It was noon, and Dorm Seven had been quiet for quite a while. Wang Sheng rubbed his growling stomach and loudly suggested, "Come on, let's go eat! New boss, Tang San, Lin Yan, come along. My treat-consider it a welcome meal!"
Still excited about becoming the boss, Xiao Wu immediately responded with a delighted bounce. "Yes, yes! Let's eat! What tasty things are there?" Tang San glanced at Xiao Wu and nodded as well. Lin Yan had intended to go straight to the library, but considering that he had only just arrived and being too unsociable would draw attention instead, he agreed too.
Led by Wang Sheng, the group headed toward the cafeteria. By the time they arrived, long lines had already formed at the serving windows.
"Well, if it isn't Wang Sheng and his bunch of paupers?" The group had only just entered the cafeteria when a jarring voice rang out.
Lin Yan looked toward the voice and saw a group standing on the stairs between the first and second floors, looking down at them from above.
"Paupers will always be paupers. You'll probably never get to eat on the second floor."
As the boss, Xiao Wu immediately stepped forward. "What's so great about the second floor?"
A work-study student beside Xiao Wu hurriedly tugged at her clothes and whispered in her ear, "You order individual dishes on the second floor. It's very expensive. We can't afford it."
Earlier, Xiao Wu had been behind everyone, blocked from view. Only when she stepped forward did the older students upstairs notice such a cute little girl, and they immediately started making lewd remarks. "What a pretty little girl. Too bad she's a work-study student! Wang Sheng, I'm going to eat now, so I'll let you off this time."
With that, the group headed up the stairs to the second floor.
Furious at being teased, Xiao Wu lifted her foot to chase after them, only for Tang San to grab her and hold her back.
"Forget it. We're here to eat."
Xiao Wu gave Tang San a somewhat disdainful look.
"Are you that afraid of trouble?"
Seeing Xiao Wu's scornful gaze, Lin Yan laughed inwardly.
Tang San, afraid of trouble? He simply didn't care about these childish antics.
From what Lin Yan knew of Tang San in the original story, if those people had mocked someone he cared about, they would probably all be lying on the floor by now.
He had to admit that Tang San really did treat the people he cared about quite well.
Just then, Tang San spotted someone familiar and hurried over.
"Teacher, you've come to eat too."
The person who had arrived was none other than Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang looked their way, and Lin Yan offered a simple greeting as well. "Grandmaster."
Yu Xiaogang nodded to Tang San and Lin Yan, then asked Tang San, "Have you gotten everything settled?"
Tang San nodded respectfully. "Thank you for the bedding, Teacher."
Yu Xiaogang patted his shoulder and said, "Come eat with me on the second floor. Then I'll take you to my place so you'll know the way."
Tang San shook his head. "No, Teacher. I'll eat with my roommates."
After all, this was Dorm Seven's first meal together, so it would not be right for Tang San to go off on his own.
Yu Xiaogang did not insist. He nodded and said, "Good. You're doing the right thing. Go on! Wait for me at the cafeteria entrance after you finish eating."
With that, he headed straight up to the second floor. Clearly, Tang San was the only one Grandmaster cared about. Of course, Lin Yan did not mind either.
They watched Yu Xiaogang disappear from view.
Wang Sheng came over to Tang San. "You know Grandmaster?"
Tang San nodded. "He's my teacher."
Lin Yan knew that if Wang Sheng kept talking, Tang San might decide that Wang Sheng already had a way to court death. Wang Sheng had said earlier that he would look out for him, so he might as well give him a hand.
Lin Yan hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Wang Sheng.
"Brother Sheng, there's a spot free over there. Let's get our food."
With that, he pulled Wang Sheng away, forcibly dragging back the words Wang Sheng had been about to say.
Next, they got a few simple dishes and pooled them together to eat. Wang Sheng and the others wolfed down their food, and Xiao Wu stood on no ceremony either, picking out the best bits and eating with great relish. Tang San's table manners were fairly refined, but he ate quickly too.
After eating a little food to replenish his strength, Lin Yan asked Wang Sheng, "Brother Sheng, do you know where the academy library is?"
With his mouth stuffed full of food, Wang Sheng pointed vaguely in a direction. "Mm... it's the little white two-story building behind the teaching building. Lin Yan, you're done eating? You're going to the library already?"
"Yes. I want to familiarize myself with the place first. Take your time eating." Lin Yan stood, nodded to everyone, and prepared to leave the cafeteria.
At that point, Tang San also said he was finished eating and would go wait for Grandmaster at the cafeteria entrance, lest Grandmaster finish his meal, fail to find him, and have to wait for him. Tang San and Lin Yan then rose and left together, though they had different destinations: Tang San was heading to the cafeteria entrance, while Lin Yan was heading to the library.
Watching Lin Yan, Wang Sheng sighed. "His Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and his innate soul power is only half a level. He probably thinks there's no hope in cultivation and wants to read more books instead. He's pretty pitiful too."
Hearing this, everyone else sighed along with him but said nothing. Xiao Wu blinked her large eyes and said to herself, "Blue Silver Grass? Half a level? That really would make cultivation difficult!"
Following Wang Sheng's directions, Lin Yan soon found the somewhat quiet little white two-story building-the Nuoding Academy library. Compared with the dormitories and teaching building, it was indeed much more deserted.
He found the librarian, an old man wearing reading glasses and looking rather languid, explained why he had come, and showed him Teacher Mo Hen's permission.
The old man merely lifted his eyelids. "Work-study duties don't begin until the day after tomorrow. Why have you come today?"
"I thought that since I'd have to come work here sooner or later, I might as well come early and familiarize myself with things."
The old man grunted in acknowledgment and asked no further questions. He pointed at a row of bookshelves. "A work-study student's job is to organize those shelves, put the books students return back in their places, and keep things clean. Come at this time every day. Once you finish your work, you may read on your own, but you must not damage the books or take them out."
"Oh, and one more thing. You're not allowed upstairs without permission. Remember that."
"All right, I'll remember. Thank you," Lin Yan replied respectfully.