Time to Go Out and Explore

The Mysterious Heaven Skill accelerated Ye Qiu's cultivation.

The Purple Demon Eyes elevated Ye Qiu's senses to another level. Though he had to cultivate it in secret, the results were exceptionally good.

"Alright, Ye Qiu. Now that I have so many Gold Soul Coins, how about I treat you to a feast at the cafeteria?" Xiao Wu stood up and took Ye Qiu by the arm.

"Sure. I haven't had lunch yet anyway." Ye Qiu did not refuse. He stretched and loosened up his body.

Xiao Wu happily narrowed her eyes, grabbed Ye Qiu's hand, and the two headed out together.

It was noon.

There were still relatively few people around the academy, except on the road to the cafeteria, where students came and went. Every student who saw Xiao Wu called her Sister Xiao Wu. Of course, there were also perceptive ones who called Ye Qiu Boss.

The moment they reached the cafeteria entrance, Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu spotted a familiar figure.

Dressed in pale blue, with a belt inlaid with twenty-four jade stones around his waist, that figure was Tang San. Having just walked out of the cafeteria carrying something, he had clearly noticed the two of them as well. Smiling, he walked toward Ye Qiu.

"Little San, why are you alone today?"

Ye Qiu greeted Tang San first.

Tang San usually had lunch with Yu Xiaogang, and after eating, he would head back to Yu Xiaogang's room with him.

"Teacher isn't feeling well today, so I came to get him a meal to take back." Tang San answered with a smile, but his gaze had already shifted to Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, how did it go? Did you obtain your third soul ring smoothly?"

Clinging to Ye Qiu's arm, Xiao Wu nodded smugly. "Of course it went smoothly. I'm a genuine Soul Elder now! Little San, you'd better work harder."

"Mm, I will." Tang San gave an awkward smile. He had already been working hard to catch up, but the study tasks Yu Xiaogang had assigned him, along with making his own hidden weapons, had left him somewhat behind. He was only a rank twenty-six Soul Grandmaster so far.

"In that case, I won't disturb you two any longer." Tang San waved and slowly walked past them. Seeing Xiao Wu's small hand tightly holding Ye Qiu's, a trace of concealed disappointment flickered through his eyes.

He did not know when it had begun, but Xiao Wu was no longer even willing to spar with him. He had clearly spent more time accompanying her—could they not even be friends?

Ye Qiu turned back and glanced at Tang San's departing figure before leading Xiao Wu into the cafeteria.

Over the past few years, their relationship had grown much closer. At the very least, they were still on good terms and could be considered friends. However, Ye Qiu did not know how long that relationship could last.

After all, Tang Hao would not give up a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and Ye Qiu would not give up Xiao Wu.

They were destined to be enemies.

Tang San still had something Ye Qiu had left inside him.

Ye Qiu could not go too far either, or that Little Black Worm might be discovered. There was only one month left until Notting Academy's holiday. It was time for him to go outside, see this Spirit Master World, and take a look at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!

Ye Qiu turned back to look at Xiao Wu.

"Hehe."

Not understanding why, Xiao Wu gave Ye Qiu a sweet, slightly silly smile.

Ye Qiu smiled back.

This silly rabbit really was easy to satisfy. He reached back to take her soft hand and gently kneaded it.

The smile on Xiao Wu's face grew even sweeter.

Ye Qiu rarely, rarely took the initiative to hold her hand.

Only a quarter of an hour later, Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu had already left the cafeteria.

Xiao Wu skipped along beside Ye Qiu. Though the sun was a little harsh, the occasional breeze made her short skirt flutter. With a piece of candy in her mouth, she looked at Ye Qiu beside her. Even the wind seemed sweet as she smiled at him with narrowed eyes.

"Alright, we've already made a full circle around the academy. Let's go back and cultivate." Ye Qiu looked up at the sky, then turned toward the Seventh Dorm.

Notting Academy did not arrange classes for its students in the afternoon. Thus, Ye Qiu often pulled Xiao Wu onto the bed, where they would sit for an entire afternoon.

"Ah? Alright."

Xiao Wu froze for a moment before nodding dejectedly. She did not resist cultivating with Ye Qiu. In fact, she even somewhat enjoyed the feeling of being able to communicate with him without barriers and sense everything about him.

Watching Ye Qiu walk away with his hands in his pockets, Xiao Wu pursed her lips, quickly caught up to him, slipped her arm through his, and slowly headed toward the Seventh Dorm.

When they returned to the Seventh Dorm, there were already a few scattered students inside, chatting in small groups.

Xiao Wu waved to spare them their greetings, then trotted over, kicked off both shoes in one motion, sending them flying, and climbed onto Ye Qiu's bed of her own accord.

Ye Qiu rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"Hey. Can you rabbit at least be a little quieter when getting onto the bed?"

"Wasn't I saving you some cultivation time? Hmph. Besides, I didn't ask you to pick up my shoes." Xiao Wu pouted, tossed her hair, sat cross-legged on the bed, and held out her hand to Ye Qiu with a pretty smile. "Hurry up."

"Even if you begged me, I wouldn't pick them up. They might even stink!" Ye Qiu rolled his eyes and waved a hand in front of his nose and mouth.

"Ye Qiu, you're talking nonsense. Sister Xiao Wu's feet don't stink!"

Xiao Wu covered her small, delicate feet so Ye Qiu could not see them, then bent down and gave them a light sniff. They smelled no different from after her usual baths. Raising her eyes, she glared at Ye Qiu indignantly.

"Hmph! You're always trying to make Sister Xiao Wu angry."

"Alright, let's cultivate."

Seeing her embarrassed and angry expression, Ye Qiu smiled and held out his hand. Xiao Wu obediently placed her hand in his palm.

Yellow, yellow, purple—three spirit rings rose beneath Ye Qiu's feet. The tiny tadpole on his fingertip instantly dissolved, and Ye Qiu's hand liquefied, spraying Xiao Wu in the face and earning him an eye roll from the little rabbit.

Before long, Xiao Wu was covered in black. A row of white fangs flipped out from the back of her head, as though they were about to swallow her whole. Strange ripples spread outward as Xiao Wu and Ye Qiu completed their fusion. Their spiritual power and Soul Power were now linked together.

At the same time, Ye Qiu's first spirit ring flashed.

It copied Xiao Wu's Third Spirit Skill, Teleportation, as well.

Only the two of them could hear their mental conversation.

"Alright, stop thinking about all that nonsense. Focus and start cultivating."

"Mm, I know."

Xiao Wu's voice was soft and sweet.

Every time, she eagerly rummaged through Ye Qiu's memories, wanting to know how he truly felt about her. Just seeing him praise her and acknowledge her was enough to make her happy.

She hadn't grown up wrong. Ye Qiu still wanted to eat her—"I told you not to let your imagination run wild!"

Feeling the constant waves of shyness and excitement flooding over, Ye Qiu helplessly reminded her again.

Wishing everyone a happy life!