Scourge Messenger

Chapter 242: Sitting in a Row and Sharing Fruits
"The third item is the Red Furnace Essence. Thieves, please make your bids."

Because Yan Qing had won the previous auction, he still had the right to bid first. He decisively put all his points on the line: "I bid 48 points."

With only 50 points, Shang Xinlei was eliminated. If Ying Rushi wanted to compete with him, she only needed to bid 53 points to win directly. However, Ying Rushi hesitated and did not bid even after the Thieves' House inquired three times.

Yan Qing was somewhat disappointed. The Crimson Furnace Fire Essence was equally important to both him and Ying Rushi, as their legendary tokens were only second-tier legendary items. However, if he had to say, Yan Qing didn't have a huge need for the Crimson Furnace Fire Essence. The difference between third-tier and second-tier legendary items wasn't significant enough; he was using it more to pave the way for the future. But if he could use it to empty Ying Rushi's points, that would be good too—that way, he and Shang Xinlei could get the last two rewards at the lowest price.

With the Red Furnace Fire Essence in his hands, his points were completely depleted, rendering him unable to participate in the subsequent auction.

"The fourth item is a book on mastering unparalleled secret techniques. Thieves, please make your bids."

"arctic fox."

Shang Xinlei suddenly said, "If you want it, you can take it at the lowest price. But in return, the next item will be mine, and I will also offer the lowest price."

Ying Rushi blinked, looking blankly at Shang Xinlei. She was still thinking about how to bid to maximize her own interests, but Shang Xinlei's suggestion instantly shattered all her plans.

Shang Xinlei tilted her head: "Anyway, you have 56 points and I have 50 points. No matter how we bid, it won't change the fact that we each get one item. So why should we spend so much? Wouldn't it be better to save it for the next legendary item auction?"

"Aren't you afraid that I will regret it?"

"Of course I'm not afraid. If you change your mind now, it just means I misjudged you. Spending a few more thief points to see someone clearly is a better deal than this, right?" Shang Xinlei shrugged. "Actually, I used to think you were just as disgusting as Black Wolf."

Yan Qing blinked. "Does the Liang Kingdom have a custom of speaking ill of others in front of them? And saying it twice? Have you forgotten that you are the only second-tier member of the Thieves' Clan?"
"Is that so?" Ying Rushi wasn't angry, or rather, if she got angry now, it would be the same as offending Yaoshi Yuan along with Shang Xinlei.

“You’re all the type who are so proud that you look down on others. The difference between you is that Black Wolf shows it, while you hide it. I’m not your subordinate, so how could I like your attitude?” Shang Xinlei gave a thumbs up: “But I’ve changed my opinion of you this time. You dared to help even when facing a Foundation Establishment Divine Power. You’re responsible, don’t give up, and are loyal. You’re a good female thief.”

Yan Qing's lips twitched. So, in your eyes, 'female thief' is a compliment? Aren't you overly romanticizing your profession?
“If you were in Liang, I might invite you to do a few side jobs together,” Shang Xinlei said. “You’re already a teammate and friend I acknowledge, so I’d naturally trust you for something like this. Of course, this time is special; our scores are almost the same, and we only have two rewards left. It might not be like this next time.”

You should blink your eyes like that.

Friend... So we're friends now?

She paused for a moment and then said, "I want the spider lily; you need this reward more."

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony,” Shang Xinlei said cheerfully. “I’ll bet 15 points.”

"15 PM, first time; 15 PM, second time; 15 PM, third time." Thieves' House: "The book of unparalleled secret techniques belongs to Red Serpent."

Next, Ying Rushi also bid 15 points for the Spider Lily, and Shang Xinlei kept her promise and did not raise the bid. Compared to the two of them, Yan Qing and Yaoshi Yuan, who bid the highest price for the item, looked very foolish—this was exactly the result Shang Xinlei wanted. She looked at the two of them triumphantly, mocking them on equal terms.

Yan Qing found it strange. It's one thing if you hate Yao Shiyuan, but why do you hate me? It's as if Yao Shiyuan and I did something to wrong you.

The auction has now ended. The Thief Points are as follows: Ying Rushi has 41 points remaining, Shang Xinlei has 35 points remaining, Yaoshiyuan has 4 points remaining, and Yanqing has 0 points remaining.

“The starting bid has been raised to 15 points this time,” Ying said. “It seems that the starting bid is indeed increasing step by step. Sooner or later it will rise to more than 30 points. At that time, the points earned from completing tasks will not be enough to buy the task rewards.”

“Instead of worrying about not being able to afford the reward, I should worry about what they might steal in the next mission.” Shang Xinlei stood up—she could leave her seat after the auction was over—and walked behind Yan Qing. Seemingly unable to stay still, she leaned against the stone chair and said, “This time they’ve already stolen materials from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I wouldn’t be surprised if they steal a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s token in the next mission.”

"The fact that the rewards include Heavenly and Earthly Fiends indicates that the Thieves' Clan believes we are close to Foundation Establishment level strength," Yan Qing said from a game designer's perspective. "Even if we don't encounter Foundation Establishment level masters in the next mission, the mission difficulty can't be lower than this one."

"But how much more difficult can we make it?" the pharmacist asked. "There are very few places in the Central Plains that are more dangerous than the Chang'an Military Prefecture. Even large military towns may not have experts of Chu Luoyan and Li Long's caliber at the same time. They are already the most powerful combat force in the secular world. Above them, we can only be Foundation Establishment messengers. I think we will likely have to fight against Foundation Establishment cultivators in the next mission."

"Fighting against a Foundation Establishment cultivator?" Shang Xinlei blinked, pointed to herself, "Me?"

The Thieves' House didn't keep them guessing for long, quickly providing the answer they needed:

"Given the inadequate completion of this mission, your criminal acts have become widely known, and the Divine Constable's Office has discovered that you have committed another crime during the wanted period. Therefore, we have decided to increase the bounty on you and extend the wanted period to seventy days. If you commit another crime during the wanted period, the Divine Constable's Office will dispatch one Gold Badge Divine Constable and three Silver Badge Constables to apprehend you."

"The next mission will be issued at noon in twenty days. At that time, you will be forcibly teleported to the Thieves' House. Please be aware." After a brief pause, a loud voice rang in everyone's ears:

"Announcement from the Divine Marquis's Mansion: Four vicious thieves from the Thieves' Clan have struck again. They successfully stole a sixth-grade material, Rare Iron, from the Flame Prison Secret Realm in Chang'an. The Divine Marquis's Mansion has updated the wanted posters for the thieves and will apprehend them when they commit their next crime."

The announcement rang three times, but unlike the slightly smug anticipation of the past, this time they looked at each other with only helpless bitterness in their eyes. It was like skipping class to go online and coming back to find that the teacher had already told their parents about their absence. Even if they were aware of it beforehand, they still couldn't help but tremble.

"I can only hope that the next mission won't be within the territory of Zhou Kingdom." Yan Qing rubbed his temples and said with a wry smile, "I don't want to be chased down by Master Suolong during a mission."

"That's too optimistic. It's not just Zhou Kingdom, it's the same all over the Central Plains." Shang Xinlei picked up his left hand and looked at it, rubbing the teeth marks on it: "The previous two minor skirmishes didn't bother Foundation Establishment True Persons, but this time we stole something from Suolong True Person. The other Foundation Establishment True Persons will definitely start to be wary of us. They might have already ordered their respective family armies and towns to increase their vigilance."

"You have twenty days this time." The pharmacist glanced at Shang Xinlei, his tone somewhat enigmatic: "Take advantage of this time to improve your strength as much as possible... Don't waste your precious time on unnecessary things."

“Black Wolf is right.” Ying Rushi unusually agreed with the pharmacist’s wish: “Twenty days from now, if you are not strong enough, you should give up the mission rather than participate, otherwise… you will die.”

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

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

“A third-tier demon isn’t difficult to deal with if there’s only one, but it becomes extremely troublesome when paired with a bronze-badge constable.” Yan Qing immediately realized, “The golden-badge constable appearing in the next mission, could it be…”

"Yes."

The tone should be somewhat heavy:
"The Golden-Clad Divine Constable is a fourth-rank demon from the Divine Marquis's Mansion's secret realm."

……

...

Ying Rushi was still the first to leave the Thieves' Den, her movements hurried. Yan Qing also planned to go back to rest. This mission had worn out eight more white iron straight swords. Tomorrow morning, he would have to farm the Zhen San Shan Secret Realm several times to get a lot of Zheng Shan's gold coins, so he needed to go to bed early.

However, the pharmacist called out to them, "Wait a moment, I'll be back in a bit." With that, she went back to her room.

Yan Qing and Shang Xinlei exchanged a bewildered glance.

"Why did she also ask me to stay?" Shang Xinlei asked, somewhat confused.

"It must be because you just said she was disgusting, and you said it to her face. Even I know that these things should be done in private, so you not only insulted her, but also looked down on her." Yan Qing analyzed seriously, "You're finished this time. She holds grudges very much."

"But, but I didn't mean to scold her, I was praising the white fox."

"Putting one down while praising another will only lead to greater ruin. You can still leave now."

"I'm not leaving. I want to see what you two have to say."

What if she hits you?

“I’ll just push you in front and let her hit you; I doubt she’ll mind.”

Just as the two of them were discussing quietly, Black Wolf's door quietly opened. They turned their heads and froze at the same time.

Because what appeared before them was not Black Wolf, but Pharmacist Yuan.

　A ten-minute short drama, broadcast on Tencent, is a superpower upgrade themed series. The title is "Under the Power of Will," about a max-level expert who transmigrates into the body of a useless person, and experiences three romantic relationships after his will awakens.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)