Chapter 299: Chapter 241: Divvying Up the Rewards

"The third item is the Red Furnace Fire Essence, please place your bids, thieves."

Since Yan Qing successfully bid on the last item, he still has the priority to bid first. He decisively wagered all his points: "I’ll bid 48 points."

With only 50 points, Shang Xinlei is directly out. If Ying Rushi wanted to compete, she only needed to bid 53 points to win. However, Ying Rushi kept pondering, and even as Thief’s House asked her three times, she did not place a bid.

Yan Qing was somewhat disappointed; the Red Furnace Fire Essence was equally important for both him and Ying Rushi because their legendary tokens were only Second-Turned Legendary. But honestly, Yan Qing’s demand for the Red Furnace Fire Essence wasn’t that high. The transition from Second to Third-Turned Legendary hadn’t reached a qualitative leap. He was mainly paving the way for the future. However, emptying Ying Rushi’s points would be great—this way, he and Shang Xinlei could secure the last two rewards at the lowest price.

The Red Furnace Fire Essence ended up in his hands, and his points were completely drained, leaving him unable to participate in the subsequent bids.

"The fourth item is the Master of Supreme Secret Techniques, please place your bids, thieves."

"White Fox,"

Shang Xinlei suddenly said, "If you want it, you can take it at the lowest bid. But correspondingly, the next item will be mine at the lowest bid."

Ying Rushi blinked and looked at Shang Xinlei in confusion. She was still thinking about how to bid to maximize her benefit, but Shang Xinlei’s proposal instantly sank all her plans.

Shang Xinlei tilted her head: "Anyway, you have 56 points, I have 50 points. No matter how we bid, it doesn’t change the fact that each of us will get one item. Why spend so much? Wouldn’t it be better to save up and bid on the next legendary token?"

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll go back on my word?"

"Of course not. If you go back on your word now, it means I misjudged you. Spending a few thief points to see someone’s true character is the best deal, isn’t it?" Shang Xinlei shrugged. "To be honest, I used to think you were as disgusting as Black Wolf."

Yan Qing blinked; is there a custom in Liang Kingdom to badmouth others in front of them? And you bring up two of them! Did you forget you are the only Second-Turned in Thief’s House?

"Is that so?" Ying Rushi didn’t get angry, or rather, getting angry at this point would be equivalent to offending Pharmacist’s Wish alongside Shang Xinlei.

"You guys are proud to the bone, looking down on others. The difference is that Black Wolf shows it openly, while you hide it. I’m not your subordinate, so how can I like your attitude?" Shang Xinlei stuck up her thumb. "But this time, you’ve changed my impression. Facing Foundation Establishment Divine Techniques, you dared to go up and help, you have responsibility, don’t give up, are loyal, you’re a good female thief."

Yan Qing twitched the corner of his mouth; in your eyes, is ’female thief’ a compliment? Are you overly beautifying your profession?

"If you were in Liang Kingdom, I might invite you to do a few private jobs together," Shang Xinlei said. "You’re already a teammate and friend I recognize; of course, this time is special, we’re close in points, and there are only two rewards left. Next time, it might not be like this."

Ying Rushi blinked.

Friend... are we friends then?

She paused for a moment and said, "I want the Other Shore Flower; you need this reward more."

"Then I won’t hold back," Shang Xinlei said joyfully. "I’ll bid 15 points."

"15 points the first time, 15 points the second time, 15 points the third time." Thief’s House: "Master of Supreme Secret Techniques goes to Red Snake."

Next, Ying Rushi also bid 15 points for the Other Shore Flower, and Shang Xinlei kept her promise by not raising the bid. Under the backdrop of the two of them, Yan Qing and Pharmacist’s Wish appeared foolish for bidding high for items—that’s precisely the result Shang Xinlei wanted, as she looked at the two, mocking them equally.

Yan Qing found it strange; it’s understandable to hate Pharmacist’s Wish, but why hate me? It’s as if I helped Pharmacist’s Wish do something to offend you.

The auction concluded, the thief points were as follows: Ying Rushi had 41 remaining points, Shang Xinlei had 35, Pharmacist’s Wish had 4, and Yan Qing had 0.

"The starting bid has increased to 15 points this time," Ying Rushi said. "It seems the starting bid is indeed gradually increasing, one day it’ll rise beyond 30 points, and by then, relying on mission points alone, you won’t afford mission rewards."

"Instead of worrying about not affording rewards, worry more about what you’ll steal in the next mission," Shang Xinlei stood up—it’s allowed to leave the seat after the auction concluded—and walked to Yan Qing’s side. She seemed restless, leaning against the stone chair: "This time we’ve already stolen the materials from Foundation Establishment Zhenren; if next mission involves stealing the token of Foundation Establishment Zhenren, I wouldn’t be surprised."

"Rewards are also Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends, which means Thief’s House considers us close to Foundation Establishment strength," Yan Qing said from a game planning perspective: "Even if we don’t encounter a Foundation Establishment Zhenren in the next mission, the difficulty won’t be lower."

"But how can the difficulty increase?" asked Pharmacist’s Wish. "Places more dangerous than Chang’an Military Mansion are few in the Central Plains. Even large military towns might not simultaneously have experts like Chu Luoyan and Li Long; they are already the pinnacle of worldly power. Beyond that is only Foundation Establishment Messenger; I think next mission, we’re likely to battle Foundation Establishment."

"Battle Foundation Establishment?" Shang Xinlei blinked and pointed to herself, "Me?"

Thief’s House didn’t let them speculate for long and quickly provided the answer they needed:

"Due to the insufficient completion of the mission, you cannot hide your criminal activities, and your deeds will spread widely. The Divine Marquis Mansion discovered you committed crimes again during the warrant period, decided to increase your bounty, and extended the warrant to seventy days. If you commit crimes again during the warrant period, the Divine Marquis Mansion will dispatch a Golden Seal Divine Hunter and three Silver Badge Chief Constables to hunt you down."

"The next mission will be released at noon in twenty days; you will be forcibly teleported to Thief’s House at that time. Please note."

After a brief pause, a grand voice resounded in everyone’s ears:

"Divine Marquis Mansion announcement: The four ferocius thieves of Thief’s House committed crimes again; they successfully stole Sixth-Grade Material: Exotic Iron from Chang’an Earth Flame Prison Secret Realm, and the Divine Marquis Mansion has updated the warrant and will capture them in their next crime."

The announcement rang out three times. Unlike before when there was a hint of complacency in anticipation, this time they looked at each other, seeing only helpless bitterness. Like skipping school to surf the internet, only to find the teacher had already told their parents about their truancy, it prepared them for what was coming, but still made them tremble with anxiety.

"Hope the next task isn’t within Zhou Kingdom’s borders," Yan Qing rubbed his temples, smiling wryly, "I wouldn’t want to be pursued by True Man of Locking Dragon during the mission."

"Too optimistic, not only Zhou Kingdom, but the whole Central Plains is the same," Shang Xinlei took his left hand and looked at it, rubbing the bite marks. "Previous small skirmishes didn’t matter to Foundation Establishment Zhenren, but this time we stole from True Man of Locking Dragon. Other Foundation Establishments will surely begin to be wary of us, maybe they are commanding their family and town to elevate their guard now."

"There are twenty days this time," Pharmacist’s Wish glanced at Shang Xinlei with a somewhat mysterious tone: "Make the best of it and enhance your strength... don’t waste precious time where it’s unnecessary."

"Black Wolf is right." Ying Rushi unexpectedly agreed with Pharmacist’s Wish: "Twenty days later, if strength is lacking, it’s better to abandon the mission than to participate; otherwise... death awaits."

"Hmm?" Everyone looked at Ying Rushi, sensing a different meaning in her words.

"Yellow Dog, how strong is the Silver Badge Chief Constable?" Ying Rushi suddenly asked.

"Third-Turn Demon Fiend, not hard to deal with alone, but with Copper Seal Constables, quite tricky," Yan Qing immediately reacted: "Next mission’s Golden Seal Divine Hunter, could it be..."

"Exactly."

Ying Rushi’s tone was somewhat heavy:

"Golden Seal Divine Hunter, is a Fourth-Turn Demon Fiend from Divine Marquis Mansion’s Secret Realm."

...

...

Ying Rushi was still the first to leave Thief’s House, moving quickly. Yan Qing also planned to go back and rest; this mission spoiled eight White Iron Straight Sabers. He had to run a few Zhen San Mountain Secret Realm raids tomorrow morning to burst Zheng Shan’s gold coins, better to sleep early.

However, Pharmacist’s Wish called them: "You two wait a moment, I’ll be right back." With that, she returned to her room.

Yan Qing and Shang Xinlei exchanged a puzzled glance.

"Why would she call me to stay?" Shang Xinlei was somewhat perplexed.

"It’s undoubtedly because you called her disgusting just now, in front of her no less. Even I know you should say such things behind people’s backs, so you not only insulted her, you disrespected her," Yan Qing analyzed earnestly: "You’re done for; she’s quite vengeful."

"But, but my intention wasn’t to insult her. I was praising White Fox."

"Putting one down to praise another, even worse, you can still leave now."

"I’m not leaving. I want to see what you two have to discuss."

"What if she hits you?"

"I’ll push you in front to let her hit; I doubt she minds." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

While they quietly discussed, Black Wolf’s door opened stealthily, they turned to look and were momentarily stunned.

Because appearing before them wasn’t Black Wolf, but Pharmacist’s Wish.