Around the middle region of the forest.
Zhao Luo and the others could be seen walking at a gradually slower speed since they were carrying the fruit bag which weighed more than enough to slow them down.
While just a hundred meters beside them, a group of three was watching them closely.
They were the three disciples, the princess, and the two subordinates of hers, who were also on the mission to gather the internal energy fruits.
They had not only caught up to Zhao Luo's group but had also moved a hundred meters to their right, thus observing the group in a better way.
"Brother Lee, only one of them is as strong as the princess, while the other three are a level lower than her. Not to mention the whole rank difference between them and us."
The other subordinate of the princess said to Brother Lee while staring at Zhao Luo's group.
This was right after the weird sensation that Zhao Luo had shaken off.
The subordinate, Brother Lee, squinted his eyes at the four and slowly opened his mouth.
"But they still have a beast with them. So one of them is already a beast tamer. He must be hiding his ability since I have never seen a black rank disciple being a tamer in our Shen Sect."
Brother Lee rambled on while being a little worried.
"Do you think our Shen Range is inferior to the Qi or Xin Range?"
The princess suddenly spoke as though the words of Brother Lee had struck her pride.
The three were the disciples of the third range which was surrounding the Sara Desert along with Xin and Qi Range.
"No, I didn't mean to say that."
Looking at the triggered princess, Brother Lee shook his hand and denied the accusation.
"I am just saying that we should be careful."
He continued while advising them.
"Well, then let me say something too."
The other subordinate interrupted with a hardened look in his eyes.
"I, Ro Tang have never been afraid of anyone who could be my peer. I can take all of them alone."
The other subordinate announced his name as though he was making a vow of some sort and confidently boasted about himself.
'You have never been able to defeat me. WTF ARE YOU SAYING?'
Brother Lee thought as he heard Ro Tang's announcement which was supposedly his way of impressing the princess.
But Brother Lee didn't say his thoughts out loud, instead, he tried to stay calm.
"Princess, I will leave the decision on you."
Brother Lee said to her and looked back at the group that was just a few meters away from entering the middle of the forest.
The princess pondered over it for a while before she could reach a decision.
With a cold expression looming over her face, she opened her red luscious lips.
"Let's make deal with them."
The princess said to Brother Lee and Ro Tang.
"What?"
"Why would we need to make deals with those who ate lower than us?"
Ro Tang was confused as he listened to the decision made by the princess.
As for 'lower', he was talking about the level of Zhao Luo and the others.
The princess ignored Ro Tang's words and continued.
"They will exchange all the fruits for their lives."
She ended her decision with that and since the three were already moving towards the middle region too but just a hundred meters away from Zhao Luo's group, they could have aimed for Zhao Luo anytime.
The three were looking towards their left, that is right at Zhao Luo and others but suddenly they all stopped.
"He knows that we are following them."
Brother Lee mumbled with a trembling voice.
"Move in."
While the princess ordered them.
'I need to take them down quickly if they refuse to make the deal. This will be my only chance to leave a cool impression on her.'
Ro Tang had other aims as the three turned towards the left.
"I knew it."
Zhao Luo loudly said.
"Little Brother, how did you know they were following for the last ten minutes?"
Senior Cutie asked Zhao Luo with a confused face as the four were slowing down.
Eventually, Zhao Luo stopped with the others and looked at the three people approaching them.
"First I simply felt a disturbance but then I realized someone was following us. Slowly turning around I realized that it was indeed that case. So I was ready and told you, brothers. But as we all noticed them going towards our right instead of attacking us right away, it seems they are after something else."
Zhao Luo told the three while standing in front of Bimba.
It was indeed as Zhao Luo had just said.
Ten minutes ago, he had only told Senior Cutie, Xiao Yi, and Pi Hao to brace themselves as a potential enemy could be approaching them. But instead of approaching them, they went away and were now coming back.
"They may be simply recording the regions and the changes in the forest. But let's be careful."
Senior Cutie told them as he stared at the two subordinates who were leading the charge.
They were only 25 meters away from them so Zhao Luo, Xiao Yu, and Pi Hao were already on their edge.
Soon the two groups came face to face.
"Are you three the disciples of the Shen Sect?"
Senior Cutie questioned them as their appearances piqued his interest.
'I may just be able to end this peacefully.'
He thought while looking hard at the three people.
He could barely see the princess who was blocked by the two male disciples who were standing in front of her.
'Are they guarding her?'
Zhao Luo thought as he looked at the two disciples in front of the princess. The two groups had finally met and things may just go out of hands so Zhao Luo wanted to see the girl too.
One of them moved up towards Zhao Luo's group.
It was Brother Lee who was coming up to them.
"It's nice to meet the disciples of Xin Sect, if I may presume."
Till now Brother Lee was hardly keeping his glance on Senior Cutie when he only wanted to look at Zhao Luo for some reason.
