The Balak Kingdom lay in the southern region of the Heaven Dou Empire, bordering the province of Fasno. Although called a "kingdom," it was actually smaller than three-quarters of Fasno's territory. In reality, it was one of four subordinate kingdoms under the Heaven Dou Empire's rule.
Because the southern edge of the Balak Kingdom bordered the Star Luo Empire, it was the most militarized of the four vassal kingdoms and could even be considered the first line of defense—a gateway for the Heaven Dou Empire.
Within the kingdom were two major cities: the capital, Balak City, served as the political and economic hub, while another city, located in the fertile Limar Plains, was known as—
Soto City, the "Granary of Balak."
That's where Yunchuan's path had now taken him.
After parting ways with Spirit Hall, journeying for many days across rolling fields and winding highways, he arrived at Soto City—the first destination of his self-imposed trial.
Why start here of all places?
Because according to the original novel, this was the home of Shrek Academy.
A place of destiny.
A sacred stage.
And as someone who had read the original series—albeit, admittedly, skipping a few chapters—Yunchuan had always been curious about the canon characters, especially Tang San, the protagonist. Even more so now, given that this version of Tang San was his… twin brother.
His age? Twelve this year.
Same as himself.
Which meant, if memory served, this year Tang San would arrive at Shrek Academy. And where the protagonist went, the rest would follow—Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Oscar, Ning Rongrong... the entire Shrek Seven.
A convergence of fate.
For Yunchuan, who'd crossed into this world, meeting these legendary figures now in the flesh was something he could not allow himself to miss.
And so...
He had arrived.
His transportation had been a luxurious hired carriage, the journey taking just over two weeks. But now, after miles upon miles, cloud-wrapped hills and golden plains, the gates of Soto City finally stood before him.
It was high noon, the sun blazing fiercely in the cloudless blue sky. Heat shimmered across the stone roads, turning the air thick and suffocating.
Yunchuan stepped down from the carriage, tossed the fare to the grateful coachman, and walked alone through the west gate into the city streets.
All around him were brightly painted shops, vendors hawking food, and carriages and pedestrians weaving together in a thrumming pulse of city life. Yunchuan let his gaze wander with quiet interest—this city, after all, had once been just a place in a book.
Now, it was real.
He was dressed simply—white robes, loose sleeves, long black hair untied and flowing casually behind him. On his face was a soul tool disguise: a half-translucent mask that had changed his extraordinarily handsome appearance into something wholly ordinary.
But only his face.
Because some things could not be hidden.
Though plain-featured now, there was something in his every movement that attracted attention—an impossible poise, a quiet clarity, a pressureless elegance that made people stop and stare without even knowing why.
His eyes were especially captivating.
Even through the simulated facial blend, those dark, bright eyes refused to be dulled. They gleamed like inked crystal, pulling in glances whether wanted or not.
And so—
As Yunchuan walked through Soto City for the first time, more than a few young women on the road couldn't help but glance sideways. Some even giggled shamelessly, fanning themselves though the heat had nothing to do with it.
Yunchuan sighed inwardly.
'Even with the mask on, my charm stat is just too strong…'
He was genuinely grateful he'd thought ahead. If he'd entered the city showing his full face, it wouldn't just be a disturbance—it could cause a full-city traffic lockdown. Worse still, a riot.
He wasn't joking.
His appearance had already caused a mass incident once before—back when he was only seven.
It was during his first public "Salvation Mission" by Spirit Hall. Upon stepping into a small town and merely introducing himself…
The town's women had nearly started a civil war.
That memory haunted Bibi Dong to this day.
And now—twelve years old, taller, stronger, more refined. His charm had only grown.
Truly, he had to be careful.
He walked, paused here and there, soaking in the flavors and pulses of Soto. Everything was alive. Real. Not ink in a book, not pixels on a screen. This was a once-fictional world, and he was living in it.
And then—something unusual caught his attention.
A shop.
Small, outdated.
Its storefront was unremarkable—except for the emblem on the faded wooden sign above it. A circular crest, carved with three oddly familiar icons: a sword, a hammer, and a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Yunchuan's footsteps slowed.
He stared.
'Strange. That's… the Spirit Hall insignia?'
But why was it etched above a little store?
Walking closer, he saw that the shop's door was ajar. Inside, the lighting was dim and lined with shelves showing aged and dusty items. And yet—he immediately sensed something in the air.
A ripple.
A spiritual frequency.
It was the unmistakable aura of a soul tool.
Not yet bound, not in use—its passive energy signature was leaking into the air. Yunchuan recognized it instantly. From his long studies in Spirit Hall, he knew: unbound soul tools always radiated free-floating soul waves.
But soul tools were an endangered art.
Artifacts of old eras.
Their crafting methods long lost.
Even now, there were only a handful still circulating in the world, and most had been passed down as antiques or treasure heirlooms.
Curious now, Yunchuan stepped further inside.
The shop had no counter.
Only three walls lined with shelves, each hung with a few lonely gadgets—some glowing faintly, others fully inert.
And in the middle of it all?
A man.
Seated in an old wooden rocking chair, half-asleep, gently swaying.
The man looked to be in his fifties with a square face and thick frame. His eyes were closed, his chin slightly forward. He wore a rectangular pair of thick black-rimmed glasses.
Everything about him looked… outdated.
And odd.
Almost like a cartoon character come to life.
His nose was slightly crooked, his mouth curled into a sly smirk even in sleep. He breathed slowly and deeply, completely unfazed by Yunchuan's entrance.
Yunchuan narrowed his eyes.
The man's features…
Suddenly, a flash of memory surged from somewhere in his mind.
'Ah.'
He knew who this was.
Though he hadn't remembered at first, it all came flooding back now—this shop, this man, this moment. A small detail from the original story. Unimportant at the time—but burned vividly now seeing it himself in person.
He had stumbled across the start of something… intriguing.
(End of Chapter)