Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Meeting Wu Mengqi Again

Shen Haoran and Luo Wenqing chatted for a long time. Luo Wenqing grew increasingly fond of the young man before him. Although Shen Haoran looked young, his temperament, his attitude, and his heroic, fearless spirit were all very much to Luo Wenqing’s liking. If Shen Haoran hadn’t been born several decades after him, Luo Wenqing would have been tempted to become sworn brothers with him!

"Then it’s decided. We’ll head to the Ancient Tomb together after the auction the day after tomorrow!" Luo Wenqing said with a smile.

"Alright. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow, then. Farewell!" Shen Haoran said with a nod.

"Let me walk you out, Little Brother," Luo Wenqing said, rising to his feet as he saw Shen Haoran preparing to leave.

"No, no, please don’t!" Shen Haoran was taken aback by Luo Wenqing’s offer and quickly refused. ’Are you kidding me? Luo Wenqing is a prominent figure in Celestial Martial City. If someone of his stature personally saw me out, it would definitely attract a lot of attention. I’d become the center of attention in the city again, and I could kiss my quiet days goodbye!’

"Well... alright, then. I’ll have someone see you out!" Luo Wenqing seemed to understand what Shen Haoran was thinking and immediately called in the receptionist who was waiting outside.

"Xiaowen, see this young man out!"

"Yes!" The receptionist, whose name was Xiaowen, nodded and replied.

"Well then, Brother Luo, I’ll be on my way."

"Alright. I look forward to our next meeting, Little Brother!"

After another nod and a smile, Shen Haoran followed Xiaowen and walked out of the Celestial Objects Auction House.

On the way, Xiaowen kept stealing glances at Shen Haoran, making his scalp tingle.

"Sister Xiaowen, could you please not look at me like that? Is there something on my face?" Shen Haoran finally couldn’t help but ask.

"Ah, I’m so sorry!" Hearing Shen Haoran’s words, Xiaowen blushed, only then realizing how rude it was to keep staring. She meant no harm, however; she was just curious. ’What’s so special about this young man that makes the Manager treat him so politely?’ After all, Manager Luo was sent from the headquarters in the Imperial City; his status was extraordinary. Even the City Lord of Celestial Martial City had to treat him with the utmost respect. No one else would dare to chat with him as casually as Shen Haoran did, as if they were old friends.

"Handsome, did you know our Manager Luo before this?" Xiaowen asked tentatively.

"Nope, this was the first time we’ve met. Why?"

"Oh~" Xiaowen murmured softly, then gave Shen Haoran another deep look, her heart growing even more puzzled.

After that, Xiaowen fell silent and led Shen Haoran all the way outside the auction house.

"Handsome, this is as far as I’ll take you! And again, I apologize for my behavior earlier," Xiaowen said, lowering her head.

"It’s fine. If you don’t mind, Sister Xiaowen, you can call me Shen Haoran. Besides, I’ll be back in two days, so I’ll have to trouble you again then!" Shen Haoran replied politely.

"It would be my pleasure!"

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shen Haoran left the Celestial Martial Auction House and headed for the inn.

"Ling Xuan, is there really something unusual about Xiaowen’s identity?" On the way, Shen Haoran asked Ji Lingxuan beside him in confusion. The moment she had seen Xiaowen, Ji Lingxuan had whispered in his ear, "There’s something different about that girl!"

"Yes. Although she’s dressed as a receptionist, you can’t fake the kind of aura she has or the habits she’s developed over the years. She might even be Manager Luo’s daughter!" Ji Lingxuan said with certainty.

"Then what did Luo Wenqing mean by having Xiaowen see me out? Is he trying to make me his son-in-law?" Shen Haoran grinned lecherously.

But the moment the words left his mouth, he felt a wave of cold air from beside him. He immediately cried out in his heart, ’I’m done for!’

"So you like that Xiaowen, do you? Then go ahead and be their son-in-law!" With that, Ji Lingxuan struck out at Shen Haoran with her palm.

Though the palm strike seemed light and gentle, Shen Haoran found he couldn’t dodge it. He could only raise his arms to block. There was no helping it. Ji Lingxuan’s strength had already recovered to that of a Tier Five Spirit Pupil. Although Shen Haoran had also killed Tier Five Spirit Pupils, Ji Lingxuan was on a completely different level from an ordinary Spirit Pupil. In her hands, Shen Haoran was utterly powerless to fight back!

THUD! With a muffled sound, Shen Haoran’s body was sent flying and embedded into the wall behind him.

"Ow, ow! My arm, my back!" Shen Haoran cried out. But Ji Lingxuan paid him no mind and walked straight ahead. She knew that with Shen Haoran’s constitution, an attack of this level was no more than a tickle to him; it wouldn’t actually hurt him. Besides, she could never bring herself to strike him heavily.

Seeing that Ji Lingxuan was ignoring him, Shen Haoran dropped the act. He quickly jumped down from the wall and ran to catch up to Ji Lingxuan to coax her into a better mood. The two of them bickered playfully all the way back to the inn, where they waited for the auction in two days’ time.

Time flew by, and two days later...

In the early morning, Shen Haoran awoke from his state of Cultivation. He glanced at the slowly rising sun outside his window and let out a long, cleansing breath. After calling for Ji Lingxuan, he headed for the Celestial Martial Auction House.

Today, Celestial Martial City was much livelier than before. When Shen Haoran arrived at the main entrance, it was already completely blocked by a throng of Martial Artists. These were all people who had come to attend the auction, each hoping to find something they needed.

’How are we supposed to get in?’ Shen Haoran thought, his head aching as he looked at the sea of people blocking the entrance.

"Little Brother Shen!" Just as Shen Haoran was stressing over the crowd, a voice called out. Shen Haoran looked toward the sound and saw Xiaowen, still in her receptionist uniform, walking toward him.

"Sister Xiaowen!" Shen Haoran greeted her.

"You’re here so early, Little Brother Shen. Are you here for the auction too?" Xiaowen asked.

"Yeah, but it looks like I’m still too late. There’s no way to squeeze through!" Shen Haoran said with a wry smile.

"You’re so silly, Little Brother Shen. Don’t you have a VIP card? Why would you need to use the main entrance? Come on, I’ll take you to the VIP entrance." Xiaowen chuckled, then, ignoring Ji Lingxuan’s death glare, she grabbed Shen Haoran’s hand and pulled him toward the side.

When they reached the side entrance, Shen Haoran quickly pulled his hand away from Xiaowen’s. ’If she keeps holding my hand like this, Ling Xuan is going to kill me!’

After freeing himself from Xiaowen’s delicate hand, Shen Haoran looked around. There weren’t many people here, just one or two occasionally arriving. They would show the guards a VIP card identical to the one Luo Wenqing had given him and be allowed inside. However, those VIP cards were either silver or Gold, and Shen Haoran hadn’t yet seen one that was purple-gold like his own.

"Let’s go!" Xiaowen said, leading the way to the entrance.

Shen Haoran hurried to follow. When he reached the entrance, he took out the purple-gold VIP card. Upon seeing the card in Shen Haoran’s hand, the guard suddenly froze. He stared at Shen Haoran in disbelief for a moment, then bowed respectfully and opened the gate for him.

Unaccustomed to such polite treatment from a guard, Shen Haoran scurried through the gate as if fleeing.

Seeing Shen Haoran’s awkward expression, Xiaowen couldn’t help but giggle.

"Wait here for a moment. I’ll go inform Manager Luo!" Xiaowen said before turning and heading for the third floor.

After Xiaowen left, Shen Haoran looked around and discovered he was in a private box area. A row of boxes, some large and some small, lined the hall in a display of luxury.

’So a VIP card gets you this kind of treatment. I thought it was just for running up a tab!’ Shen Haoran thought, smacking his lips.

’Country bumpkin!’ Elder Yan sneered in his mind.

"Tch," Shen Haoran scoffed. ’Back in a small place like my Cyan Mountain City, the auction houses didn’t have VIP cards, let alone private boxes.’

Curious, Shen Haoran wandered around the area, looking in all directions.

"It’s you!" As Shen Haoran was looking around, he ran into a familiar face in front of one of the private boxes.

"Yes, what a coincidence!" Shen Haoran said with a grin. This person was none other than Wu Mengqi, with whom he’d had a conflict before!

"Hmph! You lecher, how dare you show your face here! I’m going to kill you!" Wu Mengqi’s eyes went red with fury upon seeing her enemy. Without another word, she lunged forward to attack Shen Haoran.

"This is the Celestial Martial Auction House. Do you dare to make a move here?" Shen Haoran said with an amused smirk, crossing his arms.

"You..." Only then did Wu Mengqi remember that this was the Celestial Martial Auction House. Fighting here would get her blacklisted!

Seeing the look on Wu Mengqi’s face—furious but unable to do anything to him—Shen Haoran felt a wave of satisfaction.

"Hmph. You’re right. This is the VIP area of the Celestial Martial Auction House. It’s not a place a country bumpkin like you can just waltz into. I’m just helping the Celestial Martial Auction House kick you out!" Wu Mengqi said with a look of utter contempt.

’Country bumpkin?’ Shen Haoran glanced down at himself. ’It’s true, I’m just wearing coarse cloth robes, and Ji Lingxuan is dressed pretty much the same. At first glance, we really do look like a pair of hicks.’

"So what if I’m a country bumpkin? I’m staying right here today. What are you going to do about it?" Shen Haoran said, puffing out his chest.

"Then I’ll just have to shoo this fly away for the Celestial Martial Auction House!" With that, Wu Mengqi drew the long whip from her waist and was about to lash out at Shen Haoran.

"Stop!" Just as Wu Mengqi was about to strike, a thunderous roar echoed out, making her shudder so hard she nearly collapsed to the ground.