Chapter 58: Crushing Dai Mubai
"Then please enlighten me." Tang San stepped forward, anger burning in his chest.
"Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, rank twenty-nine Tool Soul Master."
"Dai Mubai, Martial Soul: White Tiger, rank thirty-seven Battle Soul Honored."
After introducing themselves, the two immediately clashed.
Luo Ling and Zhu Zhuqing arrived at the staircase and could clearly see the scene unfolding near the hotel reception.
Luo Ling cast a sidelong glance at Zhu Zhuqing and instantly caught the flicker of emotion in her eyes when she saw Dai Mubai.
But it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Her expression turned cold again the moment her gaze shifted to the two flamboyant women standing behind Dai Mubai.
Coming to a lovers' hotel in the middle of the night with two women—it didn't take much imagination to know why he was here.
Luo Ling chuckled quietly to himself and ignored it, walking straight to Xiao Wu, who stood with her back to him.
"Long time no see, little rabbit," he whispered softly into her ear.
Xiao Wu jolted as if struck by lightning and spun around in shock.
"Who—?"
Her eyes went wide as she finally saw the man before her, and her heart trembled violently.
The voice from years ago echoed faintly in her mind:
"Are we really just ordinary friends in the future?"
"Of course, we're just friends."
Six years had passed. They had only met twice, yet his face had carved itself into her memory so deeply she could never forget it.
"Why? Don't you recognize me?" Luo Ling smiled faintly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
Six years had transformed her—she'd grown into a beautiful young woman.
Xiao Wu was silent for a long time before she finally asked quietly, "Why are you here?"
"I have some business to take care of," he said simply.
…
They exchanged just a few words before silence returned. They had never truly been close, after all—nothing more needed to be said.
But suddenly a furious voice erupted from nearby.
"Who are you? Stay away from Xiao Wu!"
Luo Ling lifted his eyes to see Tang San charging toward him, grim-faced, with Dai Mubai standing dazed behind him.
Dark-blue Blue Silver Grass shot toward Luo Ling violently.
Whether blinded by anger or jealousy, Tang San had actually decided to attack him.
Luo Ling's face remained calm. Invisible dark threads shimmered into existence, intercepting the Blue Silver Grass completely.
In Tang San's eyes, his vines simply disintegrated into ash.
"That your friend?" Luo Ling asked dryly, looking back at Xiao Wu. "Seemingly lacking in manners."
Realizing what had happened, Xiao Wu frowned, visibly displeased with Tang San's behavior.
"He's… just an acquaintance," she said flatly.
"Xiao Wu, who is he?" Tang San demanded, stepping in front of her, glaring murderously at Luo Ling.
It was clear from his eyes that Luo Ling had just been placed on his kill list.
He was furious. He'd only wanted to impress Xiao Wu with his strength, and yet this stranger had appeared—standing so close to her! He himself had never dared get that close.
"You done fighting?" Dai Mubai mocked from nearby. "Can't even keep your own woman under control?"
Tang San's face darkened. He did see Xiao Wu as his woman—even if she didn't accept it yet, he believed she eventually would.
But Xiao Wu turned her cold eyes on Dai Mubai. "You'd better watch your mouth. Tang San and I are just ordinary friends."
Dai Mubai froze, then laughed loudly. "So that's it—you've been acting like a simp all along!"
His laughter was cut short when he noticed someone emerging from behind Luo Ling—Zhu Zhuqing.
She walked up beside Luo Ling, shot Dai Mubai a sharp glance, then turned to Luo Ling gently. "You know this girl?"
Luo Ling looked momentarily surprised, glanced at Dai Mubai, then smiled knowingly.
Taking Zhu Zhuqing's hand boldly, he said softly, "That's Xiao Wu, a friend of mine. It's been years since we last met."
Zhu Zhuqing blushed at the unexpected gesture but didn't pull away. "I see," she said quietly.
"Zhu Zhuqing! What are you doing here?" Dai Mubai roared, his voice echoing like a tiger's growl.
"Does it have anything to do with you where I am?" she shot back icily.
"Do you even understand your identity? How dare you come to a hotel with a man?"
"And what about you? Aren't you here with two women?" she retorted bluntly.
…
The two faced off like fire and ice, leaving Xiao Wu and Tang San stunned. Even Luo Ling feigned surprise.
Dai Mubai's face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his forehead. His fiancée—here, at night, with another man in a hotel? How was he supposed to tolerate that?
Worse yet, the young man beside her—with silver hair, crimson eyes, and an effortless aura of nobility—made even Dai Mubai, prince of the Star Luo Empire, feel insignificant.
"So you two know each other?" Luo Ling asked, breaking the tense silence.
Everyone turned. Zhu Zhuqing said quietly, "We know each other."
Her detached tone and the fact she hadn't revealed their engagement told Luo Ling everything—she had no desire to make that public.
"Zhu Zhuqing, you've really angered me this time! And as for you—whoever you are—get away from her right now!" Dai Mubai shouted, spirit energy flaring violently.
Luo Ling stayed perfectly calm. "I don't know what your relationship with Zhuqing is, but who she befriends is her choice. You have no right—"
"Looking for death!" Dai Mubai roared, cutting him off as he lunged forward.
Savage white tiger claws slashed through the air toward Luo Ling.
Both Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu tensed up. Dai Mubai's spirit rings—two yellow, one purple—flashed brightly, revealing his full power.
Tang San stood aside with a faintly smug smile, while the hotel staff cowered behind the counter.
Still, Luo Ling didn't flinch. His expression was emotionless as dark power gathered around his fist. He struck once.
A violent shockwave shattered every glass pane in the lobby. The compressed wave of darkness smashed straight into Dai Mubai, sending him crashing into the wall with an explosion of dust and debris.
"I don't care what you are to Zhuqing," Luo Ling said coldly, eyes narrowing, "but if you ever raise a hand to me again, I will kill you."
His voice was emotionless, yet the killing intent in it chilled everyone to the bone.
Everyone stood frozen in shock.
Dai Mubai was a Soul Honored of rank thirty-seven—and yet this younger, smaller man had crushed him effortlessly.
Luo Ling hadn't even summoned a Martial Soul or spirit rings. It wasn't a battle—it was a beating.
From the rubble, Dai Mubai staggered to his feet, trembling. That single blow had made him feel the proximity of death.
"You still haven't left?" Luo Ling's cold voice echoed again.
Dai Mubai's body instinctively trembled.
"I'll remember this!" he spat before turning to flee, too shaken to even collect the two women he'd come with.
Watching him run, Luo Ling shook his head.
"The so-called Evil-Eyed White Tiger of the Shrek Seven Devils," he muttered softly. "Still the same—bullies the weak, cowers before the strong."
He'd abandoned Zhu Zhuqing back in Star Luo—run away from his failure. And now… he ran again.
(END CHAPTER)
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