Ya Fei's Thoughts

Ya Fei represented Xuan Jin, not the Mite'er Family.

The smile on Mite'er Teng Shan's face stiffened. He had intended to put on the airs of a Clan Leader, only to discover that he could barely get a word in before this younger woman.

Jia Xing Tian, however, studied Ya Fei with great interest, a glimmer of admiration flashing through his clouded old eyes.

"Miss Ya Fei, there is no need for such courtesy. We came today to visit... Master Xuan."

"Everyone, please come in."

Ya Fei stepped aside and made a welcoming gesture before turning around and leading the group toward the auction house's top floor.

The reception hall on the top floor had long been prepared with fine fragrant tea.

Ya Fei sat calmly in the seat of honor and personally poured tea for these important figures.

That gesture made Mite'er Teng Shan's cheek twitch once more.

That seat should have belonged to him.

Yet now, he could only sit in the guest seats alongside Jia Xing Tian and the Clan Leader of the Mu Family.

"Miss Ya Fei,"

Jia Xing Tian took a sip of tea and spoke first. "May I ask where Master Xuan is now?"

Ya Fei set down her teacup, an appropriately apologetic expression appearing on her face.

"Your Majesty, the young master left Wutan City ten days ago."

"What? He left?"

Princess Yao Yue cried out in surprise, while deep disappointment appeared on the faces of Jia Xing Tian and the Mu Family Clan Leader as well.

Despite rushing all this way, they had still arrived too late.

Jia Xing Tian let out a long sigh inwardly.

He had remained at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm for many years. With his lifespan nearing its end, his only hope was the peak Sixth-Grade Pill that could aid a Dou Emperor in breaking through to the Dou Zong realm—the Pill to Break Dou Ancestor.

Yet in the entire Jia Ma Empire, even Pill King Gu He had only just entered the sixth grade. He struggled greatly even to refine ordinary Sixth-Grade Pills, much less a supreme pill like the Pill to Break Dou Ancestor.

He had thought this young Sixth Grade Alchemist, who had appeared out of nowhere, would be his hope. Who could have expected...

"However..."

Ya Fei's voice rang out again, pulling everyone back from their thoughts.

"Before the young master left, he said that he would likely remain within the Jia Ma Empire for some time. As for his exact whereabouts, Ya Fei does not know."

Those words rekindled a sliver of hope in their hearts, which had sunk to the bottom.

As long as he was still within the empire, there was still a chance!

"The young master is busy with many matters and never sees outsiders unless there is something important."

Ya Fei changed the subject, a trace of pride entering her voice. As the representative of a Sixth Grade Alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, Ya Fei had every right to be proud—at least in front of outsiders.

"If you truly have urgent matters, you may wait here for the time being. Perhaps the young master will return to Wutan City once he has finished his business."

Ya Fei had made herself very clear.

If they wanted to see Xuan Jin, they could wait here.

And whether they would actually get to see him depended on Xuan Jin's mood.

Jia Xing Tian and the others exchanged looks.

They were figures whose mere stomp could make the entire Jia Ma Empire tremble three times. Were they supposed to sit around waiting in a tiny place like Wutan City?

If word got out, it would be a colossal joke.

But when they considered what a Sixth Grade Alchemist represented, all their pride turned into helplessness.

"Very well."

In the end, Jia Xing Tian was the first to state his position.

"Then we will have to trouble Miss Ya Fei."

And so, the foremost figures of the Jia Ma Empire took up residence in Wutan City.

For a time, Wutan City was gripped by tension. The Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family, who had been secretly competing against one another, completely lowered their banners and ceased their strife. They did not even dare leave their homes, afraid that they might accidentally offend some passing great expert.

However, half a month passed.

Wutan City remained as calm as ever, while the mysterious Master Xuan did not show even a trace of himself.

Jia Xing Tian and the others had finally exhausted their patience. Holding positions of such importance, they could not possibly wait indefinitely.

In the end, they could only return to Ya Fei's door and bid her farewell in disappointment.

Before leaving, Jia Xing Tian left behind a Jade Tablet carved with dragon patterns.

"Miss Ya Fei, if Master Xuan returns, please be sure to use this item to inform this old man. The Royal Family will reward you handsomely."

The Mu Family Clan Leader also left behind his own token and promise.

After seeing Jia Xing Tian's group off, Ya Fei's position within the Miter Auction House underwent a subtle change.

Ya Fei tightly gripped the cool Jade Slip in her hand, while her heart burned with incomparable heat.

Just as she was deep in thought, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Mite'er Teng Shan entered. He dismissed the maidservants and stood alone before Ya Fei.

"Ya Fei, you did very well today."

Teng Shan's voice carried obvious fatigue. This half-month of waiting had made him deeply realize that there were certain powers the family absolutely had to keep firmly in its grasp.

Ya Fei rose to her feet and gave a slight bow.

"Clan Leader, you flatter me. Ya Fei merely did what was expected of her."

"What was expected of you?"

Teng Shan shook his head and walked to the table. He looked at the tokens left by the Royal Family and the great clans, his expression complicated.

"If not for your connection with Master Xuan, our Mite'er Family would have been suppressed by the other families in the Jia Ma Empire today."

Teng Shan suddenly turned around, his expression solemn.

"From today onward, you are no longer merely the chief auctioneer of the auction house."

"Ya Fei, you are formally appointed an elder of the Mite'er Family. You will enjoy the family's highest authority over resource allocation and decision-making, and you will be responsible for all matters concerning alchemists."

This appointment meant that she had leaped from being a senior manager employed by the family to becoming a member of the Mite'er Family's core ranks.

Ya Fei raised her head. Though she had expected it, she was still somewhat surprised.

"Thank you for your favor, Clan Leader."

"This is what you deserve."

Teng Shan said in a deep voice.

"Although the Mite'er Family is wealthy, we have always been somewhat inferior when it comes to high-level combat strength. Now, Master Xuan is our greatest support."

He paused, and his tone became earnest.

"Ya Fei, your relationship with Master Xuan is no ordinary one. This is the family's fortune.

In the future, you must devote yourself even more. If Master Xuan returns, you must find a way to make him cooperate with the family on a deeper level."

"I know that you are grateful for Master Xuan's kindness, but you will always be a member of the Mite'er Family."

Teng Shan spoke very bluntly, completely binding Ya Fei to the family's interests.

Ya Fei smiled charmingly.

"Rest assured, Clan Leader. Master Xuan has always been someone who clearly distinguishes love from hatred. Ya Fei knows where the boundaries lie. As for the family's affairs, I will naturally do my best."

She neither made any promises nor rejected the family's promotion, elegantly tossing the ball back.

Seeing this, Mite'er Teng Shan knew that this was already Ya Fei's limit and said no more.

He had gotten what he wanted. Ya Fei had acknowledged her status as a family elder and promised to continue using her connections to protect the family's interests.

Teng Shan left in satisfaction.

Ya Fei watched Teng Shan's retreating back, then sat back down in her chair. She weighed the Jade Slip in her hand as her thoughts drifted.

"Use me? That depends on whether you have the ability."

To her, the increase in her authority within the Mite'er Family was merely a tool that would allow her to follow Xuan Jin more effectively.