Bai Shu's bedding was all quite large. Mainly because Old Jack had been afraid he would get cold and had used especially generous amounts of material, to the point that a single quilt had nearly become a double one.
So although there were two beds, the bedding covered eighty to ninety percent of them.
Afterward, Xiao Wu placed her own bundle between the two beds.
"Here, this is the boundary. You're not allowed to cross it!"
Xiao Wu stood with her hands on her hips and declared it with a serious expression, but a trace of mischief and anticipation flickered in her lively eyes.
Bai Shu found it amusing. This Little Rabbit is clearly a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast, yet her disguise is pretty convincing. Her acting is a little too exaggerated, though. Those eyes are obviously saying: Come over here, cross the line!
As for Wang Sheng beside them, he had already turned to stone the moment Xiao Wu made her move.
Ten minutes ago, he had felt like he was in love.
Ten minutes later, it seemed he had been heartbroken again.
But when Wang Sheng thought of how both of them were Spirit Masters with Innate Full Soul Power, he deflated again. The gap in talent was like an insurmountable chasm. They were destined not to walk the same path.
At that thought, Wang Sheng suddenly did not feel so disappointed anymore. If he could not be her lover, he could be her underling! With these two bosses looking out for him at the academy in the future, who would dare provoke him?
His mindset instantly changed. Seeing that the two had finished tidying up, Wang Sheng immediately said enthusiastically, "It's time for lunch, Sister Xiao Wu, Brother Bai Shu. I'll take you to the cafeteria!"
The moment Xiao Wu heard there was food, she jumped up and said excitedly, "Okay, okay! Do they have carrots?"
"Uh, they probably do. Carrots are pretty cheap, after all."
Bai Shu did not refuse either. He wanted to confirm Tang San's whereabouts. According to the original plot, if Tang San had taken Yu Xiaogang as his teacher, then there was a high chance he would eat at the cafeteria as well.
Led by Wang Sheng, the group of eleven headed grandly toward the cafeteria. Along the way, Bai Shu discreetly scanned his surroundings, searching for that familiar figure.
However, what made him frown was that he could not find either Tang San or the Grandmaster.
Notting Academy's cafeteria had two floors. The food on the first floor was worse, while the meals on the second floor were better but somewhat expensive.
When they reached the serving window, Xiao Wu looked at the people queuing for food before her. She suddenly leaned closer to Bai Shu, pinched the corner of her clothes somewhat awkwardly, and whispered:
"Um... do you need money to eat? I don't have any of those Soul Coins."
Bai Shu glanced at her, a teasing smile curling at his lips, then directly handed her five Copper Soul Coins.
"Take them, Little Rabbit. When you go out, you don't even know to prepare money for meals?"
"You... you're the rabbit!" Xiao Wu's face immediately reddened a little, but she still accepted the money.
Bai Shu continued, "After becoming a Spirit Master, you can register at Spirit Hall and receive a subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin every month. Remember to pay me back once you get the money."
"Spirit Hall?"
At the mention of that name, the smile on Xiao Wu's face vanished instantly, and her expression became inexplicably downcast. It was a complex emotion mixed with fear and deep-seated hatred.
Naturally, Bai Shu knew what this was about, but he did not expose it or pay her any attention. From a human perspective, Spirit Hall had not really done anything wrong.
Perhaps their timing differed somewhat from the original story, so they did not encounter that noble student who had come to provoke them.
Even after they finished eating, Bai Shu still had not seen Tang San, and he could not help but think it over.
Tang San has Tang Hao protecting him at this stage, so it's impossible for him to be in danger.
He wasn't in the cafeteria and hasn't returned to the dormitory, so the most likely possibility is that he went hunting Spirit Beasts early for some reason.
But this is only my guess. To be safe, I should ask around and make sure.
Having made up his mind, Bai Shu said to Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng, and the others, "I need to go to the academic affairs office. You go back to the dormitory first."
Wang Sheng and the others naturally had no objections. After agreeing, they headed toward the dormitory.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, looked like an abandoned young wife, pouting unhappily.
Bai Shu ignored Xiao Wu's gaze and headed straight for the place where he had registered earlier.
Several teachers in the academic affairs office were busy sorting through documents. When Bai Shu arrived, the female teacher by the door brightened and immediately rose to greet him.
"Student Bai Shu, why are you back? Is something wrong?" This was no joke—he had Innate Full Soul Power, a future rising star in the Spirit Master world. As long as Bai Shu could graduate normally, it would bring enormous benefits to the entire academy. Naturally, they were extremely enthusiastic toward him.
"Teacher, there was a child from my village who came with me this morning. He still hasn't gone to Dormitory Seven, and I was worried something might have happened to him, so I came to ask."
Bai Shu did not beat around the bush. His reason was perfectly legitimate; even if Tang Hao were still around, he could not find fault with it.
"His name is Tang San. His martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, and he also has Innate Full Soul Power."
"Tang San!" The receptionist teacher looked somewhat surprised. "I remember him! I never expected you two to be from the same village. Holy Soul Village actually produced two geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power at once. That's incredible!"
Her attitude toward Bai Shu became even warmer. "He did come to register, but I don't know where he went afterward."
Bai Shu pressed on, "Teacher, did Tang San come to register alone, or did he come with the Grandmaster?"
The female teacher recalled for a moment before saying, "He came with that Grandmaster. He was waiting outside the door at the time. I was even wondering what that freeloader had come for."
Bai Shu nodded in understanding, and his heart settled completely. It seemed Tang San had successfully become his disciple. Since he had not returned to the dormitory, there was a ninety-nine percent chance he had gone to obtain a soul ring.
After thanking the female teacher, Bai Shu did not delay and ran straight toward Notting Academy's main gate.
Upon reaching the entrance, Bai Shu went directly to find the same gatekeeper from before.
When the gatekeeper saw Bai Shu, he was scared out of his wits. His legs went weak, and he thought Bai Shu had come for revenge. He nearly dropped to his knees on the spot.
"Let me ask you. Did that skinny child who entered the academy with me this morning, along with the one called Grandmaster, leave the academy?"
Hearing Bai Shu's question, the gatekeeper immediately let out a sigh of relief. He did not dare conceal anything and bent toward Bai Shu as he said:
"Y-Young Master, I didn't notice the little brother you mentioned, but the Grandmaster did indeed leave just now in a carriage!"
Bai Shu's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, "When did he leave?"
"Th-this... about half an hour ago, I think."
The gatekeeper's answer was undoubtedly exactly what Bai Shu wanted to hear. He headed straight out through the academy gates, an involuntary smile appearing on his face.
"If what you said is true, then we'll write off what happened this morning."
The gatekeeper was instantly overjoyed. He had been on edge the whole time, terrified that the academy would expel him. "Thank you, Young Master! Thank you for your magnanimity, Young Master! I'm endlessly grateful!"
Bai Shu waved his hand and left behind a sentence without looking back. "All right. Remember to keep your eyes open from now on, and don't make things difficult for people without cause."
After leaving Notting Academy, Bai Shu first wandered around the city and bought a map of the area around Notting City.
Only then did he leave the city with the crowd and head straight for a waterfall not far from Holy Soul Village.
That was right. Bai Shu's target was not Xiao Wu, but—Ah Yin.
Before you continue