The reunion was a heartwarming scene. Ah Yin, her radiant beauty shining even brighter in the familiar surroundings of her home, spent what felt like an eternity interacting with her beloved subordinates. The blue silver grass swayed around her, each blade a sentient being, eager to communicate with their Empress.
'They're so happy to see her,' Song Qing thought, observing the scene with a quiet satisfaction.
Ah Yin moved amongst them, her touch gentle, her voice soft as she inquired about their well-being. She asked about the forest, about any troubles they might have faced in her absence, offering her guidance and comfort.
"And how has the growth been in the western part of the forest this season?" she asked mentally, her spiritual power reaching out to the collective consciousness of the blue silver grass.
A chorus of mental responses flooded her mind, filled with details of sunlight, rainfall, and the health of the forest. Ah Yin listened intently, her brow furrowing slightly as she learned of a small patch that had been struggling due to a lack of nutrients.
"We must address this," she murmured, her hand gently stroking the leaves of a nearby blue silver grass. She then turned her attention to the collective consciousness, offering her guidance on how to redirect resources to the struggling area.
The Blue Spirit Grass spirit beasts, individual entities within the vast network, were also overjoyed by their Empress's return. They approached Song Qing cautiously, their plant-like forms swaying gently.
"Honorable Human," one of them communicated mentally, its voice a soft rustling sound, "we thank you from the depths of our roots for healing our Empress. We are eternally grateful."
Others echoed this sentiment, their gratitude a palpable wave of peaceful energy that washed over Song Qing.
Song Qing simply offered a calm smile, nodding slightly in acknowledgment. He didn't feel the need to engage in lengthy conversation. He had done what he needed to do, and their gratitude was a pleasant, if unnecessary, bonus.
'They truly adore her,' he mused, watching Ah Yin's gentle interactions. Her beauty seemed to resonate with the very essence of the forest.
A few hours later, as the sun began its slow descent towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the blue silver grass, Ah Yin approached Song Qing. Her movements were graceful, her curvaceous hips swaying gently with each step. Her large breasts, visible even through her simple attire, jiggled softly, drawing the eye.
She subtly created a small, localized domain using her spiritual power, a silent barrier that would prevent any of her subordinates from overhearing their conversation.
"Holy Son," she began, her voice soft, her blue eyes meeting his with a hint of nervousness. "W-what are your thoughts… regarding my son… Little San?"
She hesitated for a moment, then continued, her tone carefully chosen. "His talent is… good, naturally. But it cannot compare to yours, Holy Son. I just… I wanted to ensure… that you would not… target him."
Song Qing, who had been observing the forest with a detached air, turned his gaze towards her. He smiled faintly at her maternal concern. He then casually laid down on the soft carpet of blue silver grass, his arms resting behind his head.
"Ah Yin," he said, his voice a low murmur, "after observing me for an entire year, is this truly what you still worry about?"
He chuckled softly. "It seems you still don't know me very well."
He turned his head to look at her, his gaze direct. "I do not break my promises. I told you I would not directly harm your son, and I meant it."
He paused, his eyes thoughtful. "Moreover, until this moment, Tang San is simply growing stronger. He has yet to make any direct move against the Spirit Hall. Why would I harbor animosity towards someone who has done nothing to provoke me?"
Ah Yin gently laid down beside him, her body close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her. She tentatively placed an arm across his chest, hugging him a bit intimately. The scent of her hair, a delicate floral fragrance, filled his nostrils.
"I know, Holy Son," she whispered, her voice soft against his ear. "I know you are not that kind of person. But… a mother's heart cannot help but fear for her child."
Song Qing listened to her words, a faint smile playing on his lips. He reached up and gently stroked her blue hair.
"Rest your overthinking, Ah Yin," he said calmly. "My target remains your husband. You have no need to worry about your son… for now."
He turned his gaze back towards the sky, watching the clouds drift lazily overhead. "I will bring you back to this place once a week," he said, his voice even. "So that you can meet with your brethren. It is the least I can do, considering our… agreements."
Ah Yin's grip on his arm tightened slightly, a look of gratitude in her beautiful blue eyes. She nodded slowly, her voluptuous form pressed against his. He could feel the soft jiggle of her large breasts with each breath she took, the gentle curve of her slender waist against his side.
Despite the intimacy of her actions, Song Qing remained remarkably calm. He was enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the forest, the fresh, clean air filling his lungs.
'It is quite refreshing here,' he thought.
His mind then drifted to other matters. He wondered when Tang Hao would finally make his move. When would the Clear Sky Clan, along with their allies, decide to openly challenge the Spirit Hall?
'It cannot be much longer now,' he mused. 'The tension is building.'
He knew that when that day came, he would be ready. He would lead the Spirit Hall to crush each and every one of their enemies, gaining public favor in the process. While the approval of the masses wasn't strictly necessary for someone of his standing, he still preferred to handle things in a way that maintained a semblance of order and justice.
He was certain that it wouldn't be long before Tang Hao, fueled by his grief and rage, would lead the charge, tearing away the facade of peace and plunging the continent into a great war. And Song Qing would be waiting, ready to meet that challenge head-on.
~~
Meanwhile, far away from the tranquil beauty of the Blue Silver Grass Forest, a different kind of chaos was unfolding. The teachers and students of the Shrek Academy had indeed made the move from Suotuo City. Their destination? The prestigious Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
This relocation was primarily the brainchild of Yu Xiaogang. He had joined the Shrek Academy nearly ten months prior, full of his self-proclaimed revolutionary theories.
'This is the place where true growth can occur,' Yu Xiaogang had confidently declared.
In those ten months, Yu Xiaogang had implemented his unique training regimen. The results, to put it mildly, were underwhelming. His strange methods had barely managed to nudge the students' physical prowess forward.
'Are they even getting stronger?' Flender would often wonder, observing the students' lackluster progress.
Yu Xiaogang, in his own mind, believed he was making great strides. He considered Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar to be the shining stars of the academy.
'Their potential is… adequate,' Yu Xiaogang would internally assess them, a hint of condescension in his thoughts.
However, the trio's synergy wasn't perfect. When they participated in various tournaments and ranking matches in Suotuo City, a glaring weakness became apparent. The other students of the Shrek Academy simply couldn't keep pace.
'They lack the necessary… fortitude,' Yu Xiaogang would often mutter, blaming the weaker students.
They lacked balance. They lacked good control-type spirits that could effectively complement the powerhouses. This imbalance often led to the Shrek Academy's team suffering numerous defeats.
Yu Xiaogang would become easily flustered during these matches. His tactical flaws were readily exposed by more astute opponent teams.
"They didn't follow my instructions!" he would often exclaim after a loss, his face flushed with indignation.
And here's the truly baffling part – the students actually believed him.
'Teacher is right. We messed up,' they would murmur amongst themselves, accepting his blame without question.
Soon, even Yu Xiaogang, in his own convoluted way, began to realize that their progress in Suotuo City had plateaued.
'A change of scenery is needed,' he concluded, a sudden spark of an idea igniting in his mind.
He proposed a bold move: the Shrek Academy should seek to join the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Only then, he argued, would his students have access to better resources and truly flourish.
Flender, the ever-practical dean, needed some convincing. The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was a behemoth, and Shrek was… well, Shrek.
"Xiaogang, are you sure about this?" Flender had asked, his brow furrowed with doubt.
But Flender's trust in his old friend Xiaogang and his often-questionable theories ran deep. Ultimately, he agreed.
And so, the Shrek Academy found itself within the walls of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Their stay, however, was short-lived. A mere month, to be precise.
Now, at this very moment, the Shrek Academy was in the process of being unceremoniously thrown out of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
The reasons for their expulsion were manifold, but they largely boiled down to the atrocious behavior of certain Shrek Academy members.
Ma Hongjun, with his less-than-subtle attempts at wooing every girl he laid eyes on, had managed to irritate a significant portion of the female student population.
Oscar, never one for subtlety, had joined in with his own brand of persistent, and often unwelcome, attention.
Even Dai Mubai, despite his initial attempts at maintaining a semblance of decorum, had eventually succumbed to his baser instincts, further alienating the local female students.
But the students weren't the only problem. The ever-enthusiastic, and often reckless, teacher Zhao Wuji had also managed to make a lasting, and negative, impression during their brief one-month residency. His boisterous nature and disregard for the Imperial Academy's rules had ruffled more than a few feathers among the faculty.
"They have to go," the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's headmaster had declared, his voice echoing with finality. "Their behavior is simply unacceptable."
And so, the Shrek Academy found itself once again on the road, their dreams of growth within the prestigious Imperial Academy shattered. Yu Xiaogang, predictably, was already formulating excuses.
'It's their loss,' he thought, adjusting his spectacles. 'They simply couldn't recognize true talent.'
Flender, however, looked considerably less convinced, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he surveyed his unruly group of students.
'What have I gotten myself into?' he wondered, a familiar wave of exasperation washing over him. The journey to Heaven Dou City hadn't exactly been the promised land of growth and opportunity. It had been a swift and decisive eviction.