Yuan Chu Nian

Knock, knock, knock.

"Everyone, my young lady requests an audience. May we come in?"

"Come in."

Creak—

The door outside was slowly pushed open, revealing an elderly man in a white robe embroidered with golden threads.

Bai Ye seemed to have seen this man before, when they had been looking into the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild's missions.

"Tian Yuan Merchant Guild branch president, Li Minghai."

Bai Ye whispered into Lin Yu's ear.

Lin Yu did not respond. She merely nodded slightly and imperceptibly, indicating that she understood.

No one present spoke or exchanged pleasantries. They had all heard Li Minghai clearly just now—he had said, "my young lady."

The real person had yet to appear.

Thus, under everyone's watchful eyes, a slightly slender figure stepped out from behind Li Minghai.

The instant they saw her, a glimmer flashed through the eyes of everyone present, men and women alike.

It was not so much because of the woman's pretty appearance, but rather the distinctive aura she naturally possessed.

Tranquil and gentle—such descriptions might have sounded ordinary, but they suited this woman almost excessively well.

It was natural, without the slightest sense of incongruity.

That was more or less the feeling.

The woman was beautiful, but there was no shortage of beautiful girls in this room. Lin Yu, Su Xuan, Xue Li, Su Ling'er, and Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju all had their own charms. Not to mention...

There was someone even more beautiful.

As the girl's gaze swept across everyone's faces, it clearly lingered on Bai Ye for an extra second.

Wasn't that face a little too lethal to girls?

After making her brief appearance, the girl revealed a polite smile.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Yuan Chu Nian. Though this is rather presumptuous, I truly was the one looking for you this time."

She got straight to the point, her tone utterly unfeigned.

Bai Ye had originally thought the visitor would beat around the bush before getting to the point. He had not expected her to state her intentions so directly.

"Miss Yuan, please have a seat."

This was their private room for the time being, after all. Since Yuan Chu Nian had come, she was a guest.

Yuan Chu Nian nodded and elegantly took a seat closest to the door. Li Minghai did not sit down, instead skillfully taking his place behind Yuan Chu Nian.

Just like an attendant.

"My young lady"—did "my" refer to the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild?

Lin Qi's voice quietly sounded, low enough that only a few people could hear it.

"I remember that the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild president's line should bear the surname Dong."

"That is because I was not born of the principal wife."

The moment his words fell, Yuan Chu Nian's voice rang out from the other side.

Lin Qi froze slightly. He had precisely controlled the range of his voice with spiritual energy. There was no way she should have heard him.

"My apologies. I have become so accustomed to expressions like yours that I answered without thinking."

There was no displeasure in Yuan Chu Nian's voice. She simply remained seated, speaking openly and gracefully.

Lin Qi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself unable to speak.

At that moment, Lin Yu came to his rescue.

"He tends to speak without thinking. Please forgive his rudeness, Miss Yuan."

"Of course." Yuan Chu Nian smiled softly. "If you do not mind, you may simply call me by my name."

Her intention to draw closer was unmistakable.

Lin Yu said nothing, merely nodding.

"Actually, this happens every time someone sees me. Before I knew it, I gradually got used to it as well." Yuan Chu Nian pursed her lips, her tone carrying a trace of self-mockery.

"President Li is flattering me. Strictly speaking, I am not a young lady of the Dong Family. I do not have the right to bear the surname Dong."

She did not have the right to bear the surname Dong.

There was only one circumstance in which such words would be used.

"I am merely an illegitimate daughter."

"Young Lady."

Li Minghai wanted to speak, but Yuan Chu Nian stopped him with her raised hand.

"Grandfather Li, I know what you want to say, but this is the truth."

An illegitimate daughter...

Hearing Yuan Chu Nian reveal this herself, Bai Ye raised his eyes and glanced at her.

How should he put it? For an illegitimate daughter to command such respect from a branch president of Li Minghai's status was not something an ordinary illegitimate daughter could accomplish.

This woman was no simple person either.

At that moment, Xue Li leaned close to Lin Yu's ear.

"According to the Mission Hall's intelligence, Tian Yuan Merchant Guild president Dong Ming does indeed have an illegitimate daughter with exceptional talent."

She had gathered information regarding the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild before they left the academy. With the Northern Azure Spiritual Academy's intelligence network, learning such things had been easy.

Lin Yu nodded, signaling that she understood.

To be honest, they did not care about status.

Even if Dong Yuan, the strongest of the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild's younger generation, were sitting here, Lin Yu would not have been interested in the slightest.

There was only one thing she cared about from beginning to end.

"Miss Chu Nian, why did you seek us out?"

After talking so much and directly revealing her identity, it was time to state her purpose.

"It is simple." Yuan Chu Nian raised her beautiful eyes and looked at Lin Yu before her. She knew that among the six of them, this was the leader with the greatest authority. "Cooperation."

Cooperation.

It was indeed what they had expected.

"Yet Miss Yuan's earlier actions did not seem like the actions of someone seeking cooperation."

Su Xuan spoke coldly.

Naturally, she was referring to how Yuan Chu Nian had used the auction item as bait earlier.

She wanted cooperation, yet treated them like fish?

Who was she looking down on?

"That information was originally meant to be a gift for our first meeting, but I did not expect that I would nearly miss you because of it. I was far too presumptuous, and I apologize."

Her tone was exceedingly sincere.

Bai Ye tucked both hands into his sleeves, idly playing with his Lian Fire Jade within them.

Such a sincere apology effectively soothed some of the others' irritation.

However, Bai Ye had noticed something else.

She had just said...

"Nearly?"

"Yes, it truly was only by a little."

Yuan Chu Nian extended her hand. Light flashed from her Mustard Seed Bracelet, and a white jade tablet appeared before everyone.

"The auction item? But wasn't it..."

Su Ling'er cried out in surprise.

"Yes, it was bought by someone."

Yuan Chu Nian smiled brightly.

Bai Ye narrowed his eyes. "Are you not afraid people will discover that the Tian Yuan Merchant Guild used shills at its auction?"

For an auction house, that would severely damage its reputation.

"What shills? I simply wanted this item too badly, so I had someone bid it back for me. If I spent a high price to purchase the auction item myself, does that make me a shill?"

It seemed to make sense.

After hearing Yuan Chu Nian's answer, Su Ling'er nodded.

Yet the expressions on the others' faces barely changed. Clearly, they had already thought of this answer.

In other words, they had expected Yuan Chu Nian to possess the white jade tablet.

"State your terms."

Lin Yu did not wish to waste any more time. They could state their conditions and negotiate from there. The sooner they finished, the sooner they could prepare.

"I want to enter the spiritual treasury with you."

"Why should we?"

"Because of what I have in my hands."

"Information about the spiritual treasury?"

"Yes."

"Not enough."

Lin Yu shook her head.

"The stakes are insufficient."

This bargaining chip was not enough for them to risk cooperating with an outsider whose background they did not understand.

"What if I add this as well?"

Light flickered in Yuan Chu Nian's hand, and another jade tablet appeared before them.

"What is this?"

Lin Yu asked.

Yuan Chu Nian smiled mysteriously. "A map of the spiritual treasury."

Boom!!!

Lin Yu's spiritual energy instantly erupted within the private room, her gaze icy.

"You made a deal with the Bone God Hall?"

Lin Yu's outburst startled everyone present. In all this time, this was the first time they had seen Lin Yu so angry.

Yet Yuan Chu Nian, seated opposite her, showed no fear at all. She raised her eyes and met Lin Yu's gaze.

"So what if I did? Merchants do not choose their trading partners. Without making that deal, I could not have obtained bargaining chips that would tempt you."

It was a very reasonable statement.

"Elder Sister."

Lin Qi's voice sounded at that moment, instantly calming the emotionally stirred Lin Yu.

She turned her head, looked at Lin Qi staring at her, and shook her head slightly.

"I'm fine."

At that moment, Bai Ye rose from his chair and spoke.

"Looking at it now, it seems our side's bargaining chip is the lighter one. I am very curious—why are you willing to pay such a high price in exchange for traveling with us?"

"It is not strictly necessary for me to travel with you."

Yuan Chu Nian shifted her gaze from Lin Yu to him.

"Alternatively, you can sell me the key to the spiritual treasury. No matter the price, I can accept it."

"If you put it that way, may I know the reason?"

A faint glimmer flashed in Bai Ye's eyes as he asked.

Yuan Chu Nian had no intention of concealing anything. Buying the key was merely an empty offer; she did not believe Bai Ye and the others would give it up.

Without the slightest hesitation, she spoke.

"At this point, there is nothing left to hide. The reason I wish to travel with you is solely because of the key in your hands. This key is not merely for opening the entrance to the spiritual treasury. Its importance lies elsewhere."

"Within this spiritual treasury lies a treasure vault hidden in its deepest depths. The vault is sealed, and only this key can open it. To be honest, the purpose of my journey is an item within that vault."

As she spoke, she raised her head.

"The terms of our deal are simple. I will provide you with information, and you will bring me into the Spiritual Treasury Vault. I will not touch any other item. I only want to take that one thing."

"Would it be convenient to say what that item is?"

This time, Yuan Chu Nian did not answer. Instead, she lowered her gaze slightly.

"I cannot disclose that."

Bai Ye nodded and did not press further.

At that moment, Lin Yu's gaze fell upon him. Their eyes exchanged a brief message in the air.

Lin Yu nodded faintly, then turned once again toward Yuan Chu Nian.

"We accept your request."

Yuan Chu Nian visibly let out a breath of relief. It seemed the scene just now had not been easy for her either.

"In that case."

She stood and extended her hand toward Lin Yu.

"Happy cooperation."

Lin Yu reached out and clasped it.

"Happy cooperation."

Bai Ye remained seated, looking up at the two women shaking hands beside him.

Then his gaze shifted to Li Minghai, who stood motionless by the door.

Li Minghai sensed his gaze and met his eyes, but their eye contact lasted only an instant.

Bai Ye withdrew his gaze, lost in thought.

Yuan Chu Nian had come quickly and left just as quickly.

After discussing a few details with Lin Yu, she departed immediately, leaving behind the first white jade tablet containing information about the Spiritual Treasury.

As for the crucial map, it would only be handed over later.

After all, who could truly trust one another upon meeting for the first time?

"What do you think of her?"

Lin Yu put the white jade tablet back into her Mustard Seed Bracelet and turned to Bai Ye.

Hearing her question, Bai Ye shook his head.

"Everything was proper. Nothing seemed off."

By proper, he was not referring to Yuan Chu Nian's demeanor, but rather her actions.

In this matter, her identity could withstand scrutiny, and her reasons held up as well.

In Bai Ye's estimation, her strength was enough to contend with Lin Qi beside them, perhaps even surpassing him slightly.

If she traveled with them, then for the time being, the benefits seemed to outweigh the drawbacks.

"Then we'll see later."

After hearing him out, Lin Yu made her decision.

They could not let down their guard, but for now, it seemed they could relax a little.

At that moment, Lin Qi's eyes narrowed slightly, and a wide grin spread across his lips.

"Xiao Qi."

"Sis, I know."

Lin Qi raised both hands.

"I'll restrain myself, I'll restrain myself. I definitely won't cause trouble."

The next second, the others in the private room noticed the anomaly as well.

Bai Ye rose from his chair, turned around, pushed aside the window drapes, and walked to the railing.

His gaze was fixed on a private room roughly the same size as theirs.

Behind the railing of that room stood a man wearing a black iron mask, looking in their direction as well.

His gaze was deep and unfathomable, impossible to discern what he was thinking.

When their eyes met, Bai Ye could not help curling his lips upward into a broad smile.

He raised a finger and lightly pointed toward the masked man.

"Bang."

The masked man's expression did not change in the slightest at his gesture.

He simply turned around and walked back into the private room behind him.

"Looks like he's been watching for quite a while."

Lin Qi walked over to Bai Ye's side and licked his lips as he stared at the place where the Black Iron Mask Man had disappeared.

"Let him watch. Let him come."

Bai Ye said with a smile, though his voice was faintly cold.

"I'm just afraid he won't."

"Rare. It's the first time we've thought alike."

Lin Qi said.

Bai Ye shot him a glance, then turned and walked back into the private room.

Lin Qi shrugged, not angered in the least. He had spent quite some time with Bai Ye by now and had grown familiar with the man's personality.

Habit really was a terrifying thing.

Shaking his head, he returned to the private room as well.

Meanwhile, in some corner of the auction house, a pair of eyes stared intently at the two as they turned away.

The gaze was deep, beyond words.