"So you've already hit it off?"
Ye Qiu curled his lip inwardly. Is this all you've achieved in two lifetimes?
"Hello, I'm Tang San," the thin boy said politely, giving Xiao Wu a standard cupped-fist salute.
"My martial soul is Blue Silver Grass… and I possess innate full soul power."
As he spoke, Tang San secretly evaluated the girl before him.
She's so adorable…
"Blue Silver Grass?" Xiao Wu blinked in surprise.
"That thing can have innate full soul power?"
But she quickly recovered and introduced herself proudly.
"My name is Xiao Wu—the 'Wu' in dancing! My martial soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit, and I also have innate full soul power!"
---
The match officially began.
Ye Qiu stopped what he was doing, quietly activating his Sharingan as his gaze locked onto Tang San.
The Sharingan combined the Eye of Insight, the Eye of Copying, and the Eye of Hypnosis. It granted superior dynamic vision and the ability to analyze and replicate movements.
Tang San's combat ability was undeniably solid—there was a lot Ye Qiu could learn from him.
Facing Xiao Wu's sudden assault, Tang San immediately focused and activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps!
In a flash, he dodged her attack, seized her ankle, and flung her aside with a smooth grappling motion.
"Ah—!"
The spectators gasped, convinced that such a delicate girl was about to collide painfully with the ground.
But Xiao Wu twisted midair and landed steadily on her feet. She even found time to wink at Ye Qiu.
Seeing this, Ye Qiu halted in surprise.
"…Amazing."
---
Chapter 7: The Boss
Whoosh!
Xiao Wu showed absolutely no concern for martial etiquette.
Using her palms to push off the ground, she leaped high into the air and unleashed a scissor kick straight toward Tang San's head!
Slap!
Tang San reacted instantly, blocking both legs with his arms.
But Xiao Wu didn't stop there.
With a sharp twist of her waist and neck, her long scorpion braid whipped toward his face like a steel lash.
So fast! Tang San thought in shock.
He released his grip and retreated using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps—but it was already too late.
Hiss—
The scorpion braid struck his cheek, leaving a vivid red mark and nearly disfiguring his face.
Strike while the iron is hot!
Xiao Wu's foot shot upward, kicking him squarely under the chin.
Biu!
Tang San was sent flying before crashing heavily onto the ground.
Before he could rise, Xiao Wu stepped forward and planted her foot firmly on his chest.
"See?" She looked down at him smugly.
"I won!"
"I lost…" Tang San admitted calmly.
Although he hadn't gone all out, he hadn't held back either. Besides, he had never cared much about being the leader.
More importantly… the girl standing over him made him feel an inexplicable sense of closeness.
"Great!" Xiao Wu cheered, bouncing excitedly like a little adult.
"Listen up! From now on, I'm the boss! My name is Xiao Wu—the 'Wu' in dancing! From now on, all of you will call me Sister Xiao Wu!"
When she noticed Ye Qiu wasn't paying attention, she frowned.
"And Xiao Qiu, you too!"
Ye Qiu, who had just finished spreading out his quilt, nodded helplessly.
It was just a title. Considering her age, it wasn't wrong.
She can call me Xiao Qiu—but I'm not calling her sister.
As for why… it's just a man's stubborn pride.
"Hehe! Come on, come on—let me hear it!"
Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes into smug crescents.
"Hello, Sister Xiao Wu!"
Wang Sheng and the others shouted in unison.
Ye Qiu didn't shout.
Neither did Tang San.
Tang San stood up, touched the red mark on his face, and smiled faintly. Then his gaze shifted to Ye Qiu.
This boy felt… different.
Ordinary, yet strange.
Short black hair, plain blue clothes, nothing remarkable about his appearance—except that his eyes were covered.
Ye Qiu sensed Tang San's undisguised scrutiny. He smiled politely and nodded.
Tang San returned the gesture.
The observation time was too short, Ye Qiu thought with slight regret.
I didn't even grasp the basics… but there's plenty of time.
Click.
The door of Dormitory 7 suddenly opened.
A middle-aged man with a weathered, bitter expression stood at the entrance.
"Xiao San, come out with me."
"Master!"
"Teacher!"
Tang San didn't hesitate. He hurried after him, excitement clear on his face.
"Who's that?" Xiao Wu asked, poking Wang Sheng.
"He looks like someone owes him money."
"Shh! Sister Xiao Wu," Wang Sheng whispered.
"He's a teacher. It looks like Tang San became his disciple."
"Yu Xiaogang…" Ye Qiu murmured, glancing at the closed door.
Thinking of his theories, Ye Qiu shook his head and chuckled softly.
"He has some talent—but not much."
"Xiao Qiu, what are you muttering about?"
A familiar fragrance reached his nose before the voice did.
Without looking, Ye Qiu replied, "Nothing. Go choose a bed and make it."
"Oh!"
Xiao Wu scanned the room, then decisively chose the bed right next to Ye Qiu.
"Whose stuff is this? Take it away! From now on, this bed belongs to Sister Xiao Wu!"
Hearing the command, Wang Sheng immediately echoed,
"Whose is it? Move it now!"
"Yes, Sister Xiao Wu!"
The underlings worked efficiently, even carrying Xiao Wu's belongings over for her.
But when she looked at her things, Xiao Wu hesitated. After a moment, she sat down on Ye Qiu's bed and stared at him.
Ye Qiu's fists slowly clenched.
"Xiao Qiu~ Please help me out," she said sweetly.
"Sister Xiao Wu will definitely protect you from now on!"
"Let them help you," Ye Qiu pointed at Wang Sheng and the others, who stood ramrod straight, eyes screaming Pick me!
"I don't want them touching my blankets!" Xiao Wu pouted.
"If you don't help me, I'll sleep in your bed!"
With that, she pounced onto Ye Qiu's quilt, her legs swinging casually.
"…."
Ye Qiu stared at her, speechless for a long moment.
Because his eyes were covered, Xiao Wu couldn't see his expression. Misreading his silence, she grew uneasy.
"Ye Qiu…"
She carefully reached out to touch his arm.
"Eh—"
Ye Qiu sighed softly, dodged her hand, and stood up.
"…I'll help."
Since arriving at Notting Academy, Ye Qiu had deliberately begun distancing himself from Xiao Wu.
He didn't want Tang Hao to remember him.
Nor did he want anything to happen to Xiao Wu.
Tang Hao hadn't taken Xiao Wu away partly because of Tang San—and partly because of Ah Yin. If Ye Qiu got too involved, things could become dangerous.
"Come help."
"Huh? O-okay!"
Xiao Wu snapped out of her daze and happily assisted.
After the bed was made, she took out a small money pouch—the one Old Zhang had given her.
Holding it with both hands like a treasure, she said,
"Xiao Qiu, you can keep this money!"
Ye Qiu accepted it without hesitation. He did need it—he would have to find carpentry work soon.
---
Time passed.
When Tang San returned, a strange soul tool—Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moon—hung at his waist. He also took out a thick quilt from it.
The room erupted in astonishment.
Even Ye Qiu was inwardly shocked, though his expression remained calm.
"Wang Sheng," Xiao Wu declared,
"Sister Xiao Wu is hungry. Let's go eat!"
"Okay! Anyone else coming?"
"Why don't you take Sister Xiao Wu to look around?" someone suggested.
"We still have some provisions."
Apart from Ye Qiu and Tang San, everyone followed.
"Alright then! Sister Xiao Wu, please come with me!"
Dormitory 7 was reserved for work-study students, and its location was rather poor—far from both classrooms and the cafeteria.
Even at a brisk pace, it took a full quarter of an hour.
As soon as Xiao Wu entered the cafeteria, her eyes widened.
"Wow! This place is huge!"
Tang San nodded in agreement.
"Of course," Wang Sheng explained proudly.
"This cafeteria can accommodate all the teachers and students in the academy!"
It's not that big, Ye Qiu thought calmly.
Four or five hundred people at most. It just looks novel.
---