Chapter 022
Chapter 22: Can’t I Just Be Suddenly Kind?
Shi Zi Chu chewed softly on a sweet, delicate pastry, her gaze drifting toward the water mirror. A man on the auction stage was hanging by several chains within a cage. His robes were clean, his inky hair cascading loosely around him. His poetic and graceful face had been forcibly raised, displayed openly for admiration.
That face struck the hearts of many noble young misses. Gradually, their bids rose higher.
Shi Zi Chu’s lips curved gently upward as she watched the man, helpless and robbed of all dignity.
She casually reached for the auction bell beside her and pressed it, saying lightly, “Three hundred thousand.”
Her soft, melodious voice traveled outward through the specially arranged sound transmission stone.
Her words echoed clearly throughout the auction hall, causing many cultivators to look upward in surprise.
This was only the fifth auction item, yet someone from the top floor was already bidding?
A mere man who possessed spiritual roots but could not cultivate—despite his beauty—wasn’t worth offending anyone from the top floor.
Thus, after Shi Zi Chu’s bid, no one else spoke up.
“Top Floor, Room Three bids three hundred thousand spirit stones, once!”
“Three hundred thousand spirit stones, twice!”
…
Inside her private room, Chu Zhi Rou inexplicably found the voice familiar.
[Shi Zi Chu?]
The very next second, she shook her head, dismissing the thought.
Shi Zi Chu didn’t have the ability to appear at the Cloud City Auction, much less obtain an invitation card to a top-floor suite!
“It’s Shi Zi Chu,” Xu Zhou Ye coldly affirmed, eyebrows knitted tightly together. “How is she in a top-floor suite?”
Seeing the certainty on Xu Zhou Ye’s face, Chu Zhi Rou’s heart sank slightly, though outwardly she displayed only concern. “Top-floor rooms are only open to the three sects, five schools, and seven clans. Second Senior Sister, she…”
“What a shameless woman,” Pei Qing You sneered disdainfully. Remembering Shi Zi Chu’s earlier visit to the shop to purchase scented balm, he felt increasingly convinced in his suspicions. “Who knows what tricks she used and who she seduced!”
“Second Senior Sister is still a personal disciple of Rising Succession Peak,” Chu Zhi Rou said softly, worry glistening in her beautiful eyes. “I don’t want to see Second Senior Sister go astray. I have to go find her!”
Eldest Brother disliked auctions, and the Ye Clan’s private room was certainly under Mother’s control. If Shi Zi Chu had gone to the top floor, she must have seduced a man from another noble family.
If Master found out Shi Zi Chu was vain enough to seduce a man, her punishment would surely be severe!
“Rou Rou, you!” Pei Qing You felt helpless frustration, unable to change her mind.
Chu Zhi Rou, however, insisted on rising to find Shi Zi Chu.
Left with no choice, the two men could only follow behind.
In Suite Nine on the top floor, the man sitting upright narrowed his eyes slightly.
[That was Jiu Jiu’s voice.]
In this short pause, Lan Xi’s melodious voice echoed again from the auction stage.
“Three hundred thousand spirit stones, sold!”
With the third bid completed, Lan Xi struck the auction hammer lightly, saying in her gentle voice, “Congratulations to Top Floor, Room Three, for winning the fifth auction item! An attendant will deliver your item shortly.”
“Next, the sixth auction item is…”
Shi Zi Chu withdrew her gaze, noticing Ye He Qi and Jiang Wan Sheng staring intently at her.
Ye He Qi’s eyes held curiosity, whereas Jiang Wan Sheng’s gaze had darkened considerably, shadowy and cold.
Meeting their gazes, Shi Zi Chu gave a gentle, innocent smile. “What’s the matter?”
Jiang Wan Sheng leaned back slightly in silence. The golden snake wrapped around his fingers quietly curled up, avoiding becoming an outlet for its master’s irritation.
Ye He Qi’s warm voice slowly filled the room. “Daoist Shi, seizing another person’s spiritual root is damaging to one’s fate.”
Shi Zi Chu paused briefly, then laughed softly, replying, “Clan Chief Ye, you’re wrongly accusing me.”
The man she had just bid for was destined to become a famed beast tamer in the future.
Due to Chu Zhi Rou saving him at this auction, he would later willingly sacrifice himself to ensure Chu Zhi Rou’s survival.
Such a promising future talent—how could someone as kind-hearted as herself simply watch without helping?
At this thought, Shi Zi Chu’s smile deepened even more.
Aside from stealing spiritual roots, Ye He Qi couldn’t imagine why Shi Zi Chu would spend three hundred thousand spirit stones on a useless beauty.
“Can’t I just be suddenly kind?” Shi Zi Chu rested her cheek lightly against her hand, eyes curving softly as she smiled gently and innocently.
Ye He Qi: …
Jiang Wan Sheng: …
The golden snake wrapped around Jiang Wan Sheng’s wrist stiffened, as if frightened by the absurd words.
Ye He Qi silently withdrew his gaze.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
Ye He Qi reached out to press a stone, deactivating the soundproof array.
Outside, a maid respectfully spoke, “Honored guests, Ye Clan’s Young Miss requests an audience.”
[Chu Zhi Rou?]
Ye He Qi glanced sideways, meeting Shi Zi Chu’s instantly cold gaze. Just as he was about to refuse, a commotion erupted outside the door.
“Oh my, isn’t this the noble Eldest Miss Ye?” an arrogant voice dripping with malice mocked loudly.
“Oh, my mistake! Your birth father was merely Liu Cui Yu’s lover. You’re just a little bastard—how could you possibly be the noble Eldest Miss Ye? If it weren’t for Clan Chief Ye’s kindness…”
Listening to the haughty, arrogant voice, Shi Zi Chu’s peach blossom eyes widened bit by bit, sparkling brightly as she turned toward Ye He Qi, gaze burning with gossip.
[Chu Zhi Rou and Ye He Qi were half-siblings born of different fathers?]
[Chu Zhi Rou’s birth father was actually Liu Cui Yu’s lover?]
Oh heavens!
Ye He Qi silently understood everything Shi Zi Chu’s expression was saying. His own expression remained indifferent, showing no reaction at all.
A pitiful sobbing was quickly followed by an angry shout. “Wan Yan Qian, don’t push it too far! How has Rou Rou offended you? Why must you cling to her like this!”
Undoubtedly, only an impulsive fool like Pei Qing You would defend his beloved so passionately.
“Oh, if it isn’t Young Sect Master Pei!” Wan Yan Qian sneered mockingly. “I recall Sect Master Pei arranged a fiancée for you. Tsk tsk tsk, engaged yet spending every day with this little bastard—birds of a feather truly flock together!”
The woman named Wan Yan Qian’s every word dripped poison, each sharper than the last.
Shi Zi Chu inwardly admired Eldest Miss Wan Yan’s biting tongue.
“I’ve shown you respect as the Wan Yan Clan’s Eldest Miss. Don’t you dare bring that woman up!” Pei Qing You angrily retorted.
Wan Yan Qian rolled her eyes openly, clearly contemptuous.
Xu Zhou Ye’s icy voice broke in, “Eldest Miss Wan Yan opens and closes her mouth only to insult others. Wan Yan Clan’s upbringing truly is…”
“Careful, trouble often follows loose tongues! Don’t assume that being Venerable Xing Lan’s disciple allows you to bite at the Wan Yan Clan!” Wan Yan Qian coldly warned.
Chu Zhi Rou’s voice, thick with tearful grievance, protested weakly, “Eldest Miss Wan Yan, you’re truly bullying us too much! My mother was still…”
With Chu Zhi Rou’s words, Wan Yan Qian’s verbal attacks only intensified, and chaos erupted near the doorway.
“I’ll go take a look.” Shi Zi Chu quickly masked her eager curiosity, putting on the dignified air of a responsible senior sister. “How could I possibly watch as my little junior sister is bullied?”
Ye He Qi watched calmly as Shi Zi Chu went to add fuel to the fire.
Jiang Wan Sheng absentmindedly rubbed the head of the golden snake around his wrist—not very gently at all.
He wanted to see the drama too, but considering Qing Qing’s temper… perhaps it was best not to.
When the door opened, Shi Zi Chu immediately saw Chu Zhi Rou’s pale, tearful beauty.
The delicate, sickly-looking girl stood there, fragile yet determined to protect her mother’s honor. Behind her, two men were so furious their faces turned pale, but they dared not move.
Opposite them stood Wan Yan Qian, lovely and proud, backed by dozens of maids and guards, several of whom had Nascent Soul-stage cultivation.
No wonder Pei Qing You and Xu Zhou Ye didn’t dare fight back.