In the VIP room, Xuan Ying'er began to show curiosity. At this moment, she slowly released her perception, carefully observing the remnants of the stones. Her eyes stared sharply, pondering, trying to determine the next move.
Suddenly, Bai Tian's necklace moved slightly. A voice echoed in his ear, rumbling like thunder:
"Buy stone number three and seven."
The voice was so loud that Bai Tian lost his balance. Accidentally, he bumped into Xuan Ying'er's back. Their hair became tangled, and their bodies fell, with Bai Tian ending up at the bottom.
Xuan Ying'er glared at Bai Tian, her eyes blazing with anger.
Bai Tian quickly stood up, hurriedly bowing low.
"Forgive me, Young Lady. I was startled by some… voices."
Xuan Ying'er drew her sword, approaching him slowly.
"It's only the two of us here, and this room is soundproof. So, where did that voice come from? Explain!"
Bai Tian broke into a cold sweat, not knowing what to say.
Seeing his silence, Xuan Ying'er sighed, thinking perhaps Bai Tian was exhausted. She then sheathed her sword, sat back down, and ordered Bai Tian to clean up the mess.
After everything was tidied, Bai Tian once again stood behind Xuan.
The auction continued.
The second stone was sold, and when the bidding for the third stone began, Xuan Ying'er turned to Bai Tian.
"So, what voice did you hear?"
Bai Tian grew nervous, silent, his tongue stiff.
"Speak!" Xuan Ying'er pressed sharply.
"E-Etoh… it was… stone number three and seven… they hold the most valuable treasures in this auction," Bai Tian finally said, his voice trembling.
"Really?" Xuan Ying'er murmured.
Bai Tian said nothing, as if he hadn't heard her.
Xuan Ying'er let out a long sigh. Then, with conviction, she began bidding. After fierce competition, she managed to obtain the stone for 450,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones.
When the stone was cut open, only a small, ordinary-looking orb appeared. The orb was immediately delivered to Xuan Ying'er's VIP room.
Inside the room, Xuan Ying'er received the orb, staring at Bai Tian intently. That gaze felt like a thousand swords piercing into Bai Tian's heart. He quickly suggested that Xuan not judge it by the shell.
Xuan Ying'er slowly nodded, then opened the small orb. Instantly, the fragrance of a pill spread throughout the room. The audience turned their heads, curious.
One high-level alchemist in another VIP room accidentally exclaimed upon smelling the fragrance, "An Eighth-Grade Rejuvenation Pill, of the highest quality!"
The hall fell silent.
The women began gazing at Xuan Ying'er with envy and awe.
One woman in a VIP room tried to bargain.
"Why don't you sell that pill to me? Three million High-Grade Spirit Stones, how about it?"
"No. I'm wealthy enough," Xuan Ying'er replied firmly. In her heart, she thought about her mother, who had been upset recently—she needed something to soothe her.
"What about five million?" the woman said hopefully.
"No," Xuan Ying'er once again refused.
The woman sighed in disappointment, eventually giving up.
The auction continued, stone after stone being cut. Cheers and tension filled the hall, but all the women's eyes remained fixed on Xuan Ying'er, the one who had captured everyone's attention.
Finally, the auction for stone number seven began.
In the VIP room, Xuan Ying'er turned to Bai Tian, as if to confirm something. Yet, she was ignored by her own servant. Smiling bitterly, she joined the bidding. With her wealth, she secured stone number seven for 3.2 million.
When the stone was split open, the aura that emanated sent chills down everyone's spines. Inside, there appeared an ancient sword hilt. The spectators were stunned, puzzled by the discovery. Eventually, the sword was stored in her bag."Perhaps I can give this to Uncle," Xuan Ying'er thought.
By evening, the auction ended, and participants began leaving the hall. Bai Tian continued following Xuan Ying'er from behind, like a servant. They walked along the streets, observing the surroundings, until finally entering an inn. Xuan Ying'er stepped leisurely into her room. But when Bai Tian was about to enter, he was blocked by the blade in her hand.
Bai Tian looked at her sadly.
"Young Lady, the room you booked is spacious enough. I can rest in the corner, and you can set up a formation near the bed."
Xuan Ying'er thought for a moment, then nodded. She ordered Bai Tian to prepare a meal before they both rested.
Inn, room number 27.
A woman slept soundly on a soft bed, while a man sat in the corner, his eyes staring at the slightly open curtain. A room that should have been warm for a couple tonight felt silent and awkward.
Time passed in stillness, only the sigh of wind outside the window could be heard.
"Xio Tian… are you already asleep?" Xuan Ying'er's voice was soft, trembling slightly from behind the curtain.
"Not yet, Young Lady. Is there something you wish to ask?" Bai Tian replied, his voice calm, though he restrained the tremor in his heart.
Xuan Ying'er was silent for a moment, her eyes tracing Bai Tian's face in the dim light.
"You've married the girl from the Mu family… how—?"
Bai Tian lowered his head, holding his breath.
"Forgive me, Young Lady… that's a very personal question, and impolite to ask."
"Say it," Xuan Ying'er's voice was firmer now, but a gentle curiosity lingered behind it.
Bai Tian resigned, taking a deep breath.
"Young Lady… your question is too broad. What exactly do you mean by 'how'?"
Xuan Ying'er remained quiet, her eyes on him, full of emotions she could not express. For a moment, she wanted to ask more, but the words stuck in her throat.
Bai Tian held his breath, sensing the thin tension in the air. He knew this wasn't merely about his past or marriage—hidden in her gaze was curiosity, perhaps even jealousy.
"Young Lady…" his voice was soft, cautious, "is there something you truly wish to know?"
Xuan Ying'er averted her gaze briefly, then looked at him again.
"I'm just… curious. Nine months from now, I'll hold my coming-of-age ceremony and must choose a partner. Well… I'm only curious." Her voice was gentle, but each word carried heavy weight.
Bai Tian looked at her, hesitating, then asked,
"So… what is it that you truly want to know?"
"Ehm… what was it like on your wedding night?" Xuan Ying'er whispered almost inaudibly.
Bai Tian answered flatly,
"I slept outside, gazing at the starry sky, accompanied by the night wind."
Hearing this, Xuan Ying'er instantly understood. Bai Tian's marriage was merely a contract, without attachment. She pondered for a moment, feeling pity, then instinctively tossed a blanket and pillow toward Bai Tian.
"Sleep. Tomorrow, I will give you a chance," Xuan Ying'er said softly.
The night returned to silence, only the wind dancing among the trees.
Before the sun revealed its light,
Bai Tian was already awake. With calm yet precise movements, he prepared breakfast for Xuan Ying'er, each step perfect like a servant accustomed to service.
Not long after, Xuan Ying'er awoke, bathed, then stepped to the dining table. Bai Tian stood behind her, his gaze warm yet steady, as if ensuring her safety and comfort.
After breakfast, they went to the auction house. Upon entering the courtyard, the guards at the gate bowed in respect, escorting them to the main hall. The room was already filled with other participants, each face full of anticipation and excitement.
Moments later, a young woman in red stepped onto the stage. Her voice was loud yet captivating.
"Welcome back, honored participants. Today's auction… will be a little different from usual," she said with a thin smile.
She lifted several storage pouches into the air. Their arrangement resembled a spiral staircase, from the most numerous at the base to the fewest at the top. The lowest level contained 1,000 pouches, then 500, 250, 125, and at the peak only 50 pouches.
Xuan Ying'er's eyes sparkled as she stared at them, curiosity burning within. Bai Tian stood beside her, suppressing a smile.
The girl began explaining the auction mechanism.
"Today, the system is similar to gambling. Each pouch contains stones collected from various places—some already cut, some still raw. These pouches are divided into five levels.
Level 1 pouches have only a 1% chance of containing a valuable treasure. Each higher level increases the chance by 3–5%. So, Level 5 pouches have a maximum chance of 26%."
The atmosphere grew tense. Each participant began calculating, deciding which pouch to bid on, and who would win.
"Each level has its own minimum price. If multiple participants fight for the same pouch, it will go to the highest bidder," the girl continued.
Xuan Ying'er glanced at Bai Tian with a faint smile.
"As a reward for your service, choose one pouch from each level," she said gently.
Hearing this, Bai Tian's heart leapt with joy. He tried to release the perception barrier, but was hindered by a restriction. Resigned, he could only choose randomly.
When his hand reached for a Level 5 pouch, Bai Tian felt a subtle vibration from the seed of fire burning within his body. Without hesitation, he confirmed his choice: that pouch was his. The other pouches he chose randomly.
Afterward, he asked Xuan Ying'er to pay for them, then stored all the pouches in his storage bag.
Xuan Ying'er watched his actions, shaking her head slightly. She smiled inwardly, then released her perception freely, allowing herself to observe without restraint. Though she was wealthy and possessed many treasures, pleasures like this—were something she had to savor fully, far away from the busy outside world.