The Duration of Coffee, Xiao Ya, You're So Kind

Bitter. The moment the black coffee entered his mouth, the most direct sensation it gave Xuan Zi could be summed up in one word: "bitter."

Xuan Zi: This is a food-type martial soul? That can't be right. To make food taste this awful, this food-type soul master really has no humanity left at all.

Within the bitterness was an even more complicated flavor. How could a simple "bad-tasting" possibly cover it?

If this were truly on a front-line battlefield, and you pulled out a cup of this stuff and called it "food," your teammates would probably all turn their guns around and dump that damned foul-tasting thing right over the head of the "livestock chief" in logistics.

"But after drinking this stuff, it actually perked up this old man's spirit. That is rather interesting."

At the end of the day, food-type soul masters were still a branch of auxiliary-type soul masters.

Compared to the taste of the food, the effect of the food itself was more important.

If a lump of crap had a significant effect of raising soul power rank, there would definitely be piles of soul masters rushing to eat it.

It sounded absurd, but it was very realistic.

"I heard from Master Ye that you, little fellow, opened a coffee shop in the outer courtyard cafeteria, and this is what you sell?"

At first, Xuan Zi had not been interested at all, but after sensing the effect of the iced Americano, his interest was suddenly piqued.

Compared to replenishing soul power, mental fatigue often could only be slowly recovered from with time.

Now that a drink had suddenly appeared that could alleviate mental fatigue, how could anyone not be tempted?

"Yes, Elder Xuan."

"How long can this cup of coffee of yours last?"

Normal food would rot and spoil. By the same logic, food produced by a food-type soul master using soul power also had a certain time limit for consumption; once that time passed, it would automatically dissipate.

"I really haven't tested that."

To be honest, if Xuan Zi had not asked, Bai Ran truly would not have thought about that aspect.

"How about this, Bai boy? Make me another cup of coffee, and I'll take it back and help you study it."

"9.9 Gold Soul Coins."

"This old man is already so poor he's gnawing on steamed buns. You have the heart to ask this old man for money?"

"Ugh~"

Bai Ran sighed helplessly.

This little old man—forget it, forget it. No matter what, he was still Shrek Academy's second-strongest expert. He would let it slide this time.

"Bai boy, are you really not considering taking this old man as your master?"

"Then I'm not selling you the coffee."

"Fine, fine, fine. This old man doesn't care anyway. In the academy, the people who want to take this old man as their master could line up from Sea God Island all the way to the academy gates."

If one asked why Xuan Zi had suddenly come up with the idea of taking Bai Ran as his disciple?

Aside from Bai Ran's excellent talent and his ten-thousand-year first ring, which made him worth cultivating.

The main reason was still that Bai Ran was Master Ye's own nephew.

Once Xuan Zi successfully took Bai Ran as his disciple, wouldn't he instantly go from Master Ye's blacklist to a VIP guest?

In the future, as long as Bai Ran had a bite to eat, Xuan Zi would not go without a meal.

Bai Ran: Why don't you take me as your master instead, Xuan Zi?

"It's about time. Elder Xuan, please take me back to the outer courtyard."

Hearing this, Xuan Zi hurriedly put that cup of Luckin Iced Americano into his storage ring, preparing to study it properly after he returned.

At the same time, he did not forget to grab Bai Ran with the large hand he had just used to pick at his foot, carrying him off to the academy's outer courtyard cafeteria.

Bai Ran declared that the clothes were no longer salvageable.

Normally speaking, a Titled Douluo could not possibly be slovenly and filthy.

But Xuan Zi was not a normal Titled Douluo.

Inside the girls' dormitory.

"Xiao Ya, you're back."

Hearing the door open, Jiang Nannan also raised her head and looked toward the person who had come in.

"Nannan, you're all right?"

Seeing that her close friend seemed to be in fairly good spirits, Tang Ya also felt relieved.

She had originally thought that after something like this happened, Jiang Nannan would be depressed for at least a few weeks.

On the way back, Tang Ya had even considered whether she should go find a teacher skilled in psychological treatment to take a look at Jiang Nannan.

"Xiao Ya, I was never really in any trouble to begin with."

Perhaps only in front of Tang Ya, this roommate and close friend of hers, was Jiang Nannan willing to lower the cold facade she used as disguise and reveal her original self.

Being bullied by the school tyrant for so long had forced the insecure Jiang Nannan to wrap herself in an aloof, cold exterior—but what if, deep down, she was actually a funny girl?

Jiang Nannan: Stop trying to make your Sister Nan laugh.

"I'm just glad you're okay, Nannan."

Tang Ya did not directly give Jiang Nannan the Mysterious Water Pill she had "won" from Xu Sanshi.

Tang Ya knew very well that with Jiang Nannan's personality, she would never accept anything connected to that person, so Tang Ya planned to find a time to sell the Mysterious Water Pill, then trade it for something else to give Jiang Nannan. If she remembered correctly, Jiang Nannan's birthday was in a few days.

"Xiao Ya, um..."

For a moment, Jiang Nannan did not know how to say it.

If she said it directly, Xiao Ya would definitely think she was a girl with a greedy little mouth, right?

"If something's on your mind, just say it. I'm here."

As long as she was willing to talk, that was good. What Tang Ya feared most was Jiang Nannan coming back and saying nothing at all, just hiding alone in a corner and crying, then later losing hope and running straight up to the rooftop. That would be the most terrifying thing.

"Xiao Ya, what was that thing you brought me this afternoon called? It was actually pretty good."

"Oh, Nannan, you mean the Raw Coconut Latte, right? A junior made it. If you want to drink it, we can go buy some together right now."

In Tang Ya's view, Bai Ran would be enrolling soon anyway, so calling him a junior was completely fine.

"How could I do that? I wouldn't dare disturb the good thing between you and Beibei."

"Beibei has other things to busy himself with."

Actually, Beibei was very free—free enough to go look after that junior disciple of his, Huo Yuhao.

The main reason he was not with Tang Ya was because Tang Ya was worried about Jiang Nannan's condition and planned to keep her company first.

It just so happened that Jiang Nannan was very interested in the Luckin Raw Coconut Latte she had drunk that afternoon, so Tang Ya decided she might as well drag her along to the coffee shop.

After all, she had not had enough at noon.

Speaking of which, was the junior's purchase limit for one time period, or for the whole day?

Tang Ya: If Junior won't sell to me, I will deploy the more authoritative Jiang Nannan.

After all, Jiang Nannan was truly unfairly beautiful. If not for Xu Sanshi, perhaps the disciples in the academy chasing after her could line up from the teaching building all the way to the academy gate.

"Tang Ya, you're so good to me."

"Oh, come on, we're damn sisters."

"What a shame, Xiao Ya. If you were a man, maybe I really wouldn't be able to stop myself from wanting to marry you."

"Even if I'm not, we still can."

"Really?"

"Just kidding. Come on, tidy up and let's go to the cafeteria. If we're late, Junior's coffee might be sold out."

Jiang Nannan: At first, I thought my best friend was joking with me, but when her hand reached into my blankets, it was already too late.

(Thank you, dear readers, for your love for this book. Since it's still in the recommendation period, once it goes on sale next Wednesday, I'll give everyone a mass update.)