Today's time is limited. Gu Xingmian originally planned to wait until he saw a few more star patterns and then give them to Grove next time.

But Grove even called him "ancestor", and he was really embarrassed, so he simply drew another star pattern.

Grove held the two star pattern manuscripts and regarded them as treasures.

This call of ancestor was really not an insult!

He looked at Gu Xingmian with burning eyes, patted his chest and said: "From now on, all your auxiliary cards will be taken care of by me!" As

he said, he took out some auxiliary cards from his collection and handed them to Gu Xingmian.

These auxiliary cards were collected by Grove over the years and were very precious.

Gu Xingmian waved his hands repeatedly: "This is too expensive!"

Grove said bluntly: "No matter how expensive they are, they can be bought with money, but the star pattern you gave me is priceless. You probably don't know how much an apprentice in a card maker family has to pay to learn a star pattern. I have already taken a big advantage, so don't refuse it anymore."

Gu Xingmian: "But..."

Grove: "And I also have selfish motives. These auxiliary cards are just collections in my hands. I can't learn their star patterns in my lifetime, but it's different if I give them to you. Maybe one day, I can make them myself." After

he said this, Gu Xingmian agreed to accept it, and then lined up the auxiliary cards, Asked Grove: "Among these auxiliary cards, which star pattern do you want to know more?"

Grove's eyes widened, almost thinking that he had heard wrongly, and asked again tremblingly. After getting Gu Xingmian's affirmative answer, the whole person was so happy that he almost fainted.

He said that before just to let Gu Xingmian accept the auxiliary card.

Of course, he had extravagant hopes, but he tried his best to remind himself that Gu Xingmian was generous and kind to give him the star pattern, and he only needed to be grateful and not greedy.

But now, Gu Xingmian actually let him choose any star pattern.

Grove rubbed his hands tremblingly: "Any one will do?"

Gu Xingmian nodded: "Of course, there is no difference anyway."

Grove used to be madly envious of Gu Xingmian and the others for being so picky about the auxiliary cards, but now, it was his turn to be the picky one, and he just felt troubled. He wanted all of them and couldn't give up any of them.

Of course, he hoped that this kind of happy trouble could come more often.

After he made his choice, Gu Xingmian and the others would leave.

Grove also made up his mind to move to Denim City.

Xiao Qiong frowned: "There are many gossipers in Denning City. Would it be unsafe for you to go there?"

Grove waved his hand: "This is called hiding in the city."

Of course, this is not the point. The point is that he wants to be closer to his ancestors, so that he can see the new star pattern earlier!

Xiao Qiong: "..."

He has seen what it means that people die for money and birds die for food.

Gu Xingmian thought for a while: "It's not that there is no way."

Both of them looked at him.

Gu Xingmian said: "Clement has already gained a certain influence in the black market of Denning City, and Uncle Alfonso can help cover it up. Maybe Grove will be safer in Denning City than here."

Grove's eyes were filled with tears.

The ancestors are really Bodhisattvas.

So they agreed that when Grove had dealt with this place, he would contact them to come to Denim City.

Because of this delay, it was already very late when Gu Xingmian and Xiao Qiong left, and they just managed to catch the suspension car back to Denim City.

The carriage was empty, with only the two of them.

So Gu Xingmian left the spiritual body and sat side by side with Xiao Qiong, looking at the scenery outside the window, but he couldn't help but secretly look at Xiao Qiong occasionally.

The suspension car drove very quietly, and the lights outside the window passed through Xiao Qiong's eyes, as if to make his calm eyes a little ripple.

Suddenly, Xiao Qiong turned his head and met Gu Xingmian's eyes: "Is there something on my face?"

Gu Xingmian: "Uh..."

It was so embarrassing to be caught peeking.

He coughed lightly and pretended to be naturally blank: "No, no, I'm looking at the scenery outside."

Xiao Qiong's eyes followed him to look out the window, only to see that it was pitch black outside, with nothing.

Gu Xingmian: "..."

Damn!

Xiao Qiong laughed softly in his throat.

Gu Xingmian simply gave up: "What's wrong with taking a look! Is your face very expensive and you want to charge for it?"

Xiao Qiong shook his head helplessly.

He just wanted to ask a question, why is this person like a hedgehog, exploding when touched.

Xiao Qiong said: "If you have anything to ask, just ask."

Gu Xingmian was stunned.

In fact, since Luke City, after seeing the other side of Xiao Qiong that was different from the school, he has always been a little curious about what Xiao Qiong had experienced in the past.

Grove's few words revealed that Xiao Qiong's life was not very good in the past. He was worried that asking would trigger Xiao Qiong's sadness, so he kept it to himself and did not dare to ask.

After hearing his concerns, Xiao Qiong couldn't help laughing: "Is this why you have been hesitant to look at me?"

Gu Xingmian: "It's to see the scenery!!"

"Okay, see the scenery." Xiao Qiong followed suit.

Gu Xingmian: "..."

Why do I feel that his words are more sarcastic.

Forget it.

Gu Xingmian decided to ignore this little thing and asked the most curious question in his heart: "Grove said you saved him, how old were you then?"

Xiao Qiong thought for a while: "Eleven or twelve years old."

Gu Xingmian was shocked.

He heard Grove say that it was he who discovered Xiao Qiong's talent for card games and taught him how to play cards. He also knew that Xiao Qiong defeated a senior card player as soon as he entered school, so Gu Xingmian guessed that Xiao Qiong was not very old when he saved Grove, but he also thought he should be fifteen or sixteen years old, but he didn't expect him to be so young.

Moreover, Grove said that it was Xiao Qiong who beat the opponent away. Grove was on the wanted list, and the person who came to catch him must be strong. Xiao Qiong, who was only 11 or 12 years old, was probably not even half the height of the other person, but he was able to beat him away. It turned out that the big guys have been big guys since they were young.

"You are so powerful, who taught you?" Gu Xingmian couldn't help asking.

Xiao Qiong shook his head: "No one taught me."

Seeing that Gu Xingmian didn't believe it, he explained one more sentence: "If someone hits you, just beat him back. Do you still need to be taught such a simple thing?"

"Simple", "Do you still need to be taught?"...

Gu Xingmian felt like he was stabbed in the heart.

He couldn't help but mutter, "

What about the auxiliary cards?" Xiao Qiong: "Won't you be able to use them once you have them?"

Gu Xingmian: "..."

He argued, "Grove clearly said that he taught you the auxiliary card skills..."

Xiao Qiong was silent for a moment: "If you throw a bunch of auxiliary cards to me and let me study them by myself, then it is indeed taught by him."

Gu Xingmian: "..."

The poor student felt the crushing pressure from the god of learning.

He no longer wanted to ask Xiao Qiong any questions in this regard.

However, Gu Xingmian was only quiet for a while. After a while, he couldn't help but asked in a low voice: "What about your family... If you don't want to answer, you don't have to answer."

Xiao Qiong shook his head: "I don't know who my family is. I have been wandering outside since I can remember."

Gu Xingmian subconsciously said: "I'm sorry."

"Why do you say sorry?" Xiao Qiong asked in confusion, "People always have to rely on themselves, sooner or later, and I have never suffered any hardship. Before I met Grove, I was the boss of that area, with seventy or eighty younger brothers under me..."

Gu Xingmian: "..."

Sorry to bother you. I shouldn't use ordinary people's thinking to compare with the big guys.

Xiao Qiong looked at Gu Xingmian's unpredictable expression, and a smile flashed in his eyes: "It's not that I haven't suffered a little, but when your strength reaches a certain level, you won't encounter bad guys very often."

Gu Xingmian looked at Xiao Qiong in a daze.

He said this with a smile, but Gu Xingmian's heart suddenly arose with a subtle pain, and suddenly he didn't dare to ask any more questions.

It was already twelve o'clock in the evening when the two returned to Denning City.

But based on Gu Xingmian's understanding of Clement, he should not have rested at this point.

So Gu Xingmian suggested going to him first to solve Grove's problem. After all, it was unknown when Grove would come to Denning City, and their training schedule was tight, and they didn't know when they could spare the time to come out.

Xiao Qiong took him to Clement's residence, but found that the house was dark and there was no light.

Xiao Qiong: "Is he asleep?"

Gu Xingmian shook his head: "No, Clement has always been used to sleeping with the lights on at night. As soon as he comes home, he will turn on all the lights in the house."

In other words, he has not been home all day.

Gu Xingmian called Clement's communicator again, but no one answered.

It's so late, where on earth has he been?

At this moment, he suddenly had an idea and said, "Let's go to Alicia's house?"

Xiao Qiong nodded.

As a result, before they arrived at Alicia's house, Gu Xingmian saw Clement and Alicia walking side by side from a distance.

Alicia listened to Clement with a smile. Clement was no longer shy and kept talking.

Gu Xingmian: [Wow! Xiao Ke has made great progress... Hey wait, what are you doing?]

Xiao Qiong stopped: [Aren't you looking for him?]

Gu Xingmian: [...Brother, if you disturb someone's love, you will be kicked by a pig when you walk on the street. Besides, it's not easy for Xiao Ke to fall in love, so let's do some good deeds!]

Although Xiao Qiong didn't understand why he was kicked by a pig, since Gu Xingmian said so, he didn't disturb them.

He just followed the two silently.

It was quiet all around, the moonlight shrouded the ground like a veil, and even the chirping of insects became much more lingering.

Gu Xingmian felt as if he could hear Xiao Qiong's breathing, so close that it seemed to be right next to his ear, making him a little uncomfortable. He coughed lightly and said, "It seems immoral for us to spy on others' love affairs like this..."

Xiao Qiong said calmly, "We don't care what they are doing, so strictly speaking, this is not considered peeping, but if you mind, I can help you turn off the mental body synchronization."

Gu Xingmian: "...

Ah! Straight men are really suffocating!

Clement sent Alicia to the door of her house, and the two said goodbye.

Clement stood at the door and waited until the light in Alicia's room came on before reluctantly turning around and leaving.

Gu Xingmian hurriedly said, "Let's catch up!"

When he got close to Clement, Gu Xingmian came out of his spiritual body, but he didn't respond after he called him several times.

Gu Xingmian then realized that Clement had been smiling foolishly and immersed in his own world. He thought his love brain had been cured, but now it seems that he is more seriously ill than before.

Xiao Qiong was about to reach out and wake Clement up, but was stopped by Gu Xingmian.

He was so angry that he shouted, "Alicia!"

Sure enough, Clement, who had no reaction just now, immediately raised his head and said, "Miss Alicia!"

Then he saw the faces of Gu Xingmian and Xiao Qiong. He turned his head and looked for a long time, and when he was sure that he didn't see Alicia, he turned back disappointedly, "Why are you here?"

Gu Xingmian: "...Brother, I have been here for a long time, and I have called you for a long time."

"Oh, I may not have heard it." Clement scratched his head.

Gu Xingmian looked at his radiant face and asked suspiciously, "Did Alicia agree to your confession?"

Clement shook his hand quickly, "No, no, no..."

Gu Xingmian: "Then I see you send her home?"

"Did you see it all?" Clement started to giggle again.

Gu Xingmian felt a toothache when he saw him like that.

There is really no hope!

Fortunately, Clement quickly recovered and said that Alfonso had recently received a notice to go to the Feilong Defense Line for inspection. In the past, when he was not in Denning City, Alicia helped him organize the logistics.

Clement is now a one-man show in the black market, so Alicia came to discuss with him.

Clement said shyly, "Because of this, Miss Alicia and I have been in contact more recently... Don't say anything else, she will be unhappy if she hears it."

Gu Xingmian: "..."

Clement smiled foolishly for a while, then he remembered something and said, "By the way, some time ago, people from my family came to me, and I used the method you taught me, and it really worked... However, although I rejected them, they don't seem to be willing to give up..."

Gu Xingmian was a little surprised: "Why do they insist on you going back? Even if your family cares about blood ties, there should be collateral relatives. If you don't want to go back, just change the head of the family. Why are they so persistent in letting you go back?"

Clement said, "I asked them too, but they said that only when I become the head of the family will I be qualified to know the inside story."

"Forget it, let's not talk about these disappointing things. Anyway, I am determined not to go back to be that damn head of the family, and they can't do anything to me." Clement waved his hand, "But you, you come to me so late, is there something wrong?"

When Clement's brain was not in love, his brain was still working very fast.

Gu Xingmian told him about Grove, hoping that he could help Grove.

Clement nodded: "Don't worry, I will take care of it. In fact, there are many card makers in the black market who escaped like him, and they are all living a comfortable life, you don't have to worry."

After he said this, Gu Xingmian finally felt relieved.

On the way back, Gu Xingmian and Xiao Qiong said, "I have agreed with Clement that he will help sell the auxiliary cards made by Grove. If Grove does not show up, the risk of being exposed will be much smaller..."

In addition, blood crystal transactions often take place in the black market. Compared with auxiliary cards, the transaction of blood crystals will be much more relaxed. Grove should be very happy.

The two chatted while walking towards the dormitory. On the way, they passed the training room.

Xiao Qiong noticed that the lights were on in the training room dedicated to their special training class.

"Did they forget to turn off the lights, or is there someone training?" Gu Xingmian was a little surprised, "Isn't it a holiday today? Who is so hardworking?"

Xiao Qiong: "Let's go and have a look."

Gu Xingmian immediately entered the spiritual body tacitly. Xiao Qiong jumped up and down, jumped lightly upstairs, and came to the door of the training room.

As soon as he approached, he heard heavy breathing from inside.

Gu Xingmian: [There are actually people training! Who is the king of curling? ]

Xiao Qiong approached and found that the person inside was Fred.

His body was soaking in the swimming pool, his face was pale, and his body was wet. He took a long breath and suddenly sank his whole body into the water.

After an unknown amount of time, the water surface suddenly began to shake violently. Fred emerged from the water, gasping for breath.

But after a while, he sank into the water again.

This time, he lasted much shorter than last time. After coming out of the water again, his lips were slightly purple and his body was shaking.

Ella was standing on the shore, anxiously wanting to go over, but was scared away by the water again. She could only turn around anxiously.

Fred comforted him, "It's okay, Ella."

He did not notice Xiao Qiong at the door. After comforting Ella, he sank into the water again.

He practiced like a self-abuse for as long as Xiao Qiong and Gu Xingmian watched.

The two did not disturb him again, and left the training room quietly as they came.

The next day, when everyone was curious about what the next class would be like, Wright announced with a serious expression that Fred had cheated.

There was an uproar at the scene.

Everyone looked at Fred in disbelief.

Although Fred's face was as pale as paper, his back was straight. He bowed to his classmates and said, "I'm sorry, I did cheat. I was wrong. I failed your trust and dedication to me."

"These days of training with you are the happiest time since I came to Mosca Academy..."

Fred looked at the shocked faces in front of him, and he felt unwilling and regretful again. But this time he was not trying to enter the four-school league to become famous, but simply couldn't bear to work hard with his friends and discuss how to pass the course together.

He gritted his teeth, forced back his tears, and bowed deeply to them again: "I'm sorry, I was really wrong."

He didn't raise his head for a long time, but Wright saw the water stains dripping on the ground.

Wright sighed, but still had to harden his heart: "According to the discussion of all teachers, it has been decided to cancel Fred's qualification to participate in the four-school league. I hope everyone will select a substitute as soon as possible and keep up with our training progress as soon as possible."

Fred pursed his lips, and except for the slightly red eyes, there was no difference from usual.

He followed Wright and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, I heard someone shouting from behind: "Teacher Wright, Fred has already admitted his mistake, can't you give him another chance?"

"Yes! Isn't there a saying that admitting one's mistakes is the best way to improve? I believe that with this lesson, Fred will never make the same mistake again!"

"Teacher, I believe in Fred!"

Fred's back trembled and his hands clenched into fists.

Wright stopped and said helplessly, "I know you have a deep relationship, but the teachers are discussing this not only because of cheating. The four-school league is extremely cruel. If Fred's weakness of being afraid of water is known by the teams from other schools, it may become a huge loophole for us. The teachers must also be responsible for you."

Fred's fist loosened, and he said in a low and hoarse voice, "Thank you, thank you... Thank you..."

At this time, Gu Xingmian raised his hand: "Teacher Wright, I have something to say."

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to him.

Gu Xingmian told him about what he saw Fred do in the training room last night.

"Fred is not just talking, he is really correcting his mistakes with actions. Although I don't know if he can really overcome his weakness to water in the end, I believe he is so determined that he will give 100% or even 200% of his strength in the four-school league..."

"No matter what the reason is, I hope he can return to the team."

Song Nanting also said: "Teacher Wright, think about it from another perspective. An obvious weakness is not necessarily a weakness, it may also become a trap. So, I don’t think Fred’s fear of water will be our loophole."

"That’s right! And I’m a good swimmer, so I can just participate in water-related competitions in the future!"

"Yeah, isn’t the meaning of teammates to help each other? Even if we really encounter such a thing, there are so many of us! We can also help Fred!"

"We can't find anyone as good as Fred! Teacher Wright, please think about it again!"

"Yes! If I have to choose again, I will choose Fred!"

Fred turned around, his eyes were blurry, and he was choking and couldn't speak.

Wright said seriously: "Regarding the selection of team members, teachers can only make suggestions. The final decision is made by you. Have you considered it carefully? Are you sure you want to keep Fred?"

"Think it through!"

Facing the classmates who said the same thing, Wright shook his head helplessly: "I know, I will go and discuss it with other teachers."

He left the training room after he finished speaking, but as soon as he walked out the door, he heard a huge cheer from behind him, mixed with a few jokes.

"Fred, you look so ugly when you cry!"

"Shut up..."

"Hahahaha!"

Wright couldn't help but smile on his worried face and muttered, "These brats are always causing trouble for me..."