Beneath the towering dome, light filtered through the colorful glazed windows, casting a kaleidoscope of shifting shadows. This hall, symbolizing the highest seat of power within the Spirit Hall, was imbued with an aura of sanctity and solemnity, yet also an icy sense of distance.
Upon the high papal throne sat a graceful, elegant figure. Adorned with the Amethyst Gold Crown, scepter in hand, and draped in magnificent papal robes, her peerlessly beautiful countenance was somewhat blurred by the interplay of light and shadow. Only her deep, violet eyes remained clear—calm and unrippled, as if capable of discerning the human heart, yet also seeming to contain an abyss that could swallow all emotion. This was the current Pope of the Spirit Hall, Bibidong.
Below her, a Soul Master dressed in the attire of a cardinal bowed as he presented an urgent secret report—news from Heaven Dou City.
An attendant stepped forward, respectfully accepted the report, unrolled it, and began reading in a steady tone:
"Your humble servant, Salas, Platinum Bishop of the Heaven Dou City branch, respectfully reports: During the final round of the Heaven Dou Division Promotion Tournament, Shrek Academy student Tang San violated regulations by using the poisoned hidden weapon 'Dragon Whisker Needle' in an attempt to murder Marco Lee, captain of Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One. The nature of this act is extremely severe. After the match, his mentor, Liu Erlong, openly defied the tournament rules and attempted to assault Marco, but was stopped by his father, Godly Spear Douluo Li Zhaoyan. Your servant intended to enforce strict punishment according to regulations. However, Shrek Academy mentor Yu Xiaogang presented the Pope's Decree, obstructing enforcement. Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School Sect Master Ning Fengzhi was also present to mediate. Currently, Shrek Academy has not yet been punished, and its student Tang San is severely injured and unconscious. Your servant dares not act arbitrarily and hereby reports the matter, humbly awaiting Your Holiness's sacred judgment."
The attendant's voice echoed through the vast hall, each word clearly audible.
As the attendant read, a faint, almost imperceptible ripple seemed to stir in the depths of Bibidong's calm, violet eyes. Particularly upon hearing the words "Yu Xiaogang" and "Pope's Decree," the slender jade fingers holding her scepter tightened almost unnoticeably for an instant, her nails even pressing slightly into her palm, leaving shallow marks. Yet her countenance remained placid, devoid of joy or anger, as if she had merely heard an inconsequential report.
The great hall fell into utter silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop. After finishing, the attendant rolled up the report, bowed, and retreated to the side, not daring to breathe loudly. The cardinal below also kept his head lowered, awaiting the Pope's decision.
After a long while, Bibidong finally spoke, her voice cool and authoritative, betraying no emotion whatsoever. "Bishop Salas acted in accordance with regulations. There is nothing improper in that."
The cardinal's heart stirred, thinking the Pope intended to support Salas's call for severe punishment.
However, Bibidong's next words made his heart sink.
"Nevertheless, with the grand tournament imminent, stability must be prioritized. Although Shrek Academy violated regulations, no actual casualties resulted. Moreover, the involved student has already suffered severe injuries, and his mentor was deterred by Godly Spear Douluo. Since Elder Yu presented the Pope's Decree, we shall proceed according to its directive."
She paused, her gaze seeming to pierce through the hall, looking toward some distant place, her voice still calm: "By my decree: Shrek Academy instructor Liu Erlong, for improper conduct, is barred from participating in any Soul Master Grand Competition as an instructor for three consecutive tournaments. Student Tang San, for using prohibited hidden weapons, shall have his accumulated points for the remainder of this tournament canceled, but his qualification for the Grand Finals is retained. All others shall not be pursued. Instruct Salas to focus on preparing for the Grand Finals. Matters concerning Shrek shall be set aside for now, and no further disturbances are to be created."
This essentially suppressed all of Salas's accusations and intentions—raised high, then set down gently! Only Liu Erlong and Tang San received inconsequential restrictions, while Shrek Academy's qualification to compete was preserved, especially Tang San's qualification for the Grand Finals! This was undoubtedly a veiled protection of Shrek, a protection of... Yu Xiaogang.
The Cardinal was inwardly shocked but dared not show the slightest hint of it, quickly bowing and responding, "I obey the Pope's decree!"
"Go." Bibidong waved her hand and closed her eyes again, as if the decision just made was merely an insignificant trifle.
The Cardinal and attendants, as if granted amnesty, respectfully withdrew from the great hall.
In the empty hall, only Bibidong remained. She slowly opened her eyes; her purple pupils reflected the mottled light and shadow of the dome, yet they appeared hollow and profound. She raised her hand, gently stroking the scepter in her grasp that symbolized supreme authority, her fingertips cold.
Heaven Dou City, Shrek Academy's temporary residence.
A stifling, sorrowful, and chaotic atmosphere still enveloped the small courtyard. Tang San's injuries, with the help of Oscar's Recovery Sausage and some precious medicines left by Ning Rongrong, had finally stabilized, and he was out of life-threatening danger. However, he remained unconscious, with multiple fractures throughout his body and internal organ damage, especially severe trauma to his waist and kidneys, requiring a long period of recuperation.
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and others had searched everywhere for Xiao Wu without success, their hearts burning with anxiety yet helpless. Under Liu Erlong's questioning and cold war, Yu Xiaogang was mentally and physically exhausted. Coupled with his unhealed internal injuries, his face grew increasingly pale. The entire Shrek Academy was immersed in an unprecedented low.
After an unknown length of time—perhaps due to the medicine, perhaps due to Tang San's tenacious will and unwillingness to yield—he finally slowly awoke from a deep coma.
Consciousness struggled upward as if from a cold, dark mire. The first thing he felt was excruciating, tearing pain everywhere in his body, especially around his waist, as if two balls of fire were burning and convulsing there. He couldn't help but let out a pained groan. His eyelids felt heavy as mountains; after several attempts, he barely managed to open them a slit.
His blurred vision gradually cleared. What came into view was the familiar, simple wooden ceiling and, keeping vigil by his bedside, the haggard faces of Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun, their eyes bloodshot.
"Third Brother! You're awake!" Oscar exclaimed joyfully.
"Little San! How do you feel?" Dai Mubai urgently leaned in and asked.
"Awake is good! Awake is good!" Ma Hongjun also breathed a sigh of relief.
However, Tang San's gaze quickly swept across the room, not seeing the figure he most wanted to see. A strong unease surged in his heart. He struggled to sit up but aggravated his wounds, causing him to gasp sharply in pain.
"Xiao Wu... where's Xiao Wu?" His voice was hoarse and dry, filled with urgent inquiry.
Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai and the other two instantly looked uncomfortable, their eyes evasive, not daring to meet Tang San's gaze.
"Xiao Wu, she..." Oscar stammered.
Seeing his companions like this, the unease in Tang San's heart instantly amplified, turning into icy fear. He grabbed Dai Mubai's arm with all his strength, his voice rasping, "Tell me! What happened to Xiao Wu?! Where is she?!"
His voice trembled with agitation and injury, his eyes filled with undeniable urgency and... a trace of panic he himself hadn't even noticed.
"Xiao San, calm down!" Dai Mubai pressed him down, saying gravely, "Xiao Wu... she went missing on the day you fell unconscious, when Salas brought his men. We searched everywhere nearby, but couldn't find any trace of her."
"Missing...?" Tang San felt as if struck by lightning, his entire body stiffening, as if he couldn't comprehend the meaning of those words. The eyes that had just regained some spark instantly lost all light, becoming hollow, bewildered, and then replaced by a near-mad crimson!
"Missing?! How could she be missing?! Where did she go?! Who did this?! Was it Marco?! Did he take Xiao Wu?!" Tang San struggled violently, ignoring the intense pain, roaring hoarsely like a madman. His mind instantly flashed with all the possible misfortunes Xiao Wu might have encountered, especially thinking of Marco's cold, ruthless methods. Fear and rage threatened to consume him!
"No! It wasn't him! He was taken away by his father very early that day!" Oscar hurriedly explained.
"Xiao San! Calm down! Listen to us!" Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun pressed him down forcefully.
But how could Tang San listen now? The news of Xiao Wu's disappearance was like the final straw, crushing his already taut nerves to the breaking point. The successive crushing defeats, severe injuries, humiliation, and now Xiao Wu's disappearance—all the negative emotions erupted like a volcano! He struggled madly, trying to get out of bed, wanting to find Xiao Wu, constantly shouting her name through hoarse cries, tears mixing with blood seeping from reopened wounds, streaming down his face.
"Xiao Wu—! Xiao Wu—! Where are you?! Answer me!"
His frenzy alarmed those outside. Flender, Zhao Wuji, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang, who had just learned of Tang San's awakening and rushed over despite his own illness, all charged in.
Seeing Tang San's deranged state, disregarding his injuries, almost self-destructive appearance, everyone felt heartache.
Slap!
A crisp, sharp slap landed hard on Tang San's face!
The force wasn't heavy, but it instantly froze the frantically struggling Tang San.
The one who hit him was Yu Xiaogang. His face was pale, his chest heaving from agitation and injury, but his eyes were exceptionally stern, even carrying a trace of anguished disappointment.
"Look at what you've become?!" Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled slightly from weakness, yet carried undeniable severity. "Like a madman! Like a coward! Will acting like this help you find Xiao Wu?!"
Tang San covered his face, staring blankly at his teacher. That slap seemed to disperse some of his madness, revealing the bottomless pain and confusion beneath.
"Xiao Wu is missing, we're all worried, we're all searching!" Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the metallic taste in his throat, enunciating each word clearly, "But what you need to do now is recover from your injuries! Get stronger! In your current state, forget about finding Xiao Wu—you can't even protect yourself! Do you want her to come back and see a cripple, a madman?!"
"Teacher..." The crimson in Tang San's eyes gradually faded, replaced by deeper pain and despair. Tears once again silently streamed down his face, "Xiao Wu... Xiao Wu, she..."
"She must still be alive!" Yu Xiaogang declared resolutely. Though he had no certainty in his heart, he had to give Tang San something to hold onto, "She's so clever, she'll definitely protect herself! What you need to do now is survive, complete this tournament, become strong enough! Only then will you have the right, the ability, to find her! Do you understand?!"
Yu Xiaogang's words struck Tang San's heart like a heavy hammer. Yes, what could he do in his current state? Besides helpless rage, what else could he do?
He slowly lowered his head, clenching his jaw tightly, his body trembling slightly from the intense suppression. After a long while, he finally looked up. The madness in his eyes had receded, leaving only a profound, ice-cold calmness, and a nearly obsessive determination.
"I understand, teacher." His voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally steady.
He lay back down on the bed, closed his eyes, no longer struggling, no longer roaring. But everyone could sense the chilling, resolute aura emanating from him.
In his heart, he silently swore to that missing pink figure:
Xiao Wu, wait for me.
Wait until I finish this tournament.
No matter where you are, even if it's the ends of the earth, a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.
I will find you.
Without fail.
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