Don't Let Your Mental Points Fail You

Time flew by.

Ye Qiu's first year in Notting City had been quite fulfilling and orderly.

Aside from the morning classes arranged by the academy, he spent most of his time cultivating with Xiao Wu. When the little rabbit was truly uncooperative, he would make do by strolling around Notting City with her or sparring to hone their combat skills.

It was worth mentioning that while they were out wandering, they really did run into that chubby girl who had joined the commotion with an elbow strike when they bought bedding at the start of term.

Naturally, Xiao Wu had not forgotten. She viciously returned several elbow strikes, knocking the girl to the ground. If Ye Qiu had not stopped her, that chubby girl's waist might have been broken. In the end, she fled away crying and limping.

The longer the two spent together, the more in tune they became.

Ye Qiu had become exceedingly familiar with every smile, frown, and little detail of that silly rabbit.

Of course, Xiao Wu had also come to understand Ye Qiu much better. It could be said that, aside from Ye Qiu himself, she was the person in this world who understood him best.

This also made her increasingly brazen. She paid little heed to Ye Qiu's threats, forcing him to discipline her personally quite often.

Besides that.

Tang San, who always had to make time to study under Yu Xiaogang and forge at the Blacksmith Shop, often asked Ye Qiu to spar with him. Naturally, Ye Qiu agreed. Who would turn down a free sparring partner?

Of course, Ye Qiu concealed some of his martial soul's abilities. Otherwise, Tang San might become wary and guard against him. And if Yu Xiaogang found out, that would be even more troublesome.

Even when Ye Qiu merely said that his ability to shoot silk had been learned from spiders, Yu Xiaogang had grown curious and wanted to study it. Ye Qiu simply could not be bothered with him.

Inside the Seventh Dorm.

The students had finished the year's studies and were preparing to head home one after another.

Wang Sheng had become a true Spirit Master and successfully graduated from Notting Academy. He was about to head to the Intermediate Spirit Master Academy for its entrance examination. With his luggage on his back, he stood at the door and waved to Ye Qiu and the others.

"Boss Ye Qiu, Third Brother, Sister Xiao Wu, I'm leaving! May we meet again someday!"

Amid farewell after farewell, Wang Sheng's figure gradually disappeared into the distance.

"I'm afraid we'll never see him again."

Ye Qiu lay on his bed with a lollipop in his mouth, watching Wang Sheng's departing back as he calmly shook his head.

Over the past year, the relationship between Ye Qiu, Tang San, and Xiao Wu had grown much closer.

Tang San, who was packing his things, looked at Ye Qiu still lying in bed and asked in confusion, "Ye Qiu, why aren't you packing yet? Aren't you going home?"

Tang San dearly missed his old father at home. Although Tang Hao had not come to visit him even once during the year he had been waiting, Tang San had still prepared a newly forged hammer for him as a gift.

When it came to filial piety, Tang San truly had nothing to be criticized for.

"Isn't the holiday only tomorrow? There'll still be time to pack tonight." Ye Qiu waved his hand casually. He only had a few sets of clothes anyway, so there was nothing much to pack.

Tang San smiled helplessly. Ye Qiu seemed interested only in cultivation and was rather lazy in everyday life. Otherwise, he would order Xiao Wu to do things for him. Right, Ye Qiu also seemed very interested in Xiao Wu.

His gaze dimmed slightly.

Compared to Ye Qiu, who loved cultivation, perhaps Xiao Wu spent a little more time dragging him off to "bully boys and girls."

Tang San turned to Xiao Wu again.

"Xiao Wu, what about you? The holiday starts tomorrow. Are you going home?"

A few steps away from Ye Qiu's bed.

Xiao Wu, who had long since started sleeping in a separate bed from Ye Qiu, sat on the edge of her bed, gently swinging her two Jade Feet.

Looking at the increasingly deserted Seventh Dorm and hearing Tang San's question, a trace of loneliness appeared in Xiao Wu's eyes, utterly unlike her usual lively and energetic self.

She gently shook her head.

"I'm not going home. Maybe I'll stay at the academy."

Tang San froze for a moment, then said in surprise, "It's been a whole year. You're not going home to take a look?"

Just as Tang San's two stabs had stirred a wave of irritation in Xiao Wu's heart, she suddenly glanced at Ye Qiu, who was lying on his bed with candy in his mouth and his eyes closed in rest. Her eyes immediately lit up.

Happily, she said, "Little San, isn't your home not far from the academy? How about... I come over to your place to play? What do you think? Wang Sheng and the others are all leaving anyway, so no one will be around to keep Sister Xiao Wu company."

Looking at Xiao Wu, who was like a porcelain doll, Tang San smiled. After a year together, he had come to understand the personality of the little girl before him fairly well. She always looked like she wanted nothing more than to throw the world into chaos.

When she was gentle, she was like a porcelain doll—well-behaved and lovable. But once she lost her temper, her title as Notting's Big Sister was no empty one.

Aside from Ye Qiu, even Tang San himself often suffered at her hands.

Tang San smiled softly but did not agree outright.

"My family is very poor. There's nothing much to entertain you with."

"Poor? You're the richest person in our Seventh Dorm."

Xiao Wu jumped down from the bed, planted her hands on her hips, and glared at Tang San with her rose-red eyes. "You save so much from your monthly allowance, and you also earn wages from the Blacksmith Shop. Are you really afraid you can't afford to host me?!"

"If we're talking poor, Sister Xiao Wu is the one who's truly poor. I barely have a few coins left on me."

Toward the end, Xiao Wu could not help muttering under her breath, casting a resentful glance in Ye Qiu's direction. A large portion of her money had been spent on Ye Qiu—or rather, on candy. She even had to work like an ox and a horse to repay her debts in exchange for something to eat.

Several black lines appeared on Tang San's forehead. Looking at Xiao Wu, who had suddenly changed expressions and become somewhat overbearing, he nodded with an awkward smile. "Then come if you want to. But... my father doesn't have the best temper."

"I'm so well-behaved and adorable. Your father will definitely welcome me." Xiao Wu did not care in the slightest. In any case, she would not be staying at Tang San's home. As she spoke, she gave Tang San a friendly smile and blinked her large, beautiful eyes.

"..."

Tang San looked at Xiao Wu before him and froze for a moment. Although he knew she was putting on an act, it still made his heart tremble a little.

Ye Qiu, who had been lying on the bed the whole time, also revealed a strange smile when he heard Xiao Wu's words.

How was that a welcome? It was practically a welcome to death.

"Alright, then it's settled!"

With a wave of her little hand, Xiao Wu finalized the matter.

"Alright, then we'll set off together early tomorrow morning."

Coming back to his senses, Tang San nodded with a smile and said no more. After quickly packing his things, he left Seventh Dorm. He still needed to give his teacher a brief farewell.

Seventh Dorm immediately fell silent.

Bored out of her mind, Xiao Wu looked around before turning her gaze to Ye Qiu lying on the bed. A flush rose to her little face as she ran to Ye Qiu's bedside and gave the foot of his bed two kicks.

"Ye Qiu~ You need to hurry up and get up to pack too! Tomorrow, Sister Xiao Wu is going home with you. Keep your spirits up—don't let me down."