“I apologize, but our Qingge Auction House has never removed anyone. Auctions are free bidding. If Young Master Chen truly cannot produce the gold coins, our Qingge Auction House will hold him responsible.”
Ai Linna smiled slightly, and when her gaze landed on Chen Zheng’s face, she made a playful expression, which stunned Chen Zheng.
“Did this enchantress discover something?”
The two were very close that day; he hoped she hadn't seen through his identity.
Her words were reasonable and fair.
If Chen Zheng won the bid at the last moment but couldn't produce the gold coins, Qingge Auction House would hold him accountable.
The situation was reversed; the Tian Family obtained the bidding rights and successfully purchased the Body Tempering Liquid.
Although the Tian Family was arrogant, they were very wary of Qingge Auction House.
Tian Tong wanted to say more but was held back by Tian Jingyi, who signaled him to stop talking.
In this world, there is a very rare profession, and that is Alchemist.
Coincidentally, Qingge Auction House has a Great Master Alchemist who is not bound by any imperial power; even an Imperial Dynasty would try its best to win him over.
In this day and age, anyone who Cultivates will inevitably suffer injuries, so Medicinal Pills naturally became the most popular treasures.
Even more formidable, Qingge Auction House is backed by the Alchemist Guild.
Others might not understand, but Tian Jingyi was extremely clear; all this information was relayed by his second brother.
He knew better than anyone who could be offended and who could not.
Alchemist Guilds exist in every country and are a force that every nation strives to win over; to make a country strong, Medicinal Pills are indispensable.
In Yan City, Qingge Auction House is not large in scale; the Tian Family is wary of the power behind it, not Qingge Auction House itself.
Reluctantly, they produced one hundred and ten thousand gold coins, five times the market price, to purchase the last bottle of Body Tempering Liquid, and the auction concluded.
“Chen Zheng, we’ll meet at the arena in an hour!”
The Tian Family was the first to leave the auction house. As he left, Tian Tong shouted loudly, then turned and departed the auction house, heading for the arena!
Chen Zheng’s urgent challenge was not without reason. If he didn’t kill Tian Tong, the resentment in his heart couldn’t be dispelled, making him very uncomfortable.
This would affect his Cultivation. He believed in repaying kindness and avenging wrongs. He was already in an irreconcilable conflict with the Tian Family, and killing one more was one more.
“Is this kid crazy? He was almost beaten to death by Tian Tong a few days ago, and now he wants to challenge him again. Is there something wrong with his head?”
He barely survived, shouldn't he be keeping a low profile?
“I don’t blame him. He was almost killed last time. If it were me, I’d seek revenge too. A true gentleman doesn’t leave a grudge unavenged.”
Many people supported Chen Zheng. Regardless of life or death, his backbone earned their respect.
Just as he exited the auction house, someone walked towards him, lightly brushed past him, and then turned and left.
Chen Zheng didn’t pay it any mind; there were too many people, and accidental contact was normal.
He found an uninhabited spot, changed into a black robe, and then returned to the auction house.
He was still greeted by He Lan.
After a short tea break, Ai Linna, having changed into a different outfit, appeared before Chen Zheng.
“You may leave!”
She waved her hand, and the maidservant and He Lan exited the private room, leaving just the two of them.
Chen Zheng sat on the leather chair. Ai Linna suddenly leaned in, sitting beside him. A fragrant scent wafted, very pleasant.
Her smooth, long legs suddenly moved closer to Chen Zheng, gently rubbing against his leg.
Gulp!
Chen Zheng swallowed, shifted his body, and created some distance between them.
“Let’s make this quick. The Body Tempering Liquid should have been sold, right? I’m here to collect the remaining gold coins.”
He lowered his voice, masking his original youthful tone.
“Are you in such a hurry to get the gold coins?”
Ai Linna stretched lazily, sitting to the side. Her graceful posture, combined with her perfect curves, was visually striking, especially her ample bust, which made one want to take a second look.
“This is our agreement, and I’m in a hurry!”
Chen Zheng said impatiently. He began to suspect if Ai Linna was a Reincarnation of an enchantress.
“Don’t worry, you won’t be short on gold coins. To celebrate our first collaboration, Qingge Auction House will not charge any fees this time. All the gold coins obtained from the auction will be yours.”
Ai Linna stood up, picked up a goblet, and filled it with red liquid. A faint aroma of wine diffused through the room.
“Come, let’s celebrate our first collaboration, a complete Perfection!”
She picked up another wine glass and handed it to Chen Zheng.
He reached out and took it. The glasses lightly touched. His palm, hidden beneath the black robe, was partially exposed during the toast, and Ai Linna suddenly smiled.
An adult’s palm and a youth’s palm are distinguishable at a glance.
“Great Master Chen, can you tell me what the fifty thousand gold coins you took last time were used for?”
Setting down her glass, Ai Linna inquired. The gold coins hadn't been delivered yet, making Chen Zheng quite anxious.
“That is my private matter, which I cannot disclose!”
He stood up. He still had a challenge with Tian Tong, and half an hour had already passed.
“Very well, then I won’t take up too much of Great Master Chen’s time!”
She clapped her hands, and the private room door opened. A maidservant entered, carrying a tray with a green card on it. All the gold coins obtained this time were inside.
“There are a total of three hundred thousand gold coins inside. I rounded it up to an even number, as we did benefit quite a bit.”
The remaining two bottles, Ai Linna did not put up for auction. Their Qingge Auction House had indeed made a lot of profit. The initial thirty thousand deposit was not deducted, and Chen Zheng was paid quite a bit more.
Five bottles of Body Tempering Liquid yielded a total of three hundred and fifty thousand gold coins, far exceeding Chen Zheng’s expectations.
He didn’t stand on ceremony, picking up the card.
“Farewell!”
He cupped his fists and turned to leave. The one-hour mark was drawing closer.
Not long after he left, another door in the private room opened, and Master Huo walked out.
“Master Huo, was that the boy?”
Ai Linna’s expression suddenly changed, becoming serious. The seductive aura on her body vanished completely.
“It’s ninety percent him. When he left the auction house, I deliberately arranged for someone to sprinkle a drop of Night Fragrance on him. Ordinary people can’t smell it, but when he came in just now, his body indeed emitted the scent of Night Fragrance.”
Master Huo said solemnly, proving that older ginger is indeed spicier.
“This kid hides himself really well. The outside world says he’s a good-for-nothing, but his performance these past few days has been somewhat extraordinary. Someone must be secretly helping him, perhaps a great Alchemist, to turn a good-for-nothing into a Genius.”
Ai Linna finished speaking, then drank the red wine in her glass in one gulp.
Alchemists are divided into many Ranks; Master Huo can only be considered the lowest Rank among Alchemists.
“I find it very strange that a backwater place like Yan City couldn’t attract a powerful Alchemist. To change a person’s Aptitude, one would at least need to be a Rank Seven Alchemist.”
This was where Master Huo was most puzzled; he couldn't figure it out or understand it.
Taking off his black robe, Chen Zheng never imagined that his identity had already been exposed.
In any case, he had no intention of continuing to cooperate with Qingge Auction House in the future. The three hundred thousand gold coins he received would be enough for him for a while.
There was still the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn until the one-hour mark.