Notting Junior Soul Master Academy's work-student dormitory was loud, cramped, and chaotic—exactly as Master had described.
Bunk beds lined the walls, and the air smelled faintly of sweat and dust. Several older boys sat sprawled across beds, laughing loudly. The moment Lin Chen and Tang San stepped inside, the noise dipped.
Then—
The door creaked open again.
A girl walked in.
She had neat black hair tied into a high ponytail, long legs, and eyes so bright they seemed to reflect light itself. Her movements were casual, almost lazy, yet every step carried an instinctive confidence.
Xiao Wu.
Tang San stiffened slightly.
Lin Chen's gaze, however, sharpened—not with surprise, but recognition.
Soft Bone Rabbit… 100,000-year soul beast in human form.And still so careless.
"Hey," Xiao Wu said cheerfully, hands behind her back. "Is this the work-student dorm?"
One of the older boys snorted. "It is. And who are you supposed to be, little sister?"
Xiao Wu smiled sweetly.
Then she kicked.
The boy flew backward, slamming into the wall with a dull thud, sliding down unconscious.
Silence.
Xiao Wu clapped her hands. "Great! I'll take that bed."
The remaining boys erupted in anger.
"Get her!""Don't hold back!"
Soul power flared.
Tang San stepped forward instinctively—but Lin Chen placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll handle this," Lin Chen said calmly.
Xiao Wu turned, eyes lighting up with interest. "Oh? You?"
Before anyone could react, Lin Chen took one step forward.
No martial spirit was summoned.
No soul ring appeared.
The air… collapsed.
A subtle dragon pressure rolled outward, perfectly controlled—just enough.
The charging boys froze mid-step, faces draining of color. Their knees buckled, and they dropped one by one, gasping as if an invisible weight crushed their chests.
Xiao Wu's pupils shrank.
This pressure…!
Her playful expression vanished instantly, replaced by sharp alertness.
Lin Chen withdrew the pressure as quickly as it appeared.
The boys lay sprawled on the floor, unconscious but unharmed.
Lin Chen turned to Xiao Wu and smiled.
"Welcome," he said lightly. "Pick any bed you like."
Xiao Wu stared at him for several seconds.
Then she grinned.
"Heh. You're interesting."
She hopped onto the top bunk effortlessly and sat cross-legged, swinging her legs.
"What's your name?"
"Lin Chen."
She tilted her head. "You don't feel like a human."
Tang San's heart skipped.
Lin Chen chuckled softly. "And you don't feel like a rabbit."
Xiao Wu froze.
For the briefest moment, killing intent flashed through her eyes.
Tang San noticed it.
Then Lin Chen spoke again, voice gentle but firm.
"Relax," he said. "If I wanted to expose you, you wouldn't be here."
The dormitory felt suddenly very quiet.
Xiao Wu studied him carefully, ears practically twitching in her imagination.
"…You're dangerous," she said finally.
Lin Chen nodded. "So are you."
Instead of fear, Xiao Wu laughed.
"I like that."
She jumped down from the bed and extended her hand.
"Then we're friends."
Lin Chen looked at her hand.
The system interface shimmered faintly.
[Bonded Target Detected][Potential: 100,000-Year Soft Bone Rabbit][Status: Unawakened | Ring Evolution Available Upon Trust]
Lin Chen took her hand.
"Friends," he agreed.
From that moment—
Xiao Wu's fate subtly shifted.
And somewhere deep within the Star Dou Forest, ancient eyes slowly opened.