The Auction’s Deception and a Heart’s Betrayal

The banquet at Fragrant Cloud Pavilion, ostensibly a gathering for cultivators to discuss the Dao and exchange insights, had unexpectedly transformed into an auction. Mo Lian’s introduction of several Core Formation realm treasures instantly electrified the atmosphere.

She had pondered all night, yet couldn’t quite fathom Xiao Yao’s true intentions. Nevertheless, remembering the subtle methods of ‘immortals’, she adhered to their agreement, ensuring the cultivators remained settled.

Simple spiritual food could no longer appease the restive crowd. Only a more stimulating activity, an auction, would truly suffice.

The people who had converged on Dangyang were utterly chaotic. While her Core Formation cultivation could suppress most of them, it didn’t mean she could truly control their avaricious desires.

“My Lady, isn’t this method of auctioning rather ill-advised?” Su Mo, positioned by Mo Lian’s side, sensed that her superior seemed intent on protecting her.

The Demon Suppression Bureau, it seemed, was not as terrible as she had imagined.

****

The cultivators settled into their seats, bickering and bargaining, almost coming to blows over the price of a single spirit stone.

Yet, none of them actually resorted to violence, nor did they show any intention of leaving.

This was a rare auction and trade fair indeed. After being away from the cultivation world for so long, such an event, organized by a Core Formation cultivator, was a truly uncommon sight.

There was some assurance of safety, not much, but enough to tempt them.

Even if the price wasn’t satisfactory, they could always ‘renegotiate’ later, couldn’t they?

“Are you referring to potential conflicts that might arise later?” Mo Lian lowered her voice, employing a subtle technique that allowed only the two of them to hear each other, while the surrounding cultivators remained utterly oblivious.

“Yes, there are both sect disciples and rogue cultivators here, with vastly differing intentions,” Su Mo replied, furrowing her brows. “It’s truly difficult for them to coexist peacefully.”

“Since you dare to bring it up, do you have an idea?” Mo Lian leaned closer, a hint of curiosity subtly coloring her otherwise calm voice.

Placing her cup deliberately on the table, Su Mo pointed as she spoke:

“If this were a truly valuable treasure, then the greedy would naturally covet it,” Su Mo explained. “The greater its worth, the more others would suppress their other schemes, striving to be the first to seize it.”

“Then, one person would depart with the treasure, vanishing after leaving the city, and it would no longer be your Lady’s concern. The remaining petty individuals wouldn’t dare cause trouble.”

“And what if there is no such treasure?” Mo Lian almost suspected Su Mo was trying to trick her, subtly probing to see if she indeed possessed such a valuable item.

Waving a hand dismissively, Su Mo casually replied:

“Just make one up, My Lady. You are a Core Formation cultivator; your word is law.”

Mo Lian meticulously observed Su Mo, noting how the alluring charm in her very bones was akin to a fox’s, and so, it seemed, was her cunning mind.

How could she not have thought of such a devious trick herself?

‘Have I been too straightforward all this time?’ Mo Lian mused, recalling her past preference for ‘subduing people with virtue’ and her genuine reluctance to exert her mind.

Now, if she were to invent a treasure on the spot, how could she best ignite their inherent greed?

Seeing her superior fall silent, deep in thought, Su Mo chose not to disturb her.

However, a fleeting, unintentional glance at Xu Qingzhu and his two childhood sweethearts suddenly filled her with a wave of irritation.

‘Once this matter is concluded, I’ll pack my things and leave,’ she thought, her heart a tangled mess of emotions. It felt as though, in the very next moment, she might impulsively flee, going far away and never wanting to see them again.

Leaving sooner or later, it would be the same. Would she truly be unable to move an inch without Xu Qingzhu’s protection?

‘I refuse to believe it,’ she thought, clenching her fists. She averted her gaze, no longer looking at the pair of childhood sweethearts.

****

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Xu Qingzhu found his attention constantly drifting towards Su Mo.

His gaze would rest on his childhood sweetheart, only to find himself, in the turning of his head, invariably searching for Su Mo’s figure.

During their conversation, he found himself somewhat distracted, a fact that even surprised him.

Could it be that the love he had subtly hinted at, the love he had even deceived himself into believing, had actually reached such a profound stage?

It seemed he had successfully deceived himself into developing genuine feelings for Su Mo.

‘Yes, it’s a deception,’ he firmly told himself.

“Little Brother Zhu, it was so hard to find you!” Lu Yanling exclaimed, savoring the long-awaited spiritual food. She felt as if good things truly came in pairs.

She had eaten her fill, and her beloved had been found.

He took a sip of green tea, allowing the faint spiritual energy to surge gently in his mouth, leaving behind a refreshing fragrance.

Spiritual tea could indeed aid cultivators in their practice, accumulating spiritual energy and even advancing minor realms. However, in the cultivation world, a single spiritual field could easily yield a vast expanse of it.

One of the reasons the cultivation world looked down upon mortal food was that, in the mortal realm, random planting often yielded spiritual plants imbued with spiritual energy and miraculous effects, allowing for lavish indulgence.

‘Heaven on Earth’—that was the mortal realm’s poetic term for the cultivation world.

“Hmm, how did you find your way here?” Xu Qingzhu asked, though he harbored a few suspicions.

When he had previously compelled Bai Yunbo to divine her location, learning she was in the mortal realm, he had already anticipated the day they would meet again.

It was simply too soon, and the meeting place was far from ideal, even dangerous.

He couldn’t feel at ease about her; he had to keep an eye on her.

Flashing her small canines, Lu Yanling proudly tilted her head, a playful smile gracing her lips as she chuckled:

“When it comes to finding people, our Lu family is the strongest in the entire Moon Gate Sect!” she boasted. “As a direct disciple of the Lu family, naturally, I am…”

He shook his head with a wry smile. While feeling helpless, he also felt a pang of familiar warmth.

How long had it been since he last saw her so utterly carefree?

Yet, as he listened to her speak, Xu Qingzhu’s expression grew increasingly grim, his eyes even harboring a distinct hint of murderous intent.

“You said you met Senior Brother Xiao outside the city?” he repeated, cutting off Lu Yanling mid-sentence.

Seeing him turn sullen, Lu Yanling blinked in confusion, utterly baffled as to what this had to do with Senior Brother Xiao.

“Yes, he even pointed the way for me, saving me so much time,” she chirped. “Little Brother Zhu, is there some misunderstanding between you two?” She tilted her head, her voice laced with innocent curiosity.

“No, continue,” Xu Qingzhu said, his expression fluctuating erratically. He made a mental note of the matter.

Nodding, Lu Yanling recounted everything in meticulous detail, as if listing her most cherished possessions: dropping her money pouch, meeting Su Mo, being invited to eat, and finally, receiving an invitation to the Fragrant Cloud Pavilion.

But as she continued speaking, the cup in Xu Qingzhu’s hand suddenly shattered.

He lowered his eyes, staring fixedly at the tabletop.

“Li-Little Brother Zhu?” she stammered, trembling with fright.

Word by word, Xu Qingzhu slowly turned his head and questioned her:

“You said Su Mo brought you to Fragrant Cloud Pavilion?”

“Little Brother Zhu, please don’t scare me…”

“Yes or no?” he demanded, his voice laced with an unusual fury, unable to conceal the raw emotions in his eyes. He had anticipated this outcome, yet upon discovering the ‘truth’, a profound sadness was unavoidable.

“Mm… mhm,” Lu Yanling mumbled, nodding. She buried her head in her food, daring not to speak another word.

Amidst the heavy silence, Xu Qingzhu looked up and gazed into the distance. There, beside the Core Formation cultivator, Su Mo was laughing and chatting with others, seemingly engaged in some private exchange.

Sweeping away the shattered pieces of the cup from the table, Xu Qingzhu’s face remained utterly expressionless as he picked up some food for his childhood sweetheart.

His heart was already a turbulent sea, constantly repeating:

‘She truly is the demoness Su,’ he thought, a bitter taste in his mouth. ‘She has been deceiving me all along… It was all an act, all fake…’

Each vivid scene flickered, then shattered in his mind’s eye, as if piercing his very soul, leaving only bloodshot eyes and a bleeding heart.

‘From now on, killing my wife to prove the Dao will be a step further,’ he chuckled inwardly, yet found himself unable to shed that deep sorrow.

With a faint smile, he looked at Lu Yanling and said, “Little Ling, return to the sect tomorrow. Don’t come looking for me again.”

*Smash!* Her bowl crashed, and she stared, stunned, tears welling in her eyes.

Sobbing, she asked, “Little Brother Zhu, are you abandoning me?”

Unable to resist, he gently ruffled her hair, making her twin ponytails sway. “For your future,” Xu Qingzhu whispered, “there are things I must do.”

With that, he looked at Su Mo, their gazes meeting across the distance.

Watching the two stare at each other for a prolonged moment, Lu Yanling bit her lip, realizing it was all because of Su Mo.

She immediately threw herself onto Xu Qingzhu, crying and wailing, yet unable to make him retract his words.

“Wuwuwu, Little Brother Zhu really doesn’t want me anymore.”

‘No, I merely need to kill my wife to prove the Dao,’ Xu Qingzhu explained silently to himself, his lips tightly sealed.

‘…’ On the other side, watching the pair of childhood sweethearts ‘squabble’, Su Mo let out a self-deprecating chuckle and shook her head.

Several voices echoed in her ear before she realized the Core Formation cultivator was calling her:

“Miss Su, how about you fabricate a valuable treasure? If you succeed, I will reward you handsomely.”

Slightly startled, she hadn’t expected her superior to ponder for so long only to utter such a request. To have her fabricate one? Well, she certainly could spin a tale.

“My Lady, rest assured, you only need to provide me with one item,” Su Mo said, sipping her tea with a faint smile, a hint of sadness hidden deep within her eyes.