Chapter 146: 146, Help classmates (Third update, requesting monthly votes)

The next day, Ren Xiaosu entered the classroom and immediately sensed something amiss in the atmosphere.

He had barely stepped inside when the students, who had been engrossed in heated discussions, fell silent.

Ren Xiaosu, feigning indifference, walked to his seat and buried his head in a book, thinking that if he could not keep pace with the lessons, he might as well start from the beginning.

Thus, Ren Xiaosu had asked Wang FuGui to purchase textbooks for the first and second years, and now he was beginning to self-study the earlier material.

As he studied, he felt an inexplicable premonition—that these students seemed to know what was about to happen, and they had all tacitly chosen to conceal it from him.

This matter, he was certain, would not bode well for him.

Four classes in the morning: one in Chinese, one in geography, one in mathematics, and one in physics.

Chinese was manageable, but mathematics and physics were beyond his comprehension at this stage.

Geography, however, proved peculiar—Ren Xiaosu discovered that the content being taught bore no resemblance to his prior knowledge and was oddly fragmented.

The textbook lacked even a single complete map, focusing instead on matters near the 109 Barrier and some geography-related economic knowledge.

He speculated that the Barrier side might have incomplete information about the outside world, much like how the Li Clan would never share their surveying maps with the Qing Clan.

Other clans, too, maintained a culture of secrecy toward one another.

Unlike ordinary students who merely absorbed textbook knowledge, Ren Xiaosu found himself contemplating the geopolitical dynamics between clans as he read.

In that moment, he realized he could no longer approach problems with the mindset of a typical student.

Unintentionally, Ren Xiaosu glanced at his desk mate, Cao Yuqi, whose pallid face suggested she was enduring some unseen torment, her left hand perpetually pressed against her abdomen.

At that instant, the long-absent Palace spoke again: "Mission: Aid a classmate."

Now, whenever Ren Xiaosu heard the Palace’s voice, it felt oddly familiar—after all, each utterance brought him immense rewards.

After a moment of contemplation, he asked Cao Yuqi, "Does your stomach hurt?"

Cao Yuqi shot him a glance but remained silent, as though she harbored a deep aversion to speaking with him.

Yet Ren Xiaosu kept a vigilant eye on the Palace’s movements; he would not relent until the task was fulfilled…

"Classmate, did you forget to bring paper? I have some here," Ren Xiaosu said, assuming she had a stomachache.

Cao Yuqi could not help but roll her eyes at him: "I’m not having a stomachache."

"Uh," this surpassed his understanding: "What’s wrong then? Are you ill? Shall I take you to the hospital?"

"Don’t pry," Cao Yuqi snapped irritably: "This illness can’t be cured."

Uncurable? Ren Xiaosu froze—was it truly that grave?

To be honest, Cao Yuqi now regretted her harsh tone; he was showing concern, yet she had responded with hostility.

As the saying goes, "Do not strike a smiling face."

They ostracized Ren Xiaosu for his refugee status, largely due to their parents’ influence or fear.

Just as Cao Yuqi was about to soften her tone, she suddenly saw Ren Xiaosu rise and stride toward the podium.

The classroom gradually fell silent, all eyes fixed on Ren Xiaosu, wondering what he intended to do.

At that moment, he stood before the podium, his face etched with sorrow, and addressed his classmates: "Everyone, our classmate Cao Yuqi has contracted an incurable disease. I hope you will extend a helping hand and contribute some money for her."

Cao Yuqi: "???"

The entire class: "???"

All gazes converged on Cao Yuqi in an instant, and she nearly collapsed on the spot!

What the hell was this phantom illness? Wasn’t it just her period?

Do you even have common sense?

Of course, she wasn’t entirely sure whether Ren Xiaosu was genuinely ignorant or deliberately provoking her…

At that moment, the Palace echoed in Ren Xiaosu’s mind: "Mission accomplished. Reward: Perfect-grade skill learning chart!"

Ren Xiaosu’s eyes lit up—was it really done? And a rare perfect-grade skill learning chart to boot!

This was a huge gain!

After all, there were countless individuals within the Barrier whose skills he could learn from—Yang Xiaoju, Luo Xingyu, both possessed extraordinary abilities.

No matter whose skills he acquired, it would be a profit!

However, at this moment, Ren Xiaosu was reluctant to use the perfect-grade skill learning chart on Yang Xiaoju.

On one hand, he was particularly intrigued by Luo Xingyu’s shadow-stepping ability; with this skill, he could freely traverse the high walls of the Barrier’s other side with Yan Liuyuan and the others.

That way, his movements in and out of the Barrier would be unrestricted—a mastery of initiative!

Moreover, in combat, having a skill that could cross vast distances in a single step would be formidable, leaving opponents defenseless.

Additionally, Ren Xiaosu hesitated to use the chart on Yang Xiaoju because her master-level and above skills were too numerous and haphazard!

If he ended up extracting a skill like singing lullabies, he would have nowhere to cry.

During his last learning session with Xu Xianchu, he had realized that if the target lacked master-level skills, the chart would directly judge their supernatural ability.

From a risk-control perspective, he should focus on Luo Xingyu.

During the next break, the events in their class spread to other classrooms.

While Ren Xiaosu was catching his breath in the corridor, he spotted Yang Xiaoju standing there as well, wearing a duck-bill cap, leaning against the corridor railing and gazing toward him.

Gradually, Yang Xiaoju’s previously calm body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Laugh if you want to," Ren Xiaosu said calmly.

"Hahahaha," Yang Xiaoju laughed and returned to her classroom, leaving Ren Xiaosu alone in the corridor, staring at the playground—this was his first time seeing Yang Xiaoju laugh so joyously.

For some reason, Ren Xiaosu suddenly felt that being with these so-called classmates was less appealing than navigating the wilderness with Yang Xiaoju, relying on mutual vigilance and aid.

The class bell rang, and Ren Xiaosu turned to reenter the classroom, but suddenly footsteps and voices echoed outside, as if a group of people were approaching the door.

Cao Yuqi’s expression betrayed a flicker of relief, as though she anticipated what was to come.

At that moment, the homeroom teacher appeared at the classroom entrance, beckoning to Ren Xiaosu: "Ren Xiaosu, come out for a moment."

…

Updated ahead of schedule. Thanks to reader 161112211037559 and Jiang Nan Nan for becoming the book’s new allies.