Kapitel 16: Thugs

<p>The new enrollees this time were divided into four classes based on their grades. From best to worst, they were: Heaven-Grade Class A, Heaven-Grade Class B, Earth-Grade Class A, and Earth-Grade Class B.</p><p>Gu Dashun came in second, and naturally was in Heaven-Grade Class A. Xiao Liulang was second last, and entered Earth-Grade Class B.</p><p>As for Gu Xiaoshun, he was also assigned to Earth-Grade Class B.</p><p>At first, Gu Dashun had wondered what big shot Gu Xiaoshun had saved, but in the end, he was only enrolled in the worst class. It seemed that the other party did not hold much sway in Divine Academy.</p><p>"That's Earth-Grade Class B. Go ahead." After giving Gu Ershun directions, Gu Dashun turned around and headed for Heaven-Grade Class A.</p><p>Gu Ershun had dreamed of going to school like Dashun since he was young. Now that his wish had finally come true, he was naturally overjoyed.</p><p>However, when he thought about how he was actually assigned to the same class as Xiao Liulang, he felt a little unhappy. Although he did not know what Heaven-Grade Class A and Earth-Grade Class B actually meant, Xiao Liulang was ranked second from the bottom. How good could the class he went to be?</p><p><em>Later, I'll have to find the old master whom Gu Xiaoshun saved and get him to transfer me to Gu Dashun's class!</em></p><p>Gu Ershun thought this was simply matter-of-fact; he did not think that there was anything wrong with this idea.</p><p>He looked disdainfully at the students present and raised his chin as he entered. Suddenly, the lecturer said, "Who are you?"</p><p>Gu Ershun said, "I'm a new student, Gu Ershun."</p><p>When the teacher heard this, he stopped looking at him and said indifferently, "Where did this freeloader come from? There's no such person in the class. Get out."</p><p>Gu Ershun was stunned.</p><p>All the students looked at him, and Gu Ershun's face flushed red. "I… I'm…"</p><p>"Is Gu Xiaoshun here?" The teacher interrupted him.</p><p>The classroom was very quiet.</p><p>"Is Gu Xiaoshun not here yet?" the teacher asked again.</p><p>The students began to whisper among themselves.</p><p><em>Gu Xiaoshun and Gu Ershun. It's obvious that they're related, but the teacher didn't even ask…</em></p><p>As the students whispered among themselves, they peered towards Gu Ershun, a hint of provocation in their looks this time.</p><p>Gu Ershun could not stand it anymore and turned around to look for Gu Dashun. He had hoped that Gu Dashun would help him resolve the problem, but he did not expect that Heaven-Grade Class A had already begun their lesson.</p><p>Gu Ershun had nowhere to go. He was so embarrassed that he wished he could find a hole to hide in.</p><p>After class, Gu Dashun was called out by the teacher of his class.</p><p>"Master Chen." Gu Dashun bowed respectfully.</p><p>Teacher Chen thought for a moment and asked him, "Do you know about your younger brother's admission?"</p><p>Gu Dashun nodded. "I do. A steward from the academy personally sent my brother's admission documents to the village. May I ask… did something happen?"</p><p>Teacher Chen frowned. "The one who was admitted is Gu Xiaoshun, but the one who arrived was Gu Ershun. Do you know anything about this?"</p><p>When Gu Dashun saw Teacher Chen's expression, he felt that something was wrong. His gaze flickered, and he lowered his eyes. "I'm not certain, as I had left first. Those two are my cousins from my second uncle's family."</p><p>"I understand. You can go back to class first," Teacher Chen said.</p><p>"Master, my brother…" Gu Dashun looked at Teacher Chen uneasily.</p><p>Teacher Chen waved his hand. "It's fine. It's related to your second uncle's family and has nothing to do with you. Keep studying hard. You did well this time, the dean thinks very highly of you."</p><p>Gu Dashun left for his class.</p><p>He glanced in the direction of the corridor.</p><p><em>Gu Ershun is timid, surely he won't spout any nonsense.</em></p><p>…</p><p>On the other hand, after Gu Jiao went to the market, she went straight to where she set up shop last time. Everyone seemed to know that she was coming here to sell goods from the mountain and had reserved a place for her.</p><p>Gu Jiao brought freshly picked mushrooms and dried black wood ear fungus today.</p><p>"Is this edible? Don't they say it's poisonous?" The lady selling sweet potatoes asked as she held a piece of black wood ear fungus.</p><p>"The ones I sell are edible," Gu Jiao replied.</p><p>After being dried in the sun, the black wood ear fungus no longer had any tannic acid or porphyrin, so it would not cause any toxic reactions.</p><p>The lady selling sweet potatoes believed her. "Can I still exchange them for sweet potatoes?"</p><p>Gu Jiao nodded. "Sure."</p><p>More than half of the black wood ear fungus and fresh mushrooms in her basket were exchanged with simply produce by the nearby vendors. Only a small portion was actually sold to passersby.</p><p>Gu Jiao grabbed the basket with one hand.</p><p>The basket was heavy with radishes, sweet potatoes, winter melons, and pumpkins, but she easily carried it up.</p><p>Everyone watched her leave the market with their mouths agape.</p><p>Gu Jiao did not return to the village. Instead, she walked into a dusty alley.</p><p>Xue Ningxiang had also come to the market.</p><p>Her mother-in-law's old legs were acting up again. Without the money to go to the medical hall in town, she could only come to the market to find a barefoot doctor to buy some herbs.</p><p>After buying the medicine, she was about to go back when she happened to see a familiar figure.</p><p>She fixed her gaze on her to confirm that she was not mistaken. However, she could not help but feel even more puzzled.</p><p>"Why would she come here? And she's headed to that kind of place?"</p><p>Past that alley was a seedy area; as far as Xue Ningxiang knew, there were gambling dens, brothels, and illegal workshops…</p><p>Xue Ningxiang really could not figure out why Gu Jiao went there.</p><p><em>Is she being tricked, or…</em></p><p>Xue Ningxiang frowned and quickly followed after her.</p><p>However, as soon as she passed through the alley, Gu Jiao was gone. Opposite her was a large gambling den, on her left was a brothel, and on her right was a place whose business she could not discern. From time to time, miserable screams would ring out. A person stumbled out, their face bruised, and they vomited blood and fell to the ground, unable to get up again.</p><p>Xue Ningxiang was terrified. She turned around and was about to head back the way she came, but she was blocked by a few thuggish men in the alley.</p><p>"Yo, where did this young lady come from? Isn't she quite a comely lass!"</p><p>"Ain't that right? How about you play with us for a while?"</p><p>As the two men in front spoke, they stretched out their groping hands towards Xue Ningxiang. The two men behind did not attack, and simply laughed wretchedly.</p><p>The four of them surrounded her so tightly that not even water could pass through.</p><p>Xue Ningxiang wanted to scream, but one of the men had covered her mouth.</p><p>The four men coordinated well, as if this was not the first time they had done such a thing. One covered her mouth, two others picked her up, then, everyone began to grope her.</p><p>Xue Ningxiang could not scream or move; tears of despair flowed from her eyes.</p><p>At this moment, a cold voice came from behind them. "Hey, move aside."</p><p>The few of them were in high spirits when they suddenly heard a woman's voice. They were secretly delighted. <em>Another lamb to the slaughter!</em></p><p>However, when they turned around, they saw a little girl with a red patch on her face.</p><p>Not only was her face ugly, she was also skinny. It was obvious that she had not developed well.</p><p>The few of them immediately lost interest in assaulting her. The man covering Xue Ningxiang's mouth yelled, "Get lost!"</p><p>"I said, move."</p><p>Her voice was not loud, and her tone was casual. However, for some reason, everyone felt a strange chill in their hearts.</p><p>"Pfft~" It was the same man covering Xue Ningxiang's mouth. He smirked disdainfully, let go of Xue Ningxiang, and walked towards Gu Jiao.</p><p>Then, he threw a fist towards Gu Jiao!</p><p>Xue Ningxiang could not bear to look and shut her eyes!</p><p>Crack!</p><p>"Ah—"</p><p>The sound of bones breaking and screaming shocked everyone.</p><p>Gu Jiao did not give anyone a chance to react. She grabbed the second man's collar and threw him against the wall, knocking him out on the spot.</p><p>The remaining two people pounced at her, but before they could even touch her clothes, she had landed two solid kicks right where it hurt most. They collapsed on the ground, unable to get up.</p><p>However, at this moment, the first man to fall to the ground suddenly stumbled to his feet. Grabbing a brick, he aimed for the back of Gu Jiao's head—</p>