"Big brother, do you know where the people from this academy went?" Outside Shrek Academy, a man in a black cloak—Tang San—lowered his voice as he questioned a passerby.
He was well aware of the Spider God Cult's bounty on his head, so he dared not draw attention.
But his outfit, combined with his presence at such a sensitive location as Shrek Academy, only made him more suspicious—like a thief declaring "I didn't steal anything."
The middle-aged passerby eyed him warily. Who walks around in broad daylight dressed like that, asking about Shrek Academy? Everyone in Heaven Dou City knows they were all killed years ago…
"Who are you to them?"
"I…" Tang San hesitated, sensing the man's suspicion.
"I'm from out of town. My family mentioned a distant cousin who worked here as a teacher. Now that I'm passing through, I thought I'd seek him out."
The man frowned, unconvinced. "Everyone from this academy is dead. Killed by the Spirit Hall. It happened years ago."
"No survivors at all?" Tang San's voice rose slightly, his concern for the Seven Devils, Grandmaster, Liu Erlong, and Flender slipping through.
But he quickly caught himself. "I mean… I hope my cousin was spared."
The passerby's scrutiny intensified. From the start, this man had seemed off—and now his reaction to the news was too emotional.
"Kid, mind taking off that cloak? It's creepy wearing that in broad daylight."
Damn it. Tang San's heart sank. Even if this man didn't recognize him, he was clearly suspicious. If let go, he'd probably report him to the Spider God Cult for a reward.
His fingers subtly curled around a silver needle.
"Kid?" The man remained oblivious, even reaching out to pull back Tang San's hood.
A flick of Tang San's wrist sent the needle silently piercing the man's throat.
His outstretched hand froze midair before dropping limply.
Tang San stepped forward, bracing the man's body with his shoulder to prevent an immediate collapse.
After ensuring no one was watching, he dragged the man to a nearby wall, propping him up in a seated position against it.
With that done, Tang San channeled soul power into his legs and vaulted over the academy's wall.
The Shrek Academy before him now was nothing like the one he'd left years ago. Weeds choked the courtyards, and the buildings stood in crumbling disrepair.
The sight twisted his heart. He hurried toward the western sector—he had to know what had happened to Grandmaster and the others.
Grandmaster had been like a father to him. If something had happened…
He refused to finish the thought.
The deeper he ventured into the academy, the heavier the dread in his chest grew. Please, let them be okay.
Soon, he reached the western dormitories—where the Seven Devils and their teachers had once lived. The familiar wooden building still stood, but like everything else, it was decaying and lifeless.
He pushed open the door to his old room. Some of his belongings remained, untouched but coated in dust.
Then—clatter.
Something had fallen in the room above.
Tang San bolted outside and up the stairs. That had been Ma Hongjun's room. He was the only one who stayed behind. Could he still be…?
He shoved open the slightly ajar door.
Inside, a skeletal figure lay sprawled on the floor beside a shattered wine jar.
"Ma… Hongjun?" Tang San patted the man's cheek, barely recognizing him.
The changes were extreme—emaciated, disheveled, his face smeared with grime. But the aura was unmistakable.
"Who're you?" The figure shoved Tang San away, groping for the broken jar despite the shards cutting his hands. He was clearly blackout drunk.
"Ma Hongjun! It's me—Tang San! Don't you remember me?" The voice confirmed his identity. Tang San grabbed his shoulders, shaking him. "Wake up!"
"San… San-ge?" Ma Hongjun pushed back his greasy hair with a filthy hand, bleary eyes struggling to focus.
"You're really San-ge?"
"Yes! Who else? What happened to you?" Tang San's heart ached at the sight of his once-vibrant brother reduced to this wreck.
"Dead. All dead." Ma Hongjun suddenly burst into tears, his mind still fogged.
"Who? Who's dead? Tell me clearly!" The more erratic he acted, the more frantic Tang San became.
"Grandmaster… Dean Flender… Teacher Zhao… They're all dead." Sobs wracked Ma Hongjun's frame as he collapsed against Tang San, grief overwhelming him.
After the massacre at Shrek Academy, the surviving students had fled.
Only Ma Hongjun remained, guarding the ruins of his home. But between heartbreak and his uncontrollable Evil Fire, his sanity had eroded—until now, he was utterly broken.
Tang San's arrival had briefly reignited a spark, but now he could only mutter, "Dead… all dead…"
No amount of comfort reached him.
Realizing his brother was too far gone, Tang San carried him to bed before leaving, fists clenched.
Grandmaster… gone. The loss hit Tang San like a tidal wave. If not for his past life's memories and mental fortitude, the grief might have crushed him.
Along the way, he'd pieced together fragments of the continent's upheaval—the Spirit Hall's defeat, the Star Luo Empire's fall to soul beasts, the obliteration of the Top Three Sects.
Dai Mubai, Ning Rongrong, his father…
They were likely all dead. The only thread left holding him together was Xiao Wu. At least there'd been no news of her.
Then—a voice cut through his thoughts.
"Hurry up! They're executing a 100,000-year soul beast! You don't see that every day!"
Tang San turned to see a child leading a group of friends toward the city square.
"What did you say? Executing a 100,000-year soul beast?" Tang San grabbed the boy. "How could one even enter Heaven Dou City? And who would dare publicly kill it here? What if it harms civilians?"
"Why so worked up?" The boy pouted. "It's just one soul beast. It's been chained up for three days already."
Leaning in, he whispered, "I'll tell you a secret—it's a humanoid 100,000-year soul beast. A rabbit, I think. But don't tell anyone!"