Chapter 68: “How Can a True Man Resign Himself to a Life of Mediocrity?”

Douluo Continent (Anime) World

At sunset, by the small river, under a large tree…

"Ning Rongrong, tell me honestly—do you actually like me?"

Ning Rongrong furrowed her brows, confusion filling her eyes.

What does Dai Mubai mean?

Why was he suddenly bringing up liking him? And… what was with this "honestly" nonsense?

"I do."

Dai Mubai's expression was flat as he sneered.

"I just love the way you can lie so effortlessly. You and I are impossible, stop dreaming!"

Dai Mubai released Ning Rongrong and waved her off dismissively.

"Why not? If you don't like something about me, I can change it!"

Ning Rongrong "protested," her voice rising slightly in pitch, as if desperate.

"I'm nothing more than a fallen prince of the Star Luo Empire, and you're the exalted princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We don't match."

Dai Mubai spoke "gloomily," his tone tinged with melancholy.

"What's mismatched? Princes and princesses always get together in fairy tales!"

"Fairy tales are lies! Wake up!"

Ning Rongrong: "…"

This scumbag! First, he acted all overbearing. Now he had the audacity to spew nonsense, pretending to let her go?!

I want to bite him! What should I do?!

Ning Rongrong had never felt such intense frustration.

For the first time, she hated her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Martial Soul.

How she wished she were a Battle Soul Master right now—so she could beat Dai Mubai to a pulp!

Then again, even as a Battle Soul Master, she probably wouldn't stand a chance against him.

"Hmph! If you run away, I'll go back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and tell everyone you bullied me!"

Dai Mubai: "…"

Whoa, whoa, whoa—she's taking it that far?

If she actually did that, he wouldn't die, but getting beaten up by Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo would be unavoidable.

"If they beat me up, I'll just come back and bully you!"

Ning Rongrong: "…"

You're really good at revenge, huh?!

For a while, the two sat in silence, watching the river flow gently by.

Suddenly, Ning Rongrong turned her head and looked at Dai Mubai's handsome face. Her voice softened as she asked,

"Dai Mubai, do you have any dreams?"

"Of course I do."

Dai Mubai nodded, his gaze fixed on the flowing river, a hint of thoughtfulness in his eyes.

"Tell me about it."

"Not yet. You go first."

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong's expression faltered slightly.

"I don't really have dreams anymore. I had them when I was younger, but not anymore."

Perhaps her dreams as a child were nothing more than fleeting wishes.

Growing up in her privileged environment, she had almost nothing to worry about. Her only regret was her mother's passing.

Back then, life was carefree and joyful. Her future was already planned—she would eventually inherit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and become its leader.

That was her entire life's "script."

"What dreams did you have when you were younger?"

"Mother told me that one day, I would have a strong protector. Maybe someone arranged by the sect, maybe a marriage alliance, but definitely not someone I chose myself."

"Then I asked Mother, 'What is happiness?'"

"Mother said, 'Happiness is when two people, who were never meant to cross paths, come together and treat each other with mutual respect.'"

"As a child, my dream was just to have a protector who was strong and handsome…"

Listening to this, Dai Mubai felt a surge of emotion.

Ning Rongrong… She truly was the embodiment of a proud yet mischievous princess.

"What about now?"

"After meeting you, that dream disappeared."

Alright, clearly none of what Ning Rongrong had said earlier was true!

Perhaps part of it was real, but this last sentence? Definitely a lie.

It was hard to tell what was true or false with her—but Dai Mubai wasn't an ordinary person.

"And what about you?"

"Me?"

"I don't really have dreams either. Just something like… 'Spring blossoms, a house facing the sea.'"

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes so hard they might have fallen out.

This guy couldn't be serious. She might have said one lie, but this man hadn't spoken a single word of truth.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she exhaled heavily before speaking again.

"You treated me like that earlier. If I can't get married in the future, you'll have to take responsibility!"

"Your dad, Ning Fengzhi, wouldn't agree to it."

"He's just a support-type Soul Saint. If he doesn't agree, you can just beat him up!"

Dai Mubai: "…"

You're really quite the little troublemaker, aren't you? If Ning Fengzhi heard this, he'd probably cry out, 'What misfortune has befallen my family?!'

"I didn't even do anything to you—"

Before Dai Mubai could finish, Ning Rongrong suddenly moved closer, leaving him completely stunned.

Wait, what? Is she serious?

"How can a true man, born between heaven and earth, accept a life of mediocrity?!"

With that thought, Dai Mubai responded…

Meanwhile, the Emperor Battle Team walked toward Soto City, their spirits low.

They had lost.

Not just in a team battle, but to one person.

Had they been defeated in a regular team fight, it might have stung less. But losing to a single opponent? It was soul-crushing.

"What's this? Just one defeat, and you've completely lost your confidence?"

Qin Ming looked at his team, but they all stared back at him with strange expressions. The awkwardness was palpable.

"Teacher Qin, you don't understand. You weren't there! You didn't see the monster we faced!"

"He just appeared in front of me in an instant and punched me…"

Yu Feng's voice trembled as he recounted the memory, almost in tears.

Was that thing really just fifteen years old?

The scariest part? Dai Mubai had never even used his soul skills. His soul rings hadn't lit up once!

Everything had been self-created soul skills!

"His strength… It's just too overwhelming! I couldn't fight back at all!"

Yu Tianheng added bitterly. He couldn't understand—his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the number one Beast Martial Soul, had lost so thoroughly in strength.

That Dai Mubai was only a few levels above him, yet he'd lost so miserably.

After a long silence, Qin Ming finally spoke again.

"So what? Don't you want to surpass him? To defeat him? If one loss is enough to break your spirit, then your path ends here."

"Teacher Qin, we know you're trying to motivate us. But we just… need time to accept this reality."

The group hung their heads, their morale shattered.

"Sigh…"

Qin Ming sighed helplessly. If he'd been in their shoes, he'd probably need time to recover too.

At the back of the group, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling walked in silence, their thoughts unknown.

"Dai Mubai… I'll remember you!"

Back by the river, Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong finally parted ways.

"Whew…"

Ning Rongrong's face was flushed as she took a deep breath of fresh air.

Just now, she'd almost…

(End of Chapter)