Having not seen each other since their secluded cultivation, Han Qianqiu and Situ Ling remained within the Pill Pavilion to catch up.
Meanwhile, Bai Qiuyuan descended the mountain alongside Elder Zhao, heading towards a restaurant.
After ordering their dishes, Bai Qiuyuan picked up the teapot from the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and inquired.
“So, Elder, your descent this time is for an item hidden within the auction?”
Elder Zhao, whose full name was Zhao Yang, nodded in response and began to explain.
“Precisely.”
“The Tree Ape Vermillion Fruit is a precious medicinal ingredient, capable of refining eighth-grade pills.”
“It is truly a rarity, encountered perhaps once in a century, and the Pavilion Master has instructed me to obtain it by any means necessary during this trip down the mountain.”
“I was already passing by the mountain gate earlier, intending to come here for the auction.”
“There is still some time before the auction officially commences.”
Bai Qiuyuan nodded upon hearing this, took a sip from his freshly poured tea, and refrained from asking further questions.
In truth, if Bai Qiuyuan wished, he could conjure not just a century-old Tree Ape Vermillion Fruit, but even one aged a thousand or ten thousand years.
However, Bai Qiuyuan himself harbored a keen interest in auctions, which was why he hadn’t revealed his capabilities from the outset.
[Although I can manifest anything with my modifier, the cultivation world abounds with treasures whose names I don’t even know.]
[This is a perfect opportunity to ‘freeload’ (TL Note: A slang term meaning to get something for free or without effort) at the auction and see if there are any valuable items.]
Just then, Bai Qiuyuan faintly perceived a clamor emanating from downstairs, outside their private room.
Both Bai Qiuyuan and Zhao Yang extended their divine senses simultaneously, scrutinizing the situation unfolding below.
“What? Fully booked? This young lady has already searched five inns! All of them full?”
“Do you think this young lady lacks funds?!”
A black-haired girl, appearing to be around eighteen, clad in crimson robes and adorned with numerous luxurious ornaments, leaned one hand on the counter, glaring at the proprietor as she shouted.
The girl’s cultivation base seemed to be around the first level of Foundation Establishment.
Trailing behind her were two black-clad attendants, both possessing strength around the first level of Core Formation.
The girl was clearly no rogue cultivator; she was likely the offspring of some prominent cultivation clan.
Her behavior immediately drew the attention of many diners nearby.
The proprietor, sensing the girl’s extraordinary background, dared not be negligent and hastily explained.
“Young lady… ah, no! Heroine! I truly am not deceiving you!”
“Today, the Dragon Ascent Merchant Guild is hosting an auction.”
“Many people have flocked to the city for the auction, which is why all the nearby taverns and inns are completely overflowing!”
“Perhaps you could try again another time? When you return, I’ll offer you a discount on your meal.”
The girl, however, did not appreciate the gesture and instead questioned.
“As long as a spot frees up, that’s fine, isn’t it?!”
With that, her gaze swept towards the finest private room in the entire establishment—the very one Bai Qiuyuan occupied.
****
Bai Qiuyuan: “…”
[Whose daughter is this? So brazen?]
[She dares to snatch a private room reserved by an Elder of the Pill Pavilion?]
[However… I happen to be in need of a guide.]
A mischievous smile crept onto Bai Qiuyuan’s lips as this thought crossed his mind.
Zhao Yang had evidently also noticed the girl approaching their direction.
After a slight frown, Zhao Yang prepared to stand, addressing Bai Qiuyuan.
“Old Ancestor, I shall go and speak with them.”
Bai Qiuyuan waved a hand at Zhao Yang, gesturing for him to remain seated.
Zhao Yang paused for a moment in surprise, then, without further inquiry, settled back into his seat.
Bang!
The private room’s door was flung open by the two attendants, and the crimson-clad girl strode inside, casting a glance at Bai Qiuyuan and Zhao Yang before smiling.
“Is it just the two of you in here?”
“…”
Seeing that neither of them replied, the girl immediately chuckled, musing inwardly.
[Looks like two soft persimmons (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning easily bullied)! This will be easy to handle!]
She then declared arrogantly.
“This place is taken by this young lady!”
“Now scram, both of you!”
Bai Qiuyuan set down his teacup, turning his head to look at the girl as he spoke.
“Young lady, since you’ve come, why not stay and assist me with something?”
Only then did the crimson-clad girl clearly discern Bai Qiuyuan’s face; after staring blankly for a few seconds, she laughed.
“Oh? And what if I’m unwilling to help?”
No sooner had she spoken than the girl watched Bai Qiuyuan raise his hand, forming a sword-finger gesture, and pointing it towards the private room’s entrance.
The crimson-clad girl: “?”
Rumble!!
A tremendous peal of thunder reverberated through the inn!
Instantly, the girl’s two attendants were directly blasted from the second-floor private room entrance!
They slammed violently into the wall beside a corner staircase within the inn!
Vast, spiderweb-like cracks erupted across the wall due to their impact!
Just like that, both Core Formation cultivators, in a single encounter, lost consciousness, embedded in the wall in a profound stupor!
Bai Qiuyuan rose, stepped out of the private room, and tossed a high-grade spirit stone to the proprietor downstairs, who was watching their private room with a worried expression, saying.
“For the wall’s repairs.”
Having spoken, Bai Qiuyuan returned to the private room and closed the door.
Everyone stared blankly at the two Core Formation cultivators plastered against the wall, utterly bewildered by what had just transpired in that fleeting moment.
****
Zhao Yang silently observed Bai Qiuyuan, who, after sealing the girl’s cultivation, proceeded to retrieve a rope from his spatial ring and bind her to a chair.
Those outside might not have clearly seen what had just occurred.
However, Zhao Yang, inside the private room, had witnessed everything with perfect clarity!
A moment ago, a bolt of lightning had erupted from Bai Qiuyuan’s fingertip!
It was that very bolt of lightning that had sent the two attendants flying!
That was a lightning art unique to those with a Lightning Spirit Root!
[This Old Ancestor possesses a mutated Lightning Spirit Root!]
[Indeed, this Old Ancestor has been concealing his cultivation all along!]
[To be able to completely retract his cultivation… what realm has he truly reached?]
“Do you know who I am?!”
“How dare you bind me?!”
Bound, the girl shrieked furiously, seemingly unfazed by the formidable cultivation Bai Qiuyuan had displayed.
Bai Qiuyuan, looking at the girl, retorted.
“Then do you know who I am?”
The girl was instantly dumbfounded by Bai Qiuyuan’s question; after pondering for a moment, she inquired.
“Who are you?”
Bai Qiuyuan chuckled in response.
“It’s better that you don’t know.”
The girl: “???”
Just as the girl suspected Bai Qiuyuan was toying with her, he produced the Duanmo Sword from his spatial ring.
Upon seeing it, the girl nervously eyed Bai Qiuyuan and asked.
“What are you going to do?!”
Bai Qiuyuan smiled.
“I’m merely taking it out for a look, but if you continue to shout, this sword might just find itself embedded in you shortly.”
Upon hearing this, the girl immediately clamped her mouth shut obediently.
The girl realized that the person before her genuinely seemed not to recognize her! And, more importantly, he wasn’t afraid of her in the slightest!
Beside them, Zhao Yang observed Bai Qiuyuan with a subtle, ambiguous gaze.
Bai Qiuyuan set the sword aside, and noticing Zhao Yang’s expression, he explained with a smile.
“For a brat like this (TL Note: ‘Xiong haizi’ is a colloquial term for a mischievous or unruly child), if you simply let her go, she would absolutely not let the matter rest after leaving.”
Hearing Bai Qiuyuan’s words, Zhao Yang glanced at the girl, who, despite being bound, still glared fiercely at Bai Qiuyuan, and fell into contemplation.
He then silently nodded, agreeing that Bai Qiuyuan’s assessment was correct.
Bai Qiuyuan continued to chuckle.
“Therefore, I intend to let her experience the harsh realities of this world.”
Zhao Yang: “?”
[Something feels… off?]
The crimson-clad girl: “!!!”
[This guy… he’s not a pervert, is he?!]
[What is he going to do to me?!]
…
…
****
All the dishes in the private room had been served.
Bai Qiuyuan and Zhao Yang proceeded to eat their meal, unconcerned.
The girl, meanwhile, remained tied to a chair at the side, drooling as she watched Bai Qiuyuan and Zhao Yang feast on their grand meal.
Grrrrowl~
The girl’s stomach rumbled.
Having spent her time searching for an inn, the girl hadn’t eaten yet, and now, confronted with such an abundance of delicacies, it was truly difficult for her not to feel ravenous.
Bai Qiuyuan, throughout this, completely ignored the girl, eating his meal as if nothing out of the ordinary were happening.
During this time, Bai Qiuyuan ate with such deliberate slowness, chewing meticulously and taking his time!
It made the girl utterly famished just watching him.
The girl: “…”
[Is this what you meant by the harsh realities of this world?… ]
[You are truly too ‘hunger-inducing’ (TL Note: A pun on ‘xiǎn è,’ meaning sinister or treacherous, and ‘xiǎn è,’ meaning obviously hungry, used here to mean ‘making one obviously hungry’).]
…
After finishing his meal, Bai Qiuyuan looked at the girl and inquired.
“What is your name?”
The girl, bristling with anger, turned her head away, feigning deafness.
Seeing this, Bai Qiuyuan did not press further; instead, he grasped the Duanmo Sword lying beside him and chuckled.
“I have a habit: for matters that can be resolved with action, I never use words.”
“For matters that can be resolved with words, I first use action.”
The girl, startled, immediately cried out.
“My name is Jiang Ruoyun! I am the daughter of the Artifact Pavilion Master! If you kill me, my father will absolutely not let you off!”
Bai Qiuyuan, hearing this, smiled and asked.
“And what is your father’s cultivation level?”
Jiang Ruoyun, seeing Bai Qiuyuan falter, rejoiced inwardly and chuckled.
“My father is a powerful expert at the fifth level of Nascent Soul cultivation!”
Bang!
No sooner had Jiang Ruoyun finished speaking than Bai Qiuyuan thrust his sword into a floor tile beside her foot!
The floor tile instantly shattered into fragments, as easily as tofu, beneath the sword’s scabbard!
Staring at the shattered tile at her feet, Jiang Ruoyun couldn’t help but subconsciously wonder what would have happened if the sword hadn’t veered, but had pierced her foot instead…
Bai Qiuyuan looked at Jiang Ruoyun and smiled.
“I wager you’ll ‘walk’ ahead of your father (TL Note: A euphemism for dying before someone else, implying she would die before her father could avenge her).”
At this moment, feeling the oppressive aura of death emanating from Bai Qiuyuan, Jiang Ruoyun found herself utterly incapable of conceiving any thought of resistance.
Cold sweat instantly drenched her back.
[This guy… he’s serious… ]
Jiang Ruoyun swallowed hard upon hearing this, then obediently clamped her mouth shut.
Bai Qiuyuan inquired.
“You’re also planning to attend the auction, aren’t you?”
Jiang Ruoyun, upon hearing this, asked cautiously.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to do me a favor.”
“Of course, you are free to refuse.”
Bai Qiuyuan stated, his expression benign (TL Note: A pun on ‘hé shàn,’ meaning benevolent, used here to imply a ‘nuclear’ or ‘deadly’ benevolence), as he simultaneously pulled the Duanmo Sword from where it was embedded in the ground.
Jiang Ruoyun: “…”
“I agree to help you!”
With that, Bai Qiuyuan simply lifted the Duanmo Sword and slashed it a few times; the ropes binding Jiang Ruoyun were instantly severed by the sword qi!
“Rest assured, I have no interest in you.”
“Once the auction concludes, I will release you.”
Having said this, Bai Qiuyuan stored the Duanmo Sword back into his spatial ring.
He then stepped out of the private room.
Zhao Yang followed closely beside Bai Qiuyuan, his voice imbued with doubt as he transmitted his question.
“Old Ancestor, why do you wish for her to accompany us?”
Bai Qiuyuan glanced at Zhao Yang and inquired.
“Do you know what women like?”
The old man, who had been single for several centuries due to his cultivation, fell into deep contemplation upon hearing this.
Bai Qiuyuan spread his hands, replying.
“I don’t know either.”
“This auction should have some items that could serve as gifts for Qianqiu.”
“But I’m unsure what kind of things women prefer.”
“However, hasn’t someone just delivered herself to our doorstep?”
With that, Bai Qiuyuan looked back at Jiang Ruoyun, who had just risen.
Jiang Ruoyun, seeing this, stiffened, then immediately followed behind Bai Qiuyuan and Zhao Yang.
Zhao Yang, after hearing this, stared at Bai Qiuyuan for a few seconds, then revealed a smile of ambiguous meaning.