After washing up, Oscar felt completely refreshed. Once he had changed clothes, he took Ma Hongjun straight to the dining hall for breakfast.
Hongjun was still sulking from yesterday's beating, but the moment Oscar told him that after breakfast, he would take him to settle the score, the boy's spirits immediately lifted.
And now, Oscar truly had the confidence to face Bu Le. Even if things went wrong, Zhao Wuji was there as their safety net.
So Oscar only had one line to say:
"This round, the advantage is mine!"
After devouring two roasted fat chickens and three oversized meat buns in the dining hall, Oscar and Hongjun followed Zhao Wuji toward Suotuo City.
Zhao Wuji had already mentioned the matter to Flender the previous night. Flender's opinion matched Zhao Wuji's completely, and he praised Oscar with a wide grin:
"That's what I call one of our Shrek little monsters!"
The three of them each rode a horse, stabling them at the outskirts of Suotuo City before heading in. It was still only about ten o'clock in the morning.
Bu Le had told Hongjun yesterday to meet him at a certain spot in the west side market. It wasn't certain if he would really show up, but it didn't hurt to check.
To prevent Bu Le from fleeing, Oscar also asked Zhao Wuji to keep his distance and not reveal himself unless necessary.
When Oscar and Hongjun arrived at the appointed place in the west-side market, they waited for ten minutes without seeing any sign of Bu Le. Hongjun grew restless, cursing that Bu Le was nothing but a coward.
Just as Oscar began to suspect Bu Le wouldn't come, a sneaky figure suddenly leaned halfway out from the second-floor window of a nearby building.
Hongjun spotted him instantly. Pointing angrily, he shouted:
"Bu Le, you bastard! Today, my Brother Ao is here. If you've got the guts, come down and face us! Let's see if we don't beat you until you can't sit straight!"
Sure enough, the figure was none other than Bu Le, the man who had roughed up Hongjun yesterday.
With a mocking grin, Bu Le vaulted straight from the five-meter-high window, landing smoothly in front of them. For a Soul Elder, that kind of jump was nothing.
The moment he appeared, the already sparse crowd scattered further. Clearly, Bu Le's reputation here wasn't a good one. A few people lingered at a distance, secretly peeking at the scene.
Oscar raised his head and saw Bu Le clearly for the first time—just as described in the original novel.
Bu Le was a middle-aged man in his forties, dark-skinned, barely taller than Oscar at a little over 1.6 meters. His face carried a lewd, self-satisfied smirk. In his right hand dangled the money pouch he had stolen from Hongjun yesterday. He wore ragged shorts full of holes and a pair of worn flip-flops.
Swaggering as he approached, Bu Le hummed a little tune:
"Brats, Grandpa's in a good mood today. Have your big brother hand over a hundred gold soul coins, and I won't beat you."
Hearing this, Hongjun's temper exploded, and he nearly charged forward, but Oscar stretched out a hand to block him. Facing Bu Le, Oscar spoke in a calm, level tone:
"For someone who's reached the Soul Elder realm, don't you find it disgraceful to spend your days bullying children?"
Bu Le chuckled darkly.
"Oh? From the sound of it, you don't intend to pay?"
Oscar ignored the provocation, his expression unmoved.
"You must not be an idiot to have cultivated to the Soul Elder level. Hongjun's first spirit ring is already at the hundred-year level. Do you really think he's just some ordinary child?"
At those words, Bu Le's smugness cracked, and his expression grew more serious.
He had considered this possibility before. Otherwise, he would have taken more than just money yesterday.
In the past, he'd encountered plenty of young prodigies like Hongjun—geniuses whose first spirit rings were already a hundred-year level. But those types cared too much about their pride. Bu Le would rough them up just enough, then back off. That way, they usually didn't tell their families. Instead, they'd gather a few friends to come "teach him a lesson."
And in those cases, Bu Le would profit even more. He'd used this trick on quite a few talented kids over the years, and it had always paid off.
Of course, there was always the risk of parents or teachers coming after him. But Bu Le wasn't reckless—he had watched from the second floor for ten minutes before dropping down, confirming that only these two kids had come.
Besides, he had two Soul Ancestor-level brothers backing him. At worst, he'd compensate with a little money.
Still, Oscar's blunt words left him uneasy.
Before Bu Le could speak, Oscar continued:
"I'm not here to make things hard for you. You can have money—but it'll be you giving it to me. A hundred gold soul coins, plus an apology to my little brother. Then this ends. Otherwise…"
Bu Le didn't immediately spit threats. Instead, he quickly scanned the surroundings. When he confirmed that no one else was nearby, his confidence returned.
With a sinister grin, he said:
"Kid, I'll admit you've got guts. But don't forget—I'm a Soul Elder! I've got two Soul Ancestor brothers behind me. If you really push me, I'll beat you bloody and flee Suotuo City. What can you do about it?"
Though he suspected these kids weren't ordinary, Bu Le wasn't about to be cowed by a pair of brats. He had strutted around Suotuo City for years. Why should he be scared now?
Oscar only chuckled.
"In that case, I'll give you a chance. Let's fight. If you win, we'll hand over a hundred gold soul coins. But if you lose…"
Originally, Bu Le had thought he might need to retreat early today. He hadn't expected this silver-haired brat to actually issue such a foolish challenge.
Without hesitation, he sneered:
"Fine, since you asked for it. Don't think you can go back on your word!"
Oscar nodded casually.
"Don't worry. My teacher is a Soul Sage. I won't break my promise."
He said it offhandedly, but Bu Le froze in place.
A Soul Sage? He had assumed the boys' backers would be at most a Soul King or Soul Emperor. But a Soul Sage? Could it really be true?
Even if it was a bluff, the calm confidence in Oscar's demeanor made it hard to dismiss.
Oscar noticed the flicker of doubt in Bu Le's eyes and smiled faintly.
"Relax. I wouldn't embarrass myself, nor would my teacher. He sent us here as a test, nothing more."
Bu Le's face twitched, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief. If this boy's words were true, then indeed a Soul Sage wouldn't stoop to lying about something so trivial.
But then Oscar's next words stoked his fury again:
"Still, you'd better win. If you lose to me, then your days of preying on others are finished."
That was too much for Bu Le. His face darkened, and his anger boiled over. Judging from Hongjun's strength, this silver-haired brat couldn't be more than a Spirit Grandmaster at best.
He was a Soul Elder. How could he possibly lose?
Snarling, Bu Le snapped:
"Kid, I'll admit I can't provoke the people behind you. But since you dare to look down on me, I'll make you pay the price!"