Sun Moon Empire.
Previously, the royal family, and even the entire Royal Academy, had been "desperately" suppressing the news of Su Wen's disappearance. In truth, however, they had actually been fanning the flames behind the scenes. Otherwise, how could such a "top secret" incident have spread throughout the whole academy, even reaching Mingdu? This alone made clear the attitude of those in power toward the matter.
What truly infuriated the royal family, however, was Shrek Academy's reaction. After all, they longed for a real, tangible victory to wash away the Empire's past shame and force Shrek to start a war. If they could play the "defensive side," the benefits would be immense.
But up until today, Shrek Academy had remained eerily calm. After sending another senior from the Martial Soul Department, Cai Meier, to replace Fan Yu and take charge of the remaining Shrek students in Sun Moon Empire, things started moving in the exact direction the Empire least wanted to see.
This feeling of being stuck in limbo was like a fish bone in their throats—utterly unbearable.
To make matters worse, even Jing Hongchen, despite having suffered some humiliation, showed no sign of resistance to this day. He lay about like a salted fish, completely indifferent. As an old man nearing a hundred, he still ate and drank well—going so far as to demand a bottle of Vogat (a highly potent liquor from the Empire's south) from his jailers every day.
This infuriated the royal decision-makers even more. After all, they had already completely offended him. Restore relations? They knew full well just how excessive their previous actions had been. They were all adults—how could they be so naive?
It had already come to a fight to the death…
But the Empire's true stabilizing force was Jing Hongchen's teacher, and as the head of the Mingde Hall, he still commanded respect and connections in the Empire after all these years. The royal family had already gone too far detaining and imprisoning him for no reason. If they were to secretly execute him…
They would chill the hearts of many in Mingdu.
…
"This is all the information I could gather." Na Na looked at Su Wen with teary eyes, sitting on his lap, her upper body melting softly into him, as if wanting to blend herself completely into his being.
"Master, you left without a word, even though you must have had a premonition. You brought Ju Zi, Ke Ke, and the others back to Shrek Academy—but what about me?" Na Na said with resentment.
"You're safer here…" Su Wen replied after a moment of thought.
"At that time, I didn't know if I'd even survive the trip. I had to prepare for the worst. If the Sun Moon Empire sent out all its forces—Kong Deming, Ye Xishui, and even the Four Beast Soul Master Regiments—I'd most likely have no way out."
"All this time, with no news of you, I even thought…" Na Na choked up, lowering her head.
"It's all right. I'm back now."
Su Wen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Sun Moon Empire, and the Holy Spirit Cult…
These debts would be settled, one by one.
…
Director's Office
Fan Yu's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Lin Jiayi, who still acted indifferent and detached, as if all this had nothing to do with him. "I passed on the information to Shrek Academy exactly as you said—there was absolutely no withholding! Didn't you see how they treated me? As soon as Cai Meier arrived, she stripped me of all power without a word, and treated me with cold contempt."
"Heh, then how do you explain Shrek Academy's lack of any reaction? Su Wen is dead, but nothing happened? Does that seem normal to you?" Lin Jiayi replied mildly. "The higher-ups already suspect you. Who knows if you slipped some code into that letter that the Empire couldn't decipher?"
"How could I?!" Fan Yu panted furiously, slamming the table. "Under Shrek Academy's nose, I brought my beloved over, revealed every secret I knew about Shrek, and gave everything to the Empire—you even verified it all! Everything I said was true! Doesn't that prove my loyalty to the Empire?!"
"To infiltrate the enemy, you naturally have to present some token of allegiance. Besides, you couldn't answer the truly core questions." Lin Jiayi shook his head and smiled.
"I told you, Su Wen's martial soul is 'soul beast capture'—with each rank, he can capture a soul beast, and as his power grows, the beasts can evolve. Aren't those important details?!"
Fan Yu was on the verge of collapse. "You asked me which soul beasts he has, what forms they've evolved into—how would I possibly know! Wind Baboon, Ice Jade Scorpion, and a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear—I told you everything I knew! What more do you want from me?!"
His wife had been missing for months, but the Sun Moon Empire had clearly ignored his pleas, telling him to 'just go home and wait' every time. But how could he simply wait?
His wife had clearly been abducted by enemies!
He was frantic with worry, and, for the first time, lost his temper at Lin Jiayi.
"Su Wen showcased all these on the battlefield…" Lin Jiayi adjusted his glasses, his gaze smooth and indifferent behind the lenses.
"In summary, I have reason to suspect that you only faked your defection—or perhaps betrayed the Empire for other interests."
"How could I possibly betray the Empire?!" Fan Yu's blood rushed to his head. He stood up, pointing at Lin Jiayi, trembling with anger.
"But you've already betrayed Shrek, haven't you?" Lin Jiayi sneered.
"..."
The room fell deathly silent.
Fan Yu stood frozen, staring at Lin Jiayi's mocking gaze. He was utterly in despair.
He had fallen into a dead end.
If he truly was a spy, the Sun Moon Empire owed him nothing. If he'd really defected, then as a nearly exhausted, low-value eighth-rank soul engineer who had already betrayed Shrek, who's to say he wouldn't betray the Empire for gain as well?
Only now did he feel a pang of regret for leaving Shrek Academy.
The continent was vast, yet it seemed there was nowhere left for him…
…
"As long as you're all right…"
Seeing Mu Qiu'er throw herself into Su Wen's embrace, tears in her eyes, Cai Meier finally breathed a sigh of relief, sizing Su Wen up from head to toe.
"You've grown taller—and more handsome."
"Dean Cai, how is the situation here in the Sun Moon Empire?" Su Wen smiled, comforting Mu Qiu'er as he sat on the soft living room sofa.
Mu Qiu'er pressed her delicate frame tightly against his side, her beautiful legs draped over Su Wen's lap, clinging to his arm like a sloth. When she first heard of Su Wen's supposed death, her world collapsed. Thankfully, the academy quickly sent Dean Cai to the Empire to take charge and tell her the truth…
"In these past few months, I've met with the emperor, several military leaders, and spoken with almost every figure of importance. I've pretty much figured out the lay of the land." Cai Meier ignored Mu Qiu'er's clinging and turned serious.
"They're hoping for war—willing even to sacrifice Jing Hongchen. Also, the imperial authority here vastly outweighs any other power. It's called the Sun Moon Empire, but it's really under the control of the Xu family; no other nobles have the strength to interfere."
"It's a one-family show."
"Of course, Xiao Wen, you understand what I mean. As for Jing Hongchen… perhaps he's worth trying to win over."