Xuan Zi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, only to discover that he could not give a definite answer.
Of course he wanted to say they could withstand it.
He believed in Shrek, in those children, and in the foundations built on the academy's thousand-year legacy.
But after seeing Lu Ren with his own eyes, the shock that boy had left deep within him was like a thorn he could never pull out.
In the end, Xuan Zi still wore a confident expression as he said with utter conviction:
"We'll win."
"Every one of our Shrek Seven Devils was handpicked from thousands, weren't they? These children's talents would be among the very best in any generation."
"No matter how strong Lu Ren is on his own, can he beat seven people working together? Can he surpass Shrek's foundations of several thousand years?"
These words made quite a few pavilion elders nod slightly.
But Elder Song did not respond. She simply watched Xuan Zi quietly.
Xuan Zi spoke again:
"I'll personally oversee this generation's preparations for the tournament. Starting today, those children's training intensity will be doubled."
He raised his head, a rare fighting spirit kindling in his cloudy eyes.
"Shrek's glory cannot be lost in my hands."
"Xuan Zi, so you..."
Mu En finally spoke.
The Dragon God Douluo, who had remained silent all this time, had been leaning against his chair throughout, his eyelids lowered as though he were asleep.
Only now did he slowly open his eyes.
There was no anger or reproach in those dim, yellowed eyes, only a calm that sent a chill down Xuan Zi's spine.
"You personally went to the Sun Moon Empire, found that child, negotiated terms with him, made a wager, and then came back empty-handed."
Mu En's voice was aged and slow, like wind blowing across a dried-up riverbed.
"In the end, not only did you fail to bring him back, but he also maneuvered you precisely where he wanted you, leaving you saddled with a binding vow and owing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone."
He paused, his gaze settling on Xuan Zi's face.
"Xuan Zi, what was it you said back then?"
"'I'll go personally. Even if he hides at the ends of the earth, deep within the Sun Moon Empire, I'll drag him out and get to the bottom of this.'"
Mu En's tone did not fluctuate. He merely repeated Xuan Zi's original words exactly.
But it was precisely this emotionless repetition that made Xuan Zi's face turn so red it seemed about to drip blood.
The other pavilion elders lowered their heads, their shoulders trembling slightly.
Holding back laughter was a skill.
"Mu En..."
Xuan Zi struggled to speak, a hint of pleading in his voice.
Mu En gently shook his head.
Rather than continuing to reproach Xuan Zi, he slowly looked around at the pavilion elders present.
"Everyone."
His voice was not loud, but every word reached everyone's ears clearly.
"I would like to ask you a question."
"That child said he had an extremely poor impression of Shrek."
"He said that in the Star Dou Great Forest, he encountered our students throwing their weight around and stealing his prey."
"He said Shrek was no longer the Shrek of ten thousand years ago, and that we had instead become complacent, arrogant, and conceited."
Mu En's gaze slowly passed over each pavilion elder's face.
"How much truth do you think there is in those words?"
A long silence fell over the council chamber.
No one answered.
Because everyone vaguely knew the answer in their hearts.
"You shouldn't criticize Xuan Zi, either. Given the situation there, had any of you been in his place, you probably couldn't have endured that child's provocations and would have arrogantly and conceitedly made a wager with him, wouldn't you?"
"So don't be the ones who fled fifty paces laughing at the one who fled a hundred. Even if Xuan Zi hadn't gone and you had gone instead, you might have fallen for it too."
Mu En spoke calmly.
"Why? Naturally, because he understands your mentality and knows what you're thinking."
"What's more, that child's talent surpasses even that of our ancestor Tang San from ten thousand years ago."
"A genius like that should originally have been one of us at Shrek, yet he would rather run off to the Sun Moon Empire and help a group of Soul Engineers compete."
"So, why is that?"
Mu En paused, his tone as calm as still water:
"Because he doesn't trust us."
"Because in his eyes, Shrek isn't worthy of his trust."
Mu En's gaze finally settled on Xuan Zi.
"Xuan Zi, rather than recruiting him, your visit this time only confirmed his opinion."
"You used a Titled Douluo's pressure to suppress a four-ring child. The moment you opened your mouth, you called them a bunch of trash Soul Engineers. From beginning to end, you never truly treated him as an opponent worthy of respect. Instead, you belittled and suppressed him."
"You only wanted to drag him back, but you never took him seriously at all."
"Let me ask you: did you ever once look him squarely in the eye, from beginning to end?"
"Rather, it is precisely because of this that you are paying the price now."
Xuan Zi stiffened slightly.
He wanted to argue, to say that he cherished talent and wanted to secure this genius for Shrek.
But when the words reached his lips, he could not utter a single one.
Because he knew Mu En was right.
From beginning to end, he had never truly respected Lu Ren.
He had treated him as a child who needed correcting, a genius who needed winning over, a bargaining chip that could be bought with more generous terms.
Yet he had never considered why that boy should accept any of it.
The council chamber remained quiet for a long time.
In the end, Xuan Zi broke the silence.
He stood up and bowed deeply to Mu En.
"Mu En, this was my fault."
His voice was hoarse, yet carried a seriousness it had never held before.
"But things have already come to this. The wager has been made, and the binding vow has taken effect."
"It's too late to say anything now."
He straightened, his gaze sweeping over every pavilion elder present.
"Shrek must win this tournament."
"Not for that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, but for Shrek's glory, and also..."
He paused, his voice growing low.
"To let that child know that Shrek is still a place worth coming to."
Mu En looked at him and remained silent for a long time.
Then the Dragon God Douluo slowly nodded.
"Go. I'll leave this generation's children in your hands."
"Don't let them down."
"And don't let that child... look down on Shrek."
Xuan Zi nodded firmly.
He turned and strode out the door.
His retreating figure was still slovenly, but his steps were far more resolute than when he had arrived.
Inside the council chamber, the pavilion elders exchanged glances.
Elder Song leaned against her chair, looking in the direction where Xuan Zi had disappeared, the corners of her mouth lifting into a faint, complicated curve.
"That fellow is taking things seriously for once."
She picked up her teacup and gently blew on the foam floating on top.
"But then again..."
She turned toward Mu En, a meaningful look in her eyes.
"Mu En, you just said that child has a poor impression of Shrek... but why do I feel as though you aren't worried at all?"
Mu En did not answer.
He simply leaned against his chair and slowly closed his eyes.
The faintest trace of a smile seemed to appear on his aged face.
As though he had thought of something interesting.
Before you continue