Rise of the Devil's Soul

But his protests fell on deaf ears as Master Fu settled into bed, closing his eyes with a satisfied sigh. "And please, no reading aloud. I can't sleep with all that racket."

Wu Xie shot his mentor an exasperated look before diving into the book, muttering, "You're more of a child than I am, Master Fu. Way more."

And so, under the watchful eye of the snoring master, Wu Xie delved into the world of cultivation, his mind buzzing with newfound knowledge and a hint of begrudging admiration for the eccentric old man who had taken him under his wing.

Who knew that the path to enlightenment could be so exhausting and, at times, utterly ridiculous?

The very next morning, as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the window, Master Fu awoke to find Wu Xie sprawled on the floor, the hefty tome still resting on his face.

With a bemused shake of his head, Master Fu gently pried the book from Wu Xie's grasp, only to discover that the poor lad hadn't even made it past the first page.

Deciding that drastic measures were in order, Master Fu gave Wu Xie a hearty kick, expecting him to jump up in alarm.

Instead, Wu Xie merely grumbled something unintelligible and rolled over, snuggling deeper into his makeshift blanket of floorboards.

Undeterred, Master Fu fetched a bucket of ice-cold water and, with the precision of a seasoned warrior, drenched the slumbering Wu Xie.

There was a moment of pure, unadulterated shock as Wu Xie shot up, eyes wide with horror at the icy deluge.

"Master Fu!" he spluttered, water dripping from his tousled hair, "I swear I was...uh...studying! It must've been the book's fault...it's so...sleep-inducing!"

Master Fu raised a skeptical eyebrow, arms crossed over his chest. "Save your excuses, young grasshopper. Today is the first day of academy, and you, my dear apprentice, are going to be late."

Realization dawned on Wu Xie. He hastily grabbed the book from Master Fu's hand, promising to read it whenever he found the time.

He also warned Master Fu about his notorious habit of oversleeping, "If I don't show up tomorrow morning, just assume I'm still lost in my dreams."

Master Fu sighed, shaking his head at Wu Xie's laziness. However, he had a surprise in store for the young man.

He presented Wu Xie with a tiny creature, small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. "Behold, 'Wovi'!" Master Fu declared, holding up the miniature beast with a flourish. "Your new alarm clock, my dear Wu Xie."

Wovi was an adorable little creature about the size of a small hamster, Wovi had a fluffy, round body covered in soft, shimmering fur that shifted colors in the light.

His fur ranged from a soothing azure blue to a vibrant emerald green, reminiscent of a shimmering aurora borealis.

Two large, expressive eyes, as bright and twinkling as the stars, peered out from Wovi's fur.

They seemed to hold a depth of intelligence and curiosity that belied his small size. His ears, tufted with wisps of feathery fur, twitched with every sound, giving him an air of perpetual alertness.

Wu Xie blinked, staring at the little creature with a mix of confusion and amusement. "Wait, you're telling me this...this fuzzball is going to wake me up?"

Master Fu simply smiled, "Don't underestimate Wovi. You'll see what he's capable of soon enough."

With a skeptical shrug, Wu Xie tucked Wovi into his pocket and bid Master Fu a hasty farewell.

Just as Wu Xie was about to leave, Master Fu called out to him, handing him a piece of bread. "This isn't ordinary bread," he explained, "It's infused with special herbs that will help alleviate your fatigue."

Wu Xie groaned, "You old man, if you had these herbs, you should have given them to me earlier!"

Master Fu chuckled, waving him off. "Off you go now, young one! Don't want to be late for your first day of academy. And remember, Wovi will be watching!"

With a final wave, Wu Xie sprinted off towards the academy, a newfound pep in his step and a pocketful of determination.

Who knew that a day that started with a face full of book and a bucket of cold water would turn into such an adventure?

As he raced through the bustling streets, Wu Xie couldn't help but grin. Maybe, just maybe, this whole cultivation thing wouldn't be so bad after all.