"Young Master Jiang Chen."

When Jiang Chen followed Lu Ming to the fifth floor of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, Murong Xiangming’s elegant figure appeared before them, a warm smile on her face as she looked at Jiang Chen.

Her eyes were bright and clear, inspiring a sense of trust.

Murong Xiangming greeted Jiang Chen from a distance, as if they were already old friends.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly. ’This woman always has a way of making people feel at ease,’ he thought.

He admired Murong Xiangming.

As he drew closer, Murong Xiangming gave him a slight bow.

Her etiquette was impeccable.

"Miss Murong, your hosting skills are truly admirable."

It never hurts to offer a few kind words, so Jiang Chen didn’t hold back his praise for Murong Xiangming’s hosting.

And he meant it.

"Thank you for your praise. It’s my honor to receive such a compliment from you, Young Master Jiang Chen."

A faint blush appeared on Murong Xiangming’s cheeks, but she quickly concealed it.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on why seeing Jiang Chen made her feel so shy.

She took the opportunity to gesture toward an area and said to Jiang Chen, "This way, please."

Jiang Chen followed Murong Xiangming into a luxurious private room.

After a quick look around, Jiang Chen didn’t sense any danger and began to relax.

He sat down in an ornate booth, where Murong Xiangming had already arranged for a spread of various fruits and pastries. The hospitality was excellent.

He casually picked up a piece of fruit and started eating. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Murong Xiangming bowed with a smile. "Young Master Jiang Chen, please wait just a moment. Your items will be brought to you shortly."

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before an attendant entered with a tray. On it sat a white Spatial Ring and a Gold Card.

Everything seemed to have been meticulously prepared by Murong Xiangming.

It was all flawless.

Just like her—clean and pristine, as if untouched by dust.

"Young Master Jiang Chen, these are your items. They’re inside the Spatial Ring. You can open it and check."

Murong Xiangming extended her slender, pale hand, picked up the Spatial Ring, and offered it to Jiang Chen as she spoke.

Jiang Chen didn’t stand on ceremony and reached out. Murong Xiangming carefully placed the Spatial Ring in his hand.

However, their hands still brushed against each other accidentally.

At that moment, Murong Xiangming’s hand trembled, and her face instantly turned red.

She seemed quite embarrassed.

Her blush deepened, especially after she saw Jiang Chen give her a small smile.

Jiang Chen observed that although Murong Xiangming’s cultivation had reached the Sixth Level of Martial Master and she handled business with the competence and decisiveness of a queen...

...in personal interactions like this, she was like an inexperienced young girl experiencing her first crush.

It was actually quite endearing.

He had no intention of teasing her, though.

He took the Spatial Ring and swept his Divine Thought inside.

’The White Phoenix Feather, and thirty million primordial crystals...’

Seeing that everything was there, Jiang Chen was very satisfied.

But then he asked in surprise, "Miss Murong, didn’t you say the Treasure Elephant Pavilion takes a three percent commission?"

"Why are you giving me the full thirty million?"

"Oh, and what about the five million for the feather I purchased? That hasn’t been deducted either?"

According to the Treasure Elephant Pavilion’s rules, his Foundation Strengthening Pill had sold for the high price of thirty million.

Based on their commission rate, he should have paid them nine hundred thousand.

Furthermore, he had spent five million to buy the White Phoenix Feather, so he should have received a total of twenty-four million, one hundred thousand.

Receiving the full thirty million without a single coin missing left him puzzled.

In truth, Jiang Chen wasn’t the type to take advantage of others.

And it wasn’t like he was short on money.

Murong Xiangming suppressed her shyness, her cool composure returning. She explained, "Well, the Foundation Strengthening Pill you provided brought a great deal of prestige to our Treasure Elephant Pavilion."

"It helped raise our pavilion’s reputation, so after some discussion, we decided to waive your commission fee."

"Additionally, the feather you bought isn’t actually that valuable. The Treasure Elephant Pavilion has decided to give it to you as a gift."

"So please, Young Master Jiang Chen, don’t misunderstand our intentions."

Jiang Chen was taken aback. He hadn’t expected this.

’Waiving the commission is one thing, but giving it to me as a gift?’

’The Treasure Elephant Pavilion must not know the true value of the White Phoenix Feather. Otherwise, they would never have gifted it.’

This left Jiang Chen not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He remained seated and said coolly, "I don’t wish to owe the Treasure Elephant Pavilion any favors. Even if you gift this to me and waive the commission, I will not agree to any requests you might have."

He was indeed worried they would ask for something in return.

Murong Xiangming waved her hands. "No, no, no, the Treasure Elephant Pavilion has no requests at all."

"This isn’t the first time we’ve given preferential treatment to a valued client. Please rest assured."

Jiang Chen nodded and continued eating his fruit.

But then Murong Xiangming once again held something out to him with both hands.

She smiled. "Young Master Jiang Chen, regardless, as a distinguished guest of our Treasure Elephant Pavilion, we would like to present you with a Gold Card."

"With this Gold Card, you can access our VIP lounge, enjoy the treatment of a gold-level guest, and receive a ten-percent discount on any purchase you make at our pavilion."

The attendant who had brought the tray immediately shot him an envious glance.

He clearly understood the significance of the Gold Card.

Jiang Chen didn’t refuse this time and reached out to accept it.

He knew that a VIP card from the Treasure Elephant Pavilion was quite useful.

"Then I thank you."

He casually tossed the Gold Card into his Spatial Ring.

After dismissing the attendant,

Murong Xiangming also sat down, opposite Jiang Chen.

At such a close distance, Murong Xiangming’s beauty was breathtaking.

Seeing that Jiang Chen didn’t seem inclined to say much,

Murong Xiangming took the initiative to speak.

Normally, given her status, she wouldn’t need to do so, but she found Jiang Chen to be different. He gave her a unique feeling.

And so, she felt an inexplicable urge to personally host him.

Her voice was soft as she smiled. "Young Master Jiang Chen, this time, I’m the one who should be thanking you."

Jiang Chen was surprised.

He asked in astonishment, "Thanking me? For what?"

This was only the second time he and Murong Xiangming had met. He knew he hadn’t done anything that would warrant her gratitude.

Murong Xiangming smiled.

Suddenly, she asked, "Well, Young Master Jiang Chen, why don’t you take a guess who ended up winning the Foundation Strengthening Pill?"

Hm?

Jiang Chen suddenly recalled a scene from the auction earlier.

Someone had indeed bid against the City Lord, Wen Quan, for the Foundation Strengthening Pill and had won it in the end.

He had also been curious about the identity of that person, who dared to compete with someone from the City Lord’s Mansion.

He asked, surprised, "I am curious. I assume you know who it was, Miss Murong?"

Murong Xiangming’s smile was like a refreshing spring breeze.

With a sudden flick of her hand, a porcelain vial appeared in her palm.

The moment Jiang Chen saw the vial, he froze.

"The Foundation Strengthening Pill?"

He recognized it instantly. Wasn’t that the very same porcelain vial he had used to store the Foundation Strengthening Pill?

It was the same vial from the auction, and now it was back in Murong Xiangming’s hand.