Dorm Seven

"Cold, cold rain slapped wildly against my face..."

After Gangzi shoved Xiao Ran aside, he felt awful. He went to the Academic Affairs Office alone to complete his enrollment.

"To hell with Gangzi. Does he think I wanted him as my teacher? Ask any half-decent Soul Master and they'd know those lousy theories of his. Who needs him?"

Afterward, Xiao Ran and Tang San arrived at Dorm Seven.

When they opened the door, a sturdy boy blocked their way and shouted, "I'm Wang Sheng. My Martial Soul is the War Tiger, and I'm the boss here. You two are new, right? Tell me your names and Martial Souls!"

Xiao Ran spoke first. "I'm Xiao Ran. My Martial Soul is a Short Club. He's Tang San, and his Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. We're both work-study students here."

"Hahaha... Blue Silver Grass? Since when does the academy accept students with Trash Martial Souls?" Wang Sheng threw back his head and laughed.

"Please move," Tang San said calmly.

Wang Sheng stayed put. "No! Listen up, brat. I'm the boss here, and you'll do as I say from now on!"

Tang San glared at Wang Sheng.

"What, got a problem with that? Then fight me." Wang Sheng's eyes gleamed with provocation.

"Hmph. You want a fight? Fine by me!"

Tang San set his things aside and snorted. Striking first, he punched Wang Sheng into the opposite wall.

"You dare fight me?" A faint glow spread over Wang Sheng's body. With a roar, he clenched his fist and charged, driving a huge punch straight at Tang San's chest.

Tang San shifted slightly, neatly dodging the heavy blow. He caught Wang Sheng's arm with a quick turn of his hand. Furious, Wang Sheng swung his other fist. Tang San hooked his foot, used Wang Sheng's momentum against him, and whipped his arm around.

Thud!

Wang Sheng lost his balance and crashed to the floor, striking it hard.

Xiao Ran shouted, "Brother San, you're my hero!"

Tang San straightened his clothes and looked down at Wang Sheng. "You got what you wanted. We have a winner."

"Brother San! Brother San! What Soul Skill was that?"

Tang San froze. He hadn't expected Wang Sheng to change his tune so quickly, and this was the first time he had heard the term Soul Skill.

"Soul Skill? What's that?"

Wang Sheng's eyes turned unusually earnest. "A Soul Skill is a skill used by a Martial Soul. Is your Martial Soul really Blue Silver Grass?"

Tang San explained carefully, "My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, but what I just used was a fighting technique, not a Soul Skill."

Wang Sheng sprang to his feet. "Sorry, Brother San. I just wanted to see who could be boss of Dorm Seven. The strongest person gets the job, so you're our boss now!"

Tang San nodded. "It's fine."

As they chatted, a soft voice came from outside the door. "Excuse me, is this Dorm Seven?"

Everyone turned toward the doorway.

A pretty little girl with long, straight black hair stood there, her enormous eyes sweeping curiously over the room.

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up. Is that Xiao Wu? She's beautiful...

Drool ran down his chin.

Wang Sheng paused before asking, "That's right, this is Dorm Seven. What's your name?"

The girl lifted her face, a lively smile curving her lips. "I'm Xiao Wu. Wu as in dancing. I'm a new student."

Tang San turned to Wang Sheng. "Boys and girls can stay in the same dorm?"

Wang Sheng covered his mouth with one hand and whispered, "Of course. We're all still kids."

Xiao Ran was thrilled. He couldn't take his eyes off Xiao Wu. A mixed dorm is great. This is great...

Wang Sheng pushed Tang San forward. "Go on, boss! Challenge her!"

Tang San looked helpless. "Hello, I'm Tang San. I'm... I'm the boss of Dorm Seven. What's your Martial Soul?" Shyness filled his voice.

"My Martial Soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit. It's an adorable little bunny. What about yours?"

Tang San smiled. "Mine is Blue Silver Grass. Then you're my natural enemy."

Xiao Wu broke into a grin. "Pfft. You're funny. But are you going to let me in?"

Wang Sheng stepped forward to explain Dorm Seven's rules to Xiao Wu.

He cleared his throat and said solemnly, "The rules are simple. Whoever has the strongest fists is boss. Tang San just beat me, so he's the boss now. If you want to stay in Dorm Seven, you have to fight him."

Xiao Wu's eyes brightened, and she looked at Tang San with interest.

"Oh, is that all? Easy."

She stepped forward and lightly clenched her little fists, eager to begin.

Tang San blinked. His shy expression still hadn't faded as he hurriedly waved his hands. "We don't have to fight. We're sharing a dorm. Can't we just get along?"

"No way!" Xiao Ran teased from the side. "Rules are rules. Every newcomer has to fight."

Before Tang San could object, Xiao Wu moved. In an instant, she was right in front of him, her slender palm striking toward his shoulder.

Tang San's heart jumped. He hadn't expected her to move so quickly and hurriedly twisted aside.

Xiao Wu gave him no chance to talk his way out of it. Her small figure darted forward at astonishing speed.

They exchanged several rapid blows, fists and feet flashing as they advanced and retreated like the wind. They moved so fast that the onlookers' eyes could barely follow them.

With her final move, Xiao Wu used Waist Bow to fling Tang San away.

Everyone there except Xiao Ran stared in shock.

"Hehe, I won! From now on, I'm the boss of Dorm Seven! Anyone else want a turn?"

Everyone hurriedly shook their heads.

After the fight, Xiao Ran quickly made the bed, secretly delighted. Don't worry, Brother San. I'll make sure to learn your Tang Sect Secret Arts by watching you.

Just then, Xiao Wu asked, "Does anyone have spare bedding? I don't think I brought any."

The others all chimed in. "Boss! Boss! I do!"

"My name is Xiao Wu, Wu as in dancing. Stop calling me boss. It's annoying. Hmph."

Then she noticed the bedding Xiao Ran had just laid out. "Wow, yours is huge. How about we share it?"

Xiao Ran froze. "That's for Tang San and me to sleep under."

"You two were going to share it? Well, now Tang San and I are sharing it. You take that bed over there!"

Xiao Ran's jaw dropped. "That's pushy. Way too pushy... Shouldn't we ask Tang San what he thinks?"

Tang San asked, "You're a girl. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to sleep together, would it?"

"What's inappropriate about it? I'm Sister Xiao Wu! Just tell me if you agree!"

"All right, then..." Tang San replied.

Xiao Ran stared blankly. So I'm the fool here.

"Come on, it's freezing. Where am I supposed to sleep?" Xiao Ran protested.

"What's your name? Let's fight. If you win, I'll give it back." As Xiao Wu spoke, she dropped into a fighting stance.

Damn it. You're a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast with Innate Full Soul Power. How am I supposed to fight you? Xiao Ran thought.

"Forget it! I'm generous, and I don't like fighting women over things. If you want to sleep there, go ahead! And my name is Xiao Ran!" He let out a long breath.

Xiao Wu made a face at him.

If I can't take her on, I can at least avoid her, right? Forget it. It's not like this is my first day getting pushed around. Xiao Ran looked utterly resigned.

That evening, determined to get close to Gangzi and Tang San every day, he decided to visit Gangzi's office again.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in."