Eternal Thief

Three hours before, Aden found out about Ace and Jason.

Ace and Jason left the auction together and outside was a large crowd gathered.

Most of them were people from the auction who wanted to buy those seats. That's why they were waiting for the owners to come out and discuss the price with them. 

But when they saw these two dark horses of today's auction came out first, all the chit-chat immediately stops as everyone looked at Javier and Jason.

"Scram to the side before I get annoyed." Javier outright spoke imperiously.

"I also don't want to sell my tickets since I've heard a beast can move faster if there are fewer people on it," Jason speak with more reserved as he declared his reason.

Everyone understood Jason's reason, as they all know it was true.. 

Ace and Jason calmly left the curious crowd behind because none of them wanted to confront those titled families' nobles at this moment.

After they left the territory of Beast Calling auction, Jason abruptly stop while coldly looking at Javier.

"Who are you?" Jason deeply looked into Javier's brown eyes as if he wanted to see through him.

"Me? Heh, how about you tell me first?" Javier chuckles as he asked back. 

Jason grin mysteriously as he walked again, "You know people are following us. I might protect you if you tell the truth." 

Javier didn't faze by this critical information in the least bit as he walks beside Jason. "Oh, you're talking about those twenty goons?" 

Jason clicked his tongue, "I mess up this time around, aren't I?" He looked bitterly at Javier's blank face.

"Oh, indeed you did." Javier nodded impassively. "But I'm curious. Why did you choose me and what is your purpose?" 

"Heh, how about we play tag first?" Jason beams at Javier as he became a blur before vanishing completely. 

"Interesting." Ace chuckles as he vanished after Jason, but he was faster.

"We lose them!" A figure dressed completely in black said in a nearby alleyway. 

"Search for them!" Another one shouted in anger.

Twenty black figures scatter instantly and began their search for those two youngsters. It was already dark, so it would not be easy, though.

In a remote alleyway, Jason's figure appeared as he looked back and his lips move upwards after seeing no one was there. "Heh, it appears I was worried too much, and he was just bluffing." 

"Is that so?" A voice fill with mockery rang at this movement.

Jason's eyes constrict as he glanced around, but he saw or felt nothing. He thought it was his imagination, but he suddenly felt a sharp, icy edge on the side of his neck. 

Jason swallowed his dry saliva. 'He was able to sneak behind me and I still can't feel his presence!'

But Jason was not going down easily as his ring finger twitch slightly, he wanted to take out something from his storage ring. 

However, to his dismay, nothing came, and he finally felt the storage ring on his finger has mysteriously disappeared and he didn't even notice it! 

But a strange bird marking has appeared on it, but Jason didn't have the luxury to notice it. 

"Oh, are you looking for this ring?" The voice rang again as there was a clear teasing in it, "Give me one good reason to not kill you. And don't try to use your metal element qi trust me, your head will fly before that."

"Y-YOU! Just who in the world are you?" Jason finally felt the gravity of the situation.

Jason didn't think that the scapegoat he chose so carefully was a wolf in sheep's clothing and he was the real sheep all along! 

"Me? Heh." Ace chuckles darkly. "Does it matter now?"

Jason nearly choked on his words upon hearing this unreasonable answer. 

"I'm the one asking the question here." Ace snicker as he put some pressure on his inky long sword, "Now it's your turn, and don't try to lie because I would know and I will make your head fly!"

Jason felt the cold sharp blade digging into his neck and finally gave in as he took a deep breath. He knew this time he has encountered someone more shrewd and powerful than himself. 

The most marvel thing was, all this time Jason think he was the one in control however, it was not the case at all. 

All this time, he was dancing in the other party palm like a clown. 

'So, that's how it felt to be manipulated, huh.' Jason smile bitterly as he said, "Fine, you win! I'm an… assassin!"

Ace narrowed his eyes into slits with bewilderment because this was not the answer he was expecting and Jason was telling the truth! 

On the first day when Jason approached him, he instantly knew this guy was up to something and he used soul-shattering eyes for a moment. 

All he needed was that brief moment to see through Jason! 

To Ace surprised, Jason's face was disguised, but he didn't wear a mask like him and his cultivation was also at the Empty River Stage! 

Ace's interest was instantly piqued because of Jason's disguised techniques or skills.

That's why he decided to just act along and first see what this guy's actual goal was, and most importantly, why did he approach him, of all people. 

Although Jason was a Qi river cultivator and it was dangerous to fight head-on with him. 

But Ace also has element qi of light and this gave him the edge. If he could take Jason by surprise and stop him from using the element qi, Jason would be helpless. On top of that, if Ace stole his storage ring, he would lose the element of surprise as well!

And he succeeded because of the show he put in the auction, Jason panic and lose his calm. This finally gave Ace the chance to catch him by surprise. 

Although Ace has a bigger reason to put that show on the auction yet it worked perfectly with Jason as well and he kills two birds with one stone.

However, Ace never expected to discover an assassin, of all people!