Chapter 93 Dai Mubai's Killing Intent
It had to be said, having a little admirer was rather pleasing.
Luo Ling found Ning Rongrong genuinely endearing—slightly spoiled, yes, but intelligent and considerate, unlike the arrogant, haughty girl she was in the original story.
This Ning Rongrong was his creation, shaped by three years of training under him in the Spirit Hall.
The two entered Shrek Academy together, one after another.
Before leaving, Yu Xiaogang had assigned the Shrek Seven Devils a standard training plan: endurance exercises and daily combat practice.
Dai Mubai's arm had almost healed, though any strenuous fight still brought severe pain. For now, he merely supervised the others' sparring sessions.
When Luo Ling and Ning Rongrong stepped into the training field, all eyes turned toward them.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu looked pleasantly surprised. Oscar chuckled in relief. Tang San, however, wore a sullen expression.
And as for Dai Mubai…
Luo Ling immediately sensed a wave of killing intent coming from the Star Luo prince.
What caught his attention, though, was that the murderous intent wasn't directed solely at him—half of it was aimed at Tang San as well.
Dai Mubai wants to kill Tang San?
Luo Ling frowned slightly. He couldn't fathom the man's logic. After all, he was the one who had cut off Dai Mubai's arm, yet the fury seemed divided. What could have happened while he was away in the Star Dou Forest?
He shook his head without further thought, resuming his usual lazy demeanor as he watched the group sparring from the sidelines.
…
The next day, Yu Xiaogang returned.
Seeing the man waddling stiffly with his backside raised, Luo Ling could only sneer inwardly—karma had come calling.
If you court disaster, don't blame anyone when it finds you.
A plagiarist with no genuine skill, yet always desperate to create ridiculous theories—he deserved every bit of it.
As the others exchanged strange looks, Yu Xiaogang and Flender hurried straight back to the Dean's office.
Given their disheveled appearance, people couldn't help imagining all kinds of scandalous scenarios—two men setting out together and returning with Yu Xiaogang barely able to walk properly.
For the rest of the day, Yu Xiaogang and Flender remained secluded.
By evening, Luo Ling decided to head into Soto City for dinner.
Just outside the academy, he caught sight of Ma Hongjun following a grim-faced Dai Mubai, their destination unclear.
Watching them leave, Luo Ling's eyes narrowed slightly. A crow emerged silently from the shadows and took flight, trailing them.
"What's wrong?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"Nothing," Luo Ling said calmly, smiling faintly. "Let's go eat."
…
"Boss Dai, are you sure it's just the two of us going after that four‑ring Soul Ancestor?" Ma Hongjun asked uncertainly, keeping pace beside him.
"He dared to beat my brother! I'll make him pay! A four‑ring Soul Ancestor? You and I can take him easily!" Dai Mubai said righteously.
Above them, a crow circled silently, observing everything.
In a nearby restaurant, Luo Ling dined calmly, listening to every word through his crow familiar.
So this is that scene, he mused. It sounded like the "Ma Hongjun revenge" incident from the original story—the one involving a lecherous soul master named Bu Le.
But something didn't add up.
In the original timeline, five Shrek members had gone together, yet here it was only Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
And Luo Ling knew how dangerous Bu Le truly was. Let alone the weakened Dai Mubai— even at full strength, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Something's wrong.
Amused curiosity flickered in Luo Ling's eyes. He decided to keep watching, commanding his crow to follow.
…
Soon, Ma Hongjun led Dai Mubai to a dim, remote corner of Soto City.
A run-down single-story house stood there, about three meters tall. Faded pink lanterns swayed by the entrance, beneath which lounged several heavily made-up women of dubious appearance.
"Fatty, is he still here?" Dai Mubai asked, voice thick with restrained tension.
From Ma Hongjun's earlier description, Dai Mubai already knew who the culprit was—Bu Le, a notorious flower thief in Soto City. Together with his two partners, Lao E and Tian Ya, they were infamous as the "Lewd Trio."
All three were formidable soul masters—Bu Le, a Soul Ancestor; his companions, Soul Kings.
Dai Mubai knew he and Ma Hongjun stood no real chance… yet here he was.
"He's still there! That's him!" Ma Hongjun snarled, clenching his fists.
Not far away, a middle-aged man emerged, wiping his hands with a self‑satisfied grin.
"Let's move, Boss Dai!" Ma Hongjun muttered anxiously.
"Wait. Follow him first," Dai Mubai whispered, eyes sharp.
Ma Hongjun nodded and moved alongside him.
The humming man turned down a narrow alley, and the two followed quietly behind.
As they entered, the middle-aged man stopped and turned—leaning casually against the wall, smiling in mock surprise.
"Well, well, little fatty. Couldn't stay away, huh? Didn't enjoy the lesson last time? Want another beating?" His lewd eyes drifted toward Ma Hongjun's waist.
Ma Hongjun's face turned crimson with fury. The memory of his earlier humiliation burned in his chest—but he held back, waiting for Dai Mubai's cue.
Seconds passed. Then minutes.
Dai Mubai hadn't moved. Confused, Ma Hongjun turned slightly—then pain exploded at the back of his skull.
He collapsed instantly, eyes rolling back.
The middle-aged man blinked in surprise—then saw a tall figure standing at the mouth of the alley, cloaked entirely in black.
"Who are you?" the man demanded, frowning.
"You don't need to know," the cloaked man said in a deep, muffled voice. "I'm here to hire you to kill someone."
"What?" the man asked, startled.
"I know who you are, Bu Le—and your brothers, Lao E and Tian Ya. I want the three of you to kill someone for me."
Bu Le's expression darkened. The stranger not only knew his name but also his notorious companions.
The "Lewd Trio" did sometimes take assassination work—but rarely were they approached so directly.
He eyed the stranger warily. He could sense no spirit power at all, which made him even more uneasy.
"Who's the target?" he asked finally.
"You'll know soon. I'll make your target come straight to you. All you and your brothers need to do is wait."
"And our payment?" Bu Le asked cautiously.
"There will be three women—so beautiful that the word 'peerless' scarcely describes them. They'll come to you with the target. Do what you will with them. Afterward, I'll pay you three thousand gold soul coins."
Bu Le's grin returned, crude and calculating.
He didn't answer immediately, merely studied the shadowed figure.
Behind the mask, sweat trickled down Dai Mubai's forehead. His hands trembled beneath the cloak.
He worried Bu Le might attack prematurely—but this was his only plan.
Hiring killers had been a desperate gamble. But he was determined.
Once Tang San and the others were dead, he would take Tang San's external soul bone for himself—restoring the strength he had lost along with his crippled arm.
Everyone else… Zhu Zhuqing included… they were expendable.
They didn't belong to him anyway.
(END CHAPTER)
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