Instructions

"All of you, leave!"

After everyone had gone, the woman came to the window alone, her charming, pretty face filled with worry. She stared blankly at the distant sky and murmured softly, "Must I, Mite'er Ya Fei, truly resign myself to fate like this?"

In great noble families, if one was a man, even without any talent for cultivation, at most he would be mocked a little, but he would still never lack food or clothing. The family might even have him take a wife early, so he could produce branches and leaves for the clan in hopes of birthing descendants with outstanding talent.

But it was different for a woman. Without cultivation talent, she was practically merchandise with a clearly marked price, and that price was measured by her looks. The better her appearance, the greater her value. She could be used for a family marriage alliance, or used to win over powerful people.

Ya Fei did not want that. She knew that the comfortable life she had enjoyed since childhood depended on the family, and she was willing to contribute to the family as well, but not in such a way.

The Mite'er Family was a commercial family. Having been immersed in it since childhood, after learning that she had no talent for cultivation, she threw herself wholeheartedly into business and displayed an extremely high talent for commerce, hoping to use this to avoid being sacrificed by the family in the future.

But in the eyes of the family's higher-ups, her outstanding appearance held even greater value. They believed it could bring the family greater benefits.

She was unwilling to accept that, and that was why she had come to Wutan City this time.

"Can a woman in this world not stand on her own if she has no cultivation talent? Must she be at the mercy of others?"

A voice filled with unwillingness and sorrow rang out on the top floor of Mittel Auction House. No one responded, and no one could answer.

After Xiao Bai walked out of Mittel Auction House, he sensed someone watching him. The gaze came from the top floor of Mittel Auction House.

He turned back and looked up, just in time to see two figures, one man and one woman.

Xiao Bai knew that the woman should be Ya Fei. As for the old man, the only person who could stand with her in Mittel Auction House was that Second-Rank Alchemist, Gu Ni.

"What is it, Bai Ge?" Seeing him turn back and look up at something, Xiao Yan asked curiously.

Following his line of sight, he just happened to see a charming, mature figure. He immediately seemed to understand something and teased, "Bai Ge, why don't we go back and have another chat with their boss? Anyway, he wanted to form some kind of good relationship with us just now. Let's see if we can get him to make an introduction and let you two meet?"

Xiao Bai withdrew his gaze and glanced at him, then spat out one word.

"Scram!"

After saying that, he flicked his sleeve and strode off.

"Bai Ge... don't be embarrassed! How about your little brother goes and speaks for you? Bai Ge. Bai Ge, wait for me!" Xiao Yan shouted as he chased after him.

Xiao Bai could not be bothered with this fellow, who had been wearing a shameless, flirtatious look since yesterday, and pretended not to hear as he strode toward the Xiao Clan.

The two returned to the Xiao Clan one after another. Seeing that Xiao Bai did not enter and was instead standing at the main gate, Xiao Yan hurried over and complained, "Bai Ge, why were you walking so fast? If you don't want to go, then don't go. Why run?"

Xiao Bai glanced at him. He was standing here precisely to wait for this fellow. He still had a few things to say.

"Come with me!"

The two went all the way to Xiao Bai's small courtyard. After sitting down beside the stone table in the courtyard, Xiao Bai looked at Xiao Yan and said seriously, "You are not allowed to tell anyone about what happened at the Blacksmith Shop today, including your father. Understand?"

"Why? Now that all the higher-ups of the Jia Lie Family are dead, the Xiao Clan can swallow up all of their businesses in Wutan City right now. As for the Ao Ba Family, with you here, Bai Ge, we're not afraid of them either!"

Xiao Yan was a little confused. He had already been thinking earlier that once they got back, he would tell his father about this so they could devour the Jia Lie Family completely before all sides reacted.

Xiao Bai had known he would do this, which was why he had brought this fellow over first to give him a warning.

"Before your Three-Year Agreement is fulfilled, it isn't suitable for the Xiao Clan to draw too much attention. Don't ask why. Just do as I say!" Xiao Bai waved his hand and said.

He was not making this demand of Xiao Yan without reason. Judging by the current point in time, Yun Shan of the Misty Cloud Sect had definitely already been shaped by the Hall of Souls. At this time, it was not suitable for the Xiao Clan to cause too great a disturbance.

There was nothing wrong with being cautious. That was Xiao Bai's principle in handling matters.

The original work was, after all, a novel, and it had the Protagonist Halo. But now this was reality. He could not blindly rely on the original developments. Who knew whether the timeline would change because of him?

Besides, he also needed time to plan and avoid the Xiao Clan's fate of being destroyed in the original work, so keeping a low profile at this time was not wrong.

The Ao Ba Family had the backing of the Mite'er Family, one of the empire's three great families, so they could not be dealt with like the Jia Lie Family either. At least, not for now.

"Bai Ge, why do you care so much about the Three-Year Agreement? This is my annulment, hey! Not yours!"

Xiao Yan had somewhat sensed that Bai Ge seemed to attach even more importance to that day than he did, and he could not help asking.

Inside the ring, Yao Lao was also a little puzzled. This kid Xiao Bai seemed somewhat wary of the Misty Cloud Sect.

This kid could remain calm and unruffled even in front of him. It was said the Misty Cloud Sect only had one Dou Emperor, so how could it make him so cautious?

"Xiao Bai, kid, do you know something? Say it and let me hear. Perhaps this old man can also help hold the line!"

At this, Yao Lao floated out from the ring and stroked his beard.

He thought that although he was no longer at his peak, with his experience, perhaps he could lend some help.

Xiao Bai rolled his eyes inwardly. Who do you think you are, Chu Bangchang? When the time comes, I'll be thanking the heavens if you don't get sent in.

"There's no need to say much now. Do as I say. When the time comes, you'll know!"

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, the two of them could not keep pressing him.

At this moment, Xiao Bai handed a Storage Ring in his hand to Xiao Yan and said, "Your medicinal ingredients are inside. Take it!"

Xiao Yan took the Storage Ring and recognized it as the one belonging to the Jia Lie Family's Grand Elder, the very one he had personally stripped from that old fellow's hand.

He held it in his hand and played with it for a moment, then sent his soul inside. Sure enough, the medicinal ingredients in those boxes of his were all in there.

After taking them all out, Xiao Yan handed the ring back to Xiao Bai.

But Xiao Bai did not reach out to take it. He waved him off and said, "Keep it yourself. Think of it as a gift for your rebirth!"

Xiao Yan was a little pleasantly surprised, and also a little embarrassed. "Bai Ge, it's too valuable. Isn't this a bit much?"

"It's just a low-grade Storage Ring. It seems precious now, but once you leave the Jia Ma Empire in the future, you'll think this thing is too small to use!"

Xiao Bai said it without the slightest concern. Although he had not had one before today, it truly was not something he considered all that important.

Seeing that Xiao Bai really was giving it to him, Xiao Yan stopped caring whether Xiao Bai was bragging or not. He happily put it on his hand and kept taking those medicinal ingredients in and out, enjoying himself immensely.

"Hehe. Thanks a lot, Bai Ge!" Xiao Yan said, beaming with joy.

"All right, if there's nothing else, hurry up and get lost!" Xiao Bai started chasing him away. He was still eager to try refining pills; how would he have time to watch this brat stand there grinning like an idiot?

"Oh, right, Bai Ge. I heard from my father that Mittel Auction House is holding an auction in a couple of days, and that woman from upstairs today will be hosting it! Are you going?"