Dai Mubai, You Kid, You're Really Lucky

The seed grazed a lingering shadow and nailed itself into the fence behind.

"Fast reflexes." Tang San chuckled under his breath.

Taking advantage of the gap while Xu Yuan dodged, he lunged forward, throwing a punch at him.

Seeing the fist incoming, Xu Yuan neither dodged nor retreated; his left arm blocked the strike, fingers precisely locking onto Tang San's wrist.

He followed through by wrapping his right arm around Tang San's lower back, using the momentum of the charge to twist his waist.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, Tang San was slammed firmly into the ground in a shoulder throw.

He let out a muffled groan, his vision swimming with black spots. Just as he tried to push himself up, Xu Yuan pressed a knee into his lower back, pinning his wrists behind him.

The Blue Silver Emperor snaked out to bind him, tightening just enough to render him immobile.

Xu Yuan looked down at Tang San and said, "Tang San, you lost."

Hearing Xu Yuan's words, Tang San gave up struggling and let out a sigh.

If he had used all his Tang Sect techniques, he would have been the victor without a doubt, but he did not want to expose his Tang Sect arts.

At the same time, Tang San felt that Xu Yuan was not worth him using his full repertoire of Tang Sect techniques.

Xiao Wu trotted over to Xu Yuan, saying happily, "Xu Yuan, you won!"

Xu Yuan released his grip, the Blue Silver Emperor quietly receding into the ground, and pulled Tang San to his feet: "You conceded."

Tang San didn't speak, merely rubbing his aching back, the lingering unwillingness in his eyes gradually settling into a complex calm.

Xiao Wu hopped in front of Tang San and stuck out her tongue: "Tang San, admit it, okay? Compared to Brother Xu Yuan, you're still far behind!"

Tang San glanced at Xiao Wu, offered no rebuttal, and turned to walk toward the dormitory.

"Hey, you're just leaving like that?" Xiao Wu called out from behind.

Tang San didn't stop, simply raising a hand to wave a farewell.

Xu Yuan said to Xiao Wu, "Xiao Wu, let's go back and get our luggage so we can head out."

Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her eyes curving into crescent moons: "Okay, okay!"

The two walked side-by-side toward the dormitory, Xiao Wu chattering incessantly about the carrot cakes they should bring for the road, and wondering aloud if there would be delicious candied haws near Blue Tyrant Academy. Xu Yuan responded occasionally, a faint smile playing on his lips.

After returning to the dorm, Xu Yuan packed his and Xiao Wu's luggage into his Soul Tool, then left the dormitory with her, heading toward the school gate.

Yesterday, he had arranged for the carriage driver to pick him and Xiao Wu up around this time to take them to Tiandou City.

Walk to Tiandou City?

That would be like having one's brain kicked by a donkey.

When they reached the school gate, the pre-arranged carriage was already waiting by the roadside.

The driver was sitting on the carriage shaft wiping his whip; seeing them approach, he hurriedly stood up with a smile: "Young Master Xu Yuan, everything is ready. Shall we set off now?"

"Mn." Xu Yuan nodded, reaching out to lift the carriage curtain for Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu hopped into the carriage, poking her head around to inspect the interior. It was lined with soft cotton cushions, and a basket of fresh fruit sat in the corner—clearly something Xu Yuan had ordered in advance. "Wow, Brother Xu Yuan, you even thought of this!" She picked up an apple, rubbed it against her sleeve, and took a large bite, the juice running down the corner of her mouth.

As Xu Yuan boarded, he caught the sight and helplessly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her chin: "Eat slowly, there's plenty for the road."

The driver cracked his whip, the carriage began to roll slowly, and the wheels made a rhythmic creaking sound as they ground over the stone road.

Xiao Wu leaned out the carriage window, watching the familiar school gate gradually recede. Suddenly remembering something, she turned back to ask, "Brother Xu Yuan, do you think Tang San will really go to Shrek Academy? That place sounds strange; do you think it's bad?"

Xu Yuan leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed to rest. Hearing this, he said calmly, "The path is one's own choice; good or bad, one must walk it to the end."

Xiao Wu nodded, half-understanding, and took another bite of her apple: "That's true. Anyway, we're going to Blue Tyrant Academy, it's definitely better than his place!"

As she spoke, she shoved the other apple into Xu Yuan's hand: "You eat too, it's sweet!"

Xu Yuan opened his eyes, looked at the apple with teeth marks in his hand, said nothing, and began to eat it slowly.

The scenery outside the window gradually shifted from town to fields, the wind blowing across the wheat, stirring up golden waves.

Xiao Wu grew tired after watching the scenery for a while and leaned against Xu Yuan's shoulder to doze off, her long eyelashes fluttering gently with her breath, like a sleeping kitten.

Xu Yuan adjusted his posture to make her more comfortable, his gaze resting on the passing scenery outside the window.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed, and the carriage entered Suotuo City.

Since it was already late, Xu Yuan had the driver take him and Xiao Wu to a hotel to get a good rest before setting off for Tiandou City tomorrow.

To Xu Yuan's surprise, the driver dropped them off at the entrance of the Rose Hotel.

He still had some impression of the Rose Hotel; in the novel, this was where Tang San and the others met Dai Mubai.

If he remembered correctly, the Rose Hotel was also a couples' hotel.

Xiao Wu looked at the Rose Hotel before her, a look of immense satisfaction on her face, and pulled Xu Yuan's hand as they entered.

Once inside, Xu Yuan walked up to the front desk and said, "Please, two rooms."

The receptionist said apologetically, "I'm sorry, we only have one room left. Would you two mind making do for the night?"

Xu Yuan frowned slightly, subconsciously glancing at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu was curiously examining the rose vines entwined throughout the hotel lobby; hearing this, she turned her head and blinked: "One room is one room, what's there to compromise about?"

She had just signaled the waiter with her eyes, which was why the waiter had claimed there was only one room left.

Just as Xu Yuan was about to say something more, Xiao Wu had already grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the front desk: "We'll take that room, we're staying!"

As the waiter was preparing to process the paperwork for Xu Yuan, a sudden voice interrupted his actions.

"I say, this room should belong to me, shouldn't it?"

The corner of Xu Yuan's mouth twitched; he truly hadn't expected to run into such a trivial nuisance.

Turning back with Xiao Wu, the two saw a man and a woman walking over.

The man was about 1.8 meters tall with broad shoulders, his handsome features carrying a hint of resolve, and a mane of long golden hair draped down his back, reaching nearly to his waist.

The person who had arrived was none other than Dai Mubai.

The woman beside Dai Mubai looked to be around twenty years old, possessing an excellent figure, though her looks were somewhat lacking.

Looking at Dai Mubai, Xu Yuan felt quite speechless.

Dai Mubai, you brat, you really have a charmed life.

He estimated that Zhu Zhuqing was still being hunted down at this very moment, while Dai Mubai was here checking into a room with a woman.

The reason Zhu Zhuqing was searching for Dai Mubai was simply because she had no choice in the matter.

With Dai Mubai and Dai Weisi competing for the throne of Crown Prince, she, as Dai Mubai's fiancée, had to assist him; if she didn't help him, she would have to die alongside him in the future.

Dai Mubai didn't want to engage in fratricide?

That was complete nonsense.

Dai Mubai knew full well that Dai Weisi was older than him and held a higher level, making the possibility of defeating him slim.

During the Elite Tournament of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academies, Dai Weisi had been at level 49.