Chapter 20: Air Blade - Six-in-One

"Wait, I'll take this room!"

Just as the waiter was about to process the paperwork for Mo Hui, a twelve-year-old boy, roughly 1.7 meters tall with a sturdy build, golden hair, and dual-colored eyes, walked in.

Mo Hui raised an eyebrow upon seeing the sudden arrival. His luck was truly poor to have run into him of all people. However, calculating the timing, this was indeed the period when Dai Mubai, unable to endure the pressure of competition, had fled the Star Luo Empire to join Shrek Academy.

"I am very sorry, sir, but this room has already been reserved by this gentleman here," the waiter said, offering an apologetic look to the boy.

Dai Mubai did not give up. Instead, he raised the offer: "I’ll pay one gold soul coin."

"Two gold soul coins!"

"Five gold soul coins!"

"Please, sir, there is no need for this. Perhaps you could wait a little while? Someone might check out soon," the waiter said, feeling a sense of bitter regret internally. He wished he hadn't mentioned there was only one room left; now he was stuck in an awkward position.

Seeing that the waiter was of no use, Dai Mubai turned his gaze toward Mo Hui.

Noticing the large backpack on Mo Hui’s back and the sparrow-like pet perched on his shoulder, Dai Mubai couldn't help but think to himself, "Sparrows as pets these days? What a weirdo."

Dai Mubai tossed five gold soul coins in front of Mo Hui and said, "Kid, here are five gold soul coins. Give me this room."

His tone was nearly a command. In his view, five gold coins were ten times the price of the room. Being able to make that much profit from a single room should have made the other party happy. Moreover, he was a prince of the Star Luo Empire; a mere commoner being given the chance to yield a room to him should be considered an honor.

Listening to Dai Mubai’s arrogant tone, Mo Hui frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Dai Mubai spotted the badge on his chest.

"You're a Spirit Master too?"

Dai Mubai’s eyes lit up. He immediately said, "Since you are also a Spirit Master, that makes things simple. Let’s have a match—whoever wins gets the room!"

Hearing this, Mo Hui was momentarily stunned; he had almost forgotten the rules of this world. Much like the Pokémon world, where problems are frequently settled through battles, conflicts in the Douluo Continent were often resolved by deciding who was right or wrong through combat. The law of the jungle—that the strong are respected—was an eternal truth here.

"If you don't speak, I'll take your silence as consent."

Immediately, Dai Mubai manifested his White Tiger spirit. Two yellow spirit rings appeared beneath his feet as he declared, "Dai Mubai, Spirit: White Tiger, Level 27 Power Attack System Battle Spirit Master. Please advise."

Without waiting for Mo Hui’s agreement or checking if the area was suitable for a fight, Dai Mubai lunged at him.

"Wow," Mo Hui muttered internally, unimpressed. Faced with the sudden attack, he activated his second spirit ring. His body transformed into a streak of cyan shadow, instantly dodging the strike and appearing by the doorway.

"You are indeed strong." Seeing Mo Hui dodge so effortlessly, Dai Mubai was shocked but also felt a surge of excitement. Tigers are naturally combative, and even though he had fled in fear of his elder brother, he still possessed his family's aggressive genes.

Mo Hui sighed, responding, "Mo Hui, Spirit: Pidgey, Level 22 Battle Spirit Master. Please advise."

He set down his backpack as two yellow spirit rings rose from his feet. Pidgey took flight from his shoulder, emitting a faint cyan glow.

"So that sparrow was your spirit all along!" Dai Mubai realized, finally understanding why a large sparrow was perched on the man's shoulder.

"First Spirit Skill: Gust!"

Pidgey flapped its wings rapidly, firing several cyan wind blades that reached Dai Mubai almost instantly.

"So fast!" Dai Mubai was alarmed and hurriedly activated his first spirit skill, White Tiger Shield. A white barrier of light appeared around him, narrowly blocking the wind blades.

"Phew, that was close. I didn't expect his spirit skill's travel and release speed to be so fast. He must be an Agility Attack System Spirit Master." Dai Mubai let out a long breath, having been nearly struck. Although the blades weren't exceptionally powerful, he knew that without his defensive skill, a direct hit would likely have incapacitated him even with his spirit active.

"Second Spirit Skill: White Tiger Light—"

Just as Dai Mubai intended to use his second skill while shielded, a massive cyan wind blade suddenly appeared before him.

"Gust: Six-Fold Fusion!"

This was an advanced technique Mo Hui had developed based on his first skill. While a single blade was fast, its power was slightly lacking; combining multiple blades, however, was a different story.

The massive, two-meter-long composite wind blade shattered the White Tiger Shield and struck Dai Mubai.

"Bang!"

Dai Mubai was sent flying, smashing a chair at the counter to pieces before crashing to the floor.

Mo Hui picked up his backpack, turned into a blur of cyan light with Pidgey, and reached the waiter instantly. He pulled out an exquisite coin purse and asked, "How much for the room and the damaged chair?"

"Uh... seven silver soul coins," the waiter stammered after a brief moment of shock. Everything had happened too fast; from the start of the attack to Mo Hui ending it with a single giant blade, only a few seconds had passed.

"Here are eight silver soul coins. Use the change to buy some food prepared by a Food-type Spirit Master; the rest is a tip." Mo Hui placed the coins on the table, took the room key, and headed toward his room.

"Pidgey?" The bird glanced at the fallen Dai Mubai, puzzled as to why the boy had dared to challenge them.

"Let's go, Pidgey." At Mo Hui’s call, the bird let the question go and flew to his side.

A moment later, Dai Mubai stood up, clutching his chest. "What a powerful wind blade. Mo Hui, is it? I’ll remember you." He knew Mo Hui had held back; otherwise, that giant blade would have cut him in half.

"I never imagined I'd run into such a strong Spirit Master so easily. The heroes of this world cannot be underestimated. It seems I must train harder." Feeling the searing pain in his chest and the lingering sensation of near-death, Dai Mubai’s wavering resolve sharpened. He made a silent vow to become stronger and wash away this humiliation the next time they met.

Mo Hui remained unaware that his actions had altered Dai Mubai’s future. He only knew that, with the room secured, he could finally return to his cultivation in peace.