A Bond for Three Lifetimes

Xie Xie had won the beauty's heart, and everyone offered applause and blessings.

"Contestant number seventeen, will you remove your veil?" Lan Muzi asked.

The seventeenth girl raised her hand and removed her veil and conical hat.

She too had silver hair, but unlike Na'er's violet eyes, her eyes were silver. Their pale color made them appear cold.

Yet when those indifferent eyes touched the person she had longed for day and night, warmth filled them.

In her previous life, she had not chosen to reveal her face because she had had too many concerns.

But she had been wrong.

This time, she would stand beside him. No matter how many obstacles lay ahead, she would walk toward him.

This was an answer for both her and him from their previous life.

Lan Muzi said, "Please make your choice."

Gu Yue drifted out leisurely, her silver gown hanging down and her silver hair cascading like a waterfall. Her face was fair as jade, her eyes bright and lips crimson, like a silver lotus blooming atop a lotus leaf.

Unlike Na'er's bold, unrestrained beauty, hers was like the moon reflected in a secluded spring amid a sandbar, possessing the purest, sweetest clarity.

And he was a traveler lost amid the sandbar, drunk beside the secluded spring, gazing up at the bright moon.

When he reached out, trying to touch that radiant moon, the dream shattered.

Beyond the dream, the lonely moon he had once yearned for but could never reach stood within his grasp, gazing at him tenderly.

She said softly, "I'm sorry."

"We stopped owing each other anything long ago," he said gently.

Her eyes curved as she smiled. "That's true. You don't like hearing such things."

"I'm very happy."

"So am I."

She stood at his side and glanced at Na'er, who had lowered her head without a word.

Aboard the tower ship, the terrifyingly oppressive atmosphere made every elder lower their heads in silence.

Yun Ming had already crushed his third cup.

"That brat..." he ground out through clenched teeth.

Yali had long expected this outcome and sighed softly. "Brother Ming, these are the children's choices."

Yun Ming snorted coldly, and the elders lowered their heads even further.

Apart from Yali, whose expression remained unchanged, there was another person who remained equally calm.

"Yun Ming," she said, "she cannot remain a child beneath your wings forever."

Yun Ming's gaze was complicated, filled more than anything with heartache.

He sighed softly, and the aura around him returned to normal. "Sister Yue, you're right."

The speaker was none other than Long Yeyue, the Sea God Pavilion's second strongest expert, the Light and Darkness Douluo.

Although Yun Ming's cultivation was stronger, in terms of seniority, she was older than everyone aboard the tower ship.

She had helped Yun Ming greatly, and he respected her deeply. Since Long Yeyue had spoken, no matter how unwilling Yun Ming was, he had to restrain himself.

Long Yeyue said calmly, "Let us watch. It will also be a good chance to see whether this Tang Wulin is qualified to bear the position of leader of the Shrek Seven Monsters."

Lan Muzi keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere, so after Gu Yue made her choice, he immediately called for the next girl.

"Then, the girl we have drawn is... Ye Xinglan!"

Ye Xinglan's lotus leaf floated out.

"Junior Ye Xinglan, you may choose an object of your affection and ask him a question or make a request."

The moment Ye Xinglan's name was called, Xu Lizhi lowered his head, trembling faintly with nerves.

She was exceptional and never lacked admirers. He was truly afraid that by the time he found the courage to speak, she would have already chosen someone else.

Ye Xinglan said, "No need."

Her lotus leaf continued forward, heading straight in a certain direction.

Xu Lizhi shut his eyes tightly, not daring to look.

Only when that familiar presence lingered beside him did he raise his head, looking at Ye Xinglan as if he were about to cry.

Ye Xinglan could not help smiling. "What kind of expression is that?"

The instant Xu Lizhi opened his mouth, tears began falling. He choked out, "I was afraid... afraid you were just passing by."

Ye Xinglan patted his head. "Idiot."

"...You really weren't lying to me?"

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Xu Lizhi opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but the surging emotions clogged his throat. He could only cry soundlessly to vent his feelings.

Ye Xinglan had never seen him cry like this before and was somewhat at a loss. "Don't tell me you're upset about your meat? Didn't you say you'd lose weight for me?"

"I'll lose it!" Xu Lizhi cried out, though an uncontrollable grin spread across his face. "Whatever you say goes! I can slim down until I'm as thin as Xie Xie!"

Xie Xie had been moved to tears, but upon hearing Xu Lizhi's words, his face immediately went expressionless. He muttered, "He's lost his mind right now. I won't hold it against him... I won't hold it against him..."

Yuanen chuckled softly.

Xie Xie turned his head. "I'm really very strong!"

Yuanen suppressed her smile and nodded. "Mm."

Only then did Xie Xie withdraw his gaze in satisfaction.

Ye Xinglan could not help laughing as well and pinched his cheek. "All right."

Xu Lizhi leaped three feet into the air in excitement, but while his mood was soaring, his body could not soar with it. He directly crushed his lotus leaf, plunging into the water with a splash and soaking Ye Xinglan all over.

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

A vein twitched on Ye Xinglan's forehead.

Xu Lizhi poked his head out of the water, so anxious he was nearly crying. "S-s-s-sorry, Sister Xinglan!"

Unable to endure it any longer, Ye Xinglan grabbed him, threw him out, then turned into a streak of light and followed after him.

Lan Muzi held back his laughter, but still applauded. "Let us congratulate this lovely couple and wish them lifelong happiness!"

Two pairs among the Shrek Seven Monsters had found each other.

The other girls gradually made their choices as well, while some simply chose no one.

After all the girls had made their choices, they entered the final stage—A Hundred Years of Harmony.

In this stage, the boys would make their final choices. If a boy chose the girl who had just chosen him, they would successfully join hands directly.

The Sea God Fairies who had previously chosen boys would each have thirty seconds, when their chosen boy appeared, to tell him what they wished to say.

If a boy chose a girl who had not chosen him, he would have one minute to confess.

Lan Muzi reminded them, "But the chances of failure are extremely high in such a case. Please consider carefully."

"Of course, A Hundred Years of Harmony is not that simple. A couple who successfully joins hands may face others attempting to steal the bride."

"During the bride-stealing stage, you may face them together. As long as you successfully reach the shore of Sea God Lake, you will truly have joined hands."

"Without further ado, let us begin!"

"The first one—Xie Xie!"

Xie Xie's eyes shone. Before even stepping forward, he blurted out, "I choose Yuanen Yehui!"

After saying that, he seemed afraid someone would steal her away, immediately assuming a highly vigilant fighting stance.

Someone could not help saying, "All right, brother. Who would dare compete with you when you've got the courage to be with that one?! Get going already!"

Xie Xie beamed, while Yuanen rolled her eyes and grabbed the back of his collar. "Stop embarrassing yourself. Hurry up and go!"

Xie Xie said, "Got it!"

The lotus leaf beneath their feet glowed gold. Several enlarged water spirits leaped up, placed flower crowns woven from Golden Ancient Tree branches atop their heads, then pushed them toward the shore.

As the two stepped ashore, fireworks blossomed across the sky.

Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan, who had changed into clean clothes by the shore, waited to join Yuanen and the others.

Xu Lizhi scratched his head guiltily. "Sorry, Sister Xinglan..."

"These fireworks aren't bright enough." Ye Xinglan smiled. "Next time, give me an even grander display."

Xu Lizhi stared blankly at her face beneath the fireworks, radiant as the stars, and felt that even if he gave her his life, it would not matter.

"So you two are here." Xie Xie approached, narrowed his eyes, and directly hooked an arm around Xu Lizhi's shoulder. "Kid, do you remember what you just said?"

Xu Lizhi played dumb. "Huh? What did you say? The fireworks are too loud, I can't hear you."

Yuanen and Ye Xinglan exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly.

On Sea God Lake, Lan Muzi drew the next boy.

"Tang Wulin."

Everyone's attention focused on him.

This boy had never appeared in the inner court before. He was shrouded in mystery, and he had been chosen by both the Dragon Spear Goddess and the leader of the Shrek Seven Monsters, placing him directly at the center of the storm.

So what would his choice be?

Tang Yinmeng said, "You two girls will each have one minute to confess~"

Gu Yue glanced at Na'er.

Na'er stood before Tang Wulin, unable to hide the sorrow in her eyes. Tang Wulin could not bear it, but he still had to face it.

"Brother..." she called softly.

Tang Wulin was just about to speak when she interrupted him.

"Let me finish," she sighed. "I know your choice. I understood after returning from there. With that person's help, there is more than one way to resolve things between her and me. And I no longer want to remain by your side in that way. So this time, I will take a different path."

Na'er smiled, but tears slid down her cheeks.

"I wish you happiness."

"And..."

"I love you."

Tang Wulin's eyelashes trembled lightly, and a tear fell.

She saw it and let out a breath. "That is enough, Brother."

Na'er smiled brilliantly. Her soul power evaporated her tears, and she stepped back several paces, treading atop the water before transforming into a silver streak of light and leaving Sea God Lake.

Aboard the tower ship, Yun Ming had just risen when Yali directly grabbed his hand and shook her head sternly.

Long Yeyue also signaled for him to sit down.

Yun Ming forcibly suppressed his anger and heartache, then sat back down.

Lan Muzi and Tang Yinmeng were both somewhat surprised, but the event still had to continue.

"Gu Yue, do you wish to confess?"

Gu Yue nodded, then looked at him.

"We put you in a difficult position."

Tang Wulin smiled bitterly. "This is already a beautiful dream I once never dared imagine."

Gu Yue said gently, "After being apart for three years, I thought about many things."

"In the past, what I believed was being good to you was actually my cowardice and avoidance. You always told me to trust you, to let you face things together with me. I cannot count, and I do not dare count, how many times I shook my head at you and pushed you away. Because every time I count one, my heart aches even more for the sincerity I cast aside."

"You see this as a gift, and so do I."

"And this time, I can finally gather the courage to nod to you and tell you: please take my hand and face everything with me."

Tang Wulin had thought that he could already remain calm no matter what happened, yet she could always strike at his weakest point and bring tears streaming down his face.

She gently caressed his face. Her intimacy was no longer the unrestrained emotion before a life-and-death parting, but her learning at last to express herself now that her feelings had reached their depths.

Tears filled Gu Yue's eyes as well. "This time, I'll be the one running toward you."

"Wulin."

"I love you."

Tang Wulin grabbed her hand, no longer able to restrain the emotions surging from his heart.

No longer was his beloved just out of reach, separated by water. She was by his side, in his arms.

He lowered his head and kissed the treasure at the tip of his heart.

Scenes from the past emerged around them one after another.

At their sides, light and shadows flickered as though a montage were playing, one that no one else could understand.

Thoughts materialized.

A deep dragon's roar intertwined with a clear dragon's cry. Golden and silver dragons circled around them, while every leaf of the Golden Ancient Tree suddenly lit up, radiating dazzling green-gold light that illuminated the sky.

The two walked across the waves, and wherever they passed, golden and silver lotuses silently bloomed.