Chapter 7: The Noble and the Work-Study Student, Part Two

Just then, a crisp voice rang out from the doorway. "Is this Dorm Seven?"

Zhong Yan looked up to see a pretty little girl standing at the entrance. She was about the same age as Tang San, with a fair, rosy complexion that radiated healthy vitality. Her clothes were simple but impeccably neat, and her long hair was braided into a single scorpion-tail plait that reached down to her hips. It seemed this was Xiao Wu.

She was also carrying a brand-new set of school uniforms. The students in the dormitory were all boys, and they were all struck by the sudden appearance of such a beautiful little girl.

Tang San couldn't help but whisper to Wang Sheng, "Are boys and girls allowed to live together here?"

Wang Sheng nodded and said, "Everyone is still a child, so the school doesn't separate dormitories by gender. I hear they only start separating them at the intermediate spirit master academies. It’s strange, though; we didn't have any work-study students last year, and yet two showed up this year. Boss, go on, show her who's in charge!"

"Uh... that shouldn't be necessary, right?" Tang San hadn't expected that just after becoming the so-called "Boss" of Dorm Seven, he would immediately face such a dilemma. He couldn't bring himself to bully a girl.

A flash of cunning crossed Zhong Yan’s amber eyes; he knew Xiao Wu was a natural-born fighter. He stepped forward first and asked, "What’s your name?"

"My name is Xiao Wu, 'Wu' as in dance."

"You're a work-study student, right?"

"That's right. Is there a problem?"

"Yes, a big one. Newcomers have to fight our boss first." He gave Tang San a push in the back. "Isn't that right, Boss Tang San?"

"A fight? Great!" Excitement was already written all over Xiao Wu's face.

Tang San had no choice but to step forward two paces.

"Hello, my name is Tang San. I am, I am the..." He couldn't quite bring himself to say the word "Boss." An idea struck him. "I am the dorm leader here. You can just call me by my name. May I ask, what is your spirit?"

Xiao Wu blinked and smiled, saying, "My spirit is a rabbit. How about you?" When she smiled, two adorable dimples appeared on her cheeks, making her look incredibly charming.

Tang San blushed slightly. "Then wouldn't you just happen to counter me? My spirit is the food for yours: Blue Silver Grass." Having no experience interacting with girls—back at the Tang Sect, he had been obsessed only with hidden weapons—he found himself uncharacteristically nervous.

Xiao Wu let out a giggle. "Weren't we going to fight? Come on then." It seemed she couldn't wait any longer.

"This..." Tang San looked back at the others. Zhong Yan gave him an ambiguous look. He turned back, silently comforting himself that this was just a friendly spar, not bullying. He would just be careful not to hurt her.

"Alright then, come on." Before Tang San could react, she had already bent her knee and kicked out, her toes aiming straight for his chin. It didn't look like it had much power, but the speed was astonishing, catching Tang San off guard.

He dodged to the left, narrowly avoiding the kick, and simultaneously reached for her ankle with his right hand. He habitually stepped forward and leaned his shoulder toward her chest—a standard "Iron Mountain Lean."

Under normal circumstances, if Xiao Wu, balancing on one leg, were truly hit like this, she would inevitably be sent flying. Of course, Tang San was very measured; he had already decided that as soon as she lost her balance, his speed would be enough to catch her, and he hadn't put much force into the lean.

As long as the match was considered fought, it would count as passing the test.

However, things did not go according to Tang San’s script.

Just as his right hand grabbed her ankle, he felt a sudden slip. His sure-fire grab had failed.

Immediately afterward, Xiao Wu’s leg, which had missed its mark, swung horizontally and hooked over his shoulder. Facing the shoulder charge, she used her hands to lightly brace herself, leveraged his shoulder with her right foot, and swung her other leg up to hook onto his opposite shoulder.

The scene looked quite bizarre. Xiao Wu’s legs were now wrapped around Tang San’s neck. Using the momentum of his forward lean, she arched her back, planted her palms on the ground, and her supple legs—like springs—tightened around his neck to flip him backward.

Tang San had no experience fighting girls. When her first leg wrapped around his neck, he could have reacted, but as her leg lifted, her trouser leg naturally slid up a bit. The bare, fair skin of her lower leg pressed against his neck, and the smooth, delicate sensation unique to a girl’s skin caused Tang San’s emotions to waver, and his reaction slowed by half a beat.

By the time Xiao Wu braced her hands on the ground and pushed with both legs, it was too late for Tang San to resist. After all, a person’s neck is fragile, and he was still just a child. If he had used his internal energy to force a resistance, his neck could have been easily injured. Having no choice, he let her flip him over.

Tang San realized that Xiao Wu’s method of using her legs and bracing with her hands to maximize her strength was somewhat similar to the way his father had taught him to generate power through his calves. Landing on his back, he felt that Xiao Wu’s strength wasn't great, and with his Mysterious Heaven Skill protecting him, he wasn't hurt. Having flipped him, Xiao Wu stood up nimbly, turned around, and looked at him with a half-smile.

Scrambling up, Tang San was not Wang Sheng; a loss was a loss, and carelessness was no excuse. He knew that when she threw him, she had held back. Otherwise, the way her legs were wrapped around his neck could have been far more than just a simple throw.

Just then, a teacher in his thirties walked in. "Are there new work-study students? Step forward, please."

Tang San quickly stepped out.

The teacher said, "Tang San, right? This is the bedding the Grandmaster gave you. And there's another one named Zhong Yan, right? The Grandmaster said he doesn't have any extra bedding. Since you're not a work-study student, you shouldn't be short of money, so go buy a set yourself."

"Fine," Zhong Yan replied. He looked at the bedding in Tang San’s hands; it was clearly new. *Tch, trying to gross me out, are you? Too bad I’m not short on money. I’ll go buy bedding later and see if there’s any spicy rabbit head for sale while I’m at it.*

The teacher continued, "Tang San, Xiao Wu, you are the first-year work-study students. From now on, you are responsible for cleaning the garden on the south side of the playground. Ten copper spirit coins a day. Remember, you must clean it every day. Especially the debris—it must be cleared away, or your wages will be deducted. If there is any slacking, the academy has the right to expel you. Is that clear?"

Tang San and Xiao Wu both nodded to show they understood.

Seeing them nod, the teacher turned and left.

"Zhong Yan, so you're not a work-study student? Why are you staying in Dorm Seven?" Wang Sheng asked, looking at him in surprise.

"Oh, just to keep an eye on Tang San and help each other get stronger."

"Bedding? That seems to be a problem." Xiao Wu stared blankly at the bedding in Tang San’s hands, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes. Her eyes rolled, and a cunning look appeared.

"Hey, you're Zhong Yan, right? Look, I beat your boss, so now I’m the Big Sister here. Don't you think you should buy me a bed set to show your respect?"

Zhong Yan rolled his eyes at her. "Fine, I’m not short on cash anyway." *I was only going to buy two spicy rabbit heads for myself, but it looks like I’ll have to buy a whole bunch—one for everyone, and keep a stash in the dorm to eat every day. Just you wait.*