Training with Rabbit

After their quiet conversation that night, Wu Lan and Xiao Wu were led to their rooms, simple accommodations arranged next to each other by the grateful village chief.

The moment Wu Lan entered his room, he collapsed into bed and fell asleep almost instantly. His body was tired, but his mind swirled with thoughts.

He awoke early the next morning. The sun hadn't fully risen, and the sky still carried traces of midnight blue. Stepping into an open clearing behind the guesthouse, he began his morning exercises. His movements were steady, controlled, but fierce, each motion fueled by memories of the day before.

I never expected to meet Xiao Wu here...

I don't know how much the timeline will change because of me, but I don't regret it.

He thought of her reason for entering the human world: vengeance for her mother, who had been killed by Bibi Dong. And despite knowing how dangerous Spirit Hall was, she still came because of Tang San.

Tang San knew.

Wu Lan clenched his fists. Even with the Purple Demon Eye revealing Xiao Wu's aura as a transformed soul beast, Tang San still dragged her into the competitions.

How could he? How could he see her for what she was, and still place her in the spotlight like that?

That kind of hypocrisy...

"Wu Lan! What are you doing? You'll ruin your body if you keep pushing like this!"

A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Turning his head, he saw Xiao Wu approaching, her expression full of concern.

Wu Lan smiled through the sweat on his brow, still moving. "Good morning, Xiao Wu. Don't worry, this is my routine."

He paused to catch his breath. "I train my body until I can't move... then heal myself. Over and over again. I call it: Destroy to Evolve."

She looked at him like he was insane.

A few minutes later, Wu Lan's body finally gave out. His knees buckled.

Just as he was about to fall, a pair of soft hands caught him. He blinked in surprise, his head resting on something warm and... soft?

He looked up. Xiao Wu's face filled his vision, wide eyes, pink cheeks. It took him a second to realize… his head was resting on her lap.

"Wu Lan," she asked softly, "why are you training so hard?"

His expression turned serious.

"This world, it only listens to the strong. The weak don't get to choose. I don't want to live at the mercy of others."

"I'm a healer. My Martial Spirit gives me no weapon. No combat ability. Only healing. So I train my body, with the help of my Martial Spirit."

As he spoke, he raised a hand. The Sacred Orchid bloomed in the air, luminous and delicate. A soft light radiated from its petals, and his bruised body began to heal.

Xiao Wu's eyes widened, as they always did when she saw his Martial Spirit.

Beautiful, she thought. And strong.

Once fully healed, Wu Lan sat up slowly. Xiao Wu hesitated, clearly not wanting him to move.

He chuckled softly, then stood. "Come on, let's eat. After that, I'll start teaching you."

After breakfast, they returned to the same clearing, and Wu Lan began explaining the Xuan Tian Record.

Xiao Wu listened closely at first, then became completely absorbed. Her eyes widened as she realized how precious this method was. Wu Lan taught her everything, without asking for anything in return.

He said he needed my protection, she thought. But... that was just to make me feel better.

He's already far stronger than me. He just didn't want me to feel like I owed him.

The realization stirred something deep in her chest.

So she trained. Seriously. Determined to repay him with effort.

Each day, Wu Lan used his remaining soul power to heal villagers, refining his control over the Sacred Orchid. And so, the days passed, peaceful, meaningful.

Xiao Wu learned to suppress her aura, mastering the early stages of the Xuan Tian Record. Together, they traveled from village to village, helping as they went, driving away bandits, healing the wounded. Word of the young healer and his fierce companion who protected him spread quickly.

One quiet afternoon, as they walked along the road toward Nuoding Town, Wu Lan looked at her with a smirk. "Rabbit."

Xiao Wu turned, pouting. "Brother Lan! I told you not to call me that!"

"What? You transformed from a rabbit. It's a fact."

"Brother Lan!" she whined, cheeks puffed.

Her face turned red as she jumped forward and lightly bit his shoulder.

He laughed. "Hey! You really are a rabbit!"

They laughed together, light, happy laughter that echoed down the empty road.

But then, her voice softened. Hesitant.

"Brother Lan... don't you mind? That I'm a soul beast?"

He stopped walking.

The wind stirred his robes, but he didn't speak right away.

Then, with calm resolve, he said, "It's not your origin that matters to me... It's who you are now."

"Whether you're human, soul beast, or something in between, you're still you. And that's who I trust with my life."

Tears welled in her eyes.

"Thank you, Brother Lan..." she whispered. Then, without warning, she hugged him tightly.

Wu Lan held her close, his voice gentle. "It's alright now. So don't cry."

After a long moment, they pulled apart, both feeling a bit awkward. Xiao Wu's face was still bright red.

To ease the tension, Wu Lan asked, "So, how's your training going?"

Xiao Wu smiled shyly. "I can hide my aura now. I'm controlling my soul power better too. And I can barely use Ghost Shadow, Purple Demon Eye, and Jade Hands."

"Good progress," he said, patting her head. "But don't slack off."

She smiled, cheeks lifting with pride. "Yes, Brother Lan!"

"Then it's time to awaken your Martial Spirit. And we'll suppress your innate power to something believable."

"Okay. I'll follow your lead."

They visited Nuoding Spirit Hall, where Xiao Wu awakened her Rabbit Martial Spirit under the guidance of Su Yuntao. With Wu Lan's help, she suppressed her soul power to appear as innate level 4.

When Su Yuntao offered her a place in Spirit Hall, she declined.

Later, as they walked back, Xiao Wu told Wu Lan everything.

"What?" Wu Lan's voice rose. "That idiot asked you to join Spirit Hall and when I awakened, he said I was useless? I'm going to beat him up someday. I swear."

Xiao Wu burst into laughter, her joy rising at seeing this fiery side of him.

Later, they arrived at Nuoding Academy and were assigned to Dormitory 7, just like in the original story.

Inside, a boy with short, spiky hair stepped forward. "I'm Wang Sheng. Martial Spirit: War Tiger. Attack-type. Here in Dormitory 7, power rules. Are you going to accept me as the boss or challenge me?"

Wu Lan raised both hands innocently. "I'm a healer. No combat power. I surrender."

Xiao Wu's face twitched.

No combat power? she thought, remembering how he had crushed a group of thirty bandits without breaking a sweat when they hurt innocent children.

No combat power, my foot.

She stepped forward. "I'll fight you."

Before Wang Sheng could react, she vanished and reappeared in front of him, landing a clean kick to his gut.

He flew across the room.

Silence.

Everyone stared, wide-eyed.

Xiao Wu smirked. "From now on, call me Big Sister Xiao Wu."

Wu Lan stood off to the side, watching like a spectator at a play. It felt oddly peaceful.

"Rabbit," he said. "Let's go buy bedding."

"Yes, Brother Lan," she replied sweetly.

Everyone around them gaped at her sudden shift in tone.

Later that night, Xiao Wu carefully arranged their bedding next to each other.

As Wu Lan lay down, his mind drifted.

Tomorrow... Tang San arrives.

He smiled faintly.

I can't wait to see the look on his face... when he sees Xiao Wu standing by my side.