Su Yan returned to the dorm after getting some new bedding and covers for himself. As he entered, he saw Xiao Wu jumping around on her bed.
She looked like she was having lots of fun.
Looking over at Tang San's bed, Su Yan realized it was empty.
"Where did Tang San go?" Su Yan asked Wang Sheng.
"The Grandmaster came and took him to get his first soul ring," Wang Sheng replied, rolling his eyes. "I still can't believe he took that guy as a master."
"Oh? What's so bad about him?" Xiao Wu asked.
At some point, she'd already drifted close enough to hear everything.
Wang Sheng frowned. "He refuses to teach anything, but freeloads here. He even badmouths Spirit Hall whenever he gets the chance—while still taking his monthly Spirit Master stipend. Shameless. And when we ask him for anything, he says we'd just waste his precious time, as if he's doing something important."
He sighed, then added seriously, "Big Sis Xiao Wu, Su Yan… you'd both do well to avoid him."
Xiao Wu put on a pondering face before nodding. "Mm. Alright."
Su Yan also voiced his agreement.
A growl suddenly sounded.
Xiao Wu immediately held her stomach, blushing. "Ehehe… This Big Sis Xiao Wu is hungry. Su Yan, lead me to the food!"
She commanded imperiously, clearly trying to cover her embarrassment.
Standing to attention, Su Yan snapped a quick salute.
"Yes, Big Sis Xiao Wu! This way!"
He turned and walked out toward the cafeteria, with Xiao Wu and Wang Sheng following close behind.
Upon reaching the cafeteria, Xiao Wu immediately rushed to the serving window—then instantly wilted when she saw the gruel, vegetables, and steamed buns.
"Is this all there is?" Xiao Wu asked sadly.
Su Yan could almost imagine a pair of cute rabbit ears drooping to match her mood.
Wang Sheng stepped forward. "Unfortunately, yes. That's all there is on the first floor. Unless you go to the second floor, the variety and quality are limited."
Xiao Wu looked longingly up at the second floor.
A few students sitting there noticed the three of them staring. One of them shouted down, "You can come up if you want to!"
Xiao Wu immediately brightened and shouted back, "Really?!"
"Ha! You actually believed that?" the student scoffed. "You work-study trash should stay where you belong. Stop staring—you're going to make me lose my appetite."
They turned away with a huff.
Xiao Wu's smile faltered. Then her face twisted. She growled and started stomping toward the stairs, only to be stopped by Su Yan.
"Don't you stop me, Su Yan!" she snapped. "I'm going to beat them up! I'll teach them to mess with this Big Sis!!"
"Stop," Su Yan said firmly. "You're hungry, aren't you? Let's eat first. You can teach them a lesson next time."
Xiao Wu looked extremely unwilling to back down.
Su Yan leaned in and whispered, "If you let this go, I'll try to get you something very delicious tonight."
Xiao Wu froze and turned to him, eyes narrowed. "Really? You'd better not be trying to trick this Big Sis. I'll bite you if you are."
"No trick," Su Yan promised.
Wang Sheng asked, "What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing much," Su Yan replied, stepping back toward the serving window. "Let's just get some food. I'm starving."
Xiao Wu looked back toward the stairs, then reluctantly followed along with Wang Sheng.
After a filling but unappetizing meal, the three returned to the dorm.
That night, Xiao Wu crept over to Su Yan's bed and shook him awake from his cultivation.
"Su Yan, Su Yan."
Su Yan opened his eyes and looked at her. "You're here for your food, aren't you?"
Xiao Wu nodded enthusiastically. "Yep. And you'd better not be thinking of reneging, or else you'll know the consequences."
She flashed her teeth.
Su Yan sighed and hopped off his bed. "Let's go. But we have to be quiet—it's late."
Xiao Wu followed close behind as they walked through the quiet corridors, eventually reaching an out-of-the-way classroom.
"What are we doing in a classroom, Su Yan? There's no food here," Xiao Wu said, looking somewhat displeased.
"Just give me a second."
Once the classroom door was closed, Su Yan summoned his Martial Soul, channeling his Spirit Power. Dim green lines lit across it as something began to manifest. First came a faint outline, then the object slowly filled in, becoming more and more real.
Xiao Wu stared with great interest until the object became whole in Su Yan's hand.
There in his palm was a small cake with a layer of frosting, and tiny carrot-shaped frosting decorations piped in orange with little green tops.
"What is it?" Xiao Wu asked in wonder.
"It's a carrot cake," Su Yan said simply.
Xiao Wu's eyes widened. "Carrots can be made into cakes?!"
"You can," Su Yan said, handing it over. "The taste is a bit different—more sweet than anything."
Xiao Wu immediately took a big bite, then froze.
"This is so delicious," she said through a mouthful of cake, eyes squinting in delight.
Then she swallowed and pointed at him. "Su Yan, your Martial Soul is amazing! I want one of these cakes every day!"
"I'll do my best," Su Yan said. "But what I manifest is random. You got very lucky with this one."
Xiao Wu's mood instantly dropped—until she looked down at the remaining cake. Then she brightened again and took another big bite.
Su Yan hesitated, then said quietly, "Also, Big Sis Xiao Wu… do you mind keeping this a secret from the others? I want to keep it our little secret for as long as possible."
Xiao Wu thought for a moment, then agreed. "I agree. But you have to try your best and make me something tasty every day!"
Su Yan nodded. "Fine. But I'm not guaranteeing the 'tasty' part."
When Xiao Wu reached the last bite, she suddenly stopped. She looked at the cake, then at Su Yan, then back at the cake again. Finally, she closed her eyes and offered him the final bite.
"Here you go. As the person who made it, you should at least have a taste."
Su Yan smiled, took it, and ate it.
"Thank you, Big Sis Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu looked at her empty hand in disappointment, then shook herself out of it.
"What other food can you make?" she asked.
Su Yan smiled before replying, "Well… let's see."
It was long into the night before Su Yan and Xiao Wu returned to the dorms, both promptly fell into a food coma.