Mu En's Thunder decisions in the Sea God Pavilion were never impulsive favoritism. They came from a lifetime of reflection and a clear-eyed understanding of the ills that had taken root in Shrek Academy over ten thousand years.
The rot within Shrek had sunk too deep: its leaders clung to old ways, its factions tore at one another, its geniuses were shackled by outdated rules, and its vision reached no farther than its own corner of the world.
The ten-thousand-year-old sacred institution appeared to shine with boundless glory, but in truth, it had long since stopped moving forward. It could no longer keep pace with the upheavals sweeping the continent, much less hold back the Sun Moon Empire's growing ambitions.
Huo Yuhao was a chance for change that came once in ten thousand. He was the only person with the courage to break the old order and remake Shrek.
As long as Huo Yuhao remained at the academy, Mu En would never let go!
Even if every senior official questioned him, even if he earned a reputation for stubbornly shielding his own, he would clear a path for the boy. Through Huo Yuhao, he would fight to give the aging Shrek a new life.
Since Huo Yuhao had no intention of leaving yet, Mu En would use the time the boy spent at the academy to Sweep away obstacles with his own hands, remake its rules, strip out the rot, and transform the decaying old Shrek into a wholly new Shrek Academy.
The night passed in a blink.
At dawn, faint light fell over Shrek Outer Court. Thin mist curled around its ancient trees, and flecks of morning light covered the old bluestone paths.
A sleek silver Maglev Express cut through the air and came to a smooth stop outside