Hearing that familiar voice, Mo Li turned to look at the girl jogging toward him from nearby.
The girl had a striking head of short crimson hair, and a sweet smile played across her pretty face. Beneath that adorable, still-childlike face, though, she had assets well beyond those of girls her age, snugly wrapped beneath her blue-and-white uniform.
"Jiang Zhu, don't—"
Watching Jiang Zhu come rushing over, Mo Li realized what was about to happen and hurriedly waved to stop her. But before he could finish speaking, she swept him into her arms, and his face was instantly buried in a mass of fragrant warmth and softness.
Jiang Zhu was five years older than Mo Li. She was at the age when girls were blossoming, and she was still quite a bit taller than him.
Mo Li wriggled free and took several deep breaths. "Phew... Jiang Zhu, at least try to mind your image. Be reserved, you have to be reserved."
This little girl hadn't been like this at first. She had only grown so unrestrained after spending so much time with him. If this kept up, people would really start treating him like a child.
"Call me Sister."
Jiang Zhu's eyes curved as she smiled sweetly, paying no heed at all to what Mo Li had said.
"I won't."
"You're so much younger than me. What's wrong with calling me that?"
Jiang Zhu still paid Mo Li's words no mind, only grinning foolishly.
Seeing this, Mo Li sighed helplessly.
Jiang Zhu was the first friend he'd made at Blue Tyrant Academy. Their story went back half a year.
Jiang Zhu had just started school then. She was young, and her gentle, timid nature made it hard for her to fit into the academy at first.
By chance, she came across Mo Li wandering around the academy. It was the first time she'd seen someone younger than herself there, and she felt as if she'd found her own kind.
So she gathered her courage and asked Mo Li to be her friend.
Mo Li looked at the shy girl before him and, taking her distinctive crimson hair into account, quickly guessed who she was.
But he also saw how awkward and lonely Jiang Zhu felt, so he gladly agreed. After all, Jiang Zhu was just a young girl, innocent and without a trace of malice.
Little by little, they became close friends.
Jiang Zhu was talented, too. At only eleven, her Soul Power had already reached level twenty, perfectly meeting the admission standards for an advanced Soul Master Academy. Even among students at an advanced academy, she would have ranked among the best.
No wonder Liu Erlong had chosen her as one of Blue Tyrant Academy's promising candidates in the original story, sending her to compete in that year's Soul Master Tournament.
Although she'd had a few chances to shine, even Blue Tyrant Academy had ended up being handed over to Shrek for nothing.
Whatever the case, it was hard not to feel a little wistful.
But now that he was here, Blue Tyrant Academy wouldn't suffer that fate.
Jiang Zhu had once been curious about his identity, wondering if he was the child of one of the academy's teachers.
Mo Li had readily nodded and admitted it. After all, Liu Erlong was the dean, so she was naturally a teacher at the academy as well. There was nothing wrong with the logic.
The innocent Jiang Zhu hadn't asked any more questions. It wasn't until she happened to hear some older students talking that she learned who Mo Li really was.
After finding out, Jiang Zhu had been on tenterhooks for days. She even stopped seeking Mo Li out to play, afraid she might lead him astray.
When Jiang Zhu didn't show up for several days, Mo Li worried something had happened to her and specifically asked Liu Erlong to take him to her dorm to check on her.
After learning what had happened, Liu Erlong couldn't help smiling.
Unlike Jiang Zhu, Liu Erlong wasn't worried. She knew Mo Li's personality well.
Instead, she even played a little joke on Jiang Zhu.
Mo Li didn't go into the dorm. From a distance, he only saw Liu Erlong smiling as she said something to Jiang Zhu, who then turned shy.
He was left utterly baffled. Jiang Zhu didn't look sick at all, and he couldn't figure out what was going on.
On the way back, he couldn't help asking, "Sister Erlong, what did you say to Jiang Zhu? Why did she look like that?"
Liu Erlong glanced sidelong at him, wearing a knowing smile.
"Is that any of your business? Don't go poking around."
Mo Li: "..."
Afterward, Jiang Zhu also went to Mo Li herself and explained what had happened.
Of course, she was too embarrassed to tell him the whispered words Liu Erlong had said to her. But she was still very happy to learn that she could keep being friends with Mo Li.
After that, the two grew even closer.
Coming back to herself, Jiang Zhu took Mo Li by the arm and smiled brightly. "You're going to the cafeteria too, right? Come on, keep your sister company."
Mo Li gave a token tug, but couldn't break free, so he simply let her drag him along.
Once they sat down in a corner of the cafeteria's first floor, Mo Li, who had been ravenous for ages, immediately bent his head and started eating.
The two chatted as they ate. Jiang Zhu had far better table manners than Mo Li; at least when it came to eating, she was quite the proper young lady.
"Little brother Mo Li."
Jiang Zhu seemed to suddenly remember something and looked at Mo Li curiously.
"I think I saw the dean taking you toward the Spirit Awakening Room earlier. How did it go? What Martial Soul did you awaken?"
Mo Li didn't answer right away. Instead, he let out a heavy sigh and put on a dejected expression.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing his expression, Jiang Zhu's heart tightened. She hurriedly reached out and took hold of Mo Li's arm, a bad feeling rising in her chest. Had little brother Mo Li failed to become a Soul Master?
She immediately comforted him softly. "It's okay. Even if you didn't become a Soul Master, your big sister will protect you!"
Mo Li gave a slight shake of his head, then sighed. "Alas, I accidentally ended up with Innate Full Soul Power. Now I can't even slack off."
"Innate Full Soul Power?! Little brother Mo Li, you..."
Jiang Zhu's eyes flew wide with shock. Then she caught on, and her expression turned indignant. "So that act just now was on purpose!"
Seeing Jiang Zhu's face flush red with anger, Mo Li quickly laughed and explained, "I just wanted to surprise you. But I need you to keep this a secret for now."
"Looks like I'll have to be the one protecting you from now on."
After filling their stomachs, Mo Li looked around the cafeteria. Sure enough, Liu Erlong was nowhere to be seen. Knowing her, she'd gotten caught up in work again and planned to skip lunch.
So he looked at Jiang Zhu. "I have to go. Sister Erlong's probably skipping lunch again, so I'll take her something."
"As for my Martial Soul, I'll show it to you another time."
"Okay, go on."
Jiang Zhu smiled and nodded.
Mo Li skillfully picked out a few dishes Liu Erlong liked. Once he'd packed them up, he left the cafeteria without delay.
Blue Tyrant Academy, administrative building.
In a spacious, bright room, Liu Erlong stared fretfully at a desk piled high with documents.
The academy had been established three years ago and was at a crucial stage of development. She had to handle every matter, large and small, herself.
Compared with all this tedious paperwork, fighting and Soul Fighting really suited her better.
Just as she rubbed her temples, feeling vexed, she caught sight of Mo Li peeking in through the doorway.
"What are you doing standing there?"
Suppressing the smile that had crept onto her lips, she deliberately put on a stern face. "Get in here already."
At that, Mo Li walked in with a smile, looking at Liu Erlong, who was hunched over her desk with worry written all over her face.
At that moment, she seemed like a completely different person from her usual imposing self, with a faintly dejected little look about her.
He stepped closer and set the packed meal down on an empty spot on the desk.