Tang Yin flopped onto the bed the moment he entered his dorm room, sighing in satisfaction as he stretched out like a lazy cat. "I'll rest for a bit, then explore the academy," he murmured to himself. Just as his eyes began to close, a low grumbling echoed through the room.
Grrrrrr…
Tang Yin blinked and turned his head—only to catch Xiao Wu holding her stomach, her face turning red as she noticed his gaze.
"Hehe," Tang Yin chuckled. "You're like a hungry little bunny."
Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed even deeper. "Stop staring!" she huffed, and with a dramatic pout, she lunged forward and bit his arm—not hard, but enough to leave a mark.
Tang Yin pretended to wince and laughed again. "You really are a wild bunny, aren't you?"
She pouted harder.
Feeling amused and slightly guilty, Tang Yin smiled. "Alright, alright. Xiao Wu, let's go to the cafeteria together. I heard the food here is really good."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up instantly, but she hesitated, patting her empty pockets. "Umm… this is embarrassing. I don't have any money."
Tang Yin raised a brow, then smirked mischievously. "In that case, how about this—I'll be your food sponsor from now on, but in return… I get to call you 'Bunny.' Deal?"
Xiao Wu gasped. "W-What?!" She crossed her arms and turned her head away with a flustered huff. "You're taking advantage of me… Fine. But only in private!"
Tang Yin's grin widened as excitement rushed through him. God help me, he thought, trying to suppress his wild imagination. She's too cute!
Just then, Wang Sheng and his minions approached. "Hey, can we join you guys—?"
"Nope!" Tang Yin cut him off without hesitation. "Xiao Wu and I are exploring the academy alone today."
He gently took Xiao Wu's hand and led her out, their fingers entwined as they wandered through the campus toward the cafeteria.
Cafeteria – Second Floor
Tang Yin confidently led Xiao Wu to the second floor and claimed a table by the window. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow through the glass, bathing the space in golden light. Once seated, he leaned forward, his expression suddenly serious—surprisingly so.
"Listen, Xiao Wu," he said, his tone firm but gentle. "If anyone dares to bully you, you come to me—understand? And don't do anything reckless. Promise me."
Xiao Wu blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his sudden shift in tone. She didn't fully understand why he sounded so protective, but deep down, she knew her fiery temper often got the better of her. So, without argument, she gave a small, sincere nod.
"…Okay," she said quietly, her voice unusually soft.
Tang Yin smiled, satisfied. "Good girl."
Xiao Wu's cheeks reddened again. "Hmph! Don't talk to me like I'm a kid."
Tang Yin only chuckled in response, leaning back as the waiter approached with their food.
When the waiter arrived, Tang Yin ordered a plate of fresh carrots and assorted vegetables for Xiao Wu and roasted chicken for himself.
As the food arrived, Xiao Wu blinked in surprise. "How did you know I like carrots?" she asked, squinting suspiciously.
Tang Yin hesitated for a beat, then grinned teasingly. "You just give off bunny energy. I figured you'd love carrots."
Steam practically burst from Xiao Wu's ears. "Hmph!"
Tang Yin laughed, waving his hand. "Okay, okay, truth is… I noticed that carrot-shaped clip in your hair."
Xiao Wu huffed and turned away—but a small smile tugged at her lips.
After finishing their meal, they explored the academy for another hour before returning to the dormitory. Inside, they spotted a new face—Tang San.
Xiao Wu glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. He looked oddly similar to Tang Yin but was thinner and wearing ragged clothes. She didn't care much and stepped forward boldly. "Hi! I'm Xiao Wu, the new boss of the working students. Ready for a duel?"
Tang Yin nearly burst out laughing. She's challenging him already?!
Tang San, caught off guard, blinked in confusion. "No thanks," he muttered. "I've got more important things to do than fight children."
With that, he pulled out a piece of rice paper, unwrapped it, and began munching on some fragrant, roasted rabbit meat—while throwing a smug glance at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu's eyes widened. "R-Rabbit meat?!" Her face twisted in a mix of horror and fury. "You…!"
Tang Yin's eyes widened the moment he saw Xiao Wu's fists clench and her aura flare with fury.
Oh no… she's really going to beat the living daylights out of him!
Panic surged through him. If Tang San gets hurt… Tang Hao will lose it. And if he finds out Xiao Wu's true identity—her soul bone—he'll kill her without hesitation.
Without wasting another second, Tang Yin sprang into action. He slipped in front of Xiao Wu and gently grabbed her wrist,
Before she could launch herself at Tang San, Tang Yin quickly pulled her back, whispering urgently, "Easy, Bunny! Don't hit him. His brain's been a little… off since childhood. Just ignore him."
Xiao Wu glared at Tang San, who continued munching like he'd done nothing wrong. Her disgust was clear.
Tang San, for reasons he didn't understand, felt a pang in his chest watching Tang Yin and Xiao Wu together.
Unbeknownst to all, Tang Yin had subtly influenced Tang San's personality ever since entering Nuoding Academy. Once portrayed as polite and reserved boy, Tang San had gradually become more irritable and impulsive. Tang Yin had even suggested he eat rabbit meat regularly—purely for "nutrition," of course.
Later, once Xiao Wu calmed down, Tang Yin remembered something important. "Time to pay some people a visit," he said, slipping out with a sly grin.
At the gate, he found the same annoying gatekeeper loitering around. Spotting a brawny city guard on patrol, Tang Yin didn't hesitate. With a flicker of spiritual energy, he took control of the guard and whispered coldly:
"Take this trash to the slums… and feed his balls to the hounds."
The guard nodded blankly and dragged the screaming gatekeeper away.
Grandmaster's Dormitory
Knock. Knock.
"Come in," came a voice from inside.
Tang Yin entered Yu Xiaogang's room without delay, practically bouncing with excitement. "Grandmaster! I want to go to the Soul Hunting Forest with Tang San!"
Yu Xiaogang raised an eyebrow, ready to decline out of spite—until a sudden wave of mental influence hit him. His eyes softened.
"Ah… yes, of course," he said with an uncharacteristic smile. "That's a wonderful idea."
Tang Yin grinned. Everything is going according to plan.