NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Chapter 26: Xiao Wu's Request
"Who is your teacher?" Matthew asked.
"Everyone calls him Sword Douluo," Ye Feng replied.
"Sword Douluo? The Guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Sword Douluo Chen Xin?" Matthew's expression shifted drastically. When he saw Ye Feng nod, his face was full of envy. He continued, "Kid, I didn't expect you to be under a Titled Douluo. I guess you have no plans to join the Spirit Hall, huh?"
"My teacher didn't make me join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. He said my future is my own choice. But for now, I'm doing fine at Notting Academy, so I don't feel like leaving," Ye Feng replied.
"That makes sense. Even the Spirit Hall has no reason to barge into Notting Academy and snatch people. What about you, Xiao Wu? Are you willing to join the Spirit Hall?" Matthew turned his gaze toward her.
"Wherever Ye Feng goes, I go," Xiao Wu answered.
Matthew shook his head helplessly. This girl is still a kid. That's a childish answer if I've ever heard one.
"What about you, Tang San?" Matthew asked.
"I... I'm already studying at Notting Academy," Tang San declined.
"Ugh, damn it." Matthew sighed and shook his head in frustration. "It's all Su Yuntao's fault. That idiot should've brought all of you straight to the Spirit Hall." He rubbed his temples before continuing, "Well, your evaluation is done. From now on, Xiao Wu and Tang San, you are officially recognized as spirit masters of the Heaven Dou Empire. As for you, Ye Feng, you are now a recognized Spirit Grandmaster. You can all collect your monthly stipends from the Spirit Hall with these badges I'm about to give you. Tang San and Xiao Wu, as newly recognized spirit masters, will receive one gold spirit coin per month. Ye Feng, as a Spirit Grandmaster, you'll receive twenty gold spirit coins monthly."
After receiving their Spirit Hall badges, Xiao Wu, Tang San, and Ye Feng left together. As soon as they stepped out, Xiao Wu grabbed Ye Feng's hand and pulled him away, making sure to put some distance between them and Tang San.
Once they were far enough, Ye Feng finally asked, "Xiao Wu, do you really dislike Tang San that much?"
Xiao Wu didn't hesitate. "Who the hell would like him? He's a coward and selfish as hell. If I weren't a part-time student, I wouldn't even want to live under the same roof as him. Oh, and since we're getting monthly stipends now, we don't need to be part-time students anymore!"
"That's not happening. You can quit if you want, but I'm staying as a part-time student," Ye Feng replied.
"Why?" Xiao Wu tilted her head in confusion. "You've got that black card with unlimited money, so why bother? Unless..." She narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Are you actually a young master from some big family, just out here playing poor?"
"Something like that." Ye Feng chuckled. "My teacher says training the mind is just as important as training the body. He believes working students, being at the bottom of society, develop strong character. That's why he told me to keep being a part-time student."
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "Well, in that case... I'll stick with you. Let's train our character together, then!"
After receiving their monthly stipend from the Spirit Hall, Ye Feng and Xiao Wu treated themselves to a nice meal at a restaurant. Later, they took a leisurely stroll by a man-made lake in Notting City.
"Ye Feng, I need to talk to you about something," Xiao Wu suddenly said.
"Hm? What's up?" Ye Feng asked.
Xiao Wu stopped walking and turned to face him directly, her expression unusually serious.
"Ye Feng, thank you." Her voice was filled with genuine gratitude.
"For what?" Ye Feng asked, raising an eyebrow.
"For always being with me," she said softly.
Ye Feng chuckled. "What's with this all of a sudden?" He reached out and gently flicked her rabbit ears. They were soft, smooth, and warm to the touch.
Xiao Wu's ears were incredibly sensitive, but surprisingly, she didn't flinch or pull away.
"Ye Feng, you don't have any family, right? And neither do I. We're both orphans... I've always wanted to have someone I could call family. So... how about I be your sister?" Xiao Wu suggested.
"Ah?" Ye Feng looked at her in surprise.
Wait... In the original storyline, Xiao Wu and Tang San became sworn siblings. But now, with me here, she wants to be my sister instead?
"What's with that face? You don't want to?" Xiao Wu frowned.
"It's not that... but why do you get to be the big sister and I have to be the little brother?" Ye Feng smirked.
"I'm a lady, duh. So obviously, I'm the older one! Now hurry up and call me 'big sister' a few times!" Xiao Wu grinned playfully.
"Hell no. By age, your 'human' age is younger than mine. By academy ranking, I'm still the boss of Dormitory 7. And by spirit master ranking, I'm a Spirit Grandmaster, while you're just a regular spirit master. At the very least, you should be calling me big brother," Ye Feng argued with a grin.
"Hmph! I want to be the big sister! Can't you just let me have this?" Xiao Wu pouted and crossed her arms, giving him a sulky glare.
"This is about principles." Ye Feng kept a straight face. "If I were the younger brother, that would mean you have to protect me. But if I were the big brother, then it's my responsibility to protect you."
Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment. "Are you serious?"
"Of course. This is important." Ye Feng's tone was firm.
Xiao Wu hesitated, then asked in a low voice, "Then... if one day, a lot of people come after me, trying to kill me... and you can't beat them... what then?"
Ye Feng answered without hesitation. "Then they'll have to step over my dead body before they can even touch you." His voice was calm but unwavering, like an unshakable promise. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "Are you talking about your identity as a spirit beast?"
Xiao Wu's breath hitched. Her body stiffened as she took a step back, eyes wide with shock. She stammered, "How... How do you know?"
"You forgot I have a master who's a Titled Douluo," Ye Feng said casually. "He told me that while transformed spirit beasts can hide from regular spirit masters, they can't fool a Spirit Douluo or a Titled Douluo. My master saw through you immediately."
Xiao Wu's hands trembled slightly. "Then... do you want to kill me? Take my spirit ring and my spirit bone?" she asked, her voice filled with fear.
Ye Feng sighed and shook his head. "Wrong. If anything, I just want to squeeze you and keep you all to myself. There's no way I'd kill such a cute little... uh, rabbit. Just having you around is already a blessing." His eyes were filled with nothing but warmth.
Xiao Wu's face turned red with anger. "You bastard! You're treating me like a damn pet?!" She raised her tiny fists to punch him, but before she could land a hit, Ye Feng caught her hand with a smirk.
"Xiao Wu, are you willing to be my sister?" He looked into her eyes seriously. "If you do, then not only will you have me protecting you, but my teacher, a Titled Douluo, and even the entire Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will have your back."
Their eyes locked. Xiao Wu saw nothing but sincerity in Ye Feng's gaze. After a moment, she sighed and muttered, "Fine... but only as your sister. Not your pet rabbit!"
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