It was already afternoon.
Dressed in tattered clothes, Ye Qiu finally returned to the carving workshop.
"Ye Qiu! What happened to you? Look at the state you're in!" Grandma Tom scolded the moment she saw him. "Do you really have to become a Soul Master after all?!"
Ye Qiu understood her resentment.
Her parents had disappeared during a soul-hunting expedition and never returned.
Even though she possessed soul power, she had refused to become a Soul Master and instead married an ordinary man, living a simple life.
In this situation, he couldn't tell her the truth.
He could only smile awkwardly and think to himself, Being a Soul Master… is something you don't really get to choose.
"Alright, alright," Grandpa Jerry interrupted, pulling his wife aside. "Let Ye Qiu wash up first. I'll go buy him some clothes."
He whispered a few words to her before sending Ye Qiu away.
When Ye Qiu finished cleaning himself and returned, the elderly couple were already seated properly, looking unusually serious. They gestured for him to sit opposite them.
Ye Qiu sat down, expecting an interrogation.
Instead, Grandma Tom silently handed him a letter.
"The little girl came this morning," she said calmly. "But it wasn't time yet, so I didn't give it to her."
Ye Qiu accepted it without a word and put it away.
After exchanging a glance, Grandma Tom took out a small box from behind her and placed it on the table.
"Open it."
Ye Qiu did as instructed.
Inside lay a pink gemstone embedded in a metal ring.
"A ring?" He looked up in confusion. "What is this?"
"What? Is this all an esteemed Soul Master can recognize?" Grandma Tom said coldly.
Fortunately, Grandpa Jerry smiled and stepped in. "Look more carefully."
Ye Qiu scratched his head, realizing how lacking his knowledge still was. He picked it up again, examined it closely, and his eyes widened.
"This is… a spatial soul tool!"
He stared at them in shock. He hadn't expected such a valuable item.
"This is a family heirloom of the Tom family,"
Grandpa Jerry explained. "She was originally born into a Soul Master clan. After her parents passed away, the family declined. What should've been passed down to the family head eventually ended up in her hands—"
"Did I let you speak?"
Grandma Tom shot him a sharp glare.
"That doesn't matter," she said firmly. "What matters is that this thing is yours now."
"For me?" Ye Qiu pointed at himself, stunned.
"Yes," she replied. "We're an old couple with no children. When we die, we'll be buried together anyway. This thing would only rot with us."
"But… isn't this too valuable?"
"What use is something valuable if it's useless?" Her eyes showed a trace of confusion and exhaustion. "Can't you Soul Masters just behave yourselves for once? I'm tired. You can go now."
"Old man, see him out."
Ye Qiu sat there blankly as she turned and walked into the inner courtyard.
"Ye Qiu, take your things," Grandpa Jerry said softly as he walked him to the door.
From inside, Grandma Tom's aged voice drifted out:
"That little girl… she's very kind. She cried very sadly."
Click.
The door closed.
Ye Qiu stood there for a long time.
How could he not be moved?
He understood her pain—and the meaning behind her words.
He stored the items in his Divine Might Space, bought a set of clothes, put on a black cloak, and headed toward Notting Academy.
Near the academy, Ye Qiu's pupils turned purple as he scanned the entire area.
His eyes stung, his face flushed, but he was certain—
Tang Hao was not there.
Probably drinking again…
The six-pointed star appeared in his eyes.
Divine power activated.
Ye Qiu's body slowly sank into the ground.
Dormitory Seven was deserted.
Only Xiao Wu remained.
She hadn't attended class since Ye Qiu left.
At that moment, she sat at the table, carefully fiddling with the bamboo dragonfly in her hands.
Once I fix it… Xiao Qiu will come back, right?
Behind her, Ye Qiu's illusory figure slowly emerged from the wall.
"Xiao Wu~"
No response.
"…Am I hallucinating again?" she murmured.
"Xiao Wu… I'm back."
Thump.
The bamboo dragonfly slipped from her hand.
Before she even turned around, her eyes were already filled with tears.
Ye Qiu stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm back."
"Xiao Qiu!"
She spun around and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest.
"You're finally back… Waaaah!"
"I broke the bamboo dragonfly again," she sobbed. "I didn't mean to… I really didn't…"
Before Ye Qiu could hug her tightly, she suddenly ran off.
Confused, he watched her pull out a rectangular box from beneath the bed and rush back.
"Xiao Qiu, look!" she said tearfully. "Tang San gave me this Zhuge Repeating Crossbow. Can I give it to you?"
"Please don't leave me again… I'll listen to everything you say. I'll help you with anything you want…"
Seeing her like this, Ye Qiu realized—
Maybe he didn't actually dislike romance-obsessed girls.
At least… he was being a hypocrite with his own girlfriend.
"I know," he said softly, pulling her into his arms. "I understand. How could I abandon you over something so small?"
It took a long time before she finally calmed down.
"Relax… don't resist."
To prevent Tang Hao from suddenly returning, Ye Qiu decided to bring her into the Divine Might Space as well.
"Mmm…"
She obediently leaned against his chest, unmoving. Those three days had truly frightened her.
A vortex appeared.
The two figures disappeared—along with the bamboo dragonfly on the table.
Dormitory Seven fell silent.
Inside the Divine Might Space, endless stone platforms stretched in all directions.
Xiao Wu lifted her head and looked around curiously.
"Xiao Qiu… where is this?"
"This is the alternate dimension of my first soul skill," he said, gently wiping away her tears.
"A different space?"
"Look."
Ye Qiu stepped back.
The six-pointed star flared.
A purple soul ring rose beneath his feet.
"A thousand-year soul ring?!"
Xiao Wu covered her mouth, eyes wide, then eagerly pounced on him.
"Xiao Qiu, you're amazing!"
Their gazes met.
Their voices softened.
Her crimson eyes became misty, flushed pink, and she rubbed against him like a clingy little rabbit.
This time, it was even worse—she even wrapped her legs around him and gently bit his cheek.
A tragedy. He's just a child.
The Sharingan… has definitely grown even stronger.
Before Ye Qiu could think further, she started tugging at his clothes.
He quickly deactivated his martial spirit.
"Ouch~"
He tapped her forehead.
Their eyes met again.
Her face burned redder than ever, and before letting go, she secretly bit him one more time.
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. "Put your legs down too."
"Mmm~" she replied guiltily, slowly lowering herself while still clinging to him.
"…?"
"My legs are a little weak," she whispered.
"…?"
Was his Sharingan really that powerful?
Ye Qiu moved them to another stone platform furnished with tables and chairs.
He placed her on a stool. Her favorite carrots were already prepared.
"Eat and rest. I'll fix this little gadget."
"Mmm!"
She nodded obediently.
While munching on a carrot, she glanced at him. Carrots weren't Ye Qiu's favorite food…
Ye Qiu wiped the saliva off his face with his sleeve.
"Hehe…" Xiao Wu giggled.
Ignoring her, he continued repairing the bamboo dragonfly, adding thin wires for reinforcement.
"Xiao Qiu~" she said softly. "Did you run into danger? Your black stockings are covered in blood…"
"Yeah," he replied calmly. "I met a really, really bad person. He wanted to kill me."
"What?!" Xiao Wu shot upright. "Who was it? Tell me! I'll avenge you!"
Ye Qiu looked at her in silence for a long moment.
"…Xiao Qiu?" she asked hesitantly.
He put down the object in his hands.
"He's a Title Douluo."
Buzz—
Xiao Wu's mind went blank.