After a month on the road, Tang Ya had endured many hardships and finally reached Shrek City. After asking around, she eventually arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy.
"Little girl, who are you looking for? If you're here to enroll at Shrek Academy, you're a little early. Registration for new students won't begin for another two months," the gatekeeper of Shrek Academy kindly reminded her.
Tang Ya's eyes were filled with tears. She had no idea whom she should look for at Shrek Academy, so she could only say, "I'm here to see Shrek Academy. Sorry for the trouble, but please announce that Tang Ya, daughter of the Tang Sect's sect master, requests an audience with Shrek Academy."
"The Tang Sect? Which teacher or dean are you looking for, exactly? You need to give us someone specific," the gatekeeper patiently explained.
"I don't know." Tears streamed down Tang Ya's face in her distress. Although she was the daughter of the Tang Sect's sect master, the Tang Sect had long since declined, with neither money nor influence. Although the Clear Sky Sect and Shrek Academy had historical ties to the Tang Sect, as the Tang Sect declined, the two sides had long since ceased to stand on the same level and had almost entirely cut off contact.
"What's wrong?" Just then, a handsome boy walked up outside Shrek Academy's gates.
"Oh, Young Master Bei Bei! You're back from your stroll around Shrek City?" the gatekeeper hurriedly said.
"Yes. What's going on here? Why are you bullying a little girl?" Bei Bei asked.
"Young Master Bei Bei, we weren't bullying her! We've been wronged!" the gatekeeper hurriedly explained.
Hearing a boy asking about her, Tang Ya wiped away her tears and turned to look at him.
Tang Ya's delicate features, her spirited ponytail, and her strong, stubborn gaze made Bei Bei's heart pound at just one glance.
Bei Bei hurriedly said, "Miss, what brings you to Shrek Academy? I know quite a few people here. Perhaps I can help you."
"I'm Tang Ya, daughter of the Tang Sect's sect master. A great calamity befell our Tang Sect. We were attacked by surprise, and I was the only one who escaped. I came here to seek Shrek Academy's help." With tears in her eyes, Tang Ya explained what had happened.
Bei Bei naturally knew of the Tang Sect, as well as the Clear Sky Sect. He stepped forward and said gently to Tang Ya, quite the gentleman, "Tang Ya, come with me, then. I'll take you inside."
"All right. Thank you," Tang Ya said gratefully. Hearing her gratitude, Bei Bei felt very happy.
Bei Bei did not know how he should arrange things for Tang Ya, so he took her straight to Sea God Island and arrived outside the Sea God Pavilion.
Bei Bei looked at Tang Ya and said, "Tang Ya, wait a moment. I'll go report this." Tang Ya wondered just how much power this boy named Bei Bei possessed. He was clearly about her age, yet he could take her straight into Shrek Academy's core area.
Soon, Bei Bei met his great-great-grandfather, Mu En, inside the Sea God Pavilion. He hurried forward and said, "Greetings, Great-Great-Grandfather."
"Bei Bei, why have you come straight to the Sea God Pavilion to see your great-great-grandfather today? Have you encountered some problem with your cultivation?"
"No, Great-Great-Grandfather. It's just that I met Tang Ya, the daughter of the Tang Sect's sect master, at the academy gates today. Their Tang Sect was attacked by surprise, and she's come to seek aid from Shrek Academy," Bei Bei explained.
"Yes, I know about that. More than twenty days ago, our Shrek Academy received word from Heaven Dou City that the Iron Blood Sect had launched a surprise attack on the Tang Sect. Every one of the Tang Sect's twenty-odd members was slaughtered by the Iron Blood Sect," Mu En said.
Seeing that Mu En actually knew about it, Bei Bei said anxiously, "Then, Great-Great-Grandfather, we have to avenge Tang Ya's father and mother and the entire Tang Sect!"
Mu En looked at his foolish great-great-grandson, very much wanting to tell him that now that the Tang Sect had been wiped out, what benefit could a little girl like Tang Ya offer if they avenged it? Instead, it would damage Shrek Academy's image of neutrality and noninvolvement in disputes between schools and sects.
But Mu En could not tell Bei Bei that directly. In his heart, Shrek Academy always came first, and he could not tarnish Shrek's image in people's minds.
"Bei Bei, you must understand that our Shrek Academy is simply an academy. We remain forever neutral and do not intervene in any struggles between schools or sects."
Bei Bei looked at Mu En in shock. He had not expected Mu En to refuse to help the Tang Sect. He asked, "Great-Great-Grandfather, is that your opinion, or the opinion of the Sea God Pavilion Meeting?"
"This is my opinion. I believe the elders of the Sea God Pavilion would naturally share it."
Bei Bei said stubbornly, "Great-Great-Grandfather, I don't believe it. How could our Shrek Academy abandon the Tang Sect like this?"
Mu En had not expected the normally mild-tempered Bei Bei to act this way. Somewhat angry himself, he said, "Then what do you want to do?"
"I, I..." Bei Bei suddenly found himself at a loss for words. Although he was Mu En's great-great-grandson, he was ultimately still only a boy in his teens. The Sea God Pavilion could not possibly convene a Sea God Pavilion Meeting for him or Tang Ya.
Looking at Bei Bei's dejected expression, Mu En said, "Go arrange somewhere for this Tang Ya to stay. Since she has already come to Shrek Academy, we can't drive her away. The intelligence says Tang Ya is almost twelve. Arrange for her to enroll in two months."
Bei Bei said hesitantly, "Great-Great-Grandfather, that might not work."
"What is it now?" Mu En asked, somewhat angrily.
"Tang Ya hasn't reached rank fifteen yet."
"All right, all right, all right. Here's what we'll do. Tell Yan Shaozhe that from now on, Shrek Academy will give the Tang Sect one special admission slot every year, regardless of strength. As for Tang Ya recruiting people within the academy, don't stop her either. That will count as our contribution to helping the Tang Sect recover."
"Yes, Great-Great-Grandfather." After answering, Bei Bei left the Sea God Pavilion.
When Bei Bei came outside the Sea God Pavilion, he saw Tang Ya anxiously waiting for the result. He approached and said apologetically, "Tang Ya, I'm sorry. Shrek Academy is an academy, and it's neutral. It cannot directly participate in disputes between schools and sects."
After hearing this, Tang Ya felt the heavens spin and the earth reel. She had endured a thousand hardships over a month to reach Shrek Academy, only to receive this unexpected result.
"Tang Ya, don't panic. Although the academy can't intervene directly, it won't stop you from recruiting any of its students into your Tang Sect." Then Bei Bei explained the terms Mu En had offered to Tang Ya, one by one.
After listening, Tang Ya steadied herself and said, "Thank you, Bei Bei. Without you today, I might not even have made it through Shrek Academy's gates."
Bei Bei shook his head repeatedly. "It was nothing."
Tang Ya suddenly reached out, caught Bei Bei's sleeve, and asked pitifully, "Bei Bei, thank you. Would you be willing to join our Tang Sect?"
"Of course I would," Bei Bei said without hesitation.
Tang Ya suddenly stepped forward and hugged Bei Bei, as though she had found a sense of security all at once. That embrace also made Bei Bei feel that everything had been worth it.
After a long while, Tang Ya released him and said, "I'm sorry, Bei Bei."
"No, Xiao Ya. As long as you want me to, I'll always support you."
"Thank you. Then, Bei Bei, could you introduce me to some powerful students? I want to strengthen the Tang Sect as soon as possible," Tang Ya said earnestly.
Bei Bei thought for a moment and said, "I've got it. Our inner court's famous Senior Bing Ling is in the inner court right now. I'll take you to him."