—Sakura's POV—
Sakura sighed as she finished reading the letter from her Grandmaster, then held it over the candle on her desk. The flame licked the parchment, crawling to her fingers. She winced from the heat but made no sound.
It had become a ritual, one she adopted ever since he arrived. A method to ground herself.
To remind her that this was real.
That the power she held now truly existed.
That her Grandmaster—her savior—genuinely valued her.
Rising from her seat, she called for her best operative.
This task required someone exceptional.
"Madame Mei," came the respectful call after a knock.
"You may enter."
The woman who stepped into the room was stunning. Her long, soft pink hair reached her lower back, tied neatly into a ponytail. A half-mask concealed her upper face, revealing only a pair of cold, steel-gray eyes. Despite the mask, the delicacy of her features was still visible and so too was the lifeless disinterest in her gaze. A long black robe cloaked her completely, reaching down to her feet.
"You called for me, Madame Mei?" she asked in the familiar monotone voice that Sakura had long grown used to.
"You have a mission, Dahlia."
At the sound of her name, the woman's demeanor shifted slightly, a faint smile formed, and a spark of light flickered in her previously dull eyes.
She summoned her Martial Spirit, releasing a pulse of spirit power that created a barrier around the room. It wouldn't stop spirit power-based probes, but it could block mundane eavesdropping.
More than enough.
It was a technique typically used only by Spirit Douluo and above, but one the Grandmaster had deciphered and simplified.
"I'm at your command, Lady Sakura."
"The Grandmaster is heading to the capital. He's asked me to send our best to assist him, likely to gather information and support his recruitment campaign. Take fifty of our most capable operatives and prepare. I'll send the full briefing in writing soon."
"Understood. I will relay your orders immediately."
"Good. You depart at dawn in two days from now. May the Evil God guide your way."
"And yours as well, my lady." Dahlia retracted her martial spirit and exited the room.
Sakura sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day and turned to face the night sky outside her window.
Her life had changed so drastically.
Once the matron of the Red Rose, now the leader of Yamigan in Suotuo City. She had discarded her old name, using it only when dealing with customers or outsiders. It meant nothing to her now.
She wasn't Mei Hua anymore. She was Sakura.
And that feeling, that transformation, was one shared by most under her command.
She still remembered that day, when a boy with an air of mystery walked into her establishment and demanded to see her as though it were his right.
Normally, she would have refused. Such requests often came from lechers looking to bed her. But something compelled her to make an exception.
And then, he revealed himself.
The moment he released his presence, she had fallen to her knees. It felt like her soul had been laid bare, naked before a god. She couldn't resist.
But instead of dominating her or killing her as she feared… he helped her up.
He spoke to her gently. Told her his identity, his purpose.
It sounded insane.
Gods, Faith, Inheritance, Trials.
Impossible.
But every time doubt crept into her mind, she remembered that crushing, undeniable presence—and it silenced everything.
So she believed.
She accepted his recruitment.
And it was the best decision of her life.
Now, the entire Suotuo City underground. Brothels, black markets, beggars, thieves. They all followed her lead now.
All thanks to him.
She would manage his castle until his inevitable return.
She would repay all that he had given her.
And all he had given to those like her.
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—Dahlia's POV—
As she made her way through the streets of Suotuo City toward the Yamigan warehouse where operatives trained, Dahlia couldn't suppress the giddy feeling bubbling inside her.
He needed her.
Her savior, the one who had rescued her from slavery and spared her a fate worse than death.
The one who had taken her, a girl of mediocre talent, and nurtured her into someone with the potential to one day become a Spirit Douluo.
He needed HER.
Lin Xuehua, that had been her name. A name given to her by her mother.
Born to a servant in the House of Lin, a noble family of Barak Kingdom.
An illegitimate daughter, sold into slavery by her own father to curry favor with another noble.
But she was saved.
She still cherished her old name—her mother's gift. But now… she was Dahlia.
And she would be her master's greatest blade.
She would wield her scythe to carve down every enemy in his path.
The Evil God may guide the way…
But she would be the one to clear it.
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—Flender's POV—
Zhao Wuji threw a punch at a nearby tree, completely uprooting it as his spirit power erupted wildly.
"That damn brat!"
"Zhao! You're scaring the children. Calm down!" came Flender's sharp voice as he stepped in front of the trembling Oscar and Hongjun.
They had grown significantly under Sieg's guidance, but the killing intent and spiritual pressure of a Spirit Saint was still too much for them to bear.
Zhao Wuji restrained his power, though the fury on his face remained evident.
"That damn brat left without a word. A letter! That's all the courtesy he gives us?! I never liked him. You should've kicked him out when I said so!"
Flender sighed at his old friend's outburst. The conflict between the two had been obvious to everyone at Shrek Academy. Zhao Wuji had been bitter ever since the boy had rejected him as a master. Add to that Sieg's clear disdain for the academy's values, the same values that Zhao Wuji deeply believed in, and this outcome was almost inevitable.
Still, compared to his short-sighted companion, Flender was terrified.
The kid knew.
He was aware of the investigation he had initiated upon his arrival.
But the boy had never once shown any signs that he was aware about it.
That was even more frightening.
Someone had to have helped him. He must have ties to some hidden sect; otherwise, there would have been no way for him to discover such actions.
Flender now slightly regretted the letter he'd sent to Erlong. But the past was the past.
What made things worse was the letter he had just received from her, stating that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had finally approved the idea of a search for this genius and would be sending disciples to recruit Sieg.
It had apparently taken her quite a bit of effort to convince the higher-ups. And now… Sieg was gone.
Those disciples would return empty-handed. He couldn't even imagine the ridicule Erlong would face because of this.
He wanted to bury his head in the sand and pretend none of this was happening.
But he couldn't.
"Zhao Wuji, show some respect," said Xiao Shin, his voice laced with restrained anger. "Sieg has been training Oscar and Hongjun. He even invested money to rebuild the academy. It's obvious something urgent came up, otherwise, he would have said goodbye properly."
"Old Xiao's right," added Lu Qibin. "That brat's done more than enough for the academy. And he said he'd return, didn't he? That means he hasn't abandoned us. I've gotten to know him well enough to say he's not a liar. If he said he'll return, then he will."
"You—!"
Seeing that Zhao Wuji was about to erupt again, Flender quickly handed the folded paper from Sieg to Hongjun and Oscar.
"Go back to your rooms," he instructed. "Read them there."
This was going to be a long day.
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—Shrek two devil's POV—
Oscar, Hongjun,If you're reading this, then Dean Flender has followed my wishes and delivered this letter to you.
I know you might be sad about my departure, but as I mentioned in the letter addressed to the Dean, an emergency came up and I had to leave.
But don't worry, little brothers, I wouldn't leave without giving you some gifts.
Oscar, written at the bottom of this letter are instructions for several body-type self-created spirit skills. They'll allow you to fight those at the same level as you, even as a food-type spirit master. I know your desire to stand on the frontlines, and this is the best way I can help you make that dream a reality.
Hongjun, for you, I've included techniques to help vent and control your evil fire. I've also listed the names of a few spirit beasts that would be ideal for your development if you absorb their spirit rings.
Work hard, both of you.
Make me proud,
Sieg
The two boys looked at each other after reading the letter.
They didn't need to speak, each could see the same fire burning in the other's eyes.
Sieg had been their big brother. Their guide. The one who believed in them, trained them, and never let them falter.
They wouldn't disappoint him.
They couldn't.
Not after everything he had taught them.
They would work harder than ever.
They would make him proud.
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Author's note:
So, this is the final chapter for today—not as strong as the one I released earlier, but still solid enough.
This chapter was mainly used to introduce two OCs, Sakura and Dahlia, who won't just be filler or background characters. Both of them will play important roles in the story going forward, so stay tuned.
Of course, we also revisited Zhao Wuji and the other Shrek teachers. I wrote Zhao Wuji this way because I wanted to highlight his pettiness and how self-conscious he really is. In my mind, Zhao Wuji hates being questioned or looked down on because of what he's been through. He's always had to flee or accept things as they are, so when someone weaker than him challenges him or refuses him, it infuriates him.
Flender, on the other hand, is shown as being afraid because he got caught. He ran an investigation on the MC and found nothing. The fact that the MC somehow knew about it frightens him and makes him jump to conclusions. As for how the MC figured it out, that's something I feel is pretty obvious. He sensed Flender's intent using Fafnir and ordered the Yamigan to investigate. They followed up and reported it.
The rest of Shrek stands with the MC, as seen here. The letter at the end was added to give Hongjun and Oscar a reason to stay motivated. Every time they doubt themselves or start slacking off, that letter will remind them of who they're trying to catch up to.
That's all for today,
See you next chapter!