With no urgent business pressing them, Wu Ling and Ghost took their time on the road. It took them a full week to return to Spirit City.
The trip itself should not have required that long. The main reason was that Wu Ling stopped at Crescent Moon Village to catch up with Kiritsugu, then made a detour to Soto City to take a look at Shrek Academy, the school that would one day become famous across the continent.
Of course, he entered Shrek Academy quietly with Ghost's help. Zhao Wuji and Flender never noticed him at all.
After they left Shrek Academy, Ghost asked casually, "What is it? Are you interested in that academy?"
Wu Ling denied it. "No. I am not interested in the academy. I am interested in someone who will be there."
"Oh?" That answer caught Ghost's attention instead.
"Is it the Immovable King, Zhao Wuji, or that Flying Horn, Flender? Or is it one of the students there? The academy's teaching ability is absurdly poor, but some of its students do have decent aptitude. Is there someone you have your eye on?"
Wu Ling shook his head, his expression turning strange. "Not someone there now. Someone from the future."
"The future?"
"Yes. It is also one of the witch's powers. Through..."
"Wait." Ghost interrupted him. "If this is true, then it is better to discuss it after we return."
Wu Ling tilted his head. He could not see Ghost's expression, but he could hear the gravity in the man's voice.
"Looks like predicting the future is still a little too shocking, even in a low-tier fantasy world like Soul Land. I will need to adjust how I explain it to Bibi Dong."
Because of that single sentence, the remaining route that could have taken another three to five days was shortened to one.
After they returned to Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong sat on the throne in the Pope's Palace, with Ghost and Yue Guan standing behind her to either side.
As he had done twice before, Wu Ling used his third Spirit Skill in front of them, explained the Heroic Spirit he had summoned, and began telling a story. Since this time it involved Medea, Wu Ling spoke about certain parts of Greek mythology.
After Medea possessed him, the perception of a magus made Wu Ling realize that Lucius Cross seemed to be watching him from somewhere as well, so he temporarily altered part of the story he planned to tell.
Because of the two previous stories, Bibi Dong, Ghost, and Yue Guan had already prepared themselves mentally. This time, they were not especially shocked.
Then came the important part.
"Ling'er, Ghost told me your third Spirit Skill also has the ability to predict the future?"
Wu Ling had already prepared his wording for this. "Yes, Master. Like I said just now, when people in the magus profession accumulate enough knowledge, they can let their souls sense heaven and earth, allowing them to see through the past, the present, and even the future.
"It is said that the strongest among them can achieve an almost all-knowing ability. The person summoned by my third Spirit Skill cannot reach that level, but in certain places at certain times, she may glimpse a vague future through dreams."
Bibi Dong nodded slightly. "Then tell me about that future."
"Yes, Master. Actually, on the night I obtained my third Spirit Ring, I dreamed of a man.
"The information about him consisted of only a few points: orphan, food-type Martial Soul, innate full Spirit Power, and Shrek Academy.
"I do not know anything else, but if the middle two terms appear in the same person, then Master should understand his talent better than I do."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed, and her brows drew together. "A food-type Martial Soul with innate full Spirit Power."
"Yes, Master. That is why I went to Shrek Academy to look around. After checking, I confirmed that person has not joined Shrek Academy yet. Master, do you understand what that means?"
Bibi Dong did not answer Wu Ling's question directly. Instead, she spoke to herself. "Not all commoners on the continent awaken their Martial Souls through Spirit Hall, but eight or nine out of ten do.
"If that person is an orphan, then the only free Martial Soul awakening path available to him is Spirit Hall.
"If this is true, I will set aside the question of why he did not join Spirit Hall and went to Shrek instead. What I want to know right now is where he will appear."
"I apologize, Master. I can only vaguely sense his situation. I cannot locate him precisely. At most, I can guess that he is within the Polaris Empire's territory, and the timing should be within the next year or two."
Bibi Dong nodded in understanding. "You must be tired after traveling for so long. Since there is nothing else, go rest. This year's Martial Soul awakenings are still two months away. I will make arrangements for that person."
Wu Ling cupped his hands, then walked out with a relaxed expression.
After he left, Bibi Dong began giving Ghost instructions.
"Elder Ghost, Ling'er's situation is special. For his words, it is better to believe they might be true than to dismiss them. In a month and a half, I will have to trouble you to make a trip to the Polaris side."
"Of course. I am also curious to see what kind of person this food-type innate full Spirit Power genius of Wu Ling's is."
"Good. If Ling'er wants to go with you at that time, take him with you."
"Yes. Understood."
On the road outside the Pope's Palace, Wu Ling's expression was not as relaxed as it had been a moment ago.
"Honestly, how did those old fanfictions come up with Bibi Dong falling head over heels after only a few meetings?
"I have been around her for four years now. I have surprised her, caught her attention, and she still only treats me as slightly more than friendly. All that talk about treating a disciple like her own child... maybe if the disciple were a girl. A boy can forget it.
"It is fine. There is still plenty of time. Now that I have Medea, I can begin researching, and some of my old ideas can finally move onto the proper track."
Ten minutes later, Wu Ling returned to his courtyard.
"As a magus, the first thing I should do after returning to my residence is transform it into my own Workshop.
"Medea's Territory Creation is Rank A. As a witch from the Age of Gods, she can create a Temple that surpasses an ordinary Workshop.
"Of course, with my current strength, even if I have enough knowledge, the materials and other requirements are still lacking. A Workshop will be enough for now. Once my level rises later, I can transform all of Spirit City into my territory.
"But I still need to cultivate. The task of building a Workshop should be left to a professional."
As he spoke, his purple thousand-year Spirit Ring quietly appeared and lit up. Azure and Ember emerged from Wu Ling's shadow one after another.
After them, Wu Ling's shadow continued to churn. A moment later, a pair of slender, snow-white hands slowly reached out.