Huo Yuhao's Thanks: Ten Million for Dong'er

"All right, it looks like everything has been settled. Everyone can go now," Wang Dong'er announced, bringing things to a close.

"Yuhao, let's go." Wang Dong'er pulled Huo Yuhao away.

The teachers watched Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er leave, all feeling that something was odd.

Wasn't this supposed to be an auction? How had it turned into a casino where the house took everything? And yet all three sides felt they hadn't lost out.

Once they were outside, Wang Dong'er breathed a sigh of relief. The outcome had been far better than she had expected.

Noticing that Huo Yuhao was still in a daze, Wang Dong'er waved a hand in front of his face. "Hey, snap out of it."

Huo Yuhao started, then looked at Wang Dong'er. "Wang Dong, thank you for securing so much for me."

"I did do it for you, but I did it for myself too. Once you get stronger, you can watch my back, can't you?"

Huo Yuhao nodded earnestly. "Yes. Don't worry, Wang Dong. If anyone dares to bully you in the future, I'll hit them back for you."

Even so, Huo Yuhao felt that he could never repay Wang Dong's kindness.

He felt that if he were a girl, he might even want to marry Wang Dong.

"Come on, let's have a meal and celebrate properly. Your treat today."

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Sure, no problem. You can have anything you want."

Wang Dong had secured two hundred million Gold Soul Coins for him. What did spending a little money on a meal matter?

However, after Wang Dong ordered a mountain of expensive dishes and Huo Yuhao paid the bill, leaving him with only a few Copper Soul Coins on him, he still felt quite a pang.

On their way back, they ran into Xiao Xiao.

"There you two are. Teacher Zhou happened to ask me to give you this."

Xiao Xiao handed Wang Dong a red invitation.

"This is an invitation to the Treasure Appraisal Fair. There's one being held in Shrek City tonight. You can attend with this invitation. Only Core Disciples get them."

"I only have one for Wang Dong."

"It's fine. I'll go ask Senior Brother He Caitou in a bit," Huo Yuhao said.

"Let's all go together tonight. It'll be a good chance to have some fun, and we might even find some treasures." Xiao Xiao was full of anticipation.

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao both nodded and decided to go. They had just obtained two hundred million in funding from the academy. How could they not spend some of it?

They could now be called the richest students in the entire academy.

That evening, the three met at the dormitory entrance and headed to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion in Shrek City.

"Wow, there are so many people here today," Huo Yuhao exclaimed.

Wang Dong'er explained, "The Treasure Appraisal Fair is held together with the auction. Besides students from the academy, outsiders can buy things too, so of course there are lots of people."

They strolled along the street, enjoying themselves as they made their way there.

Wang Dong'er secretly took Huo Yuhao's hand.

Huo Yuhao shivered, but he didn't let go.

He thought Wang Dong'er's hand was soft and felt very comfortable to hold.

Seeing this, Xiao Xiao couldn't help shipping them again.

She looked at Wang Dong and told herself, Fine, I'll just think of you as a boy.

After tricking her own brain into seeing Wang Dong'er as a boy, Xiao Xiao once again wore the doting smile of an auntie.

After asking for directions, they reached the Treasure Gathering Pavilion without any trouble.

The Treasure Gathering Pavilion looked lavish even from the outside. Four beautiful attendants in long dresses stood at the entrance.

Huo Yuhao stared at them without blinking.

Wang Dong'er pinched Huo Yuhao.

"What are you looking at? Keep staring and I'll gouge your eyes out."

"Everyone appreciates beauty," Huo Yuhao said with a smile.

He didn't understand why, when they were both boys, Wang Dong wasn't interested in these pretty young ladies.

They presented their invitations, then a young woman led them inside.

There were plenty of people inside the Appraisal Pavilion too. Everyone was discussing the merchandise and its prices, making it a lively scene.

"This way upstairs, please."

They followed her up to the second floor.

The second floor was much quieter. Only people of a certain standing could come up here.

"The Treasure Appraisal Fair is being held on the second floor. You're welcome to browse any of the merchandise here. If anything catches your eye, you can purchase it at the counter over there. We also offer purchases on credit, though an assessment is required."

"No need. We have money." Huo Yuhao rather resembled a newly minted tycoon.

"Then please feel free to look around."

"Let's split up and take a look," Xiao Xiao suggested.

She didn't want to be a third wheel.

Wang Dong'er went straight over to a Soul Bone.

Huo Yuhao followed, his eyes widening as he looked at it.

The Golden Radiance Left Arm Bone, a Soul Bone with the light attribute, was an excellent match for Wang Dong'er.

"Do you want to buy it?" Huo Yuhao asked.

Wang Dong'er nodded. "This Soul Bone suits me perfectly."

Ten-thousand-year Soul Bones with the light attribute were exceedingly rare. To Wang Dong'er, it was worth even more than an ordinary Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

Huo Yuhao glanced at the price. It was a fine item, but its price was equally impressive: 9.5 million Gold Soul Coins, just shy of ten million.

Suddenly, Huo Yuhao felt that the two hundred million Gold Soul Coins they had obtained didn't seem like so much after all.

"All right, I'll buy this Soul Bone for you." Huo Yuhao was full of generosity.

"Really? Yuhao, thank you." Wang Dong'er smiled happily.

Seeing how happy Wang Dong'er was, Huo Yuhao felt the money was well spent.

"It's nothing. You secured that two hundred million in funding for me anyway. Forget ten million—even giving you a hundred million would be fine. I just don't know whether the academy will let me spend ten million so soon."

The two went to the counter, and Huo Yuhao took out a gold card.

The cashier's eyes widened when she saw it.

She had only heard of this kind of gold card; this was her first time seeing one. Anyone who possessed one could make purchases of any amount throughout the Appraisal Pavilion, with its highest-tier discount of fifty percent.

"Certainly. That Soul Bone is yours. Please leave your address, and we'll deliver it discreetly to the academy."

The two had already guessed that this Appraisal Pavilion was actually run by the academy.

After buying the Soul Bone, they looked around some more.

That Soul Bone was essentially the most expensive item here. There were also some Soul Tools and various treasures of heaven and earth, all with hefty prices, but most were of no use to them.

Huo Yuhao suddenly stopped.

Wang Dong'er asked, "What's wrong?"

Huo Yuhao turned toward a display counter ahead, then walked over.

Wang Dong'er took a look. It was a pitch-black lump. Its label read "thousand-year whale glue," produced by a Thousand-Year Demon Whale and capable of helping a Soul Master shed their old body and be reborn.

"This whale rubber looks strange. It should be golden, so why is it black?" Wang Dong'er was puzzled.

"You know about whale rubber?" Huo Yuhao asked.

Wang Dong'er nodded and answered with three words. "I've eaten it."

Huo Yuhao understood. "Right. Just what I'd expect from a young heiress."