Nangong Yu's gaze had been following Xiao Man. Unexpectedly, Xiao Man suddenly turned around and walked directly towards Nangong Yu, her face beaming with a bright smile. A faint halo enveloped her. Despite wearing men's attire, she exuded an aura akin to a celestial being descending from heaven, gracefully taking a seat beside Nangong Yu.
Her clear, bright black eyes were filled with amusement, and her voice, like a warbler's song escaping a valley, said, "Pavilion Master, we meet again."
Nangong Yu's heart skipped a beat, and the starlight in Xiao Man's eyes dazzled him.
Nangong Yu slowly shifted his gaze to the window, concealing the momentary flutter in his heart. "You're quite restless, appearing everywhere."
"Isn't it just curiosity about what the treasure-hunting assembly is like? A friend happened to invite me, so I came to broaden my horizons," Xiao Man said, her smile unwavering. She rested her elbows on the table, leaning forward and propping her chin with her hand. "I didn't expect to see the Pavilion Master here." Su Dan Novel Network
Nangong Yu's eyes deepened; Xiao Man was too close.
So close that he could clearly feel her breath on his face, a faint, elusive fragrance that insidiously entered his nostrils, leaving him nowhere to escape.
As it was nearing the fifteenth of the month, his body grew increasingly sensitive. His gaze fell upon Xiao Man's moving red lips, and a thought of tasting them unexpectedly arose in his mind. This thought startled Nangong Yu.
"Sit properly," Nangong Yu said, creating distance between them.
"Pavilion Master, I wish to ask for your help with something. I wonder how much I should offer?" Xiao Man's smile grew even gentler.
Nangong Yu's slightly rippling thoughts were quickly suppressed. "Offending Yaoyue Tower, you cannot bear the consequences."
Xiao Man straightened up. "How boring. I've barely spoken, and you already know what I'm about to do." She immediately stood to leave, but Nangong Yu grabbed her wrist. "Don't act rashly."
Wen Mohan's attention had been fixed on Xiao Man. Seeing her in trouble, he rushed over, brushed away Nangong Yu's hand gripping Xiao Man's wrist, and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
Xiao Man shook her head, her gaze shifting to Nangong Yu. Nangong Yu's mask seemed to radiate an icy chill. His hawk-like gaze shot towards Wen Mohan, as if intending to pierce him.
Xiao Man quickly stepped forward, shielding Wen Mohan. "Farewell."
Xiao Man pulled Wen Mohan and quickly returned to their seats. Wen Mohan felt the warmth of the wrist Xiao Man held, a blush creeping onto his cheeks, his heart pounding like a drum. The joy in his eyes was undeniable.
"Wen Mohan, you've become quite bold. Do you know who that was? And you dared to provoke them?" Xiao Man pulled Wen Mohan back to sit but noticed his flushed face. Alarmed, she wondered if Nangong Yu had made a move and quickly checked Wen Mohan's pulse. "Wen Mohan, why is your heart beating so fast?"
Wen Mohan's gaze fell upon Xiao Man's delicate, jade-like fingers now pressed against his wrist. He couldn't help but avert his eyes. "I'm just a little warm."
Xiao Man withdrew her hand. Wen Mohan's body showed no signs of distress.
"I didn't expect this treasure-hunting assembly to be so full of hidden talents, with even the Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion attending in person."
Cen Yu glanced at Nangong Yu, then at Wen Mohan. Wen Mohan's current state clearly indicated infatuation, but was the object of his affection mistaken?
Wen Mohan, with his remarkable talent and noble status, was simply not worthy of Xiao Man!
"You know him?" Xiao Man asked Cen Yu, surprised.
"The Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion. Who doesn't know him?"
Cen Yu sneered inwardly. She hadn't expected Xiao Man to know the Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion. Their relationship seemed quite close.
This woman provokes men everywhere; she's so promiscuous!
Then, as if casually, she asked, "By the way, Mohan, I heard your mother has been looking for a match for you recently. Have you found anyone suitable?"
Wen Mohan's face paled. He quickly looked at Xiao Man, only to see her attention fixed on the roster in her hand, completely oblivious to Cen Yu's words. "I don't like those people."
Just as Cen Yu was about to say something more, the treasure-hunting assembly began.
The hall, which had been filled with whispers, instantly fell silent.
"Thank you all for attending the Yaoyue Tower's treasure-hunting assembly. Yaoyue Tower has prepared a grand finale treasure for this assembly. We hope everyone present will return with bountiful gains." The host spoke eloquently, commencing the auction.
Xiao Man felt bored. Her only interest was the Phoenix Pearl.
As the Phoenix Pearl was the final item to be auctioned, Xiao Man was not in a hurry. In the interim, Wen Mohan and Cen Yu bid a few times, purchasing some small items. They weren't particularly valuable, but they were exquisite.
"Next, we will auction the Phoenix Pearl," the host announced, his smile deepening as he addressed everyone. "I'm sure everyone here knows that the Phoenix Pearl was once owned by Empress Dowager Duguo of Yunqi. Consuming it can increase one's cultivation, but its true value lies in the clues to the Qin Dynasty's hidden treasures it contains."
Upon the host's words, everyone was shocked!
The Qin Dynasty, a once glorious empire, its遗留下 (left behind) treasures were immeasurable wealth. The prosperity of the Qin Dynasty was matched by the envy its treasures evoked.
"Starting bid, ten thousand taels."
"One hundred thousand taels!" Someone immediately bid. The crowd looked at the bidder, their expressions shifting. They wondered about this person's identity, to bid tenfold the starting price.
"Two hundred thousand taels," Xiao Man's delicate lips parted, joining the bidding.
Wen Mohan looked at Xiao Man. Two hundred thousand taels was no small sum. He certainly didn't have that much money on him. His gaze turned to Cen Yu. Two hundred thousand taels was a drop in the ocean for Cen Yu, but to his surprise, Cen Yu turned her face away, pretending not to see.
"Three hundred thousand," the person bid again, their gaze towards Xiao Man filled with threat.
Xiao Man shrugged and looked at Wen Mohan. "How much money do you have?"
"I have no money," Cen Yu said impolitely.
"We don't have much money at home either," Wen Mohan said tearfully. Although he was the Prime Minister's son, their family couldn't produce so much silver. If they did, the Emperor might suspect his father of corruption and embezzlement.
Xiao Man pondered, chin in hand, as she considered whether to continue bidding. Suddenly, Nangong Yu joined the bid: "Five hundred thousand taels."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd!
If it were tens of thousands of taels, they might contend, but at five hundred thousand taels, and with the Qin Dynasty's treasure possibly being mere legend and its retrieval uncertain, why spend so much silver for a single pearl?
"Six hundred thousand!"
The host, watching the soaring price, was inwardly thrilled, wishing it would double again. He thought to himself that Empress Dowager Duguo's possessions were indeed valuable; anything she owned was priceless!
"One million."
"One million five hundred thousand!" The person raised their voice, removed their mask, and declared, "Who dares to compete with my Dongfang family?"