Returning from Soul Hunting, Stamping the Rabbit

It was noon.

Something major seemed to have happened at Notting Academy. Many students hurried toward the training grounds, forming a circle around someone.

Xiao Wu stood at the very center of the crowd, a lollipop from who knew where hanging from her mouth. Facing the tall, burly upperclassman across from her, she showed no fear at all.

She had the imposing air of a single rabbit holding the gate against ten thousand foes.

The work-study students from Seventh Dorm stood beside Xiao Wu. Tang San, who had just returned from hunting a soul beast, was also squeezing through the crowd toward the center.

At the same time.

Ye Qiu had just stepped through the gates of Notting Academy, striding along like he owned the place, feeling indescribably refreshed.

This soul hunt had gone even more smoothly than he had expected.

Not long after entering the Soul Hunting Forest, he and Director Su had encountered a Formless Slug that was nearly five hundred years old.

It was a rather unusual type among slug soul beasts. Normally, it resembled a puddle of water, but when threatened, it could imitate the appearance of other soul beasts. It looked fierce, yet it possessed virtually no offensive power.

Director Su thought its age was a little too high, and the Formless Slug's abilities were not particularly outstanding, so he had tried to persuade Ye Qiu to choose another soul beast.

But when Ye Qiu saw the Formless Slug transform, he had immediately taken a liking to the roughly one-and-a-half-meter-wide mass of slime. He somehow felt that it was an excellent match for Venom!

Even if it might have been five hundred years old, Ye Qiu had not given up. He might have been a little malnourished, but after awakening his martial soul, he had grown stronger too. His body could also turn into Venom, so his endurance should not have been a problem.

Seeing that Ye Qiu insisted, Director Su could only agree helplessly. Though the Formless Slug looked somewhat troublesome, Director Su was no Yu Xiaogang. He was extremely capable in battle.

Throughout the whole fight, Ye Qiu only needed to cheer from the sidelines.

Then claim the kill.

After absorbing the Formless Slug's soul ring, Ye Qiu had become a level-twelve Battle Spirit Master.

The soul skill he obtained had also exceeded Ye Qiu's expectations.

It filled him with delighted surprise, and he could not wait to drag that naughty little rabbit, Xiao Wu, over to test it out.

By then, he had already completed his Spirit Master appraisal at Spirit Hall. He had also accepted Ma Xiunuo's invitation to become an unaffiliated member of Spirit Hall and received proof of his membership.

That sort of status might come in handy someday.

Besides, he did not have to take any responsibility for it.

With Gold Soul Coins tucked into his clothes, Ye Qiu wore a bright smile. With the Spirit Master subsidy, he would no longer need to be a work-study student.

Whoever wanted to do those cleaning chores could do them.

He certainly would not be serving anyone.

Click!

Before long, Ye Qiu arrived at Seventh Dorm and looked at the empty room.

He was not surprised.

On his way back, he had already learned what had happened.

There was no need for him to join in on that excitement. Xiao Wu would handle Xiao Chenyu and the others anyway, while he only needed to keep that rogue rabbit under control.

Tang San had presumably obtained the Blue Silver Entanglement that would follow him for the rest of his life. He might have already made it over there too, so Ye Qiu had even less reason to worry.

"Ah~"

Ye Qiu flopped heavily onto his blanket, turned over, and began resting. He had not slept well the night before, had gotten up early, and traveled quite a distance. He was already somewhat tired.

Before he knew it, Ye Qiu fell asleep.

"Ye Qiu~"

After an unknown amount of time, Ye Qiu squinted as a soft, sweet call sounded beside his ear while he hovered between sleep and wakefulness.

Ye Qiu instinctively raised a hand to rub his eyes. When he lifted his eyelids, Xiao Wu's adorable face filled his vision.

Xiao Wu lowered her head to look at Ye Qiu. Her small pink lips carried an excited curve as she licked the corner of her mouth and poked Ye Qiu's cheek with a finger. "Ye Qiu, you're sleeping so early. Will you still be able to sleep tonight?"

Smack! Ye Qiu slapped her hand away, covered his mouth as he yawned, then rolled his eyes at her and complained irritably, "Do you think I can sleep well at night?"

Xiao Wu's face reddened. Every morning when she woke up, she had somehow rolled over to Ye Qiu's side.

Looking at her flushed little face, Ye Qiu suddenly had the urge to cup it and take a bite. He could give away his first kiss in this life and leave a mark on this rabbit while he was at it.

But after thinking about it, Ye Qiu restrained himself.

That would have been a crime. He merely reached out and pinched Xiao Wu's hot, smooth, tender cheek, leaving behind faint red marks.

"Ye Qiu, what are you doing?!"

Xiao Wu slapped Ye Qiu's hand away in embarrassment and anger, glaring at him with puffed cheeks.

"Hmm?"

Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow at Xiao Wu, who had suddenly become so bold, and slowly propped himself up. He looked around. It seemed Tang San was the only one absent from the dormitory.

He had probably gone to Spirit Hall to register after the fight.

Kneeling on the bed with her hands on her hips, Xiao Wu declared smugly, "Ye Qiu, let me tell you, I'm now Sister Xiao Wu of the entire academy! Impressive, right? So you're not allowed to touch me whenever you feel like it!"

"Even so, that's no reason for you, rogue rabbit, to cross the line!" Ye Qiu chuckled and did not argue with her further, merely pointing downward.

Xiao Wu was currently kneeling right on the boundary between their two beds.

"Ye Qiu! I told you not to call me rogue rabbit!" Xiao Wu twisted her body and angrily covered Ye Qiu's mouth with her hand. With a cold snort, she said, "So what if I crossed the line? I'm a girl, so you should give way to me, right? Of course, you absolutely cannot cross the line."

"Whatever you say!"

Ye Qiu removed her little hand and replied indifferently. No matter how one looked at it, whether he was a boy or a girl, nobody would think he was the one losing out. Naturally, that included himself.

Still, this little rabbit was acting so arrogant, completely unable to recognize greatness when she saw it!

It left Ye Qiu slightly displeased.

He took both her little hands into his palms and slowly applied a bit of pressure. Then he leaned closer to Xiao Wu until their noses were nearly touching, gently sniffing her.

"W-what are you doing?"

When Xiao Wu saw Ye Qiu suddenly turn expressionless, tightly grip her hands, and lean his head toward her, she could not help feeling a little frightened.

"Did you forget what you promised me before?!" A faint smile appeared on Ye Qiu's lips, his eyes filled with threat and teasing.

"N-no, I haven't. Sister Xiao Wu will be obedient."

After saying that, Xiao Wu's eyes darted toward both sides as she checked whether Wang Sheng and the others were watching. She was afraid her image as Sister Xiao Wu would collapse.

"Is that so?"

Looking at the delicate, tearful-looking Xiao Wu before him, her little face flushed red, the urge to leave his mark on her rose uncontrollably again.

"Mhm, I'll definitely listen obediently."

Xiao Wu nodded in a panic, only wanting Ye Qiu to let go of her sooner.

"Good!"

Ye Qiu nodded in satisfaction, his voice turning gentler. Looking at those vivid, tempting red lips, he ultimately could not resist that bit of curiosity. Before he could stop himself, he leaned forward and lightly pressed his lips against her slightly upturned pink lips.

They were like soft pudding, carrying a faint fragrance. There was even a trace of sweetness, along with a hint of grass. Ye Qiu had initially been quite satisfied, but he frowned. Why did this sweetness feel somewhat familiar?! Xiao Wu froze completely, her crimson eyes losing focus. Feeling Ye Qiu's breath as her red lips were held between his, slowly moving, her body trembled slightly. Her face, ears, and even her neck were tinged pink.

He only sampled them briefly, leaving behind a faint glimmer of moisture. After satisfying his curiosity in the span of a breath, Ye Qiu released her.

Xiao Wu stared blankly as Ye Qiu's face moved away. Her large round crimson eyes shimmered with misty light. She pursed her lips, finally snapping out of it amid that strange taste.

"Ah—!"

The belated scream rang through the entire Seventh Dorm.

Xiao Wu's small chest rose and fell as she covered her lips, staring at Ye Qiu in disbelief. Her mind seemed to have crashed, and the rabbit ears atop her head fluttered wildly as she spoke incoherently.

"Ye... Ye Qiu, you... me... why?"

Looking at the even more adorable Xiao Wu before him, Ye Qiu's eyes held a trace of amazement, though an awkward blush appeared on his face.

Fortunately, this was Douluo Continent. Wishing everyone a happy life!