No More Flirting

Xue Xiao Ran's busy student life began.

After completing Gu Tian Yuan's Spirit Martial Course in the morning, he stuffed a few bites of food into his mouth, then headed to the Soul Tool Department for Xuan Ziwen's Soul Tool course.

However, because Xue Xiao Ran possessed Eidetic Memory, his studies were not as demanding as he had imagined.

He had grown a little taller, and his figure had become more upright. The calmness in his eyes perfectly concealed the last traces of his childishness.

Class A was better than he had expected. At the very least, ordinary conversations could still be held, but the feeling that everyone was in danger had not disappeared from their hearts.

Today, Xue Xiao Ran successfully sensed that faint fluctuation in his Sea of Consciousness.

He was not a Spirit Master of the Mental System, yet he could sense his own Sea of Consciousness through a Soul Tool.

"Junior Brother, what's wrong?"

Seeing him freeze slightly, Nana hurriedly waved a hand before his eyes.

"Nothing."

Xue Xiao Ran revealed an apologetic smile before once again focusing his attention on the Soul Tool.

Xue Xiao Ran was currently attempting to make a First-rank Soul Tool himself, while Nana watched and offered guidance at his side. If there was anything improper in his work, she would point it out.

His Jade Eyes narrowed slightly. Soul Power enveloped the engraving knife in his hand as he flicked it through several flourishes, relaxing his hand once more.

Let's begin.

He bent over. The engraving knife in his hand flowed smoothly, carving exquisite patterns—the channels that would allow Soul Power to pass through.

There was not the slightest flaw. Everything was perfect.

Xue Xiao Ran was a perfectionist. When he wanted to do something well, he had to do it perfectly.

The Soul Core of a First-rank Soul Tool might have been quite a challenge for Xue Xiao Ran, who had only entered the Soul Tool Department a month ago, but he already had it all mapped out in his mind.

When Teacher Xuan had demonstrated it, his Jade Eyes had already recorded Xuan Ziwen's movements in his mind. Thus, his engraving now contained no unnecessary motions.

Everything was filled with confidence and a naturally flowing beauty.

A trace of violet flashed through his Jade Eyes, and the knife in his hand suddenly slashed forward.

The final excess scrap was cut away.

"Did it succeed?"

Nana Senior Sister could not help leaning forward. Looking at the exquisite First-rank Soul Tool Soul Core Xue Xiao Ran had just finished carving, she asked expectantly.

"..."

Xue Xiao Ran did not answer. He picked up the Soul Tool's Soul Core and slowly poured Soul Power into it.

The Soul Power gradually flowed along the routes Xue Xiao Ran had planned, gathering bit by bit at the center of the Soul Core. Then, the entire Soul Core emitted a faint glow.

Though the glow was not strong, it still made Xue Xiao Ran smile.

"That's amazing, Junior Brother! You already count as a First-rank Soul Engineer!"

Nana smiled and clapped her hands.

"Just luck." Xue Xiao Ran smiled faintly, neither elated by honor nor disturbed by disgrace.

"Teacher Xuan will definitely be happy when he finds out!"

Nana Senior Sister's beautiful eyes curved into crescents as she patted Xue Xiao Ran's shoulder. "What do you want to eat today, Junior Brother? Senior Sister will treat you and celebrate for you."

"Celebrate?" Xue Xiao Ran was briefly stunned. Then, his eyes covertly turned behind him, and a yellow and a purple soul ring appeared.

"Junior Brother?"

Nana tilted her head in confusion. Why had this junior brother suddenly released his soul rings?

Could it be that he had taken a fancy to her and wanted to use that day's Paralysis Poison to paralyze her before doing something improper?

At that thought, Nana's face reddened slightly. Should she resist or not?

Xue Xiao Ran turned his gaze back and withdrew his soul rings.

"Senior Sister?" Seeing Nana apparently imagining something, he gave a light cough.

"Y-you, you, what are you trying to do?"

Nana retreated several steps with a blush on her face, a flash of shyness passing through her red eyes.

"Weren't we going to celebrate?" Xue Xiao Ran said calmly.

He placed the Soul Core on the table into his ring, straightened his research uniform, and walked outside.

Looking into those calm jade-green eyes, Nana unexpectedly calmed down as well, as if those eyes possessed some kind of magic.

"Stop imagining things, Nana," she muttered to herself before following Xue Xiao Ran out of the laboratory.

Outside the classroom, in a dark corner, a man clutched his stomach and slowly collapsed.

"What happened... My stomach hurts so much." This gloomy-looking man was none other than Wang Shaojie. He had been lying in wait here, intending to teach Xue Xiao Ran a lesson.

Yet just moments ago, his stomach had suddenly begun to twist with pain.

This was neither diarrhea nor an upset stomach. If it had to be described in words, it felt as though a pair of hands had twisted his stomach and tied it into a dead knot.

Wang Shaojie's face was now deathly pale, as though he had just suffered a serious illness.

"What the hell is going on..."

Unable to figure out who the culprit was, Wang Shaojie comforted himself by thinking that perhaps he had eaten too much at lunch. Clutching his stomach, he staggered toward the Infirmary.

Nana brought Xue Xiao Ran to the second floor of the Canteen, a place he had never visited before.

Usually, he only had time to hurriedly buy a Golden Kraken Set Meal on the first floor, an aristocratic meal so expensive only an oil tycoon could afford. He had never had the time to visit the second floor.

The second floor of the Canteen was actually an artificially constructed garden. There were small bridges and flowing water, with quite a few senior brothers and senior sisters chatting softly there, their expressions full of ease.

"I see you usually don't have time to eat here, so I thought I'd treat you to a meal. How about it?"

Nana sat down beside the pond and spoke to Xue Xiao Ran.

"Then I'll gladly accept."

Xue Xiao Ran stretched lazily and picked up the menu beside him.

"Did you use poison just now?" Nana seemed to bring it up casually, her red eyes glancing toward Xue Xiao Ran.

"That's right." Xue Xiao Ran nodded, admitting it cleanly and directly.

Nana sighed. "Wang Shaojie is arrogant and overbearing. Junior Brother, it's best not to get involved with him. The Sun Moon Royal Family is quite complicated."

"Mm, thank you for the reminder."

Xue Xiao Ran nodded. Whether he would have any future entanglements with Wang Shaojie was a matter for the future. Xue Xiao Ran himself did not particularly care. Wang Shaojie had been the one to jump out like a clown in the first place. What he had originally hoped for was a peaceful and comfortable academy life.

"Is Senior Sister really worried about me?" While waiting for the food, Xue Xiao Ran felt that he had been somewhat passive in their earlier exchange, so he could not help asking with a trace of mischief.

"Mm." Nana nodded.

This was not following the usual script. Shouldn't she have blushed and said, "W-who's worried about you!"

Looking at Xue Xiao Ran's calm Jade Eyes, Nana revealed a little devilish smile. "Don't misunderstand. I'm worried about Junior Brother in my capacity as your Senior Sister. Were you expecting something?"

So she had figured him out. This girl had a bit of a cunning side too.

Xue Xiao Ran's expression did not change. He nodded and said, "Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister."

If they continued, it would turn into blatant flirting. He did not want to create unnecessary trouble.

There was already someone's figure in his heart.

Besides, if Xue Xiao Ran kept flirting like this, Tang San, his Father-in-law who occasionally watched over Douluo Continent from the heavens, would probably descend personally and beat him to death.