The Miteer Auction House stood at the end of a street on Wutan City's east side. It occupied an enormous area, rivaling even the city lord's residence. It looked like a giant bowl turned upside down, and its broad entrance seemed like the mouth of a massive beast, endlessly swallowing visitors. Several heavily armed guards with powerful auras stood watch at the entrance, their sharp, eagle-like eyes scanning passersby.
Xiao Yan pointed toward the Miteer Auction House in the distance and said to Gu Shenge, "Brother Juan, that's the Miteer Auction House up ahead."
"But Brother Juan, with your status as a sixth-grade alchemist, all you'd have to do is say what you want, and plenty of people would help you find it. Why come all the way to a small place like Wutan City yourself?"
For a Dou Huang expert and a sixth-grade alchemist like Gu Shenge to come to an auction house in a tiny place like Wutan City to buy something felt downright surreal.
The Miteer Auction House might have the powerful Mittel Family backing it, but that hardly seemed like much to a Dou Huang expert.
Xiao Yan couldn't figure out what the other man wanted to buy. Besides, the Miteer Auction House hadn't announced any rare treasures up for auction.
At that, Gu Shenge replied with an amused smile, "Who said I came to buy something? I came for someone."
"For someone?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan began to ponder. The next moment, his expression changed. If anyone at the Miteer Auction House could be so appealing as to draw a Dou Huang expert there, he could only think of one woman.
He hadn't expected her to be so charming that a Dou Huang expert would come in person.
When the guards at the Miteer Auction House saw Xiao Yan, they all greeted him. The Xiao Clan was now riding high in Wutan City, and the third young master of the Xiao family was close with their manager, like a brother and sister. Naturally, they couldn't afford to slight him.
The auction house's interior was lavishly decorated, glittering with gold and jade.
A maid saw Xiao Yan arrive and went to report his arrival to Ya Fei.
After watching her leave, Xiao Yan pointed to the reception room and said to Gu Shenge, "Brother Juan, let's sit over there for a while. I think the person you're looking for will be here soon."
In the reception room, Xiao Yan dismissed the maid. He poured a cup of fragrant tea for Gu Shenge first, then poured one for himself.
Gu Shenge lifted the cup and took a small sip. The tea's fragrance lingered on his lips. After setting the cup down, he asked Xiao Yan with a smile, "Little Yanzi, what makes you so sure the person I'm looking for is the one you mentioned?"
When Gu Shenge asked him that, Xiao Yan put on an ingratiating smile, a cunning glint flickering in his eyes.
"Brother Juan, how about we make a bet? If it's her, you can give me anything you like. If it's not, you can assign me any task you want. Deal?"
Gu Shenge smiled and shook his head, not taking it too seriously. It was only one item, after all. He might as well play along.
"You've got some nerve, making a play for my things. You look so confident, so I'll take that bet."
"Xiao Yan, what are you betting on? Mind if I join you?"
Suddenly, a sultry, alluring voice rang out. The reception room door swung open, and a mature, beautiful woman with red hair stepped inside.
Her skin was fair and smooth, and her captivating face was lightly made up. A red marking adorned the space between her brows. Her delicate eyebrows framed long, seductive fox eyes that seemed to shimmer with allure. Her nose was as finely sculpted as jade, and her tempting red lips parted as she spoke, making one's heart stir.
A black, sheer qipao hugged her mature, curvaceous figure. Her ample bosom swelled beneath the fabric, and black sleeves covered her long, snow-white arms. A golden sash cinched her slender, supple waist. Embroidered birds adorned the slit hem of her qipao, while matte black stockings sheathed her long, shapely legs. High heels adorned her feet. As she walked, her rounded, pert bottom swayed gently—irresistibly tempting, like an enchantress who stirred the desires in people's hearts.
Seeing Ya Fei, Xiao Yan hurried to his feet and greeted her with a smile. "Sister Ya Fei, you're here. We weren't betting on anything important. Come, let me introduce you. This is my big brother's friend, Juan Shoutian. Don't let the fact that Brother Juan is only three or four years older than me fool you. He's already a Dou Huang expert, and a sixth-grade alchemist too."
Ya Fei nearly lost control of her expression. The smile on her beautiful face froze for a brief moment as she looked at Gu Shenge, disbelief in her eyes. She even wondered if she'd misheard.
This young man in a dazzling gold outfit, who looked barely twenty, was actually a Dou Huang expert—and a sixth-grade alchemist, at that?!
Could that be true?
"Xiao Yan, you're not pulling my leg, are you?"
Ya Fei instinctively asked Xiao Yan. She still found it hard to believe him. After all, a Dou Huang expert under twenty might not exist anywhere in the Jia Ma Empire—or even across the entire Northwest Continent.
Xiao Yan firmly shook his head. Did he look like someone who would joke about this? He turned to Gu Shenge with a grin. "Brother Juan, is Sister Ya Fei the person you're looking for?"
Looking at Xiao Yan, whose face was all smiles but carried a hint of nervousness, Gu Shenge gave a helpless smile. That kid...
A scroll appeared in his hand. He passed it directly to Xiao Yan and said with a smile, "A bet's a bet. This Profound-tier mid-grade Dou Technique is yours."
The Xuan Kong Finger was a Profound-tier mid-grade Dou Technique Gu Shenge had obtained from a Yellow-tier draw. To him, it was nothing but useless.
Xiao Yan hurriedly caught the scroll, his delight growing. This was a Profound-tier mid-grade Dou Technique, a high-level technique the Xiao Clan didn't even have. He couldn't afford to let it get scratched or damaged.
Then he turned to Ya Fei and apologized awkwardly. "Sorry, Sister Ya Fei. Brother Juan and I made a bet just now. I said that if the person who walked in was the one he was looking for, he'd give me anything he liked. Looks like I won."
Though he was apologizing, Ya Fei immediately understood what he meant: Xiao Yan's big brother's friend had come to see her.
Ya Fei had plenty of questions, but her excellent composure kept them from showing. Instead, she playfully scolded Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan, I've been so good to you, and you've gone and sold me out for one Profound-tier mid-grade Dou Technique. You've broken my heart."
"Sister Ya Fei, I won't interrupt you and Brother Juan. Enjoy your conversation."
Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his head. He didn't want to be a third wheel in the reception room, so he sensibly took the technique scroll and slipped away.
When the door closed, Ya Fei looked back at Gu Shenge and studied him. A flicker of admiration crossed her eyes. Over the years, she'd met all sorts of people, but never a man as handsome as the one before her. And his otherworldly, refined air was even more remarkable.
Ya Fei moved to Gu Shenge's side and lowered her rounded, peach-shaped bottom onto a chair. She raised one leg, its shapely form sheathed in matte black stockings, and crossed it over the other. Sitting with her legs crossed, she looked alluring and seductive, captivating the heart. With a smile in her eyes, she asked:
"May I ask why you've come to see me, Young Master? Is there something you need the Miteer Auction House to find for you?"
Gu Shenge set down his teacup and gazed steadily at Ya Fei. His voice was warm and clear, like a spring breeze brushing past her ear.
"I came for nothing else, Miss Ya Fei. I came for you alone."
~
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