Chapter 9: Xiao Chenyu

After some effort, Zhao Ming managed to merge his and Xiao Wu's beds. His bedding, made for an adult, was indeed large, covering about ninety percent of both beds.

"Why is your bedding so big?" Xiao Wu asked in surprise. She hadn't noticed when it was folded.

"I like to kick the covers and roll around in bed, so, of course, I need a bigger blanket," Zhao Ming joked, glancing at Xiao Wu.

"Really?" Xiao Wu said skeptically, looking at the beds. She placed her bundle in the middle and drew an imaginary line with her hand.

"See this line? It's the boundary. If you cross it, don't blame me for being unkind," Xiao Wu warned, playfully raising her fist.

"Well, I can't say for sure. I told you I roll around in my sleep, so I can't guarantee what might happen," Zhao Ming teased, recalling childhood memories of imaginary boundaries with a female desk mate.

Cross the line, and you're a beast.

Don't cross, and you're worse than a beast.

Which would you choose?

"You!" Xiao Wu's eyes widened. She felt like she was in a wolf's den, but there didn't seem to be a better place.

"Hmph, you better behave!"

"It's lunchtime, Boss, Xiao Wu, let's go," Wang Sheng suggested.

At the mention of food, Xiao Wu jumped up excitedly. "Great! What's for lunch?"

Wang Sheng and the other working students exchanged glances and smiled wryly. "We working students don't get much. We just buy cheap meals in the cafeteria."

Xiao Wu's excitement faltered. "Do we have to pay for meals? With soul coins?"

Wang Sheng held back a laugh, realizing Xiao Wu was likely short on funds. "Of course, meals cost money. Who gives free lunches?"

"You call me Boss, so I can't be stingy. I'll treat everyone today; eat whatever you want," Zhao Ming offered generously, noticing Xiao Wu's predicament.

Hu Liena's storage ring contained quite a bit of money, around three thousand gold soul coins, more than enough for Zhao Ming. Besides money, it also held personal items, which Zhao Ming wasn't interested in. His focus was on winning over Xiao Wu for a happy life, with no ulterior motives.

At this, Xiao Wu beamed and patted Zhao Ming's shoulder, realizing the necessity of soul coins in the human world.

A group of eleven headed to the cafeteria, led by Wang Sheng. The cafeteria was in the teaching building, across the playground.

The playground was bustling with students in academy uniforms heading to the cafeteria.

Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy's cafeteria was large enough to accommodate over three hundred people, including six classes and teachers. The first-floor hall alone had three hundred seats.

"Isn't that Wang Sheng and his group of paupers?" A discordant voice came from the second floor as Zhao Ming and his group entered the cafeteria.

Zhao Ming looked up to see a group watching from above.

"Paupers will always be paupers, never dining on the second floor," the voice mocked.

Xiao Wu, infuriated by the arrogance, retorted, "What's so great about the second floor?"

"Such a pretty little loli, but a working student. Wang Sheng, I'm off to eat, so I'll let you off this time," said a handsome eleven or twelve-year-old boy, eyes gleaming.

"Who says we can't eat on the second floor? I'm treating; we're all going upstairs," Zhao Ming declared coldly.

The second floor had expensive meals, typically affordable only to noble students, not ordinary or working students.

"Wang Sheng, taking orders? Not your style. Can't even beat this kid?" the boy taunted.

"Who's he? So arrogant?" Xiao Wu asked angrily, eager to step up.

"He's Xiao Chenyu, the top student here. He's the ringleader in bullying us," Wang Sheng whispered to Zhao Ming.

"Is bullying allowed just because he's strong?" Xiao Wu widened her eyes, puzzled.

"The school doesn't care about these things. As long as there's no major trouble, they leave it alone," Wang Sheng sighed.

"Don't worry. As your boss, I won't let you be mistreated. Let's go," Zhao Ming said, leading the way upstairs.

"Wow, they're really coming up. Do they even have money for food? Don't put on a brave face," Xiao Chenyu sneered.

"They're my followers now. Show some respect," Zhao Ming frowned as he reached the second floor.

"Or what? You want to fight me? Fine, beat me, and I'll give you face. Otherwise, why should I?" Xiao Chenyu laughed arrogantly.

"Then I'll teach you a lesson today," Zhao Ming said coldly.

With that, he stepped forward, releasing his soul master's power.

"You're a soul master too?" Xiao Chenyu's expression changed upon sensing Zhao Ming's power. He hadn't expected this new kid to be a soul master.

The other students around Xiao Chenyu were equally shocked. In Nuoding Academy, Xiao Chenyu was the only known soul master. Now another, even younger, soul master appeared.

"Hmph, so what if you're a soul master? You must've just gotten your soul ring. How can you compare to me?" Xiao Chenyu scoffed, releasing his martial soul.

A green glow enveloped Xiao Chenyu as his muscles swelled, his eyes turned light green, and his arms lifted with sharp claws. A white soul ring rose at his feet, the mark of a martial soul possession.

"Xiao Chenyu, sixth-grade student, martial soul: wolf. Level eleven, one-ring battle soul master."

"Zhao Ming, first-grade student, martial soul: puppet. Level eleven, one-ring battle soul master."

As Zhao Ming announced his martial soul, everyone showed puzzled expressions. They hadn't heard of such a martial soul.

But soon, they were even more astonished.

As Zhao Ming's soul power surged, a unique orange soul ring appeared beneath him.

An orange soul ring? What was that?

The students gaped at Zhao Ming, as if he were a monster.

"What kind of freak is this?" Xiao Chenyu cursed internally.

"Boss, crush him. He's just a first-grader, probably bluffing," a senior student urged.

"Shut up," Xiao Chenyu snapped.

How could this be?

Zhao Ming's soul ring defied their understanding of martial souls.

Moreover, being in the first grade meant he was only six or seven, yet he had reached soul master level. This was unprecedented in Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy's history. And his martial soul was unheard of.

•~~~•~~~•~~~•~~~•

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁: '𝗕𝗼𝗴𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂' 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 $5 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗿.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁: '𝗝𝗰1202' 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 $5 𝗧𝗶𝗲𝗿.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 35+ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:

𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝗚𝗼𝗱𝗢𝗳𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿