Lin En offered no further explanation. Taking Zhu Zhuqing by the hand, he ran into the dark alley.
Immediately afterward, he summoned Sageross.
The alley was too cramped, so Sageross could only hover in midair.
Seeing this, Lin En dared not hesitate.
"Hold on tight."
As he spoke, he flexed both arms, wrapping his hands around Zhu Zhuqing's calves and slender waist.
Then the Eight Spider Lances on his back abruptly braced against the ground, launching the two of them like a slingshot toward Sageross in the air.
"Sageross, let's go!"
"Sa-"
Sageross nodded, rapidly beating his enormous, thin ice-crystal wings as he carried the pair high into the sky.
"Damn it... they got away..."
"How are we supposed to explain this when we get back?"
The black-clad figures who had been a step behind Lin En appeared in the alley one after another. None of them were flying Soul Masters, so they could not mount an effective pursuit.
Watching their pursuers below gradually shrink into black dots, Zhu Zhuqing instantly relaxed.
But when she remembered that Lin En was still holding her in his arms, a pink blush immediately rose on her fair cheeks.
"Um... could you put me down now?"
Zhu Zhuqing turned her head and looked into the distance, her heartbeat suddenly quickening...
"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?"
Lin En lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the two pale, slender arms tightly encircling his neck with a somewhat speechless expression.
At his words, Zhu Zhuqing immediately came to her senses. She hastily withdrew her hands and held them before her chest, twisting her fingers together.
"I have to say, you smell pretty nice..."
After setting Zhu Zhuqing down, Lin En sniffed his clothes, which still carried her faint fragrance.
He could not tell whether it was perfume or her natural scent...
Looking somewhat embarrassed, Zhu Zhuqing turned her back on Lin En, her eyes flustered. There was no telling what was on her mind.
"Where are we going next?"
After composing herself, Zhu Zhuqing looked calmly at Lin En.
"Hmm... first, we'll dress up in disguise and get a few things at the Heaven Dou auction. After that, I'll give you an upgrade in every respect."
Lin En looked over Zhu Zhuqing's outfit, an almost imperceptible smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, then settled her mind and said no more.
Lin En directed Sageross to change course. He headed to a hotel and changed outfits with Zhu Zhuqing before making straight for the Heaven Dou Auction House.
Night had fully fallen by then, making it the Heaven Dou Auction House's prime time.
Outside the Heaven Dou Auction House, Lin En and Zhu Zhuqing appeared at the entrance in expensive formal attire.
Lin En wore a crisp British-style coat. Though his face still looked a little youthful, his eyes were deep and dark, with an almost imperceptible hint of sharpness.
Zhu Zhuqing arrived in a form-fitting lace evening dress with a plunging V-neck. Black stockings as thin as cicada wings sheathed her long, slender, fair legs, while black stiletto heels showed off her graceful, finely sculpted figure to the fullest.
Looking at the evening dress she wore, which cost several thousand Gold Soul Coins, and her makeup, Zhu Zhuqing felt a surge of delight as a pink blush rose on her fair cheeks.
So even this iron rooster would shed a feather one day?
He has pretty good taste!
Zhu Zhuqing smiled slightly, her favorable impression of him unwittingly growing.
Women naturally loved beauty, and Zhu Zhuqing was no exception.
Her savings had originally been enough for her to live away from home. But after several rounds of extortion by Lin En, she instead owed him tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins.
She had never changed her wardrobe either, always wearing the clothes she had brought from home.
Seeing the smile she could not conceal, Lin En also looked her up and down.
A moment later, he nodded in fair appraisal.
Very nice. Those leather clothes hid her true strength. The sea embraces a hundred rivers; its capacity is what makes it great!
"Where are you looking?"
Seeing Lin En's brazenly appraising gaze, the little bit of goodwill that had just risen in Zhu Zhuqing's heart instantly vanished, and she glared at him in reproach.
"Was I? Don't misunderstand. I just have a pair of eyes that can discover beauty!"
Lin En gave Zhu Zhuqing a thumbs-up and spoke with a perfectly straight face.
"Pah, shameless!"
Zhu Zhuqing's temper immediately deserted her. Her pretty face flushed as she spat. How could anyone be this shameless?
"All right, come on. Let's go inside and have a look!"
Lin En held out his hand to Zhu Zhuqing with a smile.
"What for?"
Zhu Zhuqing took a few steps back, her gaze wary.
"Take my arm. Cooperate a little, and I'll give you a reward afterward!"
Lin En moved beside her and murmured softly into her ear.
"Isn't that a little inappropriate?"
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated inwardly. This scoundrel isn't trying to take advantage of me, is he?
"What happened to the most basic trust between people? Just be my temporary girlfriend tonight. We'll talk once we're inside the Heaven Dou Auction House!"
"...All right!"
Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, then reached out and linked her arm through his.
"Don't we look like a real couple like this?"
Lin En smiled slightly. With that, he put his arm around Zhu Zhuqing and headed toward the Heaven Dou Auction House.
After their qualifications had been verified, a blonde girl at the entrance led them into the auction house.
"Can I auction things here?"
A thought struck Lin En, and he asked the blonde girl.
"Of course. However, any items offered for auction must first be appraised by our Heaven Dou Auction House's specialist appraisers. Only those valued at more than one thousand Gold Soul Coins qualify for auction."
"If the auction succeeds, we will take ten percent of the sale price as a handling fee."
"No problem. Take me over for an appraisal!"
Lin En nodded slightly and gave the blonde girl a brilliant smile. His sunny smile was very appealing.
The girl's face flushed slightly, and she hurried along with quick little steps, leading the two of them farther into the auction house.
The girl brought Lin En and Zhu Zhuqing to a room containing a row of tables. Behind them, eight appraisers of varying ages were appraising items.
"Sorry for the trouble, but please appraise these Storage Rings and some special Soul Beast bones for me. These can be used as materials for crafting equipment."
Lin En handed the blonde girl a ring, having stored all the items he wanted appraised inside it.
Everything in it was loot he had extorted in Star Dou... no, gifts they had voluntarily given him while he was carrying out acts of justice.
"Certainly. Please wait a moment!"
The blonde girl took the ring, then walked toward the master appraiser of special items.
Storage Rings counted as special items, but materials from Soul Beasts varied in value and required professional appraisal.
The appraiser took the ring, then removed everything inside.
In an instant, a huge pile of items from Soul Beasts covered the entire row of tables.
At the sight, most of those present gaped, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was filled with shock. She looked at the Soul Beast materials on the tables, then at Lin En, utterly shaken.
Just how many Soul Beasts had this guy hunted in Star Dou?
Before you continue