First Meeting with Xiao Wu in the Dormitory, Avoiding Conflict to Accumulate More Slacking Value

The teacher assigned by Dean Flender was named Liu. He was a man in his thirties, wearing a plain grey teacher's robe. He didn't say much, simply telling Tang San, "Follow me," before turning and walking towards the dormitory area. Tang San quickly followed, clutching the cloth bag tightly in his hand, his eyes secretly observing their surroundings. The academy was larger than he had imagined. Besides the teaching buildings and the sports field, there was also a courtyard planted with flowers and grass. Occasionally, students in school uniforms could be seen hurrying past.

Teacher Liu walked at a moderate pace. Tang San deliberately slowed his steps, falling half a step behind. This allowed him to avoid excessive interaction with the teacher while also "reducing his travel speed," potentially accumulating Slacking Value. As expected, after only a few steps, a system prompt sounded in his mind: [Actively slowed down to follow, reducing the consumption of close contact with strangers. Slacking Value +1, current total: 11 points].

"Great, I gained new Slacking Value right after my Soul Power increased," Tang San rejoiced inwardly. He discreetly opened the system panel and took a look. With 11 Slacking Value points, he was still 9 points away from the next exchange for "trace soul power increase." He needed to keep looking for opportunities to accumulate more.

After about fifteen minutes, they arrived in front of a two-story wooden building. A sign hung at the entrance that read "Boys' Dormitory." Teacher Liu stopped and turned to Tang San, saying, "Dormitory 203 on the second floor, the easternmost room. There are already three students inside, you can go in. Class starts tomorrow morning at the theoretical class classroom on the first floor of the teaching building. Don't be late."

"Thank you, Teacher Liu," Tang San quickly expressed his gratitude. Watching Teacher Liu leave, he then carried his cloth bag upstairs. The hallway was quiet, with only the echo of his footsteps. He reached the door of dormitory 203. The door was ajar, and he could hear voices from inside.

Tang San didn't push the door open immediately. Instead, he stood at the doorway for a few seconds, waiting. "Avoiding barging in and causing awkwardness" should earn him some Slacking Value. As expected, the system prompt sounded: [Actively delayed entering an unfamiliar environment, avoiding potential social awkwardness. Slacking Value +1, current total: 12 points].

He gently knocked on the door, and the voices inside immediately stopped. "Come in," a gruff voice called out.

Tang San pushed the door open and entered. The dormitory was a four-person room with four beds. Three of the beds already had bedding laid out. Only the bed by the window was empty. Three boys were sitting on their respective beds, looking at him curiously.

"Are you the new guy?" asked the boy on the bed near the door. He was tall, with dark skin and a sturdy build.

"My name is Tang San, from Holy Spirit Village. I just enrolled," Tang San replied with a smile, his attitude gentle. He didn't want to clash with his classmates right after enrolling. "Maintaining a low profile" was the best way to slack off.

"I'm Wang Hu, from the neighboring Stone Gang Village." The tall, sturdy boy pointed to the boys on the beds next to him. "This is Li Qing, his Martial Soul is a sickle. The one wearing glasses is Zhao Yu, his Martial Soul is a brush."

Li Qing and Zhao Yu both nodded in greeting. Tang San walked to the empty bed, put down his cloth bag, and began unpacking. He packed very slowly, folding clothes while chatting casually with the three of them. He deliberately avoided topics like "Soul Power Level" or "Martial Soul strength" that could lead to comparisons, only discussing interesting anecdotes from his village and the academy's environment.

[Actively avoided topics that easily lead to comparison, reducing the competitive atmosphere in social interactions. Slacking Value +1, current total: 13 points].

After finishing unpacking, Wang Hu suggested, "Tang San, let's go to the cafeteria for dinner. I heard the food at the academy cafeteria is pretty good. If we go late, there won't be any good stuff left."

Tang San's heart stirred. While "going to the cafeteria for dinner" was necessary, "avoiding rushing" could still earn him Slacking Value. He deliberately rubbed his stomach, "I'm not in a hurry. You guys go ahead. I ate a bun on the way earlier, so I'm not hungry yet. I'll go later."

Wang Hu and the other two didn't think much of it. They said, "Okay, we're heading out then," and left the dormitory together. Tang San sat alone on the bed and opened the system panel. 13 Slacking Value points. He was still 7 points away from exchanging for "trace soul power increase." He leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and began to "slack off." Since there was nothing to do, "increasing rest time" could always earn him Slacking Value.

About half an hour later, the dormitory door was suddenly pushed open. Tang San opened his eyes, thinking it was Wang Hu and the others returning. Instead, he saw a little girl in a pink outfit standing at the door. She had two pigtails and large, cute eyes.

"Who are you? Why are you in the boys' dormitory?" Tang San asked in surprise.

The little girl pouted. "My name is Xiao Wu, and I just enrolled too. The teacher said my dormitory is 203, but why is it a boys' dormitory? Is there a mistake?"

Tang San's heart skipped a beat. He remembered from the original story that Xiao Wu was supposed to share a dormitory with Tang San, but he hadn't expected to meet her so soon. He quickly stood up. "Maybe the teacher made a mistake. Do you want to go ask Teacher Liu? He brought me to the dormitory just now, maybe he knows what's going on."

Xiao Wu shook her head. "I already looked for Teacher Liu, but he's not in his office. I see there's still an empty bed here, so maybe I'll stay here for now and ask tomorrow. Anyway, I'm a girl, you guys can't bully me." As she spoke, she walked to the empty bed, put down the cloth bag she was carrying, and began unpacking.

Tang San didn't object. "Avoiding arguing with a girl" could earn him Slacking Value and allow him to build a bond with Xiao Wu according to the original plot. He sat on the edge of the bed, watching Xiao Wu unpack, occasionally handing her things.

[Actively accepted the temporary accommodation arrangement, avoiding disputes with the opposite sex and reducing communication consumption. Slacking Value +1, current total: 14 points].

After Xiao Wu finished unpacking, she sat on the bed and looked at Tang San. "Tang San, what's your Martial Soul? What's your Soul Power Level?"

Tang San deliberately feigned "embarrassment." "My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. My Soul Power is very weak. When I awakened it, the crystal ball only lit up a little. I don't know the exact level." He still didn't want to reveal his Level 12 Soul Power. "Weakening his strength" was the best way to hide himself.

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. "Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul? I heard Blue Silver Grass is a waste Martial Soul. I didn't expect you to have Soul Power! My Martial Soul is a rabbit, and I'm Level 10!" As she spoke, a pink rabbit phantom appeared above her hand, looking very cute.

Tang San smiled and nodded. "Your Martial Soul is really cute, much prettier than my Blue Silver Grass." He continued to "praise others and downplay himself," avoiding drawing Xiao Wu's excessive attention.

[Actively praised others, weakening his own presence and reducing others' attention. Slacking Value +1, current total: 15 points].

Just then, the dormitory door was pushed open, and Wang Hu and the other two returned. Seeing Xiao Wu, all three were stunned. "Tang San, who is this? Why is she in our dorm?" Wang Hu asked in surprise.

Tang San quickly explained, "Her name is Xiao Wu. She just enrolled too. The teacher might have assigned the wrong dormitory. She's staying here temporarily and will sort it out with the teacher tomorrow."

Although Wang Hu and the others found it strange, they didn't say much more. Xiao Wu generously greeted the three of them and soon started chatting with them. Tang San sat to the side, occasionally chiming in with a sentence or two, but mostly "slacking off." "Reducing unnecessary social participation" allowed him to accumulate more Slacking Value.

[Actively reduced social participation, avoiding excessive energy expenditure. Slacking Value +1, current total: 16 points].

In the evening, Xiao Wu suggested a walk on the sports field. Wang Hu and the other two readily agreed and also invited Tang San to join them. Tang San thought for a moment. Although "going for a walk on the sports field" was a leisure activity, "avoiding prolonged outdoor activity that consumes physical strength" could still earn him Slacking Value. He deliberately yawned, "I'm a bit tired and want to rest in the dorm. You guys go ahead, be careful."

Xiao Wu and the other three didn't insist. They said, "Okay, we're leaving then," and left the dormitory. Tang San lay alone on the dormitory bed, looking at the ceiling, and opened the system panel. 16 Slacking Value points. He was still 4 points away from exchanging for "trace soul power increase."

"I should be able to earn more Slacking Value in class tomorrow," Tang San mused inwardly. He closed his eyes and began to rest. He knew that life at Nuoding Academy had just begun, and there would be many more opportunities to accumulate Slacking Value. His "peak slacking path" was still extending forward.

The moonlight outside shone through the window into the dormitory, illuminating his face and the unconventional path beneath his feet.