Chapter 40 The mantis stalks the cicada
"What bad luck! What bad luck! Who leaked the news?!"

The vice-president of the Red Hand Society cursed and yelled as he rode his horse side by side with the boss as he waded through the river. Behind him followed a dozen or thirteen bandits, leading animals carrying boxes. They looked dusty and in a very miserable state.

"Behave yourself, my friend."

The boss stood up straight with an elegant demeanor: "At least we succeeded, didn't we?"

"After paying so much, if you still didn't succeed, you would have instigated your brothers to kill me, right?"

The vice president sneered, turned his head and looked at the bandits who had come up the shore, and shouted, "Brothers! Success or failure depends on this one move! After today, it's time for us to enjoy the wealth that is bound to be ours!"

"The wise boss!!"

"Wuhu!"

The thieves cheered, whistled and used obscene words, with excitement flashing in their eyes, as if they saw a bright future coming.

"That's really vulgar."

The eldest boss shook his head, dismounted, and had a rapier on his waist: "Also, I am the [boss]."

"Why bother with this shit? You won't be one soon anyway."

The vice president laughed coarsely, put his arm around the head boss's shoulder, and said with undisguised sarcasm: "I've said it before, those noble masters are not trustworthy at all! Especially the noble masters of Mondstadt!"

Ever since the Mondstadt hero Vanessa overthrew the brutal rule of the nobles, rebuilt Mondstadt, and founded the Knights of Favonius a thousand years ago, are the old nobles of Mondstadt still called nobles?
"What do you know? I have my reasons for cooperating with them."

The eldest boss took the vice president's arm away and raised his chin slightly: "To use the words of you Liyue people, it is [How can a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan]."

"Oh, you have a shitty point. I see you like a dog, wagging your tail at those useless nobles, and being pitifully used up by those useless people and kicked aside, without even a bone in your hand." The vice president turned his head and spit, cursing.

"Stupid, really stupid! Stupid and vulgar!" The boss said angrily, "People should look up and have a long-term vision! If you only care about the present, how can you achieve great things in the future?"

"I've accomplished nothing." The vice president grinned, "My biggest dream is to marry two or three wives, buy two or three properties in Yujingtai, and live happily."

"Haha, what an incredible dream, Mr. Liyue's wanted criminal." The boss sneered.

"I use a fake name and cover my face when I'm working. What does Liyue's wanted list have to do with me?" The vice president spat and said, "Let's talk business first. After tonight, we'll defeat the earth vein flower that we worked so hard to get here. Then you'll be the second in command."

"." The big boss sighed, half helpless and half tired, and said: "Yes, Mr. President."

The vice president laughed loudly twice in a rather heroic manner, stopped chatting, and led a group of bandits to work in the open space in front of the cave.

The boss stood in front of the cave, watching the bandits gradually build an "altar" that looked rather crude and crude, as if it was made by a child. It was unbearable to look at, but it was indeed useful.

Under the insistence of the vice president, the Red Hand Society has been trying to produce a rich vein flower, and has paid a lot for this: they were surrounded by the Thousand Rocks Army and fled in panic like a stray dog; they were attacked by the sudden appearance of the projection monster, and many members lost their lives; when they were about to succeed, someone leaked the news, and they were harassed by the treasure-stealing group like hyenas smelling blood.
Also, being threatened by "investors", they had to bow their heads and act like dogs.

"The next encirclement and suppression campaign by the Qianyan Army may arrive soon. This small island must be a key area of ​​attention. Are you sure your plan is feasible?" The boss frowned and glanced at the bushes and rubble beside the cave. He felt inexplicably panicked and shouted loudly to the vice president.

"It will definitely work! I've rehearsed it in my head countless times!"

"Why would your 'backer' help you deal with the Qianyan Army?" "Hey, that's a good question!"

The vice president checked the "altar" one last time, turned around and said with a smile: "I can't guarantee that they will help us deal with the Qianyan Army, but I can be sure that the Qianyan Army will definitely help us deal with them!"

"Have you already planned to betray us?" The boss looked stunned.

"Nonsense! Who wants to be a dog?"

The vice president snorted coldly and waved his hand to the boss: "Stay away! We are going to activate the earth vein flower!"

The boss opened his mouth, said nothing more, and did not insist on staying. With the rapier that was only for decoration, he turned around and walked through the bushes and rubble, intending to go to another "safe house" on the island.

As soon as he passed through the bushes, a dark shadow pounced on him! Before he could react, a big hand holding a handkerchief covered his mouth and nose. The handkerchief had a pungent smell of medicine.

The boss opened his eyes wide and was about to hold his breath to struggle, but then he was suddenly punched in the abdomen. In pain, he took a breath, and his head became dizzy. He had no strength to struggle, and finally his body went limp and he passed out.

Chen Tianfeng still covered the boss's mouth and nose, calculated the distance, and dragged him to a position where he would not be locked by the projected monster summoned by the Earth Vein Flower. Then he let go of his hand and immediately checked the boss's breath.

Fortunately, he was still alive. Chen Tianfeng breathed a sigh of relief and used the materials on hand to strip off the boss's coat, tear it into strips and tie him up. Then he thought for a moment, pinched his mouth open, and stuffed the drugged handkerchief into it.

After completing the process of praising Ye Lan for being a good material for committing crimes, Chen Tianfeng, carrying a knife and a crossbow, quietly returned to the bushes.

I didn't expect that the bandits from the Red Hand Society really got the earth vein flower. So there is no need to rush to take action. Let them get the output of my earth vein first. Chen Tianfeng had an idea. He took out a crossbow arrow, cut his left wrist with a long knife, and shed blood on the blade and arrowhead again.

After completing the preparations, Chen Tianfeng skillfully wrapped a bandage around his left wrist, feeling the tingling and itching from the rapid healing of the wound while staring at the bandits of the Red Hand Society. He loaded the crossbow arrows back into the crossbow and strung it again.

The vice president glanced at the quiet bushes, estimated the time, and thought that the boss should run to a safe place, so he pulled out a broad machete and said, "Brothers! It's time to make a fortune!"

The bandits cheered and carried out several large boxes of raw resin, pouring them all into the simple altar.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

The altar suddenly burst into a dazzling light, and a ground flower emitting black and purple smoke and filled with an ominous aura emerged from the altar, with dark purple lines all over its body.

All the original resin was suspended in the air, gradually liquefied, and fell on the roots of the earth vein flower, like rain falling on the desert, leaving no trace.

The ominous giant flower slowly blossomed, and dozens of black and purple smoke appeared out of thin air, then quickly condensed and turned into human shapes.

"There's a new job!"

"You made the wrong choice!"

"Another test subject!"

Accompanied by several chaotic but still highly recognizable voices, [Projection Monsters·Treasure Stealing Group] appeared!
The vice president grinned, feeling lucky that he and his men were dressed differently from the [Projection Monsters·Treasure Stealers] in front of him, while raising his sword: "Brothers! Kill these inferior monsters!"

(End of this chapter)