At the Sea God Pavilion Meeting, the elders sat quietly in their assigned places around the table, waiting for Mu En to speak first.
But more than Mu En, their gazes were drawn to the young figure beside him.
Mu Yueye sat beside Mu En, studying the elders in turn.
Shrek's requirements for joining the Sea God Pavilion were unusual: membership depended on one's contributions to the academy as a whole. Thus, there were old and young members, good and evil ones.
But none were truly weak.
Mu En had brought Mu Yueye to sit in on the Sea God Pavilion Meeting, even giving him some say, so he could first get to know the people there.
The Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy was responsible for handling affairs. Being a fierce fighter was a basic requirement.
But being fierce in battle alone could only make one another Xuan Zi, a deputy pavilion master. To truly hold power, one had to know how to handle affairs.
Mu Yueye naturally knew why Mu En had brought him, and he did not disappoint Mu En's painstaking efforts. He had been quietly observing the elders all along.
The elders also understood Mu En's intentions, and none were blind enough to question Mu Yueye's place there. Once everyone was seated, Mu En looked around at them.
"I trust everyone knows the purpose of this meeting. Something has happened to the Tang Sect. The Iron Blood Sect joined forces with the Heaven Dou City garrison and destroyed it. Only a young girl remains alive."
After Mu En finished, the elders fell silent. They all looked down on the Tang Sect, but none dared say outright that they should leave it alone.
After all, a stone statue of its founding patriarch stood in the plaza. He had been the core and soul of the Shrek Seven Devils, the highest honor for a student of Shrek Academy.
More than half the people present had held that title. Denying the first generation would also diminish the value of their own honor.
But Shrek Academy had always held up neutrality as its banner, so it naturally could not intervene too directly in an affair between sects.
Especially since the Heaven Dou City garrison was also involved, a force aligned with the empire's authorities.
Shrek was not afraid of these forces, but was weighing the risk of tarnishing Shrek Academy's reputation for neutrality for the Tang Sect's sake.
Whether that bargain was worthwhile was another question.
At that moment, Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department and an influential elder among Mu En's closest associates, was the first to speak.
"Teacher, I think it would be rather inappropriate for us to ignore this matter entirely."
As Yan Shaozhe spoke, he watched Mu En's movements. Seeing no change in his expression, he continued.
"As it happens, the girl is around seven or eight years old, barely old enough to join Shrek Academy. The Tang Sect already has an admission slot exempt from the entrance exam."
As soon as Yan Shaozhe finished, several elders nodded in agreement. At that moment, however, Mu Yueye raised his hand.
Yan Shaozhe and Mu En turned their gazes to Mu Yueye almost simultaneously. Mu En coughed lightly, then spoke with a show of gravity.
"Ahem, you have no objections to letting the junior observing us say a few words, do you?"
The response to Mu En was a round of cooperative applause and a few encouraging pleasantries. Mu Yueye spoke.
"Dean Yan's suggestion is excellent. It does avoid most of the risks to the academy, but Dean Yan has overlooked the fact that this is a perverse sect obsessed with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul."
Mu Yueye pointed at his head as he spoke, then continued.
"They may not think the same way we do. So if we handle this matter, we have to cover every angle. Otherwise, they won't appreciate it."
After Mu Yueye finished, Xuan Zi said in some surprise,
"Could there really be someone in this world who can't tell kindness from malice? We help her, and she still won't be grateful?"
Thinking of the way Tang Ya had thought in the original story from his previous life, Mu Yueye snorted.
"Who knows? She might even think we could clearly have helped the Tang Sect take revenge, but stood by and did nothing."
Mu Yueye's words immediately brought troubled looks to the elders' faces, and they began whispering among themselves.
Mu Yueye then said,
"I know that quite a few people still believe I'm only sitting here because of my connections."
Mu Yueye addressed the elders.
"How about this? I'll take full responsibility for this matter and handle the Tang Sect's affairs."
"What do you all think?"
The elders looked at one another, evidently not yet having returned to the matter at hand after Mu Yueye's remarks.
Just as the elders hesitated to make a decision, Mu En spoke again.
"In terms of Soul Power cultivation, Xiao Ye is already a level forty-two Soul Ancestor. Back in ancient times, he would have been qualified to found his own sect. I suggest we give Xiao Ye a chance."
As the current Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy and the pillar holding it steady, Mu En's word naturally carried enormous weight. The elders who had harbored doubts all began to applaud.
Mu En nodded. With just a meeting of gazes, the applause died away in an orderly fashion. He then looked at Yan Shaozhe and said,
"Shaozhe, follow Xiao Ye and deal with this matter. Remember, unless Xiao Ye's personal safety is at stake, you are not to intervene."
Yan Shaozhe nodded in agreement. With that, the Sea God Pavilion Meeting, prompted by the Tang Sect's letter pleading for help, came to a satisfactory end.
After the meeting, Yan Shaozhe followed Mu Yueye into his room and closed the door. Then he said,
"Xiao Ye, you were too impulsive at the Sea God Pavilion Meeting just now."
Mu Yueye merely smiled, then said to Yan Shaozhe,
"Senior brother, are you blaming me?"
Yan Shaozhe's expression immediately darkened. He looked at Mu Yueye and said seriously,
"What are you saying, Xiao Ye? We martial brothers will always stand together. Besides, you didn't say anything wrong. You only raised your concerns."
Mu Yueye smiled, poured Yan Shaozhe a cup of tea, then whispered a few words in his ear.
Yan Shaozhe's robust frame jolted when he heard them. He looked at Mu Yueye hesitantly and said,
"Th-this, didn't Teacher forbid it? Didn't he say I wasn't allowed to intervene?"
Mu Yueye sighed and looked at Yan Shaozhe.
"While I'm handling the matter, someone has to take care of the little things, or the things I can't conveniently do myself, right? Even if you don't help me, you can just find some people to help me."
Yan Shaozhe nodded helplessly, then said,
"My junior brother, you really are... Only you could get away with this. If anyone else wanted to order me around to do something like this, they'd have to wait until their next life."
Mu Yueye smiled and nodded to Yan Shaozhe, thanking him. Yan Shaozhe waved a hand at him, then left the room.
Meanwhile, in a small city near Shrek, a young girl rubbed her hands together inside an empty house, muttering to herself,
Why hasn't Shrek Academy sent anyone yet? The people from the Iron Blood Sect...
Tang Ya clenched her fists and muttered through gritted teeth. At the same time, she looked outside through the window, a trace of purple appearing in her eyes...