"So, you're all from Shrek Academy?" Lin Xiao's tone instantly turned warmer, his demeanor almost friendly.
Zhang Lexuan glanced at him with a faintly puzzled expression but said nothing.
"Ah, I see," Lin Xiao continued lightly. "I've admired Shrek Academy for a long time. Unfortunately, I already have a master, so…"
"That's truly a shame," Fan Yu sighed softly. He didn't press further. Shrek's name carried immense prestige across the continent—but the Soul Engineering Department had always lagged behind the Martial Spirit Division.
They were soon back at the small border town. Once their feet touched solid ground, everyone finally breathed a little easier. The shady peddler who'd tricked them earlier was nowhere to be seen, but three figures—two adults and a child—were standing nearby, scanning the area anxiously.
"Senior Sister! Teacher Fan!" one of the students called out, waving. "We escorted those two rescued girls to safety, then followed the trail marks here. We were just wondering where you'd gone!"
"We ran into a bit of trouble," Fan Yu replied, a touch of embarrassment in his smile before quickly changing the subject. "And who's this child?"
"Oh, we met him on the way here." The two students stepped aside, revealing the small figure behind them. "He said bandits were chasing him, so we brought him along."
Lin Xiao hadn't spoken this whole time, but when his eyes fell on the boy's face, his gaze sharpened slightly.
Found him.
More than half a month had passed. Xu He's once neat clothing was torn and filthy, his cheeks hollow, his expression weary from sleepless nights and constant flight. He looked nothing like the young prince who'd escaped the Sun and Moon royal palace.
Scratches marked his arms and neck—evidence of the pursuit. After Emperor Xu Jing's coronation, the Sun and Moon Empire's intelligence network had grown vast; finding one missing person would have been simple.
"What's your name, child?" Fan Yu crouched down, his tone gentle.
"I… I'm He Caitou," Xu He answered after a hesitant pause.
He Caitou? What kind of name was that?
Fan Yu blinked, exchanging a puzzled look with Zhang Lexuan and the others. But he didn't press. "And where are your parents, He Caitou?"
"They were killed by the bandits," the boy said quietly.
Fan Yu's expression flickered. He was silent for a long while before reaching out to pat the boy's head. "Then… how about coming with me?"
Seeing the boy hesitate, Fan Yu offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. The place I'm taking you to is called Shrek Academy. It's very safe there. Those bandits won't ever find you."
At the mention of Shrek Academy, "He Caitou" finally relaxed. He stepped forward and nodded hard. He knew that as long as he was under Shrek's protection, the Sun and Moon Empire wouldn't dare make a move.
"Teacher Fan?" Han Ruoruo gave him a sidelong glance, her tone cautious.
Fan Yu understood her meaning and subtly shook his head. "We've already crossed paths with him. We can't just turn our backs, can we?"
Lin Xiao watched quietly. Judging by Fan Yu's reaction, he suspected the teacher had already realized the child's origins were far from simple.
But now that he had confirmed Xu He's whereabouts, Lin Xiao had no reason to stay. "Everyone, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be taking my leave."
Fan Yu straightened in surprise. "Brother Shen, you're leaving so soon? We haven't even thanked you for saving us earlier."
"It was nothing," Lin Xiao replied with a wave of his hand. "You're from Shrek Academy—whether I'd stepped in or not, that soul beast couldn't have kept you trapped for long."
"Come now, don't say that," Fan Yu said earnestly. "If not for you, the consequences—"
But before he could finish, Lin Xiao was already stepping back. "No need for thanks. Farewell."
"Brother Shen—!" Fan Yu called out, but the young man's figure vanished into the distance. He sighed. "Forget it. Any further insistence would only make me seem petty. That young man… so young, yet so knowledgeable. His background must be extraordinary. A pity we couldn't speak longer."
Lin Xiao, of course, had no idea what Fan Yu thought of him. Once he'd left the town, he veered northwest, his cloak rippling behind him.
If circumstances allowed, he might have accepted their gratitude in peace—but it was all built on deception.
Had he not intervened, the Shrek group would soon have realized the "ore site" was nothing but bait.
As he traveled, Lin Xiao's gaze lifted slightly, sensing something ahead. A faint, cold light flickered in his eyes—and his pace quickened.
At the mountain's base, the aftermath of the battle still scarred the landscape, loose stones piled everywhere. A small, hunched figure crept among them, glancing warily uphill.
Crouching behind a boulder, the man pulled out a handful of storage-type soul-tools—no fewer than ten—and carefully counted them, grinning once satisfied. He tucked them back into his coat and retrieved a small vial of pale-yellow liquid, smearing it across his body.
Preparations complete, he peeked over the rock and began climbing the slope.
He didn't make it far before a pair of black boots appeared before his eyes. Looking up, he froze. Beyond the dark cloak loomed a familiar face.
"M-M-My Lord… what are you doing here?" he stammered.
"Why so surprised?" Lin Xiao asked calmly. "Wasn't it your information that brought me here?"
The man blanched. A faint, eerie glimmer pulsed beneath his skin—the mark of the Seed of the Other Shore Lin Xiao had planted earlier.
"In such a hurry," Lin Xiao said softly, eyes lowering to the bulging pocket on the man's chest, "were you eager to see what might be left of me in the beast's stomach?"
He sighed lightly. "The Gold-Devouring Beast feeds on ores and metal, its strength and defense immense. But because it can't digest them quickly, it always enters hibernation after eating. You've learned to use its own urine to mask your scent, haven't you? Then you sneak into its territory while it sleeps, scavenging what's left on the battlefield. Clever. I'll give you that."
"M-My Lord, I don't know what you're talking about," the man stammered, backing away.
Lin Xiao chuckled, shaking his head. "When ore appears in scattered fragments, it usually means a larger vein lies beneath. You didn't tell anyone that part—you wanted your buyers to figure it out for themselves, didn't you?"
His gaze hardened, voice dropping to a cold whisper. "But you were too eager. Anyone surviving out here between two empires knows better than to flaunt their martial spirit. That alone gave you away."
(End of Chapter)