New Companion

"Oscar, this is Shen Ranxi. The two of you are now Academy reserves. Get to know each other—you'll be spending a long time together." Since the new little disciple had just arrived, he needed to build a good relationship with Little Xi.

Oscar looked at Shen Ranxi with a broad grin.

Having grown up an orphan, Oscar was quick-witted, and his handsome face easily won people's favor. But those same things had also led to him being bullied by other children. Without adults to stand up for him, he could only grin foolishly and let things go. This time, too, a shady merchant had nearly abducted him because of his good looks and status as a Soul Master.

Luckily, he had met the dean.

He looked at the girl opposite him, who carried a staff on her back. She wore a style of clothing he had never seen before: a crossed short jacket on top and loose trousers below. Her glossy black hair was tied behind her head. A faint smile rested on her well-defined face, while her clear black-and-white eyes were like stars in the night—distant and mysterious—as she quietly watched him.

Shen Ranxi smiled and held out her hand, hoping to ease his unease and show her goodwill.

"My name is Shen Ranxi. I'm six years old, an Assault System Soul Master. My Martial Soul is the Ruyi Golden Cudgel, and I'm a Level 14 Soul Master."

"I-I'm Oscar. My Martial Soul is Sausage. I'm a Level 11 Support System Soul Master."

Shen Ranxi noticed that the child opposite her had delicate Peach Blossom Eyes, but he was filthy from head to toe and his clothes were tattered. Dean Flender had probably had no time to buy him a new set of clothes, rushing back in a flurry instead.

"Teacher, how about I take him to wash up and change clothes first? You must be tired from the journey too. Freshen up, then let's eat."

"Alright, alright. I'll get Little Ao some bedding and daily necessities." Only then did Shao Xin notice that his little disciple needed a thorough wash.

As they walked, she noticed him cautiously observing her, like a cat tentatively reaching out a paw.

"I'll call you Little Ao, then. I only arrived a few months ago myself." Shen Ranxi turned her head and chatted with Oscar.

"Then can I call you Little Xi?" He blinked his Peach Blossom Eyes, casually glancing at the staff on her back.

Sensing his gaze, she said, "Of course. This is my Martial Soul. I carry it to temper my body." Beneath the white morning light, her face was strikingly beautiful. The slight baby fat softened some of that dazzling charm.

"Why?"

"Because I want to become stronger!"

Oscar looked utterly stunned.

After only a few exchanges, they had arrived at the dormitory. Shen Ranxi took out a set of training clothes she had made for herself from her Soul Tool. It was a simple set of fitted black clothes.

Oscar was already thin and frail, so they fit him perfectly.

"If you don't mind, wear this set for now. I made it for myself. Teacher Shao will get you new clothes—you can pick any of these rooms..."

Oscar was overjoyed. This was the happiest day he had had in years. He had gained a teacher, as well as a companion who seemed very easy to get along with.

After settling Oscar in, she continued her Morning Training.

Oscar's arrival did not bring any major changes to the Academy. There was simply one more companion during non-combat classes.

There was also one more person cooking in the Cafeteria. Food System Soul Masters cultivated by making food.

And after spending time with him, she found that he was nothing like the shy boy he had been when he first arrived. Instead, he was extremely talkative and familiar with everyone.

"Little Xi!" Oscar waved happily as he ran over.

Shen Ranxi, who was jogging, looked at him in confusion. Oscar was from the Support System, and the dean's only requirements for him were that he could run and dodge.

Shen Ranxi did not understand this, because in her view, even Support System Soul Masters needed means of protecting themselves. Entrusting one's safety entirely to others was not a rational thing to do.

In the novels she had read before, the protagonists cultivated several paths at once—sword cultivation alongside alchemy cultivation, talisman cultivation. That was what was impressive.

"Why are you here?" Oscar was usually as late as possible getting up in the morning. She could not help glancing at the rising sun in the east. It had not risen from the west.

"Little Xi, what do you think of the Support System?" Oscar did not answer her question and instead asked one of his own.

"Hm? The Support System is great and plays a major role in battle, but their bodies are too fragile and they need others to protect them closely. That limits them greatly."

Oscar asked, "What if you were in the Support System?"

"Then I would definitely seek other ways to pursue strength. I would never hand my life over to someone else.

"If nothing else worked, I would temper my body to make myself more resistant to attacks. As long as I didn't die, I would have a chance to survive!" The thought of her helplessness that night filled Shen Ranxi with hatred.

"And in life, there will always be people you want to protect. Little Ao, when you can only helplessly watch them get hurt, your heart feels as if it is being scorched by blazing flames and torn apart."

Oscar had not thought there was anything wrong with things as they were, but seeing Little Xi train so bitterly day after day inevitably stirred something within him.

He had gone to ask his teacher, who told him that Little Xi was a Little Monster with peerless temperament and talent. Food System cultivation was simply like this; there was no need for such grueling training as Battle Soul Masters.

"Support System Soul Masters don't need to..." Inspired by Little Xi's perseverance, he had decided to come and ask her himself.

Her words reminded him of the times he had been bullied as a child—the complete inability to fight back, the numbness throughout his body.

He made up his mind.

"Little Xi, can I run with you from now on? I may not be able to carry a staff weighing thousands of jin like you, but making my body tougher is still progress, right?" When Oscar learned how heavy Little Xi's staff was, he had nearly been scared to death. It was that heavy! Little Xi was so cool!

"No problem, but I won't wait for you. You have to keep up on your own."

"Alright!" A broad smile spread across his face.

And so, Shen Ranxi gained a little tagalong behind her.

That afternoon, after getting herself ready, she prepared to pick up Little Bell. She had asked an old grandmother in the Village who had studied before to teach Little Bell how to read. Teacher Shao had his own matters to handle, and now he also had to teach Oscar, so she could not trouble him. Little Bell studied at the old grandmother's house during the day, and Shen Ranxi picked her up in the afternoon.

Of course, taking her there was easy and adorable, and it had helped Shen Ranxi immensely. The people of the Village were not afraid either; they all thought it was a wondrous method of Soul Masters.

When she reached the door, she called out, "Grandma Mo, Little Bell, I'm here to pick you up!"

Little Bell, who was in the courtyard, heard her sister's voice and happily ran over with her arms spread wide.

Even faster than her was White Dumpling, who swooshed over, wrapped tightly around Shen Ranxi, and let out a spoiled "yip yip yip."

Seeing that she hadn't been the first to hug her sister, Little Bell glanced at her own short legs and said in frustration, "Why do you grow so slowly?" She hugged her sister's leg while still remembering to tug downward.

"You can't hug Sister before me!" She had completely forgotten who she'd been lying on that morning on the way to school.

With a yipping refusal, White Dumpling hugged its Master even tighter.

"Alright, alright. Have some candy. Let's go back and eat." After saying goodbye to Grandma Mo, Shen Ranxi led the two clingy little things toward the Cafeteria.

Teacher Shao thoughtfully prepared a jar of Sugar Beans for her every day to help her recover her strength.

Waaah, Daddy Shao, you're far too gentle, Teacher Shao.

They had only just reached the Cafeteria entrance when the aroma of food drifted out.

"Teacher Shao, Little Ao." Shen Ranxi settled Little Bell down.

Oscar was learning to cook with Shao Xin, which was also part of his cultivation.

Oscar, who was stir-frying, looked up and greeted her. White Dumpling floated curiously above his head to watch.

It reached out, grabbed a little food, and stuffed it into its mouth. White Dumpling nodded in approval.