Xue Nianbing's Rules, Exposed Truths

"Your courage is commendable."

Xue Nianbing smiled, then changed the subject. "All right, let's talk business first. Since we've been assigned to the same dorm, there are some things we should make clear in advance."

"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Xue Nianbing, and I'm from the Heaven Dou Empire."

The moment he said that—

Wang Dong froze, and her gaze toward Xue Nianbing gained a trace of familiarity. "My name is Wang Dong. I'm from the Heaven Dou Empire too."

"Looks like we're fellow townsfolk."

Xue Nianbing chuckled and continued, "Of the five rules you mentioned earlier, some can be agreed to, while others cannot."

"So let's settle them in advance."

"First, you'll handle the dorm cleaning from now on."

"What?" Wang Dong immediately refused upon hearing the first rule. Furious, she said, "Why do I have to do it alone? Why can't we take turns?"

"Because I won, and you have to listen to me. That seems to be what you said yourself."

Xue Nianbing said calmly.

Wang Dong: "..."

It did seem like she had said that.

So she had truly lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.

"Then what's the difference between settling it in advance and forcing me to do it?" Wang Dong looked at him resentfully, clearly displeased.

"No difference. I'm just telling you in advance what you'll have to do later."

Xue Nianbing said.

Wang Dong: "!!!"

She was so angry, yet there was no way to resist.

She had acted on impulse and brought this upon herself.

"Second, you can bring people back, but they can't be men."

"Hm?" Wang Dong froze and asked instinctively, "Why?"

"Because I like women."

Xue Nianbing's answer was perfectly justified, leaving Wang Dong completely dumbfounded.

Because I like women...

What kind of ridiculous reason is that? Did he have to be this willful?

Before she came, Big Dad had repeatedly reminded her not to be willful. Yet she had barely arrived before running into someone even more willful than herself.

"Third, don't show off in front of me."

"...Is this because you like showing off yourself?" Wang Dong asked blankly.

"No."

Xue Nianbing shook his head. "Because I'm petty. I can't stand seeing others show off more than me, and you happen to fit the bill."

Wang Dong: "..."

Was there still justice in this world? Was there still any law?

Of Xue Nianbing's three rules, only the first was barely acceptable. The other two were completely arbitrary.

Seeing Wang Dong's little expression, Xue Nianbing smiled faintly. "Not convinced? Fine. As long as you can beat me, I'll listen to you from then on."

"Don't get cocky. I'll definitely defeat you."

Wang Dong said angrily.

She swore that one day, she would make Xue Nianbing submit beneath her.

When that time came, she would "bully" Xue Nianbing too.

"Then work hard."

Xue Nianbing did not care. He casually took a lunchbox from the Ice Snow Ring and said, "There's nothing left in the cafeteria at this hour. I saved this for you."

Wang Dong froze, but she had already accepted it instinctively.

The lunchbox had good heat retention, and it was still warm.

"Thank you."

Wang Dong thanked him.

"Hurry up and eat..." Xue Nianbing waved a hand, unconcerned.

This guy isn't that annoying after all. Wang Dong muttered inwardly, gaining a little goodwill toward Xue Nianbing.

"Your stomach growled more than once earlier," Xue Nianbing continued.

Wang Dong: "..."

He really did not need to say that.

She had just thought Xue Nianbing was pretty decent. Now it seemed he truly was, except for that mouth of his, which was his greatest flaw.

"I'm not hungry..."

"Grrr~"

Wang Dong had just said she was not hungry when her stomach growled the next second.

In an instant, her cheeks turned bright red.

Xue Nianbing smiled meaningfully. "What did you just say?"

"...I said I'm hungry."

Wang Dong glared at Xue Nianbing, then opened the lunchbox with a flushed face.

There was a serving of lightly stir-fried green vegetables, a serving of potato stew with sinewy meat from some unknown Soul Beast, and a braised wing that looked incredibly appetizing.

With the addition of white rice, it was undoubtedly a delicious dinner.

"Looks pretty good..."

Wang Dong swallowed and immediately began eating.

Xue Nianbing quietly watched the scene, a faint smile on his lips.

Add a little conflict, then a little favor. This method never failed.

Wang Dong ate while Xue Nianbing read, neither disturbing the other.

After a long while.

Having finished her meal and with nothing else to do, Wang Dong saw Xue Nianbing still reading and could not help asking, "Xue Nianbing, what's your cultivation level?"

"Third Ring Soul Elder."

Xue Nianbing said.

"A Soul Elder!"

Wang Dong was startled, then suddenly understood. "No wonder you're so strong. You actually made me lose all ability to resist without even using your Martial Soul."

Hearing that, Xue Nianbing looked at Wang Dong and smiled. "Have you ever considered that maybe I'm not too strong, but you're too weak?"

Wang Dong: "..."

If that mouth of yours said fewer hurtful things, you'd be absolutely perfect.

He would rather deny being strong than refrain from ruthlessly mocking her weakness.

Why do I feel like you're even more childish and boring than I am?

This guy is really rather good-looking. He's even more handsome than me when I'm disguised as a boy. Wang Dong carefully studied Xue Nianbing.

It was her first time seeing such a handsome boy.

Honestly, he made an excellent first impression.

It was just that mouth of his... so infuriating.

"You've been staring at me. Is something wrong?"

Xue Nianbing asked.

"Can't I look at you if there's nothing wrong?" Wang Dong wanted to imitate Xue Nianbing's snarky way of speaking.

But she was still too inexperienced.

"You can. Keep going."

"Just remember to rein in that curiosity. As the saying goes, once you get curious about a boy, you're not far from falling for him."

Xue Nianbing said with a grin.

Wang Dong's pupils suddenly contracted. "What do you mean by that?"

Xue Nianbing chuckled, raised the book in his hand, and slowly said, "Light Goddess Butterfly... that Martial Soul is quite famous."

On the cover of that book were the four clear words: Martial Soul Encyclopedia.

"You... you know."

Wang Dong stared at Xue Nianbing in disbelief, her voice trembling slightly.

Xue Nianbing: "..."

You know?

Honestly, would it not be stranger if he did not?

As long as someone was normal, while consulting the Martial Soul Encyclopedia, they would instinctively look for the Martial Souls of people around them.

And once he searched, the truth became obvious.

"To anyone with a bit of discernment, your identity isn't a secret at all."

"What, do I look like an idiot?"

Xue Nianbing put down the book and looked at Wang Dong with interest.

He felt that Wang Dong's biggest mistake in disguising herself as a boy was showing the Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul. That flaw was far too fatal.

If she truly wanted to disguise herself as a boy, would it not have been better to use the Clear Sky Hammer? Yet she had to bring out the Light Goddess Butterfly.

It had to be said, it was rather strange.

"..."

Wang Dong was silent for a long time before asking, "Then what will you do?"

"It's not about what I'll do. It's about what you'll do... You're the one disguised as a boy."

"If you want to stay here, you're welcome. If you want to remove this disguise and return to the girls' dorm, I won't stop you either. It's entirely up to you."