Chapter 22 - Scheming

It seemed that the monkey bandits were snooping around for any potential treasures. However, how sad it was that they were trodding around with no idea of what fiendish design is being concocted for them.

Stringface, having multiple bandages around his body, cursed incessantly. " Could you believe that Redbeard? A goddamn kid. We had our treasure right in our hands, only for it to be taken by a baby that still reeks of milk."

The taller one, Redbeard, just took a glance at Stringface before continuing to look at a pendant in his hands.

Stringface continued to curse. "If we do not find a treasure quickly, young master Guo will have our heads all over the floor. Ahh! I wish I could just go back and murder that brat!"

Redbeard shook his head calmly. "No, that would just be suicide. I do not know how that kid has such monstrous strength without having cultivation but he would you into string pulp before you could even react."

"Besides, it seems like there is treasure nearby." Redbeard was talking while noting the activities of the pendant.

With that, they continued to scout the area looking for where the pendant might give a reaction. The pendant seemed to be some treasure finding artifact that would respond when high amounts of essence are found in an area.

In fact, they harassed Si Xuexi precisely because there was some treasure in her bag that the pendant reacted rather strongly to.

"Hmm." The pendant soon began to make a low humming sound and the bandits went and followed the indications of the sound to where the treasure might be. They soon found themselves in a slope with forestry all about; however, the pendant rang louder so they knew that they were getting closer.

By the time they noticed that they were deep into the forestry, so much that they could barely see sunlight through the leaves, they found an animal skull. The aura sent from the skull was so fierce it nearly sent Stringface running with his tail between his legs, but he was stopped by Redbeard who yanked his shirt collar.

"Calm down, it is just a tiger skull. It is not like it is alive." Redbeard coarsely snorted as he threw Stringface down on his butt.

Stringface relaxed and surveyed the tiger skull. After realizing that there were no dangers, he ran wildly towards the skull with his drool trailing from his mouth in a continuous thread. "Do you know how much money we could get from this skull? We will be rich!"

Meanwhile, Redbeard was too busy wondering why a tiger skull would be left here without the rest of the corpse to realize that his partner just ran off without a care for caution. By the time Redbeard noticed Stringface's actions it was too late.

.....

Tian Longmeng was going through the forestry very carefully. He had already planted his trap for the monkey bandits, but he noticed the Ark of the Majesty beating furiously in his chest. There had to be something monumentally important that would cause such a reaction with the Ark; so he decided to see what it was.

This time, Tian Longmeng took almost an hour to find this thing.

Before long, Tian Longmeng noticed an unnaturally dry patch of land situated in the center of some decaying trees. In the center of that dry patch laid a small, grey egg. One would be hard-pressed to call it an egg since it more resembled a stone with nothing special about it other than being as big as a forearm.

Tian Longmeng probably would have left the egg right where it was if it was not for the Ark of the Majesty feeling as if it would rip out of his chest and jump at it. Tian Longmeng had no clue what the egg was but decided to carry it with him in hopes that the Ark Elder may know what it is.

When Tian Longmeng was on his way walking back out of the forestry with the egg in his hands, he was greeted by the monkey bandits who seemed to be looking for someone or something. He deviously smiled upon seeing these hooligans. It would be that fate had it for Tian Longmeng to have some fun on his way to Tang Fei City.

"Oh, you brat! It is very nice to see you around these parts, oh, and what is it you got there?" Stringface angrily taunted at Tian Longmeng when he saw the bag and egg he was carrying.

"Wrrr." The pendant in Redbeard's hand activated and was directed towards Tian Longmeng's belongings. However, strangely enough, the pendant began spewing a bright light before breaking apart and losing power.

"Huh!" Stringface and Redbeard were baffled and wondered why the pendant just stopped running and tried to get it working again. Tian Longmeng, at that moment, realized that the pendant was more than likely some sort of treasure finding artefact. That meant that they were sure to find the Hou Tiger skull and his little surprise.

Tian Longmeng could not help but burst out laughing in the midst of the bandits' confusion. He then calmed himself enough to speak, "I see. By the way, how did you like my little surprise I laid out for you?"

Stringface's face became blacker than their shadows in the forest as he turned to Tian Longmeng with his voice cracking. "You little devil!"