Hongwu Battles Dai Mubai

With four days left before Shrek Academy began recruiting students, Yang Xiu brought Zhu Zhuqing, Hua Xiong, and Guan Sheng to the Rose Hotel in Suotuo City. Sure enough, Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived the next day, just as they had in the original story, though Hong Tian and his son were with them too. Guan Sheng and Hua Xiong sensed them shortly after they entered Suotuo City. Xiao Wu did not complain as she had in the original story, but she still chattered away in front of Tang San, just as curious as ever.

"Brother San, why did Brother Xiu and Grandmaster tell us to go to some Dung Beetle Academy?"

"It's Shrek," Tang San explained, looking utterly speechless.

Xiao Wu stuck her tongue out at Tang San and made a face. "Isn't it all the same?"

"Xiao Wu, how is it the same? A dung beetle is a disgusting insect. Shrek is disgusting too, but it's a monster," Hong Wu said. A year older than them, he looked particularly mature, though he still fell far short of Tang San.

Hong Tian watched them with a smile. After spending so much time together, he had grown attached to them, and they were all about the same age as his son.

Although he could not treat them entirely equally, the difference was slight. He earned the spending money for all three of them every month, after all. Likewise, Xiao Wu and Tang San regarded him as an elder.

Seeing Hong Tian laughing at her, Xiao Wu said meekly, "I still think it's the same." Then her eyes darted mischievously.

"But I heard that academy won't start taking applications for another few days."

"We finally got a chance to come out and have fun. You have to take me shopping." The more Xiao Wu spoke, the happier she became. In the end, she grabbed Tang San's arm and began wheedling.

Her large eyes sparkled as she looked at Tang San.

Tang San, who doted on his little sister, had no defense against that. He stroked Xiao Wu's head and said helplessly,

"All right, all right. Whatever you say."

Soon, they reached the Rose Hotel, and Dai Mubai arrived as well. Thanks to Guan Sheng and the others' warning, Yang Xiu's group was now watching from above, tucked into a corner that no one would notice without looking closely. Zhu Zhuqing frowned as she looked at Dai Mubai, then glanced at Yang Xiu and smiled faintly, a trace of happiness settling over her face. Yang Xiu took it all in. Holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand, he gave it a gentle squeeze, a flicker of anger in his eyes as he looked at Dai Mubai. Then he reconsidered. Why get angry with a playboy? Dai Mubai did eventually become somewhat responsible, and their paths would hardly cross anyway. It was like the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect at the beginning of the story. No matter how pretty she was, who liked her apart from a handful of relatives? Yet she still ended up with plenty of fans.

Who knew whether Dai Mubai really had cataracts? This was not the original story, and who knew where he had found the nerve? With his nose in the air and a girl under each arm, he cut in front of Tang San's group. Before Hong Tian or his son could speak, Xiao Wu's temper flared. How could she stand that?

"Hey, scumbag! We got here first! Can't you see? Are you blind?"

Dai Mubai slowly turned his head and glanced at Xiao Wu. She was not the type he liked. He spoke indifferently; whether he had tacitly accepted being called a scumbag or simply had not heard it was anyone's guess.

"Little girl, are you talking to me?"

Hearing that, Xiao Wu felt he was blatantly treating Sister Xiao Wu as though she did not exist.

"Yes, I'm talking to you, bastard! Now get lost!" With that, she moved to hit him.

Tang San stopped Xiao Wu and suddenly said gently,

"A girl should be a little more refined. Leave the fighting to me." It was the first time Xiao Wu had seen Tang San act like this. She grew shy and quietly stood aside.

Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Hong Tian said,

"Xiao San, let me do it."

"Uncle Hong Tian, this is between us youngsters."

At that, Hong Tian said no more.

Tang San addressed Dai Mubai. "We got here first, and you aren't following the rules. You look like a Soul Master too. Let's fight to decide who goes first."

Only now did Dai Mubai really look at Tang San and the others. He had ignored them all at first.

Dai Mubai wore an expression that said only heaven stood above him. "Rules? Here, I, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger Dai Mubai, am the rules. But I'm not unreasonable.

"You look about twelve or thirteen. I'm a few years older than you, so all three of you can come at me together." Dai Mubai's arrogant words even stirred Hong Tian's anger. His son, Tang San, and Xiao Wu had always been his pride, and hearing someone claim that it would take all three of them to fight him was especially galling. In the end, however, he remained silent.

"Three of us? Heh... I'll fight you first," Tang San said, almost amused, without explaining further.

Just then, Yang Xiu suddenly transmitted his voice to Tang San from upstairs.

"Don't rush into a fight. There are too many people here."

"Big Brother, you're here? Where are you?" Tang San asked excitedly. He looked around but saw no one.

"Yes, and your martial arts teacher is here too. Settle things downstairs first, then we'll talk. I'll check your conditions before deciding who fights. In any case, you can't."

He knew Tang San's third Soul Ring was a ten-thousand-year one and did not want him revealing it so hastily. There were too many people here. Since he did not know their exact strength at present, he needed to take a look first.

Name: Tang San (12 years old)

Soul Power: Rank 40 (He had only recently broken through. Since Guan Sheng had left, there was no one to help him obtain a Soul Ring.)

Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, purple, purple, black

Martial Soul: Clear Sky Hammer

Soul Bone: Eight Spider Lances; Soul Skill... the same as in the original story, only stronger

Martial arts: Dragging-Blade Technique; cultivation method: ...

Name: Xiao Wu (12 years old) (Rank 30 Secret Realm rewards: one Soul Power Pill, one Soul Ring Experience Pill, one Soul Bone; Soul Ring condensed by herself)

Soul Power: Rank 38, "purple, purple, purple"

Martial Soul: Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit

Soul Bone: External Soul Bone: Butterfly Wings (thousand-year): a pair of dazzling, beautiful wings that increase charm ability to a certain extent (20%). They are very popular with girls, but their strength depends on the user.

Skill: Copy. Can copy one of the user's own skills. Currently usable once per day, with no Soul Power cost or startup time. Currently copied Soul Skill: Instantaneous Teleportation (replaceable)

Name: Hong Wu (Rank 13; Dai Mubai also entered Shrek at around thirteen or fourteen, so don't mind it) (Secret Realm rewards: one Soul Ring Experience Pill [thousand-year], one Soul Ring, one Soul Power Pill)

Soul Power: Rank 35, yellow, purple, purple

Martial Soul: Forest Wolf

Loyalty: 95

Hong Tian: Rank 47

Loyalty: 80

That was their strength. Although Xiao Wu's and Hong Wu's third thousand-year Soul Skills were both well beyond the thousand-year threshold, there was still a considerable gap between their strength and Tang San's.

At the same time, the differences in their ranks and innate Soul Power had become apparent. The rewards from the Secret Realm had widened the gap in their strength further and further.

Finally, Yang Xiu transmitted his voice again. "All of you have improved a great deal, especially you, Xiao San. You've given me so many surprises. At your age, I might have had strength like yours."

"Tell Hong Wu to fight him. Don't tell Xiao Wu I'm here yet."

All of this happened within a few seconds. Tang San, who had been ready to fight, suddenly stepped back and whispered a few words into Hong Wu's ear.

Hong Wu stepped forward. Watching him emerge, Dai Mubai said unhappily,

"What, you know you can't win, so you're swapping someone else in?"

Then he added impatiently,

"Forget it. The result will be the same whoever it is. If you want to fight, then fight."

Dai Mubai immediately released his Martial Soul. The surrounding crowd quickly scattered. He did not spend ages fighting Tang San hand to hand as he had in the original story.

"Dai Mubai. Martial Soul: White Tiger. Rank 37 Battle Soul Elder. Please give me your guidance."

"You look younger than me. Should I..."

Dai Mubai stopped halfway through, because Hong Wu had released his Martial Soul.

"Hong Wu. Martial Soul: Wolf. Rank 35 Battle Soul Elder. Please give me your guidance." Hong Wu's voice was quiet, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Dai Mubai stared at Hong Wu and his one yellow and two purple Soul Rings.

He did not finish his boast. His expression grew serious. Although he was two ranks above Hong Wu, those two purple Soul Rings—and especially the third thousand-year Soul Ring—were definitely far stronger than his own. He had only ever seen this on one other person, an icy figure.

Facing the now-serious Dai Mubai, Hong Wu said nothing and immediately launched his attack. Brilliantly colored Soul Skills ran rampant. Being underestimated had stirred some anger in him too.

He simply did not like talking; he preferred to make his point through action. Among his peers, apart from those in the Sect, he did not believe anyone was stronger than him. He knew firsthand how powerful the Sect's Foundation Tower was. Moreover, an Inheritance Tower had recently appeared, so his strength would only continue to grow.

Soon, Hong Wu won, though it had not been easy. Looking at Dai Mubai lying on the floor, he said quietly,

"Don't underestimate everyone under heaven. Besides, you don't have the strength to do so. I'm the weakest of the three of us, and you couldn't even beat me. Yet you wanted to fight all three? Hah."

Without caring what Dai Mubai thought, Hong Wu returned to the group. They paid Dai Mubai no further attention and went to find someone to book their rooms. As Tang San's group was about to head upstairs, Dai Mubai watched them.

Dai Mubai climbed up from the floor and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Hey, first, let me apologize. I was out of line today. Judging by your ages, you're going to Shrek too, right? I'll be waiting for you at Shrek. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly, but I'll win it back."

Hong Wu glanced back at Dai Mubai, his impression of him changing somewhat. Although this man was arrogant and lecherous, he dared to admit his mistakes and concede defeat. He did have some merits.

Without saying anything, he turned back and followed Tang San and the others.