“He was no longer foolish. He even killed his own parents, murdered the children who usually bullied him, and finally set the village on fire before leaving. After he left, I managed to save some of the innocent people, but I didn’t save the others.”
A trace of loneliness flickered in Li Niang’s striking eyes.
She sighed softly and changed the subject. “Did you know, Miss Feng? Those who’ve cultivated to my level usually have hearts as steady as rock. Very few can still stir my emotions.”
“But this young man was the only exception. He moved my heart of compassion. In him, I saw my own shadow.”
“So I deliberately gave him the chance to seek revenge and let him go.”
After listening to Li Niang’s account, Feng Qingran’s eyes grew complex. She had wanted to kill Chong Lou solely because she knew he would bring disaster to the world in the future.
Li Niang had spared Chong Lou because she saw the tragedy he had endured.
As Feng Qingran fell into thought, Li Niang spoke again, “Actually, he showed up at the Tongwen Pavilion after I’d finished saving people.”
“He knelt before me, begging me to take him away and to accept him as my disciple…”
As she spoke, Li Niang took out a box and handed it to Feng Qingran. “I’m returning this to you, Miss Feng. I don’t deserve it.”
Feng Qingran lightly raised her jade-like hand and pushed the box back. “This was a gift for you. There’s no need to return it.”
“Since he’s already become your disciple, tell him to tread carefully. If he dares to cause harm, I will surely kill him!” Her words were clear and measured, her voice crisp, yet an aura of cold severity emanated from her, imposing and formidable.
“Thank you,” Li Niang said, rising to give Feng Qingran a formal bow.
Feng Qingran stood up. With a flick of her sleeve, the jade slip on the table turned to dust.
Her complexion glowed like crystalline jade, radiant as the morning sun rising through dawn clouds. Her beautiful eyes swept around and then fixed meaningfully on a screen not far away.
Suddenly—
“Caw! Wolfish ambitions… Ingrate… Big… Big sucker…”
Zhuo Yan, who had been silent for a long time, tore off the talisman and started mimicking a parrot.
Feng Qingran’s eyebrow twitched. She pinched Zhuo Yan’s beak and forced an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I must take my leave now.”
She beat a hasty retreat. The imposing aura she’d worked so hard to build had been utterly ruined by Zhuo Yan.
After all, Li Niang was a Virtual God realm cultivator. As a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, any aura Feng Qingran projected in front of her would be fragile as a bubble.
Li Niang had been preoccupied with matters concerning Chong Lou and Lady Miaoyin, and hadn’t reacted immediately, which was why Feng Qingran had managed to momentarily overshadow her.
But with Zhuo Yan’s outburst, Feng Qingran had no choice but to leave.
——————————
The entrance to the auction house was bustling with a flowing crowd.
Feng Qingran warned, “Zhuo Yan, if you dare say a word after we go in, I’ll have Seventh Brother stew you into pigeon soup when we get back!”
“Wouldn’t dare… wouldn’t dare…” Zhuo Yan pleaded for mercy. Their master doted on this young girl far too much; he might actually agree!
Feng Qingran snorted coldly and joined the line to enter the auction venue.
Most people didn’t recognize the VIP token Sixth Brother had given her. Even if she showed it here, people in line wouldn’t make way for her.
Why bother inviting frustration?
Just as Feng Qingran found her place in line, she overheard the people in front of her talking.
“The entry fee this time is downright robbery! Three hundred mid-grade spirit stones per person! If all our money goes to the fee, how are we supposed to buy anything?”
“Exactly! But who are we without power or backing? We just have to put up with their bullying!”
“I’m not going in to buy anything. I just want to catch a glimpse of that Spirit Origin Fruit. I hear only those at the Nascent Soul stage can afford such a thing…”
“Hey, don’t say that. Just the preparations for this auction took two years. It’s unprecedentedly grand. Getting to see it for ourselves is worth something…”
“I got in line early. A few hours ago, I saw the sect leaders from several major sects enter. Also, the Old Ancestor of the Luo Family and the Old Ancestor of the Feng Family…”
“It’s just a Spirit Origin Fruit. Why would those Virtual God realm experts come here?”
“Shh! I heard from my distant aunt’s cousin’s brother-in-law that there’s something even better than the Spirit Origin Fruit at this auction!”
“Whoa! Are you sure? You can’t spread rumors like that!” The speaker cautiously glanced around at the people nearby.
“I’m not sure either, but he swore it was true. His status is pretty high, so he’s probably not wrong…”
…
Feng Qingran listened idly. Something more valuable than the Spirit Origin Fruit? That would be the Heaven Origin Fruit.
She inwardly admired the shrewdness of the Shu Mo Auction House. They didn’t explicitly announce the Heaven Origin Fruit.
Instead, they let rumors about it spread, leaving the various powers to speculate amongst themselves.
This way, no one would dare try to steal the Heaven Origin Fruit by force.
About a quarter of an hour later, Feng Qingran realized she was still standing in the same spot.
Strangely, no one around her was complaining.
Just then—
Clip-clop! Clip-clop!—
A young woman came riding on horseback. She had delicate features, wore vibrant red clothes, and radiated a bright, bold confidence.
The horse stopped right in front of Feng Qingran. The young woman looked down at her, scrutinizing her from her elevated position.
“Miss Sheng, you’ve finally arrived! We’ve held everyone here as you instructed,” said an obsequious steward, making his way through the crowd to greet the young woman.
“Well done!” The young woman tossed the reins to the steward and dismounted in one fluid, spirited motion.
She walked up to Feng Qingran and extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Sheng Shike. Would you like to enter with me?”
The surrounding crowd erupted in murmurs, everyone looking at Feng Qingran with envy.
To gain the favor of the Sheng Family’s young mistress—what an immense honor!
But why was Miss Sheng singling out Feng Qingran? Could it be that their own charm was less than that of a young girl?
Feng Qingran, however, felt not the slightest bit honored.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Every hair on her body stood on end. She sensed an extremely dangerous aura emanating from Sheng Shike.
