"They…"
"Who exactly are the 'they' mentioned in Father's letter?"
"And one year later, where did Mother go?"
At this moment, Ye Hao had too many questions.
He vaguely remembered that back then, his father had left home on a stormy night.
After that, he never returned.
His mother told him
that his father had gone to handle something very important.
His mother then began teaching five-year-old him how to forge iron.
By the time his blacksmithing skills grew better and better,
his mother also disappeared without a trace.
At that time, he was alone, young, and weak.
Not long after, Uncle Zhang appeared. He would come by from time to time to help him, bring him food, and deliver medicine when he was sick.
He even paid his rent in advance.
He was practically like a father.
Thinking of this,
Ye Hao slapped his forehead. "Right! How did I not think of this? Uncle Zhang definitely knows something. Asking him is better than blindly guessing here!!"
After changing into a different set of clothes,
Ye Hao made sure there were no suspicious people around before leaving.
Along the way, he deliberately chose streets with fewer people.
…
Today, the Miteer Auction House
was bustling with people,
as lively as a marketplace fair.
It turned out that at today's auction, the Miteer Auction House had auctioned off the Qi Gathering Powder consigned by Ye Hao.
Because of the prior publicity,
various forces from Wu Tan City and its surrounding areas had all rushed over!
Everyone wanted to obtain that single Qi Gathering Powder!
One Qi Gathering Powder meant that their faction could gain one Dou Practitioner with absolute certainty!
In the future, that person might even become a Dou Master!
In Wu Tan City, a Dou Master carried considerable weight.
In the end, after fierce bidding among the various forces, the Qi Gathering Powder was sold for over three hundred and fifty thousand gold coins!
It was purchased by Xiao Zhan.
At this moment, the auction had ended.
Ya Fei and Gu Ni stood at the entrance of the auction house,
seeing off the leaders of the various forces who had come to support the event.
"Master Gu Ni, Miss Ya Fei."
Xiao Zhan walked out and cupped his fists toward the two of them.
His gaze seemed to casually sweep over Ya Fei.
His Adam's apple rolled slightly.
Ya Fei smiled politely. "Congratulations, Patriarch Xiao, on acquiring this top-grade Qi Gathering Powder."
Xiao Zhan had most likely bought this Qi Gathering Powder for Xiao Yan.
Over three hundred and fifty thousand gold coins. He had truly spent a fortune!
"Hehe, thanks to Miss Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni's care, Xiao Zhan was able to prepare so thoroughly."
Master Gu Ni did not respond to Xiao Zhan at all.
As for Ya Fei, while replying politely, her gaze constantly drifted toward the outside.
It seemed she was waiting for someone.
Xiao Zhan did not dare ask further. He cupped his fists again toward Ya Fei and Master Gu Ni and prepared to leave.
Jia Lie Nu and Ao Ba Pa saw that Xiao Zhan's enthusiasm had been met with indifference. They tactfully greeted them briefly before preparing to depart as well.
However, at that moment,
a scene unfolded that left the three of them stunned.
Just a second ago, Gu Ni and Ya Fei had been indifferent toward them.
Suddenly,
their attitudes made a complete one hundred and eighty degree turn.
Especially Gu Ni.
On his usually proud face, a flattering smile appeared.
Even his straight back bent slightly.
Ya Fei lifted the hem of her dress and hurried forward with small steps, her charming face blooming with a radiant smile.
"What is this…"
"What's going on?"
Xiao Zhan, Jia Lie Nu, and Ao Ba Pa were all bewildered!
They looked in the direction Ya Fei and Gu Ni were heading to welcome someone.
There was no respected elder in sight!
"Could it be him?" Jia Lie Nu's expression changed drastically when he saw Ye Hao. He muttered softly, "No, impossible! Even if he is a Dou Grandmaster, that still wouldn't warrant Master Gu Ni treating him like this."
Ao Ba Pa did not hear clearly and asked, "You know him?"
Jia Lie Nu's expression stiffened unnaturally. "N-no, I don't."
After saying that, he hurried away from the other side as if fleeing.
Ao Ba Pa narrowed his eyes, sensing something unusual.
"My lord, we've finally been able to wait for you. Ya Fei was worried that you might not come."
Ya Fei approached Ye Hao with a bright smile.
It was completely different from how she had treated Xiao Zhan earlier.
Ye Hao looked at Gu Ni. "Help me bring Zhang San, Uncle Zhang from the outer shops of the auction house."
"Right away, my lord. Please wait a moment."
Gu Ni had already heard from a maid that Ye Hao had a close relationship with Zhang San.
Thus, he had taken special care of him and even refunded his rent.
He even declined the offer of assistance from a nearby young maid and insisted on personally going to invite Zhang San.
"Later, prepare a quiet room for me," Ye Hao said.
"Yes, my lord. Please come inside. By the way, your Qi Gathering Powder was just auctioned off today."
Ya Fei turned slightly to guide Ye Hao inside the auction house. As they walked, she smiled and carefully reminded him to watch his step.
Xiao Zhan and Ao Ba Pa were stunned!
They watched blankly as the two figures disappeared from sight!
Gu Ni attentively led an elderly man behind them.
The two were even more astonished!
That elderly man was clearly just an ordinary person. Why was Master Gu Ni treating him so politely?
Could it all be because of that young man?
Ye Hao was about the same age as Xiao Zhan's youngest son, Xiao Yan!
Yet he could make Ya Fei, and even Gu Ni, a Second-Tier alchemist, receive him so cautiously!
Ye Hao's true identity filled them with curiosity, yet they did not dare follow to inquire.
Inside the reception hall.
Ya Fei ordered someone to bring a pot of fine tea.
She personally poured a cup for Ye Hao.
"My lord, please have some tea." Ya Fei held out the cup.
When Ye Hao took the cup,
Ya Fei deliberately created a brief physical contact.
However, Ye Hao's expression remained unchanged.
Understanding this, Ya Fei smiled and took out a purple-gold card.
The card bore the emblem of the Miteer Family.
"My lord, this is our Miteer Family's Seven-Pattern Purple Gold VIP Card. As long as you hold this card at any Miteer Family auction house, you will receive VIP treatment. At the same time, all auction-related fees will be completely waived!"
The Seven-Pattern Purple Gold Card could only be issued to experts above the level of Dou King.
In the entire Jia Ma Empire, there were only a few such cards. Each holder was a top-tier powerhouse of the Jia Ma Empire.
"This time, the Qi Gathering Powder was sold for three hundred and fifty thousand gold coins. Not a single coin is missing. It is all stored in this Seven-Pattern Purple Gold Card."
To curry favor with Ye Hao, Ya Fei had directly waived the consignment fee.
"Have the medicinal ingredients I requested been fully prepared?"
"Of course."
Ya Fei handed over a storage ring.
"My lord, the medicinal ingredients you requested are all inside. There is no need for payment. Consider these a gift from Ya Fei."
These medicinal ingredients were worth at least tens of thousands of gold coins!
To show goodwill toward Ye Hao,
Ya Fei had truly spent generously.
Ye Hao naturally understood.
"I won't take advantage of you for nothing. How about this? Prepare two sets of ingredients for Qi Gathering Powder, and I will refine them for you free of charge."
Ya Fei knew that her show of goodwill had worked.
As long as she continued her efforts,
this opportunity would certainly be firmly grasped in her hands.
With such a promising potential ally,
would she still worry about proving herself within the Miteer Family in the future?
Thus,
Ya Fei immediately bowed and said, "Then Ya Fei thanks you here, my lord."
When Ye Hao saw Zhang San arrive,
he asked Ya Fei and Gu Ni to wait outside.
Zhang San was still bewildered.
"Uncle Zhang, I came today because I have some things I want to ask you."
"What is it, Xiao Hao?"
Zhang San's eyes flickered slightly as he asked.
Ye Hao paused, then said, "Uncle Zhang, I want to learn about my parents from you."
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Bonus chapters every 200 Power Stone!