At her words, Xiao Wu unconsciously stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed blankly on Lan Yu as he walked farther and farther away.
Dorm Seven
The two arrived at the entrance to Dorm Seven one after the other. Just as Lan Yu reached for the doorknob, Xiao Wu suddenly spoke. "Lan Yu, in the future... could I go visit Auntie with you guys?"
Lan Yu drew his hand back, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Xiao Wu's awkward expression, puzzled. "Hmm? Didn't Mom say you could go see her anytime you wanted?"
At his words, Xiao Wu lowered her head and twisted the hem of her clothes. It took her a long while to finally get a sentence out.
"I... I just want to visit her often..."
Seeing Lan Yu fall silent, Xiao Wu panicked. She quickly raised her head and waved her hands as she explained, "I don't mean anything else. If you and Tang Shan don't like me going, I can al—"
"You can."
"What did you say?" Xiao Wu froze and stared at Lan Yu with wide eyes.
"I said, sure." Lan Yu repeated, the corners of his lips lifting in a faint smile.
Without paying any more attention to Xiao Wu's reaction, he pushed open the door and went inside. His voice drifted back out from the room.
"Come in in a bit, and remember to close the door."
Xiao Wu stood dumbfounded outside for a moment. When she heard the voice from inside, tears slid from the corners of her eyes without warning.
Inside, Lan Yu walked slowly to the beds. He looked at Tang Shan, curled up and fast asleep between them, and his gaze softened. He reached out and tucked the loose strands of hair hanging over her face behind her ear.
"I'd better meditate and cultivate." Lan Yu sighed softly, then slowly closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the floor.
Xiao Wu entered Dorm Seven with her eyes red. When she saw Lan Yu sitting on the floor, she paused. "What are you doing?"
"Hm?" Lan Yu slowly opened his eyes. Xiao Wu had her back to him, and he couldn't help teasing her. "Can't you face me when you talk?"
"No! Are you going to tell me or not?"
"Time flies when you cultivate. I don't want to waste a single night."
As soon as he finished speaking, Dorm Seven fell completely silent.
Xiao Wu slowly turned her head and glanced at Lan Yu, who had closed his eyes again. Then she looked over at Tang Shan, sleeping on the bed, and muttered, "Hmph, keep pretending!"
Her voice unconsciously carried a hint of envy and jealousy.
She lay back down, pulled over the blanket Tang Shan had lent her, and stared up at the ceiling.
Everything that had happened tonight had shaken her too much. She needed a good night's sleep to slowly digest it all.
The night slowly receded, and a faint fish-belly white appeared along the horizon.
Lan Yu slowly opened his eyes and raised a hand to rub his aching eye sockets.
How did I fall asleep?
Wait?! Where's my right arm?
His heart lurched. He quickly looked down—Tang Shan was hugging his arm, her little head resting against his shoulder. Her breathing was steady, and she was fast asleep.
Lan Yu glanced up at the empty bed, then down at the blanket covering them both. For a moment, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"...B-Big Brother?"
Lan Yu's movements had finally stirred the girl beside him. Tang Shan slowly opened her eyes, sleepily rubbed them, then gave a lazy, adorable yawn. Her voice was thick with sleepiness.
"Xiao Shan, why did you fall asleep on the floor? You'll catch a chill!"
Lan Yu looked at Tang Shan as she woke, his brow furrowing at once. His voice carried both helplessness and reproach.
Instead, the girl leaned closer, her fair cheeks almost touching Lan Yu's face. She reached out with her soft little hand and gently rubbed his cheek. Her voice was drowsy and sticky with sleep. "Big Brother~ Don't sleep on the floor by yourself next time, okay?"
"Oh, okay..."
Before Lan Yu could finish speaking, the girl leaned forward and gently pressed her forehead against his.
A moment later, Tang Shan's eyes lit up, like a little cat that had stolen a piece of candy.
"Energy replenished! Off we go~"
Tang Shan stood up. Under Lan Yu's bewildered gaze, she blushed and stuck out her tongue. Then she turned and ran out of the room.
Just as Tang Shan ran out, Xiao Wu appeared in front of Lan Yu out of nowhere. She put her hands on her hips, shook her head, and looked thoroughly disgusted.
"Lan Yu, you... eh—"
With that, she turned and ran too.
"Hey! No, wait... You've got it wrong!"
Lan Yu froze, then hurried after them.
Rooftop of the Dormitory Building
After playing around with Tang Shan a little longer, the two climbed onto the dormitory rooftop and felt the morning breeze brush their faces.
"The morning is the golden time of day! Sit properly, Xiao Shan!"
"Okay, Big Brother." Tang Shan nodded obediently.
Lan Yu sat cross-legged, his upper body straight and his eyes fixed on the eastern horizon. Tang Shan did the same beside him.
Before long, a faint wisp of purple light appeared.
Their minds settled as one, and they guided the purple light into their eyes. They felt waves of soreness, but held their focus steady and continued circulating their Soul Power.
Once the red sun had completely risen above the horizon and the purple light had vanished into the morning glow, the two closed their eyes.
A moment later, Lan Yu slowly opened his eyes. A flash of purple light passed through them. He turned toward Tang Shan, who still had her eyes closed, and spoke softly.
"Xiao Shan, I'm going out of the academy for a while. When you're done cultivating, go downstairs and find Xiao Wu. Be good, and don't wander off."
"Big Brother!"
Tang Shan opened her eyes, excitement written all over her face, and tugged on Lan Yu's sleeve. "Can I come with you?"
"Be good~ Big Brother will be back soon." Lan Yu rubbed Tang Shan's little head, his voice gentle.
"Okay~"
Tang Shan pouted and looked at Lan Yu with her big, watery eyes, giving it one last try.
Of course not! Buying Whale Rubber is one thing, but bringing along a little girl? What if the shopkeeper reports me to Spirit Hall and gets me arrested?
Without wasting any more time, Lan Yu turned and went downstairs. Before long, he reached the academy gate.
"No! Without a permission slip, first-year students aren't allowed to leave on their own during class hours!"
When the young gatekeeper heard him say he wanted to go out, he shook his head and refused flatly.
What? I transmigrated, and I still need a permission slip just to leave the academy? What was the point of transmigrating, then?!
Lan Yu pointed at the sun, which had only just risen.
"But it's not class time! The sun's barely up!"
The gatekeeper said nothing. He stiffened his neck and refused to open the gate, no matter what.
Damn gatekeeper, you've got a death wish!
Just as Lan Yu was scratching his head in frustration, a familiar middle-aged man's voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Let him out!"
Lan Yu turned around in confusion and saw Yu Xiaogang walking over, his hair sticking up in an explosive mass.
"Thank you, M— Wise One!"
He immediately clasped his fists in thanks, then turned to look at the gatekeeper.
"No!" The gatekeeper remained expressionless and refused again.
Yu Xiaogang froze. Under Lan Yu's doubtful gaze, he cleared his throat and pointed at himself. "You don't recognize me?"
"I do. You're the Wise One!" The young gatekeeper held his head high and answered with utmost seriousness.
"Then... you?"
"Even if you're the Wise One, you still can't leave without a permission slip! Rules are rules!"
"What if I say I'm taking him out to hunt a Soul Ring?!" Yu Xiaogang's face flushed red as he shouted at the gatekeeper.
"In that case, sure!"
The young gatekeeper nodded, immediately opened the gate, and gestured for them to go ahead.
"You... you! You're utterly rigid and ignorant!"
Yu Xiaogang was so angry that his beard bristled.
Lan Yu shook his head. He didn't have time to watch the two of them argue, so he quickly strode out of the gate.
"Where should I buy it?" Lan Yu stood at the academy entrance and scratched his head.
Then he looked toward a group of youths in Notting Academy uniforms, walking unsteadily in the distance with their arms around each other's shoulders.
"Old Zhang, you look a little pale. Maybe you should stop drinking tonight."
"You can't outdrink me, believe it or not!" The youth being supported in the middle of the group snorted and pointed as he retorted.
"Why can't you take a hint?"
"Hey, senior students, wait a moment. I'd like to ask you something." Just as the group was about to start arguing, they saw a strikingly handsome young man walk over.