What's Wrong with the Countryside?

9 a.m.

After being put through the wringer for nearly two hours, Lin Mo was grandly escorted to the entrance of the Martial Artist Building by the principal and all the students from the Martial Arts Training Class.

This once again drew the attention of many martial artists at the Martial Artist Building.

"Damn, such a huge spectacle? Who is that?"

"Lin Mo? Martial Alliance Elite Camp? Good heavens, that's incredible!"

"Our River City actually produced someone who got into the Martial Alliance Elite Camp? Awesome!"

Only when they saw the two banners did the martial artists get a general idea of what was going on, and they began asking about Lin Mo.

Wang Xiao had long been waiting at the entrance to personally welcome him, but when he saw Yang Ziqing's grand display, he was utterly speechless.

Yang Ziqing, you old fool, don't you know how to keep a low profile?

Didn't you know there was an organization in this world called the Heretics?

Are you fucking afraid the Heretics won't notice Lin Mo?

Seeing Wang Xiao's grim expression, Yang Ziqing froze. Though he still did not understand why Wang Xiao was acting this way, he awkwardly smiled.

At that moment, he had already been swept away by joy.

How could he have thought of the Heretics?

To put it bluntly, the Heretics probably would not even spare a glance at a little place like River City.

For so many years, River City had never produced any truly formidable powerhouse.

Besides, Lin Mo was about to enter the Martial Alliance Elite Camp. Why should he fear the Heretics?

In his mind, Wang Xiao was probably just dissatisfied because he thought Yang Ziqing was being too high-profile.

But who cared? When it was time to show off, one had to show off properly. Once this village was passed, there might not be another shop ahead.

He had no idea how delighted he had been last night.

He had forcibly dragged several principals out for dinner and declared that he was treating.

And what happened? Naturally, he spent the entire meal showing off so hard that everyone watching got a toothache!

Martial Alliance Elite Camp, Awakened!

Either term alone was enough to make the other principals' eyes bubble with envy.

The principal of No. 1 High School had clenched his teeth so hard throughout the meal that they went bang-bang.

The bragging he had done a few days ago had been perfectly countered by Yang Ziqing at that dinner.

A double critical hit!

"Alright, it's time to go."

Unable to stand Yang Ziqing's flamboyant act any longer, Wang Xiao finally spoke.

"Ah? Alright, then I'll have to trouble Director Wang from here on."

Although Yang Ziqing's martial artist rank was higher than Wang Xiao's, Wang Xiao's position was what it was, so Yang Ziqing remained very polite.

Lin Mo, meanwhile, hurried to Wang Xiao's side as if fleeing for his life.

All the way here, he had felt like a monkey being put on display, and it had been unbearably uncomfortable.

"Student Lin Mo, hello. We meet again."

A voice as crisp as a lark suddenly rang out, making Lin Mo turn his head.

Behind and to the side of Wang Xiao stood a girl in a pale yellow dress, smiling brightly at him.

Her slightly wavy long hair swayed gently in the wind.

"You are...?"

"..." The girl's expression stiffened when she heard that. "You... forgot me so quickly?"

"Huh?"

Lin Mo paused, thinking, Why does this woman talk so strangely?

Am I supposed to remember you?

"I was the one who processed your Martial Artist Certification application yesterday."

The girl was somewhat unhappy. She had only handled Lin Mo's martial artist certification paperwork yesterday, yet he had forgotten her the moment he turned around.

She was fairly pretty too, wasn't she? If not a hundred people, at least eighty or ninety were pursuing her.

How had Lin Mo become so forgetful?

"Oh! It's you!"

Only then did Lin Mo remember that there seemed to have been such a person.

But when he had come yesterday, the girl had kept her head lowered the whole time. He had not even gotten a good look at her face.

When she suddenly asked him like that, how could he possibly remember?

"Her name is Lu Yingying. She is Commander Lu's granddaughter."

At that moment, Wang Xiao introduced her as well.

"Huh? Commander Lu?"

Upon hearing that, Lin Mo looked Lu Yingying over again.

He had not expected this girl to be Lu Li's granddaughter.

"Haha, Miss Lu, I've long admired your name. I was wondering why you looked so familiar—it turns out Commander Lu is your grandfather. You really do look quite alike... uh, cough, cough. Well... Director Wang, shouldn't we be getting on the road?"

Halfway through, Lin Mo realized that he seemed to have said something wrong. Lu Yingying's expression also looked somewhat off, so he hurriedly coughed twice and changed the subject.

Wang Xiao did not know whether to laugh or cry as he listened from the side.

Lu Yingying's face had completely fallen.

Long admired her name? Familiar? Then why had he failed to recognize her just now?

She looked like her grandfather? Her grandfather had a horse face—how did she look anything like him? Like your sister!

This bastard was simply spouting nonsense here.

However, just as Lu Yingying was about to lose her temper, Lin Mo grabbed Wang Xiao and ran off in a puff of smoke.

"Lin Mo, just you wait!" Lu Yingying had not expected him to run so suddenly, and she shouted at his retreating back.

"May Student Lin Mo return in triumph!"

A thunderous roar suddenly rose from behind, startling Lu Yingying so badly that she jumped.

It turned out to be the teachers and students of Second High School shouting for Lin Mo.

"Phew!" Lin Mo finally let out a breath after getting into the car and waiting for it to start.

That had been fucking awkward!

Wang Xiao looked at him with an amused half-smile, as if he wanted to say something but held it back.

"Director Wang, sorry you had to see that."

"Haha, it's nothing. Who told you to become the light of Second High School?"

"Please don't make fun of me. The light of Second High School? I was treated like a monkey all morning. I did not even have time for my morning exercise."

"Oh? You exercise every morning?"

"Of course. I've been running for over ten years. If I skip even one day, my whole body feels off."

Listening to Lin Mo, Wang Xiao nodded inwardly.

He had great talent and worked this hard. No wonder he was so damn impressive.

"Where are we going now?"

"Lingjiang Base City, naturally. Once we get there, you'll gather with the other trainees, and then you'll head over together."

"Oh? The Elite Camp isn't in Lingjiang?"

"Of course not. Every province has a Martial Alliance Training Camp base. But there is only one Elite Camp in all of Huaxia."

"Oh, so we're going to the Capital City?"

"No. Stop asking; you'll find out when the time comes. It'll take another two hours to reach Lingjiang. You can take a nap first. You didn't sleep well this morning, did you?"

Seeing that Wang Xiao would not answer directly, Lin Mo did not ask further.

"Yeah, I didn't sleep well. I was woken up by all that noise early in the morning, so I'll sleep for a bit."

Lin Mo was straightforward about it and immediately lay down to sleep.

Two hours later, they arrived at their destination: South Province Military Base.

Lin Mo followed Wang Xiao to a plaza, where several hundred people were already gathered.

There were both boys and girls, and every one of them, like Lin Mo, was only eighteen years old.

"This is your Number Plate, South 666. Go line up first. Find a spot inside and stand there. Commander Lu will arrange things for all of you later."

After Wang Xiao completed the procedures for Lin Mo, he handed him the Number Plate.

"Damn, this number is slick!"

Lin Mo could not help laughing when he saw the Number Plate. 666—it really was slick!

As for that "South," it probably stood for Southern Province.

Holding the Number Plate, Lin Mo entered the plaza, found an empty spot near the back, and stood there.

Those who had arrived earlier all looked toward Lin Mo.

Some had curiosity in their eyes, some disdain, some provocation, and some simply ignored him.

"Hey, brother, hello. My name is Lin Dabao. Just call me Dabao. I'm from Sucheng. Where are you from?"

The moment Lin Mo settled in, a broad, fat boy beside him familiarly patted himself and introduced himself.

"Hello, I'm Lin Mo, from River City."

Upon hearing River City, several people around him swept their eyes over Lin Mo. There was a trace of puzzlement in their eyes, but even more contempt.

"River City? Nice place. Is it far from here? What specialties does it have?"

Lin Dabao, however, did not react differently because of River City. Instead, he looked thoroughly interested.

But his words made Lin Mo roll his eyes.

He called it a nice place, then immediately asked how far away it was and what specialties it had.

He made it sound as if he knew River City well, only to reveal that he knew absolutely nothing.

"Uh, it's not too far. As for specialties... does rice count?"

After thinking for a moment, Lin Mo answered.

River City was originally just a small frontier Base City.

However, it produced rice in abundance. Much of Huaxia's rice came from River City.

"Rice?" Lin Dabao was clearly stunned upon hearing that.

Among the people around them, some even sneered, the contempt on their faces growing thicker.

Someone even mocked, "I never thought this year's Elite Camp would recruit country bumpkins too. It's really lowering this young master's status."

To people from major cities, a small Base City like River City was nothing more than frontier countryside, utterly beneath their notice.

In fact, the geniuses in every Elite Camp cohort came from large Base Cities.

One could hardly ever see martial artists from small frontier Base Cities.

"What's wrong with the countryside? Without us growing rice, would you eat shit?" Lin Mo frowned and spoke directly.

He had no intention of indulging this kind of self-important young master.

"Kid, what did you say?"

Hearing that this country boy actually dared to talk back, the man immediately flew into a rage and turned to look at Lin Mo.