Auction House

Less than a week later.

Clatter, clatter!

The carriage horses came to a stop! After a brief jolt, the carriage stopped as well.

"We're finally here, right?"

It was Jiang Nannan's first time riding in a carriage for so long. Her pretty little face was full of relief. If they had not paid for it, she would have wanted to walk instead.

After getting down, she twisted her waist and complained, "I'm never riding one of these again. It shook me half to death."

"Mm, we're here."

Tang Ya's foot had fully recovered over the past few days. She had put on her black stockings and short boots again. Sitting elegantly, she leaned her head out to take a look, then nodded.

Jiang Mu got out of the carriage as well and took in the sight of Shrek.

"It really is lively."

There were quite a lot of people. After all, it was the continent's number one academy, and Shrek City, which had developed around it, was naturally packed with people.

It was Jiang Nannan's first time traveling so far. By normal standards, it was Jiang Mu's first time as well, but he did not show much of a reaction.

However, Jiang Nannan did not have such a strong heart. Traveling far from home for the first time made her somewhat worried, so she asked Jiang Mu, the pillar of support in her heart.

"By the way, where are we going now?"

"I'll take you to consign the Soul Bone for auction first?"

"Shrek Academy has been recruiting students recently, so there are a lot of people around. Auctions are being held one after another too."

Tang Ya gave them her idea. She believed that if they consigned it now, it could be sold that night or tomorrow.

Jiang Nannan did not agree immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Jiang Mu. She wanted to see what her little brother thought.

Jiang Mu nodded in agreement.

"Let's do that. But we don't know where to go."

"Come on, I'll lead the way."

Tang Ya had returned to her lively, youthful, girlish self. She skipped along in front as she led the way.

Jiang Nannan watched her.

No matter how she looked at it, this appearance did not match the sect master from before, who bore a deep grudge and wanted to restore her sect. She was completely like a little girl, even less mature and dependable than him.

"Is this reliable?"

The moment Jiang Mu heard that, he understood what Jiang Nannan was thinking.

"Sigh, being simple-minded is better than being full of bad intentions. At least she has no schemes. Easy to fool."

Yet for some reason, after hearing that, Jiang Nannan turned her eyes toward Jiang Mu and quietly teased him.

"Hehe, yes, yes. Simple-minded and easy to fool. Maybe tomorrow she'll be tricked away by you."

"Nannan, are you jealous?"

"Yes, I'm jealous!"

"You already took my first time, yet you're still thinking about other women. I'm telling Mom!"

Jiang Mu had merely been joking, but his eyes instantly widened at those words.

"Please, you were the one who came onto me. It wasn't me who took it, and it was only a kiss."

Jiang Nannan crossed her arms, not believing there was anything wrong with what she had said. "Then say it properly. Was it your first time or not?"

"Then say the whole thing! It's really easy to misunderstand!"

"Tch~"

Jiang Nannan shook her little head, still angry.

"What are you two doing back there? Hurry and catch up. We're almost at the auction house."

Tang Ya, who was ahead of them, found it strange that the siblings kept falling behind.

"Coming."

Jiang Mu took Jiang Nannan's hand, preventing her from saying any more nonsense, and quickly caught up.

Tang Ya saw this and smiled, teasing them, "Hehe, you siblings are really close. You're even holding hands."

Jiang Mu nodded. "Mm, Sister Nannan likes sticking to me."

Tang Ya was stunned when she heard that. Were they sure they were siblings? Not brother and sister?

"Hmph."

Jiang Nannan did not refute him. She merely gave a soft hum, looking adorable. She really did like sticking to Jiang Mu.

After all, he was the little brother their mother had picked up. If Jiang Nannan did not take care of him, who would?

Was she supposed to let other women cling to him?

"Uh, alright."

Seeing this, Tang Ya stared at their joined hands for a moment, then glanced at Jiang Mu's face before withdrawing her gaze. A look of regret and disappointment appeared on her face.

Before long, they successfully arrived at the auction house.

Jiang Mu nodded as he looked at the towering, bustling auction house. Although it was only a thousand-year Soul Bone, it should still fetch a considerable price.

And who knew? Maybe a few suckers at the auction would start competing and insist on buying it.

"Come on, come on. I'll take you there."

They still needed Tang Ya to lead the way to consign the item. Tang Ya had sold several Tang Sect hidden weapons before, though no major powers came to her for orders anymore.

Still, compared to Soul Tools, ordinary people could use hidden weapons too. That was their advantage. There were always a few nobles with poor Martial Souls and no Soul Power who wanted some means of self-defense, so they could still be sold. She was considered a regular at auction houses.

The place was nearby. With the token, they successfully reached the backstage area.

Click.

They pushed the door open and saw several people inside the appraisal room.

One of them wore glasses and was clearly the appraiser. Beside him stood a young man wearing Shrek Academy's uniform.

Hearing the sound, both men turned around at the same time, and their expressions froze simultaneously. They seemed to know one another.

The bespectacled appraiser was the first to react, chuckling.

"Oh my, is the Tang Sect Master planning to auction hidden weapons?"

Tang Ya stepped forward.

"Mm, I'm not auctioning hidden weapons today. I'm helping a friend auction something."

"Oh, what is it?"

Before he could ask further, Tang Ya took out the Soul Bone.

"A thousand-year Soul Bone?"

This was an auction house in Spirit City. A thousand-year Soul Bone was not enough to make his jaw drop; he merely raised an eyebrow.

"Tang Ya, where did you get this Soul Bone? Did you find it while absorbing your third Soul Ring?"

From his reaction earlier, it was obvious that the young man knew Tang Ya. Seeing her take it out, he could not help asking.

But it did not sound like an ordinary question. It sounded more like he was looking down on her, his tone filled with disdain.

Tang Ya could not be bothered to answer him and simply nodded to the appraiser.

"Mm."

"Alright. Same old rule: the auction house takes ten percent of the sale."

Jiang Mu, who stood beside her, did not say anything.

The commission was fairly reasonable. It was neither especially high nor especially low.

However, the young man had clearly felt ignored by Tang Ya's refusal to acknowledge him, losing face in the process. He immediately flew into a rage, pointed at Tang Ya, and roared!

"Tang Ya, don't treat me like I'm Bei Bei and give me that attitude! If it weren't for Bei Bei, I wouldn't even bother greeting you!"

"Hm?"

Only then did Jiang Mu truly pay attention to him.

He turned to look at the young man. He knew Bei Bei, looked down on Tang Ya, and was about this age. Could he be Xu Sanshi?

Known by the nickname Pill Deliveryman.

"Xu Sanshi, you were the one who spoke to me first. Do I have to respond to everyone who talks to me?"

Tang Ya refused to back down. She raised her chin and retorted.

"Besides, weren't your words dripping with contempt for me? Saying you only did it for Bei Bei's sake—when Bei Bei was around, you never held back from criticizing me either. Who are you trying to fool, acting all high and mighty? Hypocrite."