First Meeting with Xiao Wu

After completing the enrollment procedures, Principal Li personally led Lin Chen and Tang San toward the dormitory area.

They ran into several teachers along the way. Seeing Principal Li personally escorting them, they all cast curious glances their way. Principal Li did not hide anything and introduced them whenever he met someone. "These are this year's new students of our academy. Lin Chen has innate soul power at rank thirty."

He was immediately met with a slew of stunned expressions.

Lin Chen was somewhat speechless at this showy introduction, but he said nothing. He had no intention of keeping a low profile anyway. What was the point of being low-key?

Could being low-key make someone like Yu Xiaogang stay away on his own? No. Then he might as well go all out and let everyone know that Lin Chen was not someone to be trifled with.

"Dormitory Seven is up ahead." Principal Li pointed to a two-story building in front of them. "It's the academy's largest dormitory and houses more than a dozen students. The conditions are a little rough, so you'll have to make do for now."

Lin Chen nodded and pushed the door open.

Dormitory Seven was larger than he had imagined. It was one large room, with more than a dozen beds arranged along both sides. Several students were lying on their beds chatting, but when they saw someone enter, they all turned to look.

One sturdy boy stood up and sized Lin Chen up. "New here?"

"Yeah."

"My name is Wang Sheng, the boss of Dormitory Seven." The sturdy boy patted his chest. "Newcomers have to follow the rules. First, make your bed, then..."

Before he could finish, a girl beside him cut him off.

"Wang Sheng, stop throwing your weight around."

Her voice was crisp, with a faint childish lilt.

Lin Chen followed the sound and saw a little girl with a scorpion braid jump down from a bed.

She wore a pink little jacket. Her eyes were large and bright, and her skin was as fair and tender as a freshly peeled egg. She looked no more than six or seven years old.

But Lin Chen knew she was far older than that.

Xiao Wu.

A hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit who had taken human form, one of the future protagonist group, and Tang San's canon love interest in the original story.

But in this life, she would no longer belong to Tang San.

"You're the newcomer?" Xiao Wu walked up to Lin Chen and looked up at him, her eyes full of curiosity. "I heard you have innate soul power at rank thirty. Is that true?"

"It's true." Lin Chen smiled.

"Wow—" Xiao Wu's eyes shone even brighter. "Doesn't that mean you're even stronger than me? I only have full innate soul power!"

There was no jealousy in her voice when she said that. Instead, she sounded excited, as though she had found an interesting new toy.

Looking at her delicate little face, Lin Chen had to admit that she really was adorable. No wonder Tang San had been so devoted to her in the original story. Her looks alone were enough to make anyone like her.

"Then let's fight!" Xiao Wu suddenly said.

Lin Chen froze. "Huh?"

"Let's fight!" Xiao Wu eagerly rolled up her sleeves. "I want to see how strong innate soul power at rank thirty really is! Don't worry, I'll go easy on you!"

The surrounding students all burst out laughing. Wang Sheng egged her on from the side. "Sister Xiao Wu is teaching another newcomer a lesson!"

Lin Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry.

This little girl looked sweet and delicate, but she was a battle maniac at heart. As expected of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form—none of the wildness in her nature had faded.

"Fine." Lin Chen nodded. "But I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"No crying when you lose."

Xiao Wu puffed out her cheeks. "Who's going to cry? You're the one who'll cry!"

The two walked to the open space outside the dormitory, while the other students followed to watch the excitement. Tang San stood among the crowd, wanting to see just how strong Lin Chen really was.

"Are you ready?" Xiao Wu struck a stance, her knees slightly bent and her fists clenched, like a little rabbit poised to pounce.

"Come on."

The moment Lin Chen finished speaking, Xiao Wu moved.

She was incredibly fast, as though she had springs beneath her feet. In the blink of an eye, she rushed in front of Lin Chen. Her right leg swept high through the air, slicing toward his shoulder with a howl of wind.

If that kick landed squarely, an ordinary person would be bedridden for at least three days.

But Lin Chen was no ordinary person.

He sidestepped and easily dodged the strike. Xiao Wu's kick missed, and she spun with the momentum, sweeping her other leg at him. Lin Chen took a step back and avoided it again.

"Why are you dodging?" Xiao Wu grew anxious. "Fight me head-on!"

"I'm afraid I'll hurt you."

"Don't look down on me!"

Xiao Wu intensified her attack, throwing punches and kicks in rapid succession.

Lin Chen dodged while observing her style. The Soft Bone Rabbit's flexible techniques truly lived up to their name. This little girl's body was remarkably supple, and every movement flowed naturally, as beautiful as a dance.

But her attacks were still too weak.

After all, she was only at the teens in rank and had not absorbed a soul ring yet. She was relying entirely on her physical abilities. That was enough against ordinary students, but against a monster like Lin Chen, who had innate soul power at rank thirty, it was nowhere near enough.

Lin Chen decided to end this farce.

When Xiao Wu kicked at him again, he did not dodge. Instead, he reached out and grabbed her ankle.

Xiao Wu froze. She tried to pull her leg back, only to find that Lin Chen's hand was like an iron clamp. She could not break free at all.

"You..."

Lin Chen gave a light tug, and Xiao Wu lost her balance, falling toward him. He caught her steadily with his other hand, keeping her from hitting the ground.

"That's enough. You lost."

Xiao Wu lay in his arms, stunned for a full three seconds. Then she abruptly pushed him away, her face red as a ripe apple.

"You... you cheated!"

"How did I cheat?"

"You... you're stronger!"

Lin Chen laughed. "Being stronger counts as cheating?"

Xiao Wu stamped her foot and said indignantly, "Fine, it doesn't count! I was careless this time. Next time, I'll definitely beat you!"

Her cheeks were still flushed as she said it. Paired with her big round eyes, she looked like an angry little rabbit with its fur standing on end.

Looking at her like this, Lin Chen suddenly felt something strange. This girl was actually rather cute.

"Alright, I'll let you win next time," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"What do you mean, let me win?" Xiao Wu became even angrier. "I'll beat you with my own strength!"

The surrounding students all laughed. Wang Sheng jeered from the side, "So Sister Xiao Wu can get humbled too!"

"Shut up!" Xiao Wu glared at him, then looked back at Lin Chen, her eyes gleaming with defiance. "What's your name?"

"Lin Chen."

"Lin Chen, right? I'll remember you!" Xiao Wu pointed a finger at his nose. "From today onward, you're my, Xiao Wu's, target! I'll definitely defeat you!"

Lin Chen could not help laughing at how serious she looked.

"Alright. I'll be waiting."

Tang San stood at the back of the crowd, watching Lin Chen and Xiao Wu laugh and chat. For some reason, he felt uncomfortable.

But he quickly suppressed the feeling and walked over with a smile. "Brother Chen, you're amazing! Even Sister Xiao Wu isn't your match."

"I just got lucky." Lin Chen answered casually, but his gaze remained on Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu noticed his gaze, glared at him, then turned and ran back into the dormitory.

Lin Chen watched her retreating figure, the smile on his lips deepening.

This trip to Nuoding Academy had not been in vain.