First Meeting in the Palace Gardens, Preparing for the Tournament

Chapter Twenty-Seven: First Meeting in the Palace Gardens, Preparing for the Tournament

Morning light over Shrek Inner Court still unfolded alongside the gentle pulses of soul power from cultivation. Only three days remained until the Academy Exchange Tournament. The Seven Monsters' training schedule had grown tighter than usual, yet there was not the slightest hint of panic. Instead, their day-after-day coordination had made them increasingly composed and in sync.

Tang Wulin arranged the entire team's training plan in perfect order. In the mornings, they focused on improving their individual soul skills; in the afternoons, they drilled their team formations, specifically addressing the flaws in their transitions that they had discovered before. As captain, he had to oversee their overall progress while also keeping an eye on every companion's condition. His care for Xu Xiaoyan was hidden in the small details of everyday life, natural and open, without the slightest trace of deliberateness.

During a break in their joint training, everyone sat beneath the shade of a tree to rest. Xu Lizhi activated his food martial soul, and the aroma of freshly steamed meat buns instantly spread through the air. It made Xie Xie swallow hard as he snatched two and stuffed them into his mouth. Xu Xiaoyan sat nearby, gently rubbing her wrist. Repeatedly using the Star Wheel Control Technique had consumed more of her soul power than usual, leaving her breathing slightly hurried.

Tang Wulin noticed her small movement and casually handed her the water pouch beside him. His tone was calm and natural. "Did you circulate your soul power too quickly? Is your wrist sore? Take your time adjusting your breathing. There's no need to rush our progress. We just need to fight steadily in the tournament."

"I'm fine, Brother. I just need a moment to recover." Xu Xiaoyan accepted the water pouch and thanked him softly, her eyes curving into crescents with gentle obedience. "I've already adjusted my soul power. I won't hold everyone back during the next round of training."

"Silly girl, we're a team. There's no such thing as holding anyone back." Tang Wulin smiled and rubbed the top of her head. The gesture was entirely that of an older brother doting on his younger sister—clean and pure, without the slightest impropriety. "If you're really tired, rest longer. We're here."

Everyone had long since grown accustomed to this sight. Xie Xie chewed on a bun as he teased indistinctly, "Wulin's a proper good big brother now. Our Xiaoyan is properly well protected too." Ye Xinglan glared at Xie Xie, telling him to talk less and rest more. Gu Yue watched quietly from the side, lightly winding a strand of hair around her fingertip, her gaze calm and undisturbed. The warmth between brother and sister did not interfere in the least with the tacit understanding between her and Tang Wulin.

The tips of Xu Xiaoyan's ears reddened slightly, but she did not dodge away. She merely nodded obediently and lowered her head to drink, her heart filled with a sense of security. Ever since she had acknowledged Tang Wulin as her brother, she had become increasingly at ease within the team. She was no longer as reserved and restrained as before, and she had gained greater confidence in cultivation. Her entire being now radiated gentle vitality.

"Alright, after a short rest, we'll practice our finishing formation from the finals two more times and smooth out the rhythm a little more." Tang Wulin stood, brushing the dust from the corner of his clothes. His tone was firm, and his eyes shone with youthful spirit. Everyone rose in response and quickly took their respective positions. Their soul power began to circulate once more, and the training ground's atmosphere became focused and solemn again.

At that moment, however, the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace presented an entirely different scene.

Vermilion palace walls stretched endlessly, while gilded rooftops gleamed beneath the sunlight. Exotic flowers and rare plants bloomed throughout the palace gardens, and maids and eunuchs moved about in orderly fashion. Every corner exuded imperial majesty and splendor. Adult Tang Wulin stood outside the palace gates. He did not force his way in; he merely allowed a faint thread of Dragon Emperor soul power to seep from his body. It seemed weak, yet it instantly enveloped the entire palace entrance, freezing the guarding soul masters in place without causing them the slightest harm.

A moment later, a dignified middle-aged man in magnificent robes hurried out. He was the emperor of the Star Luo Empire. Having sensed this overwhelming soul power beyond all imagination, he was deeply shocked and had hurried over personally to receive his guest. The young man before him appeared youthful, but the weathered depth within those golden eyes inspired reverence in him. He did not dare show the slightest negligence.

"I did not know that Your Excellency would visit the Star Luo Imperial Palace. Please forgive me for failing to welcome you properly." The Star Luo Emperor bowed, his tone full of respect.

"I came to see Dai Yun'er. There is also another matter I wish to discuss with the imperial family. I mean no harm." Adult Tang Wulin's voice was calm, without any arrogance, yet it carried an undeniable presence. His Dragon Emperor soul power had already withdrawn, while the breeze gently stirred his plain-colored robes, leaving them untouched by worldly dust.

Though the emperor was puzzled, he did not dare defy him. He immediately ordered his attendants to lead the way and personally brought Adult Tang Wulin toward the imperial garden. He had long heard that Dai Yun'er held feelings for Shrek's Tang Wulin. Yet although the man before him bore some resemblance to that Tang Wulin, his presence was utterly different. It was not something a young soul master could possess, leaving the emperor full of speculation.

Within the imperial garden, Dai Yun'er sat in a stone pavilion, arranging the flower tea on the table. When she heard that an honored guest had arrived specifically to see her, she was filled with curiosity and stood to look over. The instant she saw Adult Tang Wulin, she froze in place. A faint blush rose to her cheeks, and her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.

The person before her had exactly the same brows and eyes as Tang Wulin, but without a young man's immaturity. In its place was the steady strength forged by the passage of time. His bearing was gentle yet imposing, his gaze deep as a sea of stars. He was far more stirring than the Young Tang Wulin she remembered. Thinking that Tang Wulin had come all the way to the Star Luo Empire specifically to see her, hope surged in her heart. She hurried forward, her voice carrying both delight and shyness. "You... why are you here?"

Adult Tang Wulin remained where he was. Looking at the lively, charming girl before him, her eyes filled with expectation, his golden gaze remained calm and unmoved. He knew what she felt, but he also understood that this youthful flutter of emotion should never have been allowed to begin. He had come this time to sever that tie completely—to avoid hurting her, while also ensuring that his younger self would not be disturbed by irrelevant entanglements.

"I am not the Tang Wulin you think I am. To be precise, I am his future self." Adult Tang Wulin spoke blandly, his words shattering all of Dai Yun'er's fantasies in a single instant. "I came to the Star Luo Empire for two reasons. First, to deal with matters concerning the future. Second, to make things clear to you. A youthful crush is ultimately only a passing moment. There has never been any possibility between us, nor should there be any entanglement."

The blush on Dai Yun'er's face vanished at once. The expectation in her eyes froze as she stared blankly at Adult Tang Wulin, unable to process the meaning of his words for a moment. His future self? Those few words instantly shattered the joy in her heart, leaving behind a trace of grievance and confusion. She stood there helplessly, not knowing what to do.

Adult Tang Wulin said nothing more. He simply looked at her quietly, without disgust in his eyes—only the calm detachment of one who had weathered countless years. He did not need to explain further. It was enough to make that boundary clear. The sooner certain obsessions were cut away, the better it would be for both sides. What he needed to do was protect the purity of his younger years and prevent any irrelevant troubles from disrupting the path of growth for those young people at Shrek.

A gentle breeze swept through the palace gardens, carrying the fragrance of flowers, but it could not disperse this sudden calm distance. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away at Shrek, the Seven Monsters' joint training had already reached its end. The youths stood shoulder to shoulder, their clothes soaked with sweat, yet every one of them wore a bright smile. Their hearts were filled with anticipation for the tournament and longing for the future, completely unaware that the severing of a bond had quietly been completed far away.

Do you need me to refine the dialogue between Adult Tang Wulin and Dai Yun'er, so their exchange better fits their characters and does not feel stiff?