Busy Before Departure

Over the course of a year, the ripples on Sea God Lake rose and fell.

Yun Zhiyu had turned ten and grown much taller. Her silver hair now reached her waist, usually tied loosely with a strip of cloth, cascading like a flowing waterfall whenever she moved. The vertical slit in her violet eyes had become increasingly restrained, only faintly revealing itself when her emotions stirred, as though some ancient being occasionally opened its eyes to scrutinize this world.

She knew the parting was near.

The system notification had made it clear a year ago: once Tang Wulin turned nine, he would head to East Sea Academy to study. She had to go to East Sea City, meet those future companions, and change the tragic ending of the original story. That meant leaving Shrek, leaving Sea God's Pavilion, leaving the home where she had lived for ten years.

So over this past year, she had done many things.

The first was upgrading Ye Xinglan's sword sheath.

Meteor had originally been nothing more than a Spirit Forging-grade Moonlit Gold sword sheath. After two years of nurturing, it had developed a deep resonance with the Star God's Sword, but Yun Zhiyu felt that was not enough—she was about to travel far away. She would no longer be able to practice swordsmanship beside Ye Xinglan every day or watch this sheath accompany her dear friend's growth with her own eyes.

She needed it to become a growth-type item, one that could evolve along with Ye Xinglan's cultivation—from Spirit Forging to Soul Forging, from Soul Forging to Sacred Forging, and even to higher realms.

The materials were god-grade metals obtained through system sign-ins: Boundless Star-Sea Gold, Soul-Star Sword Jade, and a small piece of Chaos Divine Gold.

"Boundless Star-Sea Gold..." Zhen Hua stared at the metal glowing with a deep blue sheen, his voice trembling. "A material said to be capable of bearing infinite star power. Ancient records say it exists only in ruins at the deepest part of the Star Dou Great Forest... Girl, where did you get this?"

"Secret." Yun Zhiyu gave only two words.

She did not explain. Over the past year, the system's sign-in rewards had become increasingly generous, and god-grade metals had piled up like mountains. She had merely selected the few most suitable ones.

The properties of Boundless Star-Sea Gold were highly compatible with the Star God's Sword, allowing the sheath's capacity for star power to expand without limit. Soul-Star Sword Jade could solidify sword intent, changing the nurturing effect from passive absorption to active refinement. Chaos Divine Gold was the finishing touch, granting the sheath the spirituality of growth, allowing it to evolve like a living being along with its owner's cultivation.

The forging lasted a full seven days.

Yun Zhiyu did not use the Fourfold Hammer Echo. Instead, she used the most basic Hundredfold Forging technique, hammering again and again, striking her intentions into the metal's patterns. Her spiritual power was wholly immersed in the fusion of the three metals. She sensed the vastness of Boundless Star-Sea Gold, the sharpness of Soul-Star Sword Jade, and the boundlessness of Chaos Divine Gold, guiding them to resonate, merge, and ascend at the atomic level.

Late on the seventh night, the sword sheath took shape.

It was somewhat longer than before. The sheath had changed from silver-white to a profound deep blue, while the star patterns on its surface were no longer fixed but slowly flowed, like a compressed starry sky. Yun Zhiyu sealed her final wisp of soul power into the Chaos Divine Gold at the sheath's mouth. The metal trembled faintly, as if some form of life had opened its eyes.

"Meteor," she named it softly. "May you be like a meteor, tearing through the endless night and never falling."

When Ye Xinglan accepted the sheath, the instant her slender sword entered it, deep blue light erupted. It intertwined with the silver-white glow of the Star God's Sword, casting a flowing river of stars across the forging room. She felt a pulse from within the sheath gradually synchronize with her heartbeat, as though she had gained a tiny additional heart.

"Zhiyu..." she began, her voice hoarse.

"Don't speak," Yun Zhiyu interrupted with a smile. "Try this."

She took out another item: a pair of gloves forged from Moonlit Gold and Starfall Cloud Iron. They were thin as gauze and cool to the touch. A tiny star pattern was set into each palm; after soul power was poured into them, they could briefly increase the rate at which sword energy condensed.

"Moonlit Star Gauntlets," Yun Zhiyu said. "Wear them when you draw your sword. They'll make you three tenths faster, and they'll keep you from getting calluses from practicing swordsmanship so often."

Ye Xinglan lowered her head and looked at the sword sheath and gloves in her hands. Suddenly, her eyes burned. She remembered that autumn day, when Yun Zhiyu had forged her first sword sheath—pale-faced, hands trembling, yet smiling with curved eyes.

And now, this silver-haired girl was about to depart on a long journey, yet she had left all her best things behind for her.

"...Thank you." In the end, she only managed those two words, pressing the sword sheath tightly against her chest.

The second was forging a sword for Yun Zhishu.

The concept for Violet Firmament had taken shape three years ago. The Primal Sword Embryo would be its bones, Dragon-Patterned Purple Gold its skin, and Lotus-Heart Ice Jade its soul—a fusion of three god-grade metals to create a growth-type divine sword capable of resonating with the Sky-Pillaring Sacred Lotus Spear.

But Yun Zhiyu had never begun. She feared her younger sister was too young to wield the edge of a divine sword. She feared even more that such a dazzling weapon would draw unwanted covetous eyes toward Yun Zhishu.

With parting imminent, she could wait no longer.

"Big Sister," Yun Zhishu lay sprawled along the edge of the forging table, her amber-gold eyes wide and round. "Are you really going to forge a sword for me?"

"Really." Yun Zhiyu did not look up as she adjusted the furnace temperature. "But promise your sister that until you reach Soul Elder rank, you won't reveal it lightly."

"Got it!"

The forging lasted five days. The boundlessness of the Primal Sword Embryo, the tyranny of Dragon-Patterned Purple Gold, and the purity of Lotus-Heart Ice Jade fused beneath the hammer into an extraordinary color, as though the primordial chaos of the world's birth and the holy clarity of a blooming lotus had been compressed within it.

The blade was slender and three tenths shorter than an ordinary sword, better suited to Yun Zhishu's still-growing frame. Fine golden lotus patterns were engraved along the sword ridge, echoing her martial soul from afar.

The most exquisite part was the Lotus-Heart Ice Jade in the hilt. Yun Zhiyu sealed a wisp of her own spiritual power inside it—not to control it, but to protect her. Should Yun Zhishu face a lethal crisis, that wisp of spiritual power would automatically activate, forming a brief shield.

"Violet Firmament," she named it softly. "Purple qi comes from the east, the imperial vault reigns over the heavens. May you be like this sword—both gentle and overbearing."

When Yun Zhishu took the sword, a golden lotus bloomed in her palm and resonated with the markings on the blade, producing a clear dragon's cry. She swung it twice, sword energy sweeping outward and leaving a shallow mark on the forging room wall.

"So amazing!" she cheered, throwing herself into her sister's arms. "Big Sister is the best!"

Yun Zhiyu held her, resting her chin atop her head. Her voice was as soft as a dream murmur. "Zhishu, Big Sister is leaving. I'm going to East Sea City, to... find some people."

Yun Zhishu's body stiffened.

"I know," she said gloomily, her voice carrying suppressed tears. "Big Sister told me. One year, and now it's here."

"Mm."

"Then... then when will you come back?"

Yun Zhiyu fell silent for a moment. In the original story, Tang Wulin had stayed in East Sea City for nine years before entering Shrek through various opportunities. That meant she would be away for at least three years, perhaps even longer.

"Soon," she finally said, her voice carrying a gentleness even she did not believe. "Big Sister promises that I'll think of you every day, and besides..."

She paused, pulled her sister out of her embrace, and looked seriously into her eyes. "Violet Firmament will stay with you. It contains Big Sister's spiritual power. It'll be like I'm always by your side."

Yun Zhishu bit her lip. Tears welled in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

She clenched the sword in her hand as if holding onto some promise, then nodded heavily. "Then Big Sister has to come back quickly! I want to show you my new Battle Armor design!"

"Alright." Yun Zhiyu smiled and rubbed her hair. "I'll wait for it."

The third was upgrading Yuan En's gauntlets.

Starshatter's predecessor had been the Dark Star Divine Punishment Gauntlets. Yun Zhiyu had planned to give them to Yuan En two years ago, but she had never found a suitable opportunity. Yuan En was too sensitive and too proud; giving them to her rashly would only make her uneasy.

With parting imminent, Yun Zhiyu placed the upgraded gauntlets in a corner of the forging room, as though they were merely some ordinary item she had casually set aside.

"Yuan En," she said without looking up as she continued hammering another piece of metal, "help me check the quality of that thing in the corner."

Yuan En walked over and picked up the gauntlets. Her grayish-white face changed instantly.

The boundlessness of Archaic Divine Iron, the strange unpredictability of Twin Chaos Demon Gold, and the original Dark Star Divine Punishment had fused together, forming a profound hue as though primordial antiquity and chaos had been compressed inside. The lightning patterns on the gauntlets' surface had completely come alive, flickering and pulsing with every infusion of soul power, as if thunderbolts were coursing beneath their skin.

"This is..." Her voice trembled.

"Starshatter." Yun Zhiyu finally looked up, amusement in her violet eyes. "Stars shatter, one fist tears the sky. It's perfect for your Titan Giant Ape strength."

"It's too precious..."

"Between friends," Yun Zhiyu interrupted, her voice calm yet firm, "there is no such thing as too precious."

Yuan En clenched the gauntlets, the fur on her knuckles standing on end. She remembered her lonely childhood, the indifferent faces in her clan, the pride and bitterness no one understood each time she threw a punch. Yet now, someone had forged a pair of gauntlets for her. It was not charity—it was, I understand your fists, and I understand your loneliness.

"...Thank you." She spoke softly, pressing the gauntlets to her chest as though holding a tiny heart.

The fourth was crafting a defensive soul device for Xu Lizhi.

Cold Prison was made from Life Azurewood Gold, Dragonblood Black Iron, and Nine-Heavens Divine Thunder Gold—three god-grade metals with entirely different attributes. Through Fusion Forging, they formed an extraordinary balance. Azurewood vitality, Dragonblood tyranny, and divine thunder destruction intertwined into a belt shimmering with dark golden light. Once worn, it could automatically form a shield to resist a lethal strike.

"Big Sister Zhiyu," Xu Lizhi said. His chubby face wore an honest smile, but it could not conceal the emotion in his eyes. "I-I'm from the food system... I don't need something this powerful..."

"Food-system soul masters need to protect themselves even more." Yun Zhiyu fastened the belt around his waist, her movements as practiced as if she were caring for a younger brother. "Your buns are meant to feed those who need them, not an enemy's blade. This Cold Prison can block one fatal calamity for you. Remember, once it blocks a hit, run. Don't try to act tough."

Xu Lizhi lowered his head to look at the dark golden belt around his waist, and his nose suddenly stung. He remembered the days when he had been mocked for being fat, the years when he had been looked down upon because he belonged to the food system, and the first time Ye Xinglan had drawn her sword for him, saying hoarsely, "Don't bully him."

And now, someone else was telling him to protect himself.

"...Mm." He nodded heavily, a brilliant smile spreading across his chubby face. "I will!"

The fifth was forging a spear for Na'er.

Heavenbreaker was made from Thunder-Prison Violet Lightning Gold, Undying Phoenixflame Iron, and Heavenfrost Flowing Silver—three god-grade metals of extreme attributes that formed an unstable yet explosively powerful balance through Fusion Forging.

The spear shaft was slender and five tenths shorter than an ordinary spear, better suited to Na'er's still-growing frame. The three colors at the spearhead intertwined—violet lightning, phoenix flame, and frost silver—as though three heavenly disasters had been compressed within it.

"Senior Sister," Na'er said as she accepted the spear, her silver eyes filled with complicated emotions. "I... my martial soul is the Silver Dragon Spear. This spear is too precious..."

"You are the most precious." Yun Zhiyu pressed the spear shaft into her palm. "If your soul power can form sword energy, then it can form spear radiance. Heavenbreaker is no ordinary spear. It can bear your Silver Dragon power and evolve along with the awakening of your bloodline."

She paused, looking into Na'er's silver eyes, her voice softening. "Na'er, you're stronger than anyone else. That strength is only sleeping for now. Heavenbreaker will stay with you until you awaken."

Na'er gripped the spear, feeling the pulse from its shaft resonate with her bloodline. Her eyes suddenly burned. She recalled the loneliness when she had first arrived, Yun Zhishu's challenge, the conflict that had nearly ended with both sides badly hurt, and their eventual reconciliation.

"Senior Sister," she said softly, "I'll become stronger. Strong enough to... stand by your side."

"Good." Yun Zhiyu smiled and rubbed her silver hair. "I'll wait for that."

The sixth was distributing cultivation techniques and soul devices.

She gave the Starfall Nine Heavens Sword Art obtained through system sign-ins to Ye Xinglan, the Thunderclap Mountainbreaker Fist to Yuan En, the Drifting Cloud Chasing Moon Spear Art to Na'er and her younger sister, and a copy of the Profound Heaven Technique—Advanced Chapter to Xu Lizhi—the latter being a deeper form of the Tang Sect's secret art, capable of making the circulation of a food-system soul master's soul power more harmonious.

"Practice every day," she instructed. "No slacking off."

"Got it—" everyone replied in unison, laughing.

The god-grade defensive soul devices were given separately to Yun Ming, Yali, Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, Long Yeyue, and Zhen Hua. They came in many forms—necklaces, bracelets, jade pendants, and rings—but their effects were the same: they would automatically activate during a lethal crisis, forming a god-grade shield capable of blocking a full-force strike from a Titled Douluo.

"Girl," Zhen Hua said as he accepted the ring embedded with Chaos Divine Gold, his voice trembling. "This... this is too precious."

"What Master taught me is a hundred times more precious than this." Yun Zhiyu bowed. "This disciple is traveling far away and cannot attend you at your side. Please take care of yourself, Master."

Zhuo Shi's eyes reddened, but he stiffened his neck and cursed, "You little brat, don't disgrace Shrek when you're out there!"

Feng Wuyu pressed the jade pendant to his chest. His beard stood straight up, but he could not say a word.

Long Yeyue leaned on her cane, her clouded eyes reflecting the faint radiance on the bracelet. After a long while, she sighed. "This old woman has lived nearly two hundred years, and this is the first time I've received a gift from a junior. Girl, Shrek will remember this kindness."

Yun Ming and Yali stood at the very end. Yali fastened the necklace around her neck, and the soul power of the Wish Angel resonated with the god-grade shield, giving off a warm, gentle glow. She looked at her daughter, her eyes slightly red, but her smile tender. "Zhiyu, remember to write once you get to East Sea City."

"One letter every week," Yun Zhiyu promised. "No, one every day."

"That won't be necessary." Yun Ming spoke in a low voice. "Cultivation comes first, but... at least one letter every month."

"Yes, Dad."

Yun Ming reached out and pulled his daughter into his arms. His embrace was broad and warm, carrying the faint roughness of calluses left by years of wielding a sword, yet it made one feel strangely safe.

Yun Zhiyu buried her face against her father's shoulder, breathing in that reassuring scent, and suddenly felt her eyes grow hot.

"Dad," she whispered, "I'll come back."

"I know." Yun Ming's voice carried a slight tremor. "So I'll wait."

On the night before departure, Yun Zhiyu sat alone in the forging room.

The furnace had gone cold. Moonlight poured through the high windows and spread silver-white across the floor. She sorted through the Star Hammer, the Moonlight Hammer, and the various items she had forged over the years, placing them one by one into a storage area specially opened within the system space.

In the corner still sat the lump of metal from her first failed Fusion Forging attempt. She picked it up and examined it beneath the moonlight. Its uneven surface glowed softly in the silver radiance.

"Failure is wealth too," she murmured, as if speaking to herself and also to some unseen presence.

Outside the window, the ripples of Sea God Lake reflected a sky full of stars. The lights of the Inner Court flickered in the distance, while the occasional cry of a night bird drifted over, like some silent farewell.

Yun Zhiyu rose and walked to the window. Her gaze crossed the lake and settled farther away, in the direction she was about to travel—East Sea City, that coastal city where countless legends would be born and countless regrets buried.

"Tang Wulin," she silently recited the name. "Gu Yue, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan..."

She remembered the ending of the original story, the regrets that had kept her awake night after night—Gu Yue, Tang Wulin's freezing, Shrek's destruction, the invasion of the Abyssal Plane, the regrets of the Six Monsters...

"This time..." She gripped the windowsill tightly, her knuckles turning white. "I will change all of it."

A faint sound came from behind her. Yun Zhiyu did not turn around, merely curving her lips. "Still not asleep?"

Yun Zhishu shuffled to her side. One side of her pajama tie had slipped loose again. She hugged the Violet Firmament Sword in her arms as if it were some protective talisman. Leaning against the windowsill, her amber-gold eyes reflected the moonlight, and the silver-white patterns in her pupils had become increasingly clear.

"Big Sister," she said quietly, "I dreamed again that you turned into a dragon and flew away. I couldn't catch up."

"It wasn't a dream." Yun Zhiyu pulled her into her arms. "Big Sister won't fly away. I'm only... going ahead to scout the road. Once I've found the way, I'll come back for all of you."

"Really?"

"Really. Pinky promise?"

"...Pinky promise."

Their little fingers hooked together and swayed beneath the moonlight. Yun Zhishu finally smiled, hugging the Violet Firmament Sword a little tighter, as though holding onto some promise.

"Big Sister," she suddenly said, "I'll become stronger. Strong enough to... catch up to your dragon."

Yun Zhiyu froze for a moment, then laughed and rubbed her sister's hair. "Alright, I'll wait."

Outside, a meteor streaked across the night sky, trailing a long tail of flame before vanishing in the direction of the Eastern Sea.

Yun Zhiyu looked up at the place where the meteor disappeared. The vertical slit in her violet eyes opened slightly, reflecting the countless stars overhead. It seemed like some ancient prophecy, yet also like fate's gentlest gift.

"Meteor," she murmured inwardly. "May you tear through the endless night and never fall."

And two days later, she would set out for East Sea City, to find those passionate young people and mend those fated regrets with her own hands.