Cunning Xiao Wu

"Didn't the Soul Master Academy say that studying here wouldn't cost money? How can they expect us to buy our own bedding?"

"I don't have any money. If I don't have a quilt, how am I supposed to sleep tonight?" Xiao Wu's face fell.

She had only come here because she heard that working students received a stipend, and she wanted to take the opportunity to mingle with human soul masters to absorb their vitality for her cultivation.

As she spoke, Xiao Wu cast a glance toward Li Ping'an's bed. Her intention could not have been more obvious; she wanted to share a bed with him.

Li Ping'an, however, acted as if he hadn't caught the subtext and pulled a Gold Soul Coin from his pocket.

This was the very coin Tang San had given him. He had no intention of keeping it on his person, so lending it to Xiao Wu seemed like the perfect solution.

"Xiao Wu, I have a Gold Soul Coin here. Why don't you take it as a loan? You can pay me back whenever you have the money."

Li Ping'an wasn't lending the money because he had too much to spend.

It was because Tang San had given him the coin in front of everyone, and he feared the other working students might set their sights on him.

Li Ping'an wasn't naive enough to believe they were all innocent children who wouldn't be tempted by a Gold Soul Coin.

The part-time jobs the academy arranged for working students only paid five Copper Soul Coins per shift, and those weren't available every day.

If they were, the working students would be earning one and a half Gold Soul Coins a month from their jobs alone.

By lending the money to Xiao Wu and having her spend it, he would divert their attention away from himself.

Furthermore, since Xiao Wu had bound his Sub-System, he naturally needed to increase their intimacy level.

Building a closer relationship and raising their intimacy would make his future tasks easier and the rewards more generous.

It would also allow him to skim a larger portion of the rewards for himself.

Xiao Wu was stunned. She hadn't been looking for a loan; she had been trying to get close to Li Ping'an.

Still, she accepted the Gold Soul Coin he offered. Borrowing and returning—isn't that the perfect way to grow closer?

"Thank you! Could you take me to the shop? I don't know the way," Xiao Wu said.

Li Ping'an had already made his bed and had nothing better to do, so he followed Xiao Wu toward the academy shop.

As the two left Dormitory Seven, Wang Sheng slowly stirred awake.

In truth, he had been awake for a while. Although Xiao Wu was angry, she knew her limits and hadn't actually injured him.

He had heard every word of the conversation between Li Ping'an and Xiao Wu.

Wang Sheng glanced at Tang San and couldn't help but mutter, "Boss Tang San, they're spending your money!"

Tang San looked at him and replied, "Wang Sheng, Xiao Wu is the boss now."

"Besides, that money is what I owe Li Ping'an, so don't go spreading rumors. Also, I came here to study!"

Tang San wasn't a fool; he wouldn't be baited by Wang Sheng's instigation.

Wang Sheng shrank back, having caught a glimpse of something chilling in Tang San's eyes.

Sigh, I'd better just focus on my cultivation. It's not so bad having such a strong boss for the working students.

The academy's small shop was filled with a dazzling array of goods.

Even on the Douluo Continent, students were the easiest targets for profit, especially those at a Soul Master Academy.

These students were quite wealthy, and even the working students had a certain amount of purchasing power.

"This dress is so pretty! And that outfit! It looks great, too!"

"Huh? What kind of snack is this? I don't think I've ever had it before!"

Li Ping'an had underestimated Xiao Wu's spending power; in no time at all, she had blown through the entire coin.

"Xiao Wu, weren't we here to buy a quilt?" Li Ping'an asked, struggling to carry all the items.

Xiao Wu realized she had forgotten her original goal; she hadn't bought a quilt at all.

Yet, the Gold Soul Coin she had borrowed was already gone.

"Li Ping'an, do you have any more money on you?" Xiao Wu asked.

Li Ping'an shook his head. "Boss, if I were that rich, why would I be a working student?"

"But I heard that once you become a soul master, you can go to the Martial Soul Hall every month to collect a subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin."

"A subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin a month? That's great! I was just worrying about how to pay you back," Xiao Wu said.

She possessed Innate Full Soul Power; as long as she absorbed enough vitality, she could break her seal, condense a soul ring, and become a soul master.

With that thought, Xiao Wu set her sights on Li Ping'an—which, in reality, had been her plan all along.

"Li Ping'an, can I borrow your quilt for the night?" Xiao Wu asked.

Li Ping'an looked at her, surprised that she was still sticking to this tactic.

"Xiao Wu, if you take my quilt, what am I supposed to do?" Li Ping'an asked.

"Li Ping'an, isn't your quilt big enough? We can just sleep together!"

"The beds at the Soul Master Academy are quite large. Since we're still small, one bed can easily fit two people!"

Students at the Soul Master Academy grow faster than those at ordinary academies, so the beds here were indeed larger.

"Even if we can't fit in one bed, we can just push our beds together and sleep side-by-side!" Xiao Wu said.

"Xiao Wu, there's a distinction between men and women. Sleeping in the same bed wouldn't look good!"

Seeing that Li Ping'an still wanted to refuse, she quickly added, "I don't care about appearances, so what are you worried about?"

"Or is it that you actually want to do something to me? Is that why you're afraid to sleep with me?" Xiao Wu stared at Li Ping'an with her innocent, wide eyes.

"Besides, I'm the boss of Dormitory Seven now, so you have to listen to me!"

Li Ping'an was speechless. He hadn't expected Xiao Wu, an old veteran who had lived for a hundred thousand years, to still play the innocent act in front of him.

However, Li Ping'an played along, saying, "Alright then!"

"Yay!" Xiao Wu cheered inwardly, With me making a move, isn't taking down Li Ping'an a piece of cake?

As night fell, Li Ping'an finished washing up and sat on the bed to cultivate his soul power.

After finishing his soul power cultivation, Li Ping'an began to study the secret techniques of the Wither-Flourish Art.

He wasn't Xiao Wu; he couldn't master such secret techniques instantly, so he had to slowly comprehend and learn them himself.

This secret technique involves the meridians, so I can take this opportunity to learn about them in advance!

Meridians were a rarely explored field in this world, which was also the advantage of Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Li Ping'an studied the secret technique in silence, while Xiao Wu sat beside him, cultivating as well.

She was still in the infancy stage of a transformed soul beast; normally, she wouldn't need to cultivate and could increase her soul power simply by absorbing human energy.

But what she was cultivating now wasn't soul power, but the Breath Concealment Technique.

Only after studying it carefully did she realize that this secret technique had other uses besides concealing one's aura.

Therefore, she was determined to master it, striving to escape the clutches of that Title Douluo as soon as possible.

After a long while, Li Ping'an finally woke from his meditative state.

Finally, I've reached the entry level! It seems my talent isn't bad at all! Li Ping'an thought to himself.

With the foundation of the Martial Soul Meditation Method, he had finally mastered the basics of the Wither-Flourish Art.

From now on, he could conceal his own aura to prevent others from discovering the anomalies in his soul power.

The moment he opened his eyes, Li Ping'an saw that Xiao Wu had changed into the nightgown she had bought earlier that day and was sitting beside him, cultivating.

The nightgown wasn't long, covering only her slender thighs while revealing a pair of exquisite, jade-like feet and her fair, delicate calves.

Unfortunately, she hadn't fully grown yet. Li Ping'an only took one glance before pulling back the covers, ready to sleep.