Chapter 83: The Longevity Gu
After Bei Bei's figure had vanished into the night, Mu En remained seated alone, his gaze resting on the two gifts Furina had bestowed upon him. The evening breeze gently stirred his graying hair and beard, and the moonlight draped a veil of silver over this fading Limit Douluo.
He carefully cradled the crystalline, translucent Longevity Gu in his hands, studying it intently beneath the moon's glow. A warm, gentle luster flowed across the gu worm's surface, and he could faintly sense the vast, surging life energy contained within it. A self-deprecating, bitter smile tugged at the corner of Mu En's lips. He had lived most of a lifetime, yet this was the first time he had ever laid eyes on such a miraculous object.
"Very well. Let me see for myself just what mysteries this so-called 'gu' holds." Mu En murmured softly to himself, then began to circulate the deep, profound soul power within his body.
Pale golden soul power, like a warm, gentle stream, slowly enveloped the Longevity Gu resting in his palm. To his surprise, the refining process went astonishingly smoothly. Bathed in his soul power, the gu worm gradually grew translucent, and finally dissolved into countless flecks of starlight that scattered into the air. At the same time, a current of pure, refined life energy flowed through his meridians and suffused his entire body.
In this single moment, Mu En felt with piercing clarity the subtle, wondrous changes occurring within his aging body. The flame of his life—which had been guttering like a candle in the wind—seemed to have been fed fresh oil, reigniting with renewed vitality. He closed his eyes and savored this long-lost sensation of vigor. Five years. Five full years of life!
"This... this is simply inconceivable." Mu En opened his eyes, an incredulous light shimmering in his pupils. He raised his trembling hands and found that even the age spots mottling his skin seemed to have faded and smoothed.
After the brief surge of elation, Mu En quickly regained his calm. He let out a soft sigh, his voice carrying a note of serene acceptance. "A man grows old, and in the end, dust returns to dust, ash to ash. To have these five years at all... is already a gift from heaven."
His gaze shifted to the other gift—the Golden Doughnut Vanilla Cake, still wafting its irresistibly enticing fragrance. Mu En carefully cut off a small piece and placed it into his mouth. The cake melted the instant it touched his tongue, its rich vanilla flavor blooming across his palate. Even more astonishing, a gentle wave of healing energy spread outward from it, slowly nourishing his damaged meridians.
What a pity, though—pure and refined as this energy was, for injuries as deep-seated and chronic as his, it was ultimately a mere drop in the ocean. Mu En could feel that after the energy had circulated once through his body, it dissipated within his ruined meridians. It could only slightly ease his pain—it was far from enough to cure the root of his old wounds.
"That young lady..." Mu En murmured thoughtfully, his fingers tracing the surface of the cake. "She must have known my identity and the extent of my injuries from the very beginning."
He quickly pieced together the logic behind it. Furina's gesture served two purposes at once: it was both an overture of goodwill and a display of the Church of the Water God's might. To be able to casually produce a miraculous gu worm capable of extending one's lifespan, as well as soul-skill-created food with such potent healing effects—the hidden reserves of the Church of the Water God were indeed unfathomable.
"An unprovoked kindness—it's rarely without ulterior motive," Mu En shook his head lightly, but there was no trace of anger in his eyes. After living so many years, he had long since seen through the ways of the world. As for Furina poaching talent at Shrek—he actually didn't oppose it. If the students could find better opportunities for growth within the Church of the Water God, was that not, in itself, a good thing?
At this thought, Mu En couldn't help feeling a touch of wistful reflection. Shrek Academy had endured for ten thousand years, and indeed, it had accumulated its fair share of stale customs and rigid conventions. The arrival of this outsider, Furina, might truly bring some fresh air to the academy. Even that Zhou Yi, infamous for her harsh severity—if someone could help her change for the better, that too would be no bad thing.
The night deepened. Mu En slowly rose to his feet and carefully wrapped up the remaining cake. Though it couldn't heal his wounds, this cake truly could ease his suffering. He would remember this kindness.
"Young people..." He gazed toward the direction of the dormitory building and let out a soft sigh. "Let me see, then, just what kind of storms you can stir up here at Shrek."
At the same time, in a certain room on the fourth floor of the female dormitory, Furina and Xiao Xiao were deep in animated, joyful conversation.
The two sat on the freshly tidied beds, and between them on the table were arranged an assortment of small pastries Furina had created with her soul skills. Lord Usher rested obediently on Furina's lap; Madame Hevmayer drifted gracefully through the air, the bubbles she blew refracting rainbow light beneath the lamps; Mademoiselle Chevaleyda stood silent guard by the door.
"So you came to Shrek because of your family's expectations?" Furina gently stroked one of Lord Usher's tendrils, her voice warm and soft.
Xiao Xiao nodded, a trace of bewildered uncertainty in her eyes. "Everyone in my family says Shrek is the foremost academy on the continent—that only by studying here can one truly make something of oneself. But..." She hesitated, and her voice grew quieter. "Sometimes I wonder... is this really what I want?"
Furina didn't answer right away. Instead, she handed her a delicate piece of blueberry cake. "Try this first. It's made with my second soul skill. It can lift your spirits."
Xiao Xiao accepted the cake and took a small, tentative bite. A look of delighted surprise quickly bloomed on her face. "It's true! I feel so much lighter and more at ease!"
"Everyone has their own path to walk," Furina said with a smile. "What's important is finding the direction that truly suits you."
In the relaxed, pleasant atmosphere, Xiao Xiao gradually opened her heart. She even revealed the secret that she possessed twin martial souls. After saying it, she looked at Furina with some nervousness, as if worried this revelation might startle her.
"So you're a twin martial soul possessor too!" Furina displayed just the right measure of surprise—not overly dramatic, yet perfectly genuine.
Xiao Xiao lowered her head bashfully. "Yes, but it's nothing compared to yours. I'm only two-ringed, while you're already a four-ringed soul master—and a food-type soul master at that! Everyone knows food-type support soul masters have the slowest cultivation speed. You don't look much older than me, Furina, yet you've already reached four rings at such a young age. It's truly incredible."
Furina let out a soft laugh, her azure eyes shimmering with a knowing light beneath the lamps. "It's all thanks to having the right cultivation techniques and resources. With the Phoenix Chant Tome I've given you, along with the Profound Water Pills and Soul Ascension Pill, I believe you'll break through to three rings in no time."
"Really?" Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up, but then hesitation crept back in. "But still... these gifts are simply too precious..."
"Between friends, nothing is too precious," Furina cut her off, her voice brimming with sincerity. "All I want is to see every talented person reach their fullest potential."
Her tone shifted, and her expression grew serious. "So—whatever you do, don't even think about casually attaching a random soul ring to your second martial soul just to draw attention. That kind of behavior doesn't just waste your talent—it's an act of irresponsibility toward your own life."
At these words, a look of astonishment surfaced on Xiao Xiao's face, as if a hidden thought deep in her heart had been laid bare. She fell silent for a long moment, then finally nodded with solemn gravity. "Thank you for warning me, Furina. I... I did have thoughts like that. But now I know better. I won't do anything so foolish again."
Moonlight streamed through the window, draping the two newly acquainted roommates in a soft, silvery veil. Looking at the innocent, kind-hearted girl before her, Furina silently made a vow deep in her heart—in this life, she would never let Xiao Xiao repeat the tragic missteps of the original story.
"Alright, it's getting late." Furina rose to her feet and stretched. "Cultivation is important, but balancing work with rest is the true path. Get a good night's sleep tonight. Tomorrow, I'll take you to sample Yuhao's cooking. I guarantee it'll open your eyes."
Xiao Xiao nodded happily and began tidying her bed. Just as she turned away, she said softly, "Furina... I'm really glad I met you."
Furina smiled faintly and gave no reply. But she knew, deep within, that in this strange and unfamiliar world, she was slowly, steadily weaving the bonds that would become her own. And these bonds, in time, would become the force that changed this world.
The night deepened. The lights in the dormitory building winked out one by one. On this ordinary, unremarkable night, the fates of many were quietly, irrevocably beginning to shift.