Ya Fei

"This is beyond your ability. Go and call Ya Fei out."

Xie Tianxiao spoke indifferently.

"I'm afraid you may not know, sir, but Miss Ya Fei has been busy preparing for the upcoming auction and likely has no time to meet with you."

The middle-aged steward was startled by his words, then looked at Xie Tianxiao with a bitter smile.

Though he did not know Xie Tianxiao's exact identity, judging by his bearing, he was surely no ordinary person. Otherwise, he would not have directly asked him to summon Ya Fei.

However, Ya Fei was in charge of this auction house. As an ordinary steward, how could he dare disturb Miss Ya Fei? He could only speak helplessly to Xie Tianxiao.

"It seems you're quite confident?"

As if he had expected this outcome, Xie Tianxiao flipped his palm, and a jade-green medicinal pill emitting an enticing fragrance appeared in his hand.

"This is... a medicinal pill!"

Upon seeing the pill in Xie Tianxiao's hand, the middle-aged steward's eyes widened as he stared at him in astonishment.

"Do you have time now?"

Xie Tianxiao did not answer the man's question and simply spoke.

"My apologies, sir. Since you wish to auction a medicinal pill, please wait a moment. I'll immediately invite Master Gu Ni from the auction house to appraise it."

Recovering his senses, the middle-aged steward quickly bowed to Xie Tianxiao. Before Xie Tianxiao could reply, he hurried out of the appraisal pavilion.

"."

Watching the middle-aged man's rapidly departing back, Xie Tianxiao's mouth twitched.

If he had to describe what he was thinking at that moment, it would surely be three question marks.

Before long.

The middle-aged man returned with an elderly man in green robes and white hair.

When the old man saw Xie Tianxiao, a trace of surprise appeared on his face.

He had thought that anyone bringing medicinal pills to sell in Wutan City would be some clan elder. He had not expected him to be a young man in his twenties.

"Sir, this is Master Gu Ni." The middle-aged steward bowed.

"Hurry up and leave."

Xie Tianxiao waved his hand, urging the middle-aged man away.

The middle-aged steward froze for a moment, unable to understand what was going on.

Yet he did not dare delay and immediately withdrew.

"May I ask what medicinal pill this gentleman wishes to have appraised?"

After the old man known as Master Gu Ni approached Xie Tianxiao, he cupped his hands and asked.

The old man's face was ruddy, and a trace of undisguised pride rested upon his otherwise ordinary features.

Though his green robes appeared plain, a faint glow flowed across them. They had clearly been enhanced with some form of magical crystal protection.

And that was something every alchemist needed.

"Gu Ni, right? There's no need for you to appraise it. This is a fourth-tier Gathering Qi Powder, enough to open your eyes."

After Xie Tianxiao spoke indifferently, the emerald-green Gathering Qi Powder in his hand slowly floated toward Gu Ni.

"Gathering Qi Powder?"

Gu Ni raised his brows. Though he disliked Xie Tianxiao's tone somewhat, he still accepted the pill and began examining it.

A moment later.

As Gu Ni stared at the pill in his hand, wild delight rose in his eyes. He looked at Xie Tianxiao excitedly. "It really is a fourth-tier Gathering Qi Powder!"

"Sir, no, my lord, you..."

Gathering Qi Powder was a fourth-tier medicinal pill.

Though its only effect was to guarantee that someone at the ninth stage of Dou Qi could successfully condense a Dou Qi vortex, refining such a pill required at least a fourth-tier alchemist!

No one in Wutan City could produce such a thing. Though Gu Ni could not see whether Xie Tianxiao was an alchemist himself.

Anyone who could bring out Gathering Qi Powder for trade could not possibly belong to an ordinary clan or faction!

"Do you think you can make this decision? Go call Ya Fei out."

Xie Tianxiao gave Gu Ni an indifferent glance, then continued sitting to one side.

Ya Fei?

Gu Ni froze, but quickly came to his senses. He respectfully bent at the waist and bowed. "Then please wait a moment, my lord. This old man will go summon Ya Fei at once."

Hearing this, Xie Tianxiao said nothing further and merely waved his hand.

He was already running out of patience. If she were not the female lead, he would not have wasted his time here.

Gu Ni turned and left the appraisal pavilion, hurrying toward Ya Fei's residence.

Inside a private room at the auction house.

Gu Ni pushed open the door and hurriedly said to the woman in red seated within, "Niece Ya Fei, quickly, come with me to meet an important person."

"Oh? Uncle Gu Ni, it's you. What happened? What has made you so flustered?"

Ya Fei, dressed in red, raised her head. Upon seeing Gu Ni, a trace of confusion appeared on her pretty face.

Gu Ni was a second-tier alchemist with a distinguished status. There were very few people in Wutan City whom he would call an important person.

"Sigh, an important person has arrived at the appraisal pavilion. He produced a fourth-tier Gathering Qi Powder right away and specifically asked for you to handle the transaction. I did not dare neglect him, so I hurried over to find you." Gu Ni gave a bitter smile.

"A fourth-tier Gathering Qi Powder!"

After hearing Gu Ni's words, Ya Fei could not help but feel startled. Her delicate brows lightly furrowed as she asked, "There is no such person in Wutan City. Uncle Gu Ni, are you sure you did not see wrongly?"

"I find it strange as well. I don't know where this person came from, but I can guarantee that it is Gathering Qi Powder." Gu Ni shook his head, his tone utterly certain.

After some thought, Ya Fei stood. "In that case, Uncle Gu Ni, let us hurry over."

"So we do not offend him and bring unnecessary trouble upon the clan."

"Alright."

Gu Ni did not delay. He led Ya Fei toward the appraisal pavilion.

Appraisal Pavilion.

When Xie Tianxiao saw Gu Ni enter with a woman in red, he set down his teacup and raised his head to look over.

A bewitching charm lingered upon the woman's faintly smiling, lovely face. She wore a magnificent and exquisitely tailored crimson noble gown that perfectly outlined her alluring curves.

The section of dazzlingly fair, long legs exposed beneath her skirt stirred a burning impulse in one's heart.

A silver sash was tied around her slender, willow-like waist, bringing its delicate contours into perfect relief.

"Hehe, you must be the esteemed sir who brought out the Gathering Qi Powder. I presume you are not from Wutan City."

A fragrant breeze wafted over, accompanied by a soft, charming laugh that sent a numbing sensation through Xie Tianxiao's ears.

So this is Ya Fei. In certain respects, she truly is extraordinary...

Xie Tianxiao could not help inwardly sighing as he looked at Ya Fei, but his expression remained calm as he replied, "The Gathering Qi Powder was indeed made by me."

"But as I recall, this auction house does not have a habit of inquiring into its guests' identities."

Beautiful though she was, Xie Tianxiao could not lose his bearing because of this woman.

He still had to maintain the proper style.

"Hehe... From your tone, my lord, have I done something to offend you?"

"Ya Fei apologizes to you here."

Ya Fei froze for a moment, then gave a radiant smile, looking utterly pitiful and endearing.

Thank you to brother [Wangsheng Shuxia] for the 100 book-coin reward, and thank you all for your recommendation votes.

Let me mention that the author is rather busy from Tuesday to Saturday, so updates will be slower. I hope all readers can be understanding.

Also, would you prefer Qing Lin to be taken in as a younger sister—an adopted younger sister—or as a maid? This concerns later developments, so readers who have made it to this chapter, please leave a comment so I can decide.