# Chapter 14: Confrontation
Dai Mubai didn't understand why the strikingly beautiful young woman and the young man beside her were looking at him with such hostile expressions.
However, feeling the unusual resonance of his martial soul and appreciating her exceptional beauty, Dai Mubai still flashed what he considered his most charming smile and stepped forward confidently.
"Beautiful lady, may I ask for your name? How about we get to know each other better? My name is Dai Mubai," he said smoothly, his tone carrying practiced confidence.
In Chen Sheng's eyes, Dai Mubai's behavior at this moment was pathetically predictable. His scum brother—the Third Prince who had received every advantage yet fled like a coward—was now attempting to charm the very woman he had abandoned to death three years ago, without even recognizing her.
Truly shameless, Chen Sheng thought coldly.
"Scram!"
Zhu Zhuqing coldly uttered this single word, the iciness on her face almost solidifying into visible frost. Her eyes held years of accumulated resentment and barely contained fury.
The expression on Dai Mubai's face stiffened noticeably, and his outstretched right hand froze mid-gesture. He clearly wasn't accustomed to such direct rejection.
"Hey! What's your problem?" One of the twin sisters spoke up indignantly. "So what if you're a little good-looking? Why such a cold expression? It's your honor to know our Young Master Dai!"
The twin beauties, seeing their meal ticket being rebuffed, immediately stepped forward defensively. They each embraced one of Dai Mubai's arms against their ample bosoms, glaring at Zhu Zhuqing with obvious dissatisfaction.
It wasn't easy for them to latch onto a wealthy Soul Master like Dai Mubai. How could they let him slip away over some ice queen? As long as they continued to serve him well and kept him comfortable, the money would keep flowing.
Dai Mubai felt somewhat mollified by their support. His attention returned to Zhu Zhuqing with growing suspicion. That martial soul resonance, her age, her distinctive features—pieces were starting to connect in his mind, though he didn't want to believe the conclusion they pointed toward.
"Are you... are you from Star Luo Empire?" Dai Mubai asked, his voice carrying both anticipation and unease. "Or rather... are you Zhu Zhuqing?"
The twin sisters looked at each other in confusion. So they know each other?
However, Zhu Zhuqing completely ignored Dai Mubai's question and turned to leave, her posture radiating contempt.
"Stop!"
Dai Mubai's temper flared dramatically. Being ignored twice in succession—did he have no face? He absolutely had to confirm who this person was right now! His right hand broke free from the twin's embrace, reaching to grab Zhu Zhuqing's arm.
"As a grown man, isn't what you're doing a bit inappropriate?"
Chen Sheng's hand shot out, intercepting Dai Mubai's wrist with an iron grip.
Originally, if Dai Mubai hadn't made an aggressive move, Chen Sheng might have tolerated. But laying hands on a woman who clearly wanted nothing to do with him?
That crossed a line.
『DING! DETECTED Zhu Zhuqing's Relief and Gratitude emotions toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Dai Mubai's expression suddenly darkened, turning fierce. "Kid, I strongly advise you not to meddle in this. This matter is between her and me!"
Chen Sheng looked at Dai Mubai with open mockery, but the force in his hand gradually increased, applying steady pressure to Dai Mubai's wrist.
Hiss!
Dai Mubai felt as if his hand was about to break under the crushing grip. He instinctively channeled his soul power and tried to fling Chen Sheng's hand away forcefully.
But Chen Sheng simply shook his hand with effortless strength and pushed.
Dai Mubai stumbled backward several steps before managing to stabilize himself, shock evident on his face. That casual push had contained frightening power.
『DING! DETECTED Dai Mubai's Shock emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
He looked at Chen Sheng with a newly solemn expression. "Who exactly are you? And why are you standing with Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuqing, who had originally intended to go directly to her room, also stopped and turned back. "Enough, Dai Mubai! Don't you think you've embarrassed yourself enough already?"
Zhu Zhuqing was genuinely afraid that Dai Mubai might attack Chen Sheng out of wounded pride. Even though Xiao Wu had told her that Chen Sheng's strength was exceptional and he was already a Soul Elder, Dai Mubai was at least three years older than them. He was undoubtedly a Soul Elder as well, and his strength was very likely superior to Chen Sheng's based purely on age and experience.
『DING! DETECTED Zhu Zhuqing's Worry emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Dai Mubai ignored Zhu Zhuqing's warning entirely, his eyes burning with competitive fury as he stared at Chen Sheng. "Kid, consider yourself unlucky. This young master is in a very bad mood right now. How about I give you a proper beating to teach you some manners?"
He released his martial soul with dramatic flair. "Dai Mubai! Martial Soul: Evil-Eyed White Tiger! Level thirty-six Battle Soul Elder!"
Two yellow soul rings and one purple ring rose from beneath his feet as the White Tiger materialized behind him—impressive to most observers, but Chen Sheng noted the his soul ring configuration with disdain.
"Young man, perhaps we should—" Yu Xiaogang began, stepping forward with concern.
Before the Grandmaster could finish his diplomatic suggestion, Chen Sheng walked forward leisurely, a mischievous smile playing on his face. "Grandmaster, you know I can't tolerate it when someone provokes me. If others challenge you and you don't dare to retaliate, then what's the point of cultivation at all?"
Boom!
Soul power surged explosively from Chen Sheng's body, crackling with purple lightning that made the air itself hum with suppressed violence. The raw pressure of his aura made several nearby civilians stumble backward.
The confident smile that had been hanging on Dai Mubai's lips disappeared entirely, replaced by dawning realization.
This person is strong. Very strong, Dai Mubai thought with growing alarm.
『DING! DETECTED Dai Mubai's Fear emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Zhu Zhuqing felt a significant portion of Chen Sheng's true strength for the first time. He possessed such overwhelming power without even revealing his martial soul yet! Xiao Wu really hadn't been exaggerating at all!
Her curiosity about Chen Sheng's cultivation methods intensified dramatically. How did he achieve this level of strength?
『DING! DETECTED Zhu Zhuqing's Awe emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Chen Sheng smiled faintly at Dai Mubai's stunned expression. "Why aren't you smiling anymore? Is it because you're naturally not a smiling person after all?"
As he spoke, his White Tiger martial soul manifested behind him—more massive and imposing than Dai Mubai's, wreathed in crackling thunder that made it appear divine rather than merely powerful. Three soul rings rose from beneath his feet: yellow, purple, black.
The black soul ring's appearance created a moment of absolute silence in the hotel lobby.
"Pfft! Hahahaha!"
Xiao Wu couldn't suppress her laughter any longer. Even at a tense moment like this, her brother was making sarcastic comments.
Seeing Dai Mubai's expression transform from arrogant confidence to pale shock was incredibly satisfying.
『DING! DETECTED Xiao Wu's Pride emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Tang San, observing from the sidelines, felt his body tense as he recognized the dangerous situation developing. Dai Mubai is finished, he concluded with certainty. Chen Sheng won't show mercy to someone who disrespected both him.
『DING! DETECTED Tang San's Concern emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
"Chen Sheng! Martial Soul: White Tiger! Level thirty-five Battle Soul Elder! Please enlighten me!" Chen Sheng declared formally, though his smirk suggested anything but formal respect.
"What?! Your martial soul is—" Dai Mubai's shock was palpable. He had never expected this seemingly young boy to possess a White Tiger martial soul nearly identical to his own royal bloodline spirit!
『DING! DETECTED Dai Mubai's Disbelief emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
More than that, something about the name tugged at his memory. Chen Sheng... Dai Sheng? No, that's impossible. That name sounds like...
Suddenly, fragmented memories surfaced. When he was child, there had been an younger brother born—that last prince named Dai Sheng. But that child had disappeared when he was only few months old. Could this be...?
No, no, this can't be possible. My younger brother was lost over a decade ago. He must be dead. This must be a coincidence, Dai Mubai tried to convince himself, though doubt gnawed at his certainty.
But the White Tiger martial soul, the name, the age—it all aligned too perfectly to be mere coincidence.
『DING! DETECTED Dai Mubai's Suspicion emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Xiao Wu's voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. "Brother, this guy is way too annoying! Help me teach him a proper lesson!"
Zhu Zhuqing stared at Chen Sheng's magnificent White Tiger martial soul, feeling an inexplicable attraction that went beyond mere admiration of power. Something about his presence resonated with her Hell Civet martial soul in a way that felt almost destined.
She also noticed something peculiar—his martial soul, his characteristics exclusive to the Star Luo royal family. A terrible and wonderful possibility began forming in her mind.
『DING! DETECTED Zhu Zhuqing's Attraction and Hope emotions toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Turning to Xiao Wu with wide eyes, Zhu Zhuqing whispered urgently, "Xiao Wu, you're too mischievous! Chen Sheng is this powerful, and you didn't tell me the full truth last night?"
Xiao Wu had mentioned they were all Soul Elders and that Chen Sheng was the strongest, but Zhu Zhuqing had assumed that meant perhaps level thirty-two at most.
The strength Chen Sheng displayed now far exceeded her most optimistic expectations—he was actually superior to Dai Mubai despite being three years younger!
Meanwhile, the twin sisters had already fled to the edge of the lobby with the terrified front desk attendant to hide behind the reception counter.
They were just ordinary people—the battles of Soul Masters were not something they could safely observe at close range.
The hotel's other guests were rapidly evacuating or taking cover as the two White Tiger wielders faced each other, the air between them crackling with tension and barely restrained violence.
Chen Sheng's expression grew colder, more serious. "Dai Mubai, do you think that because I look younger than you, I must be weaker than you and can only let you bully me as you please?"
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