Tang Ya quickly regained her usual spirit, placing her hands on her hips.
"Well, since you saved us, you officially have a debt to collect from the Tang Sect!"
Bei Bei rubbed his forehead. "Junior Sister… that's not how debts work."
Tianyi stared. "Tang Sect…?"
Yuhao swallowed nervously. "The sect that Senior Brother and Senior Sister are part of, though… it only has two members left."
Tang Ya coughed sharply."THREE! Three now! With you, we have three!"
Yuhao lowered his head. "R-right…"
Bei Bei chuckled helplessly. "My Junior Sister tends to exaggerate."
Tianyi felt a soft tug inside him.
Tang Sect…He had heard of them. A great sect once known across the continent, now reduced to a remnant. And yet, its legacy was filled with tales that stirred something deep within his soul.
He met Tang Ya's hopeful gaze.
Before she could even ask—
Tianyi nodded."I'll join."
Tang Ya froze.
Bei Bei blinked.
Yuhao gaped.
Tianyi continued calmly."It feels right. And if I can help restore the sect, even a little, I don't mind."
Tang Ya's eyes lit up like fireworks.
"BEI BEI! HE'S JOINING!" She grabbed Tianyi's wrist and shook it vigorously. "We have a fourth! A fourth member! A real one!"
Bei Bei sighed with a smile. "We appreciate your sincerity. Are you heading to Shrek Academy as well?"
"Yes," Tianyi replied. "To take the entrance exam."
"Same as Yuhao." Bei Bei nodded. "Why don't we all travel together? The forest ahead has more soul beasts."
Tang Ya jumped in front of Tianyi, staring intensely at him.
"You have a qin martial soul? Right?"
Tianyi hesitated. "Yes."
"Play something!" she demanded.
Bei Bei's expression stiffened. "Junior Sister… He just fought. Let him breathe."
But Tianyi simply opened the case.
Inside lay a beautiful seven-string qin, its polished body reflecting a faint icy blue glow despite no light touching it.
Tang Ya's mouth fell open."That's… That looks expensive."
"It's part of my martial soul," Tianyi explained. "I don't choose how it looks."
"Show us a note!" Tang Ya insisted.
Yuhao looked both nervous and excited.
Tianyi gently plucked a single string.
Ding…
A soft warmth swept through Yuhao, mending his small scratches and stabilizing his breath.
Yuhao gasped. "A… healing effect?"
Bei Bei's eyes widened slightly."That is rare."
Tianyi nodded."My first soul ring grants a restorative resonance. It's not strong yet, but it helps."
Tang Ya clapped. "You're officially our secret weapon!"
Tianyi blinked."…I only played one note."
"That's enough!"
Yuhao stepped forward shyly."If you're joining Senior Brother and Senior Sister… then… let's do our best together."
Tianyi smiled faintly. "Mn."
And so the four of them — Yuhao, Tang Ya, Bei Bei, and Lan Tianyi — began walking toward the distant silhouette of Shrek Academy.
The ancient city awaited them.
And so did the fate of countless lives.