"This... this is punishment! Yes, punishment for yelling at me!"
Meeting Xiao Wu's piercing gaze, Ye Qiu stammered, searching for an excuse, and finally spoke with conviction.
After saying that, he slowly lay down, turned to his side, closed his eyes, and shut out the world.
"You—you can't just do that!?"
Xiao Wu knelt on the bed, overwhelmed with embarrassment and frustration. She bit her lip, looking at Ye Qiu with uncertainty.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"
Hearing her startled cry and noticing her unusual expression, Wang Sheng hurried over with concern.
"Did you get injured earlier?"
"Nothing like that! How could I be injured?"
Xiao Wu quickly composed herself and hastily wiped her mouth with her sleeve.
Wang Sheng frowned. "Then why is your face so red?"
"I-I'm just hot!"
Xiao Wu snapped, avoiding his gaze. Then she lay down and waved him away.
"Don't bother me! I want to rest!"
Seeing this, Wang Sheng assumed she was simply exhausted from obtaining her spirit ring and left quietly.
Lying with her back to Ye Qiu, Xiao Wu lightly touched her lips, feeling unsettled. If it had been anyone else, she would've already retaliated. But against Ye Qiu… she wasn't that angry. Was it because she didn't dare?
Night Fell Over the Land
Since Ye Qiu had left his "mark" on Xiao Wu, neither of them had spoken a word from noon until dinner.
Every time their eyes met, Xiao Wu would look away nervously.
By now, night had fully set in.
In the dormitory, all the work-study students, including Tang San and Ye Qiu, sat cross-legged on their beds, beginning their cultivation.
Except for Xiao Wu.
As a transformed spirit beast, she barely needed cultivation. She lay on her blanket, watching Ye Qiu with a flushed face, lost in thought.
Ye Qiu, in deep meditation, suddenly felt someone tugging on his sleeve, making it hard to concentrate.
Frowning, he opened his eyes and found Xiao Wu's delicate face right in front of him.
"What do you want?"
Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow, looking at her in confusion.
"Ye Qiu..."
Xiao Wu called softly, blushing furiously as she clutched his sleeve, head lowered, voice barely a whisper.
"Why did you do that to me?"
Then, she raised her head slightly, looking at Ye Qiu with curiosity.
She still didn't quite understand.
"Huh?"
Ye Qiu tilted his head and, playing dumb, smirked.
"Didn't I say? It was your punishment. What? You have a problem with that?"
"But… yesterday, you said I was beautiful."
Xiao Wu's face turned even redder.
Somehow, Ye Qiu's compliment felt different from others'.
"And you are beautiful."
Ye Qiu smiled and leaned in again.
"Ah! You—you stay away!"
Flustered, Xiao Wu pressed her small hands against his face, leaning back, her fists clenched.
"If you try anything again, I'll beat you up!"
She widened her eyes, but the embarrassment and nervousness in them were impossible to hide.
"Beat me? You dare?" Ye Qiu chuckled, sitting upright again.
"I…"
Xiao Wu hesitated, recalling Ye Qiu's previous words. She bit her lip, puffing up her cheeks.
"Didn't we agree that I could challenge you? I'm challenging you now!"
She looked at him seriously, still flustered, but determined.
"We'll forget about earlier. But if I win, you're not allowed to bully me anymore!"
"Alright."
Ye Qiu agreed without hesitation. He was eager to test his spirit abilities. Though limited, their efficiency had greatly improved.
Xiao Wu's third spirit ability, Teleportation, and fourth ability, Invincible Golden Body, were excellent for survival. As a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast in human form, her potential was outstanding. As long as nothing unexpected happened, she was guaranteed to reach Titled Douluo. Giving her the first spot in his team was a solid investment.
As soon as he spoke, Ye Qiu got out of bed, threw on his uniform, and headed outside.
"Come on, let's see how strong our Xiao Wu is."
"Hmph! You'll find out soon enough!"
Seeing him walk out, Xiao Wu quickly jumped off her bed, put on her shoes, and hurried after him, reaching for his sleeve.
"Ye Qiu, slow down..."
On the bed, Tang San, who had been meditating, opened his eyes and watched them leave, shaking his head helplessly. His gaze held curiosity—he knew Ye Qiu had obtained his first spirit ring and was interested in his current strength.
And perhaps… there was something else he felt.
...............................................................
Outside Dormitory 7
Near a small platform, under the quiet night sky.
Training at night was a tradition among spirit masters. The entire Nuoding Academy was silent, with no one to disturb them.
Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu stood facing each other.
Seeing Ye Qiu's relaxed stance, showing no intention of making a move, Xiao Wu frowned.
"Ye Qiu, are we fighting or not?!"
"Of course, but first, I need you to help me with something."
Ye Qiu smiled and stepped closer.
"Help? What is it this time?"
Xiao Wu tensed up. The last time she helped him out of curiosity, she accidentally revealed her identity. She still hadn't recovered from that trauma.
As he reached her, a yellow spirit ring appeared around Ye Qiu, with a tiny black-and-white tadpole floating in the center.
"Don't worry, it's simple. Just let my martial spirit wrap around you."
Xiao Wu hesitantly extended a slender finger and poked the little tadpole.
"So… you just want your tadpole to go inside me?"
"Uh..."
Ye Qiu's lips twitched.
He decided not to overthink it—after all, knowledge in this world was lacking. Xiao Wu had lived in the wilderness for years, arrogant but not crude.
"Yeah, just let my tadpole… ahem, I mean my martial spirit attach to you."
Catching himself before another slip of the tongue, Ye Qiu quickly corrected himself.
"So? Will you help me?"
Xiao Wu pondered for a moment before nodding and extending her hand.
"Sure, but you owe me five lollipops!"
"Deal."
Ye Qiu agreed instantly.
"Okay, what do I do? Just poke your tadpole?"
"Yeah, just touch it and activate your martial spirit."
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
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Why these conversations sound so weirdly sus lol 😂 also enjoy 5 bonus chapter.
Per 100 stones= 5 Bonus chapter's