Hu Yan Lan Ruo

Sacred Orchid Academy, Male Dormitory Area.

Xian Wu, draped in a cloak, jogged all the way into the Yellow Character Dormitory Area.

"Huh? Did those two idiots leave without locking the door?" He pulled out his key, only to find the latch empty.

Xian Wu didn't think much of it. He put the key away and pushed the door open to enter.

The scene inside made him freeze. A figure sat with their back to him, facing the window, staring at something unknown.

"Zhu Jun Xiang?" Xian Wu asked tentatively.

The moment the words left his mouth, the door behind him slammed shut with a deafening bang.

How did the door close on its own? Xian Wu whipped around, nearly jumping to the rafters in fright.

Two bare-chested, muscular men stood at the entrance, arms crossed, watching him with meaningful looks.

"Who are you people? Why are you blocking the door? What do you want? I'm not into guys!" Xian Wu backed away repeatedly, eyeing the three in the room warily.

The person by the window slowly turned around.

"We just met a moment ago, and you don't recognize me already?" The figure sat with legs crossed, speaking mockingly.

The midday sun blazed, light streaming through the window. Since the person was always backlit, Xian Wu couldn't make out their face.

But the voice sounded female.

Soft, sweet, alluring, numbing... Xian Wu had never heard a woman with such a pleasant tone.

Just met a moment ago?

Xian Wu's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that girl whose skirt he'd dismantled in the cafeteria?

Impossible. He was the first to bolt from the cafeteria and head straight to the dorm. That girl had no reason to beat him here.

Could it be...

The woman suddenly stood up, grabbed Xian Wu by the collar, and pressed close to his face, demanding sharply, "Where's my Dog King?"

They were less than a millimeter from kissing. Even with Xian Wu's nearsightedness, there was no way he couldn't see her face clearly.

Hu Yan Lan Ruo!

No mistake, it was that tigress.

Suppressing his restless Left Hand, Xian Wu said calmly, "If you lost it, go find it where you lost it. Why ask me?"

"How dare you! Speaking to Miss Hu Yan like that? Want to lose your dog legs?" one of the muscular men barked.

Hu Yan Lan Ruo was the future head of the Hu Yan Family, one of the Seven Great Noble Families, a position of immense respect.

Moreover, the Hu Yan Family's direct line had only Hu Yan Lan Ruo as its sole heir. The family head had doted on her since childhood.

Holding her in his hands, he feared she'd fall; keeping her in his mouth, he feared she'd melt; watching her with his eyes, he feared she'd be lost—he was endlessly protective.

On top of that, Hu Yan Lan Ruo had countless suitors. Which young elite from those noble families didn't let her boss them around?

How could a noble Miss Hu Yan, with such status, be casually talked back to by a lowly country boy?

Xian Wu didn't care. He shrugged and said, "Sis, did you hear that? He just asked if I wanted dog legs. Your dog was probably stolen by him for a hotpot."

The muscular man panicked. "Wrongful accusation, Miss! Don't listen to this kid's stirring. I didn't steal your dog. Ask Shun Zi if you don't believe me. Shun Zi, say something."

"The hell do you want me to say? How would I know if you stole Miss's beloved dog?" Shun Zi sidestepped away.

"Fine, so this is how you treat a brother?" The muscular man gritted his teeth, glaring at Shun Zi.

"I'm reporting!" the muscular man raised his hand. "Shun Zi's always staring lecherously at your gorgeous rear. Who knows what he's fantasizing about."

Shun Zi let out a "Holy shit." This guy had lost it, biting whoever he could.

"Miss, I didn't! He's slandering me, blatant slander!" Shun Zi hurried to clear his name.

"Shut up!" Hu Yan Lan Ruo's temples throbbed from the noise.

Seeing the two still glaring at each other like fighting cocks, Hu Yan Lan Ruo ordered them to get out and stand guard.

"Pretty clever, little brother~" Having chased off the two brawny, simple-minded lackeys, Hu Yan Lan Ruo narrowed her peach-blossom eyes.

Xian Wu turned his head away, avoiding her gaze.

For as long as he could remember, this was the first time he'd been this close to a girl.

Well, first time—naturally, a bit nervous.

Hu Yan Lan Ruo lived up to her name, her breath like orchid fragrance.

A scent drilled straight into Xian Wu's nostrils, dizzying him, making him feel light as a feather.

Letting go of Xian Wu's collar, Hu Yan Lan Ruo sat back on the still-warm stool and asked again, "Where's my Dog King?"

"Dead..." Xian Wu's gaze was vacant, his words slow and deliberate.

"What?" Hu Yan Lan Ruo uncrossed her legs and shot to her feet.

"How did it die? Where's the body?"

"It was... dismantled by... Left Hand... into countless atoms... no body..." Xian Wu moved like a puppet.

"Atoms?" Hu Yan Lan Ruo was baffled. "What are those?"

When answering this question, Xian Wu suddenly spoke clearly: "An atom is the basic particle that cannot be further divided in a chemical reaction."

"Chemical reaction?" Hu Yan Lan Ruo was even more confused.

What was all this nonsense? Could this guy be crazy?

She carefully examined Xian Wu—a clean cloak, neat short hair, an alert demeanor. He didn't look sick.

Right, he just said he was decomposed by Dog King's Left Hand? Hu Yan Lan Ruo suddenly recalled something.

Remembering the scene of Dog King vanishing from between his legs, she felt a numb tingle in her own backside.

If she weren't a Silver Two-Star Spirit Master, that heavy fall would have left her paralyzed.

Although a huge Dog King being instantly obliterated was absurd, Hu Yan Lan Ruo didn't think Xian Wu was lying.

After becoming a Silver Spirit Master, one could fuse a spirit into the Sea of Soul, activate spirit possession, and use its special abilities.

The spirit she had fused was called the Snow Cherry Spirit.

The Snow Cherry Spirit was a very powerful and rare spirit deep within the Sacred Ancestor Mountain Range, capable of casting a powerful Art of Charm.

Those charmed would obey the caster's every word and answer every question.

The greater the gap in their realms, the longer the charm lasted and the higher the success rate.

A Silver Two-Star Spirit Master charming a little guy who wasn't even a Bronze Spirit Master—that was as easy as reaching out and taking it.

Hu Yan Lan Ruo clearly overestimated Xian Wu. His Soul Force was only 1; charming him was as simple as drinking cold water.

"Stretch out your left hand and let me see." Hu Yan Lan Ruo sat back on the stool, crossed her legs, and commanded.

A glimpse of bare thigh flashed beneath her short skirt, but although Xian Wu saw it all, he was like a wooden puppet, utterly unaffected.

Under Hu Yan Lan Ruo's command, Xian Wu slowly extended his left hand.

Hu Yan Lan Ruo had expected him to lift his cloak first, then reach out.

Instead, he simply pierced straight through the cloak.

Hu Yan Lan Ruo walked over and curiously touched Xian Wu's cloak.

Such a tough cloak, and he could easily punch through it with one hand—how did he manage that?

Hu Yan Lan Ruo wanted to observe Xian Wu's left arm completely, but most of it was hidden inside the cloak.

"Take off the cloak!" Hu Yan Lan Ruo ordered impatiently.

Wearing a cloak in the middle of summer—wasn't he afraid of getting heatstroke?

Xian Wu slowly raised his right hand, undid the clasp, and the cloak slid off his shoulders.

And then... Hu Yan Lan Ruo saw a sight she would never forget for the rest of her life.