Douluo Continent: Rebirth of Ma Hongjun, Phoenix of Ultimate Light

Chapter 47 Monster Academy

"Thanks."

Dai Mubai said.

"I enrolled earlier than you, and my soul power is one level higher. What should you call me?"

Ma Hongjun's expression remained calm, but there was a subtle, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth.

Dai Mubai opened his mouth, his expression as if he had swallowed a fly.

"I can call you Hongjun."

"That's a name. I'm asking about how you address someone."

Dai Mubai paused for a moment, then squeezed out two words through gritted teeth: "Senior."

The sound was very faint, almost inaudible, as if it had been blown away by the wind.

But Ma Hongjun had good hearing and heard it.

"I didn't hear you clearly."

Ma Hongjun said.

Dai Mubai took a deep breath and raised his voice, but his tone was clearly reluctant: "Senior."

Oscar popped out from the side and poked his head in front of Dai Mubai.

"Me too! I'm a senior too! Call me!"

Dai Mubai looked down at Oscar's grinning face and said expressionlessly, "You're dreaming."

"Why?! I'm older than him! I'm nine years old! He's only seven! Why should I call him but not me?!"

"Because he's better than me."

"I'm better than you!"

"You are a food-type Soul Master."

"What's wrong with being a food-type Soul Master! Didn't you get enough of that punch just now?!"

As the two were arguing, Zhao Wuji walked over from the office, carrying a paper package.

"Dai Mubai, this is your school uniform. Try it on first, and we can alter it if it doesn't fit."

Dai Mubai took the paper package, paused for a moment, and did not open it immediately.

He held the paper package in his arms as if it were something very precious.

"Why not give it a try?"

Zhao Wuji asked.

"Try again when you get back."

Dai Mubai's voice was a little lower than before, and it was impossible to tell whether it was from shyness or something else.

Dai Mubai, carrying the bag of school uniforms, followed Ma Hongjun and Oscar toward the dormitory.

As he walked across the training field, he glanced at the dark blue flag one last time.

The flags fluttered in the evening breeze, and the golden badges gleamed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

He suddenly felt that the flag was even more beautiful than when he first saw it.

Perhaps it's because from today onwards, this flag also belongs to him.

Ma Hongjun arranged for Dai Mubai to have a dormitory next to his and Oscar's, with the same size and layout as theirs.

The wooden bed is made of solid wood, thick and flat, and covered with a newly made mattress that is just the right firmness.

The table and chairs were also newly made, sturdy and stable, with an oil lamp and a water cup on the table.

The windows were tightly closed.

In winter, a small stove would be provided, but since it's not winter yet, the stove isn't out.

Dai Mubai placed the paper package on the table and opened it.

The dark blue fabric slid out of the paper package, gleaming subtly in the light of the oil lamp.

He picked up his coat, put it on, fastened the brass buttons, tightened his belt, and looked at the small dressing mirror on the wall—this mirror, like many inconspicuous details in the academy, was newly added.

The person in the mirror looks like a completely different person.

The dark blue stand-up collar outlined the boy's jawline, and double rows of brass buttons were neatly arranged on his chest. The metal buckles on his epaulets and collar insignia gleamed slightly under the light.

The belt cinched her waist, making her figure appear straight and sleek, with smooth and clean lines from her shoulders to her waist.

It's a hundred times better looking than the gorgeous gold and red school uniform of Xingluo Royal Academy.

It's a thousand times better looking than the white robe worn by the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy.

Dai Mubai stood in front of the mirror for a long time.

He recalled the sycophantic ministers in the Star Luo Empire's palace, and the mocking, contemptuous looks they gave him.

Pitiful.

He recalled his elder brother Davis looking down at him from above, and the murderous intent that pierced his back.

Thinking of Zhu Zhuqing's cold eyes, I wonder how she is now, whether she is also being pressured by her family and can't breathe.

He took off his school uniform, folded it neatly, and placed it next to his pillow.

Then lie down and close your eyes.

The bed was hard, nothing like the velvet-covered bed in the palace.

The mattresses in the palace are made of gold thread, and lying on them feels like sinking into a cloud.

But Dai Mubai never slept soundly in that bed.

With my eyes closed, I can picture Davis sharpening his knives in the next chamber, the ministers whispering amongst themselves in the council chamber, and the people outside the palace walls waiting for him to make a mistake, to fall, and to die.

But tonight, Dai Mubai didn't want to think about any of that.

All that remained in his mind was the golden spear of light that Ma Hongjun's Light Piercing Strike shot from his palm, as fast as lightning, impossible to dodge.

And then there's Oscar charging forward chanting "I have a powerful sausage!" It's unbelievable that a food-type Soul Master could unleash such a powerful punch.

And the way that deep blue flag fluttered in the wind, the way those double rows of copper buckles gleamed slightly under the lamplight, and the large, iron-like characters carved on the blue stone lintel.

Shrek Academy.

Dai Mubai turned over and buried his face in the pillow.

A slight smile slowly curved his lips upwards, not a large one, but it was the first genuine smile he had given since leaving the Star Luo Empire.

In the next room, Ma Hongjun was also not asleep.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, listening to the rustling sounds from next door, from unpacking to trying on clothes and then lying down.

Dai Mubai has arrived.

He silently counted in his mind: Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Dai Mubai.

That makes three.

There are four more—Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.

They are scattered all over the country, and it is unknown when they will be able to reunite.

But Dai Mubai's arrival signifies the official start of the Shrek Seven Devils' story.

Ma Hongjun closed his eyes and began to meditate.

There's training tomorrow, and even more the day after. We also need to work on getting the third spirit ring.

The next morning, Dai Mubai was awakened by a knock on the door.

"Dai Mubai, get up."

Flander's voice came from outside the door, devoid of any emotion.

Dai Mubai suddenly opened his eyes.

He slept very soundly—the most soundly he had slept since leaving the Star Luo Empire.

A hard bed, a thin mattress, no unnecessary decorations, but I slept soundly.

He was stunned for a moment when he sat up, because he didn't know when he had fallen asleep last night.

The door was pushed open.

Flander stood in the doorway, folding a brand-new dark blue school uniform in his hands.

The fabric was smooth, the brass buttons were shiny, and the metal fittings on the epaulettes and collar insignia reflected slightly in the morning light, clearly indicating that it was a brand new item that had just been taken out of the warehouse.

"I already have a school uniform."

Dai Mubai asked.

"It's not yours."

Flander handed him the school uniform.

"It's an Oscar."

Dai Mubai took it, looked down at the neatly folded school uniform in his hand, and then looked up at Flander.

"His outfit was ripped apart by the White Tiger's powerful energy blast when he fought you yesterday. The sleeves were scorched, and there's a hole in the chest. He can't wear it anymore."

Dai Mubai opened his mouth as if to say something, but swallowed the words back down.

Yesterday, Oscar withstood a White Tiger Light Wave from him. He used all his strength at the time, but the other party stood still as if nothing had happened, not even taking more than a few steps back.

Dai Mubai thought that the attack hadn't caused any damage, but he didn't expect his school uniform to be blown to shreds.

The clothes were torn, but the person was unharmed; that's the most infuriating thing.