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Chapter 9: The First Appearance of Dugu Yan
The morning at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy began with the tolling of the bell.
When Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes, the sky outside the window was still a murky gray. As she sat up, she felt her internal soul power circulating with exceptional smoothness—even more so than before she had slept last night. It felt as if a clogged riverbed had been completely cleared, allowing the water to rush unhindered toward its destination.
She got out of bed and walked to the mirror.
The girl in the mirror wore thin pajamas, her long black hair scattered over her shoulders, and her cat ears twitched slightly amidst her tresses. She lifted the hem of her top and looked at her waist—faint finger marks remained there, left by Mo Bai the previous night. She reached out and touched them; her soul power immediately surged in response to the contact. Her sleek, athletic body was highlighted by her noticeably larger and fuller breasts that strained gently against the thin fabric of her pajamas, their round, heavy shape rising and falling with each breath. Her smooth pale skin still carried a faint flush from last night's exertions, and her long black tail swayed slowly behind her.
"The utilization of pain," she whispered, repeating Mo Bai's words.
After washing up and changing, she put on the academy's white uniform. Zhu Zhuqing tied her long hair into a high ponytail, exposing her slender neck. In the mirror, she looked no different from yesterday, but only she knew that something had fundamentally changed. The uniform hugged her curvaceous figure, especially accentuating her full, firm breasts and narrow waist.
When she went downstairs, Mo Bai was already sitting at the dining table. He wore a simple grey long robe and held a cup of tea, watching the dawn that had yet to fully break. Xiao Wu had not woken up yet—last night's "cultivation" had lasted until the middle of the night, so she would likely sleep until noon. Xiao Wu's petite bunny-girl body was still curled up somewhere upstairs, her soft dark hair messy, fluffy rabbit ears twitching in her sleep, and her perky breasts pressing against the borrowed shirt she wore.
"Sit," Mo Bai said without turning around.
Zhu Zhuqing sat opposite him. Simple breakfast items were laid out on the table: porridge, steamed buns, and a few side dishes.
"Go to the training grounds after eating," Mo Bai set down his teacup. "Your combat classes begin today."
"Yes."
The breakfast ended in silence. Zhu Zhuqing ate quickly; she needed the energy—last night's "cultivation" had been draining. Though her soul power had increased, the sense of emptiness deep within her body remained.
"Take this." Mo Bai pushed over a small porcelain bottle.
Zhu Zhuqing caught it and sniffed—it was a pill of some sort, carrying a faint herbal fragrance.
"It's for fortifying the foundation and nurturing the essence," Mo Bai said. "One pill a day."
She didn't ask why and swallowed one immediately. Entering her stomach, the pill transformed into a warm current that spread to her limbs and bones, filling some of that emptiness.
"Thank you," she said.
Mo Bai glanced at her but said nothing.
There were already many students practicing morning exercises at the training grounds.
Zhu Zhuqing found her class—Senior Class Three. The teacher in charge of combat class was a burly man in his fifties named Zhang. His spirit was the Iron-Back Bear, a Level 63 Power Attack System Soul Emperor.
"New here?" Teacher Zhang looked Zhu Zhuqing up and down. "Zhu Zhuqing, right? The Education Board mentioned you. Level 29?"
"Yes."
"Alright, warm up first, then group up for sparring." Teacher Zhang pointed at the field. "Today's topic is 'Limit Evasion.' Pairs of two, one attacking and one dodging. You can only use your first soul skill. Switch after being hit three times."
The students began to pair up. Zhu Zhuqing stood in place for a moment until a boy walked over.
"I'll partner with you," the boy said with a smile on his face. "I'm Wang Shuo, Level 31, spirit Iron-Arm Ape."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. She remembered this boy—he was at the sidelines during the test yesterday, and the way he looked at her held something else.
The two stood in the center of the field. Wang Shuo cracked his knuckles, the joints making a popping sound. "I attack first?"
"You may."
At Teacher Zhang's command, Wang Shuo's first soul ring immediately lit up—the Iron-Arm Ape possessed him, his arms swelling by a size and his skin taking on a metallic sheen. He gave a low roar and lunged at Zhu Zhuqing.
His speed wasn't slow.
But Zhu Zhuqing saw it with total clarity. There was a problem with Wang Shuo's power delivery—his right shoulder was three centimeters lower than his left, his center of gravity was too far forward, and his left foot didn't provide enough cushioning upon landing...
She stepped aside, easily evading the first punch.
Wang Shuo froze for a moment, then threw a second punch immediately. This time he used seventy percent of his strength, the wind from the punch whistling.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't dodge.
She took a step forward toward the punch, her left hand rising—not to block, but to lightly rest on Wang Shuo's wrist at the exact moment before his power erupted. Then, following the momentum, she pulled, leading his force to the side.
Wang Shuo lost his balance, stumbling two steps before steadying himself.
"You—" He turned around, his face showing embarrassment.
"Continue," Zhu Zhuqing said.
The third punch came. This time Wang Shuo had learned his lesson; he feinted once, the real attack being a left hook.
Zhu Zhuqing still didn't dodge. She even closed her eyes.
A few chuckles came from the sidelines.
But a second later, the laughter stopped abruptly.
Zhu Zhuqing's body leaned back at an incredible angle, Wang Shuo's fist grazing the tip of her nose. Then her waist twisted, and she flipped sideways like a cat losing its balance, her single toe touching the ground as she landed steadily three steps away.
Throughout the process, she hadn't used a soul skill. She hadn't even looked.
"Three moves," she opened her eyes. "My turn to attack?"
Wang Shuo's face turned bright red. "Again!"
"Enough," Teacher Zhang's voice came. "Wang Shuo, you lost."
"I haven't—"
"You didn't even touch the hem of her clothes." Teacher Zhang walked to the center of the field and looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Just now... did you not use soul power?"
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment. "I used it. But not much."
"How much is 'not much'?"
"...About ten percent."
The training grounds fell silent.
Wang Shuo looked as though he had been punched. The other students gathered around, their eyes full of disbelief.
"Ten percent power, relying purely on footwork to dodge three attacks from an Iron-Arm Ape?" Teacher Zhang stroked his chin. "This footwork... who taught you?"
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing. She couldn't very well say she had learned it while being pressed against a bookshelf and violated.