"Sister, isn't that something you should be asking?"
Xiao Hongchen muttered from the side.
Meng Hongchen nudged him lightly with her elbow, then turned to Jiang Shengyu and asked,
"Shengyu, where did you two go?"
Jiang Shengyu repeated to them the same explanation he had given Yan Shaozhe earlier.
Xue Di, listening nearby, of course knew they were lying.
Only after they had finished brushing off the others and returned to their room did she question them about what they had really been up to.
Neither Jiang Shengyu nor Jiang Qingtong concealed the truth from her—they told her everything about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
After hearing them out, Xue Di looked at the pair curiously and asked,
"How did you even know the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was located in the Sunset Forest?"
Jiang Qingtong smiled sweetly and replied,
"Oh, we have our ways!"
Seeing that confident grin on Qingtong's face, Xue Di didn't press further. Instead, she asked,
"Would you like to know what Yan Shaozhe and I discussed yesterday with the envoys from the Heavenly Soul Empire?"
The moment she asked that, Jiang Shengyu didn't hesitate at all.
He grabbed two chairs, placed them in front of Xue Di, and sat down with Jiang Qingtong. Then, grabbing a handful of melon seeds, he made a gesture of invitation.
"Please, go ahead."
"You brat, do you think this is a storytime session?"
Xue Di glared at him, but continued anyway.
"The Heavenly Soul Empire has decided to deepen its cooperation with Shrek Academy. They hope the Academy will station an Elder in Heaven Dou City—to monitor the Tang Sect."
Jiang Shengyu nodded casually.
"Not surprising. If no one were keeping an eye on the Tang Sect, that would be the real problem."
Xue Di glanced at him, unfazed by his flippant tone, and continued,
"In addition, they intend to invite the Body Sect to come out of seclusion and serve as the Empire's National Protector Sect. They've even asked Yan Shaozhe to act as intermediary."
Hearing this, Jiang Shengyu chuckled.
"Then let them try."
Xue Di narrowed her eyes.
"What did you two do to the Body Sect?"
Jiang Qingtong laughed softly and gave a brief description of what had happened with the Body Sect.
When she finished, Xue Di sighed.
"I thought you'd at least use those Title Douluo's sealed powers to keep them from emerging. I see I underestimated you."
"How could we dare, Senior? You're never one to underestimate anything!"
Jiang Shengyu shook his head, smiling brightly.
"You never act properly," Xue Di muttered under her breath, before her expression grew serious again.
"Shengyu, Qingtong—your disappearance overnight has definitely aroused Yan Shaozhe's suspicions. He's probably on his way to investigate the Sunset Forest right now."
But Jiang Qingtong appeared unconcerned.
"Don't worry, Senior Xue. We took care of everything before coming back. All he'll see there is barren land—nothing else to find."
Only then did Xue Di nod, reassured.
"Good. It's wise to be cautious."
Sure enough, Yan Shaozhe had done exactly as Xue Di predicted.
He personally went to investigate the Sunset Forest. But aside from a stretch of desolate earth, he found nothing. He didn't even realize that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had ever existed there.
After circling the area and finding nothing suspicious, he returned to the hotel—just as Jiang Shengyu and the others arrived.
"Dean Yan," they greeted, smiling politely.
Yan Shaozhe cleared his throat, attempting to cover his earlier actions.
"In a few days, we'll be setting off for the Body Sect. You should start preparing."
"Yes, Dean," Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong replied in perfect unison, wearing their most obedient expressions.
Though the Body Sect had long stayed secluded from the world, its location was still known to the higher-ups of the major empires—and to Shrek Academy as well.
That day, Yan Shaozhe led the group through a series of towering mountain ranges.
Along the way, he recounted the long, tangled history between Shrek Academy and the Body Sect.
When he spoke of Du Bushi and Du Busi's old feud with Mu En, his words were not exactly contemptuous—but neither did they carry much respect.
For someone like Yan Shaozhe, in this vast world, only three elders truly stood above him in his eyes: Mu En, Xuanzi, and Elder Song.
Everyone else, he barely acknowledged.
Even Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong—whom both Mu En and Xuanzi had personally designated as talents to be cultivated—didn't stir much genuine affection in him.
As he spoke, they finally arrived at the Body Sect's supposed headquarters.
"Although the Body Sect isn't on the same level as Shrek Academy, it's still a sect with a legacy spanning thousands of years. This is it—this is the Body Sect, everyone—"
But his introduction abruptly stopped in his throat.
Before them stretched a scene of desolation.
The broad flatland nestled between the mountains was utterly devoid of life.
Not a single disciple was present.
The once-grand sect buildings stood abandoned—now serving as playgrounds for wild animals.
"What happened? How could this be? Where is the Body Sect?!"
Yan Shaozhe's face twisted in disbelief. He rushed toward the main hall, flying straight inside—only to find cobwebs in the corners and dust covering the floor.
Everything about the scene screamed the same truth: the Body Sect was long gone.
"So this is the Body Sect? Where is everyone? Did they… move away?"
Jiang Feixin blinked in confusion as she followed the others into the hall, her voice full of wonder.
"Impossible!"
Yan Shaozhe rejected the idea outright.
"Even if the Body Sect wanted to relocate, they should have informed Shrek Academy first!"
"Is Shrek Academy the Body Sect's overseer now?"
Xue Di's cool voice cut in as she looked at him.
"Of course not!" Yan Shaozhe snapped.
"Then why," Xue Di continued calmly, "would they need to report to you?"
Yan Shaozhe fell silent, his brow furrowing.
He couldn't answer. Instead, he began pacing back and forth, muttering under his breath,
"The Body Sect's disappearance… this is serious. I must return to the Academy and report to Elder Xuan immediately."
Then, after a pause, he lifted his gaze to the group.
"You all should return to Heaven Dou City and wait for me."
But his words were quickly challenged by Ling Luochen.
"Dean Yan, I'm afraid that won't do."
Yan Shaozhe frowned.
"Are you questioning me?"
Ling Luochen quickly bowed her head.
"I wouldn't dare. It's just… this journey was meant to be a field training mission. If we simply sit idle in Heaven Dou City while you're away, it defeats the purpose of our experience. And if we fail this training, who knows when we'll be allowed to graduate?"
Her reasoning was sound.
After a moment of silence, Yan Shaozhe relented. He clasped his hands behind his back, considering the group one by one—his gaze lingering briefly on Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong—before finally turning to Xue Di.
"Teacher Xue," he said solemnly, "I'll entrust them to you."
Xue Di inclined her head slightly.
"Rest assured."
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