The group stepped into the conference room one after another, but as soon as Kong Ming'an entered, a faint ripple appeared in the air beside him.
The next moment, a beautiful white figure silently emerged, standing quietly behind Kong Ming'an, who had just sat down, her gaze indifferent and cold.
Zhang Lexuan unconsciously cast her gaze towards the woman, looking at her exquisitely beautiful face and the cold, unapproachable aura around her, and couldn't help but frown slightly.
This was the third one.
Including last night, she had only seen Kong Ming'an four times, and three of those times he had a different girl with him.
Moreover, each time it was a different girl, and each one had a different appearance and temperament.
Unconsciously, she recalled the information she had previously investigated about the "sole heir of the Kong Family."
Could it be… his purpose was not only to bring her back to the Sun Moon Empire, but also… her herself?
Zhang Lexuan's eyes changed slightly.
As everyone entered the conference room, the door closed naturally.
Kong Ming'an casually sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the three Shrek inner court elites, and once again, he spoke:
"You should have brought a Team Leader Teacher, at least one who could represent Shrek's attitude."
"Cut the nonsense!" Wu Ming, being the most impatient, took a step forward, her crimson eyes faintly agitated.
Compared to this handsome Young Master whom she had only met a few times, she cared more about her good friend.
"Kong… Ming'an, right? Speak, what exactly do you want to do? What was the meaning of that book you gave Sister Lexuan yesterday? Please explain it clearly."
Kong Ming'an did not answer Wu Ming directly, but instead turned his gaze to Zhang Lexuan, his tone calm: "Sister Lexuan's own explanation of this matter might be more convincing than mine."
Immediately, all eyes were focused on Zhang Lexuan.
Zhang Lexuan took a deep breath, as if having made some kind of decision, her hands unconsciously clenching slightly, her eyes looking at her two good friends as she explained:
"That book yesterday was actually a family tree, recording a collateral branch of the Kong Family of the Sun Moon Empire that lost contact over a hundred years ago, and I am from that branch."
"Part of the Bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire flows in me, and… I have also inherited the Legacy Spirit from the Sun Moon Imperial Family, 'Moon'."
"What?!"
Wu Ming's eyes instantly widened, her face full of disbelief, looking at Zhang Lexuan and then at Kong Ming'an, as if she had heard an Arabian Nights tale.
Although Han Ruoruo also showed surprise, she was clearly more composed. She pondered thoughtfully for a moment, then looked seriously at Kong Ming'an:
"So, Young Master Kong, after all this trouble, your ultimate goal is Sister Lexuan? You want her to… return to the Sun Moon Empire?"
"Yes."
Kong Ming'an answered directly and without hesitation, "Her Spirit and Bloodline, remaining at Shrek is a mistake. Shrek is not where she should be."
"I refuse."
Almost at the instant Kong Ming'an's words fell, Zhang Lexuan's clear and firm voice rang out.
She stood up without the slightest hesitation, her eyes meeting Kong Ming'an's: "Shrek nurtured me; my teachers and friends are there. I will never betray Shrek."
"What if Shrek betrayed you?"
"…"
Kong Ming'an's simple sentence plunged the atmosphere into dead silence.
Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming almost simultaneously looked slowly at Zhang Lexuan, trying to speak, but didn't know what to say.
Time stretched slightly, and after a long while, Zhang Lexuan gritted her teeth, her eyes showing a determined uncertainty. She met Kong Ming'an's gaze,
"Shrek… will not betray me!"
"Is that so."
This answer seemed to be within Kong Ming'an's expectations. He showed no disappointment on his face; instead, he nodded gently as if confirming something.
"I understand."
His tone remained calm, "Well then, if that's the case, our conversation ends here. I have seen your resolve, Sister Lexuan."
"I cannot fully represent the Sun Moon Empire yet, but I can guarantee you in the name of the Kong Family,"
"—As long as you come to your senses, call my name, and I will appear and take you home. Whenever, wherever, as long as you call me, I will come."
Kong Ming'an's words were very gentle, and with his inherently mild voice, this so-called "guarantee" sounded almost like a confession.
If she and he were the same age, and both at Shrek, she probably wouldn't be able to resist, right? This thought unconsciously flashed through Zhang Lexuan's mind.
However, although the Young Master's words were a bit strange, like a polite closing remark yet seemingly containing a deeper meaning, in any case, she knew that the Young Master had no intention of continuing to talk with her.
A strange feeling arose in her heart, but her mind was in turmoil at the moment, and she had no desire to delve deeper.
Looking calmly at the Young Master, Zhang Lexuan simply nodded and then said, "Thank you for your time today."
"Hmm… out of kindness, a reminder to you all." Kong Ming'an's tone was calm: "Your Team Leader Teacher came with you. I suggest you explain things clearly, otherwise it could cause some trouble."
Zhang Lexuan's steps, which were about to leave, paused slightly. She turned to look at Kong Ming'an, who was seated, nodded gently, and then left the room with Wu Ming, who was still full of confusion, and Han Ruoruo, who was deep in thought.
And as soon as they stepped out of the conference room, they saw their Shrek representative team's Team Leader Teacher not far away, as well as Xuan Zi, whose face was somewhat pale and whose weakened state could not be concealed.
Xuan Zi looked at them, his eyes serious and cautious: "What did you talk about with him? Tell me everything, without any concealment."
"…"
Perhaps it was because Xuan Zi's aura, belonging to a ninety-eighth-level Titled Douluo, was difficult to suppress due to the bone-chilling cold, his words somehow became more aggressive.
Almost instinctively, the Young Master's words from earlier echoed in their hearts simultaneously… "What if Shrek betrayed you?"
…Inside the conference room, as all the "humans" left, only the two "peers" remained. The Snow Empress no longer concealed herself, and clear confusion appeared in her ice-blue eyes.
She looked at Kong Ming'an, her voice ethereal and clear: "You seem… not surprised by her refusal? Then why did you still propose to recruit her? Isn't this superfluous?"
"If she immediately agreed to betray the academy that had nurtured her for many years just because of a few words and a family tree, then she wouldn't be someone worth my effort to recruit."
"The seed has been planted. She needs time to digest, to doubt, to compare. When she truly sees certain things clearly, she will naturally understand the meaning of my words today."
The Snow Empress seemed to understand but not fully, but in the end, she gently shook her head, her cold and beautiful face still puzzled:
"I don't understand."
"…" Kong Ming'an paused, his tone inexplicably helpless, "In short, you'll understand later."
"…"
The Snow Empress remained silent, still not understanding.
Why bother with so many twists and turns? If it were her meeting someone she cared about… she unconsciously glanced at Kong Ming'an beside her, then withdrew her gaze… she would probably follow the rules of Spirit Beasts, speak with strength, directly capture him and lock him by her side, and then completely possess him.
Wouldn't it be better to be direct?