Chapter 28: The Bedding Issue

"Are you okay?" Lin Ye asked, watching Xiao Wu slowly get back on her feet, rubbing her behind with a pained expression.

"I'm fine, but my butt really hurts!" Xiao Wu grimaced, rubbing her sore backside. Then, with a pout, she huffed, "I was so sure I'd become the boss, but I lost to you. Well, you're the boss now."

As she said this, she clenched her small fists, her face puffing up with frustration before deflating again in disappointment.

"You can try again next year," Lin Ye responded calmly.

"Next year? What do you mean?" Xiao Wu blinked in confusion at his words.

"Because I might leave the academy in a year," Lin Ye explained. "I have innate full soul power, so I'll soon advance to a soul master. Once I've mastered the basics here, I plan to travel across the continent. For me, mastering these basics won't take long—maybe not even a full year. So, if everything goes as planned, you'll have your chance to be the boss next year."

"Really? I can become the boss next year? That's awesome!" Xiao Wu cheered, clapping her hands with excitement. However, her joy soon faded, and a hint of sadness crossed her face.

"But you'll be leaving next year? That's a shame. I was just starting to think you're a pretty good guy. We could have been good friends, but now you'll be gone too soon," she sighed, her voice filled with regret.

Lin Ye smiled faintly but shook his head. "Don't get too excited just yet. Becoming the boss won't be as easy as you think."

Xiao Wu looked puzzled. "Why? Is there someone else in this dorm who can beat me besides you?"

"Of course," Lin Ye replied, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he glanced over at Tang San.

Wang Sheng and the other boys also turned their eyes toward Tang San, as if silently pleading for him to step in.

"His name is Tang San. Like me, he also has innate full soul power, and he's quite strong. If you want to be the boss, you'll have to defeat him first."

"Wow! Tang San, you also have innate full soul power? And you're strong too? Let's spar and see who's stronger!" Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with interest, and she turned eagerly toward Tang San, her face full of anticipation.

"Uh... no, thanks. I don't want to be the boss. You can have the position next year," Tang San replied quickly, backing away a little.

"That won't do! In Dorm Seven, the boss is decided through a fair fight! You can't just give up like that," Xiao Wu protested, pouting as she waved her tiny fists in the air.

"But my martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. It's not suited for fighting," Tang San said, trying to deflect her challenge again.

"His martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, but our boss's martial soul is merely a begonia flower! Stop making excuses," Wang Sheng chimed in, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of a girl becoming their leader. It would be embarrassing for them if word got out.

"Your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass? Mine is a rabbit! That means I naturally counter you!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.

"You see? I told you, our martial souls are naturally opposed. Since you counter me, there's no way I could beat you," Tang San grinned, hoping his logic would finally end the matter.

Lin Ye shook his head with a soft chuckle but didn't press Tang San any further. He had initially wanted Tang San to take over as boss after he left, believing Tang San's strength and sense of responsibility would protect Dorm Seven. But now, with Xiao Wu's arrival, he felt relieved. She seemed to have a strong sense of duty and was more than capable.

As Xiao Wu continued pestering Tang San, a sudden knock at the door interrupted them.

The room fell silent.

Everyone turned toward the door, where a middle-aged man stood, dressed in black with light green hair. He was carrying two neatly folded sets of bedding.

"Which of you are Tang San and Lin Ye?" the man asked, his tone serious.

"That's us," Lin Ye and Tang San both raised their hands and walked forward.

Lin Ye was a little puzzled by the man's presence. Could this be the teacher Su Director had mentioned, the one responsible for assigning them work as working students?

But why hadn't he called for Xiao Wu, who was also a working student?

As Lin Ye and Tang San approached, the man looked them over before speaking again. "You two are Lin Ye and Tang San, right? My name is Mo Hen, but you can call me Teacher Mo. These two sets of bedding were sent by Master, specifically for you."

He handed over the bedding.

"Thank you, Teacher," Lin Ye said politely as he took the bundle, but inwardly, he felt confused. He hadn't officially become the Master's disciple. It made sense for Tang San to receive the bedding, but why him? Was it an expression of admiration, or had the Master not given up on trying to take him as a student?

As Lin Ye pondered the situation, Teacher Mo spoke again. "Are there any other new working students in this dorm?"

"Me! Me! I'm also a new working student!" Xiao Wu quickly raised her hand and ran over excitedly.

"Good. Since the three of you are all new, I'll now assign you your duties. There's a garden on the south side of the playground behind the teaching building. From now on, the three of you will be responsible for keeping that garden clean. You only need to clean it in the mornings, and the reward will be ten copper soul coins per day.

"However, make sure to do a thorough job. If the cleanliness isn't up to standard, your pay will be docked. And if it happens repeatedly, the academy may even expel you. So be diligent and don't leave any trash behind. Understood?"

"Understood!" The three of them nodded in unison.

"Good. If you have any questions, you can ask Wang Sheng. He's an experienced working student and knows the academy's rules well. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

Satisfied with their responses, Teacher Mo nodded approvingly and left the dormitory, his footsteps echoing down the hallway until they disappeared entirely.

As soon as he was gone, the room came alive again.

"Why do the two of you get new bedding, but I don't?" Xiao Wu grumbled, her cheeks puffing up in indignation as she looked at Lin Ye and Tang San holding their new blankets.

"Bedding? Xiao Wu, don't tell me you didn't bring any!" Wang Sheng exclaimed in surprise.

"Bedding? We're supposed to bring our own? Isn't that provided by the academy?" Xiao Wu asked, bewildered.

"The academy provides living essentials, yes, but they've never given out bedding. Look around," Wang Sheng said, pointing to the beds in the room. Each bed had different quilts, all mismatched and patched up.

"Ah!" Xiao Wu froze in shock, her face falling.

"Then what am I supposed to do?" she wailed.

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