Tang Wulin turned his head to meet her gaze, the corner of his lips curving slightly. He said nothing more and turned his eyes back to the distant skyline, now completely dark.
Gu Yuena turned back as well, and the two continued sitting quietly.
The wind swept over the lake, gently stirring the few blades of grass along the edge of the stone steps.
The next morning, the wooden doors of Sea God Pavilion were pushed open just as the sky fully brightened.
When Tang Wulin entered the hall in a clean dark-gray robe, both sides of the long table were already filled with people.
Mu En sat at the head of the table, as usual holding a cup of tea, warm steam rising softly from it.
Xuan Zi sat in his usual seat by the window. Rarely, he was not gnawing on a chicken leg. Instead, he held a cup of clear water, his eyes fixed on some spot on the table as though lost in thought.
Zhuang Lao sat midway down the long table, his face thin and withered. Xian Lin'er and Yan Shaozhe sat side by side opposite him, while the other elders had taken their seats as well.
After the wooden doors closed, the hall dimmed slightly. Only the winter morning light filtering through the tall eastern window cast a long strip of warm yellow across the tabletop.
Tang Wulin took a seat below Mu En.
His gaze swept across everyone present before he spoke. "I called everyone here today to discuss the roster for the new generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters."
After those words fell, the hall fell silent for a moment.
The elders briefly exchanged glances. No one spoke in opposition or raised any objections. Clearly, they had already received word and were