Goodbye Dai Mubai

Chapter 33: Seeing Dai Mubai Again

The three people passing by caught Dai Yao's attention.

One man and two women.

The man in the middle had an arm around each woman. Both women were beautiful and slender, but what was most surprising was that they had identical faces—they were actually twins.

The man between them was handsome and dashing, with firm features. Every movement he made carried an air of uninhibited recklessness.

He was simply dead drunk.

Even from several meters away, Dai Yao could smell the alcohol on him.

This man was Dai Mubai.

"The Third Prince has changed women again. He's become quite the womanizer lately," a noble joked.

"These nobles are extravagant and wasteful, indulging in song and pleasure every day. And those women have no self-respect either, throwing themselves at them without even asking for money." The commoner soul masters were envious and resentful.

Yet Dai Yao saw despondency in those uninhibited eyes.

The self-abandonment of someone trapped in despair.

Thinking of the spirited figure in the Duel Arena not long ago, Dai Yao could not help but sigh.

After arriving at the academy, he had heard that Dai Mubai was no longer as diligent in cultivation as before. Instead, he chased after women and lived a carefree life.

But how could a spirit master's cultivation be so relaxed?

Diligent cultivation and facing difficulties head-on were the attitudes a spirit master should possess.

Dai Yao saw Dai Mubai, and Dai Mubai saw him as well.

Dai Mubai's body trembled slightly. His gaze shifted away, and his steps quickened. Without speaking to Dai Yao, he swiftly left the area.

Dai Yao felt heavy-hearted.

The defeat in their duel had led to Dai Mubai's current self-abandonment. If Dai Yao failed in the competition for the throne, this would be his future as well.

"No. I absolutely refuse to become like this."

Dai Yao clenched his fists and made up his mind to increase his strength as quickly as possible. He circulated Soul Power into his legs, hurried out of the teaching district, entered the woods, and returned to his Simulated Environment.

Several days passed.

Every morning, Dai Yao went to the teaching district to learn the fundamental knowledge of spirit masters. He spent every remaining moment cultivating.

He learned to identify spirit beasts, distinguish their ages, understand the weaknesses of different spirit beasts, and study the latest ideas in the Spirit Master World.

He had always felt that, aside from knowledge about Twin Martial Souls, the most useful thing the Grandmaster had taught Tang San in the original work was knowledge regarding spirit beasts. Those so-called ten core theories were completely useless.

Moreover, some of that so-called knowledge had long been known by the continent's major powers. They simply kept it to themselves and never spread it around.

He had once thought that although Yu Xiaogang had stolen the knowledge of many clans, he still had some genuine ability, given how much he knew about spirit beasts.

But after studying at the Royal Academy, Dai Yao discovered that every major power accumulated and taught this kind of knowledge about spirit beasts. Their teachings were also broader and deeper than what the Grandmaster taught.

Not to mention that the knowledge about Twin Martial Souls had been coaxed out of Bibi Dong.

"I really don't know what was so good about Yu Xiaogang that Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong, two women, loved him so devotedly, even unto death." Dai Yao curled his lip.

Compared to Yu Xiaogang's academic accomplishments, his skill at courting women was far more impressive—truly refined to perfection.

"I should learn from Yu Xiaogang in that regard," Dai Yao thought.

Other than studying, all that remained was cultivation.

Over the past few days, he had cultivated tirelessly. He fell into the water so many times each day that he had lost count, and his skin had soaked until it wrinkled.

Though he was exhausted, every trace of fatigue vanished whenever he felt the Soul Power in his body steadily growing stronger.

It was only after returning from the cafeteria that day that Feng Wutong learned of Dai Yao's background and circumstances.

Dai Yao possessed nothing but a noble title. His daily life was even worse than that of commoner soul masters like them. At the very least, she had parents who loved her. Dai Yao's mother had passed away, his father was like a stranger, and he had to play the fool day and night while guarding against the Empress.

"How pitiful." Feng Wutong felt great sympathy for him.

She knew that Dai Yao had absolutely no chance of winning the competition for the throne. All his current efforts would be in vain.

She had once gone beneath the waterfall and asked Dai Yao in confusion, "You know you have no hope, so why are you still working so hard?"

"How would you know it won't work if you don't try?" Bearing the endless pressure of the water, Dai Yao merely smiled faintly. Without opening his eyes, he answered.

Though Dai Yao's figure was small, from that moment onward, he became incomparably tall in Feng Wutong's heart.

Several days later, Zhu Zhuqing returned.

After obtaining her First Spirit Ring, she had become much more confident and wanted another duel with Dai Yao.

Naturally, Dai Yao won.

Zhu Zhuqing's First Spirit Skill, Netherworld Hundred Claws, was completely countered by Dai Yao. It could not break through the defenses of the White Tiger Body Barrier, and in terms of speed, Dai Yao's Explosive Step could keep up with Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing could find no hope of victory at all, so she readily conceded.

However, after learning of Dai Yao's circumstances, the joy of obtaining her First Spirit Ring was immediately dampened.

The two looked at each other, both understanding their current situation.

"Let's do our best together." Dai Yao smiled encouragingly and held out his hand.

"Mm, let's do our best together." A faint smile appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's icy face as well. She placed her hand in Dai Yao's, then slowly rested her head against his shoulder.

Only Feng Wutong, standing all alone, was not very happy.

Thinking of the term Dai Yao had once used to describe this situation—"Single Dog"—made her even more irritated.

Second Prince's residence.

Waterside Pavilion by the pool.

Dai Yaming stood by the river with his hands behind his back and asked, "Has Dai Yao made any moves recently?"

The fat man stood respectfully at his side. Hearing the Second Prince's question, he replied, "Dai Yao hasn't done anything. Ever since we humiliated him in the cafeteria, he's stayed in the Simulated Environment cultivating and hasn't come out once. Even his meals are delivered by a Commoner Soul Master."

The Second Prince turned around in surprise and asked the fat man, "He hasn't come out? I didn't expect him to endure such a huge humiliation."

The Second Prince's expression shifted uncertainly. Dai Yao's reaction had indeed caught him by surprise. Dai Yao's potential alone was nothing to him; after all, six years was not a gap talent could make up for.

But Dai Yao's willingness to endure humiliation and bear the burden made him wary.

Young people were all hot-blooded. He had originally planned to humiliate Dai Yao thoroughly, provoke him into anger, then defeat him in public. He would use the same tactics on Zhu Zhuqing, humiliating them in every way possible—in strength, dignity, and all else.

Under such comprehensive, multilayered humiliation, he refused to believe Dai Yao could continue living. So long as he cared even a little about his own dignity, suicide would be his only escape from the humiliation of reality.

Yet after losing so much face in the cafeteria, Dai Yao had actually endured it and returned to the Simulated Environment to cultivate wholeheartedly.

I can't let him cultivate in peace, the Second Prince thought.

He thought it over and over, but could not come up with a solution.

As long as Dai Yao refused to come out and accept a challenge, he could not achieve his goal.

How did our royal family produce such a cowardly turtle? the Second Prince thought angrily.

At this point, there was only one way left.

"Fatty, starting today, go to where Dai Yao cultivates and challenge him. If he refuses, provoke him so he can't cultivate in peace. I refuse to believe he's a turtle reincarnated!" the Second Prince said viciously.

At the Royal Academy, private fighting was forbidden. Duels had to be held in designated arenas.

Within the Star Luo Empire, the most famous arena was the White Tiger Duel Arena of Star Luo Royal Academy.

Every edition of the continent-wide Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was held here.

The White Tiger Duel Arena was a place countless academy Spirit Masters across the Star Luo Empire dreamed of. Setting foot upon that dueling stage was the glory of a lifetime.

The fat man hesitated. "Your Highness, I'm a Soul Grandmaster. Wouldn't it be too embarrassing to make such a grand show of challenging a One-Ring Soul Master?"

The Second Prince sighed inwardly. He truly had no one else he could use.

Among his followers, the fat man was his only two-ring Spirit Master. There were several Soul Grandmasters among the Noble Soul Masters who had attached themselves to him, but they would never do something so shameless.

He said, "Fatty, you know my circumstances. Those Noble Soul Masters won't help me. Right now, you're the only one I can rely on. Face is nothing. Don't worry—once I win the throne, I'll definitely grant you a noble title."

So the fat man was the Commoner Soul Master Ye Nantian had spoken of, the one who had sold himself to a noble in pursuit of wealth and status.

The fat man looked at the Second Prince awkwardly. After hesitating for a while, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Thank you for your trust, Second Prince. I'll make sure this is done properly."

Evening.

Dai Yao's Cultivation Ground.

Dai Yao, seated beneath the waterfall, noticed movement in the forest. Opening his eyes, he spotted the fat man and his group.

A contemptuous voice carried over.

"You haven't come out for so many days—I thought you'd gone into hibernation, you turtle! The Second Prince specifically sent me here to see how you've been living." The fat man swept his gaze around, then burst out laughing when he saw how crude Dai Yao's living conditions were.

Dai Yao showed no reaction. He closed his eyes and continued circulating the Soul Power within his body, resisting the unceasing pressure from above.

Seeing Dai Yao ignore him, the fat man was instantly furious.

As a Commoner Soul Master, he had always been looked down upon. But ever since becoming one of the Second Prince's men, aside from those affiliated with the First Prince, everyone else had to respectfully call him Brother Fatty when they saw him.

What gave Dai Yao the right to look down on him? Wasn't he just a prince? He was already at death's door, yet he still put on airs.

Remembering the Second Prince's instructions, he suppressed his anger and sneered. "Fourth Highness, why are you acting like a coward when you're a prince? I challenge you now. Do you dare accept?"

Hearing that a Soul Grandmaster was challenging a One-Ring Soul Master, those who had accompanied the fat man were somewhat startled. They looked at him strangely.

But the fat man had gone all out. Ignoring everything else, he saw that Dai Yao remained silent and sneered inwardly. The Second Prince had long anticipated that Dai Yao would refuse the challenge. All he had to do was keep disrupting Dai Yao and prevent him from cultivating in peace.

So he continued cursing, "You coward, timid as a mouse! You've completely disgraced the nobility! ..."

Though everyone despised the fat man's behavior, seeing Dai Yao endure such insults without either fighting back or saying a word made them look down on him as well.

A man could be killed, but not humiliated. Anyone with even a little spirit would not allow himself to be insulted like this.

Especially not Dai Yao, who was a noble.

Nobles valued their reputation and dignity more than their lives.

I've been rather busy these past few days, so there are only three thousand words.