Chapter 44: The Grand Duke’s Bait

With Zhang Luan’s backing, Senluo’s confidence visibly soared.

“I must thank His Highness, the Holy Son, for this opportunity, allowing me to become a Guardian. Without you, I would still be out there slaying goblins, likely never achieving anything significant in my life.”

Observing his grateful demeanor, Zhang Luan merely offered a few polite words about continuing his efforts and how the organization held him in high regard before dismissing him.

After all, even without his intervention, Senluo would eventually become a formidable expert. Zhang Luan had merely added a flourish to his destiny.

Furthermore, he only intended to utilize Senluo in the future. If he also gained his fervent gratitude, then he might have to consider many more things when the time came to make use of the fellow.

He truly disliked complications.

****

After Senluo departed, Yanate stood silently beside Zhang Luan, watching him fish with a rod that conspicuously lacked a hook. For a long time, not a single fish was caught. After a considerable pause, he hesitantly spoke.

“Your Highness, the Holy Son, perhaps… I could fashion a hook for you? You won’t catch any fish like this.”

“You speak as if I could catch fish even with a hook.”

“Ah?”

“Oh, no, you heard nothing. What do you know? This is the Grand Duke Jiang’s fishing method, for those willing to take the bait. Stop standing there idly! I don’t lack bodyguards, and besides, you can’t even defeat me. Go on, go on. I’m certain I’ll catch a fish today.”

Hearing Zhang Luan’s words, Yanate scratched his head, a little embarrassed. Zhang Luan had spoken the truth; he had been defeated even before Zhang Luan’s advancement. Now that Zhang Luan had completed his breakthrough, Yanate stood no chance at all. Standing there truly felt a bit foolish.

Smiling sheepishly, he walked away, heading to the magic-powered vehicle to consult the map with the driver. Although the vehicle was swift, the lack of wide, unobstructed roads, combined with the constant threat of monsters and bandits, meant they had to carefully select the best route among many options.

Moreover, as the Holy Son, Zhang Luan’s decision to stay meant the others naturally couldn’t leave, even with the looming threat of the bandits’ return.

After half a day of fishing, the sun hung directly overhead, signaling lunchtime. Zhang Luan merely poked a finger, and several plump fish were instantly teleported onto the bank by his Power of Creation. He then threaded the fishing line through the mouth of the largest fish, dragging them back to the magic-powered vehicle.

“Yo, I’m back.”

“Your Highness, the Holy Son, you… uh… you caught fish?”

Yanate could hardly believe his eyes. He knew very well that Zhang Luan had been using a hookless fishing rod, and thus, he knew even better that such a rod couldn’t possibly catch any fish.

To catch such large fish, without years of angling experience, was simply impossible.

“How did Your Highness do it?!”

Excitement blazed in Yanate’s eyes, a different kind of intensity than the calm he displayed when bowing subserviently. This was the look of someone who had discovered something truly captivating.

Indeed, Yanate was an avid fishing enthusiast. His greatest hobbies, aside from disciplining others, were fishing. Unfortunately, his skill was abysmal; he typically only managed to catch a single loach after a full day of fishing, yet even that meager catch filled him with satisfaction.

To witness Zhang Luan catch so many large fish with a hookless rod today was something he couldn’t possibly ignore.

“Ah, haha, didn’t I say it? For those willing to take the bait. And I am a genius, isn’t catching a few fish perfectly normal? Besides, look, aren’t more and more small fish gathering, eager to devour my bait?”

Zhang Luan produced the God of Cookery’s Spicy Pot, placing it on the table. With a light tap, the pot instantly expanded to accommodate an entire fish. He covered it with the lid, and the cooking began.

Yanate’s brow furrowed. Following Zhang Luan’s hint, he scanned their surroundings. The riverbanks where they were currently situated seemed to have fewer trees than before the attack. Logically, if the bandits were launching another assault, he should have detected them immediately, yet he had seen nothing.

Could it be…

A possibility suddenly struck him. The bandit group that had attacked them earlier included mages and ability users. If those individuals unleashed some stealthy magic or abilities, a physical power user like himself might genuinely fail to detect them without actively searching.

‘I was careless.’

He immediately activated his Supergravity Net, extending its reach far outwards. Within the net’s range, his senses detected hundreds of additional presences.

“Damn it, they actually chased us all the way here? Everyone, prepare to engage!”

Hearing his command, the others swiftly raised their shields and weapons, fanning out. Their Akamana Qi Cultivation technique allowed them to collectively erect a thick, silvery-white shield, completely encircling themselves and the magic-powered vehicle.

Only Senluo instantly positioned himself beside Zhang Luan, raising his longsword cautiously to shield him.

“Your Highness, the Holy Son, please be careful. I will protect you.”

Although Senluo knew Zhang Luan was incredibly powerful and that protecting him was purely futile, it demonstrated Senluo’s gratitude and loyalty.

Zhang Luan paid no mind, happily gripping the body of the Bow of Finality. Both the Black Moon and Scarlet Sky modes activated simultaneously, blue and black energies manifesting on the bowstring.

He raised the bow to the sky, an energy arrow nocked on the string. With a *whoosh*, it soared skyward like a firework, its red and black light strikingly vivid even at high noon. The energy arrow quivered violently in the air, then was instantly teleported to a higher altitude by the Power of Creation. With a *whoosh*, it transformed into hundreds of red and black arrows raining down from above.

*Swish, swish, swish!* The arrows fell, slamming into the forest. Damage numbers flashed continuously within the woods, and the combat panels of the bandits flickered before him.

Amidst cries of pain, a yellowish-brown light net suddenly appeared in the sky, blocking the continuous barrage of black and red arrows. A scantily clad female bandit, swaying her slender waist, emerged from a shimmering veil of transparency.

“Hehehe~ This little cutie’s firepower is truly immense! Good thing I have my Earth-Colored Net, otherwise, it would have been quite troublesome~”

She licked her purplish-pink lips, staring at Zhang Luan with blatant greed. In her mind, Zhang Luan must have expended a vast amount of energy to unleash that arrow rain, making this the perfect moment to attack.

“Charge! Capture this little cutie for me. I’ll make sure he has a wonderful time tonight~ Hahahaha!”

From within the colorless shadows, a stream of crazed bandits emerged, each clutching a crossbow or a spear. They were clearly no ordinary folk.

While the Guardians were strong, they weren’t capable of fighting dozens of opponents single-handedly, especially since that woman wasn’t the only one among these bandits who seemed particularly unusual.