Early the next morning, incense curled through the VIP room of the Mittel Auction House, mingling with the fragrance of tea. Ya Fei wore a tight red qipao that traced every rise and fall of her mature curves.
She elegantly lifted a small purple-clay teapot and poured a steaming cup of fragrant tea for the elderly man opposite her. He wore a plain gray hemp robe, his hair graying and his face etched with the folds of age. Yet his eyes occasionally flashed with a sharpness that seemed out of place at his age. He was Hai Bodong, who had traveled all the way from the desert.
"We only just put out word that we have a fifth-grade pill, hoping to attract some experts to help resolve Wutan City's crisis. We never imagined it would draw a legendary figure such as yourself here in person. This is truly an honor."
Hai Bodong lifted his cup, leisurely blew across the steam, and took a small sip. He seemed quite pleased with the tea. His next words, however, left all the remarks Ya Fei had prepared stuck in her throat.
"Mm, good tea. But... what fifth-grade pill?"
The smile on Ya Fei's face froze, as though a giant question mark had appeared above her head.
"Then... why have you suddenly come to a place as remote as Wutan City?"
The question slipped out almost instinctively, but the moment she finished speaking, she realized how discourteous she had been. A faint blush rose to her cheeks. She quickly lowered her lovely head and apologized humbly.
"My apologies. I spoke out of turn."
Hai Bodong was not angry. He waved a hand and smiled, wholly untroubled.
"No harm done, no harm done. No need to be nervous, young lady."
He set down his cup