Shrek City, Counterfeit Shrek Academy.
The news of Mu En's impending death was delayed for three days before being released.
This was because Bei Bei wanted Mu En to first recover his physical state so that he could resolve any trouble if it arose, and Mu En had agreed to Bei Bei's request.
After three days of delay, he had barely managed to recover his energy and Spirit, but… the exhaustion on his face could not be concealed.
During the three days of Mu En's recovery, Zhou Yi, who had been clamoring to leave with Fan Yu, had quieted down.
After all, no matter how crippled Mu En was, he was still a 99th-level Limit Douluo, the anchor of Shrek Academy.
With Mu En present, Shrek Academy would not fall for the time being.
That morning, sunlight streamed through the window into Mu En's room.
Bei Bei stood before the bed, gazing at the elderly man before him, a bitter feeling rising in his heart.
Mu En leaned against the head of the bed, his face pale and his body so thin it was almost nothing but bones; his once deep eyes had now become clouded.
Yet even so, his back remained straight.
"Ancestor Mu, the news has been released."
Bei Bei said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Mu En nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I've troubled you, Bei Bei."
"It's no trouble."
Bei Bei quickly shook his head.
"Ancestor Mu, is there anything else you need me to do? Is there any way I can be of help?"
He paused, then added, "Anything at all, please just say the word."
Mu En looked at him, silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"No, you have done well enough."
Bei Bei opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found he could not utter a word.
He stood there, his hands hanging by his sides, his fists clenched tight.
Mu En spoke lightly, but Bei Bei knew in his heart that he had truly done nothing.
Or rather, even when he tried to do something, he would fail; he basically failed at everything he attempted.
Mu En had praised Bei Bei for having a good grasp of the big picture, but what did that matter?
Bei Bei's strength was simply too low.
The current Shrek Academy was relying solely on Mu En to hold it together; the remaining elders of the Sea God Pavilion had basically not yet recovered.
Even if they had recovered, they were too ashamed to face Mu En, for during the time he was in a coma, they had taken such poor care of Shrek Academy.
This feeling filled Bei Bei with immense regret. He thought to himself, if only he possessed his Ancestor Mu's Spirit, the Bright Sacred Dragon, then things would be better.
But he possessed neither Mu En's Spirit nor his talent.
When Mu En was young, he had been full of vigor, leading Shrek Academy to victory after victory. As for himself, he could only watch as Shrek Academy went downhill.
A deep sense of powerlessness surged within Bei Bei's heart.
If… if he could have inherited his Ancestor Mu's Spirit and talent, if he could be stronger, then at least… at least he could be of some help.
Instead of standing by and watching, unable to do anything as he was now.
...
"Bei Bei."
Mu En's voice pulled Bei Bei out of his self-reproach.
"You are overthinking again."
Bei Bei opened his mouth to deny it, but lowered his head under Mu En's clouded yet still sharp gaze.
"Ancestor Mu… I…"
"You have done well enough."
Mu En interrupted him, his tone kind.
"If I were you, in your current position, I could not do any better."
"Perhaps… I might even do worse."
Bei Bei looked up sharply.
"Ancestor Mu, you…"
"I am telling the truth."
Mu En smiled, his expression filled with gratification.
"You are still young, and the road ahead is long. Do not negate yourself because of temporary powerlessness."
"The path of Cultivate cannot be rushed."
"Only by becoming stronger can you gain more say."
"So…"
Mu En looked at Bei Bei, his eyes filled with expectations.
"Cultivate with peace of mind."
"Do not let your talent go to waste, and do not let your Spirit down."
Bei Bei's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded forcefully.
"Yes, Ancestor Mu, I will remember."
...
Night fell, and moonlight like water spilled into every corner of Shrek Academy.
Mu En sat in that Spirit Tool wheelchair, alone, slowly ascending to the roof of a secluded building.
This wheelchair had been a gift from Bei Xin.
Its entire body was silver-white, the seat was soft, the backrest was adjustable, and the armrests were engraved with complex Spirit Power circuits.
By injecting just a small amount of Spirit Power, it could float in the air, move freely, and even fly.
Mu En sat in the wheelchair, his hands resting on the armrests, looking up at the moon in the sky.
The moonlight was bright, the night air cool.
He sat there quietly, motionless, as if he had merged with the night.
It was unknown how much time had passed.
A figure suddenly appeared in mid-air.
It was an old man, tall and straight-backed.
A head of silver hair was combed meticulously, shimmering with a faint luster under the moonlight.
His face was rosy, like that of an infant, showing no signs of aging.
Long eyebrows hung down the sides of his face, drifting gently in the breeze.
He hovered quietly in mid-air, his hands behind his back, without releasing a single trace of Spirit Power fluctuation.
It was as if he were not a Spirit Master at all, but an ordinary person merely standing in the air.
Yet it was precisely this lack of fluctuation that was the most terrifying aspect.
To be able to control Spirit Power to such a degree was something few in the entire continent could accomplish.
The old man's gaze fell upon Mu En, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
There was lament, regret, heartache, and a feeling that could not be clearly defined.
"Brother Mu."
He spoke, his voice low and rich.
"It has been a long time."
Mu En looked up at the old man hovering in mid-air, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.
"Xiaoyao."
He called out the other's name, his tone calm.
"It has indeed been a long time."
Long Xiaoyao descended slowly, his feet landing on the roof tiles with a faint sound.
He walked to Mu En's side and stood there, looking down at Mu En in the wheelchair.
"The news you released was to lure me here, wasn't it?"
Long Xiaoyao asked directly, without beating around the bush. Had he not learned the news of Mu En's impending death, he would likely have continued to stay in hiding.
Because of what happened back then… he had always felt he owed Mu En and Ye Xishui; it was he who had ruined the relationship between the three of them.
Now that Mu En was about to pass away, Long Xiaoyao could not care about verifying the truth of the news and had rushed to Shrek Academy.
The Bright Sacred Dragon and the Dark Holy Dragon were mutually attracted, so Long Xiaoyao had found Mu En without any effort.
Mu En was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"I knew it."
Long Xiaoyao sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness.
"I was wrong… Brother Mu… back then…"
"Enough."
Just as Long Xiaoyao wanted to continue, Mu En waved his hand, his face already full of detachment.
"Let us not speak of the past anymore. The me of today belongs only to Shrek Academy."
Upon hearing Mu En's words, Long Xiaoyao sensibly refrained from continuing the topic.
He looked Mu En up and down, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Your body…"
"Is failing."
Mu En said it casually, his aged face revealing no emotion.
"I won't live much longer. At most… a few months."
Long Xiaoyao's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Is there no other way?"
"No."
Mu En shook his head.
"My time has come; it cannot be forced."
Long Xiaoyao was silent for a long time.
On the roof, there was silence.
The moonlight spilled onto the two, stretching their shadows long and thin.
Finally, Long Xiaoyao spoke.
"Then why did you lure me here?"
Mu En looked up at Long Xiaoyao, and a flash of clarity appeared in those clouded eyes.
"Xiaoyao, I have a request."
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
1 Review = 1 Bonus Chapter
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