Walking out of the junkyard, and after another half an hour, Shangguan Mo and his group finally arrived at Spring Grass City's commercial street.
This was considered the most prosperous city in the northern Land of Hot Water.
However, in Shangguan Mo's view, Spring Grass City looked at most like a small county town from his previous life, and the flow of people was not large.
But Shangguan Mo was still slightly excited, buying two nori rice balls from a shop.
The living materials in Tang Yin Village were still too meager; at least, Shangguan Mo had never seen such well-presented rice balls.
Inoshita Riya had previously suggested treating his classmates to barbecue, but Shangguan Mo refused; he saw the feigned generosity on Inoshita Riya's face and guessed even more how difficult it would be for him, with his meager teacher's salary, to treat over a dozen growing students to barbecue.
After a simple meal, the group split into two teams, heading out separately to gather information about the Evil God Cult in the city.
Two hours later, Shangguan Mo still had no Gains.
"Mo-kun, oh no! Should I call you Captain Mo now? Do you think we can find traces of those Evil God Cult followers?"
Walking out of a shop, Li's face was a bit disheartened as she asked Shangguan Mo.
"Hehe…"
Shangguan Mo chuckled noncommittally at Li's address, but patiently explained her question.
"Even if there are truly Evil God Cult members hidden in Spring Grass City, it would be difficult for us to find them with our limited manpower and strength. You don't need to be discouraged. If I'm not mistaken, the journey back will not be as peaceful as it is now…"
"Ah, why do you say that?"
Li's small face was full of surprise, and the few students behind Shangguan Mo's team were equally astonished.
"As far as I know, those guys from the Evil God Cult almost never act alone. Only one Genin from the Evil God Cult appeared that night, which is clearly very different from their usual behavior. I estimate that the remaining guys must have taken those villagers away first, and with the arrogant and overbearing style of the Evil God Cult, they will definitely seek revenge!"
"Mo-kun, are you saying that people from the Evil God Cult will attack us on our way back?"
Li exclaimed, a hint of hatred flashing in her eyes.
"Probably…"
Shangguan Mo nodded slightly.
Although he said that, Shangguan Mo still found a hidden Underground Black Market in the city.
Of course, it was found by the Earth Dragon Beast.
Drilling into the deep tunnel dug by the Earth Dragon Beast, Shangguan Mo and his group quickly arrived at a brightly lit underground world.
Pitter-patter…
As soon as he crawled out of the cave, Shangguan Mo heard some fast but very rhythmic striking sounds, which sounded somewhat familiar and made him feel a bit hot all over.
Shangguan Mo casually glanced at the crude wooden room not far away, then walked away with Li and a few students as if nothing had happened.
But just as he passed that room, a woman's groan, as if reaching a climax, suddenly came from within.
Shangguan Mo: "…"
His steps paused, feeling a certain part of his body gradually rising. Shangguan Mo's face twitched slightly, then he continued walking forward without looking back.
But someone behind him gently tugged at his clothes. Shangguan Mo turned around and saw Li's face full of unbearable compassion.
"Mo-kun, should we go save that woman? She's crying so pitifully…"
Taking a deep breath, Shangguan Mo forced a smile onto his face.
"Li, you're still young, you don't understand that older sister's happiness!
Be good, come with me…"
"Oh…"
Li pouted slightly, responding softly.
Murakami Rin and the others, who also felt inexplicably hot all over, could only obediently follow Shangguan Mo deeper into this Underground Black Market.
"Class—no, Captain, what is this place? It looks so strange, and it feels different from above…"
Murakami Rin asked Shangguan Mo, who was ahead, with a hint of confusion on his face as he walked.
Shangguan Mo merely slowed his steps, then continued forward, saying without looking back.
"This place is called the Underground Black Market. You can think of it as another world where all the darkness in people's hearts can be seen here…"
Murakami Rin, however, looked as if he half-understood, and Shangguan Mo didn't care whether he truly understood or not.
He came here simply to do his best and leave the rest to fate, trying to find traces of the Evil God Cult.
After walking for only a short while, Shangguan Mo and his group arrived at a seemingly very simple street, where the crowd gradually grew, all exuding a sharp, bloodthirsty aura.
Some people were very surprised to see these half-grown boys appear here, then they shamelessly scrutinized Shangguan Mo and the others with ill-intentioned gazes.
Many even lewdly scrutinized the little girl Li, their naked gazes as if they wanted to devour her whole, scaring Li into pressing herself against Shangguan Mo, tightly grasping his arm.
Looking back at Li, who was clinging to him like a little chick, and the few male classmates who were pale with fright, Shangguan Mo frowned and cursed inwardly.
"Useless things…"
Turning his head, he scanned the surroundings with a dark expression, then Shangguan Mo impatiently shouted.
"What are you looking at! Do you want to die?"
Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh!
Several Shuriken instantly flew from Shangguan Mo's hand, grazing past the faces of those with ill intentions in their eyes.
"That kid is a Ninja!"
"What excellent throwing Ninjutsu, I misjudged them. I thought they were just a few chicks, but didn't expect there was an eagle hidden among them!"
"Hmph!"
Immediately, all the brazen gazes receded like a tide, and the only looks Shangguan Mo felt were wariness and solemnity.
"Mo-kun, you're amazing!"
Li's face was flushed with excitement, her eyes full of little stars as she looked at Shangguan Mo.
The eyes of Murakami Rin and the other male students behind him were also sparkling with admiration as they looked at Shangguan Mo.
Facing the adoration of these inexperienced classmates, a ripple stirred in Shangguan Mo's heart, and he sighed slightly.
"These guys are bounty hunters who live by the sword, specializing in shady bounty missions, mostly serving nobles and some merchants. Hehe… they're all just bullies who pick on the weak and fear the strong, what's there to be afraid of?"
At this point, Shangguan Mo paused, looked back at Murakami Rin and the others, whose expressions were slightly unnatural, and finally spoke his mind.
"You are all third-year students. Although you can't use Ninjutsu, you have more or less extracted Chakra. You are all proficient in basic Taijutsu and throwing Ninjutsu. There's no need for us to be afraid of ordinary people who don't even have Chakra. Although the Village is very safe, it's precisely because of the protection of senior Ninja that we can't grow.
We, who are destined to become Ninja, will face beings ten or even a hundred times more dangerous than these people in the future. I hope everyone can overcome their fears, and at least be able to pick up a Kunai to protect themselves…"
After saying this earnestly, Shangguan Mo glanced at everyone's ashamed faces.
Then, staring at the boy who was the most mischievous in the class, his expression hardened, and he suddenly shouted.
"Murakami Rin, can you do it?"
Thud!
Murakami Rin instantly pulled out a Kunai from his Ninja tool pouch, gripping it tightly in his hand, his eyes rapidly filling with fervor.
"I can!"
Shangguan Mo nodded with satisfaction. These students were his peers, and without any surprises, they had a high probability of graduating and becoming Tang Hidden Ninja in the future.
And if Shangguan Mo wanted to achieve something in this Ninja World, he would need some unwavering supporters!
Shangguan Mo then looked at the other six male students.
No one spoke. They all took out their Kunai from their Ninja tool pouches and held them tightly, their eyes filled with determination as they looked at Shangguan Mo.
With just a few words from Shangguan Mo, all the timidity in these young boys' hearts vanished without a trace.