Chapter 30: When Will You Return?

In the end, Ye Xingtong paid for the spirit plant.

Ming Jingqiu had intended to pay herself, but after the attendant accepted the jade slip and confirmed it, he returned it and said, “Miss Ye, you are a distinguished guest of the auction house. This transaction is eligible for a thirty percent discount, to be settled from the Ye Family’s account. If you need anything, please call for me at any time.”

Ye Xingtong nodded, long accustomed to this kind of treatment.

Seeing this, the attendant discreetly bowed and slipped away.

When the room fell quiet again, everyone looked at Ye Xingtong.

The suddenly stared-at girl didn’t understand at all. She raised an eyebrow. “Why is everyone looking at me?”

Of those present, aside from Jing Ying, who had a background, everyone else had their own difficulties and had never experienced anything like this.

Bai Xiaoxiao thought about how she’d been poor in both of her lives and quietly closed her eyes.

The girls exchanged glances. Finally, Ming Jingqiu broke the silence. “Junior Sister, let me reimburse you for the spirit plant.”

Ye Xingtong waved a hand. “Don’t say that. I made the bid, so I pay. Senior Sister Ming doesn’t need to be so polite. It’s just a spirit plant—consider it payment for all the trouble you’ve taken lately.”

Ming Jingqiu paused, her expression hesitant.

Ye Xingtong had already given her a storage ring filled with spirit stones, and now she was gifting her the spirit plant as well.

After thinking it over, Ming Jingqiu still felt it wasn’t right. “Junior Sister, please take it back. I’m already grateful for the discount you secured. As for payment, you’ve already given it.”

Ye Xingtong thought about it and nodded reluctantly. “Alright then.”

Mother said to help each other out. She’d done it right, hadn’t she?

Rong Yuzhuo clicked her tongue in amazement, envious of Ye Xingtong’s wealth. Buying a spirit plant for three thousand five hundred mid-grade spirit stones and just giving it away.

She understood now.

Instead of working odd jobs everywhere, she should find an employer like Eldest Miss Ye—generous with money and kind to boot.

But the thought only flashed by before she tossed it aside. A fairy-like employer like that was hard to come by.

As for Ye Xingtong… never mind. Better not go bother her.

Rong Yuzhuo turned her attention back to the auction and watched the lots with interest.

They already had what they needed, so logically, the group should head home.

But none of them had missed the expression Bai Xiaoxiao wore when she saw the item list. Everyone knew she was waiting for that final Mirage Serpent Inner Core, so no one suggested leaving.

Lot after lot was sold, and the group noticed that things outside their private room seemed unsettled. Occasionally, they could sense fluctuations of spiritual power.

Ye Xingtong frowned and called an attendant to ask. She got a predictable answer.

News that a Mirage Serpent Inner Core had been squeezed into the auction had spread. Cultivators who got word were rushing over, while others, calculating they couldn’t win the inner core, had gone back to fetch more money. Hence the commotion.

Ye Xingtong dismissed the attendant and looked at Bai Xiaoxiao. “Looks like that inner core won’t be easy to secure.”

Bai Xiaoxiao unconsciously knitted her brows, her fingertips twitching.

She was still waiting for Bai Zhizhi. She’d thought “right away” really meant right away, but half the lots had already gone by and there was still no sign of her.

She didn’t know if the girl could make it in time. If she couldn’t… could she perhaps scavenge something from the secret realm to sell for money?

【No! I still need energy! Cut it out!】

Bai Xiaoxiao: …

Fine. So much for that idea.

Worst case, she could ask Ye Xingtong to lend her some money.

Bai Xiaoxiao was worried when, right at that moment, her Sea of Consciousness stirred slightly. She sank her awareness in and, sure enough, found the miniature Soul Fragment with its eyes open.

“A-… uh, Your Eminence.”

Close call. She’d nearly used last night’s address.

Bai Xiaoxiao was still a little afraid of Shen Zhiyue. At the very least, she couldn’t casually call her that while she was fully conscious.

Shen Zhiyue’s eyes flickered, but she quickly returned to calm. “When will you return?”

Bai Xiaoxiao hurriedly said, “We’re still at the auction. We’ll head back once it’s over.”

Shen Zhiyue gave a slight nod and said thoughtfully, “The spirit plant Jingqiu needed wasn’t anything rare. Did the auction house add another lot?”

Bai Xiaoxiao was surprised by her sharpness and didn’t hide it. “Someone added a lot right before the auction started. It’s a Mirage Serpent Inner Core. I… want to bid on it.”

Shen Zhiyue’s eyes flickered. “A Mirage Serpent… inner core?”

Bai Xiaoxiao saw something flash through her eyes but didn’t think much of it. She just nodded. “Mm. Actually, I… don’t know if it’s genuine. I heard Mirage Serpents are ancient spirit beasts. If it’s real, it would be a rare stroke of fortune for me.”

Bai Xiaoxiao still had reservations about her identity, so she didn’t confess the truth. Her Mirage Serpent identity was too important—she was afraid it would bring trouble to the other clan members.

As for her current explanation, it was something she’d thought up while talking to Ming Jingqiu earlier.

She needed a reason for wanting the inner core, so she used her spirit snake identity to claim it was a rare opportunity for her.

That way, no one would suspect she was a Mirage Serpent. They’d simply think she wanted the inner core so it could return to her clan.

Shen Zhiyue didn’t expose her. If anything, she was pleasantly surprised the girl had finally grown vigilant enough to hide her identity.

“It is indeed a fine stroke of fortune.” She paused, then said, “Is your money… enough?”

Bai Xiaoxiao looked at her in surprise. She hadn’t expected Shen Zhiyue to ask whether she had enough money. Judging by the tone, would Shen Zhiyue help cover it if she said no?

But she didn’t have the nerve to ask, let alone borrow. She just nodded. “It should be enough. I got in touch with a clansman of mine, and she’s nearby. If I’m short, I can ask her for some. If it’s still not enough, I plan to borrow a little from Xingtong.”

Shen Zhiyue gave her a look, her expression cooling slightly. “Mm.”

Bai Xiaoxiao didn’t know why, but she felt the woman’s mood suddenly turn sour.

Was she too tired from last night?

Bai Xiaoxiao stole a glance at her.

“Go on out. Don’t miss anything.”

Since Shen Zhiyue said this, Bai Xiaoxiao assumed she was truly tired, so she nodded and reluctantly left the Sea of Consciousness.

The moment her awareness returned, Bai Xiaoxiao sensed Bai Zhizhi contacting her through the bloodline secret technique.

After some back-and-forth, once she confirmed the girl was right outside the auction house, Bai Xiaoxiao ended the connection and looked at Ye Xingtong. “Xingtong, I have a… friend who came to find me. Could she come in?”

The private room was Ye Xingtong’s booking, and Bai Xiaoxiao couldn’t make decisions on her own—she had to ask the person in charge.

Ye Xingtong was a little surprised but nodded. “I don’t mind. Is she outside? I’ll have an attendant go fetch her.”

Once she’d given the order to the attendant, Ye Xingtong’s curiosity slowly began to rise.

Bai Xiaoxiao actually had a friend outside the Sword Sect? When did she make friends? Hadn’t she always stayed in the sect?

Also, if she remembered correctly, Bai Xiaoxiao was a spirit beast, picked up by the Sword Venerable… Hmm? Maybe it wasn’t a friend.

Ye Xingtong stroked her chin, feeling the pause in Bai Xiaoxiao’s words was interesting.

Maybe it wasn’t a friend, but a clan member?

Ye Xingtong felt she’d hit the truth.

Everyone was curious about this sudden friend of Bai Xiaoxiao’s. All sorts of gazes gathered on her, and Bai Xiaoxiao, bearing them, nearly broke out in a sweat.

Fortunately, the private room was knocked on before long. An attendant announced the guest had arrived, and Bai Xiaoxiao hurriedly said, “Come in.”

Everyone’s attention shifted to the door.

Bai Xiaoxiao rubbed her fingertips. She confirmed the person outside was Bai Zhizhi—she hadn’t seen her yet, but she’d already sensed the familiar bloodline aura.

However, Bai Zhizhi hadn’t come alone. The moment the door opened, before Bai Xiaoxiao could even make out the girl’s face, Jing Ying called out in surprise, “Fang Nianci? What are you doing here?”

Bai Xiaoxiao’s gaze snapped over. Sure enough, there was a woman beside Bai Zhizhi.

The woman wore pure white robes with not a single accessory on her. She looked very plain, yet a strange, faint fragrance emanated from her—something like the scent of a spirit plant.

Upon hearing the voice, the woman looked in with a calm expression. The next second, she frowned slightly and took an almost imperceptible step back. “Why are there so many people…”

Bai Xiaoxiao felt a sense of familiarity, because she could see the words “social anxiety” written all over this woman named Fang Nianci.

Still, despite appearing socially anxious, the woman steadied her expression and gave a salute. “Fang Nianci of the Jade Heart Sect greets you fellow daoists.”

Jing Ying looked incredulous. “You actually left your pill room? Did you take the wrong pill?”

Fang Nianci’s expression remained placid. “Young Pavilion Master Jing, please watch your words.”

Jing Ying clicked her tongue in defeat. Ye Xingtong had heard the name before but never met the person, so she was intrigued.

Only Ming Jingqiu and Rong Yuzhuo remained silent after exchanging greetings—one was a woman of few words, and the other was used to observing.

The Jade Heart Sect?

Bai Xiaoxiao paused, remembering something.

The Jade Heart Sect was an alchemy sect. Most of its members were alchemy cultivators, and their combat ability was famously poor. Even so, no one was willing to offend them, because no one knew when they might need to beg a favor from the Jade Heart Sect.

Offend anyone, but never an alchemy cultivator.

The name Fang Nianci sounded familiar, though. Bai Xiaoxiao thought hard but couldn’t recall where she’d heard it, so she gave up for now, planning to ask the System about it later.

Her gaze moved to Bai Zhizhi, and she paused at the sight of the girl’s tearful eyes. She looked just as Bai Xiaoxiao had imagined—a scatterbrained beauty.

Realizing the two were still standing at the door, Bai Zhizhi immediately pulled Fang Nianci inside, cheerfully greeted everyone, then sidled up to Bai Xiaoxiao and began transmitting her voice.

“Xiaoxiao, where’s the inner core you mentioned? By the way, you’ve shapeshifted too! Did you get some kind of opportunity?”

The voice sounded directly in her mind. Fortunately, Bai Xiaoxiao was used to it by now and didn’t panic. She replied, “The inner core hasn’t come up yet. As for shapeshifting, I don’t know what happened either. More importantly, how did you end up with someone from the Jade Heart Sect?”

Bai Zhizhi didn’t notice any change in her clansman—she just thought the girl had gained a brain after shapeshifting. At those words, tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

“We got separated, you know! That snow mountain was freezing. I wasn’t even on the mountain, but I was still half-frozen to death. I forced myself to climb down for ages, and then I passed out from the cold. Fang Nianci picked me up after that.”

“Wait, Jing Ying said Fang Nianci never leaves the sect. How did she pick you up?”

“She’s an alchemist. She occasionally goes out to gather herbs herself. She happened to find me and took me back.

But who would’ve thought—when I woke up, I was locked in a jar! Fang Nianci is a monster! She almost soaked me into wine!”

“…Then what’s the situation now?”

“That’s because I’m clever! I shapeshifted right away. I was a second away from becoming spirit snake wine; I couldn’t worry about anything else. Luckily, after I shapeshifted, Fang Nianci dropped the idea of soaking me in wine.”

Bai Zhizhi told the story with tears in her eyes. She’d scraped by with her little life, but Fang Nianci was an alchemy cultivator. She had to be on guard at all times against being turned into a pill.

If her identity was exposed, she’d basically be delivering herself right to the door. With her cultivation base, she wouldn’t stand a chance at all.

Bai Xiaoxiao listened to Bai Zhizhi’s complaints but noticed that the girl didn’t look nearly as scared as she claimed. When Fang Nianci occasionally glanced over, she’d even flash a smile.

So this was what “afraid” looked like.

Bai Xiaoxiao was speechless for a moment.

Since no one in the room was very familiar with each other, the atmosphere settled into silence. After finishing the important matters, Bai Xiaoxiao and Bai Zhizhi stopped transmitting and chatted in low voices instead. The others focused on the auction.

Bai Xiaoxiao noticed Fang Nianci had also bid on something—an alchemy furnace.

“Fang Nianci, why are you buying an alchemy furnace again? Don’t you already have a bunch? Your storage ring is stuffed full of them.”

Bai Zhizhi noticed her action, widened her eyes, and blurted out.

Everyone paused, their gazes drifting toward the two.

Fang Nianci’s expression stiffened slightly, and she said softly, “Not many. Spare.”

Bai Xiaoxiao scanned the room, then unobtrusively looked away, thinking that Fang Nianci and Ming Jingqiu must have common ground—both were people of few words.

Bai Zhizhi was already used to the way Fang Nianci spoke and didn’t mind. “Oh, alright. I’m going to bid on something later too. You remember to pay.”

Bai Xiaoxiao looked at her in horror.

Excuse me? Just like that, so brazenly?

The others were stunned as well. Their gazes moved to Fang Nianci—and they saw her, to their astonishment, nod.

Bai Xiaoxiao was speechless for a moment, thinking Bai Zhizhi really was flighty. Her words could only be taken with a grain of salt.

When she’d first heard Fang Nianci was an alchemy cultivator, Bai Xiaoxiao had been wary, wanting to warn Bai Zhizhi not to get too close.

For people like them, alchemy cultivators were dangerous too.

But Fang Nianci obeyed Bai Zhizhi so readily. It was baffling.

Jing Ying, especially, looked at Fang Nianci as if she were a stranger—like she was seeing her for the first time.

Fortunately, the strange atmosphere didn’t last long. The final item, the inner core, was carried onto the stage.

The group stopped their chatter and looked at the item covered by black silk.

The auctioneer smiled brightly and wasted no time pulling off the silk.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting. This is the lot our house has urgently added—the Mirage Serpent Inner Core. I trust everyone can sense the spiritual qi it emanates. After appraisal by our house’s appraiser, it has been confirmed to be a genuine Mirage Serpent Inner Core.

Normally, such a precious item wouldn’t be added at the last minute. However, due to certain circumstances, there was no time for advance promotion. Truly, you fellow daoists are immensely fortunate today.

Very well, enough talk. Please, take a look.”

As she spoke, she lightly sent a wisp of spiritual power toward the inner core.

After absorbing the spiritual power, the inner core instantly blazed with light. Caught off guard, the cultivators’ expressions went vacant in the blink of an eye.

And that was one of the Mirage Serpent’s innate talents—illusion induction.

Without a doubt, this was a genuine Mirage Serpent Inner Core.