"You'd better think this through." Grandmaster frowned slightly and urged him solemnly, "Soul Beasts are no ordinary wild animals. They're far more dangerous than you realize! The First Soul Ring concerns the foundation of a Soul Master, so it's very, very important. You still know little about the Soul Ring system. Even if you were lucky enough to kill a Soul Beast, in the end you'd most likely only be able to absorb a Soul Ring of no great age."
Grandmaster looked up at Han Qiu, only to find the youth's gaze clear and his resolve utterly firm, without the slightest wavering.
He let out a soft sigh. He understood that Han Qiu had already made up his mind.
That stubborn, unyielding look was all too familiar to him. It was just like his younger self, who would never turn back until he had run headlong into a wall.
If Han Qiu had known what Grandmaster was thinking, he would surely have shaken his head again and again.
Grandmaster, don't go saying things like that. I'm not like you. Back then, your father chose a dragon-type Soul Beast for your First Soul Ring, but you outright gave it up. And what on earth did you end up with?
You were stubbornly clinging to your own ideas. I've got a well-laid plan, all right?
After a brief silence, Grandmaster took a deep breath and slowly said, "Very well, let's leave it at that. Before you obtain your First Soul Ring, I still advise you to learn the basics about Soul Beasts and Soul Rings before making a decision... For Little San's sake, if you ever have any questions about Martial Souls, Soul Beasts, or Soul Rings, you can come and ask me."
He genuinely admired Han Qiu, whose maturity far surpassed that of his peers, which was why he was willing to offer patient guidance. Had it been an ordinary arrogant child, he would not have deigned to waste his breath.
Han Qiu immediately grinned and readily agreed. "Thank you for the advice, Grandmaster. I was just planning to study Soul Beasts and Soul Rings thoroughly over the next few days."
Seeing that he was willing to apply himself to his studies, Grandmaster nodded slightly.
These were all part of the basic coursework at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy anyway, so there was really no need for him to teach Han Qiu himself.
Grandmaster then took the two of them to the academic affairs office to complete their enrollment, register as students, collect their academy uniforms, and receive their dorm assignments.
The dorm assignments were finally settled. Tang San was assigned to the dorm on the seventh floor, filling its last place. The dorm was now full, with no vacancies left.
"That makes things a little difficult. Han Qiu, all the beds in Dorm Seven are already taken." Director Su of the academic affairs office looked at Han Qiu with a troubled expression.
Han Qiu knew that Dorm Seven was exclusively for work-study students and was notorious throughout the academy for its rudimentary conditions. He had never wanted to go there in the first place, and now he had a perfectly good reason not to.
"Director Su, since there aren't any beds, couldn't you just put me in another dorm?" Han Qiu asked calmly.
"It's not that simple." Director Su shot him a helpless glance. "The only beds left are in Dorm Six, where the noble children live. You're a work-study student. The rules don't allow me to put you in there."
Han Qiu couldn't help chuckling. "Why not?"
"I told you, you're a work-study student. You're not qualified to live there. Those are the academy's rules." Director Su's voice took on a note of impatience.
"Oh?" Han Qiu took out a Gold Soul Coin and casually blew on it. "What did you just say?"
Director Su's gaze fell on the Gold Soul Coin, and he abruptly froze. He coughed twice and changed his tune. "Well... rules are rigid, but people are flexible. It's not entirely beyond discussion."
"That's more like it." Han Qiu gently tossed the Gold Soul Coin onto the desk and feigned surprise. "Director Su, this is the Gold Soul Coin you dropped, isn't it?"
Director Su froze and drew a sharp breath to himself.
Good heavens! Is he really a six-year-old? He's even more practiced at this sort of thing than I am.
He put the Gold Soul Coin away without a flicker of expression, then put on a stern face and said seriously, "Ahem, all right. You're a perceptive lad, and you've got a great future ahead of you. Go to Dorm Six. I'll notify the teacher in charge of the dorms and have him make the arrangements."
Han Qiu took the neatly folded uniform, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth, and turned to leave the academic affairs office.
Not long after Han Qiu left, a young man's sneer rang out in the office.
"That kid's just asking for trouble. He's a work-study student with a little money, and he thinks he can squeeze his way into Dorm Six?" The young man's face was full of disdain. "And his companion actually took that Grandmaster as his teacher. His theories are supposedly unmatched? What utter nonsense... And those so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul are even more absurd and laughable... I don't know how he still has the nerve to sponge off the academy..."
Director Su immediately glared at him and warned him in a low voice, "Grandmaster is an old friend of the academy head. Don't criticize him so carelessly. In the field of Martial Soul research, Grandmaster has a great reputation. He's not someone you can afford to look down on... If the academy head hears you, I'm afraid you'll be in for it."
The young man awkwardly changed the subject, though he remained unconvinced. "But that kid has no idea of his own place if he wants to go to Dorm Six. It's full of noble children, and they've always looked down on work-study students. Once he's there, I'm afraid he'll just be at their beck and call... And he even went out of his way to use a Gold Soul Coin to grease the wheels for it. He's paying to make himself suffer. I really can't understand what kids these days are thinking."
Director Su said nothing, but he pondered it to himself. Once the brat got into Dorm Six, the noble children were bound to make things difficult for him. He would probably have to suffer for it.
Han Qiu stepped out of the office. Grandmaster was waiting in the corridor, and when he saw him come out, he casually asked, "Is your dorm assignment settled? I heard Director Su was having trouble just now. Wasn't Dorm Seven already full?"
"Yes, it's settled. I was assigned to Dorm Six," Han Qiu replied casually.
Grandmaster was slightly taken aback, and his brows suddenly drew together. "Dorm Six? That's the dorm for noble children. Why would Director Su put you there? The academy rules are clear: work-study students aren't allowed in Dorm Six."
Han Qiu merely smiled faintly. Rather than explain the reason, he glossed over it. "Perhaps Director Su saw that my circumstances were special and made an exception."
Grandmaster stared at him for a moment. Seeing that Han Qiu was unwilling to say more, he did not press him, but he made a mental note of the matter.
Though he was engrossed in Martial Soul Theory, he was also familiar with the academy's social dealings. Some things were better left unsaid for everyone's sake.
"Since your dorm assignments are settled, go and put your luggage away first. There's a basic Martial Soul class this afternoon, so remember to be in the classroom on time," Grandmaster reminded them. He turned to Tang San. "Tang San, come with me. I'll take you to Dorm Seven first, so you can meet the other work-study students there."
Tang San quickly nodded, then looked at Han Qiu. "Han Qiu, I'll see you in class this afternoon. Most of the noble children in Dorm Six are proud, so be careful."
"Don't worry. You don't think I'd let those little brats bully me, do you?" Han Qiu waved a hand.
The two parted ways.
Han Qiu followed the signs to Dorm Six. Unlike the old, shabby Dorm Seven, Dorm Six was built entirely of smoothly polished white stone. The corridor was clean and bright, and there was even a faint scent of perfumed balm in the air.
The dorm supervisor had received Director Su's message, but a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes when he saw Han Qiu. The child before him wore plain cloth clothes and did not look like a noble child at all.
But Director Su had given him specific instructions, so he did not question Han Qiu further and led him straight to Dorm Six.
Dorm Six was on the second floor of the dormitory building. The bottom three floors contained seven dorms in total, reserved for students.
Han Qiu walked slowly to the entrance of Dorm Six, and the noisy chatter inside reached his ears clearly.