It Was All in the Past

Back then, he was sunny and cheerful, and even his swordplay exuded youthful vigor.

When he smiles, he glows.

He and Long Bing knew each other since they entered school, cultivated together, grew up together, and their feelings for each other ran deep.

Everyone assumed that they would become a couple after graduation, creating another beautiful story at Shrek.

But then, things changed.

Long Bing's identity was exposed and he was arrested by the academy when he infiltrated Shrek Academy's database to steal secrets.

When the news spread, the entire Inner Court was in an uproar.

Nobody dared to believe it.

That gentle, smiling girl, that exceptionally talented ice-elemental genius, was actually a spy for the Holy Spirit Cult?

It turns out that Long Bing is the biological daughter of Dark Hummingbird, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Holy Spirit Cult.

She was not born Evil Soul Master; her Martial Soul was inherited from her mother.

The Dark Hummingbird used his daughter as an undercover agent, arranging her identity from a young age and sending her to the Shrek Academy to gather intelligence.

He enrolled at the same time as Wu Changkong, trained in the same class, and gradually made his way to the core of the Inner Court.

Everyone was kept in the dark.

Including Wu Changkong.

When Wu Changkong learned the truth, he went completely insane.

He didn't believe it.

He didn't believe that the girl who followed him around every day, whose eyes curved into crescent moons when she smiled, could be an undercover agent.

He didn't believe that all the tenderness they shared day and night was fake.

Ignoring his master Zhuo Shi's strong opposition and disregarding the academy's rules.

He insisted on taking Long Bing away from Shrek.

He gave up his promising future in the Inner Court, gave up his Shrek identity, and wanted nothing more.

He only wants her.

That night, he knocked out the guard and kidnapped Long Bing.

The two left Shrek City overnight.

He thought that as long as he left this place and found a secluded spot, he could live a peaceful life.

However, not long after the two left Shrek City, the Dark Hummingbird appeared and ambushed them.

The Four Heavenly Kings of the Holy Spirit Cult are ruthless and highly skilled.

The Dark Hummingbird sensed the deep affection between the two and immediately offered its terms.

As long as Wu Changkong returns to Shrek and obediently becomes an undercover agent for the Holy Spirit Cult, Long Bing will be allowed to be with him.

It can also guarantee his future success.

Wu Changkong, with his strong-willed personality, refused on the spot.

It's impossible for him to betray the academy and his master.

The Dark Hummingbird didn't say much and attacked directly.

Wu Changkong's cultivation level was far inferior to his opponent's at the time, and he was quickly seriously injured.

Just as the Dark Hummingbird was about to kill Wu Changkong, Long Bing rushed out.

She stood in front of Wu Changkong, taking the fatal attack for him.

The Dark Hummingbird watched its daughter fall, its eyes remaining completely still.

He gave it only a cold glance, then turned and fled.

It was as if the one lying on the ground was not her daughter.

The dying Long Bing collapsed into Wu Changkong's arms, his breath barely a whisper.

She confessed her entire background and hardships to Wu Changkong.

She said she has always been powerless to control her own destiny, that her path was predetermined from birth.

She said she never intended to hurt him, nor did she ever intend to hurt Shrek.

She said that the years she spent with him were the happiest days of her life.

Finally, she slowly closed her eyes in Wu Changkong's arms.

She never opened her eyes again.

The day Long Bing died, it snowed heavily.

Wu Changkong held her in his arms and sat in the snow for the entire night.

The next day, he carried Long Bing's body back to Shrek.

He handed over all the intelligence to the academy to atone for his mistakes.

He didn't utter a single word in his own defense.

The academy, mindful of his good intentions and with the protection of Elder Zhuo Shi, did not pursue his responsibility.

But he did not stay in the Inner Court any longer.

He voluntarily applied to leave Shrek City and come to the Eastsea Academy.

I became an ordinary teacher.

From that moment on, that sunny and cheerful genius boy disappeared.

In its place now stands a cold, aloof, and unsmiling white-clad swordsman.

He always carried a sword, spoke very little, and never had a smile on his face.

My whole being was like a pool of frozen water.

Living in that eternal pain.

The room remained quiet for a long time.

Shen Yi looked at Wu Changkong, his eyes slightly red.

She was young then and didn't understand many things.

Now that I'm older, looking back, I realize how much suffering my senior brother endured.

"Senior brother, so many years have passed."

Shen Yi spoke softly, his voice slightly hoarse.

"You... don't make things too hard on yourself."

Wu Changkong remained silent.

He turned to look out the window, his gaze falling on the distant sea.

The sea glowed with an orange-red light at dusk.

It looked just like the sunset that Long Bing loved to watch back then.

His eyes flickered, then quickly turned cold again.

"It's all in the past."

Those three simple words carried the weight of a stone.

Has it passed?

It won't be that easy to get through.

The person is gone, but the memories remain.

I dream about it every night.

I woke up to find the bedside empty.

Shen Yi sighed as he looked at him.

She knew that trying to persuade her was useless.

My senior brother has always been like this all these years.

Stubborn to the end.

She changed the subject.

"I'm leading a team to participate in this competition. I heard your college's Class Zero is quite interesting."

She remembered the boy who had led the way.

And then there's the genius named Bai Yushan, who's been making headlines at today's competition.

He kicked out Three-Ring Soul Elder, knocking him unconscious.

Could that boy who led the way be him?

Shen Yi pondered to himself.

If it really is him... then he's a monster.

So young, yet possessing terrifying combat power, and so unconventional.

I don't know how my senior taught him.

Wu Changkong heard the words "Class Zero," his eyes softened.

That gentleness was extremely subtle, like a spring breeze brushing across ice, fleeting and ephemeral. Yet, those who knew him well could tell that this was a rare display of emotion from him.

It can be said that he only truly understood what it felt like to be a teacher after he started teaching these Little Monster in Class Zero.

It was these children who stirred up some ripples in his otherwise lifeless days.

Watching them grow from clueless to stronger and more progressive little by little.

Watching them go from not being able to use their Soul Skill properly to now being able to stand on their own in the competition.

Even Wu Changkong's cold and hard heart slowly softened a little.

That's why he made up his mind.

We must take these exceptionally talented students to a higher level.

We can't let these promising talents be buried in this small Eastsea City.

Shen Yi suddenly asked, "Was that student from your Class Zero also in class?"

Wu Changkong immediately snapped out of his emotional reverie, "He, uh... he's a student in Class Zero, but he's not really related to me."

There's nothing I can do; I haven't taught him anything since he enrolled.

At most, we've only sparred a few times.

"Oh?"

Shen Yi frowned.

"Is there a better teacher than you, senior brother, at the Eastsea Academy?"

In her memory, her senior brother was a top genius in the Inner Court back then.

Even if his cultivation level has declined, teaching a group of intermediate-level students is still a piece of cake, isn't it?

Are there students he can't teach?

Wu Changkong shook his head.

"This kid is self-taught; his talent and good fortune seem to come naturally to him. I'm not qualified to teach him."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a genuine sense of approval.

Bai Yushan's skills were truly not something he could have learned through teaching.

His fighting spirit, his fighting style, and that fearless, crazy energy.

They're etched into our bones.