Therefore, Wilbur could only say, "Alright, forgive my rudeness. I''ll keep this a secret."


    Vernon put his dagger aside, then told Mitch, "Alright, Mitch, let him go. I trust that he will keep this a secret."


    Mitch let go of Wilbur, then pulled Vernon to the front as they whispered something. They spoke quietly, but as a cultivator, Wilbur had a keen hearing, thus he overheard their entire conversation clearly.


    "Vernon, this guy is not trustworthy. I think we have to move our n forward."


    "We know that the treasure is in Vicente Primeval Forest, but we know nothing about its location. Perhaps it''s meaningless to move the n forward."


    "It''s alright. I believe we will find the treasure."


    ...


    Wilbur did not know what the treasure meant to Mitch and the others. Perhaps it was their faith to keep living. People encounter troubles in their lives, after all. Those who were desperate would go on a desperate path.


    However, most nations would offer some sort of assistance for their desperate citizens to make an honest living, and Dasha was great at that. Dasha has helped a lot of its citizens in need to get a job.


    However, Seol was not Dasha. Wilbur did not know if Seol did a good job at offering such assistance. Mitch and the others would be miserable if that was not the case. One wrong choice, and they might lose everything they have. It was absolutely miserable for citizens of a nation to live like that.


    Wilbur did not care for the treasure in the forest, so he did not ask about it. He simply kept quiet and followed along. Mitch suddenly stopped after two kilometers, and he started to tremble all over.


    "Oh no, we''re out of luck."


    Everyone looked down. Mitch rolled up his pants, and they saw a bloodsucking bug on top of his leg. It sucked on Mitch''s blood greedily. The bloodsucking bug was pale gray and half transparent. The blood could be seen in its body as it turned a dark red.


    Mitch tugged on the bloodsucking bug and threw it far away, saying, "Damn it. We can''t continue forward. Wilbur, there are bloodsucking bugs on this path. We need to head back."


    Wilbur asked, "Isn''t it just a bloodsucking bug? There might be no bloodsucking bugs further in."


    "Look."


    Mitch showed his wound to Wilbur. There was a hole in his pants, which was clearly ripped open by the bloodsucking bug.


    "The bloodsucking bugs here have extremely sharp teeth. Also, one bloodsucking bug can suck up to thirty milligrams of blood. You''ll be paralyzed if ten or more bloodsucking bugs are attached to you. We can only head back. If we don''t turn back now, we''ll die here eventually."


    Vernon said, "Here''s an important piece of information. If there''s a bloodsucking bug, it proves that there are bloodsucking bugs in the surrounding area. If we continue forward, we may not get a chance to retreat because not only do you need to consider the bloodsucking bugs in the front, but you also have to consider the bloodsucking bugs on the way back. A lot of explorers did not consider the bloodsucking bugs on the way back, so they were sucked dry by bloodsucking bugs in the end."


    The group of explorers looked at each other. No one seemed willing to continue, and they all turned to look at Wilbur at the same time.


    "Wilbur, let''s go back, alright?"


    "No. I would like to give it a try."


    Wilbur looked at Mitch. He knew what Mitch was up to because he observed a lot of people. He knew that Mitch did not intend to let him go because he knew about the secret treasure. Although Mitch said he wanted Wilbur to go back with them, in reality, he did not want Wilbur to follow them.


    Mitch hoped that Wilbur would continue on and die in the forest. That way, their secret would be safe. However, it seemed that Wilbur would have to let Mitch down.