After washing up, Oscar felt completely refreshed. Changing into clean clothes, he took Ma Hongjun straight to the cafeteria for breakfast.
Ma Hongjun was still sulking over yesterday's beating, but when Oscar promised they'd get revenge after eating, his spirits were instantly lifted.
Oscar was confident now confident enough to face Bule head on. Even if he lost, Zhao Wuji would have his back.
He only said one thing: "This round, the advantage is mine!"
After devouring two stewed fat chickens and three large meat buns, Oscar and Ma Hongjun followed Zhao Wuji to Soto City.
Zhao Wuji had already informed Flender about the incident the night before. Flender, fully aligned with Zhao Wuji's thinking, even praised them:
"Now that's what a Shrek little monster should be!"
The three of them rode one horse each. After stabling their horses outside the city, they entered Soto City. It was just past 10 a.m.
The location Bule had threatened Ma Hongjun with yesterday was a small open air market in the western district. Though it wasn't certain Bule would be waiting there, checking first wouldn't hurt.
Oscar, worried Bule might flee, told Zhao Wuji to stay hidden and follow from a distance, keeping himself concealed.
When Oscar and Ma Hongjun arrived at the western market and waited ten minutes at the designated location, Bule was nowhere to be seen.
Ma Hongjun, boiling with anger, began ranting:
"That coward Bule's too scared to show his face!"
Just as Oscar began to think Bule wouldn't appear, a shifty figure peeked out from the second floor window.
Ma Hongjun instantly recognized him and shouted:
"Bule, you bastard! My bro Oscar is here today! Come down if you dare we're gonna beat your ass black and blue!"
That wretched looking man was indeed Bule, the one who had assaulted Ma Hongjun yesterday.
Without a word, Bule leapt from the nearly five meter high second floor, landing steadily in front of Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
As a Soul Elder, that kind of fall was nothing to him.
Bule's arrival scattered the sparse crowd around them his reputation in the market was clearly infamous.
Some curious onlookers still peeked at them from a distance.
Oscar looked up and confirmed: Bule was exactly as described in the original work a man in his forties, dark skinned, around 160 cm tall, roughly Oscar's height.
He wore a lecherous grin, held Ma Hongjun's stolen coin pouch in his right hand, wore ragged shorts with holes in them, and slippers.
He swaggered over, humming a tune:
"You brats are lucky today if your big bro here gets 100 gold soul coins, maybe I'll let you off with a few bruises."
Ma Hongjun was about to charge at him in fury, but Oscar calmly held him back and addressed Bule coldly:
"You're a Soul Elder, yet you bully kids for a living. Don't you feel any shame?"
Bule sneered:
"So you're saying you're not going to pay?"
Oscar, calm and unfazed:
"If Ma Hongjun's first soul ring is of the hundred year level, do you really think he's just some ordinary kid?"
Bule's face darkened.
He'd thought of this before. Otherwise, he would've done more than just rob the kid yesterday.
He had seen his share of young geniuses kids with hundred year soul rings but usually they wouldn't report such incidents. They'd just gather their own backup and come for payback.
It was a low risk, high reward scam Bule had repeated many times.
Sure, there was always the chance of angry parents showing up, but Bule was careful. He had secretly observed Oscar and Ma Hongjun for ten full minutes to ensure they were alone before jumping down.
Plus, he had two Soul Master level brothers backing him. Worst case? He just compensates a bit.
But now Oscar was calling his bluff so confidently, it made Bule nervous.
Oscar pressed on:
"I'm not here to make things hard for you. You can return the money and give my brother an apology. This ends here.
Otherwise…"
Bule didn't threaten back immediately. He scanned the surroundings. After confirming no strong backup was around, he smirked:
"Kid, I'll admit you've got guts. But don't forget I'm a Soul Elder. And I've got two Soul Master brothers. If you piss me off, I'll beat you and vanish from Soto City before anyone can react. What then?"
Despite Bule's bravado, he still treaded carefully. Oscar didn't look like someone from a commoner background. There was nobility in his bearing the kind that couldn't be faked.
Oscar smiled lightly:
"Then let's fight.
If you beat us, you get 100 gold soul coins.
But if you lose…"
Bule had expected to flee today but now the kid wanted to duel him?
He grinned:
"Fine. You said it. Don't go back on your word."
Oscar nodded:
"My teacher is a Soul Sage (level 70) I won't go back on my word."
That shook Bule.
He had assumed Oscar's backer might be a Soul King or, at most, a Soul Emperor. But a Soul Sage?
Could it be true?
Oscar's composed demeanor gave it credibility.
Oscar continued:
"Don't worry. I won't embarrass my teacher and he wouldn't let me anyway.
He sent us here for training."
That explanation relaxed Bule slightly. If true, a Soul Sage wouldn't get involved over this, and Oscar had clearly stated this was their trial.
But Oscar's next words pissed him off:
"You'd better win. Because if you lose, I'll make sure you never bully anyone again."
That hit Bule's pride hard.
Sure, he didn't know Oscar's exact power level, but based on Ma Hongjun's, this silver haired brat was probably just a Grand Soul Master .
Bule scoffed:
"Kid, I admit I can't afford to provoke whoever's behind you but you're looking down on me far too much.
I'll make you pay for that!"
Follow me on my patreon for 30 Advanced chapters and 3 chapter daily updates pat*eon.com/GodofTranslation889