Chapter 6: Xiao Wu
"Your Martial Soul is… an egg?" Wang Sheng stared at Lin Mo and the egg cradled in his arms, his expression complicated. After a moment, he spoke slowly. "Don't tell me you're a food system Spirit Master?"
"No."
Lin Mo shook his head, rolled his eyes at Wang Sheng, and said, "This egg isn't for eating. According to the Spirit Hall examiner who handled my Awakening, it's probably a Waste Martial Soul. He couldn't figure out what it does, and I certainly don't have any real combat power."
"Oh."
Wang Sheng sighed with mild disappointment, then asked, "So you've got no objection to Tang San taking over as dorm head of Dormitory 7?"
"None." Lin Mo shook his head again.
At the end of the day, the reason Dormitory 7 needed a leader, someone to act as the head sheep, was mainly to fend off the bullying Work Study Students suffered from other students around the academy.
But right now, with Tang San already here, and with Xiao Wu arriving soon, the Work Study side already had 2 heavy hitters. There was no need for him to step in.
Especially with Xiao Wu, that rogue rabbit, around, once she showed her strength, the real question would be whether she held back from bullying others.
Besides, with Charmander still unhatched and Lin Mo unwilling to expose his second Martial Soul, keeping a low profile was the smartest move.
Meanwhile, Tang San clearly felt uncomfortable with the title "boss."
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let's not call me that from now on. Just call me dorm head."
"Alright, Dorm Head."
While the others chatted and flattered Tang San, Lin Mo had already spread out his bedding and tidied it neatly.
Then he pulled out some fruit the villagers had packed for him and placed it on the dorm's shared table.
"These are from my village, home grown and really sweet. Help yourselves. We're all roommates from now on," Lin Mo said with a smile.
These were the students he would be living with for a long time. Getting on their good side early would make life far smoother.
The Work Study Students looked at one another. Finally, Wang Sheng stepped forward, took a bite of an apple, and declared loudly, "I like you, kid. I've got your back at the academy. Nobody will dare pick on you."
He thumped his chest proudly. "My Martial Soul is Battle Tiger, and my Spirit Power is already Rank 9. I'll definitely become a powerful Spirit Master!"
"Then I'll count on you to protect me," Lin Mo replied with a grin.
Once Wang Sheng started, the others followed.
Work Study Students were the orphans of the academy, unwanted and uncared for. The condition of the dorm made that obvious.
Food was the same. In the canteen, they could only afford the cheapest set meals.
Even ordinary fruit was a rare treat.
Only Tang San stood off to the side, awkward and unsure what to do.
This situation was beyond his experience. Even with memories of 2 lives, this was a first for him.
Seeing that, Lin Mo quickly picked up 2 fruits and pressed them into Tang San's hands.
"They taste great. Try them."
He had no desire to earn the label of already treading the path of death over a couple of apples.
Tang San stared at the fruit, emotions flickering across his face. In the end, he murmured, "Thank you."
Just as everyone was happily eating, a little girl with pigtails appeared in the doorway of Dormitory 7.
The sight froze everyone. Several boys almost dropped their fruit.
The scene inside clearly surprised the girl as well. After a moment, she strode in.
"Is this Dormitory 7?"
"Yes." Dorm Head Tang San swallowed the last bite of fruit and stood up. "I'm the dorm head. You're the new work study student?"
There was a trace of puzzlement in his voice.
"That's right." The girl nodded brightly.
Wang Sheng caught Tang San's confusion and explained, "Elementary dorms are mixed. Boys and girls share."
"Strange. No work study students last year, and now 3 in one go."
Then Wang Sheng leaned in with excitement, unable to hide his glee.
"Boss, go show her who's boss."
He was still annoyed that he missed watching Tang San fight Lin Mo.
He was not going to miss this.
"That… won't be necessary," Tang San said awkwardly. He could accept being dorm head, but he could not bring himself to bully a girl.
The girl blinked, looked up at the dorm sign to confirm she was in the right place, then smiled sweetly.
"Hi, I'm Xiao Wu, 'dance' Wu."
Pressed by Wang Sheng and the others, Tang San reluctantly stepped forward.
"Hello, I'm Tang San. Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, Rank 10 Spirit Scholar, dorm head. The rule here is that newcomers show their Martial Soul's strength. The strongest becomes dorm head."
"You sure?" Xiao Wu gave him a strange look.
"Positive." Tang San nodded.
"Alright, let's do it."
Her eyes sparkled. She set her uniform aside, and her battle intent flared.
"Xiao Wu, Martial Soul Rabbit, Rank 10 Spirit Scholar…"
Before she could even finish, her leg snapped out, her foot shooting straight toward Tang San's head.
Tang San reacted instantly. Purple Demon Eye sharpened his vision as he sidestepped and caught her ankle.
He stomped his right foot and drove a standard shoulder thrust at her.
But to his shock, Xiao Wu slipped free. Her missed kick swept across and lightly rested on his shoulder.
With her hands braced on his shoulders, she swung her other leg up and locked both legs around his neck.
Using his forward momentum, she arched backward, planted her hands on the floor, and with legs as supple as springs, twisted and flipped him.
The sudden closeness made Tang San freeze for half a beat. It was outside his experience.
Before he could break free, Xiao Wu used her whole body like a lever and hurled him over, sending him flying.