Chapter 114: Night Talk
The Star Dou Forest.
Night.
"Fatty! Hurry up! Lend me a light!"
Oscar kept rubbing his arms, his voice trembling slightly.
The temperature difference between day and night in the Star Dou Forest was extreme, and the night was especially cold.
For someone like Oscar, who was a support-type soul master with poor physical strength, enduring the cold in the wilderness was particularly painful.
Ma Hongjun's first soul ring lit up, and he spat out a ball of flame at the pile of wood he had gathered. In an instant, the wood was ignited.
The orange campfire roared, flickering and dimming, helping to dispel some of the cold.
"Thanks, Fatty!"
Feeling the warmth from the fire, Oscar felt a little more comfortable and smiled.
"No big deal!"
Ma Hongjun raised an eyebrow and replied.
The group sat around the fire, especially Ning Rongrong, who felt much better next to the flames. She was also a support-type soul master, and the cold night was a form of torture for her as well.
Dai Yao took off his outer coat and draped it over Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders. This action made Dugu Yan, sitting nearby, feel a bit envious.
"Aren't you cold?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked up, her eyes shimmering with concern.
"I'm a strength-type soul master, and my body is strong. This bit of cold doesn't bother me," Dai Yao replied with a smile.
"Well, I'm cold. What should I do?"
Dugu Yan teased as she looked at Dai Yao, wanting to see how he would respond.
She wasn't trying to embarrass him, but seeing Dai Yao give his coat to Zhu Zhuqing made her feel a little sour inside.
Dai Yao was speechless. Dugu Yan, why are you stirring up trouble?
He helplessly rummaged through the Qiankun pouch at his waist, pulling out a set of warm clothes and handing them to Dugu Yan, saying with some irritation:
"Here, take it!"
"Wow, you have so many clothes! So you were just trying to court Zhuqing, huh?"
Dugu Yan said with a mischievous grin as she realized what Dai Yao's earlier gesture meant.
"I was just giving my fiancée a coat. What's the problem?"
Seeing everyone's gaze on him, Dai Yao quickly handed the clothes to Dugu Yan and said with a slight urgency:
"Put it on already! Are the clothes not enough to stop your mouth?"
Embarrassed that his little scheme had been exposed, Dai Yao noticed Zhu Zhuqing's face had turned slightly red. He couldn't tell if it was from the firelight or if she was blushing from his actions.
After discovering the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear's soul bone, Dugu Yan had firmly stood by him. This deeply moved Dai Yao.
A girl who was willing to stake her life for him—he wasn't made of stone, so he had cast aside any past grudges with Dugu Yan.
He had begun to care about her feelings in a way he never had before.
If it were in the past, he wouldn't have cared about Dugu Yan's complaints at all.
"What's wrong with that?"
"I just want to give these girls a warm home!"
Dai Yao thought silently to himself.
"Such a playboy! Just like Dai Mubai. No wonder they're brothers!"
Xiao Wu pouted, complaining to Tang San beside her.
Tang San smiled faintly, but didn't respond.
In his heart, he was content with just Xiao Wu by his side.
After the duel with Dai Mubai, Dai Yao had stayed behind under the pretext of coveting the Eight-Gu Formation soul bone of the King of Soul Beasts, Tang Shen Wang.
Looking up at the moon peeking through the branches, he couldn't help but think with a hint of nostalgia:
"When will the Titan Giant Ape arrive? I remember that after Oscar got his third soul ring, the Titan Giant Ape took Xiao Wu away."
"I wonder how long I'll have to stay here with them. Do I have to keep up with them for a few more days?"
Just as he was lost in thought, a voice called out to him.
"Dai Yao, come here for a moment."
Everyone was surprised and looked toward the voice. Dai Mubai, leaning against a thick tree, was calling to Dai Yao with a complicated expression.
Everyone was puzzled but soon realized. After all, they were brothers, and some things had to be kept private.
Dai Yao stood up and walked into the forest, far from the campfire, where their conversation wouldn't be overheard.
"What's up?"
Dai Yao looked at Dai Mubai, who was silent and downcast, and asked.
Dai Mubai sighed, his gaze flickering with a hint of envy.
"With your strength now, I'm afraid even Davis wouldn't be your match."
"It seems that the throne of the Star Luo Empire is yours to take."
"As emperor, you would have the right to decide the fate of the other princes—to kill, imprison, or strip their soul power. Anything could happen."
When he reached this point, Dai Mubai's voice shook as if pleading.
"But… I ask of you, please spare my fiancée, Zhu Lu. She's innocent. The only thing she did wrong was follow me."
As a prince of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai's feelings toward Dai Yao were complicated.
He felt sympathy because they shared a similar fate, but he was also angry about his fiancée being taken away, and there was a strong sense of rivalry.
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Dai Yao was moved. He was a man of some responsibility, so he smiled slightly and patted Dai Mubai on the shoulder, saying:
"You don't need to beg me. I've already cut ties with the White Tiger Clan. I'm destined to never become emperor of the Star Luo Empire, so I can't decide your fate."
Dai Mubai looked up, disbelief written all over his face.
"What did you say?"
"I said, I'm no longer a member of the Dai family!"
Dai Yao's tone was calm.
Seeing Dai Yao's indifference, Dai Mubai angrily grabbed Dai Yao by the collar, his eyes burning with fury:
"You're from the White Tiger Clan! You have the blood of the White Tiger running through your veins! How dare you say you've left the White Tiger Clan so casually!"
Dai Yao shrugged off Dai Mubai's hand, throwing him back with a forceful push, causing Dai Mubai to stagger. His tone turned cold:
"Don't talk to me about the White Tiger Clan! You're happy to remain loyal to them after being mistreated by them, but I'm not!"
"Besides, for me, your mother and I have a blood feud. If I become a Title Douluo one day, I won't hesitate to raze the Star Luo Imperial Palace. And you dare to bring up the White Tiger Clan?"
Dai Mubai froze, taking several steps back in shock. His eyes widened as he stared at Dai Yao.
Dai Yao straightened his collar and glanced at Dai Mubai coldly, saying:
"So you still have a chance. If you want to survive with Zhu Lu, go beg your cheap older brother Davis and see if he'll spare you. Or you can fight for the throne of the Star Luo Empire yourself and take control of your own fate."
"Enough said. Do as you wish."
Dai Yao dusted himself off, his eyes cold, and turned to walk back toward the campfire.
Dai Mubai leaned against the tree, deeply lost in thought.
Dai Yao's attitude toward the White Tiger Clan had shocked him deeply. He had never thought of betraying the Star Luo Empire, even if Davis became emperor and would eventually execute him. He would still march to his death without hesitation.
"But my mother is the Empress of the Star Luo Empire! How could I betray them?"
Unlike Dai Yao, who had no attachments, Dai Mubai had a strong bond with his mother, and he couldn't simply cut ties with the Star Luo Empire.
However, after realizing that Dai Yao was no longer a competitor, a glimmer of hope appeared in his heart.
"Although there's a gap between me and Davis, there's still a chance, right?"
After coming to this realization, he trudged back to the campfire and greeted his companions. He lifted the tent's flap and prepared to rest.
"What's wrong with Big Brother Dai?"
Oscar looked at Dai Mubai, who seemed lost, and nudged the fat man beside him with his elbow, asking.
"It's probably because of the conversation with Dai Yao."
Ma Hongjun glanced over at Dai Yao with his peripheral vision and whispered.
Soon, the topic was moved past, and the group switched to other subjects. Dai Yao was chatting and laughing with Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan, occasionally teasing and playfully joking. Tang San and Xiao Wu whispered to each other, while Oscar continued to fawn over Ning Rongrong.
Zhu Lu had gone to rest with Dai Mubai, leaving only Ma Hongjun alone, sighing in solitude.
During their conversation, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes subtly flicked toward Dai Yao's figure. The coldness in her heart slowly began to fade, leaving only a slight trace of warmth.
This was the power of companionship and trust, for Zhu Zhuqing could not forget Dai Yao's heart-wrenching efforts to defend her honor.
She swore she would repay him one day!
Quickly, the topic was shifted, and the group began discussing other things.
Dai Yao, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan were talking and laughing, occasionally joking with each other. Tang San and Xiao Wu were whispering quietly to each other, while Oscar continued to fawn over Ning Rongrong.
Zhu Lu rested alongside Dai Mubai, leaving only Ma Hongjun behind, sighing lonely and despondent.
During the conversation, Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan learned that Oscar was a support-type soul master with innate full soul power, and they looked at him in shock.
In the original story, Oscar was the only one who truly became a god relying on his own strength.
Thus, Dai Yao praised him:
"An innate full soul power support-type soul master, unprecedented. Your achievements are limitless. You might even surpass the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and take the position of the number one support-type soul master."
Hearing Dai Yao's praise, Oscar chuckled and humbly waved his hand, saying, "Oh, no, not at all."
Suddenly, Ning Rongrong stood up. Oscar thought Dai Yao's words might have made her angry, and he was about to explain when he saw that Ning Rongrong was biting her lip, her expression complicated as she said to Dai Yao:
"Dai Yao, could you come with me for a moment?"
Oscar froze, pointing at Dai Yao and Ning Rongrong with an uncertain tone:
"Do you two know each other?"
Dai Yao nodded and followed Ning Rongrong away from the crowd.
Watching the two leave, Oscar absentmindedly stole glances at their figures in the forest.
"Don't worry, they're not what you think."
Dugu Yan smiled and said.
"Then what's their relationship?"
Oscar's tone suddenly grew more intense, wanting to figure out what exactly was going on between Dai Yao and Ning Rongrong.
"If you want to know, you can ask Ning Rongrong yourself."
Dugu Yan casually fiddled with her nails and said indifferently.
Although Oscar didn't get an answer, he relaxed and stopped feeling so anxious.
In the forest.
Away from the campfire, the cold immediately hit, causing Ning Rongrong to shiver, and her breath turned into visible mist.
Seeing this, Dai Yao reached into his Qiankun pouch, pulled out a piece of warm clothing, and handed it to Ning Rongrong.
"Put this on. It'll make you feel better. Otherwise, Uncle Ning will scold me again."
He said helplessly.
"Not long ago, Uncle Ning told me you went missing, and I didn't expect to run into you here."
Since Dai Yao gave Ning Fengzhi the fragrance of the "Youxiang Qiluo Jin", Ning Fengzhi had treated him almost like a son.
Although he didn't visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School often, his relationship with Ning Rongrong hadn't improved much. He didn't tolerate Ning Rongrong's faults and would call her out whenever he disliked something.
Dai Yao was a benefactor to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and both the Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were helpless toward him.
They had even gotten into a bit of a standoff, but under the mediation of Ning Fengzhi, things had improved slightly.
"Thank you."
Ning Rongrong hesitated for a long time before taking the clothes and putting them on.
When Dai Yao heard Ning Rongrong thank him, he was a little stunned. He couldn't believe it was the same little witch from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School who had always been contrary toward him.
Seeing Dai Yao's incredulous expression, Ning Rongrong became annoyed:
"What's with that expression when I say thank you?"
Dai Yao chuckled:
"Now that's the little witch I know."
"Alright, tell me, what do you need from me? Even though our relationship isn't great, I can still help you for Uncle Ning's sake."
When she heard the words "little witch," Ning Rongrong's mood immediately sank.
Dai Yao noticed Ning Rongrong's strange change and asked, "What's wrong?"
Ning Rongrong's gaze flickered as she bit her lip, hesitating for a while before she spoke:
"Do you really think I'm a little witch? Do you think I'm really that annoying?"
Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Dai Yao suddenly remembered a plot point from the original story.
After coming to Shrek, Ning Rongrong's true nature as a witch had become hard to hide. Once the other six Shrek monsters saw her true self, they began to distance themselves from her.
Before arriving at the Star Dou Forest, she had even openly declared she would hire Tang San to kill Dai Mubai, and the conflict had reached its peak.
After recalling the context, Dai Yao leaned against a tree and gave Ning Rongrong a meaningful look, his voice low as he said:
"Do you want to hear the truth?"
"Of course!"
Ning Rongrong nodded firmly.
Dai Yao sighed, staring into Ning Rongrong's blue eyes, and said, "Since you want the truth, then don't get mad no matter what."
"Okay!"
Ning Rongrong nodded earnestly.
Dai Yao sighed again and then spoke:
"For you, your spoiled and willful behavior is understandable."
"You are who you are—the princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, one of the most privileged people on the continent. You're beautiful, highly talented, and you have the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile martial soul with innate level nine soul power."
"You can get whatever you want. If you want something, everyone around you will find a way to get it for you. If you want the stars from the sky, people will try to get them for you."
"They do all this for one thing: your smile when you get what you want."
"Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, two Title Douluo, treat you like their own granddaughter. The most powerful martial artists on the continent, you can pull their beards and they won't resist. In front of you, they have no dignity as Title Douluo."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong became very confused.
"Then why do the people I meet now dislike me?"
Dai Yao smiled and shook his head. Ning Rongrong was still only twelve years old and didn't fully understand, so he explained:
"They're different. Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Ning Zongzhu love you because they're your elders. Those who flatter you do so because of your title as the princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Because of your status and talent, they have needs from you."
"But those sitting around the campfire? They have no need for anything from you, and their talents are no worse than yours."
"So if you treat them the same way you treat people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, they'll naturally be repelled."
"They have another title for you—friend."
"Friend?"
Ning Rongrong pondered, her eyes gradually brightening.
"A friend is someone who helps you when you're in trouble, relies on you when you're in danger, and shares joy with you when you succeed. That is a friend."
"Only when you treat them sincerely will you get their sincere friendship."
Dai Yao explained.
"If you keep being high and mighty and ordering people around, who would want to be your friend?"
Hearing these words, Ning Rongrong lowered her head in silence for a long time. Her long hair hung loosely, hiding her expression, and tears like pearls fell onto the ground.
"If crying makes you feel better, then cry."
Dai Yao crossed his arms and leaned against the tree. He saw Ning Rongrong crying and began reflecting on his own actions. He smiled lightly and said, somewhat gratified:
"Take your time."
Hearing the sobs, the group by the campfire exchanged confused glances, especially Oscar, who suddenly stood up, wanting to see what had happened.
Tang San stopped him, shaking his head:
"Oscar, we know you care about Ning Rongrong, but interrupting now will only make things worse."
Oscar gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on Dai Yao and Ning Rongrong's direction. He sighed deeply and sat back down helplessly.
The crying gradually lessened, and Ning Rongrong, her eyes red, spoke in a gentle but firm voice to Dai Yao:
"I'm sorry for the wrong things I've done to you these past three years."
"I don't mind at all. But if you truly want to be friends with them, you'll need to apologize to them."
Dai Yao folded his arms behind his head, accepting her apology.
"Mm, I will."
Ning Rongrong's expression was very serious.
Just then, Dai Yao's hair stood on end, his pulse racing, and his heart thudded wildly.
He suddenly looked up, and a colossal shadow appeared in the darkness.
A pair of enormous eyes shone like lanterns in the night, and the sound of its breathing was like distant thunder.
"What is that?"
The aura of a top predator made Dai Yao freeze in place. Realizing what it was, he instantly understood.
It was the king of the forest—the Titan Giant Ape!
(End of this chapter)
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