Twenty-Eight: A Clever Plan from the Mountains

After astonishing everyone with his skills on the stone platform, Xiao Dongchen's life finally became completely leisurely.

Most days, he played chess, went fishing, and took Xun'er shopping. He would admire the moon with her, and every so often, he would catch sight of a pair of fair, slender legs swaying past him before suddenly breaking into a sprint, leaving him rather baffled.

Could it be that Xiao Yu was actually secretly in love with me?!

Then wouldn't seeing Xun'er and me being all lovey-dovey every day leave her full of grievances?

Sigh, being too outstanding was a burden too!

Now, he had completely become a legendary figure within the Xiao Household. Wherever he went, he could feel gazes of near-religious admiration upon him. It differed somewhat from the respect and awe of before; it was the reverence of wholehearted conviction.

That day, Xiao Dongchen went to visit the recuperating Xiao Yan as usual and discovered that the latter had nearly recovered. Xiao Yan was even inside his room throwing punches with shouts of "Hah! Hup! Hey!"

"You brat, you've got quite the body. It's only been seven or eight days, and you're already full of life again!"

Xiao Dongchen sat down boldly in a chair, crossed one leg over the other, picked up a piece of Pheobe cake, and took a bite as he praised him.

"Not really. It's only because Teacher said I needed to recover faster and refined pills for me to take."

Xiao Yan stopped punching and scratched his head somewhat sheepishly. Then his eyes shifted, and he walked over with a fawning smile on his face.

"Damn!"

"That look on your face—something's up!"

Seeing Xiao Yan's slightly ingratiating smile, Xiao Dongchen hurriedly put down the pastry in his hand. His brows rose slightly, certain that something was amiss.

"As expected of Brother Chen, you're really good at reading people!"

Xiao Yan gave him a thumbs-up. Then he cleared his throat, rubbed his nose, and said with an embarrassed smile, "Well, it's not really anything. It's just that the gold coins have nearly run out after all that refining, so..."

"Damn, you brat, are you trying to fleece me?!"

"And how long has it even been? You've already burned through that much money?"

Before Xiao Yan could finish, Xiao Dongchen sprang up, his face full of astonishment.

More than a million gold coins were enough for an ordinary person to live for a million years!

Yet in just a few short months, this guy had spent nearly all of it. That was fucking extravagant!

Luckily, Alchemists were rare. If there were more of them, there would not be enough gold coins in the empire to mint!

"Uh, you can't put it that way..."

"My teacher refined some inferior-grade pills this time and wants to trouble you with selling them. Also, I'm preparing to try refining medicine myself, and that'll require another sum of money..."

After being stunned for a moment, Xiao Yan felt his face burn. He could only lower his head slightly and explain the entire situation.

Honestly, he had never dared dream that the gold coins he possessed would be spent as swiftly as a dream. The whole thing really did feel like a dream.

If that finger strike had not provoked him, he would not have been in such a hurry.

"Oh, I see."

Hearing that explanation, Xiao Dongchen regained his composure. He stroked his chin and pondered slightly.

To help sell the pills, they would need to contact the Mite'er Auction House.

Thinking of the alluring and gorgeous Ya Fei, her mature, graceful figure, her seductive, bewitching...

Xiao Dongchen abruptly shook his head, barely suppressing the upward curve of his lips. His brows furrowed slightly. If he had to personally handle this every time, it would waste far too much time.

It would be better to think of a way to settle this once and for all. His reputation was already well known, so there was no need to conceal anything.

Fine, he would simply call Ya Fei over. Door-to-door service would do nicely!

Yes, that was what he would do!

Seeing Xiao Dongchen's rather improper smile, Xiao Yan could not help but shudder inwardly. Those who knew him understood that whenever that smile appeared, someone was definitely about to suffer.

"Brother Chen, what do you say?"

Xiao Yan lightly licked his lips and spoke cautiously.

"Stop talking nonsense. I'll help you with this. Just wait for my message!"

Xiao Dongchen rose to his feet and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, looking exceptionally forthright, as if money meant nothing more than a trivial matter to him.

With that, he did not even wait for Xiao Yan to ask another question before turning and leaving stylishly.

Since he had decided to call for a woman, he would brave wind and rain without hesitation!

One day later.

Noon.

The exclusive reception room of Young Master Chen of the Xiao Household.

Xiao Dongchen sat in a chair, idly sipping tea, while Xiao Yan sat beside him with a thoroughly bewildered expression.

"Brother Chen, why did you call me here?"

After a long while, Xiao Yan could no longer suppress his curiosity and asked in confusion.

"What else could it be? We're waiting for someone, of course. Why are you so anxious?"

Xiao Dongchen curled his lips and blew on the hot tea. Its fragrance was rich and intense.

With an "Oh," Xiao Yan leaned back in his chair. He had never had any objections to Xiao Dongchen's decisions.

Before long, a clansman hurried in, cupped his fists, and respectfully reported, "Young Masters, Miss Ya Fei from the Mite'er Auction House has arrived."

"Ya Fei?"

Xiao Yan froze at those words and turned to look over, greatly puzzled.

Why had Brother Chen summoned that chief auctioneer?

No way. She was indeed breathtakingly seductive, but what about Miss Xun'er?

"Bring her in quickly!"

After dismissing the clansman, Xiao Dongchen glanced back at Xiao Yan and snapped irritably, "What are you staring at? Don't tell me there's something wrong with your head. This is a proper business partnership!"

A partnership?

Xiao Yan was even more confused. He shrank his neck and ultimately chose to remain silent.

The next moment, a graceful silhouette appeared in the two men's line of sight, accompanied by a sweet, soft voice that drifted pleasantly over. "Young Masters, why have you summoned me here?"

Damn, she was incredible!

As Xiao Dongchen's gaze fell upon her, even his formidable self-control could not stop him from swallowing lightly.

Before him stood a mature woman in a tight, thin red dress, smiling sweetly. Beneath her full, proud curves was a slender waist like that of a water snake, swaying with captivating grace. Under the hem of her skirt, her fair, rounded legs could be seen through the gauze, and as she walked, tantalizing glimpses of pale skin appeared and vanished, stirring one's heart.

Something was fishy!

She was dressed so seductively. Could this woman have deliberately dressed up like this?

"Cough."

With a dry cough, Xiao Dongchen snapped the dumbstruck Xiao Yan out of it. He rose to his feet and said with perfect poise, "Naturally, it is a good thing to have such a beautiful Miss Ya Fei come here."

"Hehe, Young Master Chen certainly has a sweet mouth."

Ya Fei's eyes shimmered as she covered her red lips and smiled seductively. Then, with a languidly alluring gaze, she said softly, "After that battle, Young Master Chen's bearing became etched in my heart. I have admired you for a long time now~"

"Being able to see Young Master Chen is already the best thing that could happen to me~"

Hiss~

That coy, pampered tone was truly too much to bear!

No way, could she really be coveting my handsome face?!

Impossible. A seasoned veteran like her was merely skilled in the art of speaking.

With that thought, Xiao Dongchen finally steadied himself. Smiling faintly, he got to the point. "Miss Ya Fei, are you still familiar with the Spirit-Nourishing Pill?"

"In truth, I asked you to come here this time to discuss cooperating on the auction of pills."

"Such a large volume of business must surely be the greatest of good news for Miss Ya Fei, right?"

Spirit-Nourishing Pills?!

Could it be...

Ya Fei's small mouth parted slightly, and her beautiful eyes instantly widened.