"Ancestor Mu, please listen to me calmly regarding what happened next."
Beibei took a deep breath and recounted everything that had happened during this period in detail.
From the conflict triggered by the "guidance price" set by Elder Xuan, to Shen Ce being crippled, to Zang Xin coming to the Sea God Pavilion with a sword, defeating fifteen Titled Douluo in two moves, and finally the treasury being emptied... He did not add any embellishments.
Mu En sat to the side, quietly listening to Beibei finish describing what happened after he fell into a coma.
"Ancestor Mu, that is how things are."
After Beibei finished the last word, he lowered his head, not daring to meet Mu En's eyes.
His hands were trembling slightly. He was afraid that after hearing all this, Mu En would be overcome with rage, fall into a coma again, or even...
"Help me up."
Mu En's voice was hoarse. There was no rage as Beibei had expected, nor any hysterical questioning, just those four simple words.
Beibei was stunned for a moment, then quickly stepped forward, carefully helping Mu En up and placing two pillows behind his back, letting him sit propped up in the hospital bed.
Mu En's gaze slowly swept across the medical room.
Elder Xuan lay on the innermost bed, his face pale, his abdomen wrapped in thick bandages, still unconscious.
Yan Shaozhe lay beside him, his right arm empty, occasionally letting out a low groan.
Qian Duoduo, Elder Song, Lin Huiqun, Elder Zhuang... The old masters of the Sea God Pavilion, not a single one missing, were all lying here.
In Mu En's eyes, there was no anger, no sadness, only a deep sense of helplessness.
That helplessness was like an old man at the twilight of his life, watching the family business he had built with his own hands slowly crumble, yet being unable to turn the tide.
"Ancestor Mu..." Beibei looked at Mu En nervously and spoke cautiously. "Please... please don't get too agitated..."
"I am fine." Mu En shook his head, his voice weak but calm.
"Beibei, let me ask you." He paused. "After I fell into a coma, was it Elder Xuan who was in charge of the big picture?"
Beibei nodded. "Yes."
"I knew it." Mu En sighed heavily, his aged face full of exhaustion.
"Before I fell into a coma, I clearly gave instructions to lock Elder Xuan in the confinement room and let him reflect properly, but..." He did not continue, just shook his head slightly.
As his gaze fell upon the unconscious Elder Song and Lin Huiqun, Mu En's eyes became even more complex.
He had originally felt that Elder Xuan was unreliable and thought that after locking Elder Xuan up, he would let Elder Song and Lin Huiqun take charge. But now it seemed that these two people had not listened to him either. Or rather, they had listened, but did not execute.
A bitter curve tugged at the corner of Mu En's lips. He suddenly felt that the instructions he gave before his coma were like a joke.
Elder Xuan had not been locked up, but instead had seized the initiative. Elder Song and Lin Huiqun had not stood up to stop him, and no one had taken his instructions seriously. Therefore, it was no surprise to him that Shrek Academy had turned into what it was today.
"Ancestor Mu..." Beibei felt even worse seeing that bitter smile on Mu En's face. "Please don't be like this... This is not your fault..."
Mu En withdrew his gaze and looked at Beibei. "It is my fault."
"I am already old, and my body is failing. Even if I were awake, I wouldn't have much energy to manage so many things. Although Elder Xuan is unreliable, he is the strongest combat power in the academy besides me. After I fell into a coma, Shrek Academy needed a strong person to hold the fort."
"So, they chose Elder Xuan." Mu En's voice became lower and lower. "I understand them."
Beibei looked at Mu En's aged and exhausted face, his nose souring, and he almost shed tears again. "Ancestor Mu..."
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Mu En waved his hand. "Beibei, listen to me." His gaze became serious.
"Although you are young now and your strength is not strong enough, you are steady, understand the big picture, do not panic in the face of trouble, and have a sense of propriety in your actions."
"If you are allowed to grow for some more time, I would be most at ease handing Shrek Academy over to you."
Beibei was silent for a moment. He knew that Mu En was praising him, but there was no joy in his heart. Steady? Understanding the big picture? Yet he could only watch helplessly as Elder Xuan pushed the academy into a pit of fire, and he could do nothing? This was useless; he was too weak.
"Beibei, you should not belittle yourself." Mu En seemed to see through Beibei's thoughts and said softly. "You have already done very well."
Beibei lowered his head and did not respond.
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A/N:
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