319: Watch the show and reap the benefits

The three traveled quickly for three hours.

They deviated from their original route, turned northwest, and followed a valley for twenty kilometers.

They stealthily approached the desolate valley, hiding behind jagged rocks on the mountaintop, and looked down.

“Are you sure the golden pattern fruit is in this place?” Shen Bei turned to ask Zhuang Bifan.

Zhuang Bifan unfolded his map, pointed, and said, “Our maps are different. Yours is a standard Martial Artist map, while mine is a detailed military map. It indicates the golden pattern fruit is right here.”

“Oh, you have the VIP version.”

“That’s the advantage of joining the military. Can military and civilian versions be on the same Rank?”

Shen Bei smiled at Fang Nanxi and said, “See? Isn’t hiring us incredibly cost-effective?”

Fang Nanxi leaned on her knees, her face flushed, breathing heavily, so tired that her hair was sticking to her forehead.

She waved her hand, not wanting to speak.

Running all this way, she almost died of exhaustion.

Could a Third-Rank Martial Artist like her keep up with the speed of a Five-Rank Martial Artist and a Six-Rank Martial Artist?

She almost got lost!

Originally, when she mentioned Fang Han’s situation, she had anticipated asking Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan for help.

Whether Zhuang Bifan was formidable or not, Shen Bei was truly formidable.

He was definitely the best choice for escort.

But the price was too high.

For one hire, Shen Bei demanded 800,000, and Zhuang Bifan 200,000.

Of course, Shen Bei set this price; Zhuang Bifan seemed indifferent to the price, as if he wouldn't mind if he didn't get paid at all.

But Shen Bei was too difficult to deal with.

Finally, the two sides haggled over the price for more than an hour.

Even before they left the main road, there were still disagreements on the price.

Now, the price had been settled.

Shen Bei finally offered a plan: 600,000 for himself, and 400,000 for Zhuang Bifan…

This almost made Fang Nanxi spit blood in anger.

So after all that bargaining, Shen Bei’s price went down, but Zhuang Bifan’s went up.

The total was still one million?

However, Fang Nanxi was truly physically and mentally exhausted and didn't want to bargain anymore; it was purely a waste of time and life.

Fang Nanxi found that quiet was also good; when Shen Bei started chattering, he was truly annoying.

After the total amount was finalized, the employment relationship between the two parties was officially established.

Fang Nanxi was responsible for finding Fang Han, who was disguised as an alien, and Shen Bei and Zhuang Bifan were responsible for capturing him.

According to Shen Bei's plan, once Fang Han was found, capturing him was one thing, and seizing the magical item was another; these were two separate matters.

Seizing the magical item took precedence over capturing him.

As for whether Fang Han or Fang Nanxi would accuse him of robbery, was that even an issue for Shen Bei?

To put it bluntly, how common was killing and plundering treasures in the Earth Cave World?

Go complain wherever you want.

It would be impressive if anyone even processed the case.

Thus, the three continued forward for a short while before deviating from the correct route and entering this valley.

“What do you want the golden pattern fruit for?” Zhuang Bifan asked curiously.

Shen Bei raised his chin: “The Hope Camp bounty.”

Zhuang Bifan squinted: “You’re even earning these small sums? Do you plan to earn all the money in the world and put it in your pocket?”

Shen Bei said with a serious and solemn expression: “Uh… that suggestion is a bit difficult, but I can try.”

“Try your ghost!”

Zhuang Bifan was a bit exasperated: “We didn’t come down here to play house and make money with you. Why are you deviating from the main objective?”

Shen Bei pursed his lips; his appearance was already very rugged, and now with a serious expression, he looked exactly like a sculpture by Michelangelo: “If I said that doing missions is my main objective, would you vomit blood?”

In Shen Bei’s opinion, his statement was truly flawless.

No matter how big the matter, it wasn't bigger than working on missions and activating the daily settlement panel…

Zhuang Bifan’s throat tightened, speechless.

At this moment, the three were hidden behind jagged rocks on the mountaintop, looking down.

Woo woo woo…

The mountain wind blew through the crevices of the strangely shaped stones, making sounds like ghosts wailing. The valley floor was almost barren, with only giant reed-like dried plants growing. Their willow-like leaves drifted, obscuring most of the view, making it difficult to see the deepest part of the valley.

“My information shows that this golden pattern fruit is food for ape-like Vicious Beasts. Anyone who picks it will be attacked. These Vicious Beasts are over four meters tall, like small mountains, and can throw boulders. Their Rank is between Five and Six, and they are quite fierce,” Zhuang Bifan said simply.

Shen Bei nodded: “There must be Vicious Beasts, otherwise, if anyone could pick it easily, it wouldn’t be on the bounty board.”

Shen Bei’s gaze was like an eagle’s, scanning the valley slope below, faintly sensing something unusual here.

This desolate valley, where golden pattern fruits were suspected to grow, was unusually quiet, with no trace of any Vicious Beasts.

It was as if they had entered some Vicious Beast Forbidden Ground.

Vicious Beasts also have their hierarchy. The four-meter-tall ape-like Vicious Beast Zhuang Bifan mentioned was clearly no ordinary Vicious Beast. Fruits like spiritual plants would surely be guarded by him, and the reason this area was devoid of Vicious Beasts was probably because of that creature.

Just as Shen Bei was about to go down and explore alone.

Suddenly.

Shen Bei, who had not relaxed, used his superhuman eyesight and actually discovered movement below.

Shen Bei immediately pressed his hand down, and the three quickly lay prostrate behind the strange rocks.

Shen Bei focused his gaze and secretly peeked again.

His eyes paused slightly.

The newcomers were an alien team!

They didn’t look like an army but rather scattered individuals, likely having sneaked into human territory to also gather this golden pattern fruit.

Such infiltrations into enemy territory were incredibly common.

Human Martial Artists had only established camps that were difficult to breach.

They could not constantly monitor the vast surrounding areas outside the camps.

That would require a large number of Martial Artists and resources, which was completely unaffordable.

Therefore, whether it was the previous alien army or these scattered individuals, seeing them was nothing surprising.

Human Martial Artists also did this; otherwise, how would news from the Central Continent be transmitted?

At this very moment.

The alien team consisted of about twenty people. These aliens seemed to roughly know the situation in the valley, and they directly went deep into the withered wood forest, stealthily heading towards the depths of the valley.

And he also vaguely saw that many people had bulging backpacks on their backs, as well as items like iron picks, shovels, and ropes.

Although the distance was too far to clearly see the face of each alien, Shen Bei immediately noticed the tallest and darkest alien leading the group, with triangular eyes and long, drooping ears.

He should be the team leader.

After observing for a while, Zhuang Bifan bent at the waist, carefully approached, and whispered, “They got ahead of us. What should we do?”

“This is a good thing,” Shen Bei said, chewing on an unknown blade of grass, excitedly.

“A good thing?”

Zhuang Bifan was a bit puzzled. Those aliens knew what was inside, familiar with the route, and if they took the golden pattern fruit, they would have made a wasted trip. How could that be a good thing?

Shen Bei chuckled, looking calm and self-satisfied as he leaned against the rock, giving him a sidelong glance:

“The ape-like giant Vicious Beast you mentioned is so fierce, even if it’s a brainless creature, it won’t be that easy to deal with. Since these aliens don’t know we exist, we’ll just wait here for them to lead the charge. After they’re done fighting, we’ll come out and clean up the mess. Wouldn’t that save us worry and effort?”

Damn, how sinister!

Zhuang Bifan’s mouth twitched. This was a classic case of double-crossing.

Letting others fight to the death and then reaping the benefits.

Zhuang Bifan gave a thumbs-up: “A gentleman like me just can’t play with you.”

“You just admit you’re simple-minded.”

Zhuang Bifan: …

Having muscles all over doesn’t mean your brain is also made of muscle.

Shen Bei was already very skilled at the tactic of sitting back and watching the tigers fight. This Martial Artist world was so dangerous, any slight mistake could cost one's life. When facing the Vicious Beast guarding the spiritual fruit, it was best to let the alien team lead the charge.

After observing for a while longer.

Once their figures were completely obscured by the dense, feathery leaves below, Shen Bei waved his hand:

“Let’s go down too, and follow them!”

Just as the three were about to move, Shen Bei pressed his hand down again: “Wait, you two need to cover yourselves in mud to mask your Qi.”

This request was not excessive.

Both Vicious Beasts and aliens were very sensitive to human Qi.

The two quickly smeared mud all over themselves, isolating their scent and heat, to avoid being detected by Vicious Beasts with keen senses of smell.

“Why don’t you smear it?” Fang Nanxi, her face covered in mud, looking like a silly girl, tilted her head and looked at the perfectly clean Shen Bei. Was he playing favorites?

Shen Bei couldn’t help but smile: “Too dirty.”

Zhuang Bifan: ???

Fang Nanxi: ???

What’s with this strong urge to punch him!

…

Woo woo woo…

The mountain wind blew, and large swaths of wooden catkins above moved with the wind, like a dance of demons.

In the withered wood forest, where trees were so thick that one person could barely embrace them, the alien team leader, an alien named Black Reef, walked at the forefront of the group. His ears twitched, and his sharp, resolute eyes scanned vigilantly in all directions, paying attention to every movement.

Behind him, more than twenty of his subordinates were tense, as if facing a formidable enemy.

“Stop.”

After walking straight for over two hundred meters in the withered wood forest, Black Reef’s nostrils twitched, as if he smelled something, and he suddenly raised a hand.

It was the faint scent of blood carried on the wind.

“Captain, a little further ahead is that beast’s lair.”

A middle-aged alien, with a resentful and still fearful expression, stepped forward, looked ahead, and whispered with hatred:

“The golden pattern fruit grows near that beast’s lair. City Lord Fang Han sent us to retrieve the golden pattern fruit a few days ago, and it was due to a moment of carelessness that several brothers were lost here. That beast is very sensitive; going further might alert him. Please be careful, Captain.”

Black Reef patted his subordinate’s shoulder and said coldly, “Kuri Mengcha! Don’t worry, today I haven't encountered any humans to kill, so I have nowhere to vent my anger. I’ll just kill this beast for fun, and I’ll avenge them immediately!”

However, Black Reef asked a question of unclear meaning: “City Lord Fang Han… haven’t you noticed he’s a bit strange?”

“Strange?” The middle-aged alien scratched his head: “No, I haven’t.”

Black Reef snorted in his heart.

This Fang Han… might not be an alien.

But he didn’t say this out loud.

He understood the idiom that trouble comes from the mouth when there was no evidence.