LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 26: Xiao Wu's Request
"Who is your teacher?" Matthew Nuo asked curiously.
"Everyone calls him Sword Douluo, Chen Xin," Ye Feng replied with a faint smile.
"Sword Douluo Chen Xin? The Guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?" Matthew Nuo's expression changed dramatically. Seeing Ye Feng nod, his gaze filled with envy as he continued, "Child, I never imagined you would become a disciple of a Titled Douluo. I suppose this means you have no intention of joining the Spirit Hall, right?"
"My teacher did not insist that I join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. He said my future should be decided by me. For now, I'm content staying at Nuoding Academy," Ye Feng replied calmly.
"That makes sense. Even the Spirit Hall has no reason to forcibly recruit someone from Nuoding Academy. What about you, Xiao Wu? Are you interested in joining the Spirit Hall?" Matthew Nuo turned to Xiao Wu.
"Wherever Ye Feng goes, I'll go," Xiao Wu answered resolutely.
Hearing this, Matthew Nuo shook his head helplessly. Such a childish answer, he thought.
"And you, Tang San?" Matthew Nuo's gaze shifted to Tang San.
"I'm already studying at Nuoding Academy," Tang San declined politely.
"Ah..." Matthew Nuo sighed and muttered, "It's all Su Yuntao's fault. He should have brought you all to the Spirit Hall when you first awakened your martial souls. Well, the evaluations are complete. Xiao Wu and Tang San, congratulations on becoming official Spirit Masters of the Heaven Dou Empire. As for you, Ye Feng, you've now attained the rank of Spirit Elder."
Matthew Nuo handed out the respective badges. "Xiao Wu and Tang San, as Spirit Masters, you'll each receive a monthly allowance of one gold spirit coin. Ye Feng, as a Spirit Elder, your allowance will be 100 gold spirit coins. You can come to the Spirit Hall to claim it every month."
After receiving their badges, Ye Feng, Xiao Wu, and Tang San left the Spirit Hall. As they exited, Xiao Wu, still displeased with Tang San, found an excuse to pull Ye Feng away.
Once they were far from Tang San, Ye Feng asked, "Xiao Wu, do you dislike Tang San?"
Xiao Wu replied without hesitation, "Who would like him? He's timid and selfish. If I weren't a work-study student, I wouldn't want to live under the same roof with him. But now that we can collect our monthly allowances, I won't need to be a work-study student anymore!"
"That's not possible for me," Ye Feng said with a chuckle. "I'll continue as a work-study student."
"Why?" Xiao Wu tilted her head in confusion. "You have a black card and don't need to be a work-study student. Why stay?"
"My teacher emphasized that cultivating one's character is an essential part of a Spirit Master's training. Being a work-study student helps me experience the hardships of the lower classes and develop resilience," Ye Feng explained.
"Then... I'll stay too!" Xiao Wu said after a moment's thought, giving up her earlier resolve.
Later that day, after collecting their allowances, Ye Feng and Xiao Wu went to a restaurant and enjoyed a meal. As they strolled by the artificial lake in Nuoding City afterward, Xiao Wu suddenly spoke up.
"Ye Feng, I want to tell you something."
"Hm? What is it?" Ye Feng asked, turning to face her.
Xiao Wu stopped and looked at him seriously. "Ye Feng, thank you."
"Thank me? For what?" Ye Feng asked, surprised.
"For always staying by my side," Xiao Wu said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Ye Feng smiled and reached out to gently stroke Xiao Wu's soft rabbit ears. This time, instead of dodging, Xiao Wu stood still.
"Ye Feng," she began hesitantly, "we're both orphans. You don't have any family, and neither do I. I've always wanted a relative. How about... I become your sister?"
"What?" Ye Feng looked at her in shock.
In the original storyline, Xiao Wu became Tang San's sworn sister. Now, she wanted to form that bond with him instead?
"Why? You don't want to?" Xiao Wu asked, narrowing her eyes playfully.
"It's not that," Ye Feng said, recovering. "But why do you get to be the elder sister, and I have to be the younger brother?"
"I'm a girl! Of course, I should be the elder sister," Xiao Wu said with a mischievous grin. "Come on, call me Sister Xiao Wu!"
"That won't work," Ye Feng retorted with a grin. "Based on age, your human form is younger than me by a few days. In terms of hierarchy, I'm the leader of Qishe Courtyard No.7, and as a Spirit Elder, I outrank you. So by all rights, you should call me brother."
"Hmph! Can't you let me win this one?" Xiao Wu pouted.
"This isn't about winning. If I'm your younger brother, you'll have to protect me. But if I'm your elder brother, it's my responsibility to protect you," Ye Feng said seriously.
Xiao Wu blinked, surprised by his solemn tone. "Are you serious?" she asked softly.
"Of course," Ye Feng replied firmly.
"What if..." Xiao Wu hesitated, her voice trembling slightly. "What if one day, a lot of people try to kill me, and you can't defeat them?"
"Then they'll have to step over my dead body first," Ye Feng said without hesitation, his tone unwavering. He gently patted her head and added, "Are you worried about your soul beast identity?"
Xiao Wu froze, her eyes widening in shock. "You... How do you know?"
Ye Feng smiled. "You forget I have a Titled Douluo as my teacher. He told me that transformed soul beasts can hide from most people but not from experts like Contras or Titled Douluo. He recognized your true identity right away."
"Then... will you kill me for my spirit ring and bones?" Xiao Wu asked warily, stepping back.
"Kill you?" Ye Feng chuckled. "Why would I kill such an adorable... ahem, rabbit? Keeping you by my side is far more enjoyable."
"You—!" Xiao Wu flushed with anger and embarrassment. "You think of me as a pet rabbit?"
Before her fists could land on him, Ye Feng caught her hand gently. "Xiao Wu, will you be my sister?" he asked earnestly. "If you become my sister, a Titled Douluo and even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will protect you."
Xiao Wu stared at him, her gaze meeting his. After a moment, she softened and muttered, "Fine... I'll be your sister. But I'm not your pet rabbit!"