Douluo: Unlocking the Great Secrets of the Human Body, Becoming a Heavenly Demon — Section 42

Work-Study Student Dormitory

Yuanen Yehui stood guard outside Tang Wulin's dorm room as if protecting him during cultivation. Tang Wulin had said he needed to cultivate in seclusion for a few days and asked her for help. Bai Xu had run into her a few times while going out to eat these past days, but at most, they merely nodded in greeting. They were not close.

Xie Xie had never gotten another chance to see Yuan En bathing. Their friendship was normal, but ever since he had accidentally seen Yuan En's female form as a Fallen Angel, Xie Xie had felt somewhat awkward around her.

It seemed the stirrings of adolescence had finally begun to awaken.

In the courtyard

Bai Xu ran into Xie Xie, who hurried over and asked gossipy, "Bai Xu, did a beautiful girl move into your dorm?"

"Yeah, her name is Na'er. Come to think of it, she should have challenged you to a spar, right?" Bai Xu carried a bag of trash in his right hand and walked toward the trash bin beside Xie Xie as they chatted.

"Hehe, I won by a narrow margin. But Na'er really is beautiful. Now that she moved in with you, doesn't that mean there are two girls in your dorm? Are you trying to date two girls at once?"

Bai Xu was speechless. "What nonsense are you talking about? Being so nosy is bad for you. Hurry back to your dorm and make the most of the holiday. Work harder and overtake everyone on the curve."

Xie Xie sighed mournfully. "I can't go back. Wulin is in seclusion, and Yuan En is guarding the door. I've been doing Work-Study Student tasks these past few days to earn contribution points."

The two entered the building side by side. The moment they stepped inside, they saw Yuan En guarding the dorm room. Their gazes met. Bai Xu nodded in greeting, while Xie Xie became somewhat restrained. "Hello... um... Yuan En."

Yuanen Yehui greeted Xie Xie as well. "You still can't go in. Tang Wulin should be finishing soon."

"Oh, all right. I won't go in. I'll go to Bai Xu's dorm." Xie Xie absentmindedly followed behind Bai Xu, glanced at Yuan En in male attire, then quickly withdrew his gaze.

Bai Xu: "..."

"Are you really coming to my dorm?"

"Huh? Can't I go take a look? Is Gu Yue there too? And Na'er?" Xie Xie asked, then began gossiping again. "We put up a curtain in the middle of our dorm, separating the boys' and girls' areas. Don't tell me you didn't?"

"Well... we didn't. We only put bed curtains around the beds to block the view."

"What?!" Xie Xie looked envious.

The dormitory door opened.

Three beds came into view. Two were placed together on the right side, their curtains drawn open. Two girls sat cross-legged atop them, cultivating. At the sound of the door opening, they immediately opened their eyes, then looked at Xie Xie somewhat strangely.

"Hi, you two. Gu Yue, Na'er." Xie Xie was a little embarrassed.

"Oh? Why do you seem so timid, Xie Xie? Is there something scary in this dorm?" Gu Yue rose to her feet and smiled as she caught up with her friend.

Na'er was rather aloof. She said nothing, merely nodding in acknowledgment.

"Hehe, of course not. It's just my first time visiting, so I'm a little embarrassed. Still... your dorm is pretty nice. The bunk beds have been separated, it's clean, and you even have some plants." Xie Xie looked around and gave his assessment.

"The final exams are over. When did you get back?" Bai Xu asked.

"A few days ago. I heard Wulin had returned, so I rushed back too."

Na'er suddenly froze, then slowly spoke. "Brother came back?"

Xie Xie was puzzled. "Brother?"

Na'er smiled. "Yes, Tang Wulin is my brother, though not by blood. His family took me in when I was young."

!!!

"You haven't seen each other in many years?" Xie Xie asked.

"Mm."

"Then I'll go wake him up right now. Why is he still in seclusion? This is outrageous! His little sister has come looking for him, and he's still cultivating!"

He then turned and strode out.

Xie Xie marched fiercely into the hallway and shouted at Yuanen Yehui, "Today, I'm definitely waking Tang Wulin up! Move aside!"

"I won't! Tang Wulin asked me to protect him!"

"You!" Xie Xie looked at the stubborn Yuan En. Restricted by the gap in their strength, he could only helplessly run out of the building and call through the window, "Wulin, your sister is here! Wake up!"

Boom!

Dazzling golden light erupted. Tang Wulin had fully absorbed the fourth seal, and his strength rose to another level.

He immediately stood and came to the window, hope in his eyes. "Xie Xie, is that true? Where is she?"

A while later

Outside Bai Xu's dorm room

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Bai Xu said.

Click!

The dorm room door opened. Tang Wulin immediately saw that once-familiar figure. Na'er had vanished back then, and now she had suddenly reappeared. The feeling of reunion after so many years made his heart ache.

"Na'er?" Tang Wulin asked tentatively.

"Brother, it's me." Na'er smiled as well. She got off the bed and slowly walked up to Tang Wulin.

"Have you been well these past few years?"

"I've been well, Brother. It's hard to explain everything right now. Let's go for a walk and talk." Na'er smiled.

"All right. Sorry for disturbing you, Bai Xu." Tang Wulin looked toward Bai Xu in the room and said.

"It's fine. You two talk. Remember to close the door behind you."

Gu Yue did not react much either. She smiled and greeted Tang Wulin. The door closed behind them, and Na'er left the dormitory beside Tang Wulin as they went to catch up.

"Compared to Na'er, am I too ordinary?" Gu Yue asked.

"No. You were originally one person, so what is there to compare? Besides, when it comes to appearance, strip away the flesh and one is merely two hundred and six bones; dress them in clothes and they can become one hundred and eight thousand forms. This form belongs only to you, only to Gu Yue."

"Hehe, since it's the holiday, let's give ourselves a day off. How about we go out for a stroll?"

"Mm? Where?"

Gu Yue only smiled without answering.

"So much has happened... Na'er, I'm sorry. I didn't know the Dragon Spear Goddess of the inner court was you. I'm very sorry." Tang Wulin said guiltily.

"It has nothing to do with you, Brother. My martial soul mutated, and I lost my talent. Coming to the outer court and meeting you again was simply a twist of fate."

"Na'er, move into my dorm later. I'm now the first-year freshman class monitor, and I'll help you get back into the inner court." Tang Wulin spoke with concern. He had just seen Bai Xu's dormitory as well. There was no curtain separating the boys from the girls, only bed curtains around the beds. Privacy could not be guaranteed, and he truly did not want his little sister living there.

But Na'er shook her head. "Brother, I know you mean well, but there's no need. It's fine for me to stay in Bai Xu's dorm. Let's not talk about that. It's almost dinner time. Are you going to eat?"

"All right."

Tang Wulin felt that he owed Na'er far too much. From now on, no one would be allowed to bully Na'er! That was the promise in his heart.

"Come buy some things with me! It's not far from here." Gu Yue said, hope in her eyes.

"All right."

Bai Xu and Gu Yue went out in search of a chain store. There happened to be a shopping mall nearby, and Gu Yue wanted to do some shopping. The two walked side by side through the mall, looking left and right as they browsed. Gu Yue had been watching Bai Xu's eyes the entire time.

Finally, beside one shop, Bai Xu unusually lingered over something for a few extra glances, a hint of confusion on his face.

Gu Yue followed his line of sight. The shop was filled with clothes in all kinds of styles and colors. One particular outfit had drawn Bai Xu's puzzled gaze.

In the end, Bai Xu bought a black robe, while Gu Yue bought a white dress.

When Na'er had left back then, she had only been six years old, still a little girl. Now, Na'er should have been over twelve.

Girls changed enormously between the ages of six and twelve.

The two chatted until evening. Tang Wulin looked at Na'er beneath the setting sun and felt that she seemed sad. Several years had passed, and Na'er seemed to have changed a great deal—or perhaps she had only changed greatly recently.

"Father and Mother disappeared too? I never even paid attention." After hearing about what had happened to the family, Na'er lowered her eyes even more.

"This isn't your fault, Na'er. One day, I'll bring Father and Mother back. We'll work hard together!"

Na'er felt deeply comforted by the determination in Tang Wulin's eyes.

"But why are you unwilling to move into our dorm? Could it be that you have feelings for Bai Xu..."

Na'er did not answer his question. Hope and expectation shone in her eyes. With a slight smile, she asked instead, "Brother, what kind of person am I in your eyes?"

Pure and sincere, Tang Wulin did not notice the deeper meaning in Na'er's words. He answered decisively and gently, "Na'er, you're very beautiful and very kind. You will always be my little sister."

"Hehe, Brother, I understand. It's about time. Let's go back. We can see each other often from now on. I'll be studying in the outer court next semester." Na'er appeared delighted on the surface.

"Mm, let's go back. But you still haven't answered my question. Do you really have feelings for Bai Xu?" Tang Wulin was worried that Na'er might like Bai Xu. Deep down, he did not want that.

"No, Brother. He isn't one of us. No one can see through what he is thinking, and he's far better at talking than I am."

Tang Wulin breathed a sigh of relief. "If you don't get along well there, you should still move into my dorm."