest. If anything feels wrong, come find your Profound Ancestor right away."
"Mm!"
Cao Longyan nodded firmly to Mu En, waved to Bei Bei, then turned and headed for his room.
Watching him go, Bei Bei couldn't help but sigh with feeling.
"Profound Ancestor, with little Longyan's personality and talent, he's sure to make his own mark on history one day."
Mu En gazed in the direction Cao Longyan had gone, his eyes full of hope. He let out a soft sigh.
"Yes, but that personality is a double-edged sword. All we can do is guide him down the right path and make sure he doesn't stray. One misstep can bring everlasting regret..."
Unexpectedly, when Cao Longyan returned to his room, he flopped straight into the neatly made bed and fell asleep at once. A neatly folded blanket lay beside his pillow.
Over the next half month, Cao Longyan and Bei Bei trained under Mu En's guidance. The exercises were dull, but the results were impressive.
Cao Longyan could now use his First Soul Skill twice in a row and still retain his ability to fight afterward.
That was a vast improvement over when he had first obtained his First Soul Ring and could barely release it once before running out of strength.
Mu En and Bei Bei were both astonished by his talent and comprehension.
One morning, Cao Longyan felt an inexplicable tightening in his chest. An indescribable premonition lingered in his heart, making him get up an hour earlier than usual.
When he stepped outside his room, he didn't see Mu En's familiar figure. Driven by curiosity, he somehow found himself at the entrance to the first floor of Sea God Pavilion.
As he approached, he heard Zhang Lexuan's voice, tinged with a sob.
What was going on? Could something have happened to his Profound Ancestor...?
At the thought, Cao Longyan was about to burst through the door and put a stop to everything.
But what he heard next welded his hand to the doorknob and seemed to nail him to the spot.
"Elder Mu, I'd like to ask your permission to leave Shrek for a while. I want to return to the Heaven Dou Empire and pay respects to my parents..."
Mu En fell silent for a moment. Seeing the grief and resolve in Zhang Lexuan's eyes, he finally softened and slowly nodded.
"Go, my good child. I know you've always kept them in your heart. Be careful on the road, and come back soon. But remember, don't let hatred blind you. The dead are gone, and your enemies have been wiped out. Let the past drift away with the wind, and let time wear it down."
Mu En paused.
"And Lexuan, Shrek's doors will always be open to you. Shrek will always be your home."
Tears welled in Zhang Lexuan's eyes as she bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Elder Mu! I won't let you down. I won't let Shrek down."
Frozen behind the door, Cao Longyan closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
Phew. It had only been a false alarm. He'd almost made a complete fool of himself.
When the voices outside fell silent, Cao Longyan's heart stirred, and he quietly made his way upstairs.
He knew that Zhang Lexuan's entire family had been slaughtered by political enemies. Her mother had died before her eyes while protecting her. It was a pain she would carry forever.
If Sister Lexuan went back to pay her respects alone, returning to the place she grew up with no one there to comfort her, what if grief overwhelmed her...?
Cao Longyan shook his head, his mind made up.
He would go with Sister Lexuan!
He hurried back to his room and wrote a note explaining that he was going with Zhang Lexuan to the Heaven Dou Empire, that he would take care of himself and wouldn't be a burden to her. Then he left the note by Mu En's door.
Inside the fireball, the indistinct silhouette of the Warlord gave a disdainful snort.
Having done all that, Cao Longyan was just about to turn and pick up his bag when he came face-to-face with Mu En.
For a moment, Cao Longyan didn't know what to do.
But Mu En simply smiled.
"Longyan, if you want to go, then go."
Cao Longyan nodded, left Sea God Pavilion, and quietly caught up with Zhang Lexuan as she prepared to depart.
Mu En picked up Cao Longyan's note and watched him leave, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face.
Zhang Lexuan had just passed through Shrek City's gates and loaded her luggage onto the carriage when she sensed a familiar presence approaching from behind. She turned and saw Cao Longyan carrying a small travel bag and grinning at her.
"Little Longyan? What are you doing here?"
Zhang Lexuan's eyes filled with surprise, then with deep emotion. Her eyes grew red again.
"Are you coming with me to the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"I heard you and my Profound Ancestor talking this morning."
Cao Longyan stepped forward, his voice gentle.
"Sister Lexuan, it'd be too lonely for you to go back alone. I'll come with you. I can pay my respects to Uncle and Aunt with you, and I can protect you, too. I have my First Soul Ring now, plus two Guardian Spirits."
Zhang Lexuan looked at the boy before her. He was only six, yet possessed a maturity and gentleness beyond his years, while still showing a child's innocent charm now and then. Her heart melted. She reached out and gently ruffled his red hair.
"All right. Thank you, little Longyan. I'm so glad you're here, Sister Lexuan is happy."
She put away her grief, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
"But your Sister Lexuan is a Soul Emperor. You don't need to protect me!"
With that, the two of them climbed into the carriage and set off for the Heaven Dou Empire. Grief soon settled over Zhang Lexuan again. She didn't say much on the way, sometimes staring out the window, lost in thought, her expression sorrowful.
Cao Longyan didn't disturb her much. He simply stayed by her side and occasionally told her amusing stories from his past life to cheer her up.
Zhang Lexuan was deeply touched and kept pulling him into her arms from time to time.
That left Cao Longyan blushing now and then, heat rising above his head.
A few days later, the two arrived at the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. Zhang Lexuan took Cao Longyan straight to the graves she had built for her parents after leaving for the first time.
The graves lay on a small hill outside the city, quiet and secluded. Two headstones stood side by side, bearing the names of Zhang Lexuan's parents.
Zhang Lexuan walked up to the headstones and slowly knelt. Tears slid silently down her cheeks as she whispered of how much she had missed them and how much she had suffered over the years.
Cao Longyan stood quietly beside her without a word. He released a thread of gentle Soul Power, letting it softly envelop Zhang Lexuan and soothe her emotions.
Xu Chu and Dian Wei, the two Guardian Spirits, appeared without a sound and concealed themselves nearby, keeping watch to prevent anyone from disturbing them.
More than an hour passed before Zhang Lexuan wiped away her tears and went to Cao Longyan. She stepped forward and hugged him tightly, a grateful smile on her face.
"Little Longyan, thank you for staying by my side all this time."
Cao Longyan, however, wasn't quite so comfortable. He was only six, and Zhang Lexuan had leaned down toward him, leaving his head buried right in...
"Mmmph! Sister Lexuan, I... I can't breathe..."
Zhang Lexuan realized what had happened when he said that. Her cheeks turned a little red, and she lightly smacked the back of his head, chiding him.
"You're so young, but you've already got a dirty mind. Did Bei Bei teach you that? I'm going back to settle the score with him. How dare he corrupt my adorable little Longyan!"
Far away on Sea God Island, Bei Bei suddenly sneezed.
Cao Longyan couldn't help but snicker.
Sorry, Bei Bei. I'll have to let you take the blame.
"Sister Lexuan, calm down. There's no need to go after Bei Bei."
The sorrow and gloom in Zhang Lexuan's heart had now completely lifted thanks to Cao Longyan. She stared straight at him, her gaze tender as water.
Little Longyan, you're so good to me...
"Little Longyan, I'll take you to the auction house in the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire later. Pick out whatever you want, and Sister Lexuan will pay for it all. It's my way of thanking you for keeping me company on the journey."
Then she pulled a black-and-gold card from her Storage Soul Tool and waved it before him.
Cao Longyan didn't refuse. He nodded, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
"Thanks, Sister Lexuan. But I'm going to make you spend a lot!"
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