Chapter 82: The Auction (Part Six)

I never asked you, Tu Tianxiong, to deliver these things. Why are you claiming I told you to bring them? Take a look at yourself—who do you think you are? I am Zichenyu. You, Tu Tianxiong, are nothing but the heir to a second-rate sect. And you haven’t even inherited it.

Zichenyu paused, a cold sneer curling his lips as he looked at Tu Tianxiong, who was clutching his face. He spoke each word with deliberate clarity.

Just moments ago, Tu Tianxiong’s humiliation was barely tolerable, but now, every word from Zichenyu struck him like a stone, weighing heavily upon his heart. The identity he had guarded for years as the young master of Duantian Valley was stripped away in an instant, salted for good measure.

Tu Tianxiong’s eyes grew red and swollen. Suddenly, he threw off Zichenyu’s hand, his face twisted in fury. His hand, which had just hung limp, slowly clenched into a fist, joints cracking audibly.

Seeing Tu Tianxiong’s rage, Zichenyu took a step back.

What do you think you’re doing? Let me remind you, this is the territory of the Zijin Chamber of Commerce. Outside is Zixian City, and the Zixian Palace sits atop the mountain beyond.

Tu Tianxiong gritted his teeth, speaking each word with painful clarity.

Zichenyu, you’re nothing but trash. I only came to you out of respect for your father. Otherwise, I would have beaten you long ago. As for Duantian Valley, it was once the greatest sect on the continent. If not for your collusion with outsiders, we would never have fallen so far.

With that, Tu Tianxiong turned and strode out, his lips bitten until they bled, eyes moist. A single tear slid down his cheek.

Watching Tu Tianxiong leave the private room, Zichenyu was utterly unconcerned, his attention returning to the auction below.

Dao Sansheng hurried over, grabbing Dao Dadan’s hand and shouting, “Fatty, Fatty!” shaking his arm.

Fatty slowly opened his eyes, as did his junior sister Jing’er. Both had awakened.

Once awake, Fatty shook his head, patting his forehead.

“So painful, so painful, so painful...”

His junior sister mimicked his actions.

“Where are we?”

Fatty and his junior sister spoke in unison, asking the same question.

“The Zijin Chamber of Commerce auction.”

Dao Sansheng propped his chin on his hand, watching the two as he spoke.

“What?! How did we end up here? Where did Senior Brother Tu Tianxiong go?”

The junior sister looked around in terror at the people inside the private room, retreating until she fell right into Dao Dadan’s arms.

“Let go of me, you scoundrel!” The junior sister pushed Fatty away, leaping out of his embrace.

All four stared wide-eyed at her, sizing her up as if searching for something.

“You... you...”

Fatty stammered, unable to speak a word, pointing at her with eyes wide in disbelief.

Seeing everyone staring at her, the junior sister retreated to Fatty’s arms again, looking up at him with pitiful, tearful eyes.

“I don’t care. You protect me. I don’t know any of them.”

She pouted, looking up at Fatty with a coquettish expression, clutching his clothes tightly as if afraid he might escape.

“What do you mean, you don’t know us? Senior sister, I’m from Duantian Valley! I even went to Binghuo Peak once to refine materials for our sect.”

Dao Sansheng was full of questions. This junior sister certainly had a selective memory; it hadn’t been that long, yet she’d forgotten him and treated him as a stranger.

The junior sister shot Dao Sansheng a sidelong glance, speaking irritably.

“I said I don’t know you, and I don’t. Don’t try to get close to me.”

With that, she feigned innocence, pressing her finger beneath her chin and gazing pitifully at Fatty, like a child who had caused trouble and was waiting for her parents to protect her.

Fatty, seeing her vulnerable act, stroked her hair with a loving expression, as if his heart might break for her.

“Jing’er, be good, listen to me. I’ll teach these guys a lesson for you!”

He raised his head, his tone shifting as he glared fiercely at the others.

“If any of you dare to bother our Jing’er today, I’ll take your miserable lives. Try me if you don’t believe it.”

A low-grade spiritual sword was drawn, and he brandished it menacingly at the group.

Chao Xiong’s temper flared instantly. Though his cultivation was lower than Fatty’s, this fellow was far too dismissive of those around him, especially since Dao Sansheng had just saved them. Truly, it was like biting the hand that feeds you.

“Go ahead, try it! Cut me down first, then. That so-called senior brother of yours wanted to sell you off to Young Master Zichenyu. If Dao Sansheng hadn’t rescued you, you would have already been defiled. And you act so innocent, pretending not to know us.”

Chao Xiong brought out a magic sword to confront Fatty.

The junior sister, frightened, pulled Fatty toward the door.

“You come and go as you please? Do you think this place is your home?”

Chao Xiong moved to pursue them.

Dao Sansheng held out a hand to stop him.

“Let them go.”

He shook his head in disappointment, muttering to himself.

“Of course, once you’ve married, you forget your elders. Just saw his junior sister, and he doesn’t care about me anymore.”

“Senior brother, leave it to me. I’ll teach him a lesson for you.”

Chao Xiong struggled against Dao Sansheng’s arm, shouting, “Let me at him!”

Dao Sansheng released him, pointing outside.

“They’ve gone too far anyway.” Chao Xiong laughed awkwardly, ran over, and leaned against the side, watching the auction below.

Li Zihong shot Chao Xiong a look of disdain.

“What round are we at? Any good items?”

Chao Xiong squeezed over with a smile.

Dao Sansheng was no longer interested in the auction; he just wanted to leave as soon as possible. Since Tu Tianxiong left, he felt as if a pair of eyes were watching the private room from the darkness—something felt unsafe.

“Honored guests, only a few items remain in the auction. It will soon conclude. Afterwards, I’ll have your purchases brought in for you to check and collect.”

Fox Meier entered again, standing at the doorway to address them.

“Good, bring them in.”

Dao Sansheng was impatient. He was eager to study the scroll carefully; if his suspicions proved correct, he might be able to return home immediately.

Fox Meier nodded and withdrew, arrangements made.

Soon, several young women entered, each carrying a tray with auction items. Dao Sansheng immediately spotted the two he had bid on.

“In total, it’s one million two hundred fifty thousand supreme-grade spirit stones. Would the gentleman please settle the account?”

A girl in formal dress, her hair in a ponytail, held up a paper bill for them to see.

“I’ll pay.”

Zichenyu produced a black card and placed it before her.

“These are all on me, Dao Gongzi. No need to be modest. I, Zichenyu, have never let anyone else pay the bill.”

The girl took the card, swiped it, and handed it back to Zichenyu.

“Payment received. Thank you, sir.”

Dao Sansheng put away the storage bag he had taken out.