As expected, under Xiao Wu's suggestion, the four of them ended up at the Rose Hotel. Zhao Ming hadn't initially wanted to come, but the thought of running into Dai Mubai intrigued him, so he didn't object.
From the moment Zhao Ming and his group entered the hotel, the receptionist behind the counter couldn't take his eyes off them. It wasn't until Zhao Ming gave him a light slap on the head that he snapped back to reality.
"There's only one room left," the receptionist said apologetically.
"Only one room? That's fine. We can make do with it for tonight," Zhao Ming said casually.
However, Flame Spirit Ji wasn't as relaxed about the situation. She immediately reached out and twisted his waist sharply.
"Don't worry, I promise I won't do anything inappropriate," Zhao Ming quickly reassured her, feeling a bit awkward.
Though the women still gave him suspicious glances, they didn't say anything more.
In truth, Zhao Ming had no improper intentions. He had his boundaries, and tonight, he was already mentally prepared to sleep on the floor.
Just as the receptionist was about to hand over the keys to Zhao Ming, a sudden voice interrupted the transaction.
"I believe that room belongs to me," the voice said, and Zhao Ming immediately recognized it—it was Dai Mubai.
Curious, Zhao Ming turned to get a look at him.
Dai Mubai was about 1.8 meters tall, broad-shouldered, and strikingly handsome with a touch of ruggedness. His long golden hair cascaded down his back, reaching nearly to his waist. It was straight and smooth, not curly.
His eyes, though, were what stood out the most—wicked and gleaming with a dangerous light.
With such a handsome face and a pair of enchanting eyes, this man would stand out in any crowd.
Flanking him were two beautiful girls, one on each arm. They were around seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and elegant, and they appeared to be twins.
Looking at Dai Mubai, Zhao Ming couldn't help but acknowledge that his appearance was impressive. He was certainly more handsome than Tang San and even comparable to Zhao Ming himself. His casual, evil charm was indeed something that would attract attention, especially from women.
Handsome, strong, and with a father who was an emperor, not to mention his wealth—he had all the makings of a protagonist.
But alas, Brother Mubai, your opponent is me, someone who knows everything about you.
Dai Mubai was momentarily stunned as well.
Having spent time with countless women, Dai Mubai had developed a refined taste. The twin girls beside him were already incredibly beautiful. But compared to the three women in front of him now, his companions paled in comparison.
The youngest-looking one was beautiful, but her body hadn't fully developed yet, so she didn't interest him as much.
However, the other two were completely different—one was gentle and elegant, while the other was seductively enchanting. Both had near-perfect figures.
They were truly breathtaking, each of them embodying a different kind of beauty. Even his fiancée, who was known for her beauty, seemed slightly inferior to these two. At least for now.
"Brother, it's not polite to stare at another man's wife," Zhao Ming said coolly, walking up to Dai Mubai and patting him on the shoulder.
Dai Mubai snapped out of his daze at Zhao Ming's words. He glanced at Zhao Ming before speaking, "This room was reserved for me. But if they wish to stay, it's not impossible. You, however, can leave. I'll handle the rest."
"Are you trying to provoke me?" Zhao Ming asked, a little taken aback by Dai Mubai's direct challenge.
"You could say that. You're a soul master, right? If you can beat me, the room is yours. If you lose, you walk away and leave these beautiful ladies behind," Dai Mubai said calmly, inwardly thrilled. He judged that the young man in front of him wasn't very strong, certainly no match for him. Victory would be easy.
As long as he could defeat this guy, the three women would see how useless and weak the man they were with was. He believed that once they witnessed his strength, they would leave Zhao Ming and come to him instead.
In the world of Douluo Continent, strength was everything. Weakness was a sin.
He was confident that once he showcased his power, they would look at him differently.
After that, he would only need to put in a little effort to win their hearts.
"Pfft. You think you deserve to challenge Zhao Ming?" Xiao Wu huffed, hands on her hips, glaring furiously at Dai Mubai. Her boyfriend had just been provoked, and she was not having it. Xiao Wu's temper was naturally fiery, and while it had calmed a bit after meeting Zhao Ming, it flared up again when faced with this arrogant man.
Bi Ji, too, glanced at Dai Mubai with a flicker of disdain and disgust. She loathed the way he looked at them with lustful eyes. Of course, Zhao Ming was an exception. However, Bi Ji didn't plan to interfere. She knew that as a woman, she had to understand her place in such situations. This was clearly a matter between men, and stepping in could only complicate things. Besides, Zhao Ming was more than capable of handling this himself.
Flame Spirit Ji, on the other hand, merely smiled knowingly and said nothing, watching Zhao Ming with interest.
Despite Xiao Wu's outburst, Dai Mubai remained unfazed. He figured that they just hadn't seen his strength yet. Once they realized he was a Soul Elder, they would be amazed.
"What's the matter, kid? Are you scared? Are you really going to let a woman fight your battles for you?" Dai Mubai taunted with a smirk, hoping to goad Zhao Ming into action.
"I wasn't planning to deal with you this quickly, but since you're so eager to die, I'll oblige," Zhao Ming's eyes turned cold.
He clenched his fist, took a step forward, and swung it at Dai Mubai.
For challengers like Dai Mubai, a punch packed with power was the best way to shut them up.
Zhao Ming's second martial spirit was the type suited for direct combat. Over the years, the Ancient Phoenix of Undying had greatly strengthened his physical body. Although his soul power level was at 30, the density and strength of his soul power were terrifying. This punch could very well injure Dai Mubai severely.
"This is too weak. I can block this with just thirty percent of my strength," Dai Mubai thought to himself, glancing at Bi Ji and Flame Spirit Ji. He decided to act calm and composed, hoping to impress the women.
He raised his right hand, forming a fist, and met Zhao Ming's punch with only thirty percent of his power. A faint white light covered his fist.
For effect, Dai Mubai deliberately held back most of his power, thinking that this would be enough to show off his strength.
The twin girls beside him looked on in awe. They admired Dai Mubai's talent and strength, which was why they had chosen to follow him. They couldn't cultivate themselves, but their admiration for strong men only grew.
Even though they didn't fully understand the intricacies of soul masters, they could tell from Dai Mubai's nonchalant demeanor that he was powerful.
This is what it means to be strong, they thought.
This is the style of a true warrior!
The twin sisters watched Dai Mubai in excitement. Though his punch seemed light and effortless, they knew it was incredibly powerful.
Surely this punch would destroy his opponent!
Unable to bear watching the outcome, the twins covered their eyes with their hands, bracing themselves for the moment when Zhao Ming would be sent flying.