Dai Mubai couldn't hold back any longer. He slammed the table and shot to his feet, pointing at the Azure Radiance Academy group across the room and roaring:
"Cowards! Got the guts to take this outside? Dare to fight? All you do is yap in here!"
His shout made the dishes on the table vibrate with a buzzing sound. The restaurant fell dead silent instantly, all eyes focusing on them.
The male students from Azure Radiance Academy were hot-tempered too. Two of them immediately sprang to their feet, fists clenched so tightly they cracked, looking as if they were dying to charge over right then.
"Sit down!"
The middle-aged man leading them snapped in a low voice. Though not loud, it carried undeniable authority.
The two students, though clearly resentful, reluctantly sat back down, their eyes still blazing with fury.
The middle-aged man took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his rising anger, then slowly stood up. His gaze shot toward Dai Mubai like a cold arrow:
"Young man, it's better to speak with some courtesy, lest your words bring you trouble."
His voice was calm, yet it carried a restrained fury. He was clearly provoked by Dai Mubai's taunts.
"Courtesy? For scum like you?" Dai Mubai stiffened his neck, not giving an inch.
"If you've got the skill, don't hide behind others! Come out and spar!"
A shadow flickered in the middle-aged man's eyes. He subtly signaled to a tall student beside him.
The student understood, a malicious smirk curling his lips as he quietly shifted his footing.
Just then, a waiter emerged from the kitchen carrying several steaming dishes, heading right past Dai Mubai's table.
Seeing this, the tall student quickly stepped forward as if to make way for the waiter, but secretly gathered strength in his leg.
As the waiter moved sideways past Dai Mubai's table, the tall student suddenly raised his knee and viciously kicked toward the waiter's shin.
The kick was swift and fierce, clearly intending to trip the waiter and spill the hot food onto the Shrek group, provoking a conflict.
However, Dai Mubai had been watching their movements closely. Spotting the student's action from the corner of his eye, he wouldn't let him succeed.
He abruptly stood up, blocking the waiter like a solid wall.
"Thud!"
The tall student's foot landed squarely on Dai Mubai's shin.
A dull thud sounded as if he'd kicked a red-hot iron plate. A rebound force shot up through his ankle.
The pain made him gasp sharply, staggering back two steps, his face instantly flushing red.
Dai Mubai, however, didn't budge an inch, not even frowning, just coldly staring at the tall student:
"Sneaky tricks? Is that all you've got?"
The waiter, startled by the sudden commotion, nearly dropped the dishes. Luckily, Dai Mubai had blocked in time, so only a few drops of soup spilled on the floor.
He stood frozen, glancing at Dai Mubai, then at the Azure Radiance Academy group, face pale, unsure what to do.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man from Azure Radiance Academy darkened further.
Oscar stood up, took the dishes, and signaled for the waiter to leave.
Seeing the tall man clutching his leg without a word, Dai Mubai continued to taunt loudly:
"Cat got your tongue? Just a bunch of turtles, not even daring to make a sound!"
Watching the tall man silently nursing his leg, Dai Mubai sneered and raised his voice to mock further.
"Why so quiet now? Weren't you all tough just a moment ago? Turns out you're just a bunch of turtles hiding in their shells, not even daring to make a sound?"
These words poured oil on the fire. The middle-aged man from Azure Radiance Academy could no longer restrain himself. With a livid face, he waved a hand at the remaining five male students.
The five immediately clenched their fists, their eyes fierce as they closed in around Dai Mubai.
The male student at the front stiffened his neck, glaring at Dai Mubai's curly hair, and spat out viciously:
"Curly-haired brat, your granddaddy's here! Show us how tough you can be now!"
Before his words fully faded, Dai Mubai's figure blurred. Almost no one could clearly see his movements before his right fist, carrying a gust of fierce wind, smashed hard into that male student's stomach.
"Argh!"
The male student cried out in pain, his body arching like a shrimp. Cold sweat instantly broke out all over him.
Before the other four could react, Dai Mubai was already like a tiger among sheep, striking left and right with punches and kicks, his movements fast and ruthless.
With a series of dull thuds—"thump, thump, bang, bang"—accompanied by several screams, those students didn't even have time to release their Soul Rings.
They were kicked flying one by one by Dai Mubai as if he were tossing out trash, crashing heavily against walls or tables and chairs, unable to get up for a long time due to the pain.
The entire process took only a few seconds, so fast it was dazzling.
The restaurant fell into dead silence. Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene.
The Soul Masters at the neighboring tables widened their eyes, clearly not expecting this curly-haired youth to be so formidable.
Dai Mubai brushed the dust off his hands, looking down at the groaning figures on the floor, a mocking smile curling his lips:
"With skills like this, you dare to come out and embarrass yourselves?"
The middle-aged man from Azure Radiance Academy abruptly stood up, trembling with rage, pointing a finger at Dai Mubai but unable to form words:
"You... you..."
"What? Want to send a few more?" Dai Mubai flexed his wrist, his eyes arrogant, "I'll keep you company to the end!"
The middle-aged man's face darkened, his gaze icy as it swept over Dai Mubai and the others. He coldly threw down a sentence:
"Fine, lads. I'll be waiting for you outside. If you've got the guts, follow me out!"
After speaking, he clasped his hands behind his back, suppressing the anger in his heart, turned, and strode out of the inn.
Dai Mubai was not one to back down. He immediately snorted with disdain: "Who's afraid of who? Let's go!"
He led the way, rising first. Ma Hongjun immediately followed. Tang San and Oscar exchanged a glance, then also followed closely behind.
Outside the inn, in the open space, the evening wind carried a slight chill.
The middle-aged man stood under the moonlight. Seeing that the four had actually followed him out, his expression eased slightly. Clearly, these few minutes had allowed him to calm down somewhat.
He looked at the four youths before him—young, yet with stubbornness shining in their eyes—and said in a low voice:
"I'll give you one more chance. It's not too late to admit your mistake now."
His tone held less malice and more of the restraint that comes after weighing the situation.
After all, if he were to seriously injure a few juniors, it wouldn't do Azure Radiance Academy's reputation any good.
Dai Mubai crossed his arms, chin slightly raised: "Admit our mistake? We haven't done anything wrong. Why should we admit a mistake?"
Ma Hongjun chimed in from the side: "Exactly! It was you who started it and used underhanded tricks first. Now you turn around and demand an apology? Your skin is really thick!"
The middle-aged man watched their utterly unyielding attitude, his brow furrowing tightly again, a flash of impatience in his eyes:
"Young man, don't be so arrogant. If we really come to blows, it won't look good for anyone who gets hurt - especially you people."
"Enough talk!" Dai Mubai stepped forward, his Soul Power beginning to surge.
"Bring out whatever tricks you have! We from Shrek have never feared anyone!"
The middle-aged man's expression darkened as the Black Tortoise Spirit materialized behind him:
"Remember this - the one who defeats you is Ye Zhiqiu of Azure Radiance Academy!"