Finally Protecting Shrek

When the last trace of the Holy Spirit Cult's chilling aura was completely dispersed by the morning light, the tense atmosphere at Shrek Academy finally relaxed completely.

The alarm stopped.

The green glow of the academy's protective formation softened, like a gentle embrace lightly wrapping around this academy that had stood for ten thousand years.

The air no longer carried the threat of destruction. Only the fragrance of grass and trees, the aura of life, and the peace of surviving the disaster remained.

Tang Wulin slowly closed his eyes.

The burdens of two lifetimes—the ruins of his previous life, the blood and tears of rebuilding, the suffocating tension of dismantling the bombs... all of it fell away at this moment.

He had done it.

Shrek had not been blown up.

Not a single tile had shattered, and not a single person had died.

He opened his eyes, his golden pupils filled with gentle relief.

Na'er lifted her little face from his arms, smiling like a tiny sun. "Big Brother, we protected our home!"

"Mm, we did," Tang Wulin said softly.

Gu Yue quietly watched him. There was no coldness in her silver-gray eyes, only softness.

"You protect Shrek. I'll protect you."

Tang Wulin reached out and gently took her hand.

This time, she did not pull away. Instead, she firmly clasped his hand in return.

Just then, several familiar figures hurried over from the distance.

"Wulin!"

"Gu Yue!"

"Are you two all right?"

Their voices were clear and anxious, yet filled with the joy of immense relief.

Tang Wulin looked up, and in an instant, warmth filled his heart completely.

It was the Shrek Seven Monsters.

Xie Xie was panting heavily, too hurried to retract his martial soul, his face full of lingering fear. "We heard the alarm just now and were scared to death! We looked everywhere for you!"

Xu Xiaoyan's eyes were red as she ran over and grabbed Na'er's hand, looking her over from head to toe. "Na'er, you weren't frightened, were you?"

Ye Xinglan's expression was tense, but the hand gripping her sword relaxed slightly. "We heard there was a Level-12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell. We were all prepared to risk our lives."

Xu Lizhi wiped the sweat from his forehead, his bun-like face filled with relief. "That's great... Everyone's all right, and Shrek is all right too..."

Yuanen Yehui stood at the back, her aura steady, though she could not hide the relief in her eyes. "We've already cleared out all the evil soul masters in our assigned areas."

All seven were there.

Every one of them stood before him alive and well, safe and sound.

Tang Wulin looked at the familiar faces before him, and his eyes grew slightly hot.

In his previous life, Shrek had been bombed, the Seven Monsters had scattered. Some had been injured, some had left, some had struggled amid the flames of war, and some had held fast in despair. The team that had once fought shoulder to shoulder and laughed about ascending together had been torn apart by fate.

But in this life—

They were all here.

Not one was missing, not one was hurt, not one had vanished.

Xie Xie was still that boisterous yet fiercely loyal youth.

Xu Xiaoyan was still gentle and adorable, still holding Na'er's hand with concern.

Ye Xinglan was still proud, yet willing to draw her sword for her companions.

Xu Lizhi was still honest and simple, caring most about whether everyone was safe.

Yuanen Yehui was still quiet and dependable, always standing behind them to protect them.

They were his family, his teammates, the most precious bonds of his life.

Tang Wulin drew a deep breath. His voice trembled slightly, yet it was incomparably clear.

"I'm fine. Gu Yue is fine. Na'er is fine. Shrek... has been protected too."

Xie Xie's eyes instantly lit up. "Really?! Then that Level-12 shell..."

"Every one of them was dismantled." Tang Wulin nodded.

"The evil soul masters..."

"Completely eliminated. Not a single one escaped."

Everyone froze for an instant.

The next moment, wild joy surged into their hearts.

No one shouted, yet everyone's eyes reddened, and genuine, relaxed smiles appeared on their faces.

Xu Xiaoyan gently wiped at the corner of her eye. "That's wonderful... truly wonderful... We don't have to be afraid anymore."

The tightly drawn corners of Ye Xinglan's lips finally lifted slightly.

Xu Lizhi nodded hard. "We'll never have to be afraid of getting bombed again!"

Yuanen Yehui looked at Tang Wulin, and her eyes held a deeper, complete trust and recognition.

Xie Xie rushed over and heavily slapped Tang Wulin on the shoulder. "Wulin! You're incredible! You're practically our god!"

"It wasn't because I was incredible."

Tang Wulin shook his head, his gaze slowly sweeping across each person before him.

"It was because we were incredible."

"Together, we protected Shrek."

Gu Yue stood at his side and spoke calmly.

"He protects our home. I protect him. You protect one another."

That single sentence said it all.

Na'er climbed down from Tang Wulin's arms. Her little hand tightly held Xu Xiaoyan's, and she looked at Gu Yue, then at her big brother, smiling especially sweetly.

"From now on, all of us have to stay together forever!"

Tang Wulin held out his hand.

A golden glow of blood essence gently lit up in his palm.

Xie Xie immediately understood and smiled as he placed his hand atop it.

Xu Xiaoyan, Ye Xinglan, Xu Lizhi, and Yuanen Yehui followed one after another, all stacking their hands together.

Gu Yue gently raised her hand, and a faint silver elemental glow merged into them.

Na'er also stood on tiptoe and placed her small palm on top.

All seven Monsters, along with Gu Yue and Na'er.

Nine hands were tightly stacked together.

Sunlight fell upon them, warm beyond measure.

Tang Wulin looked at everyone and spoke word by word, earnestly and gently.

"In my previous life, Shrek was broken. We were scattered, hurt, and filled with regrets."

"But in this life—

Shrek will not fall.

The Seven Monsters will not scatter.

Family will not part.

Lovers will not be separated."

"We will grow stronger together, grow together, and face all darkness together."

"We will stand at the very peak together, all become gods, and ascend together."

"No more sacrifices.

No more separations.

No more regrets."

Xie Xie's eyes shone. "All right! We'll become gods together! We'll ascend together!"

Xu Xiaoyan nodded firmly. "I'll always be with everyone!"

Ye Xinglan tightened her grip on her sword. "I'll become stronger and protect my companions."

Xu Lizhi gave an honest, foolish grin. "I'll work hard at cultivating too, and protect everyone!"

Yuanen Yehui spoke calmly. "I will never let anyone hurt us again."

Gu Yue looked at Tang Wulin, with only him in her eyes.

"Wherever you go, I go."

Na'er raised her little face, her smile radiant.

"Wherever Big Brother is, Na'er will be!"

A gentle breeze passed through the Eternal Tree, rustling its leaves as though it were blessing them.

In the distance, the instructors watched this scene with relief.

Yun Ming stood before the tree, a gentle smile on his aged face.

The ten-thousand-year-old Shrek had once again been well protected by this group of young men and women.

No explosions.

No ruins.

No tears.

No farewells.

Under the sunlight, the young men and women stood side by side.

Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Na'er, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, Ye Xinglan, Xu Lizhi, Yuanen Yehui...

All of the Shrek Seven Monsters were present. Not one was missing, and not one was injured.

They smiled, light in their eyes, warmth in their hearts, and one another by their sides.

Tang Wulin raised his head and looked out over all of peaceful Shrek.

At last.

He had protected this land.

He had protected everyone by his side.

He had protected all that had once been lost, regretted, and precious.

In this life,

everyone was fulfilled,

and there would be no more regrets.