The sound of hurried footsteps disturbed the dim luxury of a high-class inn in Soto City.
The door slammed open and a manservant tumbled in, panting, sweating through his vest. He collapsed to one knee before the large, silk-draped bed, voice trembling.
"Dai Shao—I bring exact news: Your fiancée has departed Southern Chu. She has entered the land of Shenyan Temple."
The statement exploded across the quiet room.
On the bed lay a boy of fourteen. His youth was deceptive; his tall frame, broad shoulders, and gleaming blond hair gave off the impression of an untamed lion. His posture radiated leisure, but when his head lifted, the eyes that opened were ruthless—pupils like twin blades inlaid over dark ocean blue, sharp and inviolable.
The name he bore shook Star Luo's royal court: Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai's Intention
"Fiancée, hm?"
He sat up, rubbing his temples lazily, while his arms still rested loosely around the two girls curled against him. The aroma of perfume clung heavily in the air, proof of his indulgence the night prior.
"That little girl of the Zhu family finally couldn't withstand the pressure, so she runs here? Heh. Was she coming to me?"
The jade-skinned girl in his left arm pouted sassily. "Fiancée? Why didn't you ever mention that, Mubai-ge? You've been cheating us too?"
Her twin, still draped in loose nightgown, bit playfully at his ear.
But Dai Mubai only chuckled darkly. "Baby, don't pout. She's just a smelly little girl. What meaning does that hold? You two—I love you most."
He reached for roses set upon the bedside, plucking them dramatically to hand into their painted fingers. "Look—waking beauties, brighter than any flower. Go. Bathe properly, put on bathrobes. I'll bring surprise for you tonight."
The girls raised brows at each other. "Surprise? If it's not big, we won't forgive~"
With a teasing moan, they pranced into the bathing room, leaving laughter in their wake.
The moment the door shut, Dai Mubai's charming smile collapsed. He flung the quilt aside, exposing sculpted abs and tiger stripes across his chest. In a flash he dressed, commands dripping casually from lips.
"They? Let them rot. Just women I've ridden for amusement." He sneered. "I'm not here for cheap satisfaction. There's business."
The servant bowed further, cowed but secretly thinking: Young Master Dai plays like a devil. But this, too, is his nature.
Dai's eyes narrowed. "By the way—our Dean, old Flender, and Xiao Ao—weren't they heading toward this so-called Shenyan land? To scavenge funds for Shrek?"
The servant nodded. "Yes, and… they said the land of Shenyan is wealth incarnate. One trip turned merchants into villa owners in mere months."
Dai Mubai smirked. "Typical. Old Flender sniffed profit, dragged Oscar to exploit it. No matter. I'll find the little cat before she thinks she's abandoned."
His servant tilted his head. "Young Master, forgive me but… you repeatedly declare dislike for the Zhu family's little miss. Yet secretly, you order me to track her every step. Isn't that… contradictory?"
Dai Mubai rose, eyes glinting like predatory steel. He clapped the servant's shoulder. "Contradiction? No. This is wisdom.
A man must play enough. Outside women are waves—temporary. But a wife? Only one.
If I woo that little girl too early, then dally with others, she'll feel betrayed. But if I devour enough wild blossoms, then one day discard them, step suddenly into fidelity, tell her I reformed… she'll think the prodigal son returned, willing to bind her alone.
And then, her heart will belong to me utterly."
He left in a blaze of golden hair, stride calm, leaving his servant stunned dumb. "Young Master is terrifying. Truly manipulative… yet genius."
Shenyan Town
Three days later—
Shenyan Town. A name now spoken across Douluo like a legend.
Bustling streets wound beneath ornate lanterns, markets lined with rare pelts, soul beast crystals shimmering in stalls, hawkers shouting cutthroat bargains. Nobles strolled in silk, mercenaries squabbled over fangs and bones. Even walking through the town drained purses swiftly. For the wealthy, paradise. For commoners, peril.
Those without coin often squatted at the mountain's base, sleeping in tents or under trees, braving risk of wild beast bites just to be near. Such was the magnetism of Shenyan Hall.
Beside a stream on the outskirts, splashes echoed.
An old man bent to wash, thick glasses perched across hawk-like nose, cheekbones sharp above sly smile. His eyes, however, burned with mischief, gold coins dancing within.
Flender, "owl" of the Golden Iron Triangle, dean of Shrek Academy.
Nearby, a shorter but stockier bearded man chomped bread, peach blossom eyes gleaming.
"Yesterday's profits!" Flender flung his hands like a gambler revealing cards. "Amazing! This land is money itself. Rich fools, spendthrift noblewomen—they eat anything we sell if we dress it fancy! In a few weeks, not only Shrek's operation cost, but we'll rebuild campuses, towers, golden gates! Ahahaha, brilliant!"
Oscar, next to him, sighed. His childlike voice mismatched the weary lines on his young face. "Dean… this was my money. What I earned with my Martial Soul. Not the school's."
"Nonsense!" Flender barked. "I am Dean. Your money is the academy's money. Yours does not exist!"
Oscar dragged his sausage cart grudgingly into town, muttering. But once pitched, his demeanor shifted instantly: professional charm sparkled in his smile.
"Fresh sausage! Oscar Sausage! Quality guaranteed!"
A noblewoman slowed her horse, gaze sliding over him with interest. "Young master, how much?"
"One gold soul coin per sausage. Long, thick, rich—best you'll taste!" Oscar flourished a spicy garlic-scented link tantalizingly.
Crowing whispers followed. "For so large, so cheap? This boy's daring."
Within minutes women littered his stand with coin. "Ten sausages!" "Twenty!"
Oscar's grin widened greedily… until he froze. Sausages vanished faster than he prepared. Within moments, he was… sold out.
"Uhh… apologies. No more stock tonight. Return tomorrow?"
The women's mood evaporated.
"What nonsense? We already paid!"
"You insult us?"
"Unacceptable. Refund!"
Cornered, Oscar glanced around, face flushed. In desperation, he let his martial spirit activate.
Soul rings flared at his feet—yellow, yellow. His voice, unfortunately, erupted in its infamous lecherous chant:
"Bigger and bigger—my big sausage!"
A sizzling shine burst from his hand, and fresh sausages materialized, steaming.
The ladies froze, horrified. Then—
"What words are those?!"
"Vulgar! Lewd!"
"He… he's obscene!"
They dispersed in fury, leaving Oscar kneeling in shame, clutching sausages no one wanted. "My beauties… wasted…"
Encounter with Dai Mubai
A shadow loomed. A heavy clap struck Oscar's shoulder.
"Oscar, Oscar."
The boy turned. His eyes widened. "Boss Dai?"
Dai Mubai stood smirking, arms folded, a predator in golden casual clothes.
"Still selling sausages in the streets?" Dai sneered. "Have you no shame? Disgracing Shrek altogether, hawking filth for women's laughs."
Oscar groaned. "Boss Dai, I don't need more scolding. I already lost face. But boss! Why… why are you here? In Soto you swore a thousand-women challenge! Didn't you abandon yourself in brothels? Why show up at Shenyan?"
Dai snorted dismissively. "Challenge's long complete. Trifling amusements. Enough fodder. What matters is here—my fiancée. That Zhu girl. The little cat. She fails to find me yet. She must be worrying herself sick."
Oscar's jaw slackened. "You… really treat her seriously? But you've flitted among countless women, everyday another bed—are you not contradicting yourself?"
Dai's eyes narrowed, voice like crushed gravel.
"You fool. There is no contradiction. Outside women? Amusements. Merchants trading coin. But a wife? Zhu Zhuqing will stay by my side as queen.
When I grow tired of outside blossoms—throw them away in one sweep—then offer fidelity to her alone, she will believe me redeemed. Think me changed. And her heart? Bound forever."
He smirked, malevolent. "That is how men must live."
Oscar trembled, expression caught between fear and disbelief. What a frightening boss…
Shenyan's Walls
The gates of Shenyan Hall glittered in the sun. Carriages queed like ants before iron trees of gold. Banners waved, declaring:
Tianjiao Class Enrollment Ongoing.
Selection By Lord Subei Personally—Only the Worthiest And Most Beautiful Chosen.
The energy across the city surged like volcano. Young girls in silks swarmed from every empire. Lavish fathers bribed guards. Nostrils filled with greed.
Inside, among the freshly admitted, already walked Zhu Zhuqing, guided to her chambers by Gong Yi's calm hand. Somewhere within the vast lakeside pavilions, Subei himself drank tea with serenity, oblivious of the storms converging toward him.
But fate was set.
For outside, Dai Mubai lifted his head, golden hair blazing. His lips curled as blue vertical pupils fixed firmly upon Shenyan's carved gates.
"My little fiancée. Zhu Zhuqing. You think you can escape fate? Whether you hide behind temple walls or cling to new idols—your cat's claws are mine alone. Wait for me."
His voice dropped, half a growl, half a vow.
"I've come."
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