If she could tear a single wish from the fabric of existence, Yue wouldn't spend it on her own needs or fleeting joys. No, her deepest dream lay in one thing: for all the shadows of misfortune that relentlessly pursued them, like unforgiving spirits of the past, to disappear. She dreamed of the road ahead – perhaps winding and rocky, strewn with dangers and trials, but one where they would always remain inseparably bound. She – a bit awkward, with the childlike naivety not yet completely melted away in her ruby eyes, and Fu Huang – her cold, almost unapproachable, like an icy peak, yet at the same time astonishingly caring older sister, whose inner warmth broke through in rare, but therefore even more precious rays. Yue believed with all her soul in the non-randomness of their meeting, in that thread that stretched between them, connecting two lonely hearts. She would become as she dreamed in her boldest fantasies.
It didn't matter what thorns lay on their future path, what monsters lay in wait around fate's corner. Yue knew – they would endure, as long as their hands warmed each other. In this strange, unexpected bond, each of them found something vitally important, a gaping void that loneliness couldn't fill. Yue, whose youth had passed without touching the bitterness of loss, whose heart didn't know what it was like to cling to life alone. And Sister Fu – whose soul held an icy shell, forged in the flame of pain and loneliness, guarding the fragile core of her true essence. Now, as they walked shoulder to shoulder, Yue felt within herself the strength to pass through any trials – for the sake of this inseparable bond, for her.
Her gaze, involuntarily sweeping over the stern but so dear face of her older sister, was met with a previously unknown tenderness in her chest. This feeling had not yet found words, hiding somewhere deep inside, but with each passing day, it took root more firmly, entwining her heart with invisible but strong threads. Ten long months had passed since they left the cozy walls of Shrek Academy. Ten months of wandering through wild lands, where every breath could be the last. Ten months during which their world was turned upside down, and they themselves became different. And yet…
"Fu," she said quietly, almost dissolving into the whisper of the wind, feeling the words slowly ripen on the tip of her tongue, "maybe... maybe we should go back? I know you miss Master Flender. At least for a couple of short weeks. We'll rest from the endless wandering, heal our spiritual wounds in familiar surroundings. And then... then we'll set off again – rested, full of strength and determination."
"I think you're right, Yue," Huang nodded calmly, her gaze, usually sharp and perceptive, now softened with a slight thoughtfulness. "We really should go back. Last time, our disappearance was... sudden. We left without saying a word, without warning anyone."
The next moment, as if obeying her silent wish, elegant silver dragon wings silently unfurled from her back. They glinted in the sunlight breaking through the leaves with a cold, almost metallic sheen, as if woven from moonlight and steel. Yue gasped in delight, her ruby eyes flashing with genuine admiration. Without waiting for an invitation, she gracefully, with the agility of a cat, leaped onto her back, instinctively finding a comfortable position, as if she had done this countless times in her dreams.
With breathtaking speed, they soared towards Suoto, cutting through the morning air like two silver arrows shot from an invisible bow. From time to time, Fu Huang smoothly descended, allowing herself and Yue to catch their breath, to feel solid ground beneath their feet, but even with these short stops, the journey that used to take a whole week of exhausting travel was now compressed into a single swift day. The world around them blurred into a fuzzy picture, as if in fast motion, and now, through the haze of the horizon, the familiar outlines of Suoto's rooftops reappeared, like beckoning ghosts from the past.
Smoothly gliding onto the roof of a tall building, Fu Huang carefully folded her shining wings. They paused at the very edge, like two birds of prey, observing what was happening below. On the training ground stretched out at their feet, a tense battle was unfolding. Dai Mubai, whose muscular figure radiated wild power, and Tang San, who despite his young age displayed astonishing composure, clashed in a rapid sparring match. Their movements were honed to perfection, every strike – precise and carrying hidden power. Despite the difference in age and physical strength, Tang San held his ground with surprising confidence, his flexible body dodging Mubai's fierce attacks, and his counterattacks sometimes even forced the Evil Eye White Tiger to retreat, growling in frustration.
But suddenly, as if sensing someone's gaze upon him, Tang San froze for a moment, interrupting a series of rapid attacks. His dark, perceptive eyes darted upward, scanning the tiled roofs.
Two figures. Two barely discernible silhouettes against the morning sky. Those who had so suddenly disappeared many months ago, leaving behind only confusion and worry... The corners of his lips slowly curved into a barely perceptible, but predatory smile, as if he anticipated an interesting game.
Mubai, whose animalistic intuition was always sharp, sensing the sudden change in his comrade's gaze, also turned, his golden eyes narrowed, and a smug smile appeared on his lips. Tang San's purple ring and Dai Mubai's two yellow with two purple rings, surrounding them, flashed almost simultaneously, brightly illuminating the training arena from below, like welcoming lights.
"Third Soul Skill: Wind Piercing Vine!" Tang San whispered, and at that instant, thin, but unusually strong vines, wrapped in razor-sharp thorns, shot up from beneath his feet like living snakes with incredible speed. They cut through the air with a whistling sound, rushing towards the sisters like living arrows, intending to bind their movements, to deprive them of freedom.
"Fourth Soul Skill: White Tiger Meteor Shower!" Mubai roared, and the next moment, dozens of dazzling white energy spheres soared into the sky, leaving shimmering trails behind them. Like a bursting squall, they rained down on the roof where the sisters stood, seemingly leaving them no chance to evade, to escape.
But not a shadow of panic was reflected on their faces. Not on either of them.
They had seen this gesture before. A light, almost lazy movement of Fu Huang's slender hand – and the space directly in front of them seemed to tremble, distorting, splitting open into a silent, gaping rift, like a black hole swallowing light. Both rapid attacks – the sharp vines and the hail of energy spheres – disappeared without a trace into this spatial anomaly, leaving no slightest mark, as if they had never existed in this world.
"You showed up after all," Tang San said without the slightest surprise in his voice, as if their disappearance had only been a temporary delay.
"Long time no see," Mubai added, not hiding a wide, smug grin, as if what had just happened was merely a funny joke.
As if they hadn't just unleashed deadly attacks on them a second ago. But neither Huang nor Yue paid attention to such a peculiar greeting; their gazes were calm and unperturbed.
"Care to explain your sudden return?" Flender's voice, appearing at the edge of the training ground, was both stern and relieved. He too had been watching the fight, his face a mixture of reproach and joy.
"I missed you, Master," Huang simply replied, taking a step forward and lightly, almost weightlessly, hugging his shoulder.
"Next time at least say goodbye, don't make us worry ourselves gray," Flender sighed, feeling a heavy stone fall from his heart. "One more disappearance like that – and my old heart definitely won't be able to take it."
"Girl," Zhao Wuji rumbled, walking onto the ground, his massive figure inspiring awe, "let's see what you're worth now, after ten months away. The wild lands are no joke. And no discussions, no leniency."
Huang calmly met his scrutinizing gaze, then shifted it to Yue, standing nearby.
"Only on one condition, Master Zhao. I will fight together with Yue."
Her words stunned everyone present. She who always preferred solo battles, whose strength and independence had become a legend of the academy. She who only rarely agreed to two-on-two battles in the Soul Arena, and even then perceived it as nothing more than training to hone her skills. Now she herself, without the slightest hesitation, declared that she would not fight alone. For someone. For Yue.
"Alright, girl," Zhao Wuji smirked, excitement lighting up his eyes, "but if in the heat of battle I accidentally break a couple of bones of this little girl – you'll have yourself to blame."
"Don't worry, Master," Fu Huang replied calmly, her voice even and confident. "I won't let anyone harm Yue. Not even you."
The next moment, eight bright spirit rings appeared one after another beneath Zhao Wuji's feet – two yellow, two purple, and four dazzling black ones. He was fully enveloped by his mighty spirit, the enormous Bear King, whose beast form wrapped around his body, giving him a terrifying and oppressive appearance. The power emanating from him was palpable in the very air, as if the ground beneath his feet began to tremble with tension.
Around Fu Huang, five spirit rings emerged – two dull yellow, one deep purple, and two sinister black ones. She remained unfazed and cool-headed despite the colossal difference in ranks; her movements were precise and calculated, as if each one was planned in advance.
Yue, in turn, summoned her three rings – two gentle yellow and one radiant purple one. Despite her lesser experience and lower rank, her ruby eyes burned with determination; there was not a hint of fear or uncertainty in them. She was ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with her sister and not yield an inch of ground.
Everyone present held their breath, anticipating a true fight, a clash of strength and mastery. No one doubted that Fu Huang and her young student would put on a spectacle worthy of respect, even if the outcome of this battle seemed predetermined.
Yue's ordinary attacks, however powerful they were for her current level, could not exert significant pressure on Zhao Wuji, whose defense was unyielding. But the moment she activated her third skill, "Glimpse of the Future," countless variations of events flashed before her inner vision, like shards of a shattered mirror of time. Fu Huang, whose mental connection with Yue had become unusually strong and deep during their journeys together, like two rivers merging into one mighty current, instantly received this invaluable information. She saw every movement of Zhao Wuji a fraction of a second before he made it, as if reading an open book. This allowed her to evade his furious attacks with minimal effort; her body moved smoothly and elusively, as if dancing between the blows of the enraged bear.
His every powerful attack merely sliced through the air, failing to reach its target, and his attempts to use his own soul skills shattered against an invisible wall of foresight. Fu Huang, like a seasoned strategist, skillfully drained the "mental barrel" of his spiritual power, forcing him to expend energy in vain. Zhao Wuji noticed with growing bewilderment that his most powerful abilities repeatedly failed; he felt his strength draining away but couldn't understand the reason for this inexplicable invulnerability. And then, suspicion first crept into his mind, directed at the young Yue, whose eyes were strangely shimmering.
When the enraged Bear King attempted to directly attack Yue, his realization finally came to a disheartening conclusion – Fu Huang was always there, invisibly protecting her student, and her strength, her understanding of battle, were far deeper and more extensive than he could have imagined.
"Fourth Skill: Broken Space!" Fu Huang's calm voice sounded, and the space around the Bear King's paw, aimed at them, suddenly distorted. Visible cracks appeared, as if the very fabric of reality had weakened, and Zhao Wuji's attack, encountering this anomaly, lost its directness, deflecting to the side.
"I don't like fighting you, girl," he growled, clenching his massive fists, his eyes burning with rage and frustration. "But since you've forced me... I'm not going to hold back anymore. Just try not to die."
The next moment, he activated his true spirit body.
Behind Zhao Wuji appeared a colossal, brown bear; its size and power were frightening. Dense spiritual energy pressure condensed around him, as if invisible vises were squeezing space itself, making the air crackle.
Yue showed not the slightest fear. She calmly looked at Fu Huang and gave a barely noticeable nod, as if confirming some silent decision.
"Okay," Fu Huang replied, her voice even and confident, without a trace of doubt in their abilities. Determination flickered in her violet eyes, reflecting an inner certainty in their combined power.
Both girls simultaneously rushed towards each other; their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if they were two halves of a single whole. In their eyes burned not only fearlessness but also an unwavering faith in the strength of their bond. At this very moment, Zhao Wuji unleashed his attack upon them. Colossal spiritual energy concentrated in the Bear King's monstrous paw, which flew towards them like a mountain landslide, intending to crush them with one devastating blow. The air around them vibrated with monstrous force, the ground beneath Zhao Wuji's feet trembled.
However, when the bear's paw approached the spot where Fu Huang and Yue had stood just a second before, it suddenly hit an invisible wall. The space in front of them seemed to boil, distorting, and the massive limb merely slid along this anomaly, causing no harm. What stood in the place of the two girls began to change, transforming before the eyes of the astonished observers.
Instead of two separate figures, one appeared before Zhao Wuji – a tall and graceful being, radiating unearthly beauty and mysterious power. Her long hair, the color of deep violet, flowed smoothly, resembling both a waterfall and swirling smoke. Strands near her face softly framed refined, almost divine features. The most unusual thing were her eyes – heterochromatic, one eye shone with a gentle pink hue, and the other – with a piercing golden one, like two different suns enclosed in one face. This combined form, as if woven from two souls, radiated such power that even the experienced Zhao Wuji felt a slight tremor for a moment. Without waiting for the stunned master to launch a new attack, the combined entity of Fu Huang and Yue intended to show the heights they had reached during their absence.
In their combined mind, a mental link formed:
Yue, shall we try to handle it with words? Fu Huang's calm, but confident voice sounded in her sister's consciousness.
But we weren't going to harm him, were we? Yue responded, feeling their shared perception of the world sharpen to the extreme.
I think we can moderate the power of the cut at the apex. Show only a part of our strength.
And what if he uses his eighth soul skill again?
We will break through with a counter-attack. At the apex, all our senses reach their peak, as do our attacks. We will see his intentions a moment before he acts.
Yes, that will be more... humane towards the teacher.
All eight spirit rings surrounding their combined figure began to slowly merge into one, forming a pulsating halo of pure energy. Seeing the growing danger, Zhao Wuji hastily used his most powerful skill.
"Eighth Skill, Sky Pillar Shatter!" he roared, and from behind his back erupted a phantom hand of the Bear King, carrying terrifying kinetic energy capable of crushing mountains. Space itself distorted around this monstrous attack under its pressure; the air cracked as if ready to burst.
But the gaze of the combined figure remained absolutely calm. The students and teachers watching this titanic struggle held their breath, their faces expressing extreme anxiety. An attack of such caliber could easily severely wound not only a Soul Saint but even a Soul Douluo.
The next moment, the world around seemed to dim, colors faded, leaving only a monochrome image. The once swift attack of the Bear King, which distorted space with its colossal power, froze in the eyes of the combined entity; its speed dropped to a snail's pace.
Apotheosis! sounded simultaneously in their consciousness, and all eight merged rings flashed with dazzling light.
As if utterly unfazed by the incoming crushing blow, the merged figure began preparing a counterattack. Watching their composure—and Zhao Wuji's wild grin—Fu Huan allowed herself a faint smile. Throughout countless days of sparring, she had always held the edge in speed, yet lagged behind in every other aspect. And now, for the first time, they were facing his most powerful technique head-on.
"World Cut," the combined entity whispered, and a thin line of energy, like a blade of light, darted towards the approaching paw of the Bear King.
It seemed the fragile thread of light barely touched the monstrous force, but... The next moment, the colossal paw exploded from within, disintegrating into countless energy fragments, forming something like a miniature sun in the air. The shockwave from this explosion violently threw Zhao Wuji back dozens of meters; his body ploughed a furrow in the training ground. Barely getting to his feet, breathing heavily and struggling to keep his balance, the beautiful combined figure approached him and extended a graceful hand. Zhao Wuji, with surprise and acceptance of defeat in his eyes, did not hesitate and accepted the help.
"Looks like... I lost to you," he rasped, feeling weak throughout his body.
A barely noticeable, but eloquent smirk appeared on the combined face of Fu Huang and Yue.
Yes, Master, sounded simultaneously in their consciousness, echoing aloud.
The next moment, the radiance around the combined figure died down, and in place of the beautiful being, two girls stood again – Fu Huang and Yue, holding hands. Everyone present silently stared at the training ground, which now resembled a huge, scorched crater, over a kilometer in diameter, as if a meteorite had fallen to the earth.
The room plunged into an unnatural silence – as if reality itself held its breath, stunned by what it had seen.
"Stay here, Yue," Fu Huang said calmly, letting go of her sister's hand.
She took a step forward, towards the still breathing heavily Zhao Wuji, whose face showed astonishment and respect.
"Master," Fu Huang said with a slight bow, "I hope this spar showed you that we haven't wasted our time."
Zhao Wuji, still feeling the effects of the clash with their combined power, could only nod, catching his breath.
Flender, who had been watching everything with wide eyes, finally found his voice.
"Incredible... Simply incredible! Girls, you... have you become this strong?"
Fu Huang smiled slightly, shifting her gaze to her mentor.
"We learned a lot during our absence, Master. And we're happy to be home."
Yue, still a little shaken, walked up to Fu Huang and took her hand again, seeking support and feeling safe next to her sister.
Mubai and Tang San exchanged glances; their eyes showed genuine surprise and admiration. They understood that Fu Huang and Yue's strength had reached an entirely new level.
Together, Fu Huang and Yue headed towards Flender, ready to answer his numerous questions and begin a new chapter of their lives at Shrek Academy. The fatigue from the long journey and the tense fight receded before the warmth of returning home and a sense of accomplishment.