Xiao Xiao snapped out of her fright. Looking into those deep eyes, she spoke softly. "I... I wanted to thank you."
At that, Su Ling raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Thank me? By following me around?"
"N-no!"
Xiao Xiao hurried to explain, flustered as she lifted the fruit tea she'd prepared earlier between them. She held it out with both hands, perfectly straight, as if presenting a treasure.
"I wanted to give you this!"
Milk tea?
The familiar packaging caught Su Ling's interest.
He didn't hesitate. He pulled a straw from the bag, poked it through the lid, and, with Xiao Xiao still holding the cup, leaned down slightly to take a sip.
Xiao Xiao's fingers tightened around the cup without her realizing it. She watched him nervously, her eyes full of expectation.
"Is it good?"
Su Ling swallowed the fruit tea and furrowed his brow. "What did you put in this?"
"Huh?" Xiao Xiao froze. Her expression visibly crumpled, and she immediately grew anxious.
"I bought it in the flavor I like. Don't you like sweet drinks?"
The picture book said that to capture a man's heart, you first had to capture his stomach. But Su Ling's reaction made it obvious that the drink wasn't to his taste!
Was her first-ever attempt to gather the courage to approach someone really going to end in failure?
The more Xiao Xiao thought about it, the more flustered she became. Her eyes were practically turning red.
Su Ling took in every change in her expression. He looked at the fruit tea trembling slightly in her grasp.
Suddenly, he smiled.
He reached out and took hold of Xiao Xiao's trembling hand, gently drawing her closer along with the drink.
"No, I like it a lot."
"Huh?" Xiao Xiao froze completely.
Su Ling took another sip through the straw while she held the cup, then straightened up unhurriedly.
"I said it's delicious. I like it a lot." He paused, then added with a smile, "I was just teasing you."
"...You!"
Only then did Xiao Xiao realize she'd been tricked.
Looking at Su Ling's mischievous smile, she felt both embarrassed and annoyed. She glared at him, cheeks puffed out.
But in Su Ling's eyes, Xiao Xiao's eyes were bright and watery, and the tip of her nose had turned red. Even when she glared, she had no intimidation at all. She looked more like a little kitten with its fur standing on end.
[Affection with Xiao Xiao +2, obtained 20 Strategy Points]
Another 70 Strategy Points in the bank.
Su Ling's smile widened. He shifted his stance to give Xiao Xiao room to move, and his tone grew a little more serious.
"All right, I'll stop teasing you. I'm Su Ling, from Freshman Class One."
"Freshman Class One?
"You're in Teacher Zhou Yi's class too!?"
"I'm Xiao Xiao, and I'm in Freshman Class One too! Hehe, what a coincidence!"
The grudge on Xiao Xiao's face instantly turned to delight. After their little exchange, it was as if she'd opened the floodgates.
"Really? Then, Xiao Xiao, why were you following me in the middle of the night?"
"I... I actually saw you in the cafeteria!"
"Then why didn't you call out to me?"
"There were too many people. I didn't dare..."
Time ticked by, second by second.
Xiao Xiao was still talking away enthusiastically.
Su Ling glanced at the entire dormitory building, its lights already off, then turned to Xiao Xiao with a helpless look.
"Xiao Xiao, it's really late. How about coming to my dorm? I can listen to you talk at your leisure."
"Huh? Is that okay?"
Xiao Xiao answered without thinking, completely oblivious.
"Of course. Unless you want to make a trip to the disciplinary office tomorrow."
Su Ling gave her a knowing smile.
Only then did Xiao Xiao realize what she'd just said. Her face, which had only just lost its blush, turned red all over again.
"I... I didn't mean that! Su Ling... I... I'm going back now! Good night!"
Xiao Xiao covered her burning face and hurriedly turned around, fleeing at a quick pace.
"Good night. Don't run so fast."
Su Ling shook his head with a laugh. After Xiao Xiao disappeared at the end of the lamplit path, he turned and headed off as well.
Meanwhile.
On a rooftop not far away, Xuan Zi watched Su Ling enter the dormitory building and raised his gourd for a swig.
"Xiao Xiao. Hmm, she's a girl who grows on you, and her talent's decent too. That kid Su has a good eye."
He smacked his lips, took another swig, then suddenly remembered something and turned to grin at the Sea God Pavilion.
"But still, I think they ought to be well matched in status."
"Oh, right. I haven't congratulated Lin Huiqun on reaching rank 97 yet. Perfect chance to ask her for a thank-you gift for that kid Su while I'm at it..."
Xuan Zi put away his gourd, chuckled, then sprang into the air and flew toward the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
Back in his dorm.
Su Ling shut the doors and windows, sat cross-legged on the floor, and took out the Soul Ascension Pill and Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew from his Sumeru Ring.
Then he opened the Strategy Mall.
He spent 100 Strategy Points to exchange for one level of Soul Power. The cooldown on the exchange immediately began its thirty-day countdown.
This was his monthly allowance. He couldn't afford to miss it.
[Exchanged for 'Level 1 Soul Power': 100 Strategy Points spent. Current balance: 480 Strategy Points]
A ball of pure Soul Power flew out of the system's translucent screen and shot straight into Su Ling's brow.
His Soul Power rose directly to rank 27, and the large amount he'd cultivated before carried over to his new level as well.
Not as a fixed amount, but as a percentage!
"Just as expected, the system's products are always top-notch! Next, it's time to take the Immortal Herb and Soul Ascension Pill."
Suppressing his excitement, Su Ling focused his Soul Power at his fingertips, then looked at the two crystalline dewdrops at the tip of the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew's leaf.
They were the essence of the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew. Once the dewdrops vanished, the Immortal Herb itself would be ruined.
That was the system's comprehensive explanation.
Su Ling held his breath, reached out, and gently pinched the two dewdrops between his fingertips before quickly bringing them to his mouth.
In an instant, a cool sensation surged from his throat through his body and straight to his brain. A clarity unlike anything he'd ever felt before rippled through his mind.
At the same time, a violet glow flashed in his eyes, even brighter than when he'd used Martial Soul Possession!
But he wasn't done yet.
He quickly took out the emerald-green Soul Ascension Pill and placed it in his mouth. Then he sat with all five fingers pointed skyward, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.
--
The next morning.
Su Ling woke to a burst of noise.
He drew in his Soul Power and slowly opened his eyes.
A faint glow flashed through them and vanished.
"My spiritual power has more than tripled, and it's much more solid. My Soul Power has reached rank 29 too!"
Delighted, Su Ling stood and stretched his limbs. His joints cracked all over.
Just then, an argument broke out next door.
The dorm wasn't well soundproofed, but thankfully, noise was forbidden in the dormitory at night. The argument next door had only just started.
Otherwise, he'd have to consider moving out.
Ignoring the argument outside, Su Ling took his towel and toothbrush to the bathroom to wash up.
Young people argued and bickered all the time. It was normal.
Just as Su Ling was wondering what to have for breakfast,
the argument started up again. This time, he heard it more clearly.
Mixed in with the voices were lines like, "If you won't listen to me, I'll beat you out of here," and, "Just try it! Let's go outside!"
Su Ling furrowed his brow.
Why did that sound so much like Huo Yuhao?
Wait!
Su Ling suddenly remembered that room 108 was diagonally across from his dorm!
The very room where Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had lived when they first enrolled in the original story.
Looks like God King Tang's bait was starting to work!
The book has just entered its trial period. If you're enjoying it, dear readers, could you add it to your bookshelf or leave a comment so Tian Luo can see your love? I'm on my knees, thanking you!!