Seeing Liu Ling Again

Before the Mitre Auction House, Nalan Yanran and I stood side by side. Neither of us paid any mind to the little incident earlier, and we chatted casually all the way here.

I looked up and saw that the entire auction house was built from white stone. Tall and imposing, it resembled a castle!

Before the open gates, more than fifty heavily armed guards stood in a row, their fierce, vicious gazes constantly sweeping over the crowd.

I paid no attention to the guards and entered the auction house alongside Nalan Yanran. Soft light washed over us, and the clamor outside abruptly vanished.

Separated by a single door, it was as though we had entered another world.

The hall was still lined with guards, with a sentry every three steps and a watchman every five, like a military camp. This surprised me a little. Looking around, I saw crystal counters scattered across the center of the hall, displaying all kinds of rare... no, here they could only be called precious. They were not rare at all.

I turned to Nalan Yanran with a wry smile. "Yanran Jie, there are far too many things here. Let's just find the person in charge directly. Otherwise, checking every counter one by one would be too much trouble."

"Mm."

Nalan Yanran gave a slight nod, her expression as cool and detached as ever.

I shook my head slightly and stepped forward to speak with a guard. Borrowing the Nalan Family's name, I quickly met the person in charge here, a middle-aged man named Du'e Mitel. Yet Ya Fei, with her seductive charm, was nowhere to be seen.

That made sense. Ya Fei was still in Wutan City. Only after Xiao Yan auctioned off goods there on a grand scale, allowing Ya Fei to ride his coattails and make achievements, would she be transferred to Gama City.

Thinking of this, I grew a little excited. Xiao Yan had already been changed by me. Would he still go auction pills? If he did not, would he not end up never crossing paths with Ya Fei?!

Though that would mean Ya Fei would be unable to achieve anything for the time being and would have to remain in Wutan City for a few more years before she might be transferred to Gama City...

I gathered my thoughts and smiled at Du'e. "Uncle Du'e, do you have a Poison Manual for sale here?"

Though the Three Great Families openly and secretly competed with one another, they were also bound together. Calling Du'e uncle was not inappropriate.

Du'e was warm toward both Yanran and me. He frowned in thought before shaking his head. "Nalan Nephew, Poison Manuals are rather obscure. I really do not have one here. Of course, if Nalan Nephew truly wants one, I can keep an eye out for you."

I was somewhat disappointed, but Poison Manuals truly were scarce, and I had not held much hope to begin with. When I glanced back at Nalan Yanran and saw her delicate brows slightly furrowed, I could not help feeling a little pleased again.

After a dry cough, I withdrew my gaze and took a list from my Ring of Holding, handing it to Du'e. "I'll have to trouble Uncle Du'e with the Poison Manual. Please keep an eye out for Ye Er. Also, do you have these three medicinal ingredients here?"

Before leaving, when I had gone to see Nalan Dong and Zeng Li, they had given me this list of rare medicinal ingredients needed to treat Nalan Jie, ingredients our Nalan Family Treasury did not possess.

Du'e took the list and examined it, then nodded and immediately sent someone to fetch them. The three of us began chatting, though I felt that Du'e was not very interested in me. He cared far more about Nalan Yanran.

That was only natural. Nalan Yanran was the Nalan Clan Leader's daughter and the Yun Lan Sect Master's disciple. How could I compare to her? Other than the handful of people at the very top of the Gamma Empire, who would not want to curry favor with her?

What a pity...

I sneered inwardly and coldly watched Du'e fawn over Nalan Yanran.

Nalan Yanran was cold by nature. What could you accomplish no matter how much you flattered her? Heh, you would be better off turning around and currying favor with this young master. If you pleased me, I might even reward you with something...

Still, though Du'e was not an elder of the Mitre Family, his status was not low. I only dared think such things and did not dare say them aloud.

Before long, the Maidservant who had gone to retrieve the medicinal ingredients returned carrying a silver tray. But when I focused my eyes, I realized there were only two ingredients on it. Where was the third?

Du'e noticed as well. His brows drew together as he barked, "Where is the Nine-Inch Spirit Ginseng? Why wasn't it brought over?!"

The Maidservant's face paled in panic. She bowed and said, "Reporting to the person in charge, someone had just intended to purchase that Nine-Inch Spirit Ginseng. Although I stopped the transaction, that person's status is honorable, so I did not dare take the Nine-Inch Spirit Ginseng away."

Du'e hesitated, but I had no such scruples. With a cold sneer, I said, "What filthy bastard dares compete with this young master for something? Heh, bring him here. I want to see just how honorable his status is!"

Very soon, the Maidservant led the man over. He looked youthful, though already somewhat handsome. Most striking was the alchemist robe he wore... and to my astonishment, I recognized him. He was clearly Gu He's disciple—Liu Ling!

Liu Ling seemed stunned as well. The moment he entered, he stared straight at me, his eyes dazed and infatuated before turning gentle and full of affection...

No, what the hell was that look?! Could it be that Liu Ling liked men?

Goosebumps rose all over me, and I leaped away. Only then did I realize that Liu Ling was not looking at me at all. He was looking at... Nalan Yanran!

A surge of fury rose in my heart for no reason. This bastard actually dared set his sights on Yanran Jie?

I gave a displeased dry cough, snapping Liu Ling out of it. "So it was you who dared compete with me for medicinal ingredients!"

"So it is Young Master Nalan Ye."

Liu Ling casually glanced at me, then let his gaze fall upon Nalan Yanran again. Staring at her in a daze, he said, "This must be Miss Nalan Yanran, correct? Meeting you truly surpasses all that I had heard of you."

"I am Liu Ling, disciple of Master Gu He. Being able to meet Miss Yanran is truly the fortune of three lifetimes!"

Listening to Liu Ling's words, I was furious. What fortune of three lifetimes? Who the hell did he think he was? Just some dead extra!

I shouted, "Liu Ling, I need this Nine-Inch Spirit Ginseng. You should give it up."

Liu Ling glanced at me, then said to Nalan Yanran, "Miss Yanran, my master is currently doing everything possible to treat the Old Clan Leader of the Nalan Family. This Nine Bends Spirit Ginseng is one of the medicinal ingredients he needs. I ask that Miss Yanran yield it to us."

I curled my lip. "My family's Alchemy Elder and Elder Zeng Li of the Yun Lan Sect are also treating the Old Man's illness. We need this Nine-Inch Spirit Ginseng as well. Liu Ling, you should step aside instead."

Liu Ling finally looked at me properly. "I have heard of Elder Zeng Li. He is also a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, correct? But alchemists are not simply added together. Not to mention two Fifth-Rank Alchemists—even five might not compare to a single Sixth-Rank Alchemist."

"Miss Yanran, the Old Clan Leader of the Nalan Family's illness will ultimately have to rely on my master. Please yield this Nine Bends Spirit Ginseng to us."

Nalan Yanran considered it, then nodded. "The Alchemy Elder and Elder Zeng Li truly cannot compare to Mister Gu He. Then this Nine Bends Spirit Ginseng will go to Mister Gu He. Please ask Mister Gu He to do his utmost and make sure to save my grandfather."

"Of course."

Liu Ling smiled faintly and nodded. Then, in the blink of an eye, he spotted the two medicinal ingredients held by the Maidservant beside him. Delighted, he said, "Paper Doll Flower? Soft Stone Spirit Liquid? Miss Yanran, my master needs these two medicinal ingredients as well. Please yield them to us."

My chest tightened, and I nearly coughed up blood from anger. I pointed at Liu Ling with my right hand, jabbing my finger fiercely as I roared, "Liu Ling, you've gone too far!"

I turned to Nalan Yanran again, and at some point, my gaze had become pleading. But whether she did not see it or simply did not care, she nodded gently. "Fine. My family also has a Poison Manual. It may perhaps help with Grandfather's illness. Mister Gu He may come and look through it as well."

You spendthrift woman! You spendthrift woman!

The moment I heard that, my body went limp, and I nearly collapsed! Everything was gone. All three medicinal ingredients were gone, and even the Poison Manual had been given away. I stared at Nalan Yanran with ragged breathing, my mind completely blank. I had no idea what to say!

But Liu Ling had plenty to say. He kept talking to Nalan Yanran without pause.

What angered me even more was that old bastard Du'e! He actually invited Liu Ling and Nalan Yanran to sit down, then had the Maidservant bring tea and pastries.

I was so furious that I wanted nothing more than to go up and punch him!

Did he not know this was the core area of the auction house? Only members of the Mitre Family were allowed inside. Yet what did he do? He let a few outsiders come in here and even served them tea and refreshments? Where were his rules? Where was his integrity?!

I sat down stiffly, but sadly, no one paid me any attention. They continued talking amongst themselves, while I could not take in a word. I only knew that after I had drunk my twenty-fourth cup of tea, everyone finally dispersed.

At the entrance of the auction house, Liu Ling cupped his hands toward Nalan Yanran, bade farewell with a smile, and left. Nalan Yanran and I, meanwhile, headed toward the Nalan Residence.

I was in a bad mood throughout the journey and said nothing, but for some reason, Nalan Yanran did not ask about it or offer me any comfort.

I hurriedly consoled myself. Yanran Jie was cold by nature. Perhaps she simply did not know how to comfort others, which was why she had not comforted me...

After entering the residence, Nalan Yanran returned to her own courtyard, and I returned to mine. After dinner, I went back to my room.

I had no mood to cultivate. I lay casually on the bed and stared at the ceiling. The bed was large and soft, the ceiling broad and magnificent, and I was irritated and upset.

Liu Ling was clearly just an extra. How had that bastard stolen all my thunder this afternoon?

I tossed and turned in bed for a long time before suddenly realizing that Liu Ling was only an extra compared to Xiao Yan. But to me, he was clearly a... minor boss!

I was only at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, while he was already an official Dou Zhe and a First Grade Alchemist.

My father was merely the Internal Affairs Elder of the Nalan Family, an Eight Star Great Dou Shi, and my grandfather was only at the Dou Ling level. Yet his master was Pill King Gu He, a Dou Wang and the Gamma Empire's only Sixth-Rank Alchemist!

Compared in cultivation and family background, Liu Ling completely crushed me! So Liu Ling really was an extra, but I... I was cannon fodder...

"Cannon fodder?"

I muttered softly. No, how could I be cannon fodder? I was the protagonist. I needed to... cultivate!

I shot up from the bed. The protagonist's first step began with cultivation!

But before I could sit cross-legged, a wave of weariness rose from my heart. I subconsciously looked out the window and saw that the moon had slanted westward. It was already past midnight.

I could not help yawning, and a strange thought surfaced in my mind... cultivating could probably wait one night, right? How about I rest up tonight and begin cultivating tomorrow?

I frowned and thought it over, only to find that the more I thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. I could not help lying back down. With my mind at ease and no troubles left, I soon fell into a deep sleep...