Xiao Xiao's Plans: The First to the Waterfront Gets the Moon; Keep the Good Stuff in the Family

One student stood up. "Teacher, I refuse to accept this. Why do the ones who fought get off scot-free, while those who didn't have to be punished?"

Zhou Yi said calmly, "Because I said so. If you don't accept it, you can get out. As the Class Advisor, I have the authority to expel students. I'll give you one minute. If I don't see you start running within one minute, the entire class will be expelled."

As she spoke, an impressive aura surged from her body. Ring after ring of soul rings rose beneath Zhou Yi's feet—two yellow, two purple, and two black. A six-ringed Soul Emperor. This was the suppressive force of a high-level soul master against lower-level ones.

These students were only freshmen, after all. None of them dared truly defy Zhou Yi, and they all got up dejectedly and headed outside.

Zhou Yi withdrew her soul rings and watched the students leave the classroom with an indifferent gaze.

"Let me remind you: these hundred laps have a time limit. Anyone who fails to finish them within one shichen will be deemed unqualified. This is your first examination since enrolling. Those who fail will be expelled."

At her words, the students immediately sped up, practically charging out of the classroom.

Only then did Zhou Yi nod in satisfaction. But when she saw that, aside from the two who had fought, Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao, there were actually two more people still remaining, her anger flared again.

Could there really be students who dared disobey her order and refuse to run?

The two were Xiao Xiao and Yuwen Tuo. Xiao Xiao naturally wanted to run, but for some reason, Yuwen Tuo had suddenly given up.

"Oh no, Teacher Zhou is looking this way. Yuwen Tuo, let's go already, or we're done for." Xiao Xiao pulled with all her strength at Yuwen Tuo's arm, trying to drag him up.

Yuwen Tuo said helplessly, "Xiao Xiao, just go run by yourself. I'm delicate and weak—I can't manage a hundred laps. I know my limits. Since I can't finish anyway, I might as well not run."

"Delicate and weak? You're lying. If you're weak, then no one in the world is strong." Xiao Xiao had known Yuwen Tuo for three days now. She had observed his physical condition. He clearly only had one soul ring, yet his physique was far stronger than hers, even though she was a higher-level three-ringed Soul Grandmaster.

"Oh, it's him. Yuwen Tuo—just as expected, a problem child." Zhou Yi pushed up her glasses and thought, Other people are terrified of being expelled, but this brat seems terrified that he won't be expelled. No wonder the dean gave me such a strict order.

Zhou Yi walked up to Yuwen Tuo and Xiao Xiao. "Xiao Xiao, go run first."

"But..." Xiao Xiao was still worried about Yuwen Tuo and did not leave.

"What? Didn't you hear what I said?" Zhou Yi said sternly.

"Xiao Xiao, go run first," Yuwen Tuo added. He wasn't afraid of Zhou Yi, but Xiao Xiao was different.

Hearing that, Xiao Xiao could only nod. "Then I'll head out first. Yuwen Tuo, don't confront the teacher head-on. Hurry and catch up."

With that, Xiao Xiao ran out.

Once Xiao Xiao had left, Zhou Yi finally said, "Yuwen Tuo, I just said that anyone who fails to finish a hundred laps must be expelled. It seems I left out three words: except for you."

Yuwen Tuo frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I know about your situation. You're rather special, and I can't control you either. How about we make a deal? From now on, we stay out of each other's business. I won't interfere with you, and you won't cause trouble for me. As for running and the like, whether you do it or not is entirely up to you."

Zhou Yi's status was hardly ordinary. Her husband was the future vice dean of the Soul Tool Department and was already an important figure there, so naturally, she knew many secrets—including those concerning Yuwen Tuo.

"Fine." Yuwen Tuo stood up. "I never believed you could drive me out anyway. If you actually could, I'd thank you instead."

With that, he turned and left.

Zhou Yi asked, "Where are you going?"

Yuwen Tuo replied, "To keep Xiao Xiao company."

Zhou Yi paused. "This guy may be rebellious and unruly, but he seems quite concerned about that little girl Xiao Xiao."

Yuwen Tuo quickly caught up to Xiao Xiao.

As the two ran outside, she finally could not help asking, "By the way, Yuwen Tuo, what exactly did Teacher Zhou say to you just now?"

"She said that if I didn't come out and run, she'd throw you out of Shrek Academy," Yuwen Tuo replied casually. The truth was difficult to explain, so he could only make up an excuse to brush her off.

Xiao Xiao's pretty face flushed at once. "So that's what happened. You were willing to come out and run so I wouldn't be expelled?"

Yuwen Tuo did not care about his own situation, yet he cared whether she would be expelled. That moved her a little.

"Actually, you didn't have to do this. I think Teacher Zhou was just trying to scare you."

"That witch is capable of anything," Yuwen Tuo said. "Forget it. Since we're running anyway, we can't waste the time. Xiao Xiao, do you remember the cultivation method I taught you that day?"

Xiao Xiao nodded. "Of course I do."

"Then adjust your breathing according to the heart method," Yuwen Tuo reminded her.

"Mm!" Xiao Xiao obediently adjusted her breathing according to Yuwen Tuo's instructions.

At first, there was no obvious difference. But they had to run a hundred laps. After seventy laps, when most people were nearly out of stamina, Xiao Xiao's breathing remained steady.

Moreover, her Soul Power had actually increased slightly.

"This heart method is truly amazing. Even my Soul Power increases while I breathe during a run, and my stamina is being consumed so slowly." Xiao Xiao was astonished.

Yuwen Tuo smiled faintly. "Naturally. This is the true wonder of cultivation methods. Once the Su Lü Heart Method is cultivated to a certain level, the rhythm of one's breathing will gradually correspond with the five tones: gong, shang, jue, zhi, and yu. In medicine, the five tones correspond to the five elements. The five organs can influence the five tones, and the five tones can regulate the five organs. The harmonious coordination of gong, shang, jue, zhi, and yu has different effects on the human body. Circulating Soul Power and regulating stamina are merely the most basic applications."

"Xiao Xiao, I'll teach you a little more to help you further adjust your breathing. Remember: gong is a throat sound, belonging to earth among the five elements. It is the first of the five tones, its sound extremely long, high, and warm. Shang is a tooth sound, belonging to metal, its sound next in length, height, and warmth. Jue is a molar sound, belonging to wood, its sound intermediate in length, height, and temperature. Zhi is a tongue sound, belonging to fire, its sound next in shortness, lowness, and coolness. Yu is a lip sound, belonging to water, its sound extremely short, low, and cool."

Xiao Xiao studied music after all, and grasped the idea immediately. Under Yuwen Tuo's guidance, the aspects of the Su Lü Heart Method that had puzzled her over the past few days suddenly became clear.

"I understand now. Yuwen Tuo, you're really amazing!" Xiao Xiao looked at Yuwen Tuo as if her eyes were filled with little stars.

She had only approached him to strike up a conversation because he was handsome. Who would have thought she had stumbled upon a treasure?

While everyone else grew more exhausted the longer they ran, the two of them became more energized. Gradually, most people could only walk through their final laps. Only four people were still running: Yuwen Tuo and Xiao Xiao, along with Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.

Huo Yuhao was actually already nearing his limit. Wang Dong had no choice but to reveal her martial soul, the Light Goddess Butterfly, known as the most beautiful martial soul on the entire continent, and fly with him.

Everyone's attention was drawn to Wang Dong at that moment, except Xiao Xiao. She continued looking only at Yuwen Tuo, who ran beside her.

That thought deepened even further in her mind: the first to the waterfront got the moon, and the good stuff should stay in the family.

The more Wang Dong stood out now, the better. It would be best if she drew the eyes of every girl in the academy, while Xiao Xiao quietly made her move and got Yuwen Tuo first.

Good men were meant to be fought over!