Where Old Dreams Return

I stepped slowly out from the cracks of time, disturbing neither the wind nor the soul power. Carrying only the tenderness and vicissitudes that had settled over ten thousand years, I arrived upon this land that haunted my dreams—the outer court of Shrek Academy.

Everything within my sight remained exactly as it had been at the beginning of my memories.

My younger self stood among his companions, still somewhat green, yet already possessing a composure beyond his years. The Golden Dragon King seal lay dormant and stable within him, its power restrained and gentle. There was none of the tearing agony and struggle that would come later, only the purest resolve of a young man. He held the silver-blue figure beside him by the hand, his words firm and his steps unhurried, leading everyone toward the strength training grounds as their captain.

It was the young Gu Yue.

Her Silver Dragon aura was deeply concealed. She was aloof and cold, yet her eyes revealed undisguised concern and protectiveness only toward the younger me. She never left his side, quietly keeping him company.

Xie Xie was lively and restless, his twin daggers hidden in his sleeves. Xu Xiaoyan's starlight was gentle, soft radiance following her. Xu Lizhi held meat buns in his arms, looking simple and honest. Ye Xinglan stood as sharp as a sword, proud yet restrained. Every face was vivid and bright, untouched by hardship or parting. There was only youthful spirit, shining brilliantly.

I did not disturb them. I simply stood quietly some distance away, watching my younger self walk this path that belonged to him with the bearing of a guardian.

Within the strength training grounds, the Titan Giant Ape's heaviness intertwined with the Divine Angel's radiance. Yuanen Yehui wore black, her bloodline calm and restrained. Le Zhengyu wore white as pristine as snow, holy and bright. They were the final two pieces of the Shrek Seven Monsters, and also the companions I treasured most in my life.

My younger self took a step forward and invited them to join the team, his voice clear and steady.

There were no elaborate words, only the most sincere conviction.

"The Shrek Seven Monsters cannot be without the two of you."

Yuanen Yehui nodded silently, while Le Zhengyu accepted with a resounding reply.

Seven figures finally stood complete beneath the sunlight.

My younger self spoke solemnly and made an oath that belonged to Shrek. Golden Dragon power flowed steadily, gently intertwining with the concealed Silver Dragon aura around Gu Yue. The auras of seven martial souls merged, forming a warm yet unyielding bond.

That scene was one I had wanted to touch again through countless years.

I looked at my green younger self, at those young yet familiar faces, and at Gu Yue standing protectively before him. Countless thoughts surged within me, only to become a deep, quiet melancholy in the end.

If the Seven Monsters had never scattered into the river of time, if Tang Wulin and Gu Yue had never separated, if Gu Yue had never become Gu Yuena, if she and Na'er had never merged into one, if he had never lost the sister named Na'er, if the God Realm had still hung high above and never lost its way.

Then perhaps everyone whose name could be spoken—every kind, struggling, righteous, and morally ambiguous soul—could have reached a good end and ascended to godhood together.

The Eight Monsters would have stood upon the divine thrones together, and all living beings would have found fulfillment.

If that had happened, there should no longer have been any regrets along this road.

Sunlight fell over the seven young figures, warmly enveloping them. Before my younger self could take another step, a nearly imperceptible ripple suddenly spread through the air.

There was no fluctuation of soul power, no spatial tremor. Only a strand of Golden Dragon aura, silent for eternity yet gentle beyond measure, quietly shrouded the entire training grounds.

I, Tang Wulin, returned from the end of time, slowly stepped out of the void.

A dark-blue fitted outfit patterned with dragons accentuated my mountain-like stature. The childishness had faded from my face, leaving deep features and tranquil eyes. Not a trace of pressure emanated from me, yet the primordial aura born from the Golden Dragon King's complete awakening still made every martial soul present tremble faintly in unison.

The entire grounds fell instantly silent.

Xie Xie's pupils contracted sharply as his twin daggers appeared instinctively. Ye Xinglan clenched the Star God Sword, her chilling Sword Qi instantly taut. Xu Xiaoyan's starlight soul power surged as she immediately shielded everyone at the center. Xu Lizhi hurriedly clutched his meat buns close, staring blankly at the suddenly appearing figure. Yuanen Yehui's Titan bloodline surged, her muscles tightening. Le Zhengyu unleashed the power of the Divine Angel, his light soul power braced as if before a formidable enemy.

Yet the fastest to react was Gu Yue.

The instant I appeared, she shifted sideways by half a step and firmly blocked the younger Tang Wulin. Her silver-blue hair drifted gently in the wind, while icy resolve filled her star-silver eyes. The five great elements silently gathered at her fingertips, forming the strongest protective barrier.

Without the slightest hesitation, she asked in a cool voice carrying the Silver Dragon King's innate vigilance, "Who are you?"

The younger Tang Wulin was equally stunned. He instinctively clenched his fists as the sealed Golden Dragon King power within him resonated intensely with me. Scalding dragon power flowed through his meridians, yet did not lose control. He raised his head, shock written across his youthful face, but he still forced himself to remain calm and looked directly at me with the bearing of a captain.

Those clean, bright eyes were so much like the youth I had long since lost.

I did not approach. I merely stood quietly several meters away, my gaze gently passing over each familiar, youthful face before finally settling on my younger self and Gu Yue standing before him. My myriad emotions returned to calm.

"I will not hurt you."

When I spoke, my voice was low and gentle, devoid of the slightest malice. "I am merely a passerby from afar, who happened to pass through this moment in time."

The wariness in Gu Yue's eyes did not diminish, and her elemental power remained locked onto me. She could clearly sense that I shared the same bloodline and the same soul origin as the younger Tang Wulin before her, yet I also carried the weight and vicissitudes of ages. It was the aura of the Golden Dragon King after its true awakening, and the aura most familiar to her, and the one she cared for most in this life.

The younger Tang Wulin took a deep breath and suppressed the restless dragon power within him before asking softly, "You... are connected to me?"

I nodded faintly, neither denying it nor offering further explanation.

The Time Law did not permit me to reveal too much. All I could do was gaze from afar upon this beauty untouched by regret—to see this moment when my companions were all present, my beloved remained as she had been, and our original hearts had not changed.

A light breeze swept through the training grounds, stirring fine dust from the ground.

The Seven Monsters remained on guard. My younger self was full of confusion, Gu Yue refused to yield even an inch, and I stood beneath the sunlight, facing my past self from afar.

One was as youthful as ever, with an uncertain road ahead.

The other had endured all of life's vicissitudes, his heart filled with longing.

The Golden Dragon gave a low cry, echoing softly in the depths of time. There were no ripples, only a gentle resonance.

I did not step forward again. I merely watched them, watched this old dream that I had spent my entire life protecting, yet could never return to.