Passed the Test, and Xiao Wu Blurted Out That They'd Shared a Bed for Six Years

"Teacher Zhao, I really am a support-type Soul Master."

Lin Xuan put away the Godly Zhuge Crossbow and spread his hands helplessly at Zhao Wuji.

"As for this, it's just a weapon I carry for self-defense. Thank you for holding back, Teacher Zhao."

Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong gathered around them.

All four were bruised, but the tension had finally left their faces.

Zhao Wuji sat in his armchair and looked down at the small hole in the top of his foot, still seeping black blood. He couldn't help grinning.

"A weapon's part of your strength too. In a fight to the death, your enemy won't care whether you're holding a Martial Soul or a weapon."

Zhao Wuji waved a hand and went on.

"But in all my years as a teacher, I've never seen a support-type freak like you."

Lin Xuan could boost his teammates' speed, add a freezing effect to their attacks, and instantly launch ice chains to pin down an opponent.

To Zhao Wuji, Lin Xuan seemed more like a control-type Soul Master than a support-type one.

Lin Xuan turned to Tang San.

"Little San, I used the Godly Zhuge Crossbow just now. Give Teacher Zhao an antidote pill."

Tang San hurriedly brushed a hand over the Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night at his waist.

He took out a black pill and handed it to Zhao Wuji. Then he pulled out a small green porcelain bottle and passed it to Lin Xuan.

"Lin Xuan, keep these antidote pills with you. We were in such a rush earlier that I forgot to give them to you. If you ever cut yourself on an arrowhead while loading the crossbow, take one and it'll neutralize the poison."

Lin Xuan accepted the bottle and slipped it into the storage ring Dean Reck had given him.

"Thanks, Little San."

Tang San smiled and said nothing more.

Zhao Wuji tossed the pill into his mouth and swallowed it without chewing.

Within two or three breaths, the blood flowing from the wound on his foot turned bright red, and the numbness quickly faded.

"Good medicine. Works fast."

Zhao Wuji rose from the chair and brushed the dirt from his trouser legs.

"All right. You little monsters have all passed Shrek Academy's entrance test."

He turned and beckoned to Dai Mubai, who had been watching from the side.

"Mubai, take them to the dorms and get them settled. Explain the academy rules while you're at it. I don't want them wandering around in the middle of the night."

"Got it, Teacher Zhao."

Dai Mubai hurried over.

"Come with me, everyone."

Dai Mubai led the way.

The five followed him past two dilapidated mud-brick houses to a relatively level patch of ground.

A two-story wooden building stood beside it.

Dai Mubai pointed to the ground floor.

"Tang San, you and Lin Xuan can take an empty room downstairs."

"Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, your rooms are upstairs. Pick whichever ones are empty."

Tang San nodded, having no objection.

He was about to step inside when Xiao Wu suddenly bounded over and grabbed Lin Xuan's arm.

"I want to share a room with Lin Xuan!"

Silence fell for a moment.

Dai Mubai stumbled, nearly tripping over a stone.

He turned around with a peculiar look on his face.

Tang San coughed and looked toward the fence.

Zhu Zhuqing's brows twitched slightly.

Ning Rongrong's mouth fell open, and she instinctively clapped both hands over her ears.

"Xiao Wu, what are you talking about?"

Ning Rongrong couldn't help crying out.

"Boys and girls shouldn't share a room! How can you live with a boy?"

Xiao Wu blinked and lifted her chin as though it were perfectly obvious.

"That's how we lived at Notting Academy. What's the big deal?"

The muscles in Dai Mubai's face twitched. In his mind, he gave Lin Xuan a thumbs-up.

This guy looks so refined, but he's got game?

He's only twelve, and he's already won over a girl that pretty?

Lin Xuan raised a hand and gently flicked Xiao Wu's forehead.

"Xiao Wu, be good."

"This is Shrek Academy, not the shared Work-Study Student dorm at Notting Junior Academy. The boys' and girls' dorms are separate. Don't make a fuss."

"Go upstairs with Zhuqing and Rongrong."

Xiao Wu rubbed her forehead and gave a disgruntled huff.

"Fine. I'll do as you say."

Xiao Wu let go of Lin Xuan's sleeve, turned, and took the still-stunned Ning Rongrong by the hand.

"Rongrong, Zhuqing, come on! Let's pick our rooms!"

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing and followed them at a brisk pace.

Dai Mubai watched Zhu Zhuqing walk away. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but she hadn't looked at him once.

All he could do was give a rueful smile and clasp his hands toward Lin Xuan and Tang San.

"There's bedding in the rooms already, so settle in. If you need anything else, tell me tomorrow morning."

With that, Dai Mubai left the back courtyard.

Lin Xuan pushed open the wooden door and went in with Tang San.

The furnishings were sparse: two wooden beds, two square tables, and two wooden cabinets, with a thick cloth curtain dividing the room.

Lin Xuan tossed his bundle onto the bed by the window, leaned back, and sprawled out.

Meanwhile, in the girls' dorm.

The layout was much the same as the boys', though the room was a little larger and held three single wooden beds.

As soon as Ning Rongrong came in, she kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the edge of a bed, rubbing her aching calves without a care for appearances.

She turned to watch Xiao Wu briskly making her bed.

Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly on the bed by the door, her head lowered as she straightened her black fitted clothes.

At last, Ning Rongrong could no longer contain her curiosity.

"Xiao Wu, what's the story with you three?"

"You, Tang San, and Lin Xuan—did you know each other before?"

Xiao Wu fluffed up her pillow and dropped onto the edge of her bed.

"Of course. We all graduated from Notting Academy. Lin Xuan and Tang San even came from the same village."

Ning Rongrong leaned closer, her curiosity burning hotter.

"Then you and Lin Xuan... You said you used to live together. Was that true?"

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but she slowed her hands as she sorted her clothes and listened more closely.

Xiao Wu swung her legs, looking entirely at ease.

"Of course it was true. We were only six when we first went to Notting Academy. We were all Work-Study Students, and the dorm had just seven or eight bare wooden beds."

"I hadn't brought a blanket, and Lin Xuan didn't have a spare mattress, so we pushed our beds together and shared a blanket."

"After that, it became a habit. We slept that way for six years."

"Lin Xuan and I are closest. Even Tang San comes after him."

She said it all so naturally that she clearly saw nothing strange about it.

Across from her, Ning Rongrong sat frozen in shock.

They shared a bed?

For six whole years?

Didn't that make them a couple?