Dai Mubai Backs Down

"Heh!"

Li Xiaoyao let out a scornful laugh.

The flintlock pistol in his right hand slowly aimed at Xiao Wu.

"Little Rabbit, have you made up your mind?"

"Want to have a fight with me?"

"To vent for this little scoundrel?"

Tang San's venomous glare meant nothing to Li Xiaoyao.

He knew full well that Tang San was the type to repay every grievance—the more he endured, the more vicious his revenge would be later.

But—

So what?

Once he absorbed Xiao Wu's Soul Ring and seized the opportunity at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his strength would skyrocket. By then, Tang San wouldn't even be worthy of looking up to him!

"Damn you!"

"You bastard still dare to act so arrogant?"

"Sister Xiao Wu will fight you to the death!"

Seeing Tang San's miserable state and hearing Li Xiaoyao's relentless taunts, Xiao Wu gritted her teeth in fury.

"Cough, cough! Xiao Wu, forget it!"

"You and I are both at level twenty-nine. Even I couldn't beat him—if you go up, the result will be about the same!"

Tang San let out a helpless sigh—

Reaching out to stop Xiao Wu as she was about to charge forward.

Faced with Xiao Wu's concern and anger—

Tang San could only swallow this bitter loss.

Having lived two lives, he knew clearly that this youth named Li Xiaoyao must come from some major power.

Without a strong background or the absolute strength to kill Li Xiaoyao, he and Xiao Wu could only endure.

Even if he now wished he could kill Li Xiaoyao and seize that Space Soul Bone, he had to forcibly suppress the murderous intent in his heart, not even daring to speak a harsh word.

After his teacher Yu Xiaogang's careful guidance, he understood too well how those major powers operated.

Take Martial Soul Hall as an example—

If he chose to oppose them, he would face their suppression and assassination.

And his current situation—

Was just as his teacher had taught him.

If he dared to show killing intent, given Li Xiaoyao's flamboyant and aggressive nature, the latter might strike to kill in the next second.

Then not only would he die—

But Xiao Wu would also be implicated.

"Brother Li's strength is formidable—I am no match for you!"

"This sparring match today, I, Tang San, admit defeat!"

Tang San was, after all, a martial artist.

Even though a bullet had just pierced his right waist, his face pale and cold sweat beading on his brow, he still gritted his teeth without uttering a groan.

There was no dejection in Tang San's eyes—only a sober acknowledgment of Li Xiaoyao's power: "This defeat today has shown me my own shortcomings. If there's a chance another day, I, Tang, will seek Brother Li's guidance again."

After saying a few pleasantries, Tang San, his steps unsteady, took Xiao Wu's hand and walked out of the Rose Hotel.

He kept his head down the whole time, silent, afraid that Li Xiaoyao might take a dislike to him and shoot his left waist too.

After all, his right waist had already taken a bullet—he couldn't afford to have his left waist injured as well.

Otherwise, he might end up crippled for life—

"Tch! Boring!"

Seeing Tang San, beaten into submission, leave the Rose Hotel with Xiao Wu, Li Xiaoyao turned his gaze to Dai Mubai beside him.

"Hey! Little Blondie!"

"You seemed pretty cocky just now, huh?"

"How about we have a fight?"

"Just like that little scoundrel earlier!"

"I'll let you have three moves, how about that?"

As soon as Li Xiaoyao said this, Dai Mubai frantically waved his hands.

"No, no! I'm no match for you!"

"I really was too arrogant just now. I apologize to you!"

If you can't win, admit defeat—

If you can win, bully them to death.

That was the rule of their Shrek Academy, along with the twisted logic of "A soul master who doesn't stir up trouble isn't a good soul master" and "Not daring to cause trouble marks a mediocrity."

Of course, in Li Xiaoyao's eyes, these rules were nothing but a fig leaf for bullying the weak and fearing the strong!

If your Shrek Academy is really that formidable, why don't you go pick a fight with a Titled Douluo?

Why not provoke the two great empires, the top three sects, and the four kingdoms?

Just then, Dai Mubai's eyes flickered.

"This Li Xiaoyao looks about my age, and his bearing and skill are far from ordinary. There's no way he's a civilian soul master. I wonder if he's enrolled in a Soul Master Academy?"

"If I can build a good relationship with him, or even recruit him into Shrek Academy, it would be a win-win for both the academy and me.

Within Shrek Academy, while there are a few gifted students, they lack the backing of powerful forces, which always limits our growth.

As for me, if I want to fight my way back to the Star Luo Empire and contend for the throne, relying solely on Shrek Academy's strength is far from enough. I need sufficient external support.

With a soul ring configuration of Three Purple One Black, Li Xiaoyao must have a formidable force behind him—either a reclusive soul master clan or a deeply rooted sect."

Thinking this over, Dai Mubai's eyes lit up.

The gloom that had once shrouded his heart from his elder brother's relentless suppression seemed to dissipate, driven away by this sudden glimmer of hope.

"If I can borrow the power behind Li Xiaoyao, combined with the strength of Shrek Academy's teachers, I might just gather enough confidence to fight my way back to the Star Luo Empire!"

Having sorted through these thoughts, Dai Mubai's face broke into a delighted grin.

"Hahaha! Brother Xia, let me introduce myself!"

"My name is Dai Mubai, a student of Shrek Academy!"

"To make up for my earlier rudeness, from now on, all your expenses at the Rose Hotel are on me, Dai Mubai."

"And of course, these twin sisters—if you like them, how about I have them keep you company tonight to help cool your temper?"

It wasn't that Dai Mubai was being overly eager for no reason. Back when he was in the Star Luo Empire, he was young, weak, had shallow foundations, and no foothold in the court.

That was why his elder brother had mercilessly crushed him, forcing him to flee the Star Luo Empire and take refuge in Suotuo City of the Heaven Dou Empire.

If he could get on good terms with Li Xiaoyao, there might really come a day when he could fight his way back to the Star Luo Empire and reclaim everything he had lost.

Of course, even if that possibility didn't exist, having an extra friend—especially one as powerful as Li Xiaoyao—was never a bad thing.

"Tch. What a headache."

"Dai Mubai's move—throwing money around and offering women—really leaves me with no excuse to lay a hand on him."

Li Xiaoyao curled his lip, then glanced at the twin sisters, who looked eagerly expectant.

"Little Blondie, I appreciate the gesture!"

He had to admit, after some development, the twin sisters had good figures, and with careful grooming, they could be considered somewhat attractive. But they were nothing more than unclean public transport.

Unfortunately—

He, Li Xiaoyao, was a clean boy. He had no habit of sharing the same ride with others, nor did he share Prime Minister Cao's particular tastes.

Rather than touch two unclean public buses, He might as well—