Dai Mubai glared at Chen Xuanqing, indignation creeping into his voice. "Of course we're tired. Don't push your luck, brat. Zhu Zhuqing isn't someone you can lay your hands on."
Chen Xuanqing shrugged and said casually, "Who can say for sure when it comes to feelings? Zhu Zhuqing might not even like you. Besides, I only admire her talent and beauty. I don't mean anything else."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke coldly from beside them. "You two, stop treating me like a stake in your wager. I'll make my own decisions."
Zhu Zhuqing's words left Dai Mubai choking, unable to muster a reply.
He drew a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and turned to Zhao Wuji and the others. "Let's find an inn and rest first. We still have things to do tomorrow."
Everyone nodded and headed toward the town's Two-Story Inn.
Inside the inn, the brightly lit main hall was already packed, mostly with Soul Masters and adventurers traveling to and from the Star Dou Great Forest.
Chen Xuanqing, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing found an empty table and sat down, ordering a few dishes and several pots of wine.
Chen Xuanqing raised his cup. "Thanks for all your hard work today. Come on, let's drink together!"
With that, Chen Xuanqing drained his cup. As his words fell, Xiao Wu matched his boldness, tilting her head back and downing her wine in one gulp, a playful, pleased look spreading across her face.
Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing hesitated inwardly, but eventually drained her cup as well.
The group from Shrek Academy sat nearby, their gazes fixed on Chen Xuanqing and Zhu Zhuqing.
Watching the pair's intimate interactions, Dai Mubai grew increasingly resentful.
He glared at Chen Xuanqing and suddenly said, "Don't get too smug, brat. I'm warning you, don't think you can get Zhu Zhuqing drunk and take advantage of her. Play with fire, and you'll burn yourself!"
Chen Xuanqing raised an eyebrow, set down his chopsticks, and looked Dai Mubai straight in the eye. "Dai Mubai, are you threatening me?" he asked evenly. "You'd better keep your nose out of things between Zhu Zhuqing and me. As for those dirty tricks you mentioned, I think you know all about them yourself."
Not to be outdone, Xiao Wu cut in. "Exactly, Dai Mubai. We all know about you and those twins. Keep yourself in line instead of always sticking your nose into other people's business."
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Zhu Zhuqing grew even more displeased.
She set down her cup and looked at him coldly. "Dai Mubai, please address me by my full name from now on. The marriage alliance between the Zhu Family and the Dai Family is merely an arrangement between our families. It doesn't reflect my personal wishes. Brother Xuanqing gave me the strength to break free of my family's shackles. Don't measure a gentleman's heart with your own petty mind."
Zhu Zhuqing's words filled Dai Mubai with anger and shame. He felt as though a bright green cuckold's cap had been planted on his head.
His cheeks flushed crimson, as though someone had slapped him hard across the face.
He stared wide-eyed at Zhu Zhuqing and Chen Xuanqing, jealousy and fury blazing in his heart.
Seeing this, Tang San couldn't help speaking up. "By the parents' command and the matchmaker's word, Boss Dai and Zhu Zhuqing are the rightful couple. Chen Xuanqing, don't ruin yourself by breaking up someone else's marriage."
Chen Xuanqing hadn't expected that prick Tang San to put on such a high-and-mighty attitude in front of him. It immediately soured his mood.
Suddenly, Chen Xuanqing raised his foot and kicked viciously at Tang San's face.
Tang San had never expected Chen Xuanqing to attack so abruptly. He had neither the time nor the strength to dodge, and could only watch helplessly as Chen Xuanqing's foot hurtled toward him.
"Thud!"
With a dull impact, Tang San was sent flying backward and crashed heavily onto the floor.
The kick carried tremendous force. Tang San felt as though a heavy hammer had struck his chest, leaving him in so much pain that he could barely breathe.
Tang San lay on the floor, his face twisted with pain and shock, acutely feeling the gulf between his Soul Power and that of a Soul Saint.
The others from Shrek Academy were also stunned speechless. They hadn't expected Chen Xuanqing to attack so brazenly in a place like this.
Since academy rules prohibited teachers from taking advantage of students, Zhao Wuji wasn't present. Though Ma Hongjun and Oscar wanted to help, neither dared act rashly.
At the sight, Dai Mubai's fury ignited, and he instantly activated his martial soul.
Before he could attack, however, Chen Xuanqing had already rushed up to him.
Chen Xuanqing lashed out with a kick, striking Dai Mubai hard. Dai Mubai lost his balance and flew like a cannonball, finally crashing heavily onto Tang San, who was still lying on the floor.
The collision rang out like thunder, leaving both men groaning in pain. Oscar and Ma Hongjun stepped forward, helped Tang San and Dai Mubai up, and found a secluded corner of the inn where they sat down.
Before long, footsteps broke the tense atmosphere as a group entered from outside.
They wore matching uniforms and looked like an academy's students and teacher.
At their head was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties, dressed in moon-white Soul Master robes embroidered with exquisite silver-thread patterns.
Behind him followed seven young people, six men and one woman, all seemingly around twenty. They wore the same moon-white Soul Master robes, though theirs lacked the middle-aged man's ornate silver embroidery.
Both the middle-aged man and the seven youths had a blue-green circular emblem on their left shoulders. Within each circle, two characters were embroidered in the same color-Canghui.
Their clothing and bearing made it obvious that they were all Soul Masters.
When the people from Canghui Academy entered, Ma Hongjun, who had escaped the earlier beating, immediately brightened. His gaze roamed over their female student, admiration flickering across his face.
Dai Mubai, meanwhile, looked disdainful. He curled his lip and said under his breath, "Hmph. A puny little Canghui Academy dares to swagger around in front of our Shrek Academy?"
Although Dai Mubai spoke quietly, Soul Masters were far more capable than ordinary people, and they heard every word clearly.
The moment their gazes met, the atmosphere turned tense.
The female student from Canghui Academy noticed Ma Hongjun's gaze. She frowned and shot him a glare.
Ma Hongjun, burdened by evil fire, paid it no mind. Instead, he eyed her even more brazenly.
Sitting beside Tang San, Oscar curled his lips into an amused smile. He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "We're in for a good show."
Tang San raised an eyebrow and gave Oscar a puzzled look. "What good show?"
Oscar chuckled and leaned closer, explaining in an even quieter voice, "This is part of our training too, Tang San. Doesn't Dean Flender always say that a Soul Master who doesn't dare stir up trouble isn't a good Soul Master? As the saying goes, those who don't dare make trouble are mediocrities."
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