Chapter 190: Auction
As the sunset faded, the hidden moon appeared like a faint hickey, faintly glowing in the mist.
At the auction site, the general seating area was already crowded with many people. The clamor made this somewhat quiet night less eery, and the topic of this commotion was the auction itself, with people bidding from time to time.
However, the VIP seats only occasionally made a bid, as they seemed not to have much interest in these appetizers.
“There are so many people at the auction.”
Looking at the densely packed seats, Su Jiu couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.
“This auction is exceptionally fierce. If we can’t get it, then so be it… Your little lover specially sent you a sacrificial seat.”
Yun Xi was playing on her phone, leaning against a lounge chair, looking a bit unhappy, pouting her little mouth, clearly expecting to be coaxed.
Su Jiu was shocked by the thought, walked behind her, poked the bulging little face, and said with a chuckle, “What little lover? I’ve only met her twice.”
“Pfft—” The bun-like face deflated as it was poked. Yun Xi froze for a moment, quickly slapped Su Jiu’s hand, and said anxiously, “Don’t move! I’m playing a game!”
“It’s all your fault, damn it, I died again!”
Within a few seconds, Yun Xi’s face became displeased—the phone screen went black. She glanced at Su Jiu behind her, rolled her eyes, and said, “Met twice, and she sent you something? And that girl’s eyes seem to be only for you. I don’t know what you did.”
Su Jiu was stunned for a moment, then slowly came up behind her and gently explained what had happened.
From behind, she gently tidied Yun Xi’s slightly messy hair, her mind recalling the shattered state beneath Bairnis’s glamorous exterior that night, and sighed, “That girl looks quite pitiful. The medical books I studied can save her.”
“She seems to have a heavy secret buried in her heart. Perhaps I accidentally entered her world at her most difficult time. If you don’t like it…”
Su Jiu didn’t know how to finish her sentence. The experiences of that strange doctor seemed to have made her understand something: walking in the darkness, bringing light to the weak.
Just like the Night Watchers of the Dragon Country!
She couldn’t control things that were too far away, but how could she stand by when something so close was happening?
After a long silence, she realized a head had already turned, wearing a faint smile. Su Jiu was slightly startled and was about to say something when a cold finger was raised in front of her lips.
An exquisite little face was facing her, their breaths mingling, emitting wisps of heat.
A gentle voice softly came from another small pair of lips: “There’s nothing I don’t like. Do what you think is right.”
“You are indeed inside her. Sigh, that butterfly hairpin you gave me is so ugly, yet she wears it. That says a lot.”
“I… I don’t like her, I just want to save her.”
Su Jiu lowered her head slightly, her gaze shifting away, looking down at the butterfly in her hand. It lay there quietly, without any luster, as if it had been dead for a long time.
She lowered her head, like a naughty little girl waiting for a scolding from her parents.
“You lazy servant, don’t overthink it! Do you really think my Duke would quibble with a little girl? Don’t be ridiculous!”
As the gentle, tsundere voice rang out, Su Jiu found her hand being held by a slightly cool little hand. She looked up again, and the other person still had that faint smile on her face, but there was a hint of expectation in her eyes.
“What I want is never love and romance. I only hope that one day, you will become strong enough to truly stand behind me, draw your sword for me, and become a true knight.”
“At that time, I will allow you to call me by my true name as a Blood Clan member—Vivian!”
Su Jiu took a deep breath, suddenly turned around, and hugged Yun Xi tightly. She didn’t know why she did it, perhaps it was gratitude, or perhaps it was being understood?
“Thank you…”
Su Jiu said softly. It was then that she truly realized that Silly Duke was an elder who had lived for hundreds of years. Under the tempering of time, anyone would become a true elder.
A voice suddenly came from the stage. Su Jiu let go of Yun Xi and was about to look when she felt a bite on the back of her right hand.
Startled, she turned her head and saw Yun Xi had bitten her hand, breaking the skin. Yun Xi, with her cheeks puffed out, looked a bit like a little elf in the moonlight, and said softly, “You lazy servant, remember this! If you provoke another girl, I’ll bite you. If you exceed the number I have in mind, I’ll eat you.”
“Eat you?”
Looking at Su Jiu’s dazed expression, a hint of crimson flashed in Yun Xi’s eyes. She extended her slender fingers and tapped Su Jiu’s forehead, revealing two small fangs, and said ominously, “Mmm… the real eating kind.”
A louder voice came from the stage:
“Heh heh, I am old man Sam. I believe many friends know me. Today, I am holding an auction at White Eagle Harbor, and I thank you all for coming. Now, I will proceed with the auction of valuable items.”
Count Sam’s gaze slowly swept across the surroundings, pausing slightly as his gaze passed certain areas. His aged laughter echoed in the ears of everyone in the venue.
Count Sam’s words also elicited laughter from some factions in the VIP section. Old Sam had been in this realm for so many years, dealing in both legitimate and illicit affairs, and his connections were quite extensive. Even the other two Counts, who were originally in competition with him, would give him some face.
Hearing the waves of laughter, Count Sam smiled, then shifted his gaze. After looking around, he stopped at a VIP seat.
That’s where Su Jiu and Yun Xi were seated.
Sensing the unfriendly gaze, Su Jiu narrowed her eyes, then smiled at him as the people around her did. She then whispered in Yun Xi’s ear, “We’ve been targeted by that Count. Let’s try not to get involved during the auction.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the next moment, a group of beautiful female Blood Clan members, holding alchemy jade platters with both hands, flitted across the stage like butterflies and respectfully placed the platters on the auction table.
Looking up from below, everyone could see objects emitting a faint glow on the jade platters.
“Heh heh, without further ado, there are five sacrificial slots.” The Old Count pointed to a jade platter in front of him. The platter suddenly became transparent, revealing five blue butterflies lying quietly within.
“According to the agreed rules, the starting bid is three Intermediate Magic Crystals or fifteen Low-Level Magic Crystals.”
As soon as the Old Count finished speaking, shouts of bidding erupted in the empty auction hall. The first item for valuable goods was surprisingly a sacrificial slot!
The two Counts seemed to have a tacit understanding and stood up one after another, winning the sacrificial slots for the price of just five Intermediate Magic Crystals. The surrounding people, after seeing the aura they released, dared not raise any objections.
Then, several High-Rank Battle Generals successively secured the remaining slots.
Earlier, she had called Laura to ask if she wanted to participate in bidding for a slot, but when the latter heard that the lowest level here was Intermediate Battle General, she immediately chickened out.
Said she’d mingle with the crowd…
Afterwards, they began selling some Blood Clan herbs and the like. Listening to the shouts of bidding from the surroundings, Su Jiu didn’t have any extra thoughts. She didn’t lack herbs at all, so there was no need to waste time here instead of using the merit store.
Seeing Yun Xi playing mobile games as if nothing had happened, Su Jiu leaned her body gently against the soft chair back, closed her eyes lightly, and waited for the auction to end so she could leave immediately.
After some time, the Old Count’s voice piqued Su Jiu’s interest.
“The third to last treasure is a special alchemy skill. Although it may be difficult for ordinary people to cultivate, its level appears to be at least Battle King Level. This is one of the treasures this Count salvaged from the seabed.”
Su Jiu slowly opened her eyes and looked. She saw a piece of ancient-looking parchment. She couldn’t help but think to herself, Is this being delivered to me again? But judging by its appearance, it won’t be cheap.
