Outside the VIP room, the maid Xiao Qin was doing everything she could to stop Lei Le from forcing his way in.
"Young Master Lei Le, you cannot go in! The young lady is entertaining an honored guest!"
"Get lost! You dare block my way? You're courting death!"
Lei Le abruptly raised his arm and swung a slap straight at Xiao Qin's face.
Lei Le was a One-Star Dou Shi, and his palm was wrapped in dou qi, carrying tremendous force. He clearly intended to slap Xiao Qin to death. Although Xiao Qin's cultivation was inferior to his, the gap was not large. She could easily have dodged sideways on instinct, but mindful of not causing trouble for Ya Fei, she forcibly suppressed the urge and took the blow.
Smack!
The sharp sound echoed through the corridor, drawing the attention of most of the people in the auction house. Yet, deterred by Lei Le's status and the treacherous, shifting situation within the auction house, no one dared step forward to stop him or help.
Xiao Qin staggered backward and fell to the floor. One cheek rapidly swelled, red and marked with a distinct palm print, while thin trickles of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. She looked wretched and pitiful.
But these injuries fell far short of what Lei Le had expected. She was neither gravely wounded nor anywhere near death.
Having failed to seriously injure a mere maid with a single blow in public, Lei Le felt utterly humiliated. Although Xiao Qin had already been forced to clear the path to the private room, he did not open the door and enter. Instead, he advanced on her as she sat sprawled on the floor, his expression savage and his eyes gleaming with murderous intent. He clearly meant to strike again and finish her off.
The Da Dou Shi Guard following Lei Le merely watched coldly. A trace of regret flashed through his eyes, as though he lamented the impending death of such a loyal, intelligent, and exceptionally gifted maid, but he showed no intention of intervening.
Just as Lei Le came within a step or two of Xiao Qin, dou qi began gathering in his palm, and he was about to unleash his Dou Technique.
Ya Fei suddenly pulled the private room's door open and, in a flash, stepped directly in front of Xiao Qin.
Before Lei Le could react at all, a crisp, resounding slap landed on his face.
The crack of breaking bone rang out as bloody spittle and shattered teeth sprayed through the air. Ya Fei moved too quickly and struck too decisively. Even the Da Dou Shi Guard only had time to reach out and catch Lei Le as he flew backward.
Ya Fei looked delicate, but she had poured ample dou qi into that slap. The damage it inflicted on Lei Le was several times worse than what he had dealt Xiao Qin, making his incompetence all the more glaring.
"Ya Fei! You dare hit me!"
Slapped away in front of so many Mittel subordinates, his dignity trampled into the dirt, Lei Le flew into a rage born of humiliation. Blood streamed from his mouth and nose as he roared through mangled words.
"Do it! Kill these two bitches!"
The Da Dou Shi Guard's face alternated between ashen and flushed as he wrestled with himself. He would never dare kill Ya Fei. Although she suffered constant exclusion within the Mittel Family, she had earned the appreciation of many elders through her own abilities. Acting patriarch Mittel Tengshan had even publicly promised that, upon returning to the family, she could assume the position of Acting Supervising Elder. That would make her his direct superior.
Yet he could not completely ignore Lei Le's command either.
Bracing himself, the guard took two steps forward. Earth-yellow dou qi erupted from his entire body, and thick layers of earth-type dou qi armor enveloped him, sending an oppressive force surging toward them. He calculated that he could first force Ya Fei back with his aura, then deal with Xiao Qin, thereby giving Lei Le an acceptable explanation.
But Ya Fei did not retreat a single step, standing firmly in front of Xiao Qin. She released all her dou qi without reservation, its strength comparable to that of a Six-Star Dou Shi. Although it was insufficient to withstand a Da Dou Shi's full assault head-on, it was more than enough for her to hold her ground and protect the person behind her.
Behind Ya Fei, Xiao Qin's eyes brimmed with emotion. Her gratitude and determination to follow Ya Fei loyally unto death needed no further mention.
At the private room's doorway, Xiao Yan stood draped in a black robe, taking in the entire conflict outside. He had truly witnessed a grand spectacle of family infighting.
Ya Fei's actions sent Xiao Yan's favorable impression of her soaring. Yao Lao, inside the ring, focused entirely on Ya Fei herself: a powerful physique comparable to a Tier 2 Magical Beast's, soul power far beyond that of cultivators at her level, dou qi control so exquisite it bordered on perfection, and genuine cultivation and talent utterly unlike the rumors circulating about her.
How was she some useless person incapable of cultivation? She was clearly a genius whose foundations far surpassed those of her peers, poised to soar after years of accumulation. Although becoming a Dou Shi in her twenties would hardly merit notice in the Central Plains, few in the Jia Ma Empire could surpass her.
With his extraordinary wisdom, Yao Lao had little trouble reaching a conclusion. Every anomaly surrounding Ya Fei pointed toward that batch of spiritual plants and medicinal herbs with miraculous effects.
"Little Yanzi, this is a perfect opportunity to earn a favor. Don't just stand there watching the show," Yao Lao's voice rang out in Xiao Yan's mind.
"I understand. I'll find the right moment to act. When that happens, I'll need your help, Teacher."
Beneath his black robe, Xiao Yan secretly clenched his hand. He was already prepared to unleash a Heaven-Tier Dou Technique, waiting for Yao Lao to take control of his body and enter the fray at any moment.
Seeing the guard still refusing to strike a killing blow, Lei Le grew even more furious. He spat a mouthful of blood mixed with broken teeth onto the floor and shoved the Da Dou Shi hard.
"Go! What are you still hesitating for? Kill them! I'll take responsibility before the family! Ya Fei must be hiding a huge stock of rare medicinal herbs. You've seen what those herbs can do. This might be your only chance in this lifetime to break through to Dou Ling!"
Lei Le was not entirely stupid. He understood exactly what the guard feared, and even more clearly what he craved.
But those words were like lifting the lid of Pandora's Box. Intense greed and fervor instantly flared in the guard's eyes.
His gaze turned sinister. He shot a quick sidelong glance at Lei Le, then advanced toward Ya Fei with heavy, deliberate steps, his earth-type armor radiating a suffocating weight of pressure.
Along both sides of the Mittel Auction House's corridor, the people had already split into two opposing groups. Gu Ni's trusted followers stood on Ya Fei's side, but the faction Lei Le had bribed or threatened firmly blocked their way. Both sides had their swords drawn and bows bent, though neither had actually attacked while the situation remained unclear. Neither side could step forward to offer support.
The situation looked extremely unfavorable for Ya Fei.
Yet there was not the slightest panic on her face. She even turned her head and gave Xiao Yan a faint smile.
"How embarrassing. These unpleasant family affairs have made a spectacle of us before you, sir."
"Everyone has troubles they cannot speak of," Xiao Yan's voice came from beneath the black robe. "If you need assistance, Miss Ya Fei, you need only promise to give me priority in purchasing that batch of medicinal herbs in the future."
Ya Fei raised a hand and gently pressed her brow, revealing a faint, helpless smile.
"I appreciate your kindness, sir, but today's commotion hardly requires troubling you to intervene."
At her side, Xiao Qin slowly rose to her feet, took a Tier 3 Blueberry from Ya Fei, and put it into her mouth. Spiritual energy instantly spread through her body. In the blink of an eye, every trace of redness, swelling, and injury vanished from her previously swollen cheek.
Xiao Yan was deeply shocked at the sight. He had now seen a third kind of spiritual plant with miraculous healing effects. But having learned from his earlier setback, he did not rashly ask questions. His curiosity about the Mysterious Person supplying these spiritual plants had simply swelled to its limit.
Meanwhile, Yao Lao quietly spread his vast soul power, carefully sweeping through the entire Mittel Auction House from top to bottom. He soon discovered the trump card Ya Fei had concealed, and could not help feeling greater appreciation for her caution in preparing before the rain fell.
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