The Poison Master

Deacon Han felt that things were taking a turn for the worse; the young man had been perfectly fine just a moment ago, yet now he was in this state.

"Are you Poison Masters?"

Hearing the words "Poison Master" spill from Deacon Han's lips, the youth's stiffened face could not express emotion, so he could only use his rolling eyeballs to convey his shock.

"Poison... Master?"

Li Xingluo slowly rose and walked to the youth's side, his cold gaze fixed upon him. The youth, already unable to move, felt the full weight of Li Xingluo's stare.

He could only attempt to use his elder to threaten Li Xingluo: "Boy, do you know who I am?"

"I don't care who you are. Now that you've fallen into my hands, you're still acting so arrogant. It seems you've grown accustomed to bullying the weak. Perhaps today, this old man should teach you a proper lesson."

Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, Deacon Han hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Honored guests, please calm your anger. You two may not be aware, but this young master is the grandson of Elder Liu, whom you are looking for."

"Deacon Han, if I were you, I would know what to do right now, rather than standing here introducing who he is to me."

Li Xingluo swept a cold glance over Deacon Han. Deacon Han gasped, looked at the youth, and then, at a loss for what to do, scrambled out of the room in a panic.

The youth watched helplessly as Deacon Han fled in disarray, his stiff face contorting into an expression of sheer terror.

"I advise you to let me go, or when my grandfather arrives, he will certainly make you pay!"

Li Xingluo ignored him entirely, sat back down in his chair, and twirled the black ring on his finger, projecting an air of so what if your grandfather comes?

Seeing Li Xingluo so calm and composed, Xiao Yi Xian felt the unease in her heart begin to fade.

Before long, footsteps echoed from the corridor outside, drawing closer until they stopped at the door of their room.

Li Xingluo caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye: a man who looked sharp and capable, with a calm expression, stood at the doorway, followed by the panting Deacon Han.

The newcomer first swept a glance at the youth, then slowly walked into the room, carefully sizing up Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian. Li Xingluo remained calm, showing not a hint of panic.

Deacon Han, acting like a sycophant, introduced the man with great reverence: "The two of you, this is the Second Elder of our Aus Auction House."

Li Xingluo listened to the introduction, but the reaction he had expected from Deacon Han did not manifest.

As Liu Yuntian sized up Li Xingluo, Li Xingluo was also observing Liu Yuntian, who had begun exerting pressure the moment he stepped into the room.

Liu Yuntian discovered that the Dou Qi pressure he was exerting on Li Xingluo caused the other party no discomfort at all, which caused him to hold Li Xingluo in higher regard.

"Friend, I heard you wished to see me. Now that I am here, could you please release my grandson first?"

Liu Yuntian paused for a moment, seemingly feeling it wasn't enough, and added: "Please forgive any offense my grandson may have caused you two."

So, if applying pressure doesn't make the other party submit, you just change your tune? Li Xingluo thought to himself.

If he didn't still need to purchase some items, Li Xingluo would not have agreed so easily.

Li Xingluo gave a slight nod to Xiao Yi Xian. She understood immediately, stood up, raised her hand slightly, and then sat back down. The youth tried moving his arm.

The youth, having regained his freedom, did not reflect on his actions; instead, he immediately began complaining to Liu Yuntian.

Li Xingluo couldn't help but shake his head. Is this child a fool? And you, Liu Yuntian, are sitting in a chair too.

"Grandfather, I have been bullied like this! You must seek justice for me!"

Liu Yuntian did not coddle him, instead sternly rebuking him: "Xiao Li, don't think I don't know that you rely on your status to bully others. I think what happened today is a good thing; it will prevent you from causing even greater trouble in the future because of your ignorance."

Liu Yuntian's words made Li Xingluo think a little better of him, though Liu Li's next words made Li Xingluo cast a cold glance at Deacon Han.

"Grandfather, I heard someone was looking for trouble with you. You know how many people have been causing you trouble over the years; who knows if they are..."

Struck by Li Xingluo's sudden, sharp glare, Deacon Han instinctively avoided his piercing gaze.

It was as if his true intentions had been seen through. Every move Deacon Han made was captured by Li Xingluo; it seemed there might be someone in the Aus Auction House playing both sides.

Li Xingluo signaled to Liu Yuntian with his peripheral vision. The clever Liu Yuntian quickly understood what Li Xingluo was implying and ordered Deacon Han to go out and attend to other guests.

"May I ask what business you two friends have with me?"

Li Xingluo took Liu Ya's letter from his storage ring and handed it over. Liu Yuntian signaled for Liu Li to take the letter. Liu Li reluctantly took it from Li Xingluo's hand.

He handed it to Liu Yuntian in a huff and sat down in a nearby chair.

As Liu Yuntian unfolded the letter, his brows furrowed deeper with every line. Liu Li, who had been mindlessly eating snacks, saw his grandfather's deep frown, put down his snack, and asked with concern.

"Grandfather... what is wrong?"

Liu Yuntian slowly closed the letter, tears welling up in his eyes uncontrollably. This sudden scene left Liu Li shocked.

"What did you do to my grandfather?" Liu Li shouted accusingly.

Liu Li's attitude actually earned a bit of favor from Li Xingluo; although he was arrogant, he was clearly very filial.

Li Xingluo watched as Liu Yuntian secretly wiped away the tears, his voice sounding slightly aged.

"Xiao Li, do not be rude!"

"Grandfather..." Liu Li did not understand why Liu Yuntian was acting this way; in the past, he would have defended him.

Liu Li sat down, pouting and sulking—there wasn't a shred of masculine spirit in his demeanor.

Liu Yuntian put the letter away, stood up, and bowed to Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian.

This action left Liu Li even more bewildered; he widened his eyes in disbelief and rubbed them, as if what he was seeing couldn't possibly be real.

"This old man thanks you both!"

Seeing Liu Yuntian perform such a grand salute, Li Xingluo, though unaware of the letter's contents, acknowledged the man as an elder and rose to return the gesture, signaling Xiao Yi Xian to do the same.

Xiao Yi Xian understood immediately, responding with a blink of her eyes.

"Grandfather, are you alright? Why are you bowing to them?"

A look of frustration at his descendant's lack of insight hung on Liu Yuntian's face, and he did not bother to answer Liu Li's question.

"Elder Liu, there is no need for such formalities."

"I will immediately arrange for the items you require to be prepared, though it will take some time."

Hearing this, Li Xingluo realized that Liu Ya must have mentioned his requirements in the letter, so he did not stand on unnecessary ceremony.

"Then many thanks, Elder Liu. May I ask how long it will take?"

"It will take approximately three days to prepare."

"Three days?" Li Xingluo could not help but lower his head and mutter to himself.

Liu Yuntian chuckled and said, "As it happens, there is an auction the day after tomorrow that might interest you both."

"Uh..." Seeing Liu Yuntian so certain, Li Xingluo figured he must have some reason for his confidence.

"As an elder of the auction house, I shouldn't disclose items before they go under the hammer, but since you are friends of Ya, it is a different matter."

Liu Yuntian maintained his smile and continued, "The day after tomorrow, there will be a Profound Tier Intermediate Dou Technique that is suitable for a Poison Master to cultivate."