"Nizi, what do you know," Ye Xuan said as the auction concluded with his hammer blow. "This rusty sword is a treasure."
Luo Tianyi blinked. "A treasure? Really?" She was clearly skeptical. The rusty sword looked terrible, and the Munich auction house hadn't been able to identify it. Ye Xuan, however, claimed to know it was a treasure just by looking at it. Luo Tianyi didn't believe him at all.
"Of course, it's true." Seeing his beautiful wife's disbelief, Ye Xuan smirked. "If you don't believe me, how about we make a bet?"
"A bet?" Luo Tianyi was taken aback. "What kind of bet?"
"Well..." Ye Xuan pondered, looking her up and down. "If this rusty sword is worth over a million US dollars, how about we play through all our couple's poker cards tonight?"
Luo Tianyi's eyes widened. "Play through all of them? You want to die!" She immediately lost her composure. They had only managed to get through a dozen or so cards the previous night before falling asleep. If they had to go through all of them, it would probably take a day and a night.
Afterward, Ye Xuan made several more successful bids. While none of the items were priceless treasures, they were all valuable collectibles from China. Transporting them back was simple. Baili Wushuang was currently in the UK, so Ye Xuan had him handle it. He wasn't worried about anyone else coveting the items, as few could defeat Baili Wushuang.
The auction ended quickly, and it was already noon. After paying, Ye Xuan arranged a time with the Munich auction house to collect the items and returned to his room with Luo Tianyi. After all, the auction was just a small interlude in their honeymoon.
Fifteen minutes later, Ye Xuan and Luo Tianyi, having tidied up, took a taxi to the world-renowned "Water Heaven Realm" scenic area.
"You two must be heading to the Water Heaven Realm, right?" the taxi driver, a talkative and humorous local from Nicolo City, said. "The Water Heaven Realm is the pride of our city. It brings in tens of billions in tourism revenue annually, and hundreds of millions of tourists visit each year..."
The pleasant atmosphere was shattered by a sudden screech of brakes. A large boulder blocked the road ahead. As the driver stopped, car sounds echoed from both sides of the road. The half-step War God peak experts from the Underworld Hall, who were secretly protecting Ye Xuan, felt killing intent surge in their eyes. "Everyone, pay attention! Someone is targeting the Hall Master. Stay alert."
"Wait for my command. If the Hall Master faces any uncontrollable circumstances, kill them all immediately. Do not let the Hall Master, especially the Hall Master's wife and their unborn child, suffer any harm."
"Yes, sir!" The dozen or so top experts responded solemnly. While the Hall Master was powerful, they would naturally try to handle matters without troubling him. However, the Hall Master did not want to reveal his identity to his wife, so they would only act in dire emergencies.
The cars stopped, and dozens of people emerged, all exuding a military bearing.
"Clap, clap, clap..." Mocking applause came from the side. A young man appeared, none other than Baron Phil, the "good son" of Count Locke.
"Kid, you're quite something." Phil arrived with full confidence, a stark contrast to his demeanor in Tianhai. This was Nicolo City, and his father was the acting city lord.
"Baron Phil!" The driver immediately recognized Phil, a well-known figure in Nicolo City. His heart pounded, and he swallowed hard. He wouldn't dare offend Phil, even with a thousand more lives.
"Kid... why aren't you talking anymore?" Phil sneered. "Weren't you so arrogant at the auction? A brat who doesn't know his place. Go on, cripple him!" Phil was impatient. Once the brat was defeated, the girl would be his. He was getting eager.
"Stop!!!" Just as Ye Xuan was about to act, a fierce shout was heard. The dozens of soldiers' expressions changed, and even Phil looked surprised. "Father, why are you here..."
*Slap!* Before Phil could finish, Count Locke slapped him across the face. Locke swore he had never used so much force before. Phil was sent flying like a dead dog by his own father.
"Father, you!"
*Slap!* Phil looked at his father in disbelief. He was being hit by his own father. Locke ignored his son's plight. "Shut up! Say another word, and I'll beat you to death, you scoundrel!" Locke took a deep breath and nervously bowed respectfully to Ye Xuan. "Locke greets Duke Ye, and Duchess!" He placed his right hand on his left shoulder and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees. Everyone behind him did the same. Phil and the surrounding soldiers were stunned.
What the hell? Duke? And Duchess? The implications were terrifying. Count Locke's actions had confirmed everything. This young man before them was an incredibly noble Duke. How could this be?
"We... we greet Duke Ye, and Duchess!" Understanding the situation, they dared not be disrespectful. The title of Duke was extremely noble. If they had offended him, they deserved death.
*Slap!* Locke slapped his son's head again, forcing him to his knees. "You scoundrel! Get on your knees and kowtow to Duke Ye and the Duchess!" Locke then bowed even more respectfully. "Your Grace, this is my unpromising son. He has offended you, and according to the law, he deserves a slow and painful death." "Tomorrow, I will personally escort this scoundrel through Nicolo City and have him dismembered in front of all the citizens!"
*Boom...* Phil's pupils shrank. His father was going to have him executed. What the hell was wrong with this old man?