With the Inspection Corps no longer hunting them down, how much could the Holy Spirit Cult do without restraint over the next year?
How many innocent people would die because of it?
Xuan Zi did not dare think any further.
But when he thought of Bei Bei waiting desperately in the Sea God Pavilion, and of Mu En nearing the end of his life, he knew he had no choice.
He could only tell himself over and over: Save Tang Ya's mind first. Shrek can find a way to make up for the rest later.
The night wind blew past.
Xuan Zi's hunched back seemed to have aged a few more years.
Before leaving, he took one last look at Tang Ya, unconscious and slung over Zhang Peng's shoulder.
Then he turned resolutely and shot through the air toward Shrek Academy in a streak of ocher light.
After Xuan Zi left, Zhongli Wu wasted no time. He had Zhang Peng carry the unconscious Tang Ya back to the Ming Capital Sub-altar that very night.
Feng Ling was waiting in the Underground Hall. When she saw that they had brought Tang Ya back safely, her taut nerves finally relaxed.
Zhongli Wu briefly asked about the area around the Branch Altar. Once he confirmed that Xuan Zi had not discovered the hidden stronghold's location during the pursuit, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Wake her." Zhongli Wu glanced at Tang Ya, who had been thrown onto the floor.
A wisp of black energy sprang from Zhang Peng's fingertip and pierced one of Tang Ya's acupoints.
Tang Ya groaned and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Zhongli Wu, Feng Ling, and Gu Mingyuan standing around her, the faint hope Xuan Zi had given her plunged into icy despair.
She braced a hand against