Chapter 29: Chapter 29: "What?! Your Family Lives in the Douluo Consecration Hall?!"
The trio looked at each other in astonishment.
Even though they'd been at the academy for a while, this was the first time they'd noticed someone in their class who looked as young as the boy before them. The top of the kid's head only reached Yán's stomach—no way was he twelve.
With a slight sneer, Xie Yue crossed his arms, sizing up the newcomer. "Why are you so short?"
The boy frowned at the blunt question but didn't respond, though his expression soured. His grand-uncle had advised him not to mention his "special enrollment status," so he held back from spilling the truth about his age.
"...Malnutrition," he finally muttered.
Xie Yue snorted. "Well, can you even keep up? We're not looking for dead weight on this team."
The boy scoffed. "I'm no slouch. Actually, I'm here to join because of Baby Brother. Out of everyone, he's the only one worth my respect so far."
Lin Luo cooed from his perch, seemingly amused. "Gah?"
Yán patted the boy's shoulder. "No big deal, you're in. Between me, Xie Yue, and Nana, we'll be unstoppable."
Nana shrugged. "Agreed, all we need is a seven-member team."
She looked back at the boy, sizing him up. "What's your name, anyway?"
"Miao Duoduo," he replied.
"Well, Miao Duoduo, welcome to our team!" she said with a smile.
Meanwhile, Lin Luo had no idea that the year-level dean had mistaken him for Miao Duoduo, enrolling him under the boy's name. The only one aware of the mix-up, admissions director Wang Shicheng, happened to be away on assignment.
Xie Yue rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We're short two more, but no rush. For now, let's find a time to practice and get to know everyone's skills."
"Tomorrow morning at the training grounds works," Yán said confidently, already envisioning their victory in the in-class tournament next week.
Nana turned to Lin Luo in her arms, her eyes lighting up as a thought occurred to her. "Little Yi Yi, you'll be there, right?"
No! I've got obstacles!
Finally, you're asking the right questions!
Lin Luo climbed up to the desk before Nana and began gesturing and babbling urgently, his small face full of determination. "Gah! Mama gah, gah! Mama gah gah!"
Yán looked helplessly at Xie Yue. "What's he saying?"
Nana translated, word by word. "He's saying his mom doesn't want him going to class and that we'll need to sneak him out tomorrow morning."
Lin Luo clapped his tiny hands, delighted with her spot-on interpretation.
Both boys stared in astonishment.
"Nana, that's amazing! You actually understood him?!"
"Baby-speak genius!"
Nana gave a satisfied nod. "I am the most mentally adept of us three, after all."
Miao Duoduo, looking awed, chimed in, "Baby Brother is truly an inspiration! Against all odds, he insists on attending class! Baby Brother, you have my utmost admiration!"
Lin Luo watched, confused, as the kid knelt with hands folded in respect.
When did I get a mini fan club?
Lin Luo gestured again in baby talk, and his teammates looked to Nana for translation.
"Yi Yi says he's gonna take a stroll around the academy and meet us after class so he can show us where he lives," Nana explained.
"Great, see you later, Baby Brother!" Yán said with a wave.
"Goodbye, Baby Brother!"
With their team's salutes, Lin Luo made his exit from the classroom.
Even the teacher, Mairen, merely watched him go, respecting the dean's orders that this little one only needed to show up in class for attendance's sake.
Once outside, Lin Luo happily set off on a "step-counting mission," knowing he needed to head home at noon—for his lunchtime milk. Here's hoping his mama isn't too mad and will still let him nurse...
When midday arrived, Lin Luo waddled back to his classroom. As the students filed out for lunch, Nana swooped him up into her arms with a bright smile.
"Yi Yi, here are the last two members of our team: Seikaka and Luoya. They're both support spirit masters."
Seikaka, a pudgy boy, and Luoya, a small, bright-eyed girl, beamed at him.
"Gah!" Lin Luo greeted them, waving his chubby hand, and Luoya's eyes sparkled.
"Baby Brother, I adore you! I joined the team because of you, you know!"
Hearing this, six-year-old Miao Duoduo gave a smug little huff. Copying me, huh? Twelve-year-old or not, she's as immature as ever.
"Alright, no more chatter! Time to take Yi Yi home. Seikaka, Luoya, don't forget our plan for tomorrow morning!" Nana directed, now officially taking charge of their seven-member team.
"Roger, Captain!"
With Nana as the de facto leader, the group lifted Lin Luo and followed his tiny pointing fingers toward the Academy's exit.
Yán's eyes went wide as they neared the central square. "Whoa… Baby Brother actually lives inside the Temple grounds?"
Lin Luo had led them further into the academy rather than toward its exit.
Xie Yue arched an eyebrow. "Didn't realize, did you? Even if Baby Brother's talented, it takes connections to get into the academy. I bet one of his elders is at least a Black-Robed Bishop—why else would the dean pull strings for him?"
"Good point."
Yet as they reached the temple's outer plaza, Xie Yue grew silent, a strange expression crossing his face.
"Wait, are we…going inside?"
Nana nodded, her eyes wide with surprise as well. "Yi Yi says yes."
"No way…"
To live anywhere inside the plaza meant having a considerable status, typically held by the Red-Robed Bishops—spirit masters of the Soul Sage rank.
Xie Yue laughed nervously. "Baby Brother's got quite the background..."
But as they made their way through the Archbishop's Hall and approached the innermost square, his laughter faded entirely. Even Nana looked at Lin Luo, surprised.
"Yi Yi… is your home even farther in?"
Lin Luo nodded, giving a delighted little clap.
Yán, who'd been staring around nervously, finally spoke up, "We can't go any farther. Inner Square's restricted—they have guards patrolling."
Nana bit her lip. "Still, we can't just leave Baby Brother here. We need to know which building is his so we can pick him up tomorrow."
"Agreed. We'll just have to avoid being seen," Yán said with a serious nod.
The atmosphere shifted entirely as they crossed into the Inner Square—the weighty presence of the Wuhun Hall's core nearly tangible.
They made their way carefully through the square, dodging the patrols. But as Lin Luo pointed forward again, his teammates froze, eyes wide with fear.
"Don't tell me…farther in?! The next level… is the Sacred Hall!"
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