Three days later.
Two figures cloaked in black capes arrived outside Shrek City.
"Who are you, this is Shrek City, and all outsiders are currently forbidden from entering."
Two young people clad in Shrek Academy uniforms stood at the gate, preventing anyone from entering.
"Since when have we become outsiders?"
Just then, a lingering voice came from beneath the cape.
"Who are you, are you also from Shrek Academy?"
The student hesitated.
"Heh, it seems you really deserve a beating if you can't even recognize my voice,"
the other scoffed coldly.
Yet, these words caused the guard's face to change dramatically.
"Wait, your voice is very familiar, it seems we know each other..."
The guard couldn't help but scratch his head.
But, in the next moment, his expression underwent a drastic change.
For the other had taken off the cape, revealing a familiar face.
"Xiao, Xiao Tao Sister!"
The other guard also reacted with shock and disbelief.
It was too astonishing.
The person appearing before him was none other than Ma Xiaotao!
Yes.
It was the long-missing Ma Xiaotao, and she had actually returned.
"Xiao Tao Sister, how come you're back?"
A sycophantic smile immediately spread across the guard's face.
He was a member of the inner court, and had greatly suffered at her hands.
"Is Shrek Academy not welcoming me?"
Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow, her arrogant demeanor unchanged.
"How could that be, Shrek Academy is your home, who would dare to say you're not welcome."
The guard was startled, and cold sweat immediately beaded on his forehead.
Was Ma Xiaotao an ordinary person?
He had deeply suffered because of her.
"Then why aren't you making way, don't you know that a good dog doesn't block the path?"
Ma Xiaotao frowned and said coldly.
"Yes, yes, we will make way right now. If the Dean knows you've returned, he will be very happy," the guard immediately stepped aside to open a path.
Ma Xiaotao started striding in.
"Wait, Xiao Tao Sister, who is this?"
"Is this person also a student at our academy?"
The two guards were puzzled again.
"Hmm? The person I bring, you want to stop her too?"
Ma Xiaotao showed displeasure and asked coldly.
"No, it's not that we don't trust you, it's just that Shrek Academy is in a very sensitive period right now, and those who are not from Shrek are not allowed to enter."
The guard showed an awkward expression.
Allowing Ma Xiaotao to bring someone in might subject him to punishment.
Blocking Ma Xiaotao from entering could get him punished right now.
Damn it.
This was a deadly problem.
Security was not an easy job.
However.
To everyone's surprise, Ma Xiaotao didn't give him a hard time.
"I've heard about some things and can understand,"
Ma Xiaotao nodded gravely and then said, "But the person I've brought isn't an outsider either. She is Tang Ya, an old student of Shrek Academy."
She turned to Tang Ya and said softly, "Xiao Ya, take off your cape as well."
"Okay."
Tang Ya agreed and revealed her face.
Her appearance hadn't changed much, only she seemed to have become a lot more haggard.
It was distressing, evoking feelings of tenderness and pity.
"Do you recognize her?"
Ma Xiaotao asked again.
"Yes, we know her,"
"Beibei has been pursuing her for a long time, of course we know her. And speaking of which, we are all friends with Beibei."
The guard quickly responded, his face showing a relieved smile.
As long as they were students from Shrek Academy, it was fine.
Their purpose here was to prevent enemies from infiltrating from the outside, not to let members of Shrek wander outside.
Tang Ya asked faintly, "Alright, can we enter now?"
"Yes, of course, you can."
The two guards stepped aside, making way for them.
After Ma Xiaotao and Tang Ya had gone in, they even said from behind that they were welcome to come and hang out with them anytime.
...
Shrek Academy, Instruction Department.
"Ma Xiaotao, is the method you mentioned really going to work? Will our identities really not be exposed?"
"Don't worry, there will absolutely be no problem. As long as we stick to the plan, nobody will regard us as enemies."
In response to Tang Ya's concerns, Ma Xiaotao confidently said, "Yan Shaozhe is my teacher, I know him very well. Just leave everything to me."
Tang Ya nodded silently, then said no more.
Soon after.
A figure hurried into the Instruction Department.
"Xiao Tao, where are you?"
He asked eagerly.
"Teacher, I'm right here,"
Ma Xiaotao waved her hand enthusiastically, greeting him.
Without a doubt, the visitor was none other than the Dean of Shrek Academy, Yan Shaozhe.
And he was Ma Xiaotao's dearest teacher.
"Xiao Tao, you're finally back. During the time you were gone, I sent people everywhere to look for you but heard nothing."
Yan Shaozhe's eyes turned red with excitement.
He had deep affection for Ma Xiaotao; after all, he had watched her grow up from a child.
"Teacher, I'm sorry to have worried you," Ma Xiaotao said, her eyes welling up with tears.
Yan Shaozhe shook his head, "You've lost weight, but it's good you're back. From now on, just stay in the academy, don't go anywhere else."
"Teacher, I understand. I will follow your arrangements." Ma Xiaotao nodded obediently.
Then, Yan Shaozhe's gaze fell on Tang Ya, his expression somewhat complicated, "Child, I've heard some of your story from Beibei. I'm really sorry that such tragedies have happened to you..."
Sorry for what?
The person is already dead!
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's hypocritical words, Tang Ya felt very disdainful in her heart.
But she knew she had to endure it.
"Dean Sir, everything is in the past, I have let it go,"
she answered perfunctorily.
Yan Shaozhe nodded, wanting to ask something more but stopped the words from coming out.
"Tang Ya..."
At the doorway, Beibei rushed in, calling out with surprise.
Even tears of excitement started to form in the corners of his eyes.
Tang Ya was momentarily dazed, "Beibei?"
And at that moment,
Beibei quickly approached Tang Ya, reaching out to grasp her hand, but Tang Ya dodged it.
"Beibei, let's keep some distance. It's not good for you to be in contact with me too much,"
Tang Ya said to Beibei with a serious tone.
Boom!
It struck Beibei like a bolt of lightning.
She dodged me?
They used to be so close, and now she is actually avoiding me!
Beibei felt like he couldn't accept it.
"Children, although there are some things I shouldn't ask, things that might awaken memories you don't want to recall, I still want to know. Where have you been during this time you disappeared, and how did you come back?"
After a round of warm inquiries, Yan Shaozhe asked the question he very much wanted to know.
Tang Ya and Ma Xiaotao looked at each other, and after a moment's hesitation, Ma Xiaotao tentatively asked, "Teacher, can we not talk about it?"
Yan Shaozhe slowly shook his head, "It's important because you were taken away by Feng Ling before. And this time, Shrek Academy was attacked and among the attackers was Feng Ling..."