Learning Theory—Why Take a Master?

"Use it together???"

Seeing Cheng Xiao's shocked expression, Xiao Wu felt a little embarrassed. But at the thought of having no blanket at night, she snorted. "I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of? What, are you really this timid despite being a boy?"

"You..." Cheng Xiao was left speechless by Xiao Wu. Wang Sheng and the others watched them with eyes full of envy. She was the only girl in the dormitory!

"Alright, come make the bed." Before Cheng Xiao could refuse, Xiao Wu quickly pushed the two beds together. Then, satisfied with her handiwork, she clapped her hands and waved at Cheng Xiao with a smile.

After making the bed, Cheng Xiao stared at the joined beds and fell into thought. If Xiao Wu slept with him, then what would Tang San do?

"Boss Cheng, Tang San, Sister Xiao Wu, it's noon. Let's go eat lunch."

Seeing that the three had finished tidying their beds, Wang Sheng spoke to them.

At the mention of food, Tang San shook his head. "I don't have any money... I'll just eat some dried provisions in the dormitory. You go ahead."

"Huh? Money, is that those soul coins?" Xiao Wu asked curiously when money was mentioned.

Xiao Wu's blank look made Wang Sheng feel rather awkward. He had figured it out now—Tang San and Xiao Wu were both broke. If he could beat them, he would have cursed them out already.

"Boss Cheng, don't tell me you don't have money either?" Wang Sheng leaned closer to Cheng Xiao and asked quietly.

"I have a little, but not much," Cheng Xiao said after a moment's thought.

His grandfather had stuffed some money into his hands before he came. It was enough for meals, at least.

"That's fine. Having some is better than having none!" Wang Sheng said excitedly upon hearing that Cheng Xiao had money.

They were all Work-study students. He had some money himself, but only enough to treat two people to one meal. Yet if he treated two people, he could hardly leave the third one out, could he?

"You treat Tang San and Xiao Wu," Cheng Xiao said, shaking his head. He had never liked owing people favors.

"Alright! Sister Xiao Wu, Tang San, let's go eat," Wang Sheng said grandly.

Tang San hesitated slightly, but eventually nodded. All the money at home had been taken by Tang Hao to buy alcohol, leaving him utterly penniless. Still, he would not turn down a free meal.

As for Xiao Wu, she blinked her watery eyes. Wang Sheng's generous manner made her think a little more favorably of him, but she was more interested in Cheng Xiao, who could pay for his own meal. They were both newly arrived Work-study students, yet he was somewhat different.

A few minutes later, under Wang Sheng's lead, the group from Dormitory Seven arrived at the cafeteria. It was large enough to accommodate three hundred people—the students of six classes and their teachers.

The moment Cheng Xiao and the others entered the cafeteria, they heard a discordant voice.

"Aren't these those poor Work-study students? Wang Sheng, you think you're worthy of eating in the cafeteria too?"

The sudden mockery stunned the Dormitory Seven group just as they entered. Looking toward the source of the voice, they saw a group of upperclassmen standing on the stairs between the first and second floors, looking down at them.

The one who spoke was Xiao Chenyu, the bully of Nuoding Academy. Of course, a large part of that was because he had a powerful father.

"Wang Sheng, poor trash like you will only ever be fit to eat on the first floor," Xiao Chenyu said. The lackeys gathered around him immediately burst into laughter.

Hearing the harsh laughter, the Work-study students all lowered their heads. They did not have backgrounds as prominent as theirs, and just as Xiao Chenyu had said, they could not afford the food on the second floor.

When the upperclassmen provoked them, Xiao Wu immediately flared up and retorted, "Who do you think you are? What's so great about the second floor?"

"Ooh, what a pretty little loli. Too bad she's a Work-study student. Wang Sheng, I'm going to eat now, so I'll let you poor Work-study students off this time," Xiao Chenyu said with a loud laugh.

With that, the lackeys around Xiao Chenyu wore victorious smiles as they headed for the second-floor dining area, where dishes could be ordered separately.

Seeing them prepare to leave, Xiao Wu, furious beyond measure, lifted her foot to chase after them, but Tang San grabbed her and stopped her.

"Forget it, Xiao Wu. We came here to eat."

"You're that afraid of trouble?" Xiao Wu shot Tang San an unhappy look, then turned to Cheng Xiao, who had remained silent. "That guy bullied us like this. Was I wrong?"

"You were right, but it wasn't the right time." Cheng Xiao glanced at Xiao Chenyu and the others. "There'll always be a chance to beat them up, won't there?"

"Mm..." Xiao Wu thought for a moment. "That actually makes some sense."

Tang San also gained a higher opinion of Cheng Xiao upon hearing this. What he said was not without reason, but from Tang San's adult perspective, this was nothing more than children's squabbling. Besides, he did not want to explain much in response to Xiao Wu's questioning.

Even so, Tang San silently recited the Tang Sect's rules in his heart.

Just then, Tang San spotted someone he knew and hurried over. "Teacher, you came to eat too."

"Yes, Xiao San. Since you're here too, come eat with me on the second floor." Master stroked Tang San's head.

"The second floor..." Tang San looked toward the second floor. Xiao Chenyu's mocking words from earlier echoed in his mind. He looked at Cheng Xiao and the others lining up for food, hesitated, then said, "Teacher, I'd better eat with my roommates."

"Alright, then wait for me at the cafeteria entrance after you finish eating." After saying that, Master headed directly upstairs.

Seeing this, Wang Sheng patted Cheng Xiao, who was standing in front of him in line, on the shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Boss Cheng, Tang San knows Master?"

Cheng Xiao nodded slightly. "Tang San took Master as his teacher."

"What? Tang San took Master as his teacher?" Wang Sheng was shocked. Coincidentally, Tang San, who had come over to line up, heard him.

"Wang Sheng, is there a problem with me taking Master as my teacher?" Tang San asked with a frown.

"Well, Tang San..." Wang Sheng wore a strange expression and stammered, "Master isn't very strong. I heard he only got to stay at the academy because he's close to the dean. To put it bluntly, he's just freeloading. He still hasn't broken through level twenty-nine even at fifty years old. I suggest you find another teacher."

Tang San's expression turned serious. Looking at Wang Sheng, he said, "If you don't want me to knock you down again, then please do not make reckless judgments about my teacher behind his back."

"This is the first time, and the last. I don't think I need your treat anymore."

After saying that, Tang San turned and headed for the second floor. He had initially worried that eating on the second floor with Master would make his roommates unhappy, but now, he no longer cared.

Wang Sheng had not expected Tang San's reaction to be so intense and froze where he stood. Xiao Wu and the other students in line also did not understand why he had acted that way.

Wang Sheng had clearly meant well. After all, they had been at Nuoding Academy for several years. Surely he would not deceive a Work-study student who had only just enrolled?

"Cheng Xiao, has Tang San always been like this?" Xiao Wu asked in confusion.

"I don't know. I'm not familiar with Tang San either. We just happened to meet during enrollment," Cheng Xiao said, shaking his head.

"Boss Cheng, you said Tang San enrolled with you." Wang Sheng seemed to realize something. "He took Master as his teacher. Don't tell me you did too?"

At those words, all the other Work-study students, including Xiao Wu, looked toward Cheng Xiao.

"No." Cheng Xiao did not mind. He told them how Master had wanted to take him as a disciple during enrollment.

After Cheng Xiao finished explaining, the Work-study students from Dormitory Seven had gotten their food as well. Sitting together, they began discussing Master's actions in low voices.

"Damn, Boss Cheng, good thing you weren't interested in martial soul theory." Wang Sheng took a bite of steamed bun and spoke as he chewed. "The teachers cover Master's so-called martial soul theory in class. Master just explains it in more detail."

"Yeah, yeah. Teachers explain that martial soul theory stuff in class anyway. Who takes a master just to learn theory? Then why even come to school?"

"Boss Cheng, Sister Xiao Wu, you're both geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power too. Don't believe Master's words. Nuoding Academy has a Library for learning theory, and if you don't understand something, you can ask the teachers in class. There's really no need to take a master just to learn theory."

The Work-study students of Dormitory Seven chimed in one after another, eating steamed buns and vegetable soup as they talked with great enthusiasm.

Xiao Wu sat beside Cheng Xiao, listening to her roommates gossip. Then she looked at Cheng Xiao, who simply ate without saying a word. For some reason, she found herself increasingly curious about him.