Shrek Academy was in chaos.
The whispers began like ripples in water. Within days, the rumors turned to waves crashing across the campus—
Tang San was gone.
"Flender, Wuji! Did you find him?"
Yu Xiaogang's voice cracked when the two returned, but the shaky hope in his face collapsed at Flender's slow shake of the head.
"…No."
Flender sighed heavily. "We checked everywhere. Yuexuan—Tang Yuehua swore she hadn't seen him. Even the Titans of the Li Clan denied contact. The guards of the academy itself never saw Tang San leave. He vanished into thin air."
Yu Xiaogang's chest hollowed. He staggered back, his hands curling into fists.
"Dean… Master…" Dai Mubai and Oscar entered, their strained expressions enough for Yu Xiaogang to understand without hearing a word.
"Enough. Go rest," Yu Xiaogang muttered, staring blankly at the desk. Loneliness swamped him.
He had already lost Liu Erlong days prior—his lifelong love, gone without a farewell. Now, his personal disciple, the very boy he had pinned all his life's theories upon, missing as well.
Love lost. Disciple stolen. Hope shattered.
This cruel timing threatened to drive him mad.
"Xiaogang, we must… we must think of something." Flender was sweating profusely. He remembered all too clearly the day Tang Hao nearly crippled Zhao Wuji. If word spread that Shrek had lost Tang Hao's son, the consequences… no one would be able to withstand Tang Hao's wrath.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes, muddied with despair, suddenly sharpened. "Then there's only one path left. I must go to Martial Soul City."
Flender stiffened. "…To see Bibi Dong?"
Yu Xiaogang drew in a shuddering breath. "Yes. For Tang San's sake, I must."
"After so many years… will she even look at you?" Flender muttered bitterly.
"I'll force her to," Yu Xiaogang said flatly. "For Tang San, I have no choice."
Advanced Class
Within the Academy, students buzzed with vanity and gossip.
"Still no news of Tang San?"
"Hah. If you can find him now, it'll be miracles."
"He's probably really Clear Sky Sect's heir. Remember when Tai Long publicly recognized him?"
"I heard it too. That Tang Hao—the same Tang Hao who clashed with Martial Soul Hall—is his father."
"Then it's obvious, isn't it? Martial Soul Hall took him. They'll torture him, drag out Tang Hao's whereabouts."
"Maybe they already chopped his hands and feet off."
"Or worse, spoon-fed him filth until he confessed—"
"Enough!"
Bang! Dai Mubai slammed his palm against the desk, the sound cracking loud enough to silence the room. His cold golden eyes swept the class.
Tang San was his brother, his comrade! To hear these worms gossip about him, slinging filth so casually—he wanted to pound their faces in.
"Dai Mubai, we're only stating facts. Accept reality."
His throat burned with suppressed fury. Inwardly, he too feared the worst. That Tang San had fallen to Martial Soul Hall's clutches. But to admit it aloud? It would break Xiao Wu completely.
Xiao Wu.
Her hands balled at her sides as tears finally spilled. She bolted out of the classroom before her sobs could be heard.
In her dormitory, Xiao Wu collapsed onto her bed, arms wrapped around herself as sobs wracked her frame.
They told her not to worry, told her he simply had urgent matters and would return. But she knew her brother. No matter how urgent, he would have told her something. Always—always—he left words for her.
This silence meant one thing.
He had been taken.
The rumors rang in her ears. Tang Hao—Haotian Douluo. Tang San—his son. Was it all true? If his identity had been exposed, then hers—her soul beast identity—couldn't be much safer.
Why hadn't Tang Hao come to protect him?! Wasn't Tang San precious enough to him, after Ah Yin?
Her sobs turned to trembling panic.
A shadow slid into her room.
"Little rabbit."
Xiao Wu jerked upright, eyes red, startled.
"…Lu Yuan?!"
He leaned lazily against the window frame, smirk painted across his lips.
"I—how did you even get in?"
"This dorm's got no security," Lu Yuan said easily. "While you were crying into your pillow, I slipped in from behind."
Xiao Wu's whole body went tense. This scoundrel—it was always him.
"Don't make trouble!" she snapped, wiping at her eyes. "What do you want?"
Lu Yuan tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Relax. I just came to ask—any news from Liu Erlong lately?"
"Teacher Erlong?" Xiao Wu blinked at him, confused. "No… she's been gone for a while. None of us have seen her since."
Lu Yuan's smirk faltered. His hand clenched his wine jar tighter. That fiery woman had run off with his child—his little pepper. Not a word since. His frustration burned.
Xiao Wu frowned, suspicious now. "Why are you looking for Teacher Erlong? What's your connection to her?"
Lu Yuan shrugged. "She stole my kid. Ran off."
Xiao Wu almost fell off the bed. "…You… what!?"
Where? How? This drunkard? She stared at him like he'd grown three heads, unable to believe. Clearly he was rambling again, drunk on his imagination.
But before she could ask more—
"Little rabbit, you were crying just now. Why?"
The levity in his smile slipped for once.
Xiao Wu's heart ached as she whispered, "My brother… Tang San. He's missing. Everyone says Martial Soul Hall took him."
For a long breath, silence fell.
"…Tang San's lost, huh?" Lu Yuan said finally. He shook his jar, tilted it toward her. "All the more reason. Shouldn't you drink two cups then?"
"Do you think I'm in the mood!?" Xiao Wu flung her gaze away, staring hard out the window.
Lu Yuan crouched beside her bed, his grin creeping back. "Don't be sad, little rabbit. Maybe he just ran off chasing some girl. You know, men…"
"Impossible!" Xiao Wu snapped, tears brimming fresh in her eyes. "You think he's like you? My brother would never!"
"Aha—birds of a feather, you think he's so different from his buddies?" Lu Yuan chuckled. "Those two—Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun—they're in the brothels every other night. I catch them when I'm drinking!"
"My brother is nothing like them!" Xiao Wu's voice rose, body shaking with fury.
"Ohhh," Lu Yuan mocked lightly, eyes twinkling. "So your Tang San's a dandelion."
"…What?"
"Dandelions don't choose where they grow. They fly with the wind. Tang San too—blown away somewhere, chasing who knows what." He waved his broad palm slowly in front of her, imitating drifting fluff.
That was the last straw.
"Get out!!"
Xiao Wu pointed furiously at the window. "Leave! Now!"
Angry, grieving, heartsore—Tang San's absence throbbed in her heart, and Lu Yuan's teasing only twisted the knife.
Lu Yuan tilted his head like she was the unreasonable one. "…You're really strange, little rabbit. We were having such a nice talk, and suddenly you blow your lid."
"OUT!"
Her voice cracked, but it was firm.
The scoundrel rose, stretching casually. "Fine, fine. But keep an ear open. If you hear anything of Liu Erlong, you'll tell me." He winked. "I'll come back tomorrow."
And then, with one mischievous grin more, he vanished again into the night.
Leaving Xiao Wu shaking with suppressed anger, sorrow flooding back the moment he was gone.
Tang San… where are you?
--
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