When You're Out and About, Your Status Is What You Make It

"This is...?!"

Ya Fei opened the bag, catching sight of the dozens of Storage Rings inside, and took a rough inventory of their contents.

Her long, narrow, peach-blossom eyes widened slightly, filled with a shock and gravity that could not be described!

The rings were packed with a vast quantity of Huang-tier Dou Techniques, several Xuan-tier manuals, a pile of first and second-grade medicinal pills, and a multitude of herbs!

To her experienced eyes, these items were not particularly rare.

However, the sheer volume was clearly not something an individual could have accumulated.

It had to have come from an entire clan!

Connecting this to recent events, the answer was already on the tip of her tongue.

She placed the bag of Storage Rings back onto the table, slowly pushed it toward him, and said softly:

"Little brother Xiao Yuan, I heard that the Jialie Clan was wiped out some time ago. These things must have come from them, right?"

"Who knows?"

Xiao Yuan shrugged, then shifted his tone.

"If I were to say 'yes,' would Miss Ya Fei refuse these items?"

Ya Fei did not answer, instead locking eyes with Xiao Yuan's clear, bright gaze, as if trying to discern something within them or waiting for his inner voice to sound.

Regrettably, she heard no inner voice, nor did she see the slightest ripple in those eyes.

There was only a stillness as deep as an ancient well, like a bottomless, secluded pool.

This reaction was distinctly different from the shy, nervous youth she had known before.

To be so young and yet possess such profound depth...

"Miss Ya Fei, may I have your answer?"

"..."

Ya Fei remained silent.

But her gaze had already settled on the pouch of Storage Rings.

Honestly, she was tempted.

If she could sell these items, she could end this boring exile early and return to the main family in the Jia Ma Holy City.

But if handled poorly, it would undoubtedly lead to significant trouble.

After all, this involved a destroyed clan, and the identity of that Dou Wang remained a mystery.

If the Mittal Auction House were to get entangled in this, the Wutan City branch would likely be unable to maintain its footing.

Ya Fei hesitated for a moment before finally making her decision.

"Little brother Xiao Yuan, before I give you my answer, there is something I need to confirm—"

"What is your relationship with the powerhouse who wiped out the Jialie Clan?"

As the words left her lips, Ya Fei stared at him without blinking, watching for the slightest change in his expression.

Xiao Yuan's mind raced in that instant.

It's here, it's here. I knew you'd ask this. This is the perfect opportunity to establish my identity!

After all, when you're out in the world, you define your own status!

But the question is, what kind of identity should I set up?

Should I make up some super-powerful hidden sect backing me?

Or should I pretend to be my own master?

If it's the former, I don't even know if such things exist on the Dou Qi Continent, but the latter is too weak.

A mere nine-star Dou Wang.

If only the strength I displayed back then had been a nine-star Dou Huang or a Dou Zong; then I could definitely walk sideways through the Jia Ma Holy City...

Xiao Yuan ultimately chose to remain silent, maintaining his smile and letting Ya Fei guess for herself.

Ya Fei, however, had already come to her own conclusion, lowering her eyes to look at the rings in the cloth bag once more.

Though she appeared calm, a storm was raging in her heart!

The Dou Wang who appeared that night was actually this fourteen-year-old boy sitting right before her!

She knew full well that this was not Xiao Yuan's own strength—he must have utilized some secret technique—but to wield the power of a Dou Wang at such a young age was already earth-shattering!

"It seems I still underestimated you, little brother."

Ya Fei murmured to herself, her voice audible only to her.

She then reached out and gripped the cloth bag on the table.

Her movements were resolute, as if she had made a definitive choice in her heart.

"Alright, little brother, I won't make things difficult for you. I will help you handle the items in this bag, but only this once. Consider it a favor I am bestowing upon you."

This was the purpose behind her choice to meet with Xiao Yuan.

She hoped to establish a connection with him.

A fourteen-year-old Great Dou Shi—such talent would be considered a heaven-sent prodigy even in the Jia Ma Holy City.

Anyone would likely find it hard to resist the urge to befriend such a person.

Especially since she was a woman.

A woman without cultivation talent, yet possessing outstanding beauty.

If she could build a good relationship with him and secure his protection for the rest of her life, that would be the best possible outcome.

But Xiao Yuan's next words shocked her once again.

"However, Miss Ya Fei, I do not wish for this to be the last transaction between us."

"Are you saying, little brother, that you intend to strike at the Aoba Clan again? Take a piece of advice from your big sister: it is best not to do such things again. You cannot handle the consequences, little brother. While the Xiao Clan has great influence in Wutan City and our Mittal Auction House is a titan in its own right, such actions would ultimately tarnish our auction house's reputation..."

Ya Fei rested her cheek on one hand, her fingertips tracing the rim of her cup, her tone somewhat nonchalant.

However, the refusal within her words was quite clear.

Xiao Yuan shook his head and said:

"Miss Ya Fei, I am well aware that this would affect the reputation of the Mittal Auction House, which is precisely why I want to discuss this deal with you."

He placed special emphasis on the word "you," causing Ya Fei to look up and study him once more.

"Little brother, what do you mean by that?"

"The meaning is simple: this is an opportunity. I will have many enemies in the future, and they will be powerful. There will be no shortage of spoils like these, so I need someone to help me dispose of them."

Killing people and seizing their goods was a common occurrence in any fantasy world.

Yet, disposing of the spoils was a significant challenge.

One careless move could attract even more enemies, much like Xiao Yan in the original story, who invited no small amount of trouble because of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement.

"So, little brother Xiao Yuan has chosen me?"

"Mhm."

Xiao Yuan nodded, flashing a naive, innocent smile that matched his age.

After all, you are a member of the Mittal Family from the Jia Ma Holy City, and it seems you are even from the main branch.

It is just a pity that your cultivation talent is too poor. No matter how skilled you are in business, you will never be truly valued by the family, otherwise you wouldn't have been relegated to a small place like Wutan City.

But achieving results would be different; it could consolidate your status within the family.

And I would have a place to dispose of these items that are difficult to sell.

This is a win-win situation; anyone who isn't a fool would know how to choose.

If she refuses an opportunity like this, then she deserves to be bullied by that elder named Leio three years from now.

Hearing these inner thoughts of Xiao Yuan, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

She had not expected this little brother to know so much about her, even being clear about her family affairs.

But most importantly, this little genius of the Xiao Clan seemed to be able to foresee the future.

Although she did not know how he managed it, if what he said was true, she would truly have to give this some serious consideration.

In the brief span of a few moments, the two sitting opposite each other harbored their own thoughts, each with their own hidden agenda.