"If you say I'm naughty, you've only yourself to blame."
Seeing Ya Fei's enchanting expression, Ling Feng laughed inwardly, but said those words aloud.
"Why?"
Ya Fei had no idea what he meant and walked straight into his trap. His lips curved into a grin. "Because you're so impossibly beautiful that I can't help wanting to act like a rogue around you."
That cheesy pickup line made Ya Fei's delicate cheeks flush even more deeply. She clearly enjoyed it, but her words betrayed none of that. "What a sweet tongue you have. I imagine you've said that to plenty of girls."
"No, absolutely not. You're the first person I've ever acted like a rogue with."
Ling Feng gazed at Ya Fei with tender affection, silently adding, The first, yes-the first on the Dou Qi Continent.
But Ya Fei knew nothing of Ling Feng's tricks. Faced with his burning gaze, she grew bashful and dared not meet his eyes.
In this world devoid of poetic romance and cheesy pickup lines, Ling Feng unleashed one trick after another, stirring waves across the lake of Ya Fei's heart and slowly drawing her under.
Still, Ya Fei was no ordinary woman and would not surrender so easily. Suppressing the strange feelings in her heart, she feigned composure and returned to the matter at hand. "Enough. I asked you here today because we have something important to discuss."
As she spoke, Ya Fei gradually grew serious and told Ling Feng how the Xiao Clan was selling third-rank pills to seize their market share.
Yet Ling Feng seemed to have anticipated the news. There was no surprise on his face, only a trace of waning interest.
"So that's why. I thought you missed me. You got my hopes up for nothing. I rushed here without stopping, hoping we could have some time alone and get nice and-"
"Y-you keep talking nonsense, and I won't speak to you anymore."
Hearing Ling Feng's complaint, Ya Fei flushed scarlet and hurriedly interrupted him in embarrassed irritation. She knew that if she let him continue, he would start misbehaving again.
That was why she deliberately spoke harshly. Sure enough, Ling Feng immediately restrained himself and gave a sheepish smile.
"Heh... all right, no more jokes."
"Do you have a way to deal with the Xiao Clan?"
Seeing Ling Feng behave himself, Ya Fei's heart settled down as well. After a little hesitation, she parted her red lips again.
Hearing the gravity in Ya Fei's voice, Ling Feng also grew serious. "Don't worry. I have a way to resolve this."
"What way?"
"If the Xiao Clan is selling third-rank pills, we'll sell them too. And we'll keep fighting a price war."
Ling Feng spoke with breezy ease, but sneered inwardly. My pills don't cost me a damn thing anyway. Let's see who can outlast whom!
"But will this really have no effect on you? And can you refine the third-rank pills they're selling? How many can you supply?"
Ya Fei's delicate brows knitted together as she asked three questions in succession.
"I made you a promise, and I'll keep it. Whether you need third-rank pills or fourth-rank pills, however many you want, I'll have them."
Ling Feng smiled confidently, displaying something of a lavish tycoon's bearing. Ya Fei stared for a moment before breaking into a radiant smile.
"If you say so, I won't worry anymore. When can you give me the pills?"
"This afternoon."
With that, Ling Feng, finding the conversation rather dull, stood up and left the VIP Room to get things done.
Watching the young man's retreating back, Ya Fei's beautiful eyes glimmered with intrigue. "You were born a commoner, yet not only do you possess extraordinary talent, you even have a Da Dou Shi subordinate and a high-ranking alchemist. Just how much power stands behind you? I'm growing more curious by the day..."
Recalling Gu Ni's words that Ling Feng had already reached the Dou Shi level, and considering the power behind him, Ya Fei grew increasingly curious about him.
Reaching the Dou Shi level at sixteen made Ling Feng a supreme genius even within the Jia Ma Empire. On top of that, he had a Da Dou Shi subordinate. With that kind of backing, it was little wonder Ya Fei regarded him differently.
Of course, had Ya Fei known that Ling Feng was already a three-star Dou Shi, and that he had taken less than three months to rise from first-stage Dou Qi to his current level, her jaw would probably have dropped clean off.
That afternoon.
A young man wearing a fox mask and a Ninja Outfit entered the Mittel Auction House.
He was none other than the Itachi Uchiha Ling Feng had made with Creation.
Naturally, Ling Feng had created not just one, but several, to prepare for unforeseen needs. As for Shadow Seven, he had abandoned most of them.
After all, compared with Itachi Uchiha, Shadow Seven was somewhat weaker.
"Take care, Mister Itachi."
Before long, Itachi Uchiha emerged, followed by Gu Ni and Ya Fei, who saw him off with smiles and great courtesy.
"No need to see me any farther, Miss Ya Fei. I'll take my leave."
With that, the young man leaped directly onto a rooftop and soon vanished from Gu Ni and Ya Fei's sight.
Only after the young man had left did Gu Ni turn to Ya Fei beside him and speak gravely. "Miss, I could clearly sense that Mister Itachi's strength is far above mine. I fear he has already reached the Dou Ling realm. For someone like that to be merely one of Ling Feng's subordinates, his background must be extraordinary. We must maintain good relations with him."
At those words, Ya Fei smiled. "Uncle Gu Ni, do you still want me to end our partnership with him?"
Seeing Ya Fei's teasing smile, Gu Ni looked embarrassed. "Miss, I was simply afraid that our Mittel Auction House would become embroiled in unnecessary trouble."
"Then you're not worried anymore?"
Ya Fei continued smiling brilliantly. Gu Ni, too, was buoyed by the happy turn of events. Stroking his beard, he chuckled. "Hehe... with the one thousand bottles of third-rank pills Ling Feng brought us, I naturally have no more concerns."
As he spoke, something suddenly occurred to Gu Ni. He glanced at the beaming Ya Fei, his aged eyes shifting slightly, then changed the subject. "However, Miss Ya Fei, I noticed that despite being a mighty Dou Ling, Mister Itachi treated you with exceptional respect. Ling Feng must have specifically instructed him to do so. That boy probably has feelings for you. You could spend more time with him."
"Uncle Gu Ni, what are you saying!"
Caught off guard by Gu Ni's words, Ya Fei blushed deeply. "There's nothing between Ling Feng and me. Besides, I'm several years older than he is. Please stop teasing me."
Looking at the bashful Ya Fei, whom he had never seen display such girlish feelings before, Gu Ni laughed heartily. "As the saying goes, a wife three years older brings a gold brick; thirty years older, and she brings a kingdom. Besides, you're so beautiful, Miss. If you're willing to make your move, that boy will surely be so enchanted he won't know which way is up."
Clearly, Gu Ni intended to bring Ling Feng and Ya Fei together. But the more she heard, the more embarrassed she became. Her face burning scarlet, Ya Fei feigned anger and protested bashfully, "Uncle Gu Ni, if you keep talking nonsense, I-I won't speak to you anymore."
"Hahaha..."
The more bashful Ya Fei became, the more delighted Gu Ni's laughter grew. He deliberately teased her. "All right, I'll say no more. That boy won't let you slip away anyway. Sooner or later, you won't be able to escape him. Hahaha..."
With that, Gu Ni left laughing, leaving behind a thoroughly blushing Ya Fei.
"What an undignified old man!"
Watching Gu Ni's retreating back, the scarlet-faced Ya Fei could not help muttering a complaint. Yet as she recalled his teasing words, her flushed, lovely face inexplicably heated up again, and her luscious red lips unconsciously curved upward.