Dai Mubai Gets a Beating!

Seven days later!

A boy and a girl walked down a street in Suoer City. The boy was dressed simply and neatly. He looked twelve or thirteen, stood about five feet seven, and wore a light-blue fitted outfit. A belt set with twenty-four pieces of jade circled his waist, and his black hair barely reached his shoulders. He was rather handsome and seemed easy to approach, though his haggard face made anyone who saw him ache for him.

Beside him was a girl with a long ponytail. Two large, round eyes brightened her rosy face, and a fitted pink outfit hugged her developing figure. She skipped along, plainly delighted.

"Brother San! We've been in Suoer City for a month, but you spend every day at the Blacksmith Shop. You never have time to go shopping with me. Spend the whole day with me today, okay?" Xiao Wu asked, shaking Tang San's arm, her face full of hope.

Tang San looked helpless. "All right, I'll go shopping with you today. Let's find a hotel first."

"Yay! Come on! I remember a Rose Hotel not far from here. It looks so pretty inside! Can we go there?" Xiao Wu asked excitedly.

"Sure. Your choice!" Xiao San said, fondly patting her head.

Xiao Wu slapped his hand away. "Hmph! You always say it's my choice. You never make up your own mind. If only Brother Que were here!"

Brother Que... Tang San sighed.

For the past month, Tang San had been working shifts at the Blacksmith Shop for one reason: to find Yang Que. Every day, he bought information from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, hoping to learn whether Yang Que had reached Suoer City.

But the pavilion's information was expensive, so Tang San had to keep working to pay for it. At first, when there was no news of Brother Que, he assumed something had delayed him on the road. After a month of disappointment upon disappointment, though, Tang San could not help wondering whether Grandmaster had lied to him. Perhaps Brother Que was no longer alive.

Grief weighed on Tang San. Brother Que had been his best friend since childhood. Back when life in the village had been hard, Brother Que had always brought him food from the village chief's house. Whenever Tang San was unhappy or in trouble, Brother Que had helped him.

Now, after so many disappointments, he was beginning to despair.

Xiao Wu noticed his mood and suddenly realized what was wrong. "Oh, Brother San! Stop worrying about Brother Que. He's so strong—how could anything happen to him?"

That's right. Brother Que is so strong. How could anything happen to him? I must be overthinking it!

Tang San forced a smile and patted Xiao Wu's head. "You're right. How could anything happen to Brother Que? Something would happen to me before it happened to him!"

"Ptooey! Don't say that! Nothing's going to happen to either of you!"

"Right! Nothing will happen to any of us. We'll all be fine!"

The Rose Hotel!

Tang San and Xiao Wu stepped inside.

"It smells wonderful! Roses! It's so pretty in here!" Xiao Wu exclaimed.

Tang San went to the front desk. "Could we have two rooms, please?"

"I'm sorry, sir, but we only have one room left," the receptionist said with a smile.

"One?" Tang San was taken aback.

"Yes. But it's big enough for two people," the receptionist said.

"That's fine, Brother San. Didn't we share a room at Nuoding City Academy?" Xiao Wu said, unconcerned.

"All right, we'll take it." Tang San was no old stick-in-the-mud and quickly made up his mind.

"Of course, sir. I'll check you in now," the receptionist said, still smiling.

Just then, an arrogant voice rang out.

"Hold on. Wasn't that room supposed to be kept for me? I remember making a reservation at your hotel."

A young man around six feet tall approached, a curvaceous woman tucked under each arm.

His long golden hair fell loosely over his shoulders, and he wore a white-and-gold robe. His eyes were striking: each held a double pupil, and a bone-chilling coldness shone in their deep blue depths.

"Who are you?" Intimidated by Dai Mubai's presence, the receptionist did not dare continue checking Tang San in.

"Get your manager out here! Do you want to do business or not?" Dai Mubai demanded.

"Oh! Young Master Dai! I'm so sorry. He's new and didn't recognize you. I'll handle your check-in right away!" A kindly-looking middle-aged man hurried over.

"My apologies, you two. Young Master Dai reserved this room in advance. Would you mind trying another hotel?" he asked Tang San and Xiao Wu pleasantly.

"What? We got here first! Why should we give it to him? Who does that nose-in-the-air jerk think he's looking down on?" Xiao Wu snapped, refusing to budge.

"Oh? Even if you want to give it up now, it won't be that simple. You dared insult me," Dai Mubai said coldly.

"Hmph! You think I'm afraid of you? Come on! I'll beat your face into a pig's head!" Xiao Wu shot back.

"Now, now, everyone..." The manager tried to intervene.

"Enough talk. I'll pay for any damage!" Dai Mubai cut him off without hesitation.

Tang San and Dai Mubai then came to blows. Just as in the original story, Dai Mubai's superior Soul Power and level overwhelmed Tang San, and Tang San lost.

"Heh, kid, you're still green. But since you're applying to Shrek Academy, I won't make things difficult for you. You can have the room," Dai Mubai said, still wearing an arrogant expression.

"How do you know we're applying to Shrek Academy?" Tang San asked, his face deathly pale.

"At this time of year, where else would twelve-year-old Soul Masters in their twenties be applying? If anyone gives you trouble there, tell them the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, Dai Mubai, sent you!" Dai Mubai said.

Just as Dai Mubai was about to leave the Rose Hotel, a mild voice called out. "Your name's Dai Mubai? You think you can beat up my brother and just walk away? It won't be that easy."

The voice instantly caught the attention of all three. They turned to see a young man seated on a sofa, quietly savoring a glass of red wine.

He wore a white swordsman's robe, and his handsome face was flawless. Glass in hand, he sat calmly, as though he had been there for quite some time.

"Is that...?" Xiao Wu covered her mouth in shock.

"Brother... Brother Que?" Tang San's eyes reddened.

Yang Que turned toward Tang San and gave a slight nod. Seeing his red eyes, Yang Que was surprised. What's going on? Is he that excited to see me?

"Who are you? I'll leave whenever I want. What's it to you?" Dai Mubai replied, still unaware of how serious his situation was.

"Heh. I said you can't leave yet," Yang Que said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Hmph! Who do you think you are, meddling in your Grandpa Dai's business?" Dai Mubai said, his nose in the air.

"That lecherous tiger's finished. He actually spoke to Brother Que like that! Brother San, Brother Que's going to teach him a lesson for us! Hee-hee!" Xiao Wu said gleefully, clearly happy to see the trouble grow.

"Don't celebrate yet. Dai Mubai has a Power Attack System Beast Martial Soul, and he's level thirty-seven," Tang San said gravely.

Yang Que did not get angry. "Heh. How about this? Fight me. If you win, you can leave. If you lose, I'll give you another beating. What do you say?"

Dai Mubai bristled at once. "What did you say? Give me a beating? Heh. A little strength has gone straight to your head. Looks like I need to show you where you stand!"

Dai Mubai immediately released his Martial Soul.

A white tiger appeared beside him, and three Soul Rings rose beneath his feet: yellow, yellow, purple!

"Dai Mubai. Martial Soul: White Tiger. Level thirty-seven Battle Soul Elder. Release your Martial Soul! Let me see what you're made of!" Dai Mubai declared.

Yang Que shook his head, placed one hand behind his back, and opened the other toward Dai Mubai. Clearly, he did not think Dai Mubai worthy of seeing his Martial Soul. One hand would be enough to deal with him.

At the sight of Yang Que's stance, anger blazed through Dai Mubai. "Arrogant!"

Dai Mubai lunged at him.

Third Soul Skill: White Tiger Vajra Transformation!

Dai Mubai had opened with his strongest move. Yang Que had clearly infuriated him.

"Here it comes! That's his thousand-year Soul Skill!" Tang San said grimly. It was the move that had beaten him moments ago.

"Watch closely, Xiao San! Dealing with a little kitty like this is easy!" Yang Que said, finding time to speak to Tang San even as he fought.

A little kitty? Tang San was speechless. Only Brother Que would dare call it that.

Hearing Yang Que call his Martial Soul a little kitty, Dai Mubai nearly burst a lung with rage. He poured even more strength into his fist and drove it at Yang Que!

Yang Que merely stood there, smiling.

Bang!

Dai Mubai's punch struck Yang Que. But instead of coughing blood and flying backward, Yang Que remained utterly composed. As the dust cleared, Dai Mubai saw that Yang Que had caught his fist firmly in his outstretched hand!

"H-how is that possible?" Dai Mubai's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

"That's it? You dared bully my brother? Who gave you the nerve?" Yang Que looked at him with open contempt.

Since cultivating the Jade-Suppressing Nether King Body, Yang Que's physical strength had reached a staggering fifty thousand jin. Even an ordinary Soul Ancestor would struggle to withstand one of his punches. Catching Dai Mubai's was easy.

Yang Que clamped his fingers around Dai Mubai's fist. With one heave, he flung Dai Mubai into the Rose Hotel's wall!

Yang Que used the Thunderclap Sword Shadow Steps and appeared before him in an instant. Grabbing Dai Mubai with one hand, he hauled him up and slammed a fist into his abdomen!

"Aaah!"

Dai Mubai clutched his stomach, the pain twisting his features. "That's it? You want them to use your name at Shrek Academy? What a colossal trap that would be."

Yang Que was about to punch him again when Dai Mubai hurriedly cried, "Don't! Stop hitting me! I was wrong, I was wrong! I'm a student at Shrek Academy too. I only said that because I know the people there, so..."

All of Dai Mubai's earlier arrogance and domineering air had vanished. Only deep fear remained.

"So you were just putting on an act? You're asking for it!" Yang Que slammed another fist into him, then lifted him and hurled him out the door!

Thud!

Dai Mubai sprawled face-first on the ground.

"What kind of skill does an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old have, bullying a fifteen-year-old like me?" Dai Mubai said, finding a little courage when Yang Que did not come after him.

"Heh." Yang Que gave a scornful laugh.

Xiao Wu cut in. "What nonsense are you spouting? Our Brother Que is only twelve and a half, just three months older than Brother San! Heh, someone three years younger than you beat you into this sorry state, and you've still got the nerve to talk?"

"Twelve and a half? How is that possible?" Shock filled Dai Mubai's face, followed by a deep sense of helplessness.

It was bad enough that he could not measure up to his older brother in the Star Luo Empire. Now, even here, he was no match for a boy three years younger than him!

A trace of dejection clung to Dai Mubai as he slowly walked out of the Rose Hotel.

"Wow, Brother Que! You've gotten so strong! What level are you now?" Xiao Wu asked excitedly.

"Heh, only level thirty-nine," Yang Que said casually.

"Wow! That's so high!" Xiao Wu stared at him in shock.

Tang San was stunned too. "Brother Que, I thought I might have closed the gap between us over the past few years. I never imagined it had only grown wider."

"Heh." Yang Que smiled but did not answer.

"Brother Que, you have no idea how worried Tang San's been this past month. Grandmaster said you'd arrived long ago, but we couldn't find you anywhere! Where did you go?" Xiao Wu asked, her voice full of reproach.

Tang San was curious too. He had searched for a month and had even come to believe Yang Que was dead. Yet here he was...

"Heh. Grandmaster was right. I did arrive a while ago, but something happened on the way and held me up." Yang Que did not want to damage Tang San's relationship with Grandmaster, so he made up an excuse.

"I knew it! Brother San wouldn't believe me. Hmph!" Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips.

Tang San looked embarrassed. When Yang Que glanced at him, he quickly said, "I was just worried about you, Brother Que!"

Warmth spread through Yang Que's heart. "Heh. Good brother! It'll take more than that to bring me down."

"Come on! Let's get something to eat and drink. I've got some good things for you both!"

In his previous life, apart from his family, Yang Que had rarely had a true brother. Seeing how sincerely Tang San cared about him, he now accepted Tang San as a brother from the bottom of his heart.