TRWSB – Chapter 88 Proceeding To The Auction House

Tianlan Academy

Qi Heng handed the auction list to Qi Shaorong. “Young Master, this is the auction catalog. There are 100 items in total, and Tingxuan is listed as the seventy-second item.”

“A Wood Spirit Body ranked only seventy-second? This auction house is clearly underestimating my people,” Qi Shaorong said, displeased.

Qi Heng shrugged. “That’s because Tingxuan refuses to undergo cosmetic surgery.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Who would’ve thought that Tingxuan’s refusal to get surgery would save us some money.”

“Yi Fan poisoned all the members of the Mohe Mercenary Group,” Qi Heng said.

“When did this happen?”

“Today.”

“That guy may seem laid-back most of the time, but the moment someone crosses his bottom line, he acts with ruthless efficiency,” Qi Shaorong said, shaking his head.

Qi Heng nodded. “Indeed. But his brazen actions might attract unwanted attention.”

“No matter. Even if he gets exposed, it doesn’t matter. The Yi family is in chaos right now. If they’re smart, they’ll support him instead of making an enemy out of him,” Qi Shaorong said.

Qi Heng shrugged. “Hopefully. But what if the Yi family proves to be foolish?”

Yi Family

“What’s that? Let me see.” Yi Chuxue stared at the invitation in the steward’s hand.

“Miss, this is the auction catalog from the Tianyun Auction House. I need to deliver it to the family head. You shouldn’t look at it—it’s not like you can afford anything in the auction anyway,” the steward replied.

Yi Chuxue turned red with anger. “How dare you speak to me like that!”

“Miss, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” the steward said, turning away.

Yi Chuxue glared at his back, her eyes brimming with rage. She had been pampered and respected all her life, but recently, she had been repeatedly snubbed.

Frustrated, Yi Chuxue returned to her courtyard, but she found no one to confide in. Her once-proud brothers were now the laughingstock of the capital—one drowning in alcohol, the other addicted to gambling.

“Chuxue, what’s wrong?” Yang Man walked out and asked.

“Mother, the people in this family are all snobs!” Yi Chuxue fumed.

Having grown used to a life of luxury, Yang Man also felt the sting of their current decline, but there was nothing she could do.

“Mother, do you know about the upcoming Tianyun Auction?” Yi Chuxue asked.

Yang Man nodded. “I’ve heard about it.”

This auction promised to showcase countless rare treasures. In the past, Yang Man would have eagerly joined her social circle to discuss the items. But this year, she neither had the energy nor the means.

“Mother, the Snow Vein Flower is on the auction list. I want to go and see it,” Yi Chuxue said.

Yang Man pressed her lips together. The Snow Vein Flower was a rare bloom known for its rejuvenating properties. Washing one’s face with its essence could make the skin radiant and delay aging.

“Enough. Stop meddling. The auction will be filled with powerful figures. Even if you attend, you won’t stand a chance against them,” Yang Man said.

To treat Yi Bing and Yi Huo’s injuries, Yang Man had spent a fortune, but the priests she hired ultimately declared the injuries incurable. The massive financial loss left Yang Man looking haggard and drained.

“Mother, you’re so unfair! My brothers are crippled, yet you still spend so much on them. But when it comes to me, all you do is brush me off!” Yi Chuxue said angrily.

Yang Man slapped Yi Chuxue across the face. “How dare you speak like that! If it weren’t for you, your eldest brother wouldn’t be in this state, and your father wouldn’t have lost his position as acting family head!”

Yi Chuxue glared at Yang Man with resentment and stormed into her room.

Tianlan Academy

Qi Shaorong descended the stairs and saw Zhuang Hao waiting below. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Are you heading to the auction house? Take my carriage. I’ll give you a ride,” Zhuang Hao offered eagerly.

Qi Shaorong glanced at Zhuang Hao but chose not to argue. “Much obliged, Young Master Zhuang.”

Draped in a fox-fur cloak, Qi Shaorong’s striking appearance left Zhuang Hao momentarily stunned.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Shaorong tilted his head and asked.

Zhuang Hao shook his head. “Nothing… It’s just—you’re stunning.”

Qi Shaorong chuckled. “Young Master Zhuang, I’ve told you before, haven’t I? This young master is unparalleled, a beauty capable of toppling nations. How is it that you’re only now realizing how handsome I am? You’re truly slow.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Indeed, I’m not as sharp as Fourth Young Master Qi.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

As Qi Shaorong stepped into Zhuang Hao’s carriage, he noticed another occupant inside.

“Ah, A-Qian, you’re here too!” Qi Shaorong greeted Zhuang Qian with a cheerful smile.

Zhuang Qian nodded cautiously. “Yes, I am.”

Although the carriage was spacious enough to seat five or six people comfortably, Zhuang Qian had squeezed himself into a corner, looking as if he were facing a great threat.

“I hear you’ve been spreading rumors that I’m fierce?” Qi Shaorong asked with a sly smile.

Zhuang Qian quickly waved his hands. “It’s a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding! Fourth Young Master Qi, you’re not fierce at all. You’re gentle and kind.”

Qi Shaorong scoffed. “You don’t need to tell such jokes.”

Grabbing Zhuang Qian by the collar, Qi Shaorong pulled him closer. “Listen, kid, don’t get on my bad side. Otherwise, I’ll strip off your fat to make oil. Got it?”

Zhuang Qian nodded frantically. “Got it, got it.”

Zhuang Hao entered the carriage, and Zhuang Qian shrank back into the corner, looking thoroughly spooked.

“A-Qian, what’s wrong?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Zhuang Qian quickly shook his head. “Nothing at all.”

The carriage stopped at the auction house entrance. As Zhuang Hao and Qi Shaorong stepped out, they happened to run into some familiar faces.

Qi Yuan, accompanied by Qi Shaokang, Qi Shaofu, and Qi Shaoru, appeared to be heading into the auction house as well.

Qi Shaoru’s eyes filled with envy as she watched Zhuang Hao and Qi Shaorong step down from the same carriage.

Qi Shaokang nodded toward Qi Shaorong in greeting. “Fourth Brother, you’re here for the auction too?”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Yes.”

Turning to Qi Yuan, Qi Shaorong smiled. “Elder Qi Yuan, I might’ve gone a bit overboard last time. How’s your injury? All healed?”

Qi Yuan huffed, shaking his sleeves in irritation. “There’s no need for your concern.”

He strode into the auction house ahead of the group. Seeing this, Qi Shaorong and the others followed suit, with Qi Shaoru casting a longing glance at Zhuang Hao before entering.

“This old man has such a temper. I was just expressing some concern, and he gets angry. At his age, such fits of anger aren’t good for longevity,” Qi Shaorong said, shaking his head.

Zhuang Qian: “…” That was supposed to be concern? It sounded more like provocation!

Qi Shaorong noticed Zhuang Qian’s expression and frowned. “Little fatty, what are you thinking about?”

Zhuang Qian shook his head quickly. “Nothing at all.”

A carriage sped toward them. Qi Shaorong turned to watch it pass and remarked, “The emblem on that carriage seems familiar.”

Qi Heng leaned closer and whispered, “Young Master, that’s the Shen family crest.”

“Oh, so it’s the Shen family. Now I remember—Shen Yuan, that idiot, has this emblem on his clothes,” Qi Shaorong said with a smirk.

Shen Yuan stepped out of the carriage with a Shen family elder in tow. Upon seeing Zhuang Hao and Qi Shaorong standing outside the auction house, his expression twisted with discomfort.

Forcing himself to walk over, Shen Yuan greeted them stiffly, “Fourth Young Master Qi, Young Master Zhuang, you’re both here.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Young Master Shen, you’re recovering well, I see. I heard someone beat you so badly you looked like a pig’s head. You seem to have lost weight—are you on a diet?”

Shen Yuan: “… Fourth Young Master Qi, please don’t tease me. I sincerely apologize for the matter of the broken engagement.”

“Apologize? Shen Yuan, you’re saying it all wrong! I should thank you. Someone as peerless and stunning as me deserves ten or eight beautiful wives. Someone like Zhuang Hao, with no chest or curves, isn’t good enough for me. Don’t you agree? Actually, by calling off the engagement, you’ve saved me a lot of trouble!” Qi Shaorong said, patting Shen Yuan on the shoulder.

Shen Yuan glanced at Zhuang Hao’s darkening expression and suddenly felt the urge to stab himself with a blade. Qi Shaorong, this guy—saying something like this at the auction house entrance, where so many people were eavesdropping!

“Fourth Young Master Qi, it’s getting late. You should head inside,” Shen Yuan urged.

Qi Shaorong nodded cheerfully. “Sure!”

In one of the private rooms at the auction house, Qi Yuan sat with a grim expression. “Qi Shaorong seems to have quite a good relationship with Zhuang Hao.”

Qi Yuan frowned. Originally, the engagement between Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao could have brought the Qi and Zhuang families closer. But now, with Qi Shaorong clearly cutting ties with the Qi family, even if Zhuang Hao married him, the Qi family wouldn’t gain much.

“Zhuang Hao likes the Ghost Doctor, and Fourth Brother is the Ghost Doctor. So, it’s natural for Zhuang Hao to like him now,” Qi Shaofu remarked.

“It’s unnatural!” Qi Shaoru snapped. “How could Fourth Brother use this kind of trick to get close to Zhuang Hao?”

Qi Shaofu glanced at Qi Shaoru and said, “Fifth Sister, let’s be realistic. Even without Fourth Brother, Zhuang Hao might not have chosen you.”

Qi Shaoru glared at Qi Shaofu angrily.

Feeling bored, Qi Shaoru gazed around the private room. Spotting someone downstairs, her eyes lit up. “Elder, there’s still some time before the auction starts. I’ll go stretch my legs.”

Qi Yuan frowned. “At a time like this, you’re still thinking about stretching your legs?”

“I’ll be back soon,” Qi Shaoru said, already heading out.

Qi Shaokang furrowed his brows. “What’s wrong with Shaoru? Is she going to find Zhuang Hao?”

Qi Shaofu shook his head and glanced downstairs. “Probably not Zhuang Hao. She might be going to see Yi Chuxue.”

“This girl,” Qi Shaofu said, shaking his head helplessly.

Resting his chin on his hand, Qi Shaofu mused. Before Yi Bing and Yi Huo had their accidents, Yi Chuxue and Qi Shaoru were on equal footing—competing over clothes, jewelry, weapons, and carriages, both openly and covertly. Now that Yi Chuxue had fallen from grace, was Qi Shaoru planning to kick her while she was down?

Qi Shaofu sighed, knowing full well what Qi Shaoru intended, but he had no intention of intervening.