Ye Qiu was lying on his bed. He cracked open an eye and rolled over, then lazily replied to Xiao Wu's hopeful gaze:
"I'm hungry too. Let's go together."
"Yay!"
Seeing that her personal moneybag was coming along too, Xiao Wu jumped to her feet in excitement.
Wang Sheng turned his gaze to Tang San.
But Tang San was nothing like Ye Qiu. His family's blacksmith shop was genuinely dirt poor.
All their money went to buying liquor for his father, Tang Hao. To keep himself from going hungry, he had brought extra provisions—coarse flatbreads he'd made himself.
Tang San shook his head calmly. He didn't have a single copper coin right now. He'd have to wait until he started working tomorrow to get paid.
"You guys go ahead. I'll stay here."
"Aw, Third Brother!" Wang Sheng went over and put an arm around Tang San's shoulders. He understood what it felt like to be short on money.
"Come with us. I'll cover your and Sister Xiao Wu's meals for the next couple of days." Wang Sheng spoke generously. He could afford that much.
To spare Tang San's pride, Wang Sheng added, "We're roommates from now on, anyway. Once you become a Soul Master, you can go straight to Spirit Hall and collect a monthly allowance of one Gold Soul Coin. You can treat me then!"
"Gold Soul Coin?!"
Tang San's eyes lit up.
Though he was a little puzzled, he didn't hesitate any longer. He nodded and accepted.
"Wang Sheng, Ye Qiu can pay for my share. I don't want to owe everyone money."
Xiao Wu's clear voice rang out. Grinning, she went over to Ye Qiu and pulled him to his feet.
"Ye Qiu, get up!"
"Haha. All right, Sister Xiao Wu. Let's get going."
Wang Sheng chuckled and led them toward the academy cafeteria.
On the way, Tang San moved to Wang Sheng's side and asked him about the Soul Master allowance he'd mentioned.
Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu listened quietly.
Dorm Seven was reserved for work-study students. Its location wasn't great, and it was quite a distance from both the classrooms and the cafeteria.
But the junior academy was small to begin with. Listening to Wang Sheng's explanation as they walked, they reached the cafeteria in less than fifteen minutes.
"This place is huge!"
Xiao Wu couldn't help exclaiming as she looked at the spacious hall.
Tang San gave a small nod of agreement.
"Of course. All six grades and the faculty at Notting Academy could eat here at the same time!" Wang Sheng explained.
Xiao Wu looked around. None of the food stalls seemed to have what she wanted, so she turned to Wang Sheng. "Don't they have fresh vegetables and carrots here?"
"There probably aren't any on the first floor. I'm not sure about the second," Wang Sheng replied.
"Then let's go check the second floor!" Xiao Wu waved her little hand and was about to set off.
Wang Sheng scratched his head awkwardly and explained, "Sister Xiao Wu, let's wait until we get paid before going upstairs. The food up there is expensive."
"Huh?"
Surprise showed in Xiao Wu's eyes. Then she turned to Ye Qiu with a pitiful look.
"Ye Qiu~ Ah!"
Ye Qiu showed no mercy and tapped her rabbit-like head. "What are you thinking? Do you really think I'm your moneybag? You still haven't paid me back for the bedding, and I'm running low on money myself!"
"Why are you being so mean?"
Xiao Wu held her head, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes as she pouted at Ye Qiu.
"In that case, let's just eat on the first floor!" Tang San said with a light laugh. Seeing how pitiful Xiao Wu looked stirred something in him. She'd probably be even happier if she were looking at me instead.
Tang San had barely finished speaking when someone else cut in.
"That's right. Poor people should know their place. The second floor isn't for lowly work-study students like you."
A group of well-dressed boys and girls came down from the second floor. The arrogant remark had come from one of them. Standing on the stairs, he looked down at Ye Qiu and the others with contempt and disgust.
"How about this? I'll pay for your meal. I'll treat you to my leftovers. How does that sound? Happy?"
"Haha!"
The people around him burst out laughing, looking at Ye Qiu and the others with amusement.
Wang Sheng hurriedly lowered his voice and spoke to the three big shots from Dorm Seven. "Boss, Sister Xiao Wu, Third Brother, they're all noble students at the academy. They love bullying work-study students. The one who just spoke is called Ling Feng—"
Before he could finish, Xiao Wu had already had enough of their nonsense. She stepped forward and snapped, "What are you laughing at? Are you asking for a beating?"
When Ling Feng saw Xiao Wu, his eyes lit up. He leaned against the stair railing, looking at her with a leering expression.
"Well, well! I didn't expect there to be a cute little girl among this year's work-study students."
"Too bad she's still a lowly pauper," someone beside him added.
Those who fancied themselves noble burst into another round of laughter.
They kept calling them paupers and lowly wretches. Even Tang San, who hadn't wanted to pick a fight with a bunch of kids, couldn't help frowning.
"Xiao Wu, get—"
Ye Qiu gave a faint, cold smile. He was about to let the rabbit loose when Xiao Wu had already darted forward. She took the stairs two at a time and raised her hand to slap Ling Feng.
"You're the one asking for a beating!"
Xiao Wu's sudden attack startled Ling Feng. He raised one hand and summoned his Martial Soul.
"Armored Shield Martial Soul, defend!"
A golden shield appeared and blocked Xiao Wu's attack.
"Martial Rod Martial Soul, come forth!"
The person who'd just butted in also suddenly made his move.
He raised his hand, and a wooden rod appeared in it. With a couple of flicks, it blurred into a series of afterimages and jabbed straight at Xiao Wu.
Smack!
A dark arm caught the rod firmly. Ye Qiu had relied on his keen perception to see through the mere afterimages in an instant. He held on to the rod as the other boy strained to pull it free.
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Ye Qiu's mouth. Just as the boy used all his strength, Ye Qiu suddenly let go.
The boy stumbled several steps, nearly landing on his butt. Once he regained his balance, his face flushed red with anger, and he swung the rod again.
"You little punk! You're dead!"
Smack!
A strand of Blue Silver Grass suddenly whipped across the boy's eyes. Ye Qiu knew Tang San had made his move.
Ye Qiu didn't hold back. Taking advantage of the opening, he drove an elbow into the boy and knocked him down, then kicked him down the stairs.
Smack!
A sound came from beside him. Xiao Wu had already broken through Ling Feng's defense and slapped him across the face, sending him tumbling down the stairs too.
The three of them looked down at Ling Feng and the other boy.
Ling Feng lay on the ground, holding his swollen cheek as he glared up at them.
"You lowly work-study students! You dare hit me? Aren't you afraid the academy will expel you?"
"You bastard! You're still running your mouth?"
Wang Sheng had recovered from his shock. He grabbed Ling Feng by the collar, ready to punch him twice.
As Ling Feng cried out in alarm, a dignified, hoarse voice suddenly rang out and stopped Wang Sheng.
"Stop!"
"Grandmaster is here."
The surrounding students watched the newcomer and began to whisper among themselves.
The newcomer was none other than Yu Xiaogang, wearing a stern expression and an old black scholar's robe.
Yu Xiaogang stood beside Wang Sheng with his hands behind his back.
He said sternly, "Fighting on academy grounds is forbidden. Do you not know that? If this happens again, you'll be expelled immediately!"
Before you continue