Eternal Thief

Chapter 158 - Living Bait!

Dewan was palpitating heavily while struggling to keep his conscious, but the hatred in his eyes didnʼt dim in the slightest. 

”Are you, all right?” 

  Dewan felt two firm hands giving him support and helping him stand up. He weakly looked to the side and saw Ryan was the one who supported him. 

Dewan felt guilt wash over him, he never trusts Ryan even for a second but in the end, it was the person he trusted most that stabbed him in the back, and now who he trusted the least is helping him. 

Dewan weakly nodded at Ryan in affirmative. 

”Oh, you collide directly with my golden shield and only splutter some blood. I had to say, Iʼm impressed.” The skinny boy said with sarcasm. 

Dewan looked at this boy with naked killing intent but he was helpless to do anything.

”What do you want with us?!” Nola grimly asked. 

”Youʼll find out soon.” The skinny boy said while showing his white teeth, ”Brother Frank and Brother Callen, I have to trouble you both with escorting them to the Young Duke. I have to go back since more of my minions are coming with more living bait.” 

”Hahaha, donʼt worry Brother Finn, weʼll handle this delivery perfectly.” A tall handsome youth with long hair walks forward, with a broad smile on his face. It was Frank.

Following Frank was a muscular young man, he was Callen. 

”I expect nothing less from you, Brother Frank.” Finn smile while nodding at them.

Frank turned his attention to Aceʼs party of eight and his warm smile turned cold.

Ace frowned when he hears Living Bait but he still can do nothing, ʼJust what is these nobles planning?ʼ He wanted to see just what is this all about. 

”Now my little friends follow me and donʼt try to play any tricks or Brother Callen here will cut your arms as punishment.” Frank chuckled coldly.

Aceʼs party expression was pale, but they had no choice since both Frank and Callen were peak fifth Qi gate cultivators and they were not in the condition to fight while they were perfectly fine. 

”Just do as he said and youʼll be fine we donʼt want your life,” Callen spoke impassively at this moment. 

”Itʼs not like we have any choice.” Nola smiled bitterly and helplessly agreed to follow those two and so does everyone else. 

”Hey, kneeling guy why arenʼt you moving?” Frank annoyingly looked at Crosby who was amusingly watching his former teammatesʼ ugly faces.

Crosbyʼs face turn bloodlessly pale as he looked at Finn instantly. 

Finn chuckles coldly, ”You hear the man, follow them youʼre also living bait. I didnʼt save you for nothing consider it me returning the favor.” 

”M-my L… Lord, please donʼt do this. I was always loyal to you!” Crosby instantly begged. 

”Donʼt shit around or you donʼt want your hand?!” Frank coldly speaks. 

Crosby tremble and quickly join his former team again with an ugly face after hearing Frank because he knew this guy will do what he said. 

Finn didnʼt even flinch seeing Crosbyʼs pleading expression and said before leaving while waving his hand, ”Iʼll leave everything to Brother Frank.” 

”Go in peace.” Frank chuckles. 

Nola and everyone else were looking at Crosby with eyes full of hatred and killing intent. 

”You reap what you sow, huh.” Lilith coldly said with killing intent. If not for Nola gripping her hand, she wanted to stab this backstabbing bastard. 

Crosbyʼs face was as if he will cry at any moment, he was simply thrown in the pack of wounded lions now. So, he quickly changes his position and begins to walk closer with Callen. 

Frank led the way and to Nola and the other eight dismay they were moving deep in this poisonous forest again. 

”My Lords, weʼll die in two hours if we keep moving in this forest!” Crosby said in a begging tone. 

”Shut up! The more poison your boy accommodates the better.” Frank pursed his lips. 

”Can you tell us what this living bait thing is?” Ryan calmly asked at this moment. 

Frank coolly glance at Ryanʼs dirty face and said, ”Ugly you seem quite calm from everyone else why is that?” 

”Panic will make the poisoning process even faster and besides itʼs not like I can run away from you.” Ryan indifferently answered. 

Frank couldnʼt help but take another glance at Ryanʼs calm eyes and was little started by them. He didnʼt find any trace of fear in them. 

Everyone else in the group was also astonished hearing Ryanʼs words and quickly try to calm themselves. 

”Hahaha, interesting, very interesting. You know what! I like you. How about you pledge your loyalty to me and Iʼll let you live.” Frank said with a smile. 

Callen frowned and said coldly, ”Stop your nonsense, or I have to report this to Young Duke!” 

”Tsk, tsk, youʼre not fun brother Callen.” Frank chuckles while darkly looking at Callen.

”Sorry Ugly it seems your luck is not so good,” Frank said as he shrugged his shoulder. 

ʼTell me about it.ʼ Ace smile bitterly.

”Since I like you let me tell you about living bait,” Frank said nonchalantly.

Everyoneʼs ears perked as they all listen very carefully and Callen also didnʼt stop Frank this time. 

”As you can tell, you all are living bait for Bloodthirsty Earth Mantis because it loved poisonous blood of humans!” Frank said.

”Y-you arenʼt talking about that insect that feeds on blood and laid its eggs in its targetʼs bloodstream?!” Pearl abruptly asked as her face was ghastly pale. 

”Oh, this little chick knows her stuff. Yes, it is indeed the one and only Bloodthirsty Earth Mantis.” Frank coldly chuckles. 

Everyoneʼs faces darken to the extreme. 

”Why Bloodthirsty Earth Mantis?” Ryan asked again calmly.

”Hehe, they are the favorite food for Phantom Horn Lizard. That damn lizard is too difficult to find but it canʼt resist the temptation of Bloodthirsty Earth Mantis.” Frank said.

Ace finally understood these noblesʼ plan.

”Hah, you figure it out, right?” Frank beamed at Ryan who was naturally looking at him. 

”Yes, you guys know about this test in advance or you couldnʼt plan this kind of strategy in given moments. Since you know about this beforehand; you all scatter your minions in different groups so they can lure living baits here for you. In the end, you all are brokers who are paid to bring us to those higher nobles.” Ryan coolly said. 

Frank deeply looked at Ryan and so does Callen. They had to admit this guyʼs mind was too sharp for his good. Because he almost guessed the whole truth by little information.

Nola and everyone else were also astonished after hearing Ryanʼs shocking conjecture. 

”Hahaha, I had to admit it but youʼre quite something and I want to put a slave item on you. Yes, someone has leaked this information about the test and we turn it to our advantage.” Frank laugh out loud. 

”Heh, so much for the fair competition.” Ryan pursed his lips and smile bitterly. 

Nola and everyoneʼs expression stiffed hearing this. 

”Hehe, my Ugly friend trust me if you have the right price to pay you can buy anything in this world.” Frank nonchalantly said.

Ace couldnʼt help but agreed with Frank on this one. 

”Thatʼs enough or youʼll know the consequences.” Callen pursed his lips and stiffly warned Frank. 

”Hehe, youʼre not fun brother Callen. Fine, no more talking everyone.” Frank chuckled.

--- 

Deep in the dark swamp forest. 

Alvin was sitting cross-legged on a tall tree while his eyes were closed. 

He was observing the participants for three days now with his martial sense. 

The Martial Sense differed greatly from Soul Sense. 

Where soul sense can sense soulʼs emotion and soul Qi fluctuation, the martial sense can detect physical activities, martial Qi fluctuation, and it can also form a Qi projection to living. Simply put as long as youʼre alive and have any kind of Qi in your body you canʼt hide from Martial Sense.

Although this Qi projection was very vague in the Qi River Core realm, it was enough to find hidden enemies. 

Both senses have their pros and cons, heaven didnʼt make everyone perfect after all. 

Moreover, one can amplify both senses if they have the right treasure but these treasures were very rare and few crafters know how to forge them and their materials were quite rare in lower lands. 

But these kinds of treasures can only be completed after a rune crafter crafts some special rune symbols on them. Thatʼs why they were so rare. 

Alvin also had one of these rare treasures and thatʼs why he can enlarge his martial sense of hundred meters into one thousand meters and even use Qi stones to keep it active. 

However, even he had his limits and he was reaching it quickly since martial sense also took a huge toll on his soul, just like soul sense can affect physique! 

ʼItʼs going to be rainfall soon and I need twelve hours to recover before I can use my martial sense again.. I should investigate those five in meantime.ʼ Alvin thought and a grim smile appeared on his face!