# Chapter 5: Dormitory Politics
Notting Academy proved to be more compact than Chen Sheng had initially expected.
Despite its impressive facade and reputation, the institution housed a relatively modest student body.
The entire residential facility consisted of a single dormitory building divided into seven separate living quarters, with Dormitory 7 specifically designated for work-study students.
After receiving directions from several upperclassmen, Chen Sheng made his way across the academy grounds to locate his assigned housing.
The dormitory building itself was a sturdy three-story structure built from local stone, designed more for functionality than aesthetics. Each floor contained multiple communal living spaces, with Dormitory 7 occupying a corner position on the ground level.
When Chen Sheng pushed open the heavy wooden door to his new home, he was struck by the sheer size of the space.
The room was larger than many auditoriums he had frequented in his previous life, with high ceilings and tall windows that allowed natural light to flood the interior. More than fifty beds were arranged in neat rows throughout the dormitory, though only about a dozen showed signs of current occupancy, their mattresses topped with personal belongings and bedding.
The moment Chen Sheng stepped across the threshold, every student present turned to examine the newcomer. Their expressions ranged from curious to appraising, clearly sizing up this latest addition to their close-knit community.
"Hello everyone," Chen Sheng said with a confident smile, his voice carrying easily across the large space. "I'm a new work-study student. My name is Chen Sheng."
The oldest boy in the room, who appeared to be around ten or eleven years old, approached with the bearing of someone accustomed to leadership. He was tall for his age, with a sturdy build that suggested both good nutrition and regular physical training. His eyes held the sharp intelligence of someone who had learned to survive and thrive in the competitive environment of academy life.
"My name is Wang Sheng," the boy announced, his voice carrying the authority of established rank. "My martial soul is the War Tiger. What is your martial soul?"
"My martial soul is the White Tiger," Chen Sheng replied simply, noting the immediate flicker of interest that crossed Wang Sheng's features at the mention of a high-grade beast spirit.
Wang Sheng's expression grew more serious as he processed this information. "We have an established rule here in Dormitory 7," he explained, his tone formal but not unfriendly. "Whoever is the strongest among us serves as the dormitory boss, responsible for protecting everyone from being bullied by students from other dormitories or higher grades. I've held that position up until now, but according to our traditions, you must fight me to establish the hierarchy."
Chen Sheng's lips curved into a slight smile, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. After months of training with no real opportunity to test his enhanced abilities against another soul master, this challenge was exactly what he had been hoping for.
"Alright, let's fight," Chen Sheng agreed readily.
He walked over to an empty bed near the center of the dormitory and carefully placed his new academy uniform on the thin mattress. The other work-study students quickly moved to clear a space in the center of the room, their excitement palpable as they anticipated the upcoming battle for dominance.
Chen Sheng took his position in the makeshift arena, loosening his shoulders and stretching his arms in preparation for combat. Despite his youth, his movements held the fluid confidence of someone who had spent countless hours honing his physical capabilities.
"You can begin whenever you're ready," Chen Sheng said, extending one hand in a gesture of invitation while maintaining his relaxed stance.
"Be careful then," Wang Sheng warned, though his tone suggested more formality than genuine concern.
Without further preamble, Wang Sheng rushed forward with the direct approach typical of beast-type martial soul masters. His right fist drove toward Chen Sheng's chest with considerable force, backed by the power of his ninth-level soul power and years of academy training.
Chen Sheng met the attack head-on, his own fist moving to intercept Wang Sheng's strike with deceptive casualness. When their fists collided, the sound echoed through the dormitory like a thunderclap.
The result was immediately apparent to everyone watching. Wang Sheng was driven backward several steps by the tremendous force of impact, his feet sliding across the wooden floor as he struggled to regain his balance. Chen Sheng, by contrast, remained exactly where he had started, not having moved so much as an inch despite the violent collision.
Wang Sheng's eyes widened in shock as he processed what had just occurred. His soul power was already at level nine, and he possessed several years of age and training advantage over this newcomer. Yet in terms of pure physical strength, he had been completely outmatched by what appeared to be a six-year-old child.
『DING! DETECTED Wang Sheng's Shock emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Chen Sheng's smile broadened slightly as his system registered the first reward of his academy career.
His enhanced physique, now comparable to that of a twentieth-level attack-type soul master, provided him with overwhelming advantages in any contest of pure strength. Even Tang San, with his past-life martial arts knowledge and disciplined training, couldn't match Chen Sheng's raw physical capabilities.
"Come again!" Wang Sheng declared, his pride stung by the humiliating display of weakness. He launched himself forward with renewed determination, this time attempting to use superior technique and experience to overcome his disadvantage in raw power.
However, Chen Sheng proved to be not only stronger but also significantly faster than his opponent. He moved with fluid grace, dodging left and right while delivering precisely controlled counterattacks that caused Wang Sheng pain without inflicting serious injury.
His movements held an almost playful quality, as if he were engaging in light sparring rather than a serious contest for leadership.
After dozens of exchanges that demonstrated the vast gap in their abilities, Wang Sheng finally acknowledged the inevitable outcome. Despite his best efforts, he simply couldn't match the newcomer's supernatural physical capabilities.
"I lost," Wang Sheng admitted with the grace of someone who understood the value of accepting defeat. "From now on, you are the boss of Dormitory 7."
『DING! DETECTED Wang Sheng's Acceptance and Respect emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
"Hello, boss!" the other students chorused in unison, their voices reflecting genuine enthusiasm rather than mere formality.
Chen Sheng waved his hand, working to suppress the excitement that threatened to overwhelm his carefully maintained composure. In just a few minutes, he had established his dominance in the dormitory hierarchy and earned two treasure chests for his system storage.
"Thank you for your support," Chen Sheng replied. "I'll do my best to look after everyone here. For now, I should get my belongings organized."
"We'll help you!" several students offered simultaneously, their eagerness to assist their new leader evident.
Just as Chen Sheng was beginning to settle into his new environment, the familiar figure of Tang San appeared at the dormitory entrance. He looked around the large room with obvious curiosity, taking in the communal living arrangement and the dozen or so students who had gathered to watch Chen Sheng's victory.
"Xiao San, you're here!" Chen Sheng called out warmly, genuinely pleased to see his friend again.
"Brother Sheng," Tang San responded with his characteristic reserved smile. "I see you've already made yourself at home."
Before Chen Sheng could explain the dormitory's leadership traditions, a crisp voice interrupted their reunion from the doorway.
"Excuse me, is this Dormitory 7?"
Chen Sheng turned toward the source of the voice and felt his breath catch slightly. Standing at the entrance was a pretty little girl who appeared to be roughly his own age, though she was slightly shorter than him. Her face held the fair, rosy complexion of someone who had enjoyed good health and nutrition, with skin as smooth and tender as a ripe peach. Her long black hair had been braided into an intricate scorpion braid that swayed gently as she moved, and her large, watery eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined the dormitory's interior.
She's really cute, Chen Sheng thought, feeling an unfamiliar flutter of nervousness in his chest.
⁵3Having lived with cancer in his previous life and died young, he had never experienced any romantic relationships, and his current six-year-old body only compounded his inexperience with the opposite sex.
"How can men and women live together here?" Tang San asked Wang Sheng quietly, his adult sensibilities making him uncomfortable with the mixed-gender arrangement.
Wang Sheng nodded and lowered his voice to match Tang San's discrete tone. "We're all still children, so the academy doesn't see any problem with co-educational housing. Every dormitory in the school is mixed-gender. Only when students advance to the Intermediate Soul Master Academy do they implement gender separation."
Wang Sheng glanced meaningfully at Chen Sheng before continuing. "In previous years, we were lucky to get even one new work-study student. This year we have three new arrivals. Boss Sheng, you should explain the dormitory rules to her."
Chen Sheng felt conflicted about the prospect of challenging such a charming young girl to combat. The thought of potentially hurting someone so delicate and appealing went against his instincts, even if dormitory tradition demanded it.
"Hello!" the girl said brightly, walking into the dormitory with confident steps that suggested she wasn't intimidated by the crowd of boys watching her. "My name is Xiao Wu—the Wu that means dancing."
Wang Sheng nudged Chen Sheng pointedly, reminding him of his responsibilities as dormitory leader. Reluctantly, Chen Sheng stepped forward to address the newcomer.
"Hello, Xiao Wu. My name is Chen Sheng, and I'm the current head of Dormitory 7," he said, his voice less steady than usual. "May I ask what your martial soul is?"
Xiao Wu blinked her bright eyes, clearly finding Chen Sheng's slight nervousness amusing. "My martial soul is a very cute rabbit," she replied with a mischievous smile. "What about yours?"
"My martial soul is the White Tiger," Chen Sheng answered honestly. "Interestingly, my martial soul just happens to be a natural counter to yours."
『DING! DETECTED Xiao Wu's Interest emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with delight rather than concern at this revelation. "You're really interesting! Can you let me stay here?"
Wang Sheng reached out and poked Chen Sheng's arm, signaling him not to forget his duties as dormitory leader. With obvious reluctance, Chen Sheng explained the situation.
"We have a tradition here," he said apologetically. "When a new work-study student arrives, they must fight the current leader to establish their place in the hierarchy. If the newcomer wins, they become the new dormitory boss."
Rather than being discouraged by this news, Xiao Wu's face broke into an excited grin. "Fighting? That sounds like fun!" She quickly placed her belongings on an empty bed and returned to face Chen Sheng with obvious enthusiasm.
"Alright then," Chen Sheng said, though his tone suggested he was less enthusiastic about this particular battle. "Let's begin."
Xiao Wu immediately demonstrated the agility and flexibility that made rabbit-type martial souls formidable despite their apparent delicacy. She moved with incredible speed and grace, her attacks focusing on quick strikes and evasive maneuvers rather than brute force.
Chen Sheng found himself genuinely challenged for the first time since his enhancement. While Xiao Wu couldn't match his raw strength, her speed and technique were far superior to Wang Sheng's straightforward approach. He had to use both his enhanced reflexes and his strategic thinking to gradually gain the upper hand.
However, the outcome was never truly in doubt. Chen Sheng's supernatural physical capabilities eventually allowed him to corner Xiao Wu and demonstrate his superiority, though he was careful to ensure she suffered no injuries in the process.
『DING! DETECTED Xiao Wu's Frustration and Unwillingness emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
As Xiao Wu caught her breath after the intense sparring match, clearly frustrated by her defeat but impressed by Chen Sheng's abilities, something unexpected happened.
Chen Sheng suddenly smiled and made a decision that surprised everyone present. "Actually, I think you should be the dormitory boss instead," he announced. "I'm giving up my position to you."
The statement created immediate chaos in the dormitory. Tang San's eyes widened in shock, Wang Sheng's jaw dropped, and Xiao Wu stared at Chen Sheng as if he had lost his mind.
"You will be the head of Dormitory 7, and serve as our boss," Chen Sheng continued with apparent sincerity.
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes in exasperation before breaking into delighted laughter. "Boss? This seems quite interesting! I'll be your leader from now on then. Being a work-study student is turning out to be more fun than I expected!"
『DING! DETECTED Tang San's Confusion emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
『DING! DETECTED Xiao Wu's Joy emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
『DING! DETECTED Wang Sheng's Bewilderment emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Perfect, Chen Sheng thought with satisfaction as his system registered three more treasure chests.
His seemingly impulsive decision to abdicate leadership had actually been a calculated move to maximize emotional responses while positioning himself closer to the original story's protagonist group.
As the afternoon settled into evening and the dormitory students began preparing for dinner, Chen Sheng quietly tallied his remarkable harvest of system rewards.
From his confrontation at the academy gates, his establishment of dormitory dominance, and his strategic interaction with Xiao Wu, he had accumulated an impressive total of ten treasure chests.
Ten treasure chests in a single day, Chen Sheng mused as he organized his belongings. Academy life is already proving far more profitable than I had hoped. Tomorrow, I'll need to find a private moment to open all of these and see what rewards await me.
The sun was setting over Notting Academy, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and purple.
In Dormitory 7, the work-study students were beginning to settle into their evening routines, unaware that their new "boss" was actually a 100,000-year soul beast.
His first day at the academy had exceeded his wildest expectations, and he could hardly wait to see what opportunities tomorrow would bring.
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