Three People Walking, There Must Be Sour and Spicy Shredded Potatoes

The next day, before dawn had fully broken, Xiao Xiaoxiao jolted awake.

The thought of Tang San agreeing to teach her how to train wiped away all her sleepiness like a shot of adrenaline. She quietly climbed out of bed and washed up, only to find that Tang San's bed was already empty.

Alarmed, she hurriedly slipped out of the dormitory. Sure enough, by the edge of the little grove where they had agreed to meet yesterday, she spotted Tang San. He was practicing that strange technique that made purple light shine from his eyes—the Purple Demon Eye.

Xiao Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief and quietly walked over. Not daring to disturb him, she simply watched silently from the side. In the faint morning light, the boy's focused profile made her heart grow faintly warm.

Before long, Tang San finished cultivating the Purple Demon Eye and looked at her. "You're here."

"Mm!" Xiao Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, like an elementary school student meeting her teacher.

"Loosen up your joints first. Jog a few laps and warm your body up." Tang San began instructing her, his tone as calm as if he were reciting a formula.

Xiao Xiaoxiao obediently did as she was told. By the time she jogged back, breathing a little heavily, Tang San began teaching her some basic stretches and movements to improve flexibility. They resembled yoga somewhat, but placed greater emphasis on exertion techniques and coordinating them with one's Soul Power.

"Control your breathing. Feel your Soul Power circulate with your movements, nourishing your muscles and meridians." Tang San demonstrated as he explained, every movement precise enough to seem measured with a ruler.

Xiao Xiaoxiao studied earnestly, but her body was stiff, and many of her movements came out crooked and awkward, leaving her baring her teeth in pain.

Tang San watched from the side, occasionally stepping forward to correct her with his hands. "Lower your waist. Don't let your knees go past your toes." "Straighten your arms. Put force into your fingertips."

Whenever his slightly cool fingers touched Xiao Xiaoxiao's wrist or shoulder, her heart skipped several beats, and her face inevitably heated up. Her movements became even stiffer.

"Ah! This move is so hard!" She failed once again and nearly tripped herself, muttering in frustration.

"Take it slowly. There's no rush." Tang San's tone remained even, but he was exceedingly patient.

Just as Xiao Xiaoxiao was struggling with a twisted pose, a crisp but slightly disgruntled voice cut in. "Aha! Little Sanzi! Xiaoxiao! You really snuck off to train without me!"

Xiao Wu came bouncing over, hands on her hips and cheeks puffed out, her Scorpion Braid practically standing on end.

Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart skipped. Great, the lightbulb... no, the rabbit queen had arrived.

Tang San stopped and looked at Xiao Wu. "You managed to get up?"

"Hmph! Who are you looking down on?" Xiao Wu ran over indignantly. She looked at Xiao Xiaoxiao's strange pose, then burst out laughing. "Xiaoxiao, are you learning how to crawl like a caterpillar?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao: "..." I really want to hit someone, but I still have to keep smiling.

Xiao Wu was naturally extremely flexible. After watching Tang San's movements once, she immediately performed them with impressive accuracy. Her body was so supple that her range of motion was even greater than Tang San's, making her look more relaxed and graceful.

"See? It's easy!" Xiao Wu showed off smugly, then dropped into an advanced backbend.

Xiao Xiaoxiao watched Xiao Wu move so effortlessly, then looked at her own clumsy posture. A wave of frustration rose within her. Comparing yourself to others really could drive you mad!

Tang San looked at Xiao Wu and nodded. "You have a very good foundation." Then he turned to Xiao Xiaoxiao. "You don't need to compare yourself to her. Go at your own pace."

To Xiao Xiaoxiao's ears, those words were heavenly music! My idol is comforting me! He noticed how I felt!

Her fighting spirit immediately reignited. "Mm! I'll work hard!"

Thus, the morning training became a three-person affair. Tang San was in charge of teaching, Xiao Wu was in charge of showing off and causing trouble—such as trying to use her Soft Skill to throw Tang San to the ground, or laughing at Xiao Xiaoxiao's movements—and Xiao Xiaoxiao was in charge of quietly working hard while secretly admiring Tang San's instructive poise.

Although Xiao Wu's presence made things much noisier, Xiao Xiaoxiao discovered that it was not so bad after all. Xiao Wu's liveliness diluted the nervousness and shyness she felt when facing Tang San alone. Besides, with someone else there to take the heat—specifically Tang San, who was being harassed by Xiao Wu—she found it easier to relax.

After training, the three of them went to the cafeteria for breakfast together.

Having learned from yesterday's lesson, Xiao Xiaoxiao had gotten smarter. She picked up two servings of pickled vegetables, naturally placing one before Tang San and the other before Xiao Wu. "These taste good with porridge."

Xiao Wu immediately accepted hers happily. "Thank you, Xiaoxiao! You're so nice!"

Tang San paused as well, then quietly said, "Thank you."

Xiao Xiaoxiao was secretly delighted. See? This is called a balanced strategy! Offend no one!

During the day, Work-Study Students attended classes alongside regular students. The theory courses were not difficult for Xiao Xiaoxiao, who possessed an adult soul, but she still pretended to be very attentive. From time to time, she would "casually" ask Tang San a few questions to create opportunities to talk.

Tang San always gave clear and accurate answers, making Xiao Xiaoxiao admire him even more.

Xiao Wu, meanwhile, could not sit still at all. She either played with her braid, secretly kicked Tang San's stool from underneath, or drew little turtles on the backs of the students seated in front of her. The teacher called her out several times.

Watching Xiao Wu stick out her tongue after being scolded by the teacher, then looking at Tang San beside her, who always sat properly and listened attentively, Xiao Xiaoxiao inexplicably felt a strange sense of pride. My kid is so well-behaved.

In the afternoon, Xiao Xiaoxiao was still assigned to work with Tang San. This time, she was much more practiced; at the very least, she could swing a broom properly now. During their break, she once again brought out wild fruit as a "bribe."

Tang San seemed to have grown accustomed to her little gesture and accepted it naturally.

As Xiao Xiaoxiao gnawed on her fruit, she asked as if casually, "Tang San, can you control your Blue Silver Grass martial soul now? Lord Soul Master said that martial souls need frequent practice to be controlled better."

Tang San nodded and held out his hand. A tender blue stalk of Blue Silver Grass emerged from his palm and swayed gently. "Mm, I can control it to a basic degree now."

"That's amazing!" Xiao Xiaoxiao praised sincerely. "My little fox... I think I can only summon it, but I still can't control it very well." She tried summoning it, and the snow-white Phantom Moon Fox appeared in her palm. It was still hazy and dreamlike, but seemed slightly more solid than before. The tip of its tail unconsciously brushed over her fingers, bringing with it a faint, cool Mental Fluctuation.

Tang San glanced curiously at her Phantom Moon Fox. "Spirit System martial souls do indeed place greater demands on Spiritual Power in the early stages of cultivation. When you cultivate, you can try focusing your thoughts on the connection between you and it."

"Focus my thoughts..." Xiao Xiaoxiao fell into thought.

At that moment, Xiao Wu finished her work as well and came bouncing over, a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead. "It's so hot! What are you two talking about?" At a glance, she noticed the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's hand and the little fox in Xiao Xiaoxiao's palm, and her eyes lit up. "Wow! Your martial souls are so fun! My rabbit can only possess me, so it doesn't look pretty." Her tone carried a hint of envy.

Seizing the chance, Xiao Xiaoxiao handed her a fruit and said with a smile, "Sister Xiao Wu's Soft Skill is so amazing. It's much prettier and more practical than a martial soul!"

Xiao Wu was delighted by the compliment. She took the fruit and bit into it with a crunch. "Of course! But martial souls still need training! Little Sanzi, teach me too—how do I make my martial soul stronger?"

Tang San: "..." Somehow, he had become their personal trainer.

The days passed one by one in this busy yet fulfilling rhythm. The three of them trained together every morning, had little question-and-answer sessions in class, helped one another with their Work-Study duties, and maintained "balanced feeding" in the cafeteria...

Xiao Xiaoxiao could feel that her relationship with Tang San was gradually becoming more natural and closer. Although Tang San was still a man of few words and expressions, he accepted her goodwill, answered her questions, casually lent her a hand whenever she encountered difficulties, and even occasionally showed the faintest hint of a smile when Xiao Wu teased her until her face turned red.

This subtle change secretly delighted Xiao Xiaoxiao.

Of course, Xiao Wu was still her greatest "threat." That rabbit was far too lively, far too attention-grabbing—always fooling around with Tang San, hanging off his back at every turn or ambushing him with Soft Skill attacks. And Tang San, somehow, seemed exceptionally tolerant of her.

But Xiao Xiaoxiao realized that she did not feel quite as jealous anymore. That was simply Xiao Wu's personality—warm and uninhibited, kind to everyone, not uniquely special toward Tang San. Besides, being friends with Xiao Wu was actually quite fun.

She had even begun to think that this trio did not seem so bad. Though there was always an absurdly bright third wheel beside her idol, at least she was one of the people closest to him!

The road of Intercepting was long, but every day seemed to bring her just a little closer to her goal.

While encouraging herself, Xiao Xiaoxiao silently began planning her next little scheme to "raise favorability."

Hmm... she had heard that a dessert shop in Nuoding City made excellent carrot cake? Should she invite Tang San and Xiao Wu to go together next rest day? Of course, Tang San was the main one she wanted to invite—Xiao Wu would merely be tagging along! Yes, that was it!