The next day, Grandmaster called Tang San to his room for intensive spirit theory lessons. Luna accompanied him, sitting quietly to the side.
Grandmaster explained spirit classifications, the different types of Spirit Masters, and his theories about Blue Silver Grass.
"Everyone calls it useless," Grandmaster said, his eyes gleaming with passion. "But I believe it has tremendous potential as a control-type spirit."
He outlined the advantages: low spirit power consumption, natural camouflage, incredible adaptability, and the ability to absorb any type of spirit ring without rejection.
"Tomorrow we'll go to Spirit Hunting Forest," Grandmaster said. "We'll find you a suitable first spirit ring."
Luna listened to everything carefully. This matched what she remembered from the story, but experiencing it in person made it feel new and immediate.
That evening, Tang San practiced his forging while Luna helped by organizing tools and materials. They worked together in comfortable silence, a team already.
Xiao Wu tried several times over the next few days to get close to Tang San—suggesting sparring matches, offering to help with chores, sitting near him at meals.
Each time, Luna was there, politely but firmly maintaining her position at Tang San's side.
The other working students noticed the tension. Wang Sheng pulled Tang San aside one day.
"Boss, both these girls seem to like you. What are you going to do?"
Tang San looked bewildered. "They're just... I mean, Luna is my companion, and Xiao Wu is a dormmate. That's all."
Wang Sheng laughed. "You're really dense, aren't you?"
But Tang San, with Luna's warning fresh in his mind, maintained careful distance from Xiao Wu. He was polite but never warm, friendly but never intimate.
Xiao Wu's frustration was becoming visible, though she hid it behind bright smiles.