Just as Yang Kai was still deliberating, a figure rushed over from the side. Upon approaching, the person cupped their fists and said:
"Luo Qing greets Young Master Yang and the two young ladies."
Yang Kai looked over and was surprised to find that the newcomer was the very same Void Returning Realm expert the Xu family had once invited to deal with him. It was this man who had recognized him and passed on the information for a fee.
Yang Kai felt a degree of gratitude toward Luo Qing and politely returned the cupped-fist salute.
"So it's Brother Luo. Where is Elder Qian at the moment?"
"Elder Qian has some matters to attend to and can't get away right now, so he instructed this disciple to wait here for Young Master Yang. Rest assured, Elder Qian has made all the arrangements. You three only need to follow me."
"Good, lead the way." Yang Kai nodded.
The Treasure Pavilion was holding an auction in Tianyun City, and Qian Tong was one of the city's major figures. Being tied up with business was perfectly normal, so Yang Kai didn't think much of it.
Following Luo Qing, they headed straight to the third floor. Luo Qing pushed open the door to a private box and stood at the entrance with his hands at his sides, explaining:
"Young Master Yang, this is the private box Elder Qian arranged for you. Please see if it's to your liking."
Yang Kai stepped inside and found that though the room was small, it had everything—a table and chairs, a plate of fine spirit fruits on the table, a pot of spirit tea still steaming, and even two neatly dressed maids standing by to attend to them. They had bright eyes and sparkling teeth, with slender figures, and upon seeing Yang Kai and his companions enter, they immediately curtsied gracefully.
Yang Kai wasn't sure whether the other boxes also had attendants, but he was quite certain these two had been specially arranged by Qian Tong, since they wore the uniform of the Shadow Moon Hall—they were clearly disciples of that organization.
"Elder Qian is very considerate. I'm quite satisfied," Yang Kai said with a smile and a nod.
"As long as Young Master Yang is satisfied." Luo Qing seemed to heave a sigh of relief. He had personally witnessed Qian Tong kill Hong Zhen and his martial brother just to build a relationship with Yang Kai. Though he still had no idea what made Yang Kai worth cultivating a connection with, he carried out Qian Tong's instructions to the letter.
"Oh, right—Young Master Yang, Elder Qian asked me to collect the items you wish to auction as soon as possible. The Treasure Pavilion needs to appraise the lots to arrange the bidding order."
"No problem." Yang Kai gave Wu Yi a meaningful look. She immediately produced two beautifully packaged jade boxes from her space ring and handed them to Luo Qing. Inside, naturally, were the two Void Grade artifacts.
"And this as well." Yang Kai took out a small jade bottle and placed it in Luo Qing's hands.
"Young Master Yang, please wait a little longer. The auction begins in half an hour. Luo Qing will take his leave." As he spoke, he backed out, and before departing, instructed the two Shadow Moon Hall female disciples to serve their guests well. The two women nodded in acknowledgment.
"Our box is C-13." Wu Yi walked over and closed the door. The clamor outside immediately vanished.
"The formations here are quite well done." Yang Yan paced around the room, touching and examining everything, clearly interested in the local formations. "They can shield against outside Divine Sense probing. The only drawback is that it's a bit far from the auction floor."
Yang Kai smiled faintly. "This is the Treasure Pavilion. Elder Qian must have gone to considerable trouble just to get us a box. Look at who's here today—every last one is a famous and formidable figure."
He said this for the benefit of the two Shadow Moon Hall female disciples, and sure enough, their smiles brightened considerably upon hearing it, as though their Elder Qian truly wielded remarkable influence.
"Ladies, don't be so formal. Please, sit down. We're not from any great family either—we mainly came this time to see the world."
The two women waved their hands repeatedly, insisting they wouldn't dare.
Yang Kai didn't press the issue. Seeing their refusal, he said no more, settled into a chair, poured himself a cup of tea, and sipped it at leisure while he waited.
Wu Yi still couldn't quite believe it. She had never imagined she would get the chance to attend an auction of this caliber. Forget her—even Ian, the patriarch of the Hake Family, wasn't entitled to enter the Treasure Pavilion during an auction.
Yet here she was, sitting in a private box, enjoying treatment above the common lot. It made her reflect on the vast chasm between people. Her greatest ambition used to be to work hard, impress Ian, and earn the right to succeed him as head of the Hake Family. But now that thought didn't even cross her mind.
What was a family patriarch anyway? The head of a minor family wasn't even on par with a random disciple the Shadow Moon Hall had sent to wait on them. Take these two girls in the box—their cultivation was only at the third level of the Entering Saint Stage, yet if they showed up at the Hake Family, Ian would have to treat them with the utmost deference, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
That was the enormous gulf between major powers and small families.
A few days ago, while Yang Kai had been in closed-door cultivation, Ian had come to the cave again—even bringing the family's elders and honored retainers, asking Wu Yi to return and take up the position of family head. But Wu Yi had politely declined. Once she had left the family, she would never go back.
Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a sharp gust of wind hurtling toward her. Wu Yi's reflexes were quick—she reached out and caught the incoming object, only to discover it was a spirit fruit from the table.