Chapter 10: The Noble and the Apprentice, Part Four

Chapter 10: Nobles and Working Students (Part IV)

A white light emanated from the soul ring on Xiao Chenyu’s body. As his martial soul manifested, his wolf claws became noticeably more solid. They tore through the air as he lunged toward Zhong Yan.

Zhong Yan naturally noticed this obvious change. So, his first soul skill was an enhancement. However, since it was only a ten-year soul ring, he figured the boost wouldn’t be significant. There was no need to worry about a skill like that.

Although he hadn’t yet mastered the "Rock Rain" spear technique to the point where his strikes were as dense and relentless as a downpour, it was still more than enough to deal with a child like this.

"Heh, bring it on." A test of brute strength? Very well. While strength wasn't Zhong Yan’s forte, he was curious to see just how much progress his recent training had yielded.

Zhong Yan swung the Vortex Vanquisher forward from his left. Worried that the polearm was too sharp and difficult to control precisely, he simply used it as a staff.

Xiao Chenyu’s subordinates already wore expressions of victory. What did it matter if one possessed innate full soul power? Without a soul ring, they were nothing. This fool was foolishly clashing head-on with Boss Xiao’s wolf claws—it was essentially suicide. They had seen with their own eyes how Xiao Chenyu could crush rocks into powder with those claws after manifesting his martial soul.

The pounce was lightning-fast. The claws collided with Zhong Yan’s polearm with a muffled thud. Green and yellow lights flashed simultaneously, and the resulting shockwave caused the onlookers to stumble.

Both boys shuddered as their upper bodies recoiled; they had traded blows on equal footing. Xiao Chenyu quickly regained his balance and lunged forward with his other claw.

Zhong Yan, however, suddenly kicked off the ground and retreated. It wasn't out of fear; rather, he had realized that if he channeled the gravity he used during his training into his strikes, he could pin Xiao Chenyu to the ground without any effort at all.

This was his first time attempting it, so he lacked familiarity. He needed to find a way to land a surprise strike.

Zhong Yan retreated to a large boulder. Xiao Chenyu’s claw swiped at empty air, but he stabilized himself and charged again.

Zhong Yan leapt onto the boulder, jumped, and brought the Vortex Vanquisher down in a powerful swing. Simultaneously, he applied the force of gravity to his own body, causing his downward momentum to surge violently.

Xiao Chenyu raised both wolf claws to block, but he hadn't anticipated that the weight behind the blow would be several times greater than before. He was instantly slammed face-first into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The onlookers watched as Xiao Chenyu’s wolf claws shattered, dissipating into raw soul power.

"I win." Zhong Yan looked down at Xiao Chenyu, who was embedded slightly into the earth.

Xiao Chenyu pulled his face out of the dirt and looked up at Zhong Yan. "You cheated! Even with the momentum from the jump, it’s impossible to exert that much force."

"Heh, it’s just a method of utilizing soul power. Don’t tell me you’re a sore loser."

Xiao Chenyu’s lackeys ran over to pull their boss out of the ground. Leaning on them, Xiao Chenyu looked at Zhong Yan and said, "I lost. I’m not someone who can’t accept defeat."

Xiao Wu stepped forward, tilted her head, and said with pride, "Call me Big Sister."

Xiao Chenyu looked at Zhong Yan. "What do you mean?"

"Xiao Wu is our boss. I can't beat her."

"Huh?" Xiao Chenyu’s mouth fell open. He thought to himself: *You’re already this fierce, and she’s even stronger than you? Are you guys really just working students?*

Xiao Wu walked over to Zhong Yan, patted his shoulder, and put on the air of a big sister. "Good job, Xiao Yan. You worked hard."

With that, she turned her gaze toward Xiao Chenyu. "What? Still not convinced? Fine. Let me introduce myself. I’m Xiao Wu, a first-year working student. Martial soul: Rabbit. A twelfth-level, one-ring battle soul master."

(Since the original story implies Xiao Wu already had her first soul ring when Tang San returned from obtaining his, and it would be impossible for her to manifest one at school without a teacher to take her out to hunt soul beasts, I have established here that she had already acquired her first ring before starting school.)

A red light shone from Xiao Wu’s body. Under the faint crimson glow, her eyes turned red, and a pair of rabbit ears sprouted from the top of her head. She seemed to grow slightly taller, and a gentle aura of soul power pulsed around her. The soul ring rising from her feet was, unexpectedly, a yellow, century-old ring.

Xiao Chenyu slapped his own forehead hard. "Big Sister Xiao Wu, I’m convinced. From now on, you are the boss of our Notting Junior Soul Master Academy. Everyone, come over and pay your respects to Big Sister Xiao Wu."

Zhong Yan went back and patted Tang San on the shoulder. "What’s the rush? Look at the longing in your eyes. We’re going to get your soul ring tomorrow, aren't we?"

Tang San, being mature for his age, calmed down after hearing this. "I’ll go find the teacher now, ask what we need to prepare, and then I’ll go shopping with you."

"That works."

...

The two of them had finished their shopping and returned to the dormitory. Tang San pushed the door open, while Zhong Yan carried two quilts, with a pile of items stacked on top.

"It smells so good!" Xiao Wu was the first to catch the scent. She ran over to Zhong Yan. "Tell me, what delicious things did you buy?"

Zhong Yan wore a sinister smile, but the quilts blocked it from view. Tang San turned his head away, seemingly holding back laughter.

"Of course, they're delicious." Zhong Yan placed the items on his bed and tossed a quilt to Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu quickly caught it, ran to her own bed to put it down, and turned back to find everyone already swarming around Zhong Yan.

She rushed over, afraid everything would be snatched up. "How dare you not leave any for your Big Sister! Stop eating already!"

When Xiao Wu pushed through the crowd and saw the contents of the bag, she had a sudden, sinking premonition. "This... this is..."

Zhong Yan shot her a sidelong, mischievous look. "Spicy rabbit heads! Surprise!"

"AHHH!!! Go to hell!"