Douluo: I, Unrivaled Thief, Welcome the Explosive King's Return

Boom! A crater roughly two meters wide suddenly appeared in the street.

Dai Mubai lay in the crater like a sideways "V," completely unconscious.

The street fell silent. Only after several breaths did cries of alarm rise from the surrounding crowd.

"D-Dead! Someone's dead!"

"How could someone die? Won't we be held responsible too? He's from Shrek Academy, after all!"

The onlookers stood dumbfounded, their bodies trembling involuntarily. The twins and the other woman were even more terrified, their faces utterly pale as they stood frozen in place.

At that moment, the middle-aged man also rushed over from the end of the street. His eyes were split wide with rage, and behind his glasses, his hawk-like gaze nearly spat fire.

"You little beast! How dare you lay such vicious hands on this old man's student!"

The Cat Owl Martial Soul instantly possessed him. Seven Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—flared brilliantly, and the pressure of a Soul Saint swept through the entire street like a tsunami.

The onlookers were knocked staggering in every direction, while ceramic jars on the shelves shattered across the ground with a clatter.

Yet Unrivaled Thief did not move an inch. He had long since recognized the middle-aged man before him.

The headmaster of Shrek Academy, Flender—a level seventy-eight agility-attack Battle Soul Master whose Martial Soul was the Cat Owl.

"Is this the pressure of a Soul Saint? It's nothing special." He had even experienced the pressure of a Titled Douluo. Why would he fear a mere Soul Saint?

Unrivaled Thief glanced at Dai Mubai, whose fate was unknown in the deep pit, and Ma Hongjun, who had fainted in the distance, then chuckled.

"Old bastard, no need to get so angry. If you can't discipline your own students, someone else will do it for you."

He even stood provocatively beside Dai Mubai, looking as though he were daring Flender to do something.

"You're courting death!"

Flender was a Soul Saint, yet he was being mocked and threatened in public by a child barely in his teens. If he did nothing, wouldn't he become a laughingstock?

The Cat Owl phantom behind him suddenly flapped its wings. Several black Soul Power feathers shot toward Unrivaled Thief like arrows.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

He opened with a killing move. Every arrow flew toward Unrivaled Thief's vital points, as though he feared they would fail to kill him.

"Boss!" Shifty-eyed Thief's eyes nearly split apart in fury as he charged forward without regard for his own safety.

Even Zhu Zhuqing, who was hiding nearby, felt a flicker of worry in her heart for some reason.

Yet Unrivaled Thief, the man at the center of it all, remained expressionless. He did not even blink.

Just as those feathers, like arrows loosed from a bowstring, were about to strike Unrivaled Thief—

An even more terrifying surge of Soul Power abruptly swept across the street.

The Soul Power feathers were like snow meeting blazing fire, melting away in an instant.

In the end, they became a gentle breeze that lightly brushed across Unrivaled Thief's face.

A tall figure in a black robe had appeared beside Unrivaled Thief at some point, deliberately standing half a step behind him.

Sensing the sudden Soul Power, Flender's pupils constricted as he cried out, "A Soul Douluo?!"

Yet that Soul Douluo ignored him, releasing Soul Douluo-level Soul Power to envelop him.

Then he looked toward Unrivaled Thief, seemingly awaiting his orders.

"Shocked, aren't you? Didn't expect a Soul Douluo to be backing me up, did you?" Unrivaled Thief looked teasingly at Flender's ashen face.

This Soul Douluo was the red-robed bishop he had summoned from the Balak Kingdom's Spirit Hall branch before returning to Suotuo City.

Without the red-robed bishop, he would not have foolishly attacked Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai in Suotuo City.

After all, Flender owned a shop in Suotuo City. While using it to rake in money, he also used it to protect students like Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who frequently visited brothels.

However, killing Flender and Ma Hongjun in Suotuo City was not realistic.

Flender is an agility-attack Soul Saint. If he insists on fleeing, the red-robed bishop can't stop him, and it might alert him, making him wary everywhere he goes. Besides, Shrek Academy has Zhao Wuji, the Immovable Ming King, along with other Soul Emperors and Soul Saints. But even if I can't kill them, I won't let them have it easy!

Han Qingfei had told him that although Flender had not personally acted against Rebel Son and the others' parents, he had condoned Ma Hongjun's killings. He was an undeniable accomplice.

Unrivaled Thief stared at the wary Flender and ordered the black-robed red-robed bishop, "Go slap him twice. If he dares dodge, I'll crush this horny tiger's head beneath my foot."

As he spoke, his right foot was already planted on Dai Mubai's head, as though inviting Flender to give it a try.

Flender's face twisted like that of an evil ghost, his clenched fists cracking at the knuckles.

His nails dug deeply into the flesh of his palms. Crimson blood trickled through the gaps between his fingers and splashed onto the ground in striking blooms of red, yet he remained unaware of it.

Damn it. If I really make a move, that little beast might truly crush Mubai's head.

He had seen Unrivaled Thief's brutality firsthand. He did not dare gamble with Dai Mubai's life.

Whoosh!

The red-robed bishop flashed forward. Before his afterimage had faded, he was already standing before Flender.

Slap! Slap!

Two crisp slaps rang out. The force behind them instantly reddened and swelled Flender's cheeks, while blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

His body trembled violently, but he did not dare utter even a groan of pain. He could only grit his teeth and lower his head further.

Watching Flender's servile posture, Unrivaled Thief felt that he looked like a stray dog whose spine had been broken.

Not only that, he even had to wear a flattering smile to curry favor with Unrivaled Thief.

"Hehe, young master, are you satisfied now? Could you please release my two unruly students?"

At that moment, Flender only wanted to rescue Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun and return to Shrek Academy as quickly as possible. Whether he lost face no longer mattered.

After all, he was a mighty Soul Saint. Ordinary people would only dare gossip about him behind his back.

Yet as he spoke, hatred and killing intent flickered deep within his eyes.

Hmph. Once Old Zhao arrives and saves Mubai and Hongjun, I can flee far away. Then just wait for my revenge!

However, Unrivaled Thief had already seen through his thoughts. His tone was mocking. "Heh, who told you that two slaps meant this was over? You old bastard, you're really good at adding scenes for yourself, aren't you?"

"Y-You're despicable!" Flender's eyes burned with fury. Usually, he was the one who schemed against others. Today, he had actually been schemed against.

"Being despicable is an attitude too." Unrivaled Thief lightly ground his foot against Dai Mubai's head. "Now watch your attitude when you speak to me. If you want to talk to me, kneel. You don't want to see his head crushed beneath my foot, do you?"

Flender panted like a bull, his entire body shaking.

But to stall for time, he could only kneel before Unrivaled Thief, still wearing a fawning expression.

"Young master, would this be enough to make up for my two students' crimes?"

Unrivaled Thief looked at Flender, whose words did not match his heart. He knew the latter's patience was nearly at its limit, so he could not push him too hard.

Still, he intended to swindle Flender one more time. Their accounts were far from settled.

"See all the things scattered on the ground? Your two students did that. If I remember correctly, you own a shop in Suotuo City, right? Give that shop to me as compensation, and we'll call this matter settled."

Hatred Fuels Effort ### "What? You're unwilling?"

Unrivaled Thief applied a little pressure with his foot. Dai Mubai's face slowly sank down, and before long, half his face was buried in the ground.

Flender was a hypocritical, profit-hungry miser who worshipped money and had no bottom line.

Making him hand over his shop in Suotuo City was like taking half his life.

Unrivaled Thief would not give him an opportunity to bargain. His foot continued pressing down.

If Flender did not agree quickly, Dai Mubai's head might not be crushed, but he could very well suffocate to death in the dirt.

Dai Mubai is my cash cow. He absolutely cannot die. I'll use the shop to ransom him and Hongjun this time, then make him repay it once we return to the academy.

After a fierce internal struggle, Flender reluctantly said, "Fine. I am willing to use that shop to ransom my students. I hope this young master will show mercy!"

Unrivaled Thief knew the pressure had been applied enough. He understood that extremes produced the opposite result.

I may not have killed Ma Hongjun, but that punch wasn't easy to endure. Slowly. I'll slowly torment him to death!

He cast an inconspicuous glance at Ma Hongjun in the distance, then kicked Dai Mubai out of the pit before leaving with Shifty-eyed Thief.

The crowd immediately made way for them, terrified of blocking this master's path.

Flender watched Unrivaled Thief's receding back, and turbulent killing intent flashed through his eyes.

"Hmph. Only I, Flender, have ever taken advantage of others. No one has ever taken advantage of me. You and your brothers will have to be alone someday!"

Then, amid the crowd's pointing fingers and whispers, he took Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun away. Shrek Academy's reputation in Suotuo City was completely ruined.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the Dai Mubai being taken away, then at Unrivaled Thief in the distance. She bit her lips tightly as an intense struggle raged within her.

But in the end, she still chose to continue following Unrivaled Thief.

Admiring strength was merely an instinct buried deep within people.

Not only was Unrivaled Thief powerful himself, but he also had an unfathomable background. He could even command a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse.

Dai Mubai, by comparison, was merely an ordinary prince of the Star Luo Empire. Now he had fallen into depravity, with not the slightest hope of winning under the Star Luo Empire's succession system.

Anyone else would likely choose Unrivaled Thief over Dai Mubai without hesitation.

On the way back, Unrivaled Thief did not feel happy despite having swindled Flender.

Shifty-eyed Thief carefully watched him, thinking that his boss was upset because he had caused trouble.

He gritted his teeth and stood in front of Unrivaled Thief. "Boss, I caused you trouble today. If you're unhappy, then beat me up and vent your anger!"

"Huh?" Unrivaled Thief was baffled by his sudden words, but quickly came back to his senses.

He immediately rubbed Shifty-eyed Thief's puppy-like head and comforted him. "No, you did very well."

"Boss, then why do you still look so unhappy?!" His face was full of confusion.

Unrivaled Thief's gaze was sharp as lightning. He placed both hands heavily on Shifty-eyed Thief's shoulders and said in a low, suppressed voice, "It's been six years. There are some things you deserve to know."

"Huh? What things?" Shifty-eyed Thief pressed for answers.

"I'll tell you once we get home." As he spoke, Unrivaled Thief gave him an annoyed smack on the head.

As for the red-robed bishop, Unrivaled Thief had him take over Flender's shop in Suotuo City and monitor Shrek Academy's every move.

By the time they returned home, it was already night. Rebel Son and Thief Father had prepared dinner with practiced efficiency.

Seeing Unrivaled Thief and Shifty-eyed Thief return, Rebel Son said, "Boss, Fourth Brother, you're finally back. Come and try Third Brother's and my cooking!"

Unrivaled Thief did not stand on ceremony. He walked up to the roasted whole pig, tore off a hind leg for Shifty-eyed Thief, and took a front leg for himself.

At the same time, he activated his fledgling Wind Domain. After sensing that there was no one within a hundred meters, he solemnly looked toward Rebel Son and the other two.

Seeing Unrivaled Thief's expression, Rebel Son and Thief Father became a little flustered. They thought their cooking had been poor and angered their boss.

Shifty-eyed Thief comforted them when he saw this. "What are you two thinking, Second Brother and Third Brother? Boss has something to tell us!"

Unrivaled Thief took a deep breath. His gaze swept over the three like a blade, his voice low and restrained.

"It's been six years. There's a secret I never told you. Our parents... didn't die at the hands of Soul Beasts."

The roasted meat in Rebel Son's hand fell to the ground with a smack. Thief Father abruptly rose to his feet, knocking over his chair with a piercing scrape.

Shifty-eyed Thief's pupils shrank, and a trembling voice squeezed from his throat. "B-Boss, what did you say?!"

"It was people." Unrivaled Thief spoke each word slowly, his fists clenching with crackling sounds. "Our parents were killed by people—more precisely, by Soul Masters."

"Who did it?! I'll tear him apart!!" Rebel Son's eyes turned bloodshot as violent Soul Power suddenly erupted from his body, shaking the dining table violently.

Thief Father grabbed him, but his own hand was trembling. His voice, however, was terrifyingly calm. "Boss, who was the murderer?"

Unrivaled Thief stared at Shifty-eyed Thief and raised his hand to point in the direction of Suotuo City. "The one who killed our parents was that red-haired dead fatso, and that four-eyed old bastard Flender was his accomplice!"

Ma Hongjun's and Flender's names leaked through his clenched teeth, as though he were chewing flesh and blood.

Boom!

A ring of air exploded around Shifty-eyed Thief. His once-childish face twisted with savage hatred.

"What? That dead fatso?! That piece of trash Boss nearly killed with one punch—he dared, he actually dared!"

Thief Father seized a dining knife from the table and viciously drove it into the tabletop, sending wood chips flying. "A blood debt must be repaid in blood."

Rebel Son directly flipped the entire table over. The roasted whole pig smashed against the wall, turning into a smear of grease. "Let's go kill them now!"

Unrivaled Thief suddenly unleashed terrifying Soul Power, instantly suppressing the three of them.