I sometimes wish that I would be awaken by an ethereal beauty. A woman with grace and elegance befitting of a great fairy.
Alas! My dreams were shattered by a rugged boy with a goofy grin cemented on his face.
"Brother Rui! Wake up!" Wang Sheng shouted, gushing out spit like a fountain. I blearily opened my eyes and gave the kid a verygentle smile...
"Ahh!!" Wang Sheng's last words echoed across the room, similar to his unwanted flight through the window.
I propped my elbows behind my back and pushed myself out of the bed. I walked to the window and closed it shut to prevent the cold gale from entering. I grabbed my towel by the sill, and made my way to bathrooms.
...
What? Oh don't worry, Wang Sheng will be fine. I recently found out that it takes more than a first floor drop to kill a Soul Scholar.
A horrifying crack echoed from the ground floor, followed by a bloody screech.
Just fine.....
_________________________________________
After dressing up, I was greeted by Tang San followed by a young girl with a rosy face. She had fair skin with a soft appearance that resembled a completely ripe honey peach. Her jade long legs served as boundary for her brown long hair combed into a scorpion braid hanging past her buttocks.
I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent the coming gasp. Xiao Wu was figure of envy for many girls at Nuoding. Her model-like appearance was an omen for a mature beauty in ten to fifteen years at most.
And, now I get to see her face-to-face.
The rumors hadn't done her justice. She was freaking adorable! I was barely able to pry my gaze away fron the rabbit girl, lest I ended up pinching her cute cheeks to my heart's content.
"Good morning, Senior Brother." Tang San cupped his fist and gave a full fourty-five degree bow. I mustered up an awkward smile and waved off his greeting.
"Geez, you don't have to act so stiff. I'm barely twice your age. Just call me Kang Rui or Brother Rui." I replied. Tang San bent back and nodded, but something told me he didn't particularly care about my earlier words.
"Xiao San? Is this the Senior you were talking about last night?" Xiao Wu asked, tugging at the hem of his uniform.
"Yes, this is Senior Brother Rui," Tang San confirmed.
"Well, it is good to meet you, Kang Rui." Xiao Wu's tone was jovial and I gave her sincere smile for the lack of honorifics in her words. They were seriously a hassle and were starting to grate my nerves.
Unfortunately, Tang San didn't like that as he passed a stern look to Xiao Wu, who wilted at his withering gaze.
Damn it! Tang San did no one teach you that being dom in front of undeserving female leads was a crime among the female fandom.
I swear if I garner dislikes due to this....
I was snapped out of my inner rambling when the young girl shakily, bent her spine forward. I exhaled softly and reached for the top of her head.
"There, there..." I patted softly as Xiao Wu lifted her baby doll eyes. An imaginary sting passed through my chest.
Crap! My iron heart can't handle this cuteness!
I retracted my palm and readjusted my collar. "Well, it was good to meet the two of you. If notnig else, I've some stuff I need to take care of so..."
Tang San, understanding the implication, nodded in understanding and gently dragged Xiao Wu away.
I also promptly booked it and rushed to the training grounds.
_________________________________________
It was late in the afternoon when I got back from my training. I was currently a Rank: 18, Soul Master with a 356-year-old, yellow ring as my first one.
It was decent growth with consideration to my Martial Soul.
I returned to my dorm room. Yes, I had my own room. It was given to me by the Dean after my painstaking labour for two whole years at Nuoding. I worked sixteen hours shift while juggling my soul training and other mundane activities in the left hours.
"Still, that was dang painful," I muttered. "I vividly remember the back pain and aching joints from those days."
I shook my head. Thankfully, the hardwork of the past allowed smooth progression for my final year. I managed to catch up with the assignments, bump my marks upto A's or whatever "TD" meant anyway, and most of all get a date!
Yup! I had managed to confess to my crush at the beginning of the year, and lo and behold, she didn't reject me.
Zhi Ying was a beautiful girl of my age with straight dark hair reaching her shoulders. Her golden eyes stood out like the sun above snowy peaks thats was her flesh.
We finally met through a mutual friend and yours truly didn't manage to screw it up. We went out on a lot of dates im Nuoding and I slowly felt the 'like'turn into 'love' whenever I looked at her. I was starting to believe she was the one.
And so, I decided to finally do the deed and propose. I secretly went out to buy small bronze ring with her name inscribed on the back, encased in a smll heart. It did hurt my pocket when the jeweler threw down the bill of ten gold coins, but it was fine. After all, occasions like this don't come often.
I called for to meet me in my dorm for privacy's sake. I wauted for a few minutes until my door creaked open. I frowned a little at the sight of Zhi Ying's pale complexion. Soul Master's had heightened senses compared ro civilians, so it was easy to notice that something was wrong.
"Zhi'er, are you okay?" I asked with a concerned expression. Zhi Ying shifted uncomfortably in her spot, her lips trembled slightly as her gazes flickered nervously around the room.
"U-Uh, umm..." She sputtered incoherent gibberish, making me even more concerned now.
"Zhi'er—"
"Let's break up!"
Silence. A deafening stillness fell over the room as Zhi Ying finally said her first and to me, her most hurtful words.
"What?!" I screamed in outrage, kicking up to my feet with eyes bulging out in disbelief. "Why?!" I fired back.
"I-I am sorry... I-It's just..." Her voice grew thinner with each word.
"It's just what!? Tell me, Zhi'er!" My throat felt parched with all the screaming, but I just couldn't seem to care.
"I-I..."
"Zhi'er!"
"I am sorry!" Her spine oscillated in matter of seconds before she turned and bolted out of the room, leaving me gobsmacked.
I stood still for a few moments before my legs wobbled and I collapsed on my study chair.
My mind riffled through thousands of unanswered questions, among which one stood out the most.
What. Just. Happened?