Two Men's Wager

An Batian glared furiously at Mu Yuan, but Mu Yuan wasn't the least bit afraid. After all, the Mu Family needed this kind of pill just as much.

Jiamo Lin had no money left to bid, but he could still enjoy the show.

He burst out laughing and said casually, "Clan Chief An, it looks like getting your hands on this pill won't be easy."

Faced with Jiamo Lin's mockery, An Batian could only respond with a hostile glare.

"One million two hundred thousand."

"One million three hundred thousand!"

As soon as An Batian called out his price, Mu Yuan followed right after. He had already sent someone home to notify the elders of his clan.

Mu Yuan was just as determined to get the pill. An Batian was furious, but there was nothing he could do to stop Mu Yuan from continuing to bid.

"One million five hundred thousand!"

An Batian gritted his teeth and raised the price again, a deeper chill flashing through his eyes.

"Clan Chief, we..." The An Family Elder quietly reminded him from the side.

"No matter what, we have to get it. That old bastard has already broken through to Dou Ling. If I can't advance any further, the An Family will sooner or later be swallowed up by that old thief Jiamo Lin."

An Batian's expression was grave. He spoke each word with force, just as determined as ever to claim the pill.

The An Family Elder understood that An Batian was telling the truth and didn't try to dissuade him again.

"One million six hundred thousand!"

An Batian's eyes brimmed with murderous intent as he looked toward the booth beside him. Mu Yuan, who had been timid and deferential just moments ago, now wore no expression at all. His cold eyes met An Batian's sharp gaze.

"One million eight hundred thousand!"

An Batian gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, then called out a price he was loath to pay, his heart full of frustration.

An Yun and the An Family Elder stared wide-eyed. Were they trying to bankrupt themselves?

One million five hundred thousand was barely acceptable, but one million eight hundred thousand was already beyond what the An Family could afford.

The spectators on the first floor were dumbfounded when they heard that a single pill had reached a price of one million eight hundred thousand. At the same time, they gained a new understanding of the three great families' strength.

Mu Yuan had been planning to keep bidding when an elder of the Mu Family rushed in. He whispered something into Mu Yuan's ear, and Mu Yuan looked astonished—though more than anything, he seemed unable to believe it.

"Did you explain it clearly to Father? This is..."

"I explained it clearly. The clan chief said he doesn't believe a pill like this exists."

After hearing the elder report what his father had said, Mu Yuan felt an inexplicable urge to laugh.

An Batian seemed to notice the change in Mu Yuan's expression. At last, a smug smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

Mu Yuan had no choice. He looked at the pill in Liu Ya's hand, then turned to see An Batian's triumphant, self-satisfied expression. He let out a long sigh, a feeling of helplessness washing over him.

Perhaps the Mu Family no longer had any place in Maple Forest City. Mu Yuan was unwilling to accept it, but he flung his sleeve and left.

Mu Yuan's departure heralded An Batian's victory. After confirming it repeatedly, Liu Ya finally declared that the Breakthrough Pill belonged to the An Family.

The auction ended. With a maid leading the way, Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian arrived at a guest room far more luxurious than the reception room they had just been in.

Once the maid had left and only she and Li Xingluo remained in the room, Xiao Yi Xian finally voiced the question she had been keeping to herself. She couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Xing Luo, why did you let him have that blueprint? You seemed to care a lot about it."

"Do you believe he'll bring it to us himself?"

"What?" Xiao Yi Xian could hardly believe what she had just heard. Who would buy something only to give it back?

Li Xingluo smiled when he saw that Xiao Yi Xian didn't believe him.

So he proposed a bet. "How about we make a wager?"

"A wager? What are we betting on?"

"We'll bet that he'll bring it back. If I win, you have to teach me how to use poison."

"And what if you lose?"

Li Xingluo thought it over, then smiled. "Well, you can decide."

Xiao Yi Xian hadn't expected Li Xingluo to leave that question for her to answer. For a moment, she genuinely couldn't think of anything.

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian earnestly pondering the question with a silly look on her face, Li Xingluo burst out laughing. "If you can't think of anything yet, save it for when you do. But you're definitely going to lose."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded slightly. As the two chatted and laughed, the door creaked open.

Compared to the coquettish way she had carried herself at the auction, Liu Ya now seemed far more demure. The alluring air was gone, replaced by a pure and innocent charm.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, honored guests." Liu Ya entered the room as she apologized.

Li Xingluo put down his teacup, still speaking in the unfathomable tone of an old man.

"Not at all!"

Liu Ya stopped in front of Li Xingluo and offered him a gold card with both hands. "This is a gold card from the Aus Auction House. From now on, you can use it to enter any Aus auction hall in the Chuyun Empire. You'll also enjoy a thirty percent discount on auction fees."

Li Xingluo took the gold card Liu Ya offered him. So this was a VIP card. It was pretty nice. He just didn't quite understand why a single auction had earned him a VIP card with a thirty percent discount.

"After deducting the fees, all of your auction proceeds have been transferred to this gold card."

"Thank you for the trouble." Li Xingluo gave Liu Ya a brief reply, then stood up.

"You're too kind." Seeing that Li Xingluo was about to leave, Liu Ya made a respectful "please" gesture and led the way.

"We welcome you back anytime!" Liu Ya bowed slightly to Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian. The sight left the people coming and going through the auction hall bewildered.

The Aus Auction House was the largest auction house in the Chuyun Empire. Even the three great families of Maple Forest City showed Liu Ya a measure of respect.

Yet she was treating this pair, dressed in black robes with their faces hidden, with such deference. Everyone began to speculate.

The smile on Liu Ya's face slowly faded. A cloud seemed to settle over her features, and her lovely eyes grew heavy as she watched Li Xingluo's retreating back.

"They've gone far away!"

"My lord!"

"You've worked hard all these years in Maple Forest City. Don't worry, I'll report everything truthfully."

Looking back at An Li's retreating figure, she wondered, What's gotten into him? He's never praised me all these years. Why today?

After leaving the auction hall, Xiao Yi Xian looked back and saw that Liu Ya was still standing at the entrance, watching them go.

Xiao Yi Xian teased him. "Li Xingluo, I think Liu Ya from the auction house has a crush on you. Why don't you stay here?"

Li Xingluo had never expected Xiao Yi Xian to say something like that. He stopped without thinking, looking at her with a hint of embarrassment.

That was true. Although Xiao Yi Xian had already experienced some pain, it was nothing compared to the events of the next few years and the damage they would do to her heart. For now, she was more mischievous than troubled by heavy thoughts.

Even after leaving the auction hall, Li Xingluo didn't remove his disguise. Xiao Yi Xian didn't understand; they had already gone quite a distance from the auction house.

Still, she supported whatever Li Xingluo wanted to do, and knew he wouldn't act this way without a reason.

Besides, Li Xingluo seemed to be deliberately slowing his pace, as if waiting for someone. Every now and then, he glanced sideways. Sure enough, after they had turned down two streets, Xiao Yi Xian spotted someone following them.

Li Xingluo gave a slight nod to show that he had noticed too.

Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian quickened their pace and arrived at a dilapidated courtyard. They exchanged a glance, then turned and went inside.

The two people hiding in the shadows soon saw several figures hurry into the courtyard in the moonlight.

"Where are they? Didn't they go into the courtyard?"

From her hiding place, Xiao Yi Xian got a clear look at the newcomer. Wasn't that An Yun, the man who had competed with Li Xingluo for the blueprint?

An Family disciples followed behind him. Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help looking up at Li Xingluo, but he only grinned.