A deal struck, today's expenses are on me

On the auction stage.

A staff member lifted the red cloth from the tray, revealing a belt-shaped Soul Tool.

After briefly introducing the Soul Tool, the staff member opened the bidding at five thousand Gold Soul Coins, with each bid required to increase by at least five hundred Gold Soul Coins.

The bidding for this Soul Tool climbed quickly.

In just a few minutes, it rose from five thousand Gold Soul Coins to thirty thousand.

Two knocks of the gavel announced that the sale was about to be finalized.

Just as the staff member was about to strike a third time, Bai Wanwan's voice drifted lazily through the Red Zone. "Twenty thousand five hundred."

"This guest has placed a new bid. Would anyone like to bid higher?"

The staff member's voice echoed through the hall, but no new bids came for the moment.

"Young Lady, are you interested in this Soul Tool?"

Xue Luochuan looked at Bai Wanwan with some curiosity.

"Not really. I just want to buy it."

Bai Wanwan answered offhandedly. She was about to reach for a pastry when Qian Renxue held one up to her lips.

Looking up at Qian Renxue's teasing smile, Bai Wanwan opened her mouth and bit into the pastry. Her soft lips inadvertently brushed Qian Renxue's fingertips, stirring a strange sensation.

"Uh..."

Hearing Bai Wanwan's answer, Xue Luochuan had no idea how to respond for a moment.

She wasn't interested, but she wanted to buy it to play with. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with that.

"Second Prince, I think we can agree to the cooperation we discussed last time. What do you think?"

Qian Renxue withdrew her hand. Looking at the pastry crumbs and the faintly visible glistening moisture on her fingertips, she wore a slight smile.

"Here's to a successful partnership. If you need help with anything, just ask."

"And all of today's expenses are on me!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Xue Luochuan's eyes.

Excitement gradually welled up inside him. Naturally, he knew what cooperation Qian Renxue was referring to.

With their partnership settled and their support secured, he would be able to challenge his elder brother, Xue Qinghe.

The victor would rule, and the loser would fall. It was still anyone's guess who would become the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince.

"Then we'll have to put you to some expense, Second Prince."

Bai Wanwan swallowed the pastry in her mouth and exchanged a polite remark with Xue Luochuan.

"Not at all."

"Such a trifling sum means nothing to me. If you two Young Ladies wish to buy every item at today's auction, that would be perfectly fine."

Xue Luochuan waved a hand generously.

Just then, a somewhat gloomy voice rang out from the black section behind them.

"Twenty-one thousand!"

Hearing someone raise the bid, Bai Wanwan immediately bid again without hesitation.

"Twenty-two thousand!"

Since Xue Luochuan was paying anyway, Bai Wanwan raised the price without the slightest qualm.

"Twenty-three thousand!"

"Thirty thousand!"

"Thirty-four thousand."

"Fifty thousand!"

The price soared all the way to fifty thousand, at which point a guest in the black-level section abruptly stood and looked toward Bai Wanwan.

"Little girl, how about doing me a favor?"

The gloomy voice sounded from behind them.

Qian Renxue, Bai Wanwan, Xue Luochuan, and the others turned to look almost simultaneously.

"Who's he?"

Bai Wanwan asked Xue Luochuan beside her.

"No idea."

Xue Luochuan casually raised a hand.

"If you don't have the money, go out and turn left. This is an auction house, not a place that sells favors."

Bai Wanwan glanced at him, then promptly looked away.

Hearing that, the man in the black-level section gave Bai Wanwan a long look and sat down without a word, but his gaze grew even darker.

Meanwhile, hidden from sight, Guibao and Moxiong silently locked their Spiritual Power onto the man.

As for Di Tian, who had remained concealed all along, he merely glanced at the man before looking away. Anyone below level ninety-five wasn't even worthy of his attention. They were essentially no different from ants he could crush with a flick of his hand.

The auction continued.

Bai Wanwan ultimately won the Soul Tool on the stage for fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Time slowly passed.

One item after another appeared on the auction stage. After bidding on two more items that caught her interest somewhat, Bai Wanwan lost interest in the remaining offerings.

"Second Prince, don't you know the person in charge here?"

"Let's go discuss buying some maids."

Bai Wanwan stretched her waist a little and looked at Xue Luochuan.

"I can handle such a small matter for you two Young Ladies. Later, I'll have the items you won and the maids delivered to your residence together."

Xue Luochuan smiled gently.

Bai Wanwan and Qian Renxue exchanged a glance, both feeling that his suggestion seemed quite good.

"Then sorry for the trouble, Your Highness."

"The auction house is a little boring, so we sisters will head back first."

Qian Renxue nodded lightly, took Bai Wanwan's hand, and walked toward the entrance.

Watching them leave, Xue Luochuan did not linger either. He rose and went to find the person in charge of the auction house.

On a bustling street.

After buying two cups of fruit juice as usual, Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan headed toward another busy street.

But just as they rounded the corner, the scenery before them suddenly flickered. The passing crowds vanished, leaving the two of them standing alone in the street.

"Tsk."

"An illusion?"

"It seems a little lacking, but I didn't expect anyone to actually come looking for trouble."

Bai Wanwan surveyed their surroundings and chuckled.

"It's rare to find some entertainment. Let's take a look."

Holding Bai Wanwan's hand, Qian Renxue walked forward, extending her Spiritual Power ahead of them.

Soon, a middle-aged man appeared before them.

The middle-aged man had his back to them, his fingers lightly tapping against a tabletop with a steady tap, tap, tap.

Amplified by the illusion, the sound was particularly grating.

"Little girl, I told you earlier to do me a favor."

The middle-aged man slowly rose, watching Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan approach with a gloomy gaze. He placed one hand behind his back. "I've always been the sort to use any means necessary..."

"But I never fuss over little things, such as what happened at the auction house. It really doesn't matter whether you do me that favor or not. I don't have much dignity to preserve anyway."

"When I saw you two leaving the auction house alone, I worried that you Young Ladies might run into danger, so I came to ask whether you needed any help."

"Customs vary from place to place. This illusion is simply a way of saying hello. Please don't misunderstand, Young Ladies."

The middle-aged man's gloomy gaze instantly cleared, his eyes brimming with sincerity as he looked past Qian Renxue and Bai Wanwan toward the figures behind them.

Guibao and Moxiong leaned against the walls on opposite sides of the street, each with nine Spirit Rings shimmering beneath his feet.