Exiting through the auction hall's main doors together with the two rival clans, the three patriarchs exchanged hollow smiles that dripped with barely concealed malice. The moment their gazes parted, cold sneers and open hostility surfaced on every face.
The three clusters of people stalked through the grand lobby with an air of ownership, and those who crossed their path hurriedly stepped aside. In all of Wutan City, few forces would dare provoke the three great clans.
After exchanging a few perfunctory words with Ao Ba Pa, Xiao Zhan's wandering gaze snapped to a fixed point, and his footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
Noticing Xiao Zhan's reaction, the others followed the line of his sight. A subtle tremor ran through the crowd. Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa's expressions flickered with poorly concealed unease.
From a different doorway on the far side of the lobby, three figures emerged. Leading the way was none other than Ya Fei — the chief auctioneer of the Mitel Auction House. As frequent patrons, Xiao Zhan and the others knew this woman well. No matter how amiably she smiled on the surface, everyone understood that she harbored a fierce pride behind her elegant features. When Ao Ba Pa had once tried to invite her to dinner, he had been turned down with the most "gracious" of refusals — a clear testament to the fact that she was far less approachable than she appeared.
Yet today, this proud woman was leading the way in such a deferential manner that it bordered on scandalous. The patriarchs exchanged bewildered glances.
Blinking in astonishment, Xiao Zhan and his companions shifted their attention further back — and their expressions continued to sour.
At the rear of the three came Master Gu Ni of the auction house, his face wreathed in smiles as he murmured something into the ear of the mysterious figure wrapped in a voluminous black cloak. There was a fawning quality to his careful attentiveness that struck the patriarchs as deeply unnatural.
If Ya Fei's deference had merely surprised them, Master Gu Ni's behavior was nothing short of staggering.
As the most highly ranked alchemist in Wutan City, Gu Ni commanded respect even from the three clan patriarchs when they encountered him — none dared treat him with anything less than deference. A second-tier alchemist, Gu Ni maintained the unique haughtiness of his craft, his measured tone commanding a degree of awe from all who spoke with him.
And yet here was this very man, shedding all pretense of pride, flashing a sycophantic smile at the side of a stranger. Just who was this person he sought so eagerly to please?
Their gazes, heavy with silent shock, finally alighted upon the cloaked figure in the middle — a silhouette entirely shrouded in a great black cloak.
Surveying the figure's bulky frame, Xiao Zhan's thoughts raced. *Who in the world is this? Capable of commanding the escort of two senior figures of the Mitel Auction House? What business could someone of this caliber possibly have in Wutan City?*
Moistening his dry lips, Xiao Zhan glanced at Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa on either side — and found the same curiosity and consternation mirrored on their faces.
As the trio drew closer, Xiao Zhan forced a smile onto his face and stepped forward two paces. "Miss Ya Fei, Master Gu Ni — what a rare pleasure to see the two of you together."
Ya Fei and Gu Ni had spotted them the moment they emerged. At Xiao Zhan's greeting, they slowed their steps, though their gazes shifted toward the cloaked figure in the middle. Only when that figure also came to a halt did they finally breathe a shared sigh of relief.
"We're simply escorting an honored guest," Ya Fei replied with a smile.
"Oh, is that so...?" Jia Lie Bi approached with an obsequious grin, directing his gaze to the cloaked figure behind Ya Fei. With feigned casualness, he asked, "Might I ask whether this gentleman... is also a resident of Wutan City? He seems rather unfamiliar to me."
*Ahem.* Master Gu Ni frowned and coughed pointedly, "Patriarch Jia Lie, this gentleman is an honored guest of the Mitel Auction House..."
At Gu Ni's warning tone, Jia Lie Bi's expression shifted. *Even old Gu Ni treads so cautiously around this man? Who in hell is he?*
Watching Jia Lie Bi receive a gentle rebuff, Xiao Zhan swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his own tongue. Given Gu Ni's obvious wariness, this cloaked man was clearly operating on a level far above their own. He could only force a companionable smile and prepare to retreat with his party.
"You... are Xiao Zhan of the Xiao Clan, are you not?" Just as Xiao Zhan made to withdraw, the cloaked man, who had maintained his silence throughout, spoke up in a flat, aged voice.
Recognizing the elderly timbre, Xiao Zhan was briefly taken aback, then hesitantly nodded.
"I hear your young master managed to leap several ranks of Dou Qi in a single year, thanks to that Foundation Liquid? Remarkable, truly remarkable." The cloaked man's voice carried a faint, leisurely smile.
Treated with such courtesy, a flicker of pleasure crossed Xiao Zhan's heart. He laughed modestly. "My son was merely fortunate."
The cloaked man waved a hand dismissively. "Fortune itself is a kind of skill. If the opportunity ever arises, I should like very much to meet him. Who knows — he might even have the makings of an alchemist."
Puzzled by the cryptic remark, Xiao Zhan found himself at a loss as to its meaning.
"Mmm... if the chance presents itself in the future, I may seek cooperation with the Xiao Clan." With a light chuckle, the cloaked man turned to Ya Fei and Gu Ni. "No need to see me out further. I have other matters to attend to — I'll take my leave now."
Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the auction house in broad, unhurried steps.
Bewildered, Xiao Zhan touched his own face. Turning, he caught Ya Fei and Gu Ni staring at him with naked envy, and could not help asking in surprise, "What is this... what are the two of you looking at?"
"Patriarch Xiao, do you know the old gentleman who was just here?" Ya Fei probed cautiously.
"This is the first time I've ever laid eyes on him," Xiao Zhan replied with a rueful shake of his head. Noting the strange expressions on their faces, a thread of unease wound through him. "Who... who is he?"
*Sigh.* Gu Ni shook his head gently. "The Xiao Clan is truly blessed."
He glanced at the Foundation Liquid clutched like a treasure in Jia Lie Bi's arms, and said flatly, "That — he refined it."
At these words, all color drained from the three patriarchs' faces at once.
It took a long moment for Xiao Zhan to recover. Elation blossomed across his features. He had never imagined the old man in black was an alchemist — and judging by Gu Ni's earlier attitude, a far more distinguished one at that!
If a second-tier alchemist could command their respect, what of a third — or even a fourth?
Heavens. Figures of that caliber were far beyond the reach of clans like theirs.
"To think... this really struck gold." Remembering the cloaked man's words about a future partnership, Xiao Zhan's eyes blazed with sudden light, and he murmured aloud despite himself.
Beside him, shaken from their shock, Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa could only stare with envy burning in their eyes like rabbits' eyes — bloodshot and red with covetousness.
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