Even If I Die, I Won't Look At Your Book! (Fourth Update)

He lifted his foot and walked toward that direction.

As he drew closer, he finally saw clearly that a small book stall was set up in the center of the crowd.

A few children stood guard by the side, while a group of students crowded in front, holding money in their hands and shouting:

"I want this one!"

"I was here first!"

"Don't push! You're stepping on my feet!"

Mo Hen's face darkened.

The opening ceremony was underway; instead of standing properly, they were running over here to rent books?

He pushed through the crowd, walked inside, and prepared to reprimand them.

His gaze landed on the book stall.

Those books were stacked neatly, and the characters on the covers leaped into his eyes one by one.

Battle Through the Heavens

Martial Universe

Journey to the West

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Mo Hen's reprimand stuck in his throat.

His gaze was firmly locked onto one of the books.

The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

The cover depicted a person drawing a bow and aiming an arrow, exuding a magnificent aura.

Mo Hen's hand reached out uncontrollably.

He picked up the book and opened the first page.

[The vast waters of the Qiantang River flowed day and night, endlessly winding past Niu Family Village in Lin'an before heading east into the sea. Along the riverbank stood a row of dozens of Chinese tallow trees, their leaves as red as a burning fire...]

Mo Hen could no longer tear his eyes away.

He stood in the center of the crowd, surrounded by noisy students, with the scorching September sun overhead, yet he could hear nothing and see nothing.

There was only the world within the book.

Guo Jing, Huang Rong, the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, the Eastern Heretic, the Western Venom...

One name after another came to life in his mind.

He did not know how much time had passed.

Finally.

"Teacher Mo Hen!"

A voice pulled him out of the book.

Mo Hen looked up abruptly and saw a student looking at him anxiously.

"Teacher, the ceremony has started! The principal wants you to go over!"

Mo Hen was stunned, only then realizing that the surrounding crowd had dispersed. The area in front of the book stall was empty, with only that fair-skinned, clean-looking child left to pack up the books.

He looked down at the book in his hand, then back at the child.

"This book..." He paused, "Whose is it?"

Su Mo looked up and smiled: "Mine."

Mo Hen nodded, returned the book to him, and turned to leave.

After walking a few steps, he couldn't help but look back.

That book lay quietly on the stall, and the person on the cover was still drawing their bow and aiming the arrow.

Mo Hen took a deep breath, forcing himself to look away.

The ceremony had begun.

He was a teacher; he could not be late.

At the ceremony venue.

The principal stood on the stage, cleared his throat, and began to speak.

"Students, a new semester has begun..."

Below the stage, there was silence.

The principal nodded with satisfaction and continued his speech.

"...Our Notting Academy has been established for a hundred years, cultivating countless outstanding spirit masters..."

Below the stage, it remained quiet.

The principal was even more satisfied, his voice growing a few decibels louder.

"...I hope that in this new semester, students will cultivate diligently and bravely scale the heights... Let us give a warm welcome to our new students."

Having said that, the principal took the lead in applauding.

However.

Below the stage, it was still quiet.

It was so quiet it made one's toes curl in embarrassment.

The principal looked carefully and finally realized that this silence was a bit off.

The students were sitting upright, their gazes fixed straight ahead, their expressions focused.

But their eyes were vacant.

Their minds were not on the stage at all.

In the senior section, a student kept his head down, clutching a book in his hands, shielding it with his sleeve while sneaking glances downward.

Another student next to him leaned over and whispered, "Where are you up to?"

"Xiao Yan just called off the engagement."

"Is it satisfying?"

"It's satisfying as hell! That Nalan Yanran deserves to be slapped in the face!"

"Let me take a look, just one look..."

"No way, wait until I finish this part!"

The junior section was even more exaggerated.

Several students simply placed their books on their laps and read them openly.

The people next to them didn't report them; instead, they stretched their necks to read along.

"Don't crowd, don't crowd, I can barely see the words!"

"Turn the page!"

"Wait a second, wait a second, this part is brilliant!"

The teachers' section was no better.

Several young teachers sat with solemn expressions on the surface, but their hands were secretly tucked into their sleeves, hiding books inside.

The older teachers were too embarrassed to sneak a peek, but their eyes drifted toward the students from time to time, filled with a hint of longing.

Mo Hen sat at the very edge of the teachers' section, trying his best to look like a proper teacher.

But his mind was entirely filled with Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

Had the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan found Guo Jing yet?

Would Hong Qigong take Guo Jing as his disciple?

Was Huang Rong really the daughter of Huang Yaoshi?

He wanted to know so badly.

But he couldn't move.

He was a teacher.

He had to maintain the dignity of a teacher.

Mo Hen took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus his attention on the principal.

The principal was somewhat annoyed, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue speaking.

"...The path of a spirit master lies in persistence..."

Mo Hen nodded.

Persistence...

Guo Jing was very persistent.

The foolish have their own blessings...

No, no, he couldn't think about that.

Mo Hen shook his head vigorously, trying to shake the thoughts out of his brain.

A teacher next to him looked at him strangely: "Teacher Mo Hen, are you alright?"

Mo Hen squeezed out a smile: "I'm fine, my neck is just a bit stiff."

The principal finally finished his speech.

"The ceremony is now—"

Before he could finish his sentence.

"Boom!" The crowd below erupted.

Hundreds of students stood up in unison and surged toward the same direction.

They moved as fast as if they were fleeing a disaster.

The principal was stunned.

He stared blankly at the students, who vanished in the blink of an eye.

On the playground, only a few scattered teachers and a bewildered janitor remained.

The principal opened his mouth, wanting to ask "what is going on," but there was no one left to answer him.

He looked at the dean of students beside him.

The dean shook his head.

He looked at Dai Cong, the new manager of logistics.

Dai Cong was also shaking his head.

The principal's face turned completely black.

He strode off the stage and chased after the direction the students had swarmed.

He wanted to see exactly what could be more attractive than his opening speech!

The book stall was packed with people again.

Even more than before.

Tang San's hands were sore from collecting money, and Xiao Wu's voice was completely hoarse, leaving her to greet customers with body language.

"Mmm-mmm-mmm!" (Line up over here!)

"Mmm-mmm!" (Pay first!)

"Mmm!" (Don't push!)

Su Mo squatted to the side, watching this frantic scene with mixed feelings.

He knew his books were popular.

But he hadn't expected them to be this popular.

It was only the first day.

At this rate, how much could he earn in a month?

As he was calculating in his mind, the crowd suddenly parted in the middle.

A dignified figure strode in.

The principal.

Su Mo looked up, and his eyes met the principal's.

The principal's face was grim as his gaze swept over the book stall, finally landing on the wooden sign.

Rent a book: 20 Copper Spirit Coins/hour

Advanced version: 100 Copper Spirit Coins/hour (Autographed by Su Mo; those with high comprehension may find opportunity)

The principal's brow furrowed.

20 Copper Spirit Coins an hour?

So expensive?

He had lived for over fifty years and had never seen book rentals this pricey.

And what was this about "advanced version," "standard version," and "those with high comprehension may find opportunity"?

Who was he trying to fool?

The principal sneered, about to open his mouth to reprimand him.

Beside him, a voice rang out.

"Principal, you might as well take a look."

Mo Hen had appeared in the crowd at some point, holding a book in his hand, which he handed to the principal.

The principal's gaze fell upon the four large characters on the cover.

Battle Through the Heavens.