"This… this is the punishment, right, the punishment for yelling at me!"
Meeting Xiao Wu's unwavering gaze, Ye Qiu stammered, as if he'd found an excuse, and said it with a serious expression.
After saying that, he slowly lay down, turned to the side, closed his eyes, and shut out the world.
"You… how can you do this!?"
Xiao Wu knelt on the bed, her heart filled with shame and anger. Biting her silver teeth, she looked at Ye Qiu, feeling somewhat at a loss.
"Sister Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"
Hearing Xiao Wu's scream and noticing her unusual expression, Wang Sheng hurried over, looking at Xiao Wu with concern.
"Could it be she was injured earlier?"
"Impossible. How could Xiao Wu possibly be injured!"
Xiao Wu quickly composed herself, hastily wiping her mouth with her sleeve.
Wang Sheng was puzzled. "Then why is your face so red, Xiao Wu?"
"I…I'm just hot."
Xiao Wu snapped, her eyes darting around. She then lay down and waved her hand, trying to get Wang Sheng to leave.
"Don't bother Xiao Wu. I need to rest!"
Seeing this, Wang Sheng just assumed Xiao Wu was a little tired after obtaining her Spirit Ring and quietly left.
Xiao Wu lay on the bed, her back to Ye Qiu, her slender hand lightly touching her red lips, a little flustered. If it were anyone else, she would have already given them a swift kick with her waist, but facing Ye Qiu, she surprisingly wasn't that angry. She didn't know if it was because she didn't dare.
Night enveloped the earth.
Since Ye Qiu had "sealed" her.
From noon until dinner, neither of them had spoken.
Whenever their eyes met, Xiao Wu would become evasive.
The sky had completely darkened.
Including Tang San and Ye Qiu, all the work-study students were sitting cross-legged on their beds, beginning to cultivate.
Only Xiao Wu.
As a Soul Beast in human form, she didn't seem to need to cultivate at all. She was lying on the bed, looking at Ye Qiu, her face flushed, lost in thought.
Ye Qiu, who was meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve, making it difficult for him to concentrate.
Ye Qiu frowned and opened his eyes, and what met his gaze was Xiao Wu's delicate, pretty face.
"What is it?"
Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow, looking at her with curiosity.
"Ye Qiu..."
Xiao Wu called out softly, her face flushed. She tugged at his sleeve, lowered her head, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito.
"Why did you do that to me?"
After saying this, Xiao Wu raised her head slightly, looking at Ye Qiu with confusion.
She still couldn't quite figure it out.
"Huh?!"
Ye Qiu tilted his head, looking at her strangely, and started to act like a spoiled brat, saying insincerely: "Didn't I say it before? That was your punishment. What? Do you have any objections?"
"But... you praised me as beautiful yesterday."
Xiao Wu's face showed a hint of shyness.
Ye Qiu's praise seemed very different compared to others' compliments.
"You are very beautiful!"
Ye Qiu smiled and nodded, and as soon as he finished speaking, he pretended to lean his face in again.
"Ah! You, you, don't come over here!"
Xiao Wu's eyes flashed with panic. Her small hands pushed at Ye Qiu's face, and she leaned back, clenching her fists and waving them.
"If you dare to do that again, Sister Xiao Wu will beat you up!"
Xiao Wu widened her eyes, but the shyness and panic hidden within were impossible to conceal.
"Beat me? You dare?" Ye Qiu chuckled softly and sat up straight again.
"I…"
Xiao Wu paused, quickly remembering what Ye Qiu had said before. She bit her lip and puffed out her cheeks, looking angry.
"Didn't we agree before that I could challenge you? Sister Xiao Wu is going to challenge you now!"
Xiao Wu looked at Ye Qiu seriously, touching her own burning little face, still shy, and said softly, "Let bygones be bygones. If I win, you can't bully me anymore."
"Alright!"
Ye Qiu didn't refuse. He also wanted to test his Spirit Skills; although there were restrictions, the efficiency had greatly improved!
Xiao Wu's third Spirit Skill, Instant Transmission, and fourth Spirit Skill, Invincible Golden Body, were both very good life-saving abilities. Moreover, as a 100,000-year Soul Beast, her potential was also good. As long as she followed the plan and didn't die prematurely, she would at least be a Title Douluo. Giving her the first spot was not a loss at all.
As the words fell, Ye Qiu was the first to get out of bed, put on his uniform, and walked outside.
"Come on, let me see how amazing our Xiao Wu is."
"Hmph! I'll show you later!"
Xiao Wu watched him walk straight outside, quickly jumped off the bed, put on her shoes, and followed Ye Qiu with small steps, wanting to grab his sleeve.
"Ye Qiu, slow down."
On the bed, Tang San, who was sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes and watched the two figures disappearing into the distance. He shook his head helplessly, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
He knew that Ye Qiu had also obtained his first Spirit Ring. He was very interested in Ye Qiu's current strength, and in addition… there was a subtle mix of other emotions.
Outside the Seven Dorms.
Beside a flower bed not far away.
Practicing in the dark had become a tradition for Soul Masters. The entire Notting Academy was quiet, and no one would come to disturb Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu.
Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu stood facing each other.
Looking at the motionless, young-looking Ye Qiu, Xiao Wu looked at him questioningly.
"Ye Qiu, are you going to fight or not?!"
"Of course I am, but before that, I need you to do me a small favor!" A faint smile hung on Ye Qiu's face as he raised his foot and walked towards Xiao Wu.
"A favor? What do you want me to do this time?"
Xiao Wu looked at Ye Qiu, who was already standing in front of her, with some fear in her eyes. The last time she helped Ye Qiu because she was greedy, she exposed her identity, and she still had a shadow of that experience.
When Ye Qiu walked in front of Xiao Wu, a yellow Spirit Ring had already appeared on his hand. In the center of the Spirit Ring was a small, black and white tadpole.
"Don't worry, this is a simple favor. Just let my Martial Soul envelop you."
Xiao Wu raised her hand and stretched out her fair, tender fingertips, gently poking the small tadpole on Ye Qiu's hand.
Doubtfully, she asked, "You mean... just let your little tadpoles go into my body again?"
"Uh..."
Ye Qiu's lips twitched.
He didn't dwell on it too much. After all, knowledge was scarce in this world, and Xiao Wu, though arrogant and overbearing, had lived deep in the mountains. She wasn't quite that bad.
"Yes, it's just letting my little tadpoles stick to... ah, shoot. It's letting my Martial Soul attach to your body."
Ye Qiu stumbled over his words, then immediately corrected himself. He continued, "How about it? Are you willing to help me?"
Xiao Wu pondered for a moment, then gently nodded, extending her five fingers in front of Ye Qiu. "Helping you is no problem, of course, but you have to give me five lollipops as a reward!"
"Alright."
Ye Qiu didn't even hesitate before agreeing.
"So, what do I do? Just poke your... tadpole?"
"Just press against it, then activate your Martial Soul."
"Okay, I'll do as you say, Xiao Wu."
Wishing everyone a happy life!
(End of this chapter)