Chapter 3: Tang Ya and Bei Bei
"Make the bed."
An Zhen gently tapped the dazed little girl's forehead with his finger.
The intimate gesture didn't provoke any aversion. Her pale face flushed slightly as she lowered her head. "I... I can just use the wooden plank bed."
An Zhen paused.
He remembered now.
At this point, Huo Yu Tong's tuition had been paid by someone else. Without having started her grilled fish business yet, the future "Huo" was utterly penniless.
"Did you eat lunch?"
An Zhen shifted the subject.
Perhaps the later actions of the original "Huo Yuhao" had displeased him—like blowing up Sun Moon City—but none of that had happened yet. Huo Yuhao had become **Huo Yu Tong**.
An eleven-year-old girl who'd watched her mother die under the abuse of the White Tiger Duke's wife, malnourished from years of hardship.
It truly tugged at the heartstrings.
"Not yet."
Huo Yu Tong felt a pang of hunger.
"Come, I'll take you to the cafeteria."
The cafeteria stood behind the dormitory area. After a moment's thought, An Zhen led the little girl into the **purple-tier section**.
"The white building's for freshmen—no tables, no chairs, and piles of ridiculous rules. Purple's for fourth and fifth years."
The space was clean, bright, and lavish. Sleek metallic furniture exuded advanced tech. At lunch hour, rich aromas teased appetites.
"Little Yu Tong?"
"Junior... brother?"
As they approached the serving counters, two voices called out. An Zhen turned to see a boy and girl walking toward them.
The girl leading looked fifteen or sixteen. Her long black hair swept into a waist-length ponytail. The violet academy skirt hugged youthful curves, her lively phoenix eyes bright above sharp cheekbones.
Behind her followed a boy of similar age—tall, trim, with neat navy hair and a refined handsomeness radiating steady maturity. If he was the reliable "big brother" type, An Zhen was the dashing youth straight from legends, effortlessly charming.
"Little Yu Tong!" The girl dashed forward and swept the little girl into a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"I brought Miss Huo to eat," An Zhen explained.
"And who are **you**?"
Tang Ya pulled Huo Yu Tong behind her, guarding the girl like a mother hen as she glared at An Zhen.
"An Zhen. Freshman. An old man asked me to look after her." The boy's smile held utter sincerity.
*Truth.*
He'd merely extended *extra* care.
"Brother An Zhen's been very kind," the little girl vouched for her benefactor.
An Zhen nodded mildly.
Everyone knew he was just a warmhearted soul.
"Is that so?"
Tang Ya's suspicion lingered, her delicate brows knitting.
"Relax, Xiao Ya. This brother seems genuinely helpful," the gentle boy offered An Zhen an apologetic look. "Sorry—she's just protective since our junior's alone here."
"No worries. Caution's wise outdoors."
An Zhen waved it off and headed for the food counters.
Once he left, Bei Bei and Tang Ya pulled Huo Yu Tong aside.
"Little Yu Tong—did he realize you're disguised as a boy?" Tang Ya pressed, concerned.
"Probably not?"
Huo Yu Tong sounded unsure. Malnourished, her feminine traits were faint beyond her soft voice.
"I *told* you we should've altered her appearance," Bei Bei sighed.
"The world has cute girls—why not cute boys?" Tang Ya shot back, pulling a worn book from her companion's arms. "I found this in my dorm. Practice the voice exercises inside, and you'll sound male. Just say you had a sore throat from a cold."
"Thank you, Teacher!"
"Wait—shouldn't you be at the freshman cafeteria?" Tang Ya wondered.
"Brother An Zhen said it has no furniture... so he brought me here." Huo Yu Tong bit her lip. "Are we not allowed?"
"It's not forbidden," Tang Ya admitted, tapping her cheek. "But lower years rarely come here."
The freshman facilities *were* dismal—she'd thought she'd entered the wrong place her first year.
"Pardon—finished chatting?"
A voice cut in.
The smiling boy held two trays laden with three dishes, two soups, and premium-grade fare whose rich scents were irresistible.
Setting a tray down, An Zhen pointed to the seat opposite. "Huo Yu Tong, eat. The energy in this food's gentle—any Martial Soul awakener can handle it."
"Huh?"
Huo Yu Tong hadn't expected a share.
Tang Ya pushed her into the seat. Free meals weren't to be refused.
The pretty girl narrowed her eyes, beaming as she slid beside An Zhen. "So, An Zhen—your hobby isn't... *adorable little boys*, is it?"
She stressed the last three words.
"No. My ideal type's mature, wise beauties."
*One* standard.
Not that standards couldn't overlap.
What fault lay in an eleven-year-old appreciating beauty?
Huo Yu Tong's bright eyes dimmed. Blushing, she ducked her head. *Huo Yu Tong—you barely know him! He's just being kind!*
Hardship had taught her to cherish every scrap of kindness.
"Oho! So I fit your criteria, then?"
"Heh."
An Zhen's dry chuckle answered the girl now boot-propped on the chair.
"What's 'heh' supposed to mean?" She whirled to her boyfriend. "Bei Bei! Am I not mature and wise?"
"Of course you are!" Smoothing her hair, the smitten boy grinned.
"Who's *yours*?! And call me *Teacher*!"
"..."
An Zhen had no appetite for dog food.
He finished his meal swiftly. Half the dishes remained untouched when he rose. Huo Yu Tong still clutched her soup bowl, chopsticks idle.
"Huo Yu Tong," An Zhen said, "return these trays later. Don't waste food."
"Huh? O-Okay."
If he stayed, she'd probably chew through the porcelain.
"He seems decent enough."
Once An Zhen left, Tang Ya dropped her playful act, thoughtful.
Bei Bei stroked his chin, recalling how he'd sensed nothing from the boy earlier. "I heard a freshman fought his roommate today. Went straight to the arena. One has a... peculiar Martial Soul. His opponent collapsed the moment the soul ring lit—covered in bruises. Terrified him into switching dorms."
"What? Didn't the academy intervene?" Huo Yu Tong gasped. Fighting already?
"Little Yu Tong." Tang Ya pinched her soft cheek. "Combat Arena duels are voluntary. Besides—battles forge warriors. The academy *encourages* settling disputes honorably there."
"Bei Bei—what was that Martial Soul? And the name?"
"Name's unknown. But the Martial Soul... they say it's **World**."
*(Chapter End)*