Chapter 54: The Fishing Trio

When Li Luo and his two companions crossed the stream and stepped onto the opposite bank, they also noticed some figures darting over not far away. However, after a brief exchange of glances, they dispersed without prior arrangement, quickly vanishing into the rugged, densely forested mountains.

Li Luo and his two companions also entered the densely shaded mountain forest. Listening to the birdsong echoing through the peaks, their expressions grew solemn.

"What are your plans from here?" Li Luo asked, looking at Zhao Kuo and Yu Lang.

Zhao Kuo smiled and said, "Originally I planned to head into the elimination grounds and grind some points on my own, but now I think I'll stick with you first."

"Is it because of what Qin Lian's Weight said?"

Li Luo said, "There's no need for that. I haven't really taken his threat to heart."

"Brother Luo, you're definitely capable—I know full well you're not afraid of him. But I'm worried the other side will rally people from East Abyss Academy to hunt you down. Even though my strength can't compare to yours, if something like that happens, at least I can help share some of the burden." Zhao Kuo said.

Then he grinned broadly and added, "Besides, following Brother Luo, won't grinding points be faster?"

Li Luo smiled. He knew Zhao Kuo's real intention was to do something for him, so he didn't try to dissuade him further and simply nodded.

"What about you?" He turned to Yu Lang.

Yu Lang flicked his fringe aside and said solemnly, "You know my abilities. As long as I'm willing, in this elimination round I, Yu Lang, will be like a fish in water. So if you're willing to pay a high price to hire me as your bodyguard, I can, out of consideration for our friendship, give you a discount—half price, a thousand gold!"

But before he could finish, Li Luo and Zhao Kuo had already started walking forward.

Yu Lang grew anxious: "Five hundred gold!"

Li Luo still paid him no attention.

Yu Lang said indignantly, "If you think the price isn't right, then counter-offer! So disrespectful! Where did you pick up these bad habits?"

"Five gold." Li Luo held up his left hand and waved it, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Deal!"

Li Luo nearly threw out his back, saying, "You shameless scoundrel, you're really something."

Yu Lang said smugly, "So long as you dare to counter, I dare to accept. Li Luo, you think five gold can humiliate me? How naive."

Li Luo shook his head helplessly, but a hint of a smile lingered in his eyes. He knew that both Zhao Kuo and Yu Lang were worried he might really be targeted by East Abyss Academy, which was why they chose to stick with him—to prevent him from capsizing in a ditch.

These two had different personalities, but both were friends worth cultivating deeply.

"I have a suggestion."

Yu Lang suddenly said, "The three of us together are too conspicuous. I suggest Zhao Kuo walks alone at the front, while Li Luo uses the Water Shadow Art to hide me with him at the rear."

Li Luo said thoughtfully, "You want to go fishing?"

And the bait was obviously Zhao Kuo. Alone, he looked simple and honest, making him an easy target for anyone with ill intentions who might try to rob his points.

"That's a good plan."

Zhao Kuo laughed, then restrained his expression. Instantly, the whole man gave off a vibe of being simple, wooden, and even a little timid.

"Zhao Kuo, with acting like that, South Wind Academy has really wasted you." Yu Lang exclaimed in shock at the sight.

Zhao Kuo scratched his head with a foolish grin.

"Then let's do it that way." Seeing this, Li Luo made the call and finalized it. The Fishing Trio was officially formed.

In the dense forest, the underbrush was thick, and numerous patches of light filtered down through the gaps in the leaves.

A somewhat burly figure moved cautiously through the woods, his flickering gaze vigilantly scanning all directions, looking extremely wary.

Every so often, he would even duck into a patch of shadow for a while before quietly pressing on.

He radiated the unmistakable aura of "I'm very scared, I'm very weak."

In some hidden spot behind the burly figure, Li Luo and Yu Lang watched from the shadows. Staring at Zhao Kuo's cautious demeanor, they were both a little dazed.

"He's really getting into character." Yu Lang sighed. He had thought himself quite the actor, but now it seemed Zhao Kuo was no simple player either.

Li Luo nodded in heartfelt agreement. Moreover, he felt Zhao Kuo was genuinely putting his heart into the act—he had real potential.

"But the others are being cautious too."

Li Luo glanced at a certain patch of shadow. He had long since noticed two people who had been eyeing Zhao Kuo earlier, but they had never made a move, instead trailing even more furtively behind him, keeping close watch.

Clearly, they too were trying to confirm whether Zhao Kuo was truly as timid and fearful as he appeared.

Moreover, those two had probed the area behind Zhao Kuo several times, but Li Luo's concealment methods were clearly beyond their ability to see through; instead, they had given away their own tracks to Li Luo.

But Li Luo could tell those two were starting to lose patience, because Zhao Kuo's acting was too convincing—they were about to take the bait.

Just as Li Luo was mentally counting down in his head, the leaves in the dense forest trembled, and two figures shot out, finally landing in front of and behind Zhao Kuo, cutting off all his escape routes.

This sudden change instantly made Zhao Kuo's face turn pale with fright, and he then said with an angry expression, "What do you want? I'm from South Wind Academy—dare to touch me and see what happens?"

This outwardly fierce but inwardly cowardly act made Li Luo and Yu Lang in the shadows inwardly applaud in admiration once more.

The two who had appeared seemed to be from two different academies, but their strength was not weak. Powerful force surged around them, clearly indicating they had both reached the Seven-Seal Realm.

"Brother, we've been tailing you for a while. You're that Zhao Kuo from South Wind Academy, right? I've seen you in the Grand Exam records. Save the nonsense—hand over your points." The two who had blocked the path said.

"In your dreams!" Zhao Kuo roared. As silver force surged around him, he had already activated his Silver Bear Aspect.

And the moment he moved, those two struck without the slightest hesitation. They could be seen, one in front and one behind, each wielding a longsword, attacking Zhao Kuo as fast as lightning.

Their strikes were extremely vicious and ruthless.

But just as their attacks were about to land on Zhao Kuo, a faint whoosh of breaking wind suddenly came from behind the two of them.

The hair on their bodies instantly stood on end, and then they saw that the Zhao Kuo before them, on that originally timid face, a mocking smile had surfaced.

"Damn, we walked right into it!"

The two instantly understood, their hearts filled with unease and fury. They had clearly probed the surroundings many times very carefully—why hadn't they detected the others?

The other side was way too devious!

With cold hearts, the two were ruthless characters. They directly circulated their force, sword tips aimed straight at Zhao Kuo. They knew they had already fallen into the trap, and now their only option was to join forces and seize this pig-disguising fellow first as a hostage, to make the other side think twice.

Zhao Kuo also sensed their intent, but instead of dodging, his eyes flashed with ferocity—a look utterly different from his earlier timid demeanor.

The great axe in his hands swung, seemingly forming a blade wheel, and he clashed head-on with the two.

Clang!

The sound of metal rang out, sparks flew in all directions. Zhao Kuo let out a muffled grunt as his body was blasted backward, for the strength of those two was in no way inferior to his own. Now fighting together, they naturally suppressed him in an instant.

However, before the two could continue their pursuit, two surges of mighty phase force roared in from behind them, slamming directly into their backs.

Puchi.

The two spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and tumbled down like rolling gourds.

By the time they struggled back to their feet, an azure short blade and a slender sword were already hovering at their necks.

"Brothers, move around again and we'll have to let blood." A cheeky, grinning voice came from the side.

The two exchanged a glance, their faces turning gloomy and dejected, and cursed: "Damn it, your South Wind Academy is way too underhanded, actually playing bait!"

"If you two hadn't been greedy, you wouldn't have taken the bait either."

Li Luo smiled, then called over Seeing Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo, each of them taking off the crystal tablet on their chest and swiping it against the two big fish's tablets, directly zeroing out their points.

And as the two tablets' points hit zero, the tablets suddenly began flashing rapid red light, and beams of light extended out from within, binding the two of them up tightly.

This signified elimination, and the temporary binding was to restrict their movement so they wouldn't interfere with the other students.

Having taken the points, the three of them couldn't be bothered to waste more words on these two fellows, and turned around with an air of ease, their voices drifting back faintly.

"Not a bad haul. Wonder who the next unlucky sap will be?"

"Hope they're a bit fatter than these two, eh?"

"Still, Zhao Kuo, your acting really is something else. These two had been tailing you carefully for half an hour, and you still managed to trick them into coming out."

"Haha, you're too kind, too kind. Actually there are still some details that need polishing. Like when they showed up to grab me, I should have shown a bit of panic—that would've made it even more convincing."

"That attitude of yours is truly very professional."

"Hey, when you're doing something, shouldn't you love whatever line of work you're in?"

"What you said leaves me a bit speechless, actually."

(One chapter today, no drafts left, two chapters tomorrow.)

(End of this chapter)