Be gentle

The senior colonel looked down at Lan Xuanyu beside him and fell silent, dazed by the child's dashing good looks. His short blue hair covered his forehead, his big doe eyes were bright and expressive, and his smooth cheeks were so perfectly rounded they looked like fluffy balloons. Ye Lingtong was already very good looking for a kid, but compared to this little boy, she definitely had to take a step back.

"Hello, uncle," Lan Xuanyu greeted politely.

"Hello, child." The senior colonel reached out to rub Lan Xuanyu's head, his eyes turning gentler.

However, he immediately retracted his hand as soon as he realized how familiar he was acting and gave Lan Xiao an apologetic glance. Lan Xiao merely smiled and shook his head in dismissal. He was already used to everyone getting enamored by his adorable son.

"Daddy!" Ye Lingtong called. She was about to enter the school when she saw her father entertaining another child.

The senior colonel said to Lan Xiao, "My name is Ye Feng."

"Senior colonel, I am Lan Xiao," Lan Xiao replied, his jaw tightening when he realized that he had heard of the senior colonel's name before.

Ye Feng nodded politely before excusing himself to go join his daughter.

"Little friend, it's your turn to register," the teacher in front of them said.

"Hello Teacher, my name is Lan Xuanyu."

"Lan Xuanyu… seven years old, so you're an overage admission, right? Come, test your Spirit Power." 

When the soft white glow reached one chi, the parents behind them went completely silent.

As a subsidiary of Zi Luo City, Heaven Luo Elementary Spirit Masters Academy was undoubtedly the best elementary Spirit Masters institute in Zi Luo City. People there were used to seeing beyond average abilities. However, Lan Xuanyu's abilities exceeded their expectations.

Lan Xuanyu tested as a rank 10, a Spirit Master level. People who are in this rank are officially known as Spirit Masters as they have the ability to own Spirit Rings, Spirit Skills, and have honed their fighting skills.

A seven-year-old at rank 10 was not only an unusual occurrence, but it was also a terrifying scenario.

"You're… well, you're a rank 10. You may enter," the teacher declared, still quite stunned at what happened. 

Ye Lingtong watched Lan Xuanyu with a frown. She was upset that her father had paid attention to another child. He was always busy, rarely at home, and when he finally managed to take the time to bring her to school, he associates with another kid? 

Now, to add to the insult, that kid turned out to be a rank 10.

Ye Lingtong called out to Lan Xuanyu, "Hey!"

Lan Xuanyu turned around to look at her.

"You're rank 10?"

He nodded.

Ye Lingtong lifted her chin proudly. "It's no big deal to be rank 10. I'll reach that rank very soon and surpass you. When I turn seven, I won't just be a rank 10."

She then pushed past and walked inside the school.

"Oh." Lan Xuanyu followed behind her, a bit confused by her attitude.

There was already a teacher in uniform waiting for them inside, ushering students to their respective rooms.

"What do you mean 'oh'? You're not convinced?" Ye Lingtong turned and glared at him.

Lan Xuanyu shook his head.

It was only then that Ye Lingtong was able to see his face clearly. He was really good looking. Unfortunately, all she could think about was her dad giving him the attention that he should've given her and the loving look on his face as he did so. Remembering that her dad was never that gentle towards her just fueled her anger more.

Ye Lingtong waved him over. "Come here." 

Lan Xuanyu walked over to her. "What is it?" 

Ye Lingtong said, "Let me pinch your face." He might be a rank 10 but she's been studying ancient martial arts since she was little, she's confident that she could take him.

However, she didn't expect Lan Xuanyu's response.

"Just be gentle," Lan Xuanyu said, sounding like he was used to saying this a lot - which he was. He had a bit of baby fat and that fair, rosy little face of his had been pinched by countless people.

Ye Lingtong was a little taken aback, but she still reached out and pinched Lan Xuanyu's cheek hard. It was odd, though, that after touching his skin, the anger that Ye Lingtong was feeling dissipated.

"That hurts!" Lan Xuanyu exclaimed. He took a step back and looked at her accusingly. "You're mean."

"So what?" Ye Lingtong stubbornly challenged.

Lan Xuanyu rubbed his face and told her seriously, "I don't like mean people so I don't like you."

"I don't need you to like me," she said disdainfully before leaving.

Lan Xuanyu was puzzled at her behavior, unsure of how he offended her.

There were over a hundred newcomers and they would be split into six classes. Each class has 20 to 30 students with one form teacher, who would be in charge of teaching, and one assistant teacher who would be in charge of their lifestyles. 

The class allocation test was easier than expected since all they had to do was release their spirit. It was made easy on purpose as the school only wanted to understand the students' spirits so they could be put into the appropriate classes.

"First grade, class one, offensive type. Please come over when your name is called. Ye Lingtong…"

...

"First grade, class two, control type. Please come over when your name is called… Lan Xuanyu…"

The elementary Spirit Masters academy's teaching doesn't include Spirit Masters working together yet. It was mainly focused on the understanding of spirits and cultivation methods to improve themselves.

Lan Xuanyu, who possessed the 'Blue Silver Grass' spirit, was naturally assigned to class two of the first grade - a class that teaches them how to control their spirits.

Class two of the first grade had a total of 26 students and were all control-type students. After Lan Xuanyu was allocated to the class, he didn't see Ye Lingtong again.

Just as well, when Lan Xiao came to fetch Lan Xuanyu from school, he didn't see either Ye Feng or Ye Lingtong.

"What did you learn today?" Lan Xiao asked his son as they got in the car.

"We got to know our classmates. Daddy, I'm in class two of the first grade so don't go to the wrong place when you fetch me next time, okay?"

"Did you make any new friends?"

Lan Xuanyu nodded. "My classmates were very nice to me. Daddy, I would like to ask you a question."

"What is it?" 

"Daddy, can I refuse someone who wants to pinch my face next time? I don't really like it," Lan Xuanyu confessed.

Lan Xiao was surprised for a second but he quickly recovered and reassured his son, "Of course, you can! It is your choice."