Come to My House

"I hope we end up in the same class. Good luck, everyone."

Chen Ming looked at his three roommates. They all nodded, and after wishing one another luck, they headed to their respective arenas.

His opponent was an eleven-year-old Soul Master with a Bluebird Martial Soul. As soon as the match began, a fishing rod appeared in Chen Ming's hand. He swung it and sent his opponent flying off the platform, winning the match.

There were six hundred competitors in all. The academy had originally had a thousand students, but four hundred of them either had support-type Martial Souls or hadn't yet reached the One-Ring Soul Master level.

If those who hadn't reached the One-Ring Soul Master level still hadn't broken through by the end of winter break, they would have to join the regular classes. The support-type students would take a separate test and be placed in support classes.

The remaining six hundred students were One-Ring Soul Masters specializing in combat, such as the Power Attack System, the Defense System, the Agility Attack System, and the Control System.

The first round would send half the students to the lower-ranked classes, while the hundred strongest would move on to Class One.

Of course, the academy had surely arranged the matches behind the scenes. They wouldn't let the top-ranked student, Chen Ming, face the second-ranked Lan Mengqin—or the third-ranked student—right off the bat.

So the first few matches went smoothly. Chen Ming swept through his opponents with his fishing rod, easily defeating them one after another.

Naturally, he'd also used the opportunity to settle a personal score. He'd beaten up the Class One students who had come looking for trouble, making it a clear case of revenge.

After the morning's matches, the group met up in the cafeteria. Dong Qianqiu asked,

"By the way... why haven't we seen Qiu'er at the competition?"

Lan Mengqin and Dong Qianqiu had watched Chen Ming compete over the last few days, but they still hadn't seen Di Qiu'er.

"She's been working hard lately. Besides, she doesn't go to Tiantou Technology Academy."

"She doesn't go to our academy?!"

The others stared at him in surprise. They clearly hadn't expected Di Qiu'er not to attend their academy.

"Yeah. She's just here for fun."

Chen Ming gave a slight nod, confirming it. Now everyone knew that Di Qiu'er wasn't a student at Tiantou Technology Academy.

"By the way, where are you all planning to go over winter break?"

Lan Mengqin asked about everyone's plans. Chen Ming answered without hesitation:

"Cultivate, read, practice the sword, and practice with the spear."

"You cultivation maniac, stop making the rest of us look bad! You're going to work me to death!"

Lan Mengqin immediately broke down at his answer. Seriously? He was already the top student, and he still had to work so hard? Was he going to leave her any room to breathe?

"Making you look bad? How am I doing that? At your age, how can you sleep at night? Don't you have any ambition?"

Chen Ming folded his arms and scolded Lan Mengqin for slacking off. Even the lazy Golden British Shorthair Auspicious Beast at home had started working hard. How could she not feel embarrassed?

"Stop, stop... I'm sorry..."

Lan Mengqin covered her head, close to tears. It wasn't a lack of talent that was frightening—it was having talent and seeing someone even more hardworking than you.

Huo Tian, Lei Yuan, and Feng Rulang would all be going back to their families, where they had their own cultivation plans.

Lan Mengqin would also return to her family to cultivate. Dong Qianqiu, meanwhile, had decided to stay at the academy over winter break.

"Qianqiu, since you're staying here, why don't you come with me?"

After listening to everyone's plans, Chen Ming invited Dong Qianqiu to go with him. The moment he said it, the atmosphere around them turned strange.

His three roommates were amazed by Chen Ming's boldness. He'd openly invited a female classmate home! He really was a role model for them all.

The three of them looked at Chen Ming with deep respect. Brother Chen was something else—so daring, inviting a girl home just like that. They hoped he wouldn't end up like Brother Cheng.

Hearing the invitation, Lan Mengqin warily grabbed Dong Qianqiu's arm and gave Chen Ming a suspicious look.

"What are you up to? Why are you inviting my Qianqiu to your house? Explain yourself!"

"...Could you tell me why you're inviting me?"

Dong Qianqiu thought it over. After spending so many days with Chen Ming, she didn't think he was that kind of person, so she decided to ask him directly.

"Why are you all looking at me like that? I mean, Qianqiu can come home with me. It's just me and Qiu'er at home right now."

"I thought that since you'd be staying at the academy alone, you could come to my house and keep Qiu'er company while you two cultivate together."

After hearing Chen Ming's explanation, Lan Mengqin eyed him suspiciously. Dong Qianqiu thought for a moment before asking,

"Wouldn't I be too much trouble for you?"

"Not at all. You don't eat even a tenth as much as Qiu'er, and you're not as noisy. You're much more well-behaved and quiet than she is. You wouldn't be any trouble."

Hearing Chen Ming explain, Lan Mengqin looked like she wanted to say something. Was Di Qiu'er really that bad in his eyes?

"Give me some time to think about it."

Dong Qianqiu needed some time to consider. Chen Ming nodded slightly to show that he understood.

"By the way... you really don't have any feelings for my Qianqiu?"

"Sister Mengqin..."

Lan Mengqin still wasn't reassured. She narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Chen Ming. Dong Qianqiu quickly grabbed her, pleading with her not to say anything outrageous.

"What feelings?"

Chen Ming calmly took a sip of water, a question mark hanging over his head. Lan Mengqin spread her arms dramatically and gestured toward Dong Qianqiu.

"My Qianqiu is gorgeous! She's pretty, cute, quiet, and refined. Her talent is second only to mine, and she works so hard. You're telling me you don't feel anything at all?"

Lan Mengqin stood and slapped both hands on the table, staring hard at Chen Ming, trying to detect any hint of a reaction.

Dong Qianqiu blushed scarlet with embarrassment. She covered her face with one hand and tugged at Lan Mengqin's sleeve with the other, pleading,

"Sister Mengqin, please stop..."

Chen Ming folded his arms. There wasn't a trace of worldly desire in his eyes, and his voice rang with conviction.

"How could I concern myself with romance before I've fulfilled my mission?"

"What mission?"

Lan Mengqin's eyes filled with curiosity. The other boys always looked at her and Dong Qianqiu with that same strange expression, and she hated it.

But Chen Ming's expression never changed when he looked at the two of them. That was one reason they liked spending time with him.

She firmly believed that men were all pigs and womanizers, but she still wanted to hear what Chen Ming would say.

"To raise my younger sister into a strong woman who can stand on her own. Romance would only become a burden. The path ahead is destined to be lonely. Becoming strong means giving up many things, and I won't let romance get in the way."

Chen Ming looked completely serious. Since he'd made up his mind to raise the Auspicious Beast, Di Qiu'er, into a true queen, he would see it through.

And Dong Qianqiu was also a Soul Beast, carrying more or less a bit of destiny's power. After all, she was Douluo IV's destined heroine.

Without a grand destiny of her own, how could she become the heroine? He might as well bring her over to serve as Di Qiu'er's subordinate.

Seeing Chen Ming so completely focused on his ambitions, without the slightest interest in romance, the others were stunned.

P.S. First update for February 27, totaling two thousand words.