Chapter 027
Chapter 27: Losing the Drifting Flower
Jiang Wan Sheng lifted his eyelids slightly, his gaze cold and gloomy like a poisonous snake hiding in the shadows, silently observing the man whom Shi Zi Chu had led over. Beneath his hand, fine cracks spread across the armrest of his chair.
[A worthless creature like him—how could Qing Qing treat him so gently!]
Ye He Qi watched Shi Zi Chu with mild curiosity. Her gentle patience with a useless slave made the ends of his beautiful eyes curve slightly upward, his affectionate gaze now even more alluring, silently enchanting all who saw it.
Shi Zi Chu never acted without reason. For her to behave this way… Could this man possess some secret treasure, or perhaps a promising future?
Whatever it was, Shi Zi Chu certainly wasn’t helping purely out of kindness.
Shi Zi Chu pulled over a chair, waited until the man was seated, then asked softly, “Do you have a name?”
The man nodded lightly, his voice quiet as a whisper, “Liang Wei Sheng.”
“Wei Sheng.” Shi Zi Chu gracefully took a seat beside him. “After the auction ends, come with me to the inn and stay there tonight.”
Liang Wei Sheng nodded obediently.
Ye He Qi spoke gently and warmly, his voice pleasant to hear, “You’re not returning to the Ye Clans tonight?”
“It’s inconvenient,” Shi Zi Chu replied with a faint smile.
Ye He Qi had probably come to this auction for Jiang Wan Sheng. With his cautious and meticulous nature, he’d certainly guessed long ago that she and Jiang Wan Sheng were unusually close.
If he wanted her to stay at Ye Clans, he had to at least show some sincerity, right?
Ye He Qi gave a mild hum of understanding, appearing completely agreeable.
[No hurry,] he thought calmly. After the auction, he’d naturally have his methods of coaxing Shi Zi Chu back to the Ye Clans.
Jiang Wan Sheng rubbed the head of the golden snake with his fingertips, causing the poor creature to silently lament, too frightened to protest or complain aloud.
Liang Wei Sheng sensed the occasional chilling gaze, filled with murderous intent, falling upon him. He lowered his head slightly, afraid to look around. After all, right now, he was merely a slave.
Moreover, although the master who had bought him seemed gentle and pleasant, her every action and word betrayed a distant and proud nature. Given his current situation, it was better to remain quiet, like a block of wood.
When Xu Zhou Ye returned after adjusting his mood, the auction had just reached the drifting flower.
“The seventeenth item up for auction is three sixth-rank drifting flowers! There’s no need to explain the value of drifting flower, right? Both sixth-rank rejuvenation pills and marrow cleansing pills require it!”
“These drifting flowers will be auctioned separately. The starting price for the first flower is 3.75 million spirit stones! Each bid increase must be no less than 100,000 spirit stones.”
“Seven million.”
“Box Nine on the top floor bids seven million spirit stones! Seven million going once!” Lan Xi’s voice, full of enthusiasm, echoed throughout the auction hall. The other rooms on the top floor silently and tacitly gave up competing.
After all, two drifting flowers remained. They could bid later without offending anyone.
Chu Zhi Rou tightly clenched her delicate hands as she watched the fiercely rising bid in the water mirror. Her beautiful, pale face was tense with anxiety, fragile as a flower trembling under the storm.
“Seven million going twice!”
“Seven million going three times!”
“Congratulations to Box Nine on the top floor for winning the first drifting flower!”
After completing the formalities, Lan Xi began the bidding for the second drifting flower. The starting price and bid increments remained unchanged.
The drifting flower was rare and valuable, particularly for pill-making, but sixth-rank spirit pill alchemists were scarce. Moreover, both rejuvenation and marrow cleansing pills required other rare herbs, making the collection process difficult. Thus, the bidding wasn’t particularly intense, climbing slowly to 4.9 million spirit stones.
Wan Yan Qian saw that few others were bidding and pressed the auction bell: “Six million.”
“Box Four on the top floor bids six million spirit stones!”
“Six million going once!”
“Six million going twice!”
“Six million going three times!”
Lan Xi’s wooden hammer fell gracefully, “Congratulations to Box Four for winning the second drifting flower!”
Box Four was next door. Everyone present knew clearly who was inside.
Seeing Wan Yan Qian claim the second flower, Chu Zhi Rou grew even more anxious. She absolutely had to get the last drifting flower for her mother! Otherwise, if her injury continued to drag on, permanent harm could follow!
Meanwhile, Liu Cui Yu sat in the third-floor room, face grim with determination, eyes fixed firmly on the drifting flower within the jade box on the auction stand. She must obtain it at all costs!
Lan Xi’s melodious voice called out once more, encouraging bids, “The auction for the final drifting flower now begins!”
Ye Ce in another private box pressed the bell and announced, “Four million.”
“Four million one hundred thousand.” Another voice swiftly followed.
Shi Zi Chu glanced sideways, meeting Ye He Qi’s gaze by chance.
“Young Sect Master Yan,” Ye He Qi’s thin lips parted lightly, voicing precisely the thought in Shi Zi Chu’s mind.
Although his stunning face showed no visible emotion, his eyes sparkled with subtle amusement—arrogant and wicked.
Ye He Qi didn’t know why Yan Zhou Bai had joined the bidding, but he knew some people would be going home empty-handed tonight.
Ye Ce bid again, “Four million two hundred thousand.”
“Five million.” Yan Zhou Bai seemed impatient, unwilling to play this slow bidding game with Ye Ce.
Having already exceeded the Clan Chief’s given budget, Ye Ce stopped bidding.
Liu Cui Yu sneered and pressed the bell, “Six million one hundred thousand!”
“Six million five hundred thousand.” A calm voice followed leisurely.
“Six million six hundred thousand!”
“Seven million.”
“Seven million one hundred thousand!”
“Eight million.”
Just as Liu Cui Yu prepared to press the bell again, the maid at her side courageously stopped her, “Old Madam, we don’t have enough spirit stones with us!”
Eight million spirit stones was no small sum. Even as the Ye Clan’s Old Madam, Liu Cui Yu didn’t carry that many spirit stones with her!
Her expression darkened with frustration.
Her love for her precious daughter urged her to keep bidding, but the thought of her cold-hearted son filled her with hesitation.
As she wavered, Lan Xi’s voice echoed:
“Box Six bids eight million spirit stones! Eight million going once!”
“Eight million going twice!”
“Eight million going three times!”
“Congratulations, Box Six, for winning the final drifting flower!” Lan Xi’s small wooden hammer fell decisively, sealing the fate of the flower.
“Congratulations to Boxes Four, Nine, and Six on successfully acquiring a drifting flower each! Attendants will deliver your items shortly.”
Having missed the last drifting flower, Liu Cui Yu slammed a palm angrily onto the table, her expression twisted bitterly.
Inside Box Three, Chu Zhi Rou’s beautiful, round eyes widened further, shimmering with unshed tears of shock and sadness.
[Mother… how could this happen!]
[And Big Brother…]
Chu Zhi Rou bit her lower lip softly, her gaze slowly and timidly shifting toward Ye He Qi. Her cautious demeanor resembled a frightened young animal. Tears gathered in her gentle, deer-like eyes, making her appear helpless yet lovable.
Feeling eyes upon him, Ye He Qi turned to glance at her, his indifferent gaze chillingly emotionless.
Under that cold stare, Chu Zhi Rou felt a chill run down her spine, a vague sense of danger and dread filling her heart. Unable to muster even the courage to speak, she quickly lowered her eyes and drooped her shoulders, looking defeated and pale.
“Clan Chief Ye, that one.” A gentle and sweet voice broke the tense silence.
Ye He Qi glanced over to see Shi Zi Chu pointing at a small plate of snacks in front of him. He reached over, picked up the plate, and placed it before Shi Zi Chu.
“Thank you,” Shi Zi Chu said softly, lifting a delicate pastry with her silver chopsticks and beginning to eat.