An Encounter in Suotuo City: First Meeting with Dai Mubai

The carriage jolted along for three days before finally passing through Suotuo City's gates. The entrance was packed with people, vendors' cries mingling with the jingling of carriages and horses. It was more than ten times livelier than Nuoding Town. Tang San lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the rows of shops lining both sides of the street, his eyes full of curiosity—this was his first time in such a large city.

Lin Zhixia leaned over as well, the Void Breaking Feather Quiver slung across her shoulder, its silver arrow fletchings glinting faintly in the sunlight. "I didn't expect Suotuo City to be this bustling. Is Shrek Academy nearby?"

Xiao Wu could no longer contain her excitement and tugged at both their sleeves. "Let's find somewhere to stay first! I heard Suotuo City's barbecue is especially delicious. Shall we go try it tonight?"

The three got out of the carriage and followed the driver's directions toward the hotel district in the city center. In the end, they chose a clean and tidy-looking establishment—the Rose Hotel. The moment they entered the lobby, they saw a tall young man sitting in a chair beside the front desk. He wore fitted black clothes, and beneath his short golden hair was a handsome face. Yet there was a trace of arrogance between his brows. When his violet eyes swept over the three of them, they carried a hint of scrutiny.

"Are you three looking for rooms?" the young man asked. His voice had a magnetic quality to it, and his gaze settled on the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night at Tang San's waist, his expression shifting slightly.

Tang San nodded and stepped forward. "Hello. We need three rooms for two days."

The young man shook his head and pointed to a notice on the wall. "Sorry, rooms are in short supply today. There's only one triple room left. If you don't mind, you can take it. If you do, you'll have to look at another hotel."

Xiao Wu frowned. "How can there only be one room left? We just entered the city, and plenty of hotels aren't full."

The young man raised an eyebrow, his tone faintly teasing. "I don't know whether other hotels are full, but this one only has one room left. Whether you want it is up to you."

Lin Zhixia tugged on Xiao Wu's sleeve and whispered, "Forget it. We're tired from traveling anyway. Let's stay here for now. It won't be too late to find another hotel tomorrow."

Tang San nodded as well. "Then we'll take the triple room."

The young man stood, took out a key from behind the desk, and handed it to Tang San. "Room 302 on the third floor. The deposit is ten gold coins. Oh, right, my name is Dai Mubai. I'm a temporary helper at this hotel."

"My name is Tang San. These are Lin Zhixia and Xiao Wu." Tang San took the key and replied politely. He could sense a powerful Spirit Power Fluctuation from Dai Mubai, at least at the level of a Soul Elder. Moreover, his martial soul seemed far from ordinary—the pair of violet eyes reminded him of the Evil Eyes White Tiger recorded in Master's notes.

When Dai Mubai heard the name "Tang San," a trace of barely noticeable surprise flashed through his eyes. However, he did not ask further questions and merely pointed toward the stairs. "The stairs are over there. Watch your step. Also, try not to go out at night. Suotuo City's night market may be lively, but there are also people with ill intentions."

The three thanked Dai Mubai and carried their luggage upstairs. The room was fairly spacious, with three beds. Its window faced the street, offering a view of the bustling traffic outside.

Xiao Wu dropped her luggage and immediately said, "Tang San, Zhi Xia, let's go eat barbecue now! I'm starving!"

Tang San looked at the sky outside. The sun had not fully set yet. "All right. We can return to the hotel and rest after we eat."

The three locked their door and headed downstairs. Dai Mubai was still seated in the lobby chair, holding a glass of wine as though pondering something. Seeing them come down, he raised his head. "Going out?"

"Yes, we're going to try Suotuo City's barbecue," Xiao Wu said with a smile.

Dai Mubai set down his glass and stood. "I happen to be hungry too. I know a barbecue place with good food. I'll take you there."

The three were somewhat surprised, but they did not refuse—having a local guide was better than wandering around on their own.

Dai Mubai led them through several streets until they arrived at a shop called Flame Barbecue. The shop was small but packed with customers, and the air was filled with the enticing aroma of grilled meat.

"The owner is a Soul Master. The barbecue is grilled with Soul Power, so it tastes much better than what other places serve." Dai Mubai found an empty table, sat down, and expertly ordered several plates of signature barbecue and a few bottles of fruit juice.

While waiting for the food, Xiao Wu could not help asking, "Dai Mubai, are you a Soul Master too? I can feel that your Soul Power is really strong!"

Dai Mubai lifted his fruit juice and took a sip. Rather than answering directly, he asked, "What about you? From the looks of you, you should be Soul Masters too, right? Especially you." He looked at Tang San. "The Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night at your waist isn't something an ordinary Soul Master could possess."

Tang San did not hide it. "We just graduated from Nuoding Academy and are preparing to continue our cultivation at Shrek Academy."

At the words "Shrek Academy," Dai Mubai's eyes visibly lit up before quickly returning to calm. "Shrek Academy... that's quite an interesting place." He said no more and simply pushed the freshly served barbecue toward them. "Eat up. It won't taste as good once it gets cold."

The three took a bite of the barbecue, and it truly was as Dai Mubai had said. The meat was tender and juicy, carrying a faint fragrance of Soul Power. It was far more delicious than any barbecue they had eaten before. Xiao Wu ate with great delight, and even Lin Zhixia could not help having several extra pieces. Tang San ate while observing Dai Mubai—he had the feeling that Dai Mubai knew Shrek Academy very well and might even have some connection to it.

After they finished eating, Dai Mubai escorted them back to the hotel. When they reached the entrance, he suddenly stopped and looked at Tang San. "Tang San, if you truly intend to go to Shrek Academy, remember this: its entrance examination is very strict. Don't think you'll pass easily just because you graduated from Nuoding Academy."

Tang San paused, then nodded. "We'll be prepared. Thank you for the reminder."

Dai Mubai smiled, turned, and walked into the hotel lobby. "Get some rest early. Good luck tomorrow."

Back in their room, Xiao Wu lay on her bed, still savoring the barbecue. "Dai Mubai is actually pretty nice. He's just a little mysterious."

Lin Zhixia sat by the window, looking out at the night. "I think he might be connected to Shrek Academy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have reacted like that when he heard we were going there."

Tang San lay on his bed, his fingers lightly tapping against the bedframe. "Whether he's connected to Shrek Academy or not, everything will become clear once we find it tomorrow. What matters most now is getting enough rest and preparing for the entrance examination."

As night deepened, the lights of Suotuo City gradually went out. Tang San, Lin Zhixia, and Xiao Wu all drifted into dreams. They did not know what kind of rigorous entrance examination awaited them the next day, nor that Dai Mubai's identity would soon be revealed.