Why Was He Suddenly Holding Me After Ignoring Me Before?

The next morning, Qing Yanjing slowly woke up. Thinking of everything that had happened yesterday, a strange blush spread across her lovely face beneath the veil.

She had actually been forcefully kissed by her own disciple, and she had not pushed him away immediately!

Was she really that lonely?

Qing Yanjing raised her hand and looked at her fair, delicate jade-like fingers, her gaze slightly dazed.

As the Buddha Goddess, she had always kept to herself within the Buddha Ancient Clan, devoting herself to the study of spiritual arrays. Had her father not died unexpectedly and the First Elder plotted against her, she would never have left to train outside.

Yet she had never expected such a calamity to occur. Her whereabouts had been betrayed, she had been hunted by the Extraterritorial Evil Clan, her breakthrough had failed, and she had become crippled.

Surrounded by beasts in utter despair, if Meng Chen had not "summoned" her, she likely would have met a grim end.

She would forever remember the debt of saving her life.

But in the end, they were master and disciple. Even if Meng Chen had only acknowledged her as his master for a single day, that fact could not be changed.

Qing Yanjing lowered her eyes, her crimson lips parting as she sighed. "Sigh... fate truly toyed with people..."

If that had happened even one day earlier, she would never have accepted Meng Chen as her disciple.

But now that it was done, she had to recognize her own position. She could not continue making mistake after mistake.

Qing Yanjing pushed open the door and stepped outside.

She arrived at Meng Chen's courtyard, but could not sense his aura. She immediately summoned the steward.

"Where is Chen'er?"

The steward replied, "Madam, the young master went to the Mittel Auction House."

The Mittel Auction House?

Upon hearing the name, Qing Yanjing's brows knitted slightly.

Why had he gone there so early in the morning? Could he be looking for that woman?!

The moment she thought of that seductive woman at the auction who loved flaunting her figure, an inexplicable dislike rose in Qing Yanjing's heart.

Yet Qing Yanjing was also somewhat confused.

She did not consider herself a harsh person, so why would she feel that way toward another woman for no reason?

"I understand. When Chen'er returns, have him come see me."

Qing Yanjing gave the order coldly. The steward acknowledged it and respectfully withdrew.

At the same time, at the Mittel Auction House.

"Young Master Meng, have you used up those herbs already?"

Yafei looked at Meng Chen in surprise. He had only collected the herbs yesterday. It had only been a day—wasn't that consumption rate far too fast?

Meng Chen lifted a cup of fragrant tea, blew on it, and nodded lightly at Yafei. "Yes. Please prepare another five portions according to yesterday's amount, Miss Yafei."

Upon hearing this, Yafei suppressed her surprise, replacing it with a troubled expression.

"Young Master Meng, it is not that I do not wish to sell them to you. The auction house simply does not have that much stock. Gathering five portions at once will take some time."

"Fine. Give me however many portions you have first. As for the rest, send them to my place once you have gathered them."

Meng Chen did not make things difficult for Yafei. She smiled sweetly and immediately had a maid prepare the medicinal ingredients.

Suddenly, another maid hurried into the reception room and quietly reported into Yafei's ear, "Miss Yafei, that old gentleman has arrived."

Yafei's beautiful eyes lit up. Rising to her feet, she apologized to Meng Chen, "Young Master Meng, my apologies. An honored guest has arrived—the most important guest of our Mittel Auction House. Please excuse me."

"The most important guest of the Mittel Auction House... Miss Yafei, would you mind if I came along to meet him?"

Meng Chen asked with a smile. Yafei froze for a moment, then nodded after a brief hesitation.

"Since Young Master Meng wishes to meet him, please come with me. But I hope you will watch your words and actions, and do not anger that old gentleman."

"Of course." Meng Chen readily agreed.

Then Yafei swayed her black-stockinged legs and her round, perky peach-like hips as she led Meng Chen to meet the "old gentleman."

In another reception room, the black-robed old gentleman disguised by Xiao Yan sat upright and composed. He looked steady as a rock, but inside, he was panicking like hell.

Before long, Yafei arrived, with a familiar figure following behind her.

"Hm! Brother Meng? Why is he at the Mittel Auction House too?"

Seeing Meng Chen, Xiao Yan was slightly startled and worried.

He had only met Meng Chen a few times, but they were acquaintances after all. Would Meng Chen recognize him?

"Old Sir, my apologies for arriving late. What do you need from our Mittel Auction House this time?"

Yafei sat opposite Xiao Yan and asked warmly.

Meng Chen glanced at Xiao Yan, who was disguised as a black-robed old gentleman, but did not expose him.

Instead, as though declaring his ownership, he sat beside Yafei and pressed lightly against her. At the same time, one hand naturally wrapped around her slender waist.

Feeling the warm palm on her waist, Yafei's delicate body stiffened, and she was utterly stunned.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan was secretly amazed.

Could it be... Brother Meng and Miss Yafei were involved?

But this was not the time for gossip.

"I came here this time because I would like you to help me obtain a somewhat better medicinal cauldron."

Xiao Yan picked up the teacup beside him and took a shallow sip, putting on an act. Immediately afterward, Yao Lao's aged voice emerged from beneath the black robe.

Although Yafei was surprised by Meng Chen's little move, she could not pull away with an honored guest present.

She smiled at "Old Sir Xiao." "Hehe, Old Sir, you truly came at the right time. The auction house received a medicinal cauldron refined from Blazing Fire Essence this morning."

"This cauldron was forged by the renowned Master Ho'er of the Jia Ma Empire. Not only can it amplify Dou Qi flames to a certain extent, but some of the rare metals mixed into it can also increase the success rate of refining medicine."

"Recently, medicinal cauldrons like this have been quite popular among alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire."

"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded. Though he had no idea what kind of nonsense Master Hormone was, as long as it was a medicinal cauldron, it would do.

"Also prepare a low-grade Storage Ring for me. In addition, five hundred stalks of Blood-Coagulating Grass, six hundred Bone-Growing Flowers, five hundred Vitality Fruits..."

Yafei was stunned upon hearing the list of materials. Altogether, these things would cost at least three hundred thousand gold coins.

After all, the Mittel Auction House did not belong solely to her. Most of its profits had to be handed over to the Mittel Clan.

Privately mobilizing such a large sum was not impossible, but the higher-ups would certainly notice.

Yafei gently bit her red lips. After weighing the benefits a fourth-tier alchemist could bring, she smiled lightly. "Old Sir, give me one hour, and everything will be ready."

"Hehe, good..."

Yao Lao's voice sounded from within the black robe once more. For the first time, Yafei heard a trace of satisfaction in it.

Xiao Yan's fair hand extended from beneath the black robe and placed the blue jade card previously given by the auction house on the table.

"I know the money inside is not enough to purchase all those things. However, add the ingredients for one batch of Qi-Gathering Powder to the materials later. I can refine one Qi-Gathering Powder for you free of charge. You only need to pay for one batch of ingredients. This is a fair deal, correct?"

Yafei was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Very well, Old Sir. I will have someone arrange it for you right away."

More than half an hour later, everything Xiao Yan wanted was delivered. After checking it over, Xiao Yan left in satisfaction.

Seeing this, Meng Chen had Yafei send the medicinal ingredients to his residence. Then, ignoring her strange look, he followed after Xiao Yan as well.

Yafei lowered her head and looked at the waist Meng Chen had held, a trace of puzzlement appearing on her seductive face.

He had ignored me before, so why was he suddenly holding me today?