Traces of Tang Hao and His Son!

The next second, Cao Kun rose and walked to the window, looking toward Shrek Academy.

Night had fallen completely. Only a few scattered lights shone across the academy, looking especially lonely in the darkness.

Mount Buzhou's reach was quietly extending outward, with Shrek Academy as its starting point.

And all of this had only just begun.

In the side room, Zhu Zhuqing gave Xiao Wu a brief introduction to the layout of Buzhou Retreat and a few basic rules.

She explained which places were off-limits and some of the young master's habits.

Her tone was matter-of-fact. She offered little comfort and made no attempt to seem close, simply going through what needed to be said.

Xiao Wu listened silently, nodding now and then, her eyes still hollow.

"Your room is here. Mine is next door."

Zhu Zhuqing pushed open a door. The furnishings inside were simple, but everything was clean and tidy. The bedding was new and carried a faint scent of sunshine.

"If you need anything, you can tell me."

"The young master's methods are... well, rather direct. But as long as we don't cross his bottom line, he won't treat us harshly."

"Look at me and Yan'er. We're both doing fine, aren't we?"

"Besides, you grow stronger quickly under the young master!"

"I've only been here a few days, and I'm already level thirty!"

It was rare for her to say so much. She seemed to be trying to comfort this pitiful-looking new "companion."

Xiao Wu looked up at Zhu Zhuqing, then quickly lowered her head again. "Thank you... Zhu Zhuqing," she whispered.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "Get some rest. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you what you need to do as a maid, as well as... any training tasks the young master might assign you."

She paused, then added, "Loyalty isn't the only thing that matters here. Strength matters too. The young master doesn't like useless people."

With that, she turned and left, gently closing the door behind her.

Xiao Wu stood alone in the empty room and looked around.

An unfamiliar place, an unfamiliar role, an unfamiliar future... It all left her terrified and alone.

She went to the bed and slowly sat down, wrapping her arms around her knees and burying her face in them.

Tears streamed down her cheeks again, soundlessly.

Third Brother... Where are you? Are you really... the way he said you are? she cried out silently, overwhelmed by pain and confusion.

Cao Kun's words echoed through her mind like a curse.

Tang San's father was a Titled Douluo who had hunted down his wife, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form... Did Tang San know?

Had he had another reason for being kind to her?

She did not want to believe that the Third Brother who protected and indulged her, who made her feel warm and safe, could be that kind of person.

But... Cao Kun had sounded so certain. He knew so many secrets, and he was so powerful that he had no reason to lie to her...

Once trust cracked, it was hard to make it whole again.

Worse still, she had lost her freedom. Even her soul bore someone else's brand.

Da Ming... Er Ming... She thought of her two companions deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, and sorrow and worry welled up in her heart.

Was Cao Kun telling the truth when he said he would protect them?

Or was that just another lie to control her?

Countless tangled thoughts collided in her head until it felt ready to split apart.

She did not know how long it took for her tears to run dry, leaving only numb exhaustion.

She raised her head and gazed at the black sky beyond the window, where a few sparse stars glimmered faintly.

"Stay alive... First, I have to stay alive..." she murmured. A faint but resolute light appeared in her eyes.

As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form, she had endured countless hardships to reach this day. The will to live was etched into her bones.

No matter how dark the road ahead, no matter how humiliating her life became, she would survive!

Only by staying alive could she have hope, protect those she wanted to protect, and perhaps... uncover the truth.

She wiped the tears from her face, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down.

Since she could not change what had happened, she could only accept it, then... try to adapt and look for a chance.

"Cao Kun... Young Master..." She whispered the new form of address, her feelings tangled beyond measure.

Fear, hatred, helplessness—and, without even realizing it, an instinctive awe of overwhelming power and... a faint longing for "protection."

The night grew deeper.

The little courtyard on Shrek Academy's Back Mountain had gained another resident, along with another secret known to no one else.

Far away in the darkness, Tang Hao was leading the blind Tang San down a road fraught with danger and uncertainty.

Yu Xiaogang, for all his "deep devotion," was also nearing the brink of darkness.

With one flap of Cao Kun's "butterfly" wings, the gears of fate had slipped from their original course and begun turning toward a far more uncertain future.

Nothing was the same anymore!

Time passed, and another three days went by in the blink of an eye.

It had been ten days since Tang San lost his sight, and five since he and Yu Xiaogang quietly left Shrek Academy.

After the initial panic and a fruitless search, Shrek Academy gradually regained its outward calm. Yet an oppressive air still hung over it.

Flender and Zhao Wuji continued to quietly call on their limited contacts and resources to investigate, but they found little.

On the Back Mountain, Buzhou Retreat was peaceful and serene, as though untouched by the turmoil outside.

In the courtyard, beneath the pavilion.

Cao Kun reclined in a rosewood chair with his eyes closed. His breathing was slow and steady, as if he had become one with the spiritual energy of the plants around him.

Dugu Yan stood quietly beside him in a pale green dress, her emerald eyes lowered and her posture respectful.

"Young Master."

Dugu Yan spoke softly. "Our scouts have sent word. They've found the approximate whereabouts of Tang Hao, Tang San, and Yu Xiaogang."

Cao Kun's lashes stirred. He slowly opened his eyes, the morning light reflected in their depths. His expression remained calm. "Go on."

"Yes."

Dugu Yan stepped forward and began, "After comparing reports from several points along their routes, we've confirmed that Yu Xiaogang did not travel with Tang Hao and his son after leaving Suotuo City."

"He changed his clothes and set out alone toward the Heaven Dou Imperial Capital. He's taking a concealed route and appears to be deliberately avoiding the eyes of the major powers."

"His purpose... remains unclear. We suspect it may have something to do with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, or that he's seeking some unorthodox remedy for blindness."

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Capital?"

A faint, amused smile curved Cao Kun's lips. "It seems our 'Grandmaster' wants to go 'home' now that he's desperate. Or perhaps... he hopes to borrow his family's strength?"

"Unfortunately, given his awkward standing in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and his meager strength, I doubt he can stir up much trouble."

"Still, keep an eye on him. Let's see what he tries."

"Yes."

Dugu Yan made a note of it and continued, "As for Tang Hao and Tang San, they headed north after leaving Suotuo City. Their movements have been even harder to trace. They've changed routes repeatedly and even passed through areas crowded with Soul Beasts to mask their presence."

"But after weighing all the reports, our scouts believe their final destination is most likely... Slaughter City."