10 Auction house
"Yes Miss." Tiger Yi replied with a nod.
Li Chen kicked the belly of his horse, urging it to move a bit faster before slowing down beside Tiger Yi.
Li Chen was about to ask a question but halted when he remembered they were in the middle of a street. How will people react to seeing glowing words appear mid-air?
With a reluctant sigh, he turned to the pagoda. The foundation was made of stones but the walls were made of oxblood wood.
Thick, round beams stood at the four sides of the building, holding the roof. Around their top and bottom were coated with gold.
Two marble phoenix statues stood before the short stairs that led to the grand doors.
Guards garbed in white robes, silver armor, and white capes stood at the entrance while a man who seemed to be their captain checked the plaques of those walking in.
"Here." A plaque flew out of the carriage and Li Chen caught it.
"It's your plaque." Xiu Ying's pleasant voice rang.
Looking at the wooden tag, Li Chen saw his name elegantly written and the star energy emitting from it was akin to that of Xiu Ying.
Turning to the back of the tag, his eyes flew wide. It read "Xiu Ying's."
Was she implying he was her property?
Exhaling loudly, he glared at the curtain hiding Xiu Ying's figure. 'Just you wait!' Li Chen snarled inwardly, his knuckles popping.
The carriage stopped and Pig Yun quickly opened the carriage's door. Seeing Xiu Ying smile at him, Pig Yun couldn't control his glee and smiled, his chubby cheeks folding.
Pig Yun had short brown hair, which he tied at the top of his head and a beard ran from his side beards to his chin.
With rosy cheeks and tiny eyes, Li Chen's first impression was that he was the innocent and cheerful type, but Pig Yun's looks were deceiving.
Unlike him, Tiger Yi had long white hair, as long as Li Chen's and an anchor beard, which he took pleasure in stroking.
His strict looks were a contrast to his gentle personality. If his average build were replaced with a silm one, Li Chen would have considered him a scholar.
Both men walked beside Xiu Ying, while Li Chen walked behind. He could see several guards's weary gazes towards him because of his mask.
However, within their caution was also hesitation. Li Chen's mask wasn't ordinary. What kind of metal mask covered one's face and the front part of the neck yet he could easily move his head about?
And how was he breathing without nostrils?
Li Chen himself had no answer to these questions. He had discovered he had no need for food as his body worked with only star energy. He also did not breathe and his voice did not come from his throat.
Rather, it was like the space around him conveys his thoughts into words when he wants to speak. So people can hear and read what he said.
As horrifying as this was, Li Chen felt strangely calm. And there was a hidden perk to all this. His body could be considered to be at its peak of purity. There was not a shred of bad blood or grime within his system, so his meridians were wider, cleaner, and shimmering like white jade.
"Miss Ying. You booked a private room for three. Who is this masked man?" The captain of the guard's asked, scrutinizing Li Chen.
"A new addition. I'll pay for him." She replied softly and walked past the man, causing him to sigh.
He wasn't done with her but Xiu Ying wasn't one to provoke. Her madness became famous after she dared to beat the prodigy of the Ice Phoenix clan.
"He's a strange one," the captain muttered to himself as Li Chen walked past him. He looked noble in his grand attire but the mask made him mysterious.
As they sat inside the private room, which hid them from the public's eyes, Xiu Ying gestured for Li Chen to approach.
[Yes?]
"Stand behind me." She said it nonchalantly while Tiger Yi and Pig Yun sat down. Seeing Pig Yun's amused gaze, Li Chen ground his teeth.
Taking a few steps forward, he stood behind her and looked down. The curtain was transparent for them inside the room but those outside couldn't see past it.
A mature man garbed in a white robe and wearing the insignia of the Ice Phoenix clan walked onto the podium with a smile.
"Many of you have surely heard of the treasures that will appear today. I won't waste your time," he chortled and the audience responded well.
"First, we have the core of a two-tailed phantom cat at the immortal human level. These vile creatures are famous for their sneaky attacks and attunement to the wind. The starting bid is...
Seeing a beautiful woman approaching the podium with a covered tray, some people stood up.
"500 Jade!"
"600!"
"900!!"
"Tsk!" Xiu Ying clicked her tongue and lowered her head to the list in her palm. Scanning through it, she paused at the last ten. She wanted three out of these ten to push herself to Immortal Daoist!
However, glancing at the man behind her and his bare hands, her eyes locked onto a gauntlet, also among the last ten.
Time slowly tickled by with other VIPs buying some relics but VIP Box 5 remained quiet, making them curious.
"Waiting for the last ten, sir..." A young, vibrant voice rang.
After waiting for a while with no response, a chuckle echoed. "Interesting… I'm guessing you're a miss." He tried again to get a reaction but nothing changed.
Finally, the first item of the last ten arrived and the man removed the covering, revealing a pair of leather gauntlets padded with metal. The fingers were sharp, like those of an eagle and the craftsmanship was almost perfect.
"An exquisite work by Master Lu Fang! The starting price is 500,000 jade." The auctioneer bellowed and whispers filled the hall.
Those on the first and second floors shook their heads because they couldn't afford something so expensive.
"Hahaha! This is a craft of my uncle's. I'd like to get it; please bear with me." The same vibrant voice rang.
Those in the VIP boxes remained quiet but a cold, feminine voice broke the silence: "600,000."
"Hahaha, Miss. I'll help you get another; let me have this one." The voice rang, but his strong tone revealed his confidence.
Seeing Xiu Ying wasn't going to reply, his voice boomed: "1 million jade!"
"Ha!" The crowd gasped.
[Forget it] Li Chen's voice rang but Xiu Ying snorted. "I'll decide that."
"1.1 million Jade."
[It's just a 3-star immortal-grade artifact.]
"Just?" Pig Yun exclaimed. Both Xiu Ying and Tiger Yi looked at Li Chen with strange eyes. He barely has anything, so what gave him the right to put an immortal-grade weapon under the term 'just'?
"1.5 million Jade!"
"1. 7 million!" Xiu Ying hissed, biting her lower lip as if she were at her limit.
"If you insist, I must let it go. Ha! What a loss." The voice sighed but Li Chen didn't feel good. Wasn't this scene famous in Eastern fantasy stories?
"Sold!" The auctioneer smiled brightly. He has sold the gauntlet for twice its price! With glee, he sent for the next item.
****
Walking out of the auction house, Xiu Ying turned to Li Chen. "Here." She brought out the gauntlet from a red ring and gave it to him.
"You can't use it to its full strength but it should protect you in the wilderness."
[Wilderness?!]
"Yes. Tiger Yi give him the map. You are to break through to the immortal human level before returning. Right now, you are not useful and your skills are pitiful. Living in comfort won't help you. Here is a pouch filled with 200 jade. Get yourself a better horse."
[But I need to be by your side. You were attacked the last time and I suspect it was from your men because no one else knew you were going there. Even the village head did not seem to know when you would arrive!]
"And how are you going to protect me with your current capability? I'll handle it like I've always done." Xiu Ying replied.
At that moment, a handsome man garbed in red robes approached them. His entourage of rich friends behind him and the eyes of the crowd.
"Miss Ying, it's good to meet you here." He beamed.
"So it's true that General Lu's son is wooing Xiu Ying!" A figure among the crowd gasped.
"Ah! He's dashing and she's beautiful; they'll make a great couple!"
'Great couple?! What a joke!' Li Chen scowled internally.
