A Fuss Over a Shared Quilt

"Alright, quiet down first." Lin Qing pressed his right hand downward in a calming gesture. The others immediately fell silent at the sight.

Tang San, standing to one side, had finally recovered as well. He climbed up from the floor and stood in a corner some distance away, glaring at Lin Qing as though he wanted to kill him.

Lin Qing sensed the gaze and followed the feeling, only to find Tang San staring at him.

When Tang San saw Lin Qing looking over, he withdrew his gaze. The trace of viciousness in his expression vanished at once, replaced by an indifferent, calm demeanor.

Lin Qing did not pay Tang San much attention. Tang San posed no threat to him at all and was not worth watching too closely.

"Let me introduce her. This is Xiao Wu. I already mentioned her earlier. From now on, seeing her is the same as seeing me. Understood?" Lin Qing said.

"Understood, Boss!" the younger boys answered.

"Very good. From now on, call me Sister Xiao Wu. Don't worry. I may not be able to beat that guy Lin Qing, but I'm strong too. If anyone at the academy dares to bully you, Sister Xiao Wu will beat them until they're crawling around looking for their teeth!"

"Thank you, Sister Xiao Wu! Sister Xiao Wu is mighty!" Everyone looked at Xiao Wu with admiration, their posture so resolute that it was as if they were about to join the party.

Afterward, Lin Qing and Xiao Wu chose their beds.

Lin Qing's bed was right beside Xiao Wu's. Xiao Wu took the innermost bed by the window, while Lin Qing's was next to hers.

Just after they had picked their beds, someone knocked on the door of Dorm Seven.

"Is it a new work-study student? Someone go open the door." Xiao Wu stood up from the bed and looked curiously toward the entrance.

The door opened, revealing a middle-aged man standing outside. He held a quilt and bedding in his arms. "Which one of you is Tang San?"

Tang San hurriedly stepped forward.

The man said, "My name is Mo Hen. You can call me Teacher Mo. Tang San, this bedding is from Grandmaster for you."

Tang San accepted the bedding. Though the cover was not particularly fancy, it carried a fresh, dry scent. It was all brand-new.

Mo Hen said, "Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Lin Qing, you are first-year work-study students. From now on, you will be responsible for cleaning the garden south of the training ground. You will receive ten Copper Soul Coins each day. Remember, it must be cleaned every day, especially any clutter. Otherwise, your wages will be deducted. If you neglect your work, the academy has the right to expel you. Is that clear?"

Tang San nodded.

"Understood, Teacher," Xiao Wu replied obediently.

Lin Qing also looked at the teacher and smiled as he nodded.

Mo Hen said, "Tomorrow is the opening ceremony. Classes officially begin the day after tomorrow. First-year Class One will be on the first floor of the teaching building. Just make sure you attend class on time the day after tomorrow. Starting then, you will also begin your regular work. I will conduct random inspections from time to time. Alright, get some rest. Wang Sheng, you're the oldest here, so explain all the rules to them."

With that, the teacher left directly.

Seeing that Tang San had received bedding, Xiao Wu asked worriedly, "Lin Qing, um... what are we going to do about our bedding?"

"Xiao Wu, my bedding is large. How about you share it with me?" Seeing Xiao Wu troubled over not having bedding, Tang San immediately stepped forward eagerly and looked at her with a gentle expression.

For some reason, no matter how angry he had been before, the moment he saw Xiao Wu's face, his anger seemed to vanish. Whenever he saw Xiao Wu, his mood brightened.

When Xiao Wu saw Tang San coming over to curry favor with her, her expression stiffened. Then she frowned. "Share it? Tang San, don't you know that men and women should keep their distance? That's so gross!"

That word, "gross," was something Lin Qing had taught Xiao Wu after they encountered a gross man on the way back to Nuoding City. She had not expected to use it directly on Tang San.

Hearing Xiao Wu reject him, Tang San looked utterly crestfallen. He forced a bitter smile and said, "Sorry, Xiao Wu. I didn't think it through. How about this? I'll give you this bedding, and I'll figure something out for myself."

"I don't need your bedding. I'll find a way to get my own. You should keep it," Xiao Wu said.

"Alright, then. If you need anything, just tell me anytime. I'll definitely help."

"Alright, alright. You're a grown man, so why do you talk so much? You're so fussy and annoying," Xiao Wu complained.

"Alright, Xiao Wu. There's still plenty of time before tonight. We'll go to Nuoding City and buy some this afternoon." Lin Qing patted Xiao Wu's head affectionately.

"But doesn't buying bedding cost money? I don't think I have any."

"It's fine. This afternoon, I'll go to Spirit Hall in Nuoding City. Once I register my Soul Master information there, I'll get money."

"You get money just for registering? Why?"

"This is a benefit Spirit Hall provides to civilian Soul Masters across the entire Douluo Continent. Soul Masters above level ten can claim one Gold Soul Coin per month for free. Soul Grandmasters above level twenty can claim ten Gold Soul Coins per month, while Soul Elders can claim one hundred Gold Soul Coins per month. As for Soul Ancestors and above, there are no more benefits." Lin Qing explained.

"Really?!" Xiao Wu was both shocked and delighted upon hearing this, but then she became frustrated. "If I'd known Soul Masters could get money, I would have condensed my Spirit Ring before coming to the human world! Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"Don't worry. A brand-new set of bedding costs no more than three Silver Soul Coins. After buying two sets, we'll still have more than ninety Silver Soul Coins left, enough to last us until next month."

Lin Qing did not know what Xiao Wu was thinking. Seeing her troubled expression, he assumed she was worried they would not have enough money, so he comforted her.

In truth, Lin Qing already had his parents' inheritance, as well as some living expenses collected by the villagers. Altogether, he had fifty-three Silver Soul Coins, more than enough for his bedding and living expenses for a semester. But with Xiao Wu added in, things became a little tight. Fortunately, Lin Qing had obtained his Spirit Ring in advance and could receive Spirit Hall's Soul Master subsidy. One Gold Soul Coin was equal to one hundred Silver Soul Coins, or ten thousand Copper Soul Coins, enough for the two of them to live simply.

"Got it." Seeing Lin Qing comforting her, Xiao Wu felt warmth rise in her heart, and a smile returned to her face.

Grrr—

"Hehe, Lin Qing, I think I'm hungry." Xiao Wu rubbed her stomach awkwardly.

"It's almost noon anyway. Let's go eat," Lin Qing said.

"Everyone, lunch is on me at the cafeteria today. Don't hold back!" Lin Qing said to the boys who would be his followers for the next few years.

"Thank you, Boss!" everyone said gratefully.

"Tang San, aren't you coming?" Seeing that Tang San was still sitting on his bed after making it, Lin Qing asked out of a boss's sense of responsibility.