"Let me handle this, Sister Zhuyun," Lu Feng said.
Zhu Zhuyun nodded obediently and stepped back to stand beside Zhu Zhuqing.
She had seen Lu Feng battle against support-type and agility-type fighters, but never a power-type like Dai Mubai. She was curious to see if he could maintain his usual dominance.
At Lu Feng's current strength, even if he lost to Dai Mubai, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, his life wouldn't be in danger.
Besides, one of Crown Prince Dai Weis's orders was to fuel the hatred between Dai Mubai and Lu Feng.
Since Dai Mubai had openly provoked Lu Feng with hostility, she saw no reason to interfere.
Dai Mubai, still seething with rage, couldn't hide his shock. His elder brother's fiancée, Zhu Zhuyun, a woman known for her domineering nature, had actually obeyed Lu Feng without argument. Worse, the way she looked at him even carried a hint of… gentleness?
Lu Feng faced Dai Mubai squarely. "Using women as bargaining chips disrespects them. I've always treated them with dignity, so I'll fight you but not with Zhuqing as the prize."
"Then what's your wager?"
"Whoever loses rolls out of here. And I mean literally rolls."
"Deal. The loser crawls away on the ground."
Dai Mubai itched to pummel Lu Feng in front of both Zhu sisters, venting his fury and humiliation.
In this world, fists spoke louder than words.
If Zhu Zhuyun shielded Lu Feng or Zhu Zhuqing outright refused him, he'd have no excuse to force the fight. But with Lu Feng's agreement, the path was clear.
Just then—
The front desk clerk rushed over with a middle-aged man in tow. Seeing the confrontation, the man paled. "Please, let's talk this through! No need for violence!"
Dai Mubai shot him a sidelong glare. "Manager Wang, your hospitality keeps getting 'better,' doesn't it?"
Wang wiped sweat from his brow, forcing a smile. "Young Master Dai, you flatter us! The oversight is entirely ours, our deepest apologies!"
He then turned to Lu Feng's group, bowing so low his nose nearly touched his knees. "Honored guests, my sincerest regrets! Young Master Dai is our top-tier VIP, and we did promise him priority if only one room remained…"
"Hah!" Dai Mubai threw his head back, laughing. "Hear that, brat? This is what status and wealth buy. No matter which family you're from, you'll never match my standing. I don't care how your clan secured ties with the Zhu family, maybe I can't stop that. But in this hotel? My word is law!"He jabbed a finger at Wang."Since that room's mine, take the key from him first. Then I'll beat him senseless and watch him roll out."
He'd flex his privilege to strip Lu Feng of the room, crushing him socially before doing it physically.
If he overpowered Lu Feng in wealth, influence, and combat, not only would it soothe his rage, Zhu Zhuqing might even reconsider her choice.
"Dai Mubai, enough!" Zhu Zhuyun snapped.
Forcing Lu Feng to surrender the key through Manager Wang was another deliberate insult especially when the city's hotels were fully booked.
"Feng, let's leave. Throw their key back," Zhu Zhuqing said, defending her man while giving him an out.
"Young Master Dai, you don't underst—" Wang stammered.
Dai Mubai's heterochromatic eyes flashed. "Shut up and take the key! I'll cover any 'losses.'"
"Young Master Dai!" Wang, pressured by his glare, suddenly stiffened. "You've offended our most esteemed guest. Effective immediately, this hotel revokes your privileges. Kindly leave at once."
Silence swallowed the lobby.
Manager Wang had been pushed to his limit. The authority of a Merchant Alliance Elder was absolute, someone like him, a mere branch manager, could be fired with just a single word from one. And if he was dismissed by an Elder? Forget ever working in the Merchant Alliance again. Without spirit power, a commoner like him would never land another job with such prestige and benefits.
This young Elder had just arrived in Suotuo City, and already, a guest had dared to offend him, even attempting to humiliate him further. As the manager, Wang had already failed spectacularly in his duties.
Dai Mubai had shoved him to the brink of unemployment. He was the breadwinner of his family, supporting both elderly parents and young children.
This job had finally given them a comfortable life. If he lost it now, everything would collapse.
The sudden turn of events left both Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun stunned and confused.
They had assumed that, as newcomers, they stood no chance against Dai Mubai in claiming the last room.
Yet now, not only had Manager Wang boldly refused Dai Mubai's demand, he was outright expelling him from the hotel.
Dai Mubai froze. "What did you just say???"
"If Young Master Dai didn't hear me clearly, I'll repeat myself," Manager Wang said, straightening his back under Lu Feng's approving gaze. "Starting today, this hotel will no longer serve you. Please leave."
"Why?!" Dai Mubai's face twisted as if he'd swallowed a cockroach. "I'm a top-tier VIP! So what if I offended some random guests? Unless you give me a damn good reason, I'll smash this place to pieces!"
Humiliation burned through him. He'd wanted to crush Lu Feng's pride, yet now he was the one being thrown out, like a slap to the face, magnified tenfold.
Just moments ago, he'd been gloating, certain of victory.
But Manager Wang's defiance had shattered his composure, right in front of the stunning Zhu sisters and the twin girls at the entrance. His pride was in tatters.
Under the pressure of Dai Mubai's spirit power, Manager Wang grimaced in pain. Yet after a glance at Lu Feng, he stood firm.
"You dare? This Rose Hotel is a direct subsidiary of the Douluo Merchant Alliance. Do you really think you can act so recklessly here?" His voice hardened. "Have you forgotten the saying, 'Those who offend the Merchant Alliance will be hunted down, no matter how far they flee'?"
At those words, Dai Mubai's blood ran cold. He immediately withdrew his spirit power.
Suotuo City wasn't far from Notting City. The battle between the Merchant Alliance's Elder Li Xunhuan and Title Douluo Tang Hao had become legendary here, talked about by everyone from children to elders. Even now, the streets buzzed with retellings, and the Alliance's reputation had soared.
Li Xunhuan's declaration, "Those who offend the Merchant Alliance will be hunted down, no matter how far they flee"—had become their defining motto.
And now, the status of anyone affiliated with the Merchant Alliance had risen accordingly.
Ordinary people took pride in having family members employed by the Merchant Alliance.
For those within the Alliance, it was a badge of honor, one that filled them with unshakable confidence.
Even though nearly a month had passed since the incident, hearing the words "Those who offend the Merchant Alliance will be hunted down, no matter how far they flee" still sent a chill down Dai Mubai's spine.
It was terrifying. The fact that the Divine Blade Douluo, Li Xunhuan, had effortlessly defeated the formidable Title Douluo Tang Hao proved just how monstrously powerful he was.
And the , Merchant Alliance wasn't just about him. With over ten thousand spirit masters in its ranks, dozens of Spirit Sages and Spirit Douluos, plus two honorary Elders who were Title Douluos, it was a force no sane person would provoke.
Even if Dai Mubai were still a legitimate crown prince, let alone an exiled one, he wouldn't dare cross the Alliance now.
"I failed to handle the situation properly. Please forgive me, my lord." Manager Wang bowed deeply to Lu Feng.
"I heard Dai Mubai was a bully who only picks on the weak, seems it's true." Lu Feng waved for the manager to step back. "You did well. What's your current rank, Manager Wang?"
"Reporting to the Elder, I am a first-level manager."
Within the Merchant Alliance, managers were ranked from one to nine. Each promotion came with at least a twenty percent salary increase, along with additional benefits.
"From now on, you're a third-level manager." Lu Feng then nodded to the front desk clerk. "And you—you're promoted to supervisor."
"Ah! Thank you, my lord!"
"Thank you, my lord!"
Both men were overwhelmed, bowing repeatedly with tears of gratitude.
Dai Mubai could only stare in stunned silence.
Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun exchanged glances. Even the twin sisters at the entrance locked eyes in bewilderment.
A single thought hovered above all their heads:
What just happened?