Assassination in the Alley

The appearance of Rejuvenation Powder had indeed caused a huge uproar in Wutan City. Every street leading to the Jialie Family market was packed with people.

Xiao Yan had originally wanted to visit the Mittel Auction House, but he could not even squeeze onto the main roads. After changing streets several times, he finally reached his destination through a secluded side path.

Upon entering the magnificent hall, he found that the Mittel Auction House did not have much business either. A clerk spotted Xiao Yan entering and warmly asked, "Young Master Xiao Yan, what would you like to buy?"

"I'm here to see Ya Fei," Xiao Yan said.

The clerk smiled. "Miss Ya Fei instructed us that if Young Master Xiao Yan comes looking for her, you may go directly to the third floor."

Following the clerk's directions, Xiao Yan went straight up to the third floor and pushed open a wooden door. A distinctive faint fragrance greeted him.

It was an exceptionally spacious room, fully floored with wood and walled in white marble. A large bed stood in the center, while the balcony, separated by glass, contained numerous green plants.

It was hard to imagine that such a unique residence existed within a bustling auction house.

Ya Fei was seated behind a desk, writing something in a ledger.

Xiao Yan noticed that she was still wearing a fitted black dress. Her graceful figure was curvaceous, while black silk stockings beneath her skirt outlined her alluring legs. If she put on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, she would look every bit like a formidable businesswoman.

Without raising her head, Ya Fei knew who had been permitted to enter. She smiled. "Young Master Xiao Yan's Spirit Gathering Liquid is quite impressive. It allowed Jia Lie Ao to break through to the sixth stage."

"He broke through?!" Xiao Yan was somewhat delighted.

Ya Fei set down her pen and smiled sweetly. "After spending so much money to speed up his son's cultivation, Jia Lie Bi can at least feel that it was worth the cost. Of course, he clearly won't be satisfied so easily."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan said, "I came precisely because of the Rejuvenation Powder. Jia Lie Ao's breakthrough is a fine example for promotion. Auction another batch of Spirit Gathering Liquid."

A sly glint flashed through Ya Fei's eyes. "In Wutan City, who can compete with the three great families? And with the Jialie Family currently at the height of its power, they'll likely buy them all."

Xiao Yan took nine bottles of Spirit Gathering Liquid from his Storage Ring and smiled. "While the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole waits behind. All the profits will belong to the Mite'er Family."

"Young Master Xiao Yan is using an enemy family's property to repay his debts. If Jia Lie Bi learns of this, he'll likely cough up blood from rage," Ya Fei said.

That was hardly all. Spirit Gathering Liquid only worked up to the sixth stage; Jia Lie Ao would not enjoy much acceleration from it anymore. Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "Besides auctioning the medicinal liquid, you must not provide the Jialie Family with materials."

The Mittel Auction House had rules against participating in disputes between families. Yet Ya Fei knew that rules were dead while people were alive. If everything was sold out, there would be nothing she could do.

Her lovely face changed slightly. "That will cost quite a bit of money."

Xiao Yan rubbed his Storage Ring and took out several more jade bottles. "This is the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid for your use. It would be best not to auction it; let it circulate only within the Mite'er Family."

Looking at the jade bottles that had appeared on the table, Ya Fei understood their medicinal effects very well. Forget the old men of her own family—even any other family would be willing to pay a price to let their descendants become geniuses with its help.

Her gaze lingered briefly. Seeing Xiao Yan about to leave, Ya Fei chuckled. "Leaving in such a hurry—are you afraid someone will get jealous?"

"Jealous?" Xiao Yan lowered the foot he had just raised.

Ya Fei smiled. "That little sister named Xun'er is truly a beauty in the making."

"We've been eating together for years. A little jealousy can serve as seasoning." Xiao Yan smiled faintly. "I thought you meant my fiancée, Nalan Yanran."

"You know you have a marriage contract?" Ya Fei was somewhat surprised. She had thought that since the Xiao Family and Nalan Family had not contacted each other for many years, the marriage agreement had long ceased to be mentioned.

Xiao Yan spread his hands. "It was a marriage arranged since childhood. How could I not know?"

"Since you know, you still dare to flirt around? Be careful that Miss Nalan might come to your door to break off the engagement." Ya Fei had intended to remind Xiao Yan, but regretted it as soon as she said it.

In the Jia Ma Empire, breaking off an engagement was an extremely humiliating act, something ordinary people could hardly endure—let alone an exceptionally talented genius like Xiao Yan.

To her great surprise, Xiao Yan was actually delighted. "Breaking off the engagement? That's a good thing. Once it's dissolved, you'll have a chance."

"Taking advantage of me again." Ya Fei's cheeks reddened as she spat lightly. "Only ignorant young girls would fall for that. Who wants such an opportunity?"

As she spoke, she let out a faint sigh. "With your talent, you'll surely become a Dou Emperor. Your appearance will remain unchanged like Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect's leader. By then, I'll already be old and faded."

Xiao Yan smiled. "You're cultivating with Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid now. There's still time."

Ya Fei's heart skipped a beat. The blush on her cheeks did not fade, and for quite a while, she said nothing more.

Xiao Yan said solemnly, "Even if Nalan Yanran does not come to break off the engagement, I will go to the Nalan Family and dissolve it myself."

Ya Fei was startled. "The Nalan Family is one of the empire's three great families. Nalan Yanran has also become Yun Yun's personal disciple and is very likely to inherit the position of Misty Cloud Sect leader. They are not easy to provoke. And besides..."

She recalled a rumor. Though she did not know whether it was true, she voiced it now. "The previous Misty Cloud Sect leader, Yun Shan, may still be alive. He was already an eight-star Dou Emperor when he stepped down. He must have grown even stronger over the years."

Yun Shan, huh? He had relied on the Soul Hall to break through to become a Dou Zong. Combined with the Misty Cloud Sect's Cloudsmoke Sun-Shrouding Formation, he truly had some skill. After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yan leaned close to Ya Fei's face and asked earnestly:

"Are you saying all this to make me retreat in the face of difficulty, or because you want me to give you more things so you can cultivate faster and help me when the time comes?"

Ya Fei froze at the question, then raised her hand and punched Xiao Yan's chest. "Just let Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran beat you to death."

"Remember what I told you. Once the weapons arrive, send them to me." Xiao Yan reminded her, then smiled and walked out.

Looking at the closed door, Ya Fei's emotions churned, and for the moment, she could not bring herself to handle the matters in her hands.

After leaving the Mittel Auction House, Xiao Yan returned the way he had come.

He walked alone down a quiet street, his exceptional soul perception keenly detecting an aura of danger.

Xiao Yan stopped and swept his gaze around before staring coldly at the intersection ahead. "You skulking coward, come out."

After quite some time, a calm voice came from the intersection. "Worthy indeed of a genius who began cultivating at four and became a Dou Zhe at ten. You actually sensed my presence. But next year today will be the anniversary of your death."

Xiao Yan focused his gaze and saw a tall, thin man clad in a yellow Dou Qi Veil appear before him. His heart jolted—Dou Qi Veil, the mark of a Dou Practitioner!

This veil of energy could not only enhance its owner's defense, speed, and attacks, but also better absorb energy from the world to replenish the owner's expenditure. Thus, in battle, nearly every Dou Practitioner's first action was to summon their Dou Qi Veil.

This man was far stronger than him and had appeared already wearing his Dou Qi Veil. Clearly, he was experienced in battle. Having made that judgment, Xiao Yan rapidly compared the man's appearance with everyone in his memories, but found no match.

Yet at a time like this, the only ones who would dare make a move against him were the Jialie Family. Xiao Yan could not think of anyone else.