Seventh Dormitory Boss

The aftershock of Gust finally dissipated completely, but Wang Sheng's face was still filled with lingering fear and shock, as if he had narrowly escaped death.

No matter what, he was only a twelve-year-old child. When facing someone stronger than himself, instinctive fear naturally outweighed impulsiveness.

Seeing Qian Bing decisively recall Pidgey and make no move to attack again, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked tentatively, "Xiao Bing... oh, no, Qian Bing, was that a Soul Skill you used just now?"

Qian Bing was leading Tang San into the Seventh Dormitory at that moment. Hearing Wang Sheng's question, he merely nodded calmly.

"So you've already obtained your first soul ring and become a Soul Master? My god, you're only six years old! How did you do it?!"

Although the students present had already guessed the answer, hearing Qian Bing confirm it still drew gasps of astonishment. They all crowded around him.

"It really was a Soul Skill! That's incredible! No wonder even Boss Wang Sheng wasn't a match for him."

Qian Bing shook his head.

"It's only my First Soul Skill. You'll obtain yours soon enough."

As he answered, he passed through the crowd at the doorway and entered the Seventh Dormitory. He stopped beside two beds near the entrance, then turned to Tang San and said, "Let's take these two adjacent beds. We can look after each other if anything happens, and being closer to the door means our morning training won't disturb anyone else."

Tang San had no objections whatsoever to his arrangement. He nodded and said, "Alright."

After settling Tang San in, Qian Bing calmly asked the older students inside, "It seems the academy hasn't prepared bedding for new students. Where can we buy daily necessities?"

By then, Wang Sheng had already recovered from his shock and stepped back in front of Qian Bing. Hearing the question, he answered, "We're all Work-Study Students or scholarship students receiving academy subsidies. The academy has already waived our tuition, so of course they won't provide things like bedding.

"The academy's shop is in the cafeteria of the Teaching Building. The things there aren't cheap. If you didn't bring bedding, you can use mine for now."

Qian Bing glanced at Wang Sheng's quilt. Its surface was blotched with black and yellow stains, clearly bearing traces of dust and dried saliva, and he immediately recoiled from the offer.

Though he knew it was rather rude to reject someone's kindness so bluntly, the moment he thought of the "sour stench of youth" wafting from it, Qian Bing hurriedly waved his hands.

"No need. Thank you, but I'll figure something out myself."

Wang Sheng realized that Qian Bing, when he was acting normally, seemed quite easy to get along with. Gathering his courage, he asked, "Why did you hold back just now?"

He was not an idiot. He could tell that Pidgey's final Gust had clearly not been aimed at him. If Qian Bing had not held back at the end, there was no way he would be standing here unharmed.

Qian Bing replied calmly, "We're classmates, not enemies."

A complicated glint flashed through Wang Sheng's eyes.

"I'm sorry about earlier. Every new student who moves into the Seventh Dormitory has to go through this. We've all experienced it. Because of our backgrounds, the students in the Seventh Dormitory have always been looked down on by students from the other dormitories. So we have to stick together. I hope you can stand together with us..."

Qian Bing smiled faintly.

"So you wanted to give us a show of force?"

Wang Sheng's face reddened, and a somewhat simple, honest smile appeared on it.

"Yeah. I just didn't expect my show of force to fail, and instead hand you the chance to make an example of me. Still, you really are amazing. You must have only just turned six, yet you're already a Soul Master. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

Qian Bing nodded without saying much.

Wang Sheng was the sort who quickly grew familiar with people. Without any ceremony, he plopped down on the bed Qian Bing had chosen.

"You defeated me, so from now on, you're the Seventh Dormitory Boss."

Qian Bing immediately waved his hands. "I came here to study. Forget about being the boss."

Wang Sheng said seriously, "The strongest fist is the boss. That's been the Seventh Dormitory's tradition all along. Being the Seventh Dormitory Boss isn't just an empty title—it's hard work. I'm not boasting. Look."

As he spoke, he rolled up both sleeves. His arms were covered in no fewer than seven or eight bluish-purple bruises.

Qian Bing had expected this already and was not particularly surprised, but Tang San's face was filled with astonishment. Clearly, this had changed his impression of Wang Sheng.

"I got these yesterday, right after arriving at the academy. The students of our Seventh Dormitory all come from poor families, and students from the other dormitories often pick fights and bully us. As the dormitory boss, I have to stand up for my brothers. I'd love nothing more than to hand this responsibility over to you as soon as possible."

The other students all turned to look at Qian Bing as well, their eyes carrying a trace of hope.

It had to be said that protecting the weak and resisting bullies was the sort of heroic ideal no hot-blooded youth lacked. Qian Bing was naturally willing to serve as the Seventh Dormitory's protector, but he modestly pushed Tang San forward instead.

"I'm more than willing to step in whenever someone bullies the students of our Seventh Dormitory. But I'm already a Soul Master. If I had to take the lead in everything, it would be too unfair to the other dormitories.

"How about this? Tang San also has Innate Full Spirit Power, and he's very strong. Let him be the Seventh Dormitory Boss from now on. I'll stay behind the scenes and act as your strategist."

As he said this, Qian Bing patted Tang San on the back and gave him a push forward.

"Tang San, you've seen it too. My Soul Skill isn't suitable for frequent use. If I'm not careful, I could hurt our classmates. We came here to study, not to hurt people. So are you willing to take on the responsibility of being the Seventh Dormitory Boss?"

Given the education Tang San had received in his previous life, his chivalrous spirit, sense of justice, and sense of responsibility were all far stronger than anyone else present. Hearing this, he no longer declined and nodded.

"Alright. I won't stand by and watch our dormitory mates get bullied. But this title of boss..."

Before he could finish, a clear voice came from outside.

"Is this the Seventh Dormitory?"

Inside Seven Dorm, everyone turned toward the door at the sound, their eyes widening at once.

A pretty little girl stood in the doorway. She looked about the same age as Qian Bing and Tang San, and was nearly the same height as well.

Her lovely little face was rosy-white, soft and tender like a ripe peach that made people want to take a bite. Her long black hair was braided into a scorpion braid that hung past her hips, and her large, watery eyes brimmed with curiosity.

Although her clothes were very plain, they were exceptionally neat. She held a brand-new set of academy uniforms in her hands, apparently another freshman who had enrolled this year.

The students in the dorm were all boys. Suddenly seeing such a beautiful little girl, every one of them stared dumbfoundedly, with even some rosy fantasies stirring in their hearts.

Tang San was rather old-fashioned in his views. Seeing that such a pretty girl was actually going to live in Seven Dorm, he could not help asking in a low voice:

"Boys and girls can live together here?"

Wang Sheng nodded and lowered his voice as well. "We're all still children, so none of the academy dorms separate boys and girls. I heard they only split them up once you reach the Intermediate Soul Master Academy. How strange—Seven Dorm didn't get a single new student last year, but three came this year. Tang Boss, go on. Hurry up and show her who's boss."