Zhangting's "distribution of wealth" was never about charity; it was about positioning pieces on a chessboard that spanned the entire continent.
The Seed of the Dragon: Tang Ziran and Lang Yue
Before confronting Long Bing, Zhangting had dealt with a couple whose importance could not be overstated: Tang Ziran and Lang Yue. To the world, they were simple employees of the Spirit Pagoda—a mecha designer and a pharmacist. To Zhangting, they were the future adoptive parents of Tang Wulin, the son of the Sea God.
By directly handing them the "Mother and Child Lotus," a legendary Heaven and Earth Treasure capable of curing their infertility, Zhangting didn't just give them a child; he bought their eternal gratitude.
"No changes are needed," Zhangting had told them, his voice calm. "Return to Aolai City. Continue your lives. I might visit you someday."
By ensuring Tang Wulin would be born (or adopted) into a family deeply indebted to the Spirit Pagoda, Zhangting had placed a "Trojan Horse" at the very beginning of the protagonist's journey.
The Fallen Fairy: Long Bing
Now, only Long Bing remained. She was breathtaking—a "fairy from the mortal world" in a flowing white dress. As a top student at Shrek Academy, she should have been untouchable. But Zhangting knew the rot beneath the surface.
She was the daughter of Dark Hummingbird, one of the Four Great Heavenly Kings of the Holy Spirit Cult. She was a spy, a wedge driven into the heart of Shrek. But more importantly, she was the "Life-Bonded Love" of Wu Changkong, the "Sky-Freezing Douluo."
In the original timeline, Wu Changkong's grief over her death stalled his cultivation for a decade. Even so, he eventually became a Level 98 Super Douluo capable of taking down an Abyss Emperor. He was Tang Wulin's most influential mentor.
Zhangting wanted that power. He wanted to see which was stronger: Shrek's "Glory and Loyalty" brainwashing or the raw, desperate power of Love.
The Threat
Long Bing had watched Zhangting give away rare metals to Mang Tian and divine lotuses to the Tang couple. She had relaxed, expecting a gift. Instead, she received a death warrant.
"Long Bing, you don't want Wu Changkong to know your identity as an Evil Soul Master, do you?"
The silence that followed was absolute. Long Bing's pupils contracted into pinpricks, her breath hitching in her throat. The "Lucky Charm" boy had just revealed himself to be a demon who knew her darkest secret—a secret that would not only end her life but destroy the man she loved.
"You... how do you..." her voice was a ghostly whisper, her elegant figure trembling beneath the fairy dress.
Zhangting didn't answer how he knew. He simply leaned forward, the shadows of the room seeming to lengthen behind him. "I don't care about your cult, and I don't care about Shrek's secrets. I care about him. Wu Changkong is too talented to be wasted on a tragedy. I am offering you a choice: Continue being a puppet for your father and die as a traitor, or become my shadow and live as the woman Wu Changkong loves."
He let the words sink in. He wasn't just recruiting a spy; he was stealing the heart of Shrek's future generation.
"The Holy Spirit Cult wants to use you to destroy Shrek," Zhangting continued, his voice dropping to a seductive, dangerous silk. "I want to use you to own the man who would die for you. Decide now, 'Fairy' Long Bing. Does your loyalty lie with the father who would kill you, or the boy who can give you a future?"
Next Chapter: The Cold Spirit's Vow — Wu Changkong's Shadow Protector.
Expert Guide: Long Bing is now trapped. If she agrees, Zhangting gains a direct line into the Holy Spirit Cult and a leash on Wu Changkong. Should Zhangting provide her with a "Purification Pill" to hide her evil aura permanently, or should he keep her spirit "tainted" so she remains forever dependent on his protection to stay hidden?