Chapter 32: Betting Women

"Hey, talk properly! Stop kicking me!"

Ye Qiu frowned, covering his ears as he opened his eyes and glared at Xiao Wu. Then, turning over, he closed them again, attempting to go back to sleep.

"Hurry up and pack your things!" Xiao Wu pouted, tugging at Ye Qiu's clothes as she watched him turn away.

"Tell me, are you coming home with me or going back with Tang San?"

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes and looked at Xiao Wu with a displeased expression.

Xiao Wu stiffened, her eyes flickering as she withdrew her hands. "What difference does it make? Aren't you both from the same village?" she asked curiously.

Ye Qiu shrugged. "Of course, it makes a difference. If you choose to go with Tang San, I'll be unhappy."

Xiao Wu's face turned red as she stammered, "W-Who cares if you're happy or not? As long as I'm happy, that's what matters. Hmph!"

Seeing her flustered reaction, Ye Qiu smirked. Looks like his efforts over the past year hadn't been in vain.

Sitting up slowly, Ye Qiu glanced at his belongings and spread his hands.

"I don't have much to pack—just a few sets of clothes. How about you help me with it?"

"What?! No way! Dream on!"

"If you do it, I'll pay you with… a carrot-flavored treat. How about that?"

Ye Qiu wiggled his index finger in front of Xiao Wu.

Her initial resistance wavered instantly.

"Really? You're not lying, are you?" Xiao Wu swallowed, unable to hide her anticipation. Ever since she started saving money, she could only afford to buy them at the beginning of the month. If she bought too many, she couldn't stop herself from eating them all at once.

"Have I ever lied to you?" Ye Qiu said sincerely.

"You bully me all the time!" Xiao Wu blushed, rubbing her sore backside. Even though her spirit power was only slightly lower than Ye Qiu's, his sheer physical strength far exceeded hers. Every time they fought, she was the one who ended up losing.

"That's because you never listen. Besides, bullying and lying are two different things, okay?" Ye Qiu reached out to pinch her flushed cheek.

Xiao Wu dodged quickly, glaring at him with her bright, embarrassed eyes. "No pinching! That costs extra!" she huffed.

"Haha, fine."

Ye Qiu sighed helplessly. He had really spoiled this little rabbit. Her obsession with food made her willing to do just about anything for a treat.

"Alright, hurry up and pack my stuff. I'm going to lie down a bit more." Stretching lazily, Ye Qiu walked a few steps and flopped onto Xiao Wu's bed.

"Hmph! All you do is boss me around!" Xiao Wu grumbled, but still climbed onto Ye Qiu's bed and started folding his clothes obediently.

Ye Qiu watched her, feeling rather satisfied.

Over the past year, he had progressed from level twelve to level seventeen. Even though Tang San had reached level thirteen after obtaining his first spirit ring—and had the advantage of Xuan Tian Gong—Ye Qiu was slowly catching up.

Waiting was always tedious, but Ye Qiu was biding his time. He needed Xiao Wu to reach the Spirit Elder rank, or for his own spirit skills to grow strong enough to handle certain dangers. Only then would he venture into the Sunset Forest near Heaven Dou City.

 Teleportation skill had a limited range, but it was still a lifesaving ability. Ye Qiu wasn't complaining.

At this pace, he could break through to level thirty before graduating from Nuoding Academy. Once that happened, he would find a safe opportunity to explore the outside world.

As he pondered these things, Xiao Wu had already finished packing his clothes. She had clearly done this many times before, as everything was neatly folded. Bouncing over to the bed, she gave Ye Qiu a few nudges.

"Ye Qiu, I'm done! Now, hand it over~"

"Is that so? Well, thanks for your hard work."

Ye Qiu sat up, glancing at his neatly arranged bed. Even the blanket was folded perfectly—it was truly pleasing to the eye.

"Enough with the nonsense! Give me my reward!" Xiao Wu spread her hands in front of him, wiggling her fingers eagerly.

"Alright, how about this? You owe me six silver spirit coins. Since you helped me pack, I'll deduct two. That's pretty generous, right?" Ye Qiu grinned, biting down on a fruit as he looked at Xiao Wu's gradually contorting expression.

"That's not fair!" Xiao Wu shrieked, grabbing his arm and whining. "Ye Qiu~ I'll pay you back when my allowance comes in!"

Seeing that Ye Qiu remained unmoved, seemingly intent on making her suffer, Xiao Wu bared her teeth.

"Ye Qiu! You must give me something to eat today, or else—!"

Before she could finish, Ye Qiu chuckled and shoved the fruit into her mouth, stepping aside to avoid her incoming attack.

"Ahh! Pfft, pfft!"

Xiao Wu sputtered, quickly pulling it out and spitting twice, her face turning beet red.

She turned to glare at Ye Qiu, who had already returned to his bed.

"Ye Qiu! Why do you always give me something you've already bitten?"

"Take it or leave it. If you don't want it, just throw it away. I already deducted two silver spirit coins for you—what more do you want, you greedy little rabbit?" Ye Qiu smirked, raising an eyebrow as he lay back down.

"Ahhh—!"

Hearing him call her a rabbit, Xiao Wu's emotions flared. She instantly hurled the fruit at Ye Qiu.

"Ye Qiu! I challenge you to a duel!"

Before her voice even faded, she pounced.

Ye Qiu reacted swiftly, catching the incoming "weapon" between his teeth while freeing both hands to intercept the furious Xiao Wu.

The other students in Dorm Seven were completely unfazed. They had grown used to Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu squabbling every few days. If the two ever stopped fighting, they would probably feel weird.

Thud! Smack!

Slap! Slap! Slap!

"Ahhh!"

"Ah—stop! Stop! I admit defeat! I was wrong!"

After a series of muffled impacts and sharp slaps, the familiar sound of Xiao Wu's cries for mercy filled the dormitory.

Moments later, Ye Qiu released his spirit martial form, leaning against the wall while catching his breath. His clothes remained perfectly intact.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu was stuck to the wall, ensnared by spirit threads, her clothes slightly disheveled. Her petite hands were bound above her head, her curvy figure trembling slightly as she pouted with teary eyes—equal parts embarrassed, angry, and wary.

"Tch, three days without a beating and you start causing trouble again."

Ye Qiu wiped nonexistent sweat from his forehead, amused by the persistent little rabbit who kept challenging him.

"It's your fault! You keep calling me a rabbit!" Xiao Wu whined.

Ye Qiu chuckled, stepping forward and reaching out to release her.

"No more fighting! I already admitted defeat!" Xiao Wu struggled, worried that Ye Qiu would hit her again.

"If I wanted to keep going, do you think you could stop me?" Ye Qiu smirked, holding up the fruit in front of her. "Well? Do you still want it?"

"Yes… I want it," Xiao Wu whispered, blushing as she nodded repeatedly.

She stuck out her delicate tongue and hesitantly reached for the fruit.

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. If she had just done this from the start, they could've avoided the whole fight.

With a sigh, he moved the fruit closer.

"Ahh—!"

Xiao Wu yelped as Ye Qiu shoved it into her mouth, catching her off guard.

As the black spirit threads dissolved, she landed gracefully on her feet and, as if by instinct, snuggled against Ye Qiu, chewing obediently.

Still licking the fruit, she mumbled, "Quick, heal me up…"

"Got it."

With a chuckle, Ye Qiu got to work.