Xiao Wu Enters Auction House By Mistake, Lin Yue Invites Her to Be Staff

The morning mist at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest had yet to fully dissipate when a pink figure, treading on dew-kissed grass, hurried toward the core region of Douluo Continent. Xiao Wu smoothed the strands of hair falling by her ears, her rabbit-ear-shaped Martial Soul faintly visible atop her head—last night, deep within the forest, she had sensed a familiar trace of "Lovesick Heartbreak Red," and following that trail, she found the source pointed toward the "Otherworld Auction House," which had recently spread across the continent.

"I clearly sensed it was right around here, so why can't I find the exact spot?" Xiao Wu stopped, frowning as she looked at the plain ahead. In the distance, the auction house, built entirely from black jade, was shrouded in a layer of Pale Gold Light Screen, the Energy Fluctuation flowing across it causing the beast bloodline within her to resonate faintly. She hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn't suppress her obsession with "Lovesick Heartbreak Red," lifting her skirt and walking briskly toward the auction house.

Just as she reached the main entrance, two Silver Armored Guards approached. Unlike the cold, harsh treatment they had given Yu Xiaogang, the guards, seeing that Xiao Wu was a young girl, softened their tone slightly: "Miss, to enter the auction house, you must hold a Point Voucher or exchange for points before you can go inside."

"Point Voucher?" Xiao Wu was taken aback. She had just come out of the Star Dou Great Forest, carrying nothing but a few scales taken from soul beasts and the Blue Silver Grass bracelet Tang San had given her. She bit her lip and asked quietly, "I... I'm here to find someone, and I also want to ask if there's any news about 'Lovesick Heartbreak Red.' Can I go in without points?"

Before the guard could respond, a gentle voice came from inside the auction house: "Let her in."

Xiao Wu looked up to see a young man in a Moon White Robe standing at the hall entrance, his features handsome and his eyes deep—it was Lin Yue, the owner of the auction house. For some reason, the moment she saw Lin Yue, the restless beast bloodline within her suddenly calmed, as if he possessed some power that could soothe soul beasts.

"You know about Lovesick Heartbreak Red?" Lin Yue looked at Xiao Wu, his gaze pausing briefly on the faintly visible rabbit-ear Martial Soul atop her head, already understanding her identity—a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit in human form. He didn't expose her, merely smiling as he stepped aside to clear the path. "Come in. The auction house might have the clues you're looking for."

Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment but still followed Lin Yue into the auction house. As soon as she stepped into the hall, she was captivated by the sight before her: on both sides of the hall, display cabinets held various treasures she had never seen before—some were faintly glowing ores, others were herbs sealed in transparent jade boxes, and still others were beast bones carrying faint soul power fluctuations.

But what caught her attention most was a display cabinet near the corner. Inside it were several palm-sized scales, pale pink with silver edges, still bearing faint traces of soul beast aura.

"These are... hundred-year Soft Bone Rabbit Heart Protection Scales?" Xiao Wu walked quickly to the cabinet, her voice tinged with surprise. She had seen similar Heart Protection Scales from her kind in the Star Dou Great Forest; such scales were life-saving treasures for the Soft Bone Rabbit clan, extremely precious. She never expected to find them in a human auction house.

Lin Yue walked over to her and nodded in explanation: "That's right. A soul master previously pawned these hundred-year soul beast materials in exchange for resources using points. Besides the Soft Bone Rabbit Heart Protection Scales, the cabinet also contains low-level treasures from other soul beasts, such as hundred-year Titan Giant Ape claws and hundred-year Jade Phosphorus Purple Mist Snake fangs."

Following Lin Yue's gaze, Xiao Wu indeed saw those soul beast materials in other parts of the cabinet. A complex emotion stirred within her—these materials might be mere cultivation resources to human soul masters, but to soul beasts, they were the remains of their kin. She couldn't help but ask, "Why... do you collect these soul beast materials? Is it to sell them to human soul masters so they can hunt more soul beasts?"

Lin Yue noticed the wariness in Xiao Wu's eyes and said softly, "The auction house collects these materials not to encourage hunting soul beasts. On the contrary, we hope to establish a balance between soul beasts and humans—soul beasts can exchange surplus materials for survival resources, and human soul masters can obtain what they need for cultivation through legitimate means, without relying on killing and competition."

Xiao Wu was stunned. Having lived for a hundred thousand years, she had witnessed countless kin die from soul beast hunting and met too many human soul masters who regarded soul beasts as mere weeds. This was the first time she had heard someone propose a "balance between soul beasts and humans." She looked at Lin Yue, her eyes now carrying a hint of scrutiny: "Are you serious? Would human soul masters really be willing to trade with soul beasts instead of directly hunting them?"

"Whether they're willing depends on whether there's enough profit to drive them," Lin Yue said with a smile. "For example, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red you're searching for—this immortal herb has a powerful nourishing effect on soul beasts and immense value for human soul masters. If a soul beast could provide clues about Lovesick Heartbreak Red, or even cultivate it, the auction house could offer resources sufficient for it to live safely—such as talismans to conceal soul beast aura, pills to accelerate cultivation, or even safe zones to fend off human soul master hunters."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up instantly. She sought Lovesick Heartbreak Red not only for her own cultivation but also to protect her kin in the Star Dou Great Forest. If the auction house could truly provide such resources, perhaps the soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest could face less risk of being hunted.

"Then... do you really have information about Lovesick Heartbreak Red?" Xiao Wu asked urgently.

Lin Yue didn't answer directly but instead shifted the topic: "Lovesick Heartbreak Red is extremely rare, and the auction house currently has no specific trace of it. However, we are preparing a 'Soul Beast Resource Exchange Section' and need someone familiar with soul beast habits who can communicate with them to handle related consultations—such as answering human soul masters' questions about soul beast materials, conveying the needs of the soul beast race, and facilitating trade between both sides."

He looked at Xiao Wu, his tone sincere: "I can see you have a deep understanding of soul beasts and a kind heart, so I'd like to invite you to serve as a staff member at the auction house. As compensation, the auction house can provide you with information on soul beast protection, including clues about the Lovesick Heartbreak Red you're seeking. Additionally, you'll receive 10,000 points monthly as a subsidy, which you can use to exchange for low-level soul beast resources in the display cabinets, such as Soft Bone Rabbit Heart Protection Scales, aura-concealing talismans, or even low-level pills that enhance soul power."

Xiao Wu was completely stunned. She had never imagined that coming here just to find clues about Lovesick Heartbreak Red would lead to such an invitation. Becoming a staff member at the auction house would not only grant her access to Lovesick Heartbreak Red clues but also help secure more survival resources for the soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest. For her, this was undoubtedly an extremely tempting proposal.

Yet she also hesitated. After all, she was a soul beast in human form. If her identity were exposed, it would not only invite pursuit from human soul masters but could also bring trouble to her kin in the Star Dou Great Forest. Moreover, she still thought about Tang San, who remained at Nuoding Academy, unsure when she would see him again.

"I... I need to think it over." Xiao Wu bit her lip and spoke honestly. "There are still some things I haven't dealt with, and... I'm not sure I can do this job well."