Two months flew by in the blink of an eye, and the Ye Lord’s grand wedding—an event that had shaken the Three Realms with its touch of absurdity—now seemed like ancient history.
New happenings cropped up every day across the Three Realms, and the after-dinner gossip shifted from one wave to the next. The name “Lu Shiyuan” might still ring a vague bell in a teahouse chat, but little more.
Of the great families who had journeyed thousands of miles to Yedu after receiving the wedding invitations, only a few had departed, while most lingered.
The reason? Yedu City was hosting its once-every-four-years grand auction. By the normal schedule, it was still half a year off, but the organizers had capitalized on the wedding’s gathering of clans to pull it forward by six months.
It wasn’t easy for everyone to travel here, so combining the spectacles saved another trip later. No one minded, and they extended their stay in Yedu by two months to await the event.
Meanwhile, Lu Shiyuan’s spiritual root had benefited from Shang Si’s nightly nurturing, and her condition was far better than it had been two months prior. At least channeling spiritual power for a brief flight no longer drained her.
After careful comparison, she sensed her current cultivation had recovered to about one-tenth of her former peak.
A little progress each day added up, and Lu Shiyuan felt no dissatisfaction. Her gratitude toward Shang Si only deepened.
Over these two months, she made a habit of visiting the East City Guesthouse whenever she could. She kept out of sight during the day but appeared punctually before Shang Si each nightfall, as docile and refined as an elegant house cat.
Shang Si, for her part, had grown accustomed to the Sound Transmission Talisman lighting up quietly amid her busy handling of vexing affairs.
“Senior Sister, I hear this auction has sky-high entry requirements—only invite-holders allowed, and even massive sects like Spirit Mountain Sect have to have one. If you march us in bold as brass, won’t they toss us out?” On the bustling main street in the city’s south end, the three sat low-profile in a restaurant across from the auction hall.
The sun blazed overhead in the midday heat, but a few hours after sunset, the main event would kick off.
Everyone milling about the street now was there for the thrill. Those with invitations breezed through the front gate; the rest scrambled to acquire one while they could. Yedu’s west side teemed with demons, ghosts, and monsters peddling every service imaginable—as long as the price was right.
Lu Shiyuan had brought her two junior sect brothers along to soak in the once-every-four-years excitement.
She wore a simple blue silk gauze dress, her black hair loose down her back—a far cry from the heavy, opulent makeup she’d sported on the Heaven Worship Platform months earlier.
Her slender fingers tapped her teacup twice, then her ring finger rose slightly, revealing a plain Spirit Ring. Her laugh rang light and lively. “Little Six, you haven’t seen the perks of being the Consort of Ye Capital since your wound healed, have you?”
“Shang Si wrote me an ‘invitation.’ Today, you’ll get a taste.” Pride laced Lu Shiyuan’s upturned tone, her fine brows and eyes softening like an April breeze.
Shen Guang, who had sat silently beside them without a word, opened his mouth then closed it, his gaze brimming with turmoil.
Lu Shiyuan was the junior sister he’d watched grow up, always the closest to him. Yet in mere months, she trusted this woman of dubious intentions so completely.
She might not mind, but he hadn’t forgotten how, over half a year ago, Yedu’s forces had stormed in to seize her, clashed with their sect leader, and driven back hundreds of Sword Spirit Sect disciples.
Now, that same villain had become the figure forever on his junior sister’s lips.
After a quick sampling of the table’s snacks and tea, Lu Shiyuan hustled her two juniors onto the street, not forgetting to chide the lagging Shen Guang to pick up the pace.
These two months, beyond healing and the occasional assist chasing Demon Realm conspiracy leads for Shang Si, Lu Shiyuan had devoted her time to exploring and feasting around Yedu City.
On the subject of [How to Leverage the Consort of Ye Capital’s Identity to Thrive], she was a master—adept enough to pen a guidebook.
She had heard the Yedu City auction was coming and pestered Shang Si for days, securing a special pass under the banner of “scouting Demon Race family movements inside the venue.”
Stamped with the sovereign’s vivid red seal, what door in Yedu wouldn’t open to her?
With that pass, Lu Shiyuan and her companions slipped into the auction hall without a hitch and were ushered to prime front-row seats with perfect sightlines.
The sun in the west had only dipped halfway below the horizon, leaving plenty of time before the auction began. The sunset’s glow transformed the water-blue sky into a vast sea of red, reminiscent of the vivid bridal rouge adorning a woman on her wedding day—dazzling and breathtaking.
Lu Shiyuan sat with her junior and senior brothers for a while, and soon the remaining empty seats in the venue began to fill one after another.
Someone murmured softly, “Look, people from the Snow Rabbit Clan have arrived.”
Lu Shiyuan turned her head and peered down the long central aisle leading from the entrance gates. Sure enough, she spotted a young man and woman clad in white robes, their striking green eyes drawing attention as they quietly took seats in the back rows.
The Snow Rabbit Clan was nothing more than a second-rate minor clan in the Demon Realm, not even comparable to Ling Yuan and his group from that day. Lu Shiyuan withdrew her gaze.
At that moment, Shen Guang, seated beside her, flickered his eyes restlessly. After holding back for a long time, he finally couldn’t restrain himself. “Shiyuan, these past days I’ve been so focused on treating Little Six’s injuries that I haven’t even asked about your old wounds. How are they?”
“Much better now, Senior Brother. No need to worry—it’s all thanks to Shang Si.” Lu Shiyuan hadn’t expected her senior brother to bring up such a personal matter in this setting. She turned to him with a faintly surprised expression but answered honestly nonetheless.
Of course, she hadn’t forgotten to mention Shang Si.
It wasn’t deliberate, just the plain truth.
Lu Shiyuan knew full well that no matter what deal she had struck with Shang Si, she was the one who had come out way ahead.
Yet Shen Guang’s expression shifted subtly at her protective tone. “Shiyuan, Shang Si is no saint. Don’t trust her so easily—everything she does for you comes with strings attached.”
“She…” Lu Shiyuan started to say more, but Little Six’s muffled exclamation from the side cut their conversation short.
Lu Shiyuan’s attention snapped toward him, forcing Shen Guang to let the matter drop. He resolved to give his junior sister a proper warning at another time.
Dusk settled in, a silver moon climbing into the treetops, and the auction venue ceased admitting new guests. The grand event everyone had anticipated for four long years officially commenced as an elder on stage finished his opening remarks.
One by one, superior spiritual treasures and potent spiritual medicines appeared on the auction block. Bidders from the great families across the Three Realms threw around money like water, calling out prices without so much as blinking. The staggering sums left Lu Shiyuan and Little Six smacking their lips in awe from their seats below. This, it turned out, was the true gap between their Sword Spirit Sect and the other sects.
Lu Shiyuan wasn’t entirely a bystander, though—she joined in some of the bidding.
“Senior Sister, that sword you just won—is it for Senior Brother?” The previous item had just wrapped up, and Lu Shiyuan had secured a Pine Cloud Sword forged by a master artisan. Little Six immediately leaned over with a sneaky grin.
Shen Guang’s go-to spiritual tool had been ruined in their clash with Ling Yuan last time, and Lu Shiyuan had kept it in mind on this trip.
She didn’t mince words, owning up frankly when asked. “Yeah, his old spirit sword never suited him well. Since we found this one tonight, I couldn’t pass it up.” With money to burn for once, Lu Shiyuan was finally tasting the thrill of spending.
Still, poverty ran deep in her bones. Once the rush faded, she felt the sharp sting of having been royally fleeced.
Shen Guang, however, was deeply touched. “Shiyuan, you really don’t need to go to such trouble for me.”
As an offensive spiritual tool—and a common weapon type at that—plenty of people had bid on it. A mid-grade spirit sword had fetched a whopping two hundred thousand spirit stones, nearly half the Sword Spirit Sect’s income for an entire year.
But after silently nursing her heartache, Lu Shiyuan flashed him a bright smile. “It’s nothing, Senior Brother. Shang Si worried I wouldn’t have spending money, so she loaded me up with spirit stones. What I just spent is a drop in the bucket.”
“If you’re grateful, thank Shang Si. She’s really wonderful.” Lu Shiyuan’s eyes shone as she spoke, sparkling with crystalline flecks of light.
Three mentions of Shang Si in as many sentences—Shen Guang swallowed the words he’d had ready.
“Our next item is a Golden Step-Shake crafted by the famed artifact refiner Master Hu Tianxi. It clears the mind and steadies the spirit, guarding against cultivation deviation. While not an offensive treasure, its exquisite and unique design from a master’s hand makes it a starting bid of one hundred thousand spirit stones. Gentlemen with interest might consider it a fine gift for sisters or wives back home.”
It wasn’t for attack or defense, and its effects were rather niche to boot.
After the auctioneer’s words hung in the air, the hall fell into an eerily profound silence for several breaths—an awkward moment for the organizers. Everyone knew an unsold item would be returned, tarnishing the auction house’s reputation.
Fortunately, the hush didn’t last. Someone broke the silence with a bid.
“110,000.” Just a modest bump from the floor price, the voice drifting from the back rows.
Lu Shiyuan turned to glance behind her, but the crowd was packed so densely that she couldn’t make out a thing.
“150,000.” She tested the waters with a slightly higher bid.
Shen Guang and Little Six both froze for a moment, utterly caught off guard that Lu Shiyuan had jumped into the bidding. They couldn’t fathom what was so captivating about this Golden Step-Shake to justify 150,000 spirit stones.
Before they could puzzle it out, however, the voice from the back row that had just gone silent rang out again. “200,000.”
“250,000,” Lu Shiyuan countered.
“300,000.” The bidder seemed determined to lock horns with her, drawing amused glances from the crowd all around.
Truth be told, anyone with a shred of discernment could see that this Golden Step-Shake was worth 200,000 at absolute most. The relentless price hikes screamed that the bidder was deliberately trying to sabotage Lu Shiyuan.
But Lu Shiyuan wasn’t bidding for herself. The instant the auctioneer had lifted the item from its wooden box, she’d known it was perfect for Shang Si. She could already picture her wearing it as they spoke.
Shang Si adored these glittering golden trinkets—it showed in her everyday adornments.
From the gem dangling at her brow, to the silver chains encircling her ankles; from the beloved gold links wrapping her left hand and connecting her fingers, to the dainty bells that jingled at the slightest irritation.
Lu Shiyuan couldn’t help thinking that the poised and meticulous Yedu Female Sovereign had likely been Yedu’s cherished little princess in some distant past, shaped by the relentless passage of time into the paragon everyone now admired.
They hadn’t known each other long, and their stations were worlds apart, yet in their brief time together, Lu Shiyuan had seen how Shang Si poured her heart into every promise she made, drawing her into her inner circle and treating her like family.
Never mind anything else—just this unassuming Spirit Ring on her finger held a fortune in spirit stones and an arsenal of coveted spirit artifacts and treasures.
Shang Si had handed them over without a second thought.
It left Lu Shiyuan constantly scheming for a way to repay the kindness, though her current weakness made it all but impossible.
So she bit her vermilion lip, steeling herself to raise the bid once more—
“Senior Sister, have you lost your mind? Even if you’ve got the money, you can’t just throw it away like this!” Spotting her intent, Little Six swiftly grabbed her arm.
He had voiced the exact sentiment churning in Shen Guang’s mind. The young man knit his handsome brows, his expression one of clear disapproval.
Some things simply weren’t worth the price. It was reckless stubbornness, nothing more.
Little Six’s outburst doused the hot surge of determination in Lu Shiyuan’s chest, cold reason rushing in to take its place.
She finally snapped back to reality and parted her lips a little woodenly. “I wasn’t going to spend Shang Si’s money on this Step-Shake. I’ve saved up a bit of my own in Sword Spirit Sect over the years.”
“The Golden Step-Shake’s effects are pretty underwhelming,” Shen Guang said bluntly.
“—500,000.” A third voice suddenly cut in.
As their argument dragged on amid the spectators’ entertainment, a feminine voice tinged with amusement drifted down from one of the second-floor compartments.
The unexpected intervention drew glances from every corner.
Everyone knew the second-floor boxes were reserved for guests of exceptional standing.
No one could say who the bidder was, but their deep pockets were plain enough.
With a mysterious VIP in the mix, pushing further risked offending someone powerful without even realizing it.
It wasn’t some indispensable spirit treasure, after all. After a moment’s consideration, the bidder in the back row backed off with a sour grunt.
500,000 was far beyond Lu Shiyuan’s personal means in any case. The auctioneer called three times, brought down the gavel, and the Golden Step-Shake belonged to the enigmatic VIP.
The minor drama did nothing to disrupt the auction’s flow, which only grew more feverish from there. The headliners emerged, and even top-tier spirit artifacts fetched millions.
When the grand event finally wrapped up, attendants escorted the trio to the front hall to claim their purchases. They hadn’t secured their heart’s desire in the Golden Step-Shake, but the Pine Cloud Sword was a fine consolation.
“Senior Sister, you still hung up on that Step-Shake?” Little Six nagged as they waited for the attendant to retrieve the Pine Cloud Sword, having already transferred the spirit stones. “You’ve never cared about stuff like this before. It’s just a hairpin with some bizarre gimmick. Yeah, it’s gorgeous, but it’s not worth betting your entire savings on it.”
“Little Six, please, just be quiet for a bit,” Lu Shiyuan said. She pressed her index finger hard against her brow, eyes squeezed shut, a flicker of irritation hovering there.
Then a voice laced with amusement called from behind them. “Miss Lu.”
All three whipped around.
Surprise flickered in Lu Shiyuan’s amber eyes. “You’re…”
“We’ve met before—Hua Qiu,” the woman said, her eyes curving into gentle crescents as she smiled and inclined her head toward her.
“I came because I have something for you.” With that, Hua Qiu reached into her sleeve and produced a small, exquisitely crafted wooden box.
She lifted the lid, revealing a familiar golden step-shake resting quietly inside.
“The Luoshen Hairpin.” Lu Shiyuan seemed to have anticipated this, her expression remarkably calm. She named the artifact aloud and lifted her gaze to the woman before her. “So it was you who bought it.”
It made sense, of course. Each of Yedu’s Six Great Ghost Generals possessed formidable cultivation and wielded significant authority; it was only natural for any of them to access the VIP rooms on the second floor.
“I was just here today to join in the fun and happened to see that you, Miss Lu, fancied it. So I thought I’d do you a simple favor—presenting someone else’s flowers as my own gift, you might say—and use it to apologize for my rudeness back in the Ye Capital Great Prison.” Hua Qiu had a youthful, innocent face, and her smile made her look like a harmless girl next door, the kind that naturally inspired affection. But anyone who had witnessed her methods knew she was anything but harmless.
Three people stood before her, yet Hua Qiu’s gaze remained fixed solely on Lu Shiyuan from start to finish, with no intention of acknowledging the other two.
Now the lost Luoshen Hairpin had been recovered and lay right before her eyes, but a flicker of hesitation crossed Lu Shiyuan’s face. She made no move to take it.
Hua Qiu noticed and tilted her head slightly, her smile deepening. “What’s wrong?”
Lu Shiyuan bit her thin lip and shook her head. “I can’t accept unearned rewards. This golden step-shake is far too precious to me, and I can’t accept your reason for giving it.”
“What if I say it’s a meeting gift for you?” Seeing that Lu Shiyuan wasn’t convinced, Hua Qiu switched tactics. She lowered her eyes and toyed with her nails as she continued, “Though the six of us serve Shang Si as our lord, we’re as close as siblings. You must know that much.”
In that case, as Shang Si’s wife, Lu Shiyuan had no reason to refuse Hua Qiu’s meeting gift.
It had taken some effort—and a bit of smooth talking—to finally hand over the item she’d won at auction. Once Lu Shiyuan and her companions had departed, Hua Qiu turned and returned to the private booth on the second floor. Rounding the inner screen, a graceful silhouette soon came into view, seated quietly at the window-side table.
“I gave her the item, and she accepted it,” Hua Qiu said as she slid into the empty seat across from her. She glanced up at the figure. “You know, A Si, it’s really strange. All these years, aside from Shang Luo, I rarely see you care so much about anyone. Don’t tell me you’ve really started seeing her as that person?”
“Shang Si, they’re not the same person.” Hua Qiu’s tone grew unusually earnest and solemn, sounding like a reminder—or perhaps a warning.
“I know.” At last, the person across the table turned her face.
Fine, arched brows framed eyes that opened slightly. Shang Si leaned back in her chair with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, leaving Hua Qiu uncertain of her true thoughts. “Lu Shiyuan is one of us now. It was just a step-shake. What’s this? Have you actually started believing all those wild rumors flying around outside lately?”
