Chapter 20: Ya Fei

Chapter 20: Yafei

“Sir, here are the three close-combat techniques you requested for fists, elbows, and legs: Explosive Fist, Sky-Splitting Kick, and Heavy Elbow Strike, all at the low Profound rank. Also, the medicinal herbs you needed are all included.” With lips slightly parted, the enchanting woman carried a silver tray holding three scrolls of combat techniques and a low-grade spatial ring, and gently approached Xiao Se, her voice dripping with a tantalizing sweetness that sent chills down one’s spine.

The soft, alluring tone made Xiao Se’s heart tremble slightly. After activating the “Return to Origin Soul Art” to calm himself, he couldn’t help but curse inwardly: “Siren.”

Without any introduction, Xiao Se had already guessed the identity of the seductive woman: Yafei, the chief auctioneer of the Mittel Auction House and the future Golden Empress.

“Hehe, sir, let me introduce you. This is Yafei, our new chief auctioneer at Mittel Auction House, just transferred from the Holy City of Jiamo. These combat techniques are brought to you by her,” Guni chuckled as he introduced her.

“Mm.” Xiao Se nodded slightly, took the low-grade spatial ring from the silver tray, and with a flick of his hand, stored the three low Profound rank combat technique scrolls inside the ring. He said lightly, “You can deduct the cost of these three techniques from the money earned from selling the pills. If there’s nothing else, I will be going now. I will come back later.”

“Sir, please wait,” Yafei covered her red lips with a jade-like hand and called out to Xiao Se, who was about to leave, her smile charming.

“What else is there?” A hoarse voice sounded faintly from beneath the black robe.

Looking at the figure entirely wrapped in a black robe, even the hands clad in standard gloves, Yafei’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Her pride in her beauty seemed useless against such a presence.

Helplessly, she pursed her lips and cast a subtle glance over Xiao Se.

After scanning him, she found nothing special except for the spatial ring he carried.

Yafei felt a bit disappointed. Her eyes met Guni’s, she bit her red lips gently, and asked softly, “Sir, it’s rare to see an alchemist without a badge. Yafei doesn’t know your honorable name.”

“Exposing one’s true strength to others is foolish. But since you want to know my name, just call me Master Pu,” Xiao Se hoarsely uttered the name of a certain plump man from his past life on Blue Star.

“Hehe, so you are Master Pu. If you need to auction any pills in the future, please do give Mittel Auction House your kind favor,” Yafei smiled brightly, her full chest rising and falling with a breathtaking curve beneath the moonlight.

“Mm.” The hoarse voice sounded again. Without waiting for Yafei and Guni to reply, Xiao Se turned and left the appraiser, heading toward the gate of Mittel Auction House.

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Watching Xiao Se’s retreating figure, Yafei’s cheerful expression suddenly faded. She tilted her head towards Guni and asked in confusion, “Uncle Guni, did Yafei offend him somehow?”

Guni shook his head and sighed softly, “The higher the rank of an alchemist, the more eccentric their personality tends to be. They’re beyond our understanding.”

“High-rank alchemist? Is he even stronger than Uncle Guni?” Yafei blinked in surprise and asked.

“Old man here can’t compare to him. Just take this Essence Cultivation Elixir— even if I had the recipe, I might not be able to concoct it. To produce a flawless grade-two pill, his rank must be at least grade three, maybe even grade four,” Guni said with admiration, shaking his head and smiling bitterly.

“Even with the recipe, he can’t make it?” Yafei’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and her rosy lips curled up as if casually remarking.

Upon hearing Yafei’s words, Guni was startled and hastily warned, “Miss, please don’t act recklessly. A recipe is an alchemist’s lifeblood. Offending an alchemist of unknown rank is unwise—it’s like poking a beehive. Decades ago, the famous Chek family in the Gamma Empire learned that lesson the hard way.”

Seeing Guni’s anxious expression, Yafei helplessly touched her smooth forehead and smiled wryly, “Uncle Guni, what are you thinking? How could I dare offend an alchemist of grade three or four? Though new here, Yafei knows her limits.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Guni breathed a sigh of relief. He truly feared that the fearless Yafei might do something foolish.

After leaving Mittel Auction House, Xiao Se wandered about to ensure no one was watching before slipping into a secluded corner and removing his black robe.

He passed through the Xiao family estate and headed straight to the back mountain. As for the small room assigned by the family, he no longer intended to return.

No sooner had he entered the cave chamber than Long Kui emerged from the demonic sword’s pattern and immediately shifted into her fiery red form under Xiao Se’s gaze.

“Brother, that woman meant you harm just now. Don’t be fooled by her,” Long Kui, now bold and spirited, leapt into Xiao Se’s arms and warned him.

“Uh—” Xiao Se tugged at the corner of his mouth, glanced down at the abyss of the Somali Trench that could drive any man mad, then swallowed hard and said, “I understand.”

Of course, Xiao Se had one more thing he didn’t say: Actually, I don’t have good intentions toward her either.

Hearing Xiao Se’s reply, the sultry Long Kui’s face broke into a satisfied smile. Her eyes flickered with a chilling glint as she said, “Brother, shall I kill her tonight?”

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“Don’t do anything foolish. She was only trying to probe my true identity. Besides, you’re a girl—stop rushing to call for bloodshed.” Startled, Xiao Se quickly stopped her. Such a beauty would break his heart if she were killed.

“Oh, Brother forbids the killing, so Long Kui won’t kill,” Long Kui pouted but the coldness in her eyes faded.

Wiping the nonexistent sweat from his brow, Xiao Se hurriedly changed the subject, “Long Kui, you should know how to fight, right?”

“Hehe…” The red-hued Long Kui smiled and took a few steps back, waving her small fists fiercely. “Long Kui is very strong. Back at the Demon-Sealing Tower, those monsters were all driven away by Long Kui.”

Xiao Se nodded faintly. “Good. For the next while, you’ll be my sparring partner. Once I finish cultivating my current combat techniques, we’ll leave the Xiao family and venture out.”

He knew very well that staying any longer in the Xiao family held no benefit.

He even needed to be vigilant against impending danger.

The moment he obtained the demonic sword, he had planned to leave the Xiao family, but his unfamiliarity with his combat techniques and the limited number he could use delayed his departure.

After all, he couldn’t just rely on the Crimson Flame Sword for every fight.

That was why he had Mittel Auction House prepare a set of close-combat techniques for fists, feet, and elbows, and with the Crimson Flame Sword, the Ethereal Smoke Step, and Beast Fire as his trump cards, he was sufficiently equipped to defend himself.

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P.S.: Added an extra update. Any recommendations?

(End of chapter)