"Are there any fresh carrots here?" Xiao Wu asked Wang Sheng.
"It doesn't seem like there are any on the first floor," Wang Sheng replied hesitantly. "I wonder if the second floor has some…"
"Then let's go to the second floor!"
Wang Sheng scratched his head awkwardly. "Sister Xiaowu, everything on the second floor is very expensive. Maybe we should wait until we get our work-study jobs and receive our wages first…"
"Wang Sheng is right. The second floor isn't a place for poor trash like you."
A mocking voice suddenly rang out from above. Everyone looked up to see a group of well-dressed boys and girls descending the stairs. The one in front looked down at Ye Qiu and the others with open disdain.
"How about this?" he sneered. "I'll treat you to a meal. You can eat my leftovers. What do you think?"
"Hahaha!" Laughter erupted from the group behind him.
"Sister Xiaowu…" Wang Sheng clenched his fists, anger written all over his face, yet he didn't dare act. He whispered, "They're elite students—Ling Feng, Liu Long, and the others…"
Xiao Wu didn't care who they were. She hated this kind of arrogance.
"Hey! Are you looking for a beating?!"
Ling Feng's eyes lit up. "Oh? I didn't expect a cute little girl among this year's work-study students. What a pity—still just a lowly poor wretch."
"You're asking for it!" Xiao Wu leapt up the stairs, raising her hand to slap him.
"Shield Spirit—Guard!"
A shield appeared in front of Ling Feng, blocking her strike.
At the same time, Liu Long, who stood nearby, suddenly attacked.
"Martial Stick, come out!"
A wooden staff swept toward Xiao Wu before she could even react.
Snap!
Ye Qiu moved instantly, gathering soul power into his palm to block the strike head-on.
'So strong… His soul power is several levels above mine,' Ye Qiu grimaced, hiding the pain as he clenched his fists behind his back.
The staff came crashing down again.
"Xiao Qiu!" Xiao Wu shouted, her anger flaring.
Behind the black silk covering his eyes, Ye Qiu's gaze flashed faint red. His Sharingan genjutsu was on the verge of activation.
Snap!
Before he could act, Tang San suddenly grabbed Liu Long's staff. As the two locked into a stalemate, a strand of Blue Silver Grass shot into Liu Long's eyes. Seizing the opening, Tang San drove his elbow forward, knocking him to the ground.
Slap!
At the same moment, Xiao Wu broke through the shield's defense. Her palm struck Ling Feng squarely in the face, sending him tumbling down the stairs.
"You lowly people! How dare you hit me!" Ling Feng roared, clutching his face. "The academy would be happy to expel trash like you!"
Xiao Wu ignored him and rushed to Ye Qiu's side. "Xiao Qiu, are you okay?" She reached for his hand to check him.
"I'm fine." Ye Qiu turned slightly, avoiding her touch.
Xiao Wu frowned, confusion and disappointment flickering across her face.
Tang San glanced at Ye Qiu as well. The technique Ye Qiu had used earlier felt strangely similar to the Tang Clan's grappling arts.
Suddenly—
"Stop."
A calm yet authoritative voice cut through the chaos.
"Master!" The students froze as Yu Xiaogang appeared.
"No private fighting on campus. Don't you know the rules?"
"They started it!" Xiao Wu protested.
Yu Xiaogang glanced at her once, then ignored her completely.
"Disciple, remember what I told you. Come with me the day after tomorrow."
"Yes, Teacher," Tang San replied respectfully.
"Would you like to come to the second floor with me?"
Tang San hesitated, glanced at Xiao Wu, then shook his head. "No. I'll stay with my roommates."
"Very good. Not being unconventional has its merits." Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction, already envisioning Tang San as the proof of his theories.
"You may all leave."
After issuing those words, he calmly walked upstairs.
Ling Feng and Liu Long left after hurling a few parting threats.
Watching Yu Xiaogang's retreating figure, Xiao Wu snorted. "What kind of stone-faced teacher is that?"
"Sister Xiaowu, keep your voice down," Wang Sheng whispered nervously. "He's still a teacher here… even if he doesn't really teach."
"Third Brother, did you really become his disciple?"
"Of course," Tang San replied.
"But I heard the Grandmaster's reputation isn't very good," Wang Sheng continued cautiously. "They say he was expelled from Spirit City for deceiving the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden… that his title is self-proclaimed…"
Tang San's gaze turned cold, intimidating Wang Sheng. "I hope this is the first and last time. My teacher is not someone you're qualified to judge."
"S-sorry…" Wang Sheng lowered his head, and an awkward silence followed.
Ye Qiu frowned. Something about Wang Sheng's words didn't match what he knew…
Before he could think further, Xiao Wu suddenly grabbed his hand, her palm slightly cool as she squeezed it gently.
Tang San, already in a bad mood, felt even more uncomfortable seeing the scene.
"You eat first," he said stiffly. "I need to talk to Teacher." He turned and left.
"Xiao Wu, what are you doing?" Ye Qiu tried to pull his hand back, but failed as Xiao Wu clung to his arm.
"I said I'd protect you!" she pouted. "Of course I have to make sure you're not hurt!"
During their tug-of-war, she noticed Tang San leaving. "Huh? Why did Little San leave?"
"Probably because of what I said," Wang Sheng muttered. "How about I treat you to this meal?"
"Yeah!"
Xiao Wu dragged Ye Qiu off without a hint of politeness.
"Thank you," Ye Qiu said quietly.
"It's fine… no problem."
--
The next day, Tang San asked for leave to look for work.
Ye Qiu knew the reason well—Tang San was preparing for soul hunting and would be using the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique at a blacksmith shop.
"Tang San," Ye Qiu called out, "thank you for yesterday. If you hadn't helped, things might've gone badly for me."
"You're welcome," Tang San replied calmly. "I just didn't want Xiao Wu to get hurt."
"Why don't we look for jobs together?" Ye Qiu suggested. "I want to earn more money too."
Tang San hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."
The two went to a blacksmith shop together.
Watching Tang San work among a group of burly men, sweat pouring down his face, Ye Qiu smiled faintly behind the activated Sharingan.
'This trip was worth it.'
As Tang San forged metal, he used not only the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique but also the Mysterious Jade Hand.
Every movement, every shift of force, every circulation of soul power was etched into Ye Qiu's mind.
Although it was impossible to perfectly copy everything after seeing it only once, even partial understanding was immensely valuable.
Techniques that stacked and redirected force could dramatically enhance combat strength.
What made it even more impressive was that Ye Qiu had secretly observed Tang San the entire previous night.
In the quiet darkness, accompanied by Xiao Wu murmuring "Da Ming" and "Er Ming" in her sleep, Tang San cultivated alone—completely unaware that Ye Qiu had witnessed the full circulation of the Tang Sect's Xuan Tian Gong.
Even the Purple Demon Eyes Tang San practiced at dawn couldn't escape Ye Qiu's Sharingan.
'If I observe this a few more times, I can perfect both the Purple Demon Eye and the Mysterious Heaven Technique…'
The Purple Demon Eye would strengthen his spiritual power and help refine his vision, accelerating the evolution of his Sharingan toward three tomoe.
The Mysterious Heaven Technique would dramatically increase his soul power cultivation speed—an invaluable advantage in a world without cultivation manuals.
After Tang San finished his work, Ye Qiu deliberately made some noise and stepped away.
"Tang San, now that you've found a job you like, I'll be heading off."
"Take care," Tang San replied.
After parting ways with this walking treasure trove, Ye Qiu found a carving shop and became an apprentice.
Carving required intense focus, which also helped strengthen mental power—perfect for him.
On the way back, he bought some carrots. The rabbit had handed over all her money; he couldn't let her go without her favorite food.
When Ye Qiu returned to Dormitory 7, Tang San had already arrived.