"There's still so much room for improvement in my Sharingan. Besides…"
Ye Qiu's gaze turned thoughtful.
"I'll be meeting Tang San soon, won't I? The Tang Sect's ultimate techniques… My Sharingan is itching to copy them."
As he walked, Ye Qiu casually plucked two handfuls of Blue Silver Grass from the roadside and bundled his harvest together.
---
"Aunt Zhang! Is the village chief at home?"
"Hey, Xiao Qiu."
Aunt Zhang, who was washing clothes, wiped her hands on her apron and beckoned him inside.
"Your Grandpa Zhang went to borrow a cow, but everything's already prepared. You can take it back with you."
"Borrow a cow?" Ye Qiu looked puzzled.
"Oh dear," Aunt Zhang explained kindly, "renting a horse-drawn carriage is expensive. To save money, you two kids will have to make do with an ox cart."
"That must be a lot of trouble for Grandpa Zhang," Ye Qiu said sincerely, nodding. He understood well how difficult life was for villagers at the bottom of the social ladder.
"Don't worry about the trouble. Just don't feel wronged, you two future Soul Masters!"
Although Ye Qiu knew she was teasing him, he waved his hands quickly.
"Auntie, please don't say that. Everyone's already taken great care of me. Xiao Qiu will never forget you all when he succeeds in the future!"
As he spoke, Ye Qiu placed the jar and the small birds he was carrying onto the table.
"Oh, right, Auntie. This is rabbit meat I cooked. When Grandpa Zhang comes back, please tell him it's a gift from Xiao Qiu."
"You silly child…" Aunt Zhang scolded him with a reproachful glare.
"No wonder your Grandpa Zhang always says you know how to be grateful."
Ye Qiu didn't mind. Compared to the kindness he had received over the years, a jar of meat was nothing.
After chatting for a while, Ye Qiu quickly took his leave. The longer he stayed, the more Aunt Zhang tried to stuff copper coins into the jar.
After arranging to meet Grandpa Zhang at the village entrance the next morning, Ye Qiu grabbed his quilt and hurried home.
---
Near the stone house, Ye Qiu thought Xiao Wu would have calmed down by now.
Instead, before he even entered, he heard her angry muttering from inside.
"…!"
What surprised him even more was seeing freshly washed clothes hanging outside.
Ye Qiu tiptoed toward the door.
Inside, the bowls and chopsticks had already been cleaned and put away. Xiao Wu was riding the wooden horse Ye Qiu had made for her in his spare time, patting its head while grumbling to herself.
As Old Ye's grandson, Ye Qiu had inherited quite a bit of carpentry skill—enough to ensure he could survive even without a martial soul.
Over time, he had made many small gadgets for this silly rabbit.
Lost in her tirade, Xiao Wu didn't notice Ye Qiu approaching.
Her childish, clear voice drifted into his ears.
"You stupid Ye Qiu, useless Ye Qiu! Why aren't you back yet?!"
"I've already packed everything and even finished the laundry. If you don't come back soon, Sister Xiao Wu will—Ah!"
She was startled mid-sentence.
"What? Ignoring me now?"
Ye Qiu leaned against the doorframe, smiling with amusement.
"Ah! Ye Qiu, you're back!" Joy flashed across Xiao Wu's face as she jumped off the wooden horse and ran toward him.
Halfway there, she suddenly froze, as if remembering something. She turned her face away sharply, swung her scorpion braid, and snorted.
"Hmph! I don't want to talk to you!"
I didn't expect this rabbit to be so prideful…
Ye Qiu burst into laughter.
"Haha—"
"What are you laughing at?!" Xiao Wu glared at him with her crimson eyes.
"Xiaobai's matter isn't over yet!"
"Cough, cough…" Ye Qiu cleared his throat, skillfully dodging the topic. He stepped forward and placed a hand on her head.
"I'm not laughing at you. I'm just… happy. Thank you for doing the laundry."
As he spoke, he gently rubbed her head.
"I told you not to touch my head so many times…" Xiao Wu's face flushed, her voice losing its edge. She muttered something under her breath but didn't resist much.
The pink rabbit ears swaying slightly in the wind made it obvious—the head pat was very effective.
Strangely enough, every conflict between them seemed to dissolve with a bit of closeness. This overly obedient rabbit made Ye Qiu feel oddly unreal.
Is the Sharingan's effect long-term… or just temporary?
Ye Qiu pondered silently.
---
After Xiao Wu completely calmed down, she finally noticed the bundle on Ye Qiu's back.
Seeing him staring at her absentmindedly, she felt a strange sweetness in her chest.
"Ye Qiu, where did you go? What's that on your back?"
Ye Qiu didn't respond.
Realizing she had been too soft just now, Xiao Wu slapped his hand away angrily.
"Hey! What are you thinking about?!"
"Huh? N—nothing." Ye Qiu scratched his head and snapped out of it.
"What did you just ask?"
"Ye Qiu! Do you even care about Sister Xiao Wu?!" she snapped.
"Why do I need to keep you in my heart?" Ye Qiu rolled his eyes and turned to place the items on the table.
"You… Humph!" Xiao Wu clenched her teeth, snorting angrily.
"Come take a look at what I prepared for you."
"For me?" Xiao Wu's curiosity flared instantly. Her ears perked up as she hopped over.
"Is it something fun again?"
"Why do you only think about playing?" Ye Qiu sighed helplessly.
Ignoring him, Xiao Wu stared intently at the clothes in his hands. Her eyes sparkled.
"Is this for me?"
"Yeah," Ye Qiu replied casually. "Look at the clothes you're wearing now… No one will laugh at you anymore."
He chuckled, recalling how she had been teased by other children for wearing his oversized clothes.
"Hurry up and try them on. If anything doesn't fit, we can fix it."
As it turned out, Ye Qiu had worried for nothing.
"Ye Qiu! How is it? Does it look good?" Xiao Wu twirled happily in her new clothes.
"Perfect. It fits you exactly."
"I'm asking if it looks good!"
"Well… why don't you come look at the blanket first—"
"Ye. Qiu."
Xiao Wu clenched her fists, slowly and clearly calling his name as she imagined punching him.
However, considering the new clothes, she decided to forgive him—for now.
Ye Qiu unfolded the quilt, then turned around and found Xiao Wu leaning very close.
"Why did you buy a quilt?" she asked softly.
Pressing her face closer, she added pitifully,
"Aren't we going to sleep together anymore?"
"…"
Ye Qiu was speechless. As expected of the rogue rabbit—what kind of dangerous words were those?
He explained patiently, "Men and women shouldn't sleep together. You'll have separate beds at the academy."
"Oh… I see."
Hearing the faint disappointment in her voice, Ye Qiu suddenly worried about his future safety.
If Tang San really falls for this rabbit and finds out we shared a bed… wouldn't I be courting death?
"Oh, and there's a little rabbit embroidered on the blanket—"
Thump!
Before he could finish, a petite figure hugged him tightly and knocked him to the ground.
No one had ever treated her so well—not since her mother.
"I saw it… thank you, Ye Qiu…"
Her soft voice and warm breath brushed against his cheek, making Ye Qiu's nerves tense.
He sighed inwardly.
No wonder Tang San, even after living two lives, fell for rabbits.
They're terrifyingly cute.
They stayed like that for a long time.
"You should let go now… I can't breathe."
"I won't!" Xiao Wu tightened her grip.
"You keep making me angry—I'll crush you to death!"