Brainless Villain, Truly Annoying!

The main gate of Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy.

The sun was high, and the guard Zhang Fugui was leaning back in the guardhouse, legs crossed, cracking melon seeds while squinting at the passersby.

This job was comfortable.

He was sheltered from the wind and rain, and every day he just sat here, throwing his weight around and lecturing those ignorant peasants, all while collecting a paycheck at the end of the month.

It was a sweet life.

Just as he was cracking seeds, a middle-aged man in a silk robe walked out of the academy.

Zhang Fugui scrambled to his feet, nodding and bowing, "Cousin! What brings you here?"

This man was Zhang Fugui's cousin, the academy's logistics manager, Zhang Guiren.

Zhang Guiren walked slowly toward the guardhouse with his hands behind his back, looking Zhang Fugui up and down. "How is the work going?"

Zhang Fugui patted his chest. "Don't you worry, Cousin. I've been keeping a close eye on things; I guarantee the academy is guarded tight!"

Zhang Guiren nodded and lowered his voice. "Fugui, I had to pull strings and use up favors to get you this position. There are plenty of people eyeing this job, so don't you dare embarrass me."

"Of course, of course," Zhang Fugui nodded repeatedly. "I'll never forget your kindness, Cousin."

Zhang Guiren leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower. "This guard job looks simple, but there's a deep art to it. The most important thing is four words: read the room."

Zhang Fugui pricked up his ears.

Zhang Guiren pointed at the people coming and going. "See that? Those wearing silk, riding in carriages, or wearing the Spirit Hall badge on their waists—those are people of status. When people like that show up, you need to bend your waist to the ground and greet them with a smile. Even if they pass gas, you have to tell them it smells sweet, understand?"

Zhang Fugui nodded frantically. "Understood, understood!"

Zhang Guiren then pointed at those wearing coarse cloth and carrying tattered bundles. "Those peasants? You can tell at a glance they're from the countryside, here to handle business at the academy. You have to judge those people case-by-case. If they're looking for someone for legitimate business, you can let them in, but you have to ask clearly first, and by the way..."

He rubbed his fingers together.

Zhang Fugui's eyes lit up. "Got it! Squeeze them for some grease!"

Zhang Guiren nodded with satisfaction. "Smart. But remember, you have to give me half of whatever you squeeze out. After all, I'm the one who arranged this position for you."

Zhang Fugui patted his chest. "Don't worry, Cousin, you'll get your share!"

Zhang Guiren patted his shoulder. "Work hard. Do a good job, and in a couple of years, I'll promote you to team leader in charge of the entire guard squad."

Zhang Fugui's eyes shone. "Thank you, Cousin!"

Zhang Guiren walked away slowly with his hands behind his back.

Zhang Fugui watched him go, sat back down in the guardhouse, crossed his legs, and went back to his melon seeds.

Cousin was right; this job had a limitless future.

The sun climbed higher.

A dilapidated carriage drove in from the distance and stopped at the academy gate.

An old man with white hair and beard stepped down, followed by a child with three bumps on his forehead that hadn't fully faded, looking around with excitement.

Finally, a clean-looking boy stepped down from the carriage with a look of resignation.

He knew what kind of brainless plot was waiting for him. He had wanted to avoid it, but unfortunately, Notting Academy only had this one main gate. He just hoped Tang San would get it over with quickly.

Behind the carriage, the Big Black Ox walked over slowly and let out a yawn.

Zhang Fugui narrowed his eyes.

Look at the attire: coarse cloth, washed until it was faded, with patches on the corners.

Look at the equipment: a broken carriage, a big black ox, and only a few tattered bundles for luggage.

Look at the aura: absolutely rustic.

Verdict: peasants from the countryside.

Zhang Fugui spat out a melon seed shell, stood at the gate, crossed his arms, and tilted his chin up. "Stop! What are you here for?"

Old Jack hurried forward, offering a fawning smile. "Young man, we're here to enroll the child. This is Su Mo, a Work-Study Student, we have the certificate."

He pulled the Work-Study Student certificate from his robe and offered it with both hands.

Zhang Fugui took it, glanced at it, and then looked at Su Mo.

A Work-Study Student?

The kind who was dirt poor and relied on cleaning to pay for tuition?

He curled his lip, stuffed the certificate into his own pocket, and didn't return it.

"Enrollment? You lot?"

Old Jack was stunned. "Young man, is... is there a problem with the certificate?"

Zhang Fugui waved his hand. "The certificate is fine. But you've come at a bad time. The academy has business today and isn't accepting new students. Come back another day."

Old Jack grew anxious. "How can that be? We traveled a long way from Holy Soul Village, walking for a day and a night..."

Zhang Fugui rubbed his fingers together. "What, can't wait? Then I'll have to see how sincere you are."

Old Jack understood immediately, taking out a small cloth bag and handing it over.

Zhang Fugui picked it up, weighed it in his hand, and nodded with satisfaction.

He then opened it to take a look, his face instantly darkening as he flung it onto the ground, scattering twenty Copper Spirit Coins.

"Damn it, are you trying to brush off a beggar with Copper Spirit Coins!"

Old Jack wanted to say something more, but Tang San couldn't hold back.

He stepped forward, staring at Zhang Fugui: "On what grounds are you refusing us entry? We have the certificate; we are officially enrolled!"

Zhang Fugui looked down at the little runt and chuckled.

Oh, quite feisty, aren't we?

He reached out and poked Tang San in the head: "On what grounds? On the grounds that I'm the gatekeeper, and what I say goes. You little brat, you haven't even grown your hair out yet, and you dare to talk back to me?"

Tang San's face flushed bright red.

Lines from Battle Through the Heavens flashed through his mind, and he took a deep breath, shouting loudly:

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, don't bully the young because they are poor!"

Zhang Fugui was stunned.

Then he laughed until he was doubled over.

"Hahahaha! Thirty years east of the river? Don't bully the young because they are poor?" He pointed at Tang San, laughing so hard tears were almost streaming down his face. "You? A six-year-old brat, and you're talking about thirty years? See if you can even live past thirty first!"

Tang San's eyes widened in anger, his fists clenched as he prepared to charge.

And then—

Zhang Fugui gave him a casual shove.

Tang San stumbled back a few steps and landed hard on his bottom.

Three bumps on his forehead glistened in the sunlight.

Zhang Fugui stood with his hands on his hips, laughing: "Is that it? 'Thirty years east of the river'? Why don't you try standing up first!"

The other gatekeepers nearby joined in the laughter.

Su Mo stood to the side, covering his face, his toes curling so hard he felt like he could dig a three-bedroom apartment into the ground.

Tang San, do you really not know what hidden weapons are? Where is your Sleeve Arrow? Where is your 'path to death'? Why are you trying to go head-to-head with him?

Is it the Protagonist Will that has made him so upright and honorable?

I don't get it.

Su Mo took a deep breath, preparing to step forward and negotiate.

Zhang Fugui glanced at him and sneered: "What? Are you going to hit me with a 'thirty years east of the river' line too?"

Su Mo didn't speak.

Zhang Fugui continued his mockery: "Look at you bunch of peasants, each one more pretentious than the last. Work-Study Student? Aren't you just poor ghosts coming here to clean? Enrollment? Do you even deserve it?"

He pointed at Su Mo's clothes: "Look at these patches, three layers deep, right? Your family is so poor they can't even afford a new set of clothes, and you want to study? Go back to farming!"

Su Mo's gaze turned cold.

Zhang Fugui kept going: "And your mother, is she a poor ghost too? Weaving and mending at home to support you? Tsk tsk, how pathetic, giving birth to a useless son and still hoping he'll bring honor to the ancestors? Keep dreaming!"

Su Mo's expression sank completely.

This brainless lackey is truly annoying as hell!

He stepped forward.

"What did you just say?"

Zhang Fugui was taken aback, then became even more arrogant: "I said your mother is a poor ghost! So what? Are you going to hit me? Little brat, I'm a level 17 Spirit Master, you dare..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

A terrifying aura erupted from Su Mo!

Golden light surged!

His bones cracked and popped!

His clothes shredded!

One point two meters, one point five, one point eight, two meters, two point two meters!

In the blink of an eye, a giant with bulging muscles and the character "Virtue" carved into his back loomed over Zhang Fugui.

Zhang Fugui tilted his head back, his mouth hanging open, a sunflower seed sliding from the corner of his lip.

A single drop of cold sweat rolled down from the top of his head.