First Meeting in the Dormitory: Soft Bone Charm Rabbit

The setting sun streamed through the window, bathing Nuoding Academy's work-study student dormitory in a warm orange glow. Tang San and Lin Zhixia had just returned from the teaching building, still holding the basic Soul Master cultivation manuals Master Yu Xiaogang had given them. But when they pushed open the door, they found an unfamiliar figure in the dormitory.

She was a girl in a short pink top, with two playful braids. She sat on the bed Tang San had chosen earlier, happily munching on a carrot. When she saw them enter, she looked up, her bright, lively eyes blinking as she studied them curiously.

"Who are you?" the girl asked in a crisp voice, like a bird in the woods. "Is this bed empty? I was just assigned here as a work-study student, and the administrator said I could choose any bed."

Tang San froze for a moment before realizing what had happened—when he and Lin Zhixia had gone to see Master, they had not had time to leave anything on their beds. No wonder the girl had chosen it by mistake. He stepped forward and said gently, "Hello, I'm Tang San, and this is my friend Lin Zhixia. I picked this bed earlier, but it's fine. I can sleep in the empty bed beside it."

Standing behind Tang San, Lin Zhixia softly greeted her. "Hello, I'm Lin Zhixia." Looking at the girl's sunny smile, she felt some of her reserve fade away—this girl had a clean, harmless presence.

Hearing Tang San's words, the girl immediately jumped down from the bed and scratched her head sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, sorry! I didn't see that anyone had claimed the bed. My name is Xiao Wu, Wu as in dancing! Then I'll sleep in the bed next to yours. We'll be roommates from now on!"

Xiao Wu was especially lively, and within only a few words, she had closed the distance between them. Seeing the cultivation manuals in Lin Zhixia's hand, her eyes immediately lit up. "You got Master's manuals too? I saw Master on the training ground earlier. He looked so impressive! Oh, right—what are your spirits? My spirit is a Rabbit Spirit!"

As she spoke, Xiao Wu extended her right hand, and a snow-white little rabbit appeared out of thin air. Its eyes were like rubies, and it even flicked its ears at Lin Zhixia.

"What an adorable spirit!" Lin Zhixia could not help exclaiming. She held out her hand, and the silver Starfall Bow slowly emerged. "My spirit is the Starfall Bow."

Xiao Wu stared at the star patterns flowing across the Starfall Bow, her mouth falling open in surprise. "Wow! That spirit is so pretty! It's prettier than every spirit I've ever seen! Tang San, what about yours?"

Tang San smiled and raised his right hand. Pale blue Blue Silver Grass swayed gently above it. "My spirit is Blue Silver Grass."

The other work-study students in the dormitory overheard their conversation and could not help gathering around. A tall boy curled his lip. "Blue Silver Grass? Isn't that a useless spirit? And you still got into Nuoding Academy as a work-study student."

Another boy echoed him, "Exactly. Our spirits might not be top-tier, but they're still much stronger than a useless spirit."

At once, Xiao Wu frowned and stepped in front of Tang San. "What kind of talk is that? So what if it's Blue Silver Grass? I think Tang San's spirit is special! And Master said Tang San is impressive. What gives you the right to call his spirit useless?"

Lin Zhixia clenched her fists as well and looked at the two boys. "There is no hierarchy among spirits. As long as you cultivate properly, even Blue Silver Grass can become very powerful."

Tang San tugged at Xiao Wu's and Lin Zhixia's sleeves and shook his head. "It's fine. We don't need to argue with them." He knew that rather than debating with people like this, it was better to prove himself with strength—Master had said that Blue Silver Grass possessed potential far beyond ordinary imagination.

Seeing Xiao Wu and Lin Zhixia defend Tang San, the two boys said nothing more. They merely snorted and returned to their beds.

Watching their backs, Xiao Wu whispered to Tang San, "Tang San, don't mind them! If they bully you again, I'll teach them a lesson! My Rabbit Spirit is really strong—it can scratch people!"

As she spoke, Xiao Wu waved her fist, making Lin Zhixia burst out laughing. Tang San smiled too, warmth filling his heart—after coming to Nuoding Academy, he had not only met a good teacher like Master, but also a sincere friend like Xiao Wu.

Night gradually fell, and the dormitory lamps were lit. Lying on her bed, Xiao Wu continued chatting excitedly with them. "I'm from a village near Sacred Soul Village. I heard Nuoding Academy is the best Soul Master Academy around here, so I came! Oh, right, how did you two meet?"

Lin Zhixia glanced at Tang San and answered softly, "I ran into some trouble before, and Tang San and Uncle Tang took me in. We lived together in Sacred Soul Village for a year." She did not say more about her parents. She was not ready to share those painful memories with anyone else.

Tang San added, "We awakened our spirits together in Sacred Soul Village. We both have Innate Full Soul Power. Master said we have great potential, and he took us on as his disciples."

"Innate Full Soul Power!" Xiao Wu sat up in shock. "You two are amazing! When I awakened my spirit, my Soul Power was only level three. I'm nowhere near you! But that's okay. I'll cultivate hard and catch up to you!"

Xiao Wu's optimism infected Tang San and Lin Zhixia, and the dormitory grew especially warm and cozy. Looking at the two friends beside her, Lin Zhixia suddenly felt that perhaps Nuoding Academy would not only be a place for her to cultivate—it might become her new home as well.

Late at night, the dormitory gradually fell quiet. Xiao Wu soon fell asleep, even letting out soft snores. Lying in bed, Lin Zhixia clutched the Peach Wood Bow in her hand. Her father's figure flashed through her mind, followed by Xiao Wu's bright smile and Tang San's gentle gaze. The corners of her lips curled upward without her noticing.

Tang San, however, had not fallen asleep. Leaning against the head of his bed, he circulated the Soul Power cultivation method Master had taught him. He could feel the Soul Power in his body flowing slowly, while the aura of Blue Silver Grass grew increasingly dense. He knew that the road of cultivation ahead was still long, but with friends like Lin Zhixia and Xiao Wu, and a teacher like Master, he would certainly grow stronger. Not only would he protect the people around him, but he would also uncover the truth about his mother's whereabouts.

Moonlight shone through the window and fell across the beds of the three children. Nuoding Academy's night was quiet, yet it held endless possibilities—the story of Tang San, Lin Zhixia, and Xiao Wu had only just begun.