The Craftsman's Spirit

The next morning.

The Nezha Burger shop was buzzing with activity.

But this time, the ones bustling around the fryer were neither Su Yun nor Xiao Wu, who had been forced to work. Instead, four local employees in matching red uniforms and sanitary masks were hard at work.

"Watch the oil temperature! Keep it at exactly 180 degrees!"

"Smile! Even if someone's just here to use the bathroom, show them eight teeth! We're selling a service experience!"

With his hands behind his back, Su Yun strolled behind the counter like a landlord inspecting his domain, pointing here and there.

He walked over to the cleaning station, tapped a table that had just been wiped down, and began delivering a serious lecture on the highest principles of management.

"Remember our corporate culture! What does the ultimate standard of cleanliness mean?"

Su Yun pointed toward the restroom in the corner of the shop.

"How clean does the toilet have to be? Clean enough that you can scoop up the water and drink it! That's the only acceptable standard!"

The four local employees turned green. They stared wide-eyed toward the restroom, shivering, their stomachs churning.

Drink...

Drink toilet water?

Was that how things worked in the great families?

How terrifying!

Su Yun ignored their horror and turned to the dishwasher.

"And the dishes! The SOP manual says to wash them seven times, so you wash them seven times!"

"One fewer wash is cutting corners, and one extra is wasting resources! Not one wash less or more! What do you call that? The craftsman's spirit! Got it?"

They had no idea why they were supposed to drink toilet water, or why washing a dish one extra time would waste resources...

But the theory sounded so strict, so ceremonial, and so logically airtight that these unsophisticated locals immediately decided their young boss was unfathomably wise.

They didn't understand a word, but it sounded amazing!

"Yes... yes, boss! We'll make sure to wash them seven times!"

"I can't hear you! I can't hear a thing!"

"How can you run a burger shop if you speak that softly?!"

The employees straightened their backs, their eyes filled with a new reverence for advanced culture.

"Yes!! Yes!! Boss!!! We'll make sure to wash them seven times!!!"

"Good! Now that's the spirit!"

Su Yun nodded with satisfaction, took off his apron, and tossed it to the young man who looked the sharpest.

"All right, I'm leaving the shop in your hands. Wang Er, you're promoted to manager. If the books are off by even one copper coin, I'll hold you responsible."

Su Yun took off his apron, tossed it to the young man who looked the sharpest, and put on his signature Tactical Sunglasses.

"Xiao Wu, let's go! Time to register at school!"

"Coming, coming!"

Xiao Wu followed after him, hopping along with a cup of bubble tea between her teeth and a bag of freshly cooked fries in her hand.

Now that they had a business that could earn money while they lounged around, they could finally turn their attention to the proper business of being Soul Masters.

But...

The morning staff training had taken so long that by the time the two of them ambled up to the gates of Notting Junior Soul Master Academy, the sun was already sinking in the west.

Notting Junior Soul Master Academy, Academic Affairs Office.

"Sorry, there's only Dorm Seven left."

Director Su, who was handling registrations, didn't even look up. He quickly sorted through a stack of records, his tone strictly official and leaving no room for discussion.

At the counter, Su Yun pushed up his sunglasses and glanced at the somewhat shabby furnishings.

"Sir, I have money."

Su Yun took a gleaming Gold Soul Coin from his pocket and casually set it on the desk. It landed with a clear chink.

He patiently explained, "I can pay double. No, triple the lodging fee. I want a single room—or even a double will do. I'm not short on money. I just want some peace and quiet."

As someone from Earth with modern standards of hygiene, he really didn't want to cram into the legendary dormitory with rows of shared beds.

"This isn't about money."

At the sound of the coin, Director Su finally stopped writing and looked up.

He glanced at the coin on the desk, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. But when he saw Su Yun's strange outfit and the little girl beside him, who was sucking noisily on her bubble tea without a care in the world, his brow furrowed.

"You're too late. Registration closes in another hour."

Director Su tapped the desk, looking helpless.

"The dorms for regular paying students, Dorms One through Six, were all full yesterday. They were reserved a month in advance."

"The only beds left in the entire academy are in Dorm Seven. It's the Work-Study Student dorm. The conditions aren't great, but it's your only option."

At that, Director Su paused and pushed the coin back.

"Put your money away. The academy has its rules. Unless you can do magic and conjure a room out of thin air—"

He pointed to a wooden sign on the wall behind him.

"Dorm Seven. Turn left and go all the way to the end. If you don't want to sleep on the street, get moving."

Su Yun looked at the coin that had been returned to him, his brow furrowing slightly.

Was this the first time he'd ever been unable to spend his money?

"There's no other choice?"

"No other choice."

Su Yun took a deep breath.

Fine.

When in Rome.

"Fine, Dorm Seven it is."

It made no difference to him where he stayed.

"Xiao Wu, let's go. Time to check out our new nest."

"Oh... slurp..."

Outside Dorm Seven.

"Su Yun, this place doesn't seem very... clean."

Xiao Wu pinched her nose, both rabbit ears pricked up warily.

Even before they went inside, the smell seeping through the door—a mixture of sour sweat and stinky feet—was already suffocating the cleanliness-loving rabbit.

Bang!

Su Yun raised his foot and kicked open the door to Dorm Seven.

The noisy dorm fell silent at once.

Inside the large room, which could hold fifty people, dozens of boys were either horsing around or picking their feet.

Now, dozens of pairs of eyes stared in unison at the two newcomers, who looked completely out of place.

One was a cool-looking kid in an expensive tactical outfit and sunglasses.

The other was a pretty little girl with delicate features, holding a cup of bubble tea.

They looked like two swans that had wandered into a pigsty.

"Well, well! We've got this kind of newcomer in Dorm Seven this year?"

A broad-shouldered boy with a buzz cut jumped down from a bed.

His name was Wang Sheng, and he was the current big shot in Dorm Seven.

Wang Sheng looked Su Yun up and down. His gaze finally settled on Su Yun's brand-new, spotless Tactical Boots, and a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

"You're new?"

Wang Sheng and a few lackeys sauntered over to block the aisle. Folding his arms, he glared at Su Yun with a fierce look.

"I heard you're a paying student who couldn't find a room, so they stuck you here? Hmph. I don't care what kind of young master you are out there. In Dorm Seven, even a dragon has to coil up, and even a tiger has to lie down!"