Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Uh… little rabbit!"
"It's so late—what are you doing here instead of sleeping?" Lu Yuan scratched his head in mild confusion. Was this rabbit the type to dig holes at night? No… didn't seem like it.
"Um… are you free now?" Xiao Wu asked, her lips pressing together, tension clear in her soft voice.
"Yes. Did you come to share a drink?" Lu Yuan's eyes lit up, licking his lips in anticipation.
He'd been drinking with old man Chen Xin earlier, but it hadn't been nearly satisfying enough.
"Can you… comb my hair for me?"
Xiao Wu lowered her gaze, holding out a delicate purple trembling wood comb. Her pale, smooth hands trembled slightly under the weight of the moment.
She had lived in the sect for nearly half a year now, and this thought had taken root long ago—but tonight was the night she'd finally muster the courage to act on it.
"That's it?"
Lu Yuan took the comb with a smile and led Xiao Wu to sit in the pavilion.
Combing hair? That was easy!
"Lu Yuan, I…"
Her voice faltered, the rest swallowed before it could leave her lips.
"What is it, little rabbit?" he asked, gathering her silky hair in his hands, already weaving it into the shape in his mind.
"Nothing… just comb my hair," she murmured, biting her lip. Her hands folded lightly over her chest.
Forget it. There would be other opportunities.
Not long after—
"Lu Yuan!"
"This is the hairstyle you made for me?" Xiao Wu's silver teeth clenched in annoyance.
Double ponytails—tight as reins. Too tight.
If she let him continue, she'd probably have no hair left to work with.
"Don't panic, little rabbit. I'm not done yet. Give me a little more time and you'll be satisfied," Lu Yuan said, genuinely believing he'd done a fine job so far.
"Give me the comb," Xiao Wu demanded, hand outstretched.
"It's just the follow-up for the last part—turn your back and I'll finish," Lu Yuan insisted, refusing to hand it over. He wasn't one to abandon a task halfway.
"Give it back!" Pink light flickered instantly in her eyes. Catching him off guard, she lunged and snatched the comb from him.
As she moved, Lu Yuan's fingers flicked her smooth hand lightly. In the same motion, his other arm swept her close into his chest.
"Hey, little rabbit! Where do you think you're going now?"
"Come on, let me finish your hair!" he grinned, already holding the comb again—an item that Xiao Wu once cherished but now eyed with a touch of dread.
Xiao Wu curled her body, toes planting against his side before she sprang backward like a released arrow.
"Fifth spirit ability—Soft Bone Lock!"
Her long, shapely legs hooked around his neck as her lithe body bent downward, locking his ankles in a vice. With a twist of her waist she prepared to flip Lu Yuan head over heels.
"This time, I won't hold back!"
This little rabbit had been provoking him like this for years. A dangerous habit—and yet, somehow, addictive.
Lu Yuan's right hand patted her rounded backside while his left grabbed her thigh, lifting slightly.
Xiao Wu showed off every ounce of her flexibility, her calves tightening around his neck as she swung her body back with raw core strength.
Then—warmth.
Two soft, red lips brushed against his own in a quick, daring kiss. Before he could even enjoy it, the moment vanished.
"That'll teach you to steal my comb."
Her tongue peeked out teasingly as she made a face, then spun and ran off.
Her cheeks burned crimson, her pulse racing so fast she almost heard it out loud.
Lu Yuan stood frozen for a beat, scratching his head.
"Was that… a self-created spirit ability?"
He hadn't seen it coming. Not at all.
Early morning. The Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's fighting spirit arena.
"Today marks the annual Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony. This year, we have another group of sect children qualifying for their awakening…"
Ning Fengzhi addressed the gathered crowd with polite formality. This was a yearly ritual without much excitement—but today was different.
Because of him.
Lu Xiaoyu.
Throughout his speech, Ning Fengzhi's gaze kept drifting toward the boy. He couldn't help the flicker of apprehension—Lu Xiaoyu might pull something as unprecedented as his father did during his awakening.
"Alright, let's begin!" Fengzhi smiled, gesturing to the group of children on stage.
"I'll do it."
Gu Rong rose before the designated Outer Sect elder could move.
Chen Xin chuckled. "The old guy's unusually eager today."
It was obvious why—Gu Rong had taken a liking to Lu Xiaoyu. He wanted to personally oversee the awakening.
As a Titled Douluo, Gu Rong awakened Martial Souls much faster than anyone else. In less than a stick of incense's time, the previous inner sect children were done—all sporting the sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Martial Soul.
As expected—any deviation would have drawn outrage from the soul masters' fathers.
"Xiaoyu, come to Grandpa Bones," Gu Rong beckoned kindly.
"Grandpa Bones, I'm ready!" The boy's eyes shone. He'd been longing for this—dreaming of becoming a soul master, aiming to grow strong.
"Careful, Bone," Chen Xin warned. This was Lu Yuan's son. The memory of Lu Yuan's own awakening and the explosive energy it unleashed was still vivid.
"No worries!" Gu Rong assured, channeling six streams of soul power into the black stone beside Lu Xiaoyu. Light flared instantly.
His eyes widened—the awakening light was full of golden motes, more numerous than any of the other children combined.
A powerful Martial Soul was coming.
Even Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin stood now, watching intently.
Other sect members weren't so calm. Many had witnessed—or at least heard tales of—Lu Yuan's awakening. Seeing those golden motes, they instinctively stepped back.
"Why hasn't Xiaoyu's Martial Soul appeared yet?" Liu Erlong murmured. By now it should have manifested.
Before anyone could answer—
"Wow~"
A sudden, loud cry erupted from behind Lu Xiaoyu, startling nearly everyone in the arena.
--
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