Shrek City, Counterfeit Shrek Academy.
It was afternoon, and the sun shone on the streets, yet there was an indescribable heat in the air.
Tang Ya stood quietly by the courtyard path, her gaze fixed on the figure sitting on a long bench not far away.
That was Bei Bei, the person closest to her. But at this moment, Bei Bei's face, which usually carried a gentle smile like that of an elegant gentleman, was filled with an impenetrable melancholy.
Ever since Bei Bei returned with Mu En and the others from that Shrek Academy suspended thousands of meters in the sky, his mood seemed to worsen day by day.
Tang Ya saw it and felt the pain in her heart.
She slowly walked over and asked softly.
"Bei Bei, what's wrong? You've been distracted ever since you came back."
Bei Bei's body stiffened slightly, as if startled awake. He looked up at Tang Ya and forced a smile.
"Xiaoya, I'm fine. Maybe I'm just too tired recently. A little rest will do."
Tang Ya looked at his hesitant expression and sighed softly. She knew Bei Bei was lying, and she also knew that in order to bring back Xuan Zi, Qian Duoduo, and Yan Shaozhe from that 'legitimate' academy in the sky, Bei Bei and Elder Mu must have paid an extremely heavy price.
Although Bei Bei never explicitly mentioned the specific amount or cost in their conversations, Tang Ya could roughly guess that it was absolutely a resource that would severely cripple the current Shrek Academy, perhaps even emptying half of Shrek Academy's treasury.
However, in Tang Ya's view, these were all external possessions.
"Bei Bei, actually, you don't need to overthink it. If resources are gone, we can gather them again. As long as the people are here, as long as everyone has returned safely, that's better than anything."
As Tang Ya spoke, her eyes couldn't help but dim slightly. She thought of her Tang Sect, which once flourished for ten thousand years but was now so desolate that only she remained.
As for Bei Bei... although he also joined the Tang Sect, in Tang Ya's view, Bei Bei only joined the Tang Sect out of consideration for her. The true Tang Sect still only consisted of herself.
If she could successfully recruit Huo Yuhao that day... perhaps things would be a little different.
"If... my parents were still here, then even if the Tang Sect had no resources now, I wouldn't feel as miserable as I do. As long as people are here, there is hope."
Thinking of the home she could never return to, Tang Ya's eyes reddened. A thin mist quickly covered her beautiful, vibrant eyes, making her look delicate and pitiable.Seeing Tang Ya's expression at this moment, Bei Bei's heart clenched fiercely, and a wave of self-reproach instantly surged within him.
He quickly put away the melancholy on his face, trying to appear stronger. He reached out and gently wiped away the glistening tears from Tang Ya's eyes.
"Xiaoya, don't cry. It's my fault. I shouldn't have let my emotions affect you. Look, I'm really fine. You don't need to worry about me."
Tang Ya sniffled, looked up at him, her voice still carrying a slight nasal tone.
"Really? If you're really fine, then what was that expression just now? Bei Bei, don't forget, it was always me who confided my sad stories to you. You were always the best listener, always comforting and encouraging me. Now, if you have any worries, or if your heart feels heavy, let me be your listener this once, okay?"
Looking at his lover gazing at him with such tenderness and determination, Bei Bei sighed deeply and slowly began to speak, finally revealing his true feelings.
"Ya'er... that academy in the sky is far more terrifying than we imagined. To redeem Elder Xuan, Vice Dean Qian, and Dean Yan, Ancestor Mu had to agree to many extremely harsh conditions. The academy's ten-thousand-year accumulation of resources was significantly reduced."
Bei Bei's voice was a little hoarse, and his eyes showed a deep sense of powerlessness.
"Originally, I thought that as long as we brought them back and everyone united, we could overcome the difficulties. But I didn't expect that after Elder Xuan returned, his entire state changed completely. He was severely injured in that academy and suffered unimaginable humiliation. Now, in his heart, he harbors an unforgettable hatred for that academy. This hatred has blinded him."
"Even though Ancestor Mu has repeatedly warned us publicly not to provoke them, Elder Xuan... seems to have no intention of letting go of that idea, and has even become frighteningly extreme."
Tang Ya was slightly stunned. She had indeed heard many rumors recently, but she didn't expect things to be this serious.
"Are you saying... those things Elder Xuan has been doing recently?"
Bei Bei nodded bitterly, his tone full of an incomprehensible absurdity.
"He made some extremely outrageous decisions. Not long ago, he actually decided to forcefully expel Ning Tian of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and that Wu Feng, just because of a small matter. Elder Xuan made them drop out."
Tang Ya, of course, knew about Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Both of them, whether in talent or background, were rare geniuses in Shrek Academy, especially Ning Tian, who was the future successor of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Even for Shrek Academy, which is still renowned as the number one academy on the Douluo Continent, losing these two talented disciples is a huge loss. Moreover... Ning Tian is the heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and her withdrawal also means that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will officially break ties with Shrek Academy, which is a bad thing for Shrek Academy.
"Actually... in many people's eyes, although Teacher Zhou Yi is strict, she is indeed a responsible and good teacher. At that time, her expulsion of Wu Feng and Ning Tian was merely a bit impulsive, intending to curb the arrogance of the new students. Essentially, it was reversible. Even if things ended unpleasantly, if Elder Xuan had stepped forward and said a few good words, there might have been a chance to salvage the situation."
Bei Bei clenched his fists, his knuckles slightly white.
"But it was precisely because of Elder Xuan's forceful intervention, that overbearing and unreasonable attitude, that things became completely irreversible. Not only did he not mend relations, but he intensified the situation, even showing disdain for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School in his words. The current Elder Xuan is simply like..."
"Like he's lost his mind."
Tang Ya finished the unspoken phrase for Bei Bei.Bei Bei was silent. More than just losing his mind, the current Elder Xuan is constantly muttering, often associating with Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and the Shrek City Lord, chanting things like "revenge" and "Shrek's dignity."
Bei Bei's gaze fell into the distance, and the intense ominous premonition in his heart grew heavier.
He always felt that Xuan Zi's unstable state might not threaten the Shrek Academy in the sky, but would instead harm their own people first.
Bei Bei is now quite worried about Xuan Zi, worried that Xuan Zi might do something crazy and push Shrek Academy into an abyss. Currently, with ten thousand years of accumulation, Shrek Academy can handle most problems, but... if Xuan Zi does something mindless, that might not be the case.
At that time, will Shrek Academy have another ten thousand years?
Tang Ya looked at Bei Bei's worried expression and couldn't help but pray for him in her heart, hoping that everything would go smoothly, and also hoping that she could restore the glory of the Tang Sect.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
Also from now, 2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
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