Big Black Ox: Nightmare of Emergency Food (Part 3)

Su Mo's gaze landed on the book stall in the corner.

Those books had made money in Holy Soul Village, and they should do the same in Notting City.

Moreover, there were more people here, and they were wealthier.

Su Mo's eyes lit up.

"Tang San."

"Master?"

"Starting tomorrow, we'll continue setting up our stall."

Tang San was stunned: "Set up a stall? To rent out books?"

Su Mo nodded: "That's right. Notting City is so large; there must be people willing to spend money to read."

Tang San thought about it and found it reasonable.

"But Master, where should we set it up?"

Su Mo pondered for a moment.

This question did indeed require some thought.

Unlike Holy Soul Village, Notting City had no fixed stalls. He needed to find a suitable location with high foot traffic where they wouldn't be chased away.

He looked out the window.

Under the moonlight, the silhouette of Notting Academy stood quietly.

Inside the academy were over a thousand students, almost all of whom were children of the wealthy.

The wealthy were the easiest group to get money from.

Su Mo smiled.

"We'll set it up right inside the academy."

Tang San blinked: "Inside the academy? Will that work?"

Su Mo nodded: "It will."

He recalled that in the original story, Tang San and his peers had also started out by selling things.

The only difference was that they sold hidden weapons, while he sold books.

The principle was the same.

As for whether they could actually set up—

They would know once they tried.

Regardless, it was better than sitting in the dormitory waiting around.

Su Mo looked at the pile of copper coins on the table, then at the bag of books in the corner.

"Tomorrow, we'll go scout the path."

Tang San nodded vigorously: "Alright!"

Xiao Wu, who had been listening nearby, leaned in: "Master, I want to go too!"

Su Mo glanced at her: "What are you going for?"

Xiao Wu said matter-of-factly: "To help Master make money! Once we have money, we can buy more delicious food! That hotpot from earlier was so good!"

Su Mo: "..."

This girl's train of thought was always so straightforward.

But that was fine, too.

There was strength in numbers.

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng and the others also offered to help.

"Moo~" Since Su Mo was going, Big Black Ox would naturally follow.

Su Mo looked at the two youngsters in front of him, then at the Big Black Ox lying in the corner, and finally at Wang Sheng and the others who were cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks.

He suddenly felt that, although this team was a bit strange, it seemed...

Quite reliable?

Late at night.

The members of Dormitory Seven had finally finished preparing the items for tomorrow's stall, and one by one, they collapsed onto their beds, fast asleep.

Only Wang Sheng held a diary and wrote:

A two-meter-two monster has come to our Dormitory Seven.

A crazy girl who can fight has also arrived.

And there is a Soul Beast disguised as an ox.

And that guy with the bumps on his head—he might not be much of a fighter, but he's truly reckless when a brawl breaks out.

I have a feeling that life in Dormitory Seven is going to be dangerous from here on out!

Hmm... or maybe just lively?

But regardless—

I'd better just stay alive for now.

After all, hot pot is truly delicious, and I'd like to eat it again...

(A puddle of drool)

Meanwhile.

Big Black Ox lay in the corner, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Four words kept echoing in its mind—

Emergency food.

Emergency food.

Emergency food.

It was a dignified six-hundred-year-old Demon King; being ridden by a little brat for two years was one thing.

But now, it had actually become "emergency food"?

Big Black Ox lifted its head and cast a resentful gaze toward Su Mo's bed.

Su Mo was already asleep, breathing evenly, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his mouth.

Big Black Ox narrowed its eyes.

"Moo." (You just wait.)

One day, it would make this kid realize—

A Demon King is not meant to be eaten.

The next morning.

When Su Mo woke up, he found a steaming bowl of rice porridge sitting by his bedside.

Big Black Ox stood nearby, looking overly attentive.

Su Mo was stunned: "What are you doing?"

Big Black Ox nudged the bowl with its head.

"Moo." (Drink it, it's fresh.)

Su Mo looked at it suspiciously.

This ox was acting strange.

Big Black Ox continued to wag its tail obsequiously.

"Moo." (If you're full, you won't be hungry, right?)

Su Mo: "..."

He seemed to understand something.

"Don't worry, I won't eat you."

Big Black Ox's eyes lit up.

Su Mo added: "At least not right now..."

The smile on Big Black Ox's face froze.

"MOO!!!"

(YOU JUST WAIT!!!)

Su Mo picked up the porridge and took a slow sip.

Mm, not bad.

Today was the day of the Notting Academy opening ceremony.

Early in the morning, a high platform was erected on the playground, colorful flags fluttered in the breeze, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.

Students from every grade stood in formation by class, teachers stood at the side of the stage, and the principal and several administrators sat upon it, creating a scene of solemnity and grandeur.

Only the Dormitory Seven line looked a bit off.

Wang Sheng stood at the very front of the line, trying his best to straighten his back and look like a proper student.

But his eyes kept uncontrollably darting toward the back of the line.

Gou Dan stood behind him, equally distracted.

Er Gou, San Wa, Tie Zhu, Shi Tou... each one was more absent-minded than the last.

Because at the very back of the line, Su Mo was squatting on the ground, a makeshift book stall laid out before him.

A dozen or so books were stacked neatly, their covers bearing various enticing titles—Battle Through the Heavens, Martial Universe, Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms...

Beside them stood a wooden sign with a few crookedly written characters:

Book Rentals.

Standard Edition: 20 Copper Spirit Coins/hour (effects comparable to meditative cultivation).

Advanced Edition: 100 Copper Spirit Coins/hour (hand-copied by Su Mo; those with high comprehension may find opportunity).

Tang San and Xiao Wu guarded either side of the stall, one responsible for collecting money and keeping accounts, the other for shouting to attract customers.

"Come, come, come! Take a look, take a look! Peerless books—read them and become stronger!"

Xiao Wu's voice was quite loud, but it was quickly drowned out by the surrounding noise.

Because there were simply too many students crowding around.

"What kind of book is this? Battle Through the Heavens? What's it about?"

"Journey to the West? A story about a monkey?"

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms? About war? I like war!"

"20 Copper Spirit Coins an hour? Isn't that expensive?"

"Expensive? The Spirit Hall provides a monthly subsidy of 20 Silver Spirit Coins; that's enough to read for a hundred hours!"

"I want to borrow Battle Through the Heavens!"

"I was here first! I want Journey to the West!"

"Don't push, don't push! I paid first!"

The area in front of the stall was instantly packed with people.

Upperclassmen, lowerclassmen, boys, girls, nobles, commoners... they surrounded the small book stall, leaving no room to breathe.

Tang San's hands grew tired from collecting money, and Xiao Wu's throat was nearly hoarse from shouting.

Su Mo squatted to the side, watching the scene, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Business was good.

At the teacher's podium not far away.

Mo Hen stood among the faculty, his gaze habitually sweeping toward the class of Work-Study Students under his charge.

Then, he froze.

Half of the Dormitory Seven group was missing.

The remaining half were all distracted, their necks twisted at strange angles as they desperately tried to look toward the back of the line.

Mo Hen frowned.

What was going on?

He followed the students' gazes—

In the corner of the playground, a dense crowd of people was gathered.

Mo Hen's brow furrowed even deeper.

The ceremony was about to begin; why weren't these students standing in their places, and what were they doing gathered over there?