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Chapter 288 - Chapter 287 : Ma Hongjun and Oscar

Flender then motioned toward the second child.

 "And this one is Oscar. A rare Food-System soul master. He's level 25 and is twelve years old."

Oscar smiled, raising a hand in greeting.

He was strikingly handsome.His peach blossom eyes had a natural charm that made people instinctively wary.Skin smooth like jade, face perfectly proportioned—he looked more like a noble young master than a wandering student of a shabby academy.

But…His face was covered in sparse, awkward patches of hair—like he was halfway through a transformation between child and adult.

Despite this, he held a frivolous smile, radiating confidence and playfulness.

Dai Mubai blinked.

Oscar laughed lightly, as if reading the confusion on Dai Mubai's face.

"My looks are natural. Don't stare too hard—you'll get jealous."

Flender nodded with satisfaction at the three.

"How about you younglings interact with each other?" he said."Get to know one another. You'll spend a lot of time together."

With that, Flender turned around and left the room, leaving the door creaking shut behind him.

Ma Hongjun was the first to break the ice—"So, Mubai, you really shocked teacher Zhao when you took the Test outside?"

Oscar leaned closer with interest."Yeah, Blondie. Your soul power is shockingly high for 13. And those twin pupils—your lineage must be interesting."

Dai Mubai narrowed his eyes and said " I think first you two need to know , how to call me with respect."

----

Many Days Later — Shrek Academy

The sun was dipping low, staining the broken stone walls of Shrek Academy in a dull orange glow. The so-called "Monster Academy" looked even more derelict during sunset—wild weeds reaching knee-high, the crooked fences creaking, and the faint smell of damp moss lingering in the air.

On such a path, three young boys walked in a loose line.

Ma Hongjun, round and sturdy, kicked stones idly as he spoke."Hey, Boss Dai," he asked with genuine curiosity, "did you and Shen Luo break up?"

Dai Mubai walked in front, hands behind his head in a lazy swagger. His expression immediately darkened. Being the oldest and strongest among them, his position as "boss" had been established naturally through might and intimidation.

"Don't speak that bitch's name in front of me," he spat, clicking his tongue. "She should be grateful I even bothered to play with her for that long. What did she think? That just because she has a pretty face I'd stay with her forever?" He sneered proudly. "Kings can have a hundred concubines. I'm a prince—having ten or twenty is the least I deserve."

Dai Mubai continued ranting, "She made a ruckus, shouting, crying, demanding I stay loyal. Ridiculous. So I ended it."

But Ma Hongjun wasn't listening to Dai Mubai's philosophy on relationships. His mind had caught on a single thing:

"…Then can I have her?"

Dai Mubai stopped walking.

Dai Mubai turned sharply. He wasn't angry—just surprised. He knew all too well the nature of Ma Hongjun's martial soul.Evil Fire Phoenix.

A special martial soul blessed with a powerful mutation but cursed with a violent flaw. As Hongjun grew stronger, the fire within him would grow more uncontrollable. His lust would rise like a burning fever—if not released periodically, it would backlash, scorching his meridians and pushing him into madness.

Because of that, Flender had reluctantly loosened restrictions and allowed the boy trips to certain establishments in Suo Tuo City. Dai Mubai had always been secretly jealous—Hongjun had the perfect excuse for visiting brothels whenever he wished.

But this request…

Dai Mubai frowned thoughtfully."You… want Shen Luo?" he asked, arms crossed.

Ma Hongjun nodded earnestly. "Her body is pretty good. And since you dumped her… can I?"

After a long moment, Dai Mubai shrugged."Well… there's no problem with that."

He waved dismissively."You occasionally need to 'solve your urges,' and you're already used to it. Didn't you say you broke up with your girlfriend because she couldn't keep up with you?"

Hongjun scratched his head, embarrassed but honest. "Well… she couldn't. She started crying a lot after a while."

In Douluo Dalu, maturity began early. Twelve was considered a young adult. The girl had willingly been with Ma Hongjun… until she realized his martial soul's flaw was something ordinary people simply couldn't handle.

Dai Mubai snickered."So, Shen Luo, huh? Better go before someone else grabs her. I heard she's been complaining about me in the town. She might be looking for a rebound."

Ma Hongjun gulped in excitement.

Ma Hongjun scratched his ear, still not convinced."Boss Dai… what if she doesn't agree?" he asked, his tone partly anxious, partly eager.

Dai Mubai snorted, full of disdainful confidence."She? Refuse you? Hongjun, don't be stupid."He flicked his white hair proudly. "She's not even a Soul Grandmaster. A little level-16 girl—how is she going to resist a Soul Grandmaster like you? She'll fold the moment you pressure her. Don't worry, just go for it."

Before Ma Hongjun could respond, a voice drifted from behind them.

"Hey—Boss Dai, Hongjun! Where are you two going?"

Oscar jogged up, still holding half-finished sausages in his hands. His peach-blossom eyes blinked innocently at them.

Dai Mubai broke into an easy grin."Oscar, you're just in time. We're going to the academy gate. My aide should be arriving any moment now with a new batch of cultivation medicinal pills."

( Author notes: Dai Mubai having illicit relations earlier and Ma Hongjun visiting brothels were canon. However, it is not clearly stated anything about Oscar, there might be a high probability that he might be also visiting with them.)

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