Thousand-Day Dragon Burial Returns to Shrek Academy, Reuniting with His Long-Separated Sister

The wind over Sea God Lake carried a familiar dampness as it brushed past the new frost at Tang Wulin's temples. The fierce winds and Dragon Might of Thousand-Day Dragon-Burying Cliff had carved an indelible gravity into him. His dark martial attire outlined a figure taller and broader than it had been three years ago, his shoulders and back like pines beneath snow—burdened by the weight of time, yet all the more resilient for it. He crossed the bluestone path by the lake, every step nearly soundless. Only the faint golden dragon aura flowing around him shimmered into scattered, warm light the instant it touched Shrek Academy's barrier, as though even this academy with ten thousand years of heritage was welcoming his return.

When he had left three years ago, he had still been the young master of Spirit Hall, his brows filled with youthful sharpness. Carrying the dragon clan's charge and the obsession in his heart, he had entered the secluded realm of Burial Dragon Cliff. For a thousand days, he had nourished dragon souls with his own essence and blood, resisted the savage power of the Dragon Domain through sheer will, held the scales of dying giant dragons in his fingers, and heard the mournful cries of ancient dragons echo in his ears. Now that he had returned, the eyes once brimming with blazing passion had settled into the calm of deep pools. Only the occasional golden glint in their depths betrayed the countless Dragon Powers sleeping within him.

"Shrek, I'm back," he murmured. His voice was hoarse with the emotion of a long-awaited reunion. His gaze swept over the still-lush willows by the lake, passed the orderly school buildings in the distance, and finally settled on the crystalline Sea God's Island at the center of Sea God Lake. Over the past three years, it had been his longing for this land and his concern for those he knew that had carried him through the loneliness and peril of Burial Dragon Cliff.

The wind abruptly changed direction, carrying a faint fragrance like melting ice and snow. Tang Wulin's steps paused slightly, and his heart inexplicably tightened. That scent was so familiar that his heart seemed to stop. It was like an imprint carved into his soul, one no passage of time could ever erase. Slowly, he turned around and looked through the swaying willow branches toward the path on the other side of the lake.

A figure in white was walking toward him, her skirts fluttering gently like an elf treading over snow. Sunlight fell upon her, outlining a slender yet upright silhouette. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, the tips carrying a faint silvery sheen. Her steps were light, as if she feared disturbing the tranquility of the lakeside. There was a distant coolness in her features, yet a barely perceptible tenderness hid in her eyes, like a warm current beneath a frozen lake.

It was Na'er.

Tang Wulin's breath abruptly caught. His fingers clenched unconsciously, and a familiar stabbing pain came from his palm—the old wound left by the Thousand-Day Dragon Burial. Yet now, it ached faintly because of the tremor of reunion. He watched her approach step by step. Three years seemed not to have left many traces on her; only the innocent naivety of her younger days had faded, replaced by greater serenity and gentleness. Like the waters of Sea God Lake, she had grown clearer and more beautiful with time.

Na'er saw him as well, and her steps suddenly halted. Stormy waves rose instantly in her sapphire-clear eyes. She stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar man before her. He was taller and straighter than in her memories. The youthful vigor between his brows had been replaced by composed restraint, while an aura of power that stirred the heart radiated from his body. That aura held both the domineering majesty of dragons and the peaceful indifference of one who had endured hardship. She knew him. No matter how much he had changed, the bond carved into her soul and the aura she had missed for three years could not be mistaken.

"Brother?" she called softly, her voice carrying a barely detectable tremble as a faint red immediately rose around her eyes. That call crossed a thousand days and countless mountains and rivers, carrying endless longing and concern. It landed softly upon Tang Wulin's heart, instantly shattering the calm facade he had maintained.

Tang Wulin's Adam's apple bobbed. The words he wanted to say lodged in his chest, and a thousand thoughts ultimately became only one hoarse reply. "Na'er, I'm back."

He walked toward her step by step, each one seeming to cross the gulf of time. Sunlight filtered through the willow branches, casting mottled shadows over him. His golden dragon aura intertwined with the faint icy fragrance around her, forming a wondrous harmony. The wind by the lake seemed to stop, the birds fell silent, and the entire world appeared to contain only the two of them—their reunion and bond spanning a thousand days.

As Na'er watched him draw near, the tears in her eyes finally slid down her cheeks. Yet she did not wipe them away. She only looked at him quietly, a smile glistening with tears appearing on her face. That smile was like the first flower to bloom after ice and snow melted—pure and warm, instantly illuminating every shadow in Tang Wulin's heart.

The hardships of Thousand-Day Dragon Burial and the exhaustion of the journey home all vanished at that moment. As long as she was still here, as long as Shrek still stood, every sacrifice had been worthwhile.

Tang Wulin stopped before her and raised a hand, wanting to touch her cheek. But just as his fingertips were about to reach her skin, he hesitated slightly. He was afraid this was only a dream, afraid that the moment he touched her, everything before him would disappear.

Yet Na'er took the initiative and stepped forward, gently taking his hand. His palm was broad and warm, rough with calluses—the proof of a thousand days of hardship—yet it gave her indescribable reassurance. Her fingertips were cool, but they held a familiar warmth that instantly soothed the restlessness in Tang Wulin's heart.

"Welcome back, Brother Wulin." Na'er raised her head and looked into his eyes, her smile gentle yet resolute. "I knew you would come back."

Seeing the tears and smile in her eyes, the ice in Tang Wulin's heart melted completely. He tightened his hold on her hand and said softly, "I'm sorry I made you wait so long."

The wind over Sea God Lake rose again, carrying their scents across the water and stirring layer after layer of ripples. The sunlight was perfect, the years peaceful. The dragon had returned to Shrek, and old companions had finally reunited. A thousand days of waiting and yearning had finally received their perfect answer.

Their palms shared warmth. Tang Wulin could clearly feel the faint coolness of Na'er's fingertips, along with the subtle tremble she tried to hide. Instinctively, he wrapped her hand more tightly in his own, his thumb gently stroking her smooth skin as if comforting a young deer after a long separation. The calluses carved into his palm by the winds and frost of Thousand-Day Dragon-Burying Cliff had become the gentlest touch, carrying the steadiness of time.

Na'er lowered her head slightly. Her long hair fell forward, hiding most of her face and revealing only her small, reddened earlobes. She said nothing, merely leaning a little closer to him. Her other hand rose and rested gently on his wrist, as though she needed to confirm that the man before her was real and not an illusion. For three years, through countless days and nights, she had endured the spreading ache of longing by recalling the warmth of his palm and the contours of his face.

"Burial Dragon Cliff... it must have been very hard, right?" After a long while, Na'er finally raised her head. Her voice still held a hint of tears, and her clear eyes were filled with heartache. Her gaze fell on the frost at his temples and the fine lines newly added at the corners of his eyes. "You've gotten so much thinner. And darker, too."

Warmth filled Tang Wulin's heart. He raised a hand and gently wiped away the tears still on her cheek, the softness beneath his fingertips making his heart tremble. "It wasn't hard." He smiled and shook his head, tenderness nearly overflowing from his eyes. "Whenever I thought of you waiting for me at Shrek, whenever I thought of everything here, none of the hardship seemed like anything." He paused, his gaze passing over her white dress before he asked softly, "Have you been well these past three years? Have your studies at the academy been busy? Has anyone bullied you?"

"I've been well." Na'er nodded firmly, her smile gradually brightening. "The teachers and students at the academy have all taken good care of me, and I've kept up with my studies. Every day, I came to walk by Sea God Lake, just like you used to do with me. I thought that perhaps one day, I might meet you here." She raised her hand and lightly touched his cheek. "I knew you would return safely. Your bloodline is so strong, and your will is so firm. Nothing could ever defeat you."

Tang Wulin took the hand resting on his cheek, brought it to his lips, and pressed a gentle kiss upon it. The kiss was light and carried his distinct presence. Na'er's body stiffened at once, then her cheeks flushed even deeper as her heart began racing uncontrollably.

"Silly girl." Tang Wulin's voice was low and gentle. "It was my fault for making you wait alone for so long. From now on, I'll never leave you again. I'll never leave you alone again."

Na'er's eyes moistened once more. She said nothing, only nodded hard before burying her face in his chest and wrapping both arms tightly around his waist. Tang Wulin froze for a moment, then extended his arms and pulled her firmly into his embrace. He could clearly feel her body trembling, her warm tears soaking into his dark martial attire, and the powerful beating of her heart gradually aligning with his own.

The embrace was warm, filled with their familiar scents, as though it had crossed a thousand days to bind them tightly together. Tang Wulin lowered his head, rested his nose against the top of her hair, and inhaled deeply. That faint icy fragrance flooded his senses, instantly smoothing away all his weariness and agitation. He could feel the softness and dependence in her body, as well as the precious feeling in his own heart of having regained what he had once lost.

The waters of Sea God Lake flowed quietly, rippling with glittering light that reflected their embracing figures. The willows by the shore swayed softly, their branches brushing over their shoulders as if adding a touch of gentleness to this long-awaited reunion. Sunlight streamed through gaps in the leaves, scattering mottled shadows across them, warm and comforting.

"Brother," Na'er said muffled against his chest, "every day, I went to that little snack shop we used to visit. I ordered your favorite grilled meat skewers and tofu pudding, thinking that when you returned, I'd take you there with me."

"Of course." Tang Wulin smiled, resting his chin atop her hair. His voice was so gentle it seemed almost to drip with warmth. "Once I've handled the academy's affairs, we'll go. We won't just eat grilled meat skewers and tofu pudding—we'll visit every corner of Shrek, just like before. I'll watch the sunrise with you, watch the sunset with you, and walk every road with you."

"Mhm!" Na'er nodded vigorously, her smile growing even more radiant. "We should also go see the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest. You once said the stars there were the most beautiful. And we should go to Sea God's Island to see the Sea God's statue. You said you would take me there to pray for blessings."

"Whatever you say." Tang Wulin gently patted her back, his tone indulgent. "Wherever you want to go, I'll take you. Whatever you want to do, I'll do it with you. For the rest of my life, I'll stay by your side and never leave you."

Na'er said nothing more. She only held him a little tighter, feeling the warmth of his chest, the strength of his heartbeat, and the happiness of having him back. A thousand days of waiting and longing had all transformed into overflowing sweetness and peace of mind.

The wind over Sea God Lake blew softly, carrying their quiet words and their scents as they echoed along the shore for a long time. The sunlight was perfect, the years peaceful. Hand in hand, they looked at one another, their eyes filled only with each other and their hearts filled with warmth. This reunion was like the finest aged wine, worth savoring slowly and treasuring forever.