"I imagine the honored guests are wondering why such a girl could possibly command such a high starting price — the same as our auction house's most prized beauties, trained over many years. But if you look carefully, you'll notice what makes her special." As he spoke, the host produced a stick from somewhere and inserted it through the bars of the iron cage, gently lifting the short, light-green hair near the girl's ear to reveal it.
It was not a human ear. It was a small, pointed ear reminiscent of a cat, and at the light touch of the stick, it flushed faintly red.
"That's right — the honored guests are not mistaken. This is a rare and extraordinary cat-girl. During her Martial Soul Awakening, her body underwent a mutation, taking on certain feline characteristics. Her eyes are heterochromatic — one blue, one green — lending her a uniquely alluring look. She even has a long tail." He rapped the stick against the girl's backside. The girl flinched in pain, twisting her body, and a long white cat tail that had been hidden behind her was suddenly revealed.
As he continued his patter, the host's face took on a lewd expression. He traced an arc through the air with the stick. "Honored guests — the bidding is now open."
"Those bastards. Selling a human like a pet."
A faint light flickered in Tang San's eyes, carrying a cold edge as he leaned back in his chair and watched in silence. He was a clever man — he understood clearly that what was happening before them was not something he and Xiao Wu could change. Even if they truly had the means to save this one cat-girl, what about the leopard-girls and tiger-girls that might come after? Could they always arrive in time to intervene? His teacher had said this auction house was a place of opportunity and filth, and it seemed that was no exaggeration.
Xiao Wu's hand was still locked in Tang San's grip, which was the only thing keeping her from erupting. She realized he was holding her hand with tremendous force — clearly, his heart was far from calm either. Watching his eyes flicker with a dangerous light, she gradually calmed herself, though she lowered her head and refused to look at the stage any longer.
As it happened, the timing could not have been worse. Tang San and Xiao Wu had barely walked through the doors before the auction house began selling living people, leaving them with an impression that was both deeply indelible and deeply unpleasant.
Just then, Tang San happened to notice the middle-aged man beside him press the bidding button for an increment of ten thousand. Though this was his first visit, he knew that this meant an increase of ten thousand — in other words, the man was prepared to spend at least one hundred and ten thousand Gold Soul Coins to purchase the cat-girl.
His favorable impression of the man shifted instantly. He never would have guessed that this seemingly upright and refined gentleman was rotten to the core.
The middle-aged man's gaze remained fixed on the stage, but he spoke at the precise moment the change registered in Tang San's expression. "A soul already lost to salvation is hardly worth saving. This one still has her soul, and it was caused by a Martial Soul mutation — how could I not save her when I've encountered her?"
Tang San started slightly, his wariness of the man growing even sharper. How could this person know what he was thinking? Could he possess the legendary ability to read minds?
"No need for confusion, young man. The eyes are the windows of the soul — your gaze told me quite a lot. After all, I've been eating rice for a few more years than you have. You could call it social experience." The middle-aged man smiled at Tang San and pressed the bidding button once more.
The price had now risen to one hundred and sixty thousand Gold Soul Coins, and it showed every sign of continuing to climb.
The host announced, "One hundred and seventy thousand! A red-tier honored guest has bid one hundred and seventy thousand Gold Soul Coins! Will anyone bid higher?"
"One hundred and eighty thousand — good, a white — ah, a white-tier honored guest bids one hundred and eighty thousand." This was far from the first time he had exclaimed in surprise. White represented the lowest tier of bidder, yet ever since this auction began, a white-tier bidder had been participating. What was even stranger was that there were no signs of his account being overdrawn. That meant he had the actual means to compete.
"I'd like to see who dares outbid me." An elderly man seated in the front row of the red-tier section shot to his feet, sweeping his gaze back toward the white-tier section behind him. Though his face was hidden behind a mask, the moment this man stood, Tang San immediately recognized him.
The middle-aged man was right — a person's eyes are the windows of the soul, and every pair of eyes is different, the look in them varying even more dramatically. The figure now standing in the red-tier section and glaring toward the rear was none other than Prince
To Tang San and Xiao Wu's surprise, the unmasked middle-aged man beside them not only did not avert the other's gaze but instead rose slowly to his feet, offering Prince Xue Xing a nod with a smile.