Wasn't Zhu Zhuqing his first?
There might be many women named Zhuqing, but as far as Dai Mubai was concerned, the title "dear Zhuqing wife" was reserved exclusively for Zhu Zhuqing. Calling anyone else that might earn him a solid beating.
"Hmph…" Zhu Zhuqing snorted softly, rolling her eyes at him.
She wasn't a fool. In just a moment, she figured out why Dai Mubai had been so quick to say such things.
"Are you ready to face Davis and Zhu Zhuyun?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly, dropping the matter of Dai Mubai's flirtatious nature.
When it came to Davis and Zhu Zhuyun, she still didn't know how to feel.
Fighting them was inevitable. With her and Dai Mubai's current strength, Davis and Zhu Zhuyun didn't stand a chance. Their upcoming battle in the finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was unavoidable.
Dai Mubai pulled Zhu Zhuqing into his arms, gently ruffling her hair before speaking.
"Zhuqing, if my big brother and sister-in-law want to be Emperor and Empress so badly, we'll beat them and tie them to the throne afterward."
"I'm sure those old geezers won't object. After all, they've always seen me as nothing more than a sacrificial pawn or a grindstone for Davis."
"My brother Davis is their only choice for the Star Luo throne," Dai Mubai said, a hint of derision in his voice.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't react much to this. She had no ambition for the position of Empress. In the past, all she wanted was to survive. Now, she simply wanted to live with Dai Mubai.
What did being the mistress of a harem or the mother of the nation matter? She didn't care.
She understood what Dai Mubai was saying. Those old men only saw her and him as stepping stones for Davis and Zhu Zhuyun to ascend the throne, part of Star Luo's tradition.
"You've thought this through quite well. But if you defeat my sister and your elder brother, and those old men decide you're fit to be Crown Prince, how would you respond?" Zhu Zhuqing asked with a sly smile.
It wasn't out of the question. After all, in the Star Luo Empire, only strength mattered—might made right.
Dai Mubai's brows furrowed as he chuckled coldly.
"If they don't agree with me, I'll just beat them until they do!"
Simple enough. A few more rounds of fighting, and they'd have no choice but to concede.
"What if the Emperor himself disagrees?" Zhu Zhuqing teased.
Dai Mubai's face twitched. That did sound a bit treasonous.
"Father is a reasonable man. He'll definitely agree," Dai Mubai asserted confidently.
Between divine power and the throne, the Emperor wouldn't be foolish enough to make the wrong choice.
"And what about you, Zhuqing? What do you think?" Dai Mubai asked, showing his respect for her opinion. After all, she was his wife and the leader of his harem.
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing smirked and raised her head to look at him.
"My husband has already made the decision. What else can I do? Whatever you say goes," she replied with a hint of mockery.
Dai Mubai: "..."
What a perfect wife. Thank the heavens for her!
"Zhuqing, having you as my wife has used up half my lifetime's luck," he said sincerely.
"And what about the other half?"
Dai Mubai: "..."
"Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Sister Yan, Lingling, Xiaoqing, Xiaoxue, and Xue'er…" Dai Mubai began to list honestly.
As Zhu Zhuqing listened, her face grew darker. Had his harem expanded so much without her noticing?
"You scoundrel, you're sleeping outside tonight!"
Zhu Zhuqing pushed herself out of his embrace and "threw" Dai Mubai out of the tent.
"Women… Why do they flip out so suddenly?" Dai Mubai muttered, scratching his head.
Just then, Ma Hongjun appeared nearby, looking forlorn. He happened to witness the scene.
The two men locked eyes. Ma Hongjun awkwardly asked, "Boss Dai, are you… admiring the moon?"
"Yes, the moon tonight is..."
Both looked up at the sky, only to see it obscured by clouds. Not even the stars were visible.
"The moon tonight seems a bit shy!"
"Ah, yes, yes! Boss Dai, your vision is unmatched. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone Zhuqing kicked you out!"
"Good brother!" Dai Mubai clapped Ma Hongjun on the shoulder before heading toward Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's tent.
He was confident they'd take him in. After all, those two wives were so gentle!
The next morning.
"You traitorous pig!" Dai Mubai roared, glaring at Ma Hongjun.
To Ma Hongjun's credit, he hadn't spread the word about Dai Mubai being kicked out of Zhu Zhuqing's tent. Instead, he'd written it down!
By dawn, everyone in the camp knew about it.
"Boss Dai, I swear I didn't say anything!" Ma Hongjun protested.
"You're the sacrificial lamb today! You're going up first!"
Tang San: "???"
Wait a second… Was this why Dai Mubai always sent him up first before? Suddenly, things clicked.
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun's face lit up with joy. Boss Dai was too kind!
Today's opponent was Plant Academy. With his Fire Phoenix, he could easily crush them. Going first was basically a free showoff opportunity!
"Boss, you're the best!"
"???"
Dai Mubai was puzzled for a moment before Ning Rongrong, standing nearby, chimed in.
"Mubai, today's opponent is Plant Academy."
Since Dai Mubai had left early with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling the day before, he hadn't known who their next opponent would be.
Realization dawned on him. Sending Ma Hongjun against a team full of plant-element girls? Wasn't that just delivering benefits to him?
Wait, something felt off.
In the original story, Ma Hongjun was a Soul Sect, but now he was only a Soul Elder and hadn't absorbed any immortal herbs yet…
Could he really handle Plant Academy?
Yes, but not in a one-vs-seven.
"Fatty's loyalty to his brothers is pure. If he can't overcome his evil fire on his own, I'll have to help him," Dai Mubai thought.
Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix, though impure, was extremely powerful. Purifying it would waste his natural talent.
"Fatty, know your limits. The other side's all girls. Think about your future, your happiness…" Dai Mubai teased with a smirk.
"???"
Ma Hongjun scratched his head, rolling his eyes at Dai Mubai.
"Boss, don't you care about me at all? I already have a girlfriend!"
"Pfft…" ×n
The group collectively rolled their eyes at Dai Mubai, spitting in mock disdain.
Honestly, if Ma Hongjun hadn't mentioned it, Dai Mubai would've forgotten. Both Oscar and Ma Hongjun had found true love at Shrek Academy.
Ma Hongjun's girlfriend might not have been particularly powerful, but as an ice-attribute Soul Master, she had a unique way of handling Ma Hongjun's fiery nature... Ahem.
Dai Mubai felt a bit embarrassed. Even a playboy like Ma Hongjun had settled down, while he...
(End of Chapter)