A Beauty's Request, but What Is the Price?

Walking along Wutan City's bluestone streets, the Xiao Family residence gradually receded behind him, and the clamor at its gates faded into indistinct background noise.

Xuan Jin was thinking about the Tou She Ancient God Jade in his Storage Ring.

If he kept this thing, Soul Hall would sooner or later set its sights on him. The Ancient Clan might even come knocking.

After all, Xiao Xun'er had come to the Xiao Family for the very purpose of obtaining this Ancient Jade.

The best way to handle it was to sell it to the Ancient Clan.

After all, opening the Ancient Emperor's Cave Mansion required eight pieces of Tou She Ancient God Jade.

Xuan Jin's thoughts raced as he planned every step ahead.

"Young Master Xuan, you seem to have something on your mind?"

A fragrant breeze accompanied a soft, syrupy voice beside his ear.

At some point, Ya Fei had come alongside him. Her alluring eyes studied him with a hint of curiosity.

Xuan Jin emerged from his thoughts and glanced sideways at her.

This woman was as sharp as a snake—a beautiful snake.

"It's nothing." Xuan Jin casually brushed it off.

Ya Fei did not mind. With graceful steps, she moved in front of Xuan Jin, turning slightly to block his path.

Today, she wore a wine-red, form-fitting qipao that tightly wrapped her already exquisite figure, yet every curve of it exuded a captivating allure.

"Young Master Xuan, thank you for helping our Miter Auction House build its reputation today."

Ya Fei gave Xuan Jin a graceful bow, her voice carrying a touch of sincerity.

"Now all of Wutan City knows that Young Master Xuan has close ties with the Miter Auction House. It has even earned Ya Fei a little more standing in the Imperial Capital."

Xuan Jin neither agreed nor disagreed.

Seeing that he remained silent, Ya Fei stepped half a pace closer, her breath as fragrant as orchids.

"It is still early before nightfall, and Tianxiang Tower is surely quite noisy."

"Would Young Master Xuan honor me by visiting Ya Fei's residence for a short while?"

After speaking, she simply looked at Xuan Jin with her watery eyes, holding three parts probing and seven parts anticipation.

Xuan Jin found her expression somewhat amusing.

This woman truly calculated gains and losses at every moment. Still, she had no choice. Ya Fei's cultivation talent was indeed poor, but she possessed exceptional talent in business.

However, Xuan Jin was genuinely interested in this woman who had been so bewitching in the novel from his previous life.

Thinking of this, Xuan Jin became curious whether the Nalan Yanran of this world was truly the pink-haired girl from the comic.

"Alright." Xuan Jin agreed readily.

A breathtaking smile instantly bloomed across Ya Fei's face, as though every flower in the courtyard had blossomed at that very moment.

"Young Master Xuan, this way, please."

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to lead the way. Her waist swayed with her graceful steps like a willow dancing in the breeze.

Ya Fei knew that the honey trap might not be particularly effective on the man before her, but today, she was gambling on more than merely her beauty.

Otherwise... upon returning to the Imperial Capital, she could only become a sacrifice for the family's political marriage.

Ya Fei's residence was not some luxurious manor, but an exceptionally elegant little courtyard of its own.

The courtyard was filled with rare flowers and exotic plants, while a pebble path wound toward a two-story building.

"Young Master Xuan, please have a seat. Ya Fei will prepare some tea for you."

Ya Fei led Xuan Jin into the first-floor reception room before turning and heading into the inner chamber.

Xuan Jin surveyed the surroundings. The furnishings were simple yet tasteful, and the air carried a faint, distinctive fragrance blending floral scents with a woman's natural aroma.

A moment later, Ya Fei emerged carrying a tray.

She served Xuan Jin fragrant tea and arranged several plates of delicate pastries. Every gesture was like that of a well-trained maid—respectful, yet not overly distant.

Xuan Jin picked up his teacup but did not drink.

He watched the busy woman before him and spoke.

"Enough, Miss Ya Fei."

"There are no outsiders here. There is no need for this."

Xuan Jin's voice was calm, yet Ya Fei's movements abruptly froze.

Ya Fei raised her head. A trace of stiffness appeared in her flawless professional smile, but it quickly returned to normal.

She set down the tray and took a seat opposite Xuan Jin, folding her hands over her knees with a dignified posture.

"Young Master Xuan, you flatter me."

"Speak. What is your purpose?" Xuan Jin went straight to the point.

Ya Fei took a deep breath, her fingers tightening slightly atop her knees.

She knew that before someone like him, any attempt to beat around the bush would be pointless.

"Young Master Xuan, Ya Fei wishes to... ask you for a medicinal pill."

"Oh?" Xuan Jin raised a brow. "What kind of pill?"

Ya Fei's lips moved as if she were struggling to make an extremely difficult decision. In the end, she said it.

"A pill... that can improve one's cultivation talent!"

After saying those words, it seemed as if all the strength drained from her. She looked nervously at Xuan Jin, awaiting his judgment.

The room fell briefly silent.

Xuan Jin did not answer immediately.

A pill that could improve cultivation talent?

It was not as though none existed. It was simply that every single one was worth a fortune beyond Ya Fei's reach.

For example, the Obstacle-Breaking Heaven-Passing Pill, a high-grade seventh-tier pill.

Its refinement would even summon Pill Lightning.

However, for Ya Fei, a high-grade sixth-tier Lingxi Meridian-Connecting Pill would be enough.

Xuan Jin looked at the woman before him. She was beautiful and shrewd, capable as well, yet constrained by her cultivation talent. She could only exhaust every scheme to climb upward in a small place like Wutan City.

Her future would most likely be just as she feared: becoming a sacrifice for the family's political marriage, marrying a man she did not love, and living out the rest of her life that way.

Xuan Jin suddenly sighed.

When facing a character he had quite liked in the novel from his previous life, he ultimately could not remain entirely hard-hearted.

"Manager Ya Fei."

A cryptic smile appeared on Xuan Jin's face.

"You also know that I do not run a charity."

Hearing those words, Ya Fei's heart did not sink. Instead, hope lit within it.

Not a charity meant there was room to negotiate!

She immediately straightened up. "Ya Fei understands! So long as Young Master Xuan is willing to help, Ya Fei is willing to pay any price!"

Her tone held the resolute determination of someone willing to smash the pots and sink the boats.

"Any price?" Xuan Jin repeated, the smile on his face deepening. "Can you afford that price?"

"Ya Fei..." Ya Fei was momentarily speechless.

She did not know what he would ask for.

Money?

Though the Mite'er Family was wealthy, the amount she could command was merely a drop in the ocean.

Her beauty?

She was confident in her appearance, but she could sense that the man before her had little interest in her body.

"Young Master Xuan, Ya Fei... is willing to offer everything I have."

Xuan Jin looked at the woman before him. Her eyes shimmered with mist, her expression resolute, like a gambler pushing all her chips onto the table.

He shook his head, extended a finger, and gently pressed it against Ya Fei's smooth forehead, pushing her slightly leaning body back.