Chapter 141: Young Master Xiao Yan Has Arrived

Hai Bodong smiled like an old fox and said, "We agreed that if your family needed help, you'd come to the rescue—but you're a bird without feet; how am I supposed to contact you when the time comes? And you must have a middleman for requesting medicinal materials."

Xiao Yan stared at Hai Bodong's fox-like face and said, "That's not how you make contact."

Hai Bodong used voice transmission to say, "Look at this girl—she has beauty, figure, and management skills; she naturally draws attention. This time it was only a low-level Dou Shi, but next time if a Dou Huang comes and you're not here, the Miter Clan won't care about such matters."

Xiao Yan gave Hai Bodong a withering look—he hadn't expected Hai Bodong to pull this trick!

On the Dou Qi Continent, marriages for alliance were extremely common, for marriage was the best means of forming alliances.

With Xiao Yan's conditions, if not for his betrothal to Nalan Yanran, matchmakers would come daily to chat with Xiao Zhan, gushing over this girl or that girl; even major families from neighboring cities would rush to offer their daughters to Xiao Yan.

It was only because of the marriage alliance with the Nalan Clan of the Three Great Families that Xiao Yan had never experienced such things.

Xiao Yan used voice-transmission to say, "Aren't you here?!"

"Hehehe, I've given you everything—I'm no longer part of the Miter Clan, and besides, I don't even bear the Miter name," Hai Bodong said, stroking his beard.

Xiao Yan stood up, furious, and glanced at Ya Fei, who stood frozen in shock, her mind blank, utterly dumbfounded.

But he already had a girl in his heart.

He glared at Hai Bodong and said, "Fine, you're ruthless—I don't want half of it anymore!"

Xiao Yan didn't stay—he immediately unfolded EagleWings and flew out the window, leaving with a distinctly hasty, fleeing air.

Everyone present stared blankly as Xiao Yan flew away—what exactly just happened???

Ya Fei watched Xiao Yan fly off, and inside her chest stirred a strange feeling—whether it was relief that she hadn't been casually arranged as a marriage pawn, or disappointment that Xiao Yan had refused, her heart was a tangle of emotions.

Hai Bodong, watching Ya Fei's faint dejection, said calmly, "That boy didn't refuse."

Hearing Hai Bodong's voice-transmission, Ya Fei's cheeks flushed crimson instantly, her hands unsure where to rest. The sharp-tongued Ya Fei on the Auction Stage today seemed to have become tongue-tied, unable to speak.

Upon hearing this, Miter Tengshan's expression changed slightly; he murmured inwardly with quiet doubt: "Hai Lao, even if he's incredibly talented, talent doesn't guarantee blossoming—isn't this too risky? Binding him with half the Auction House?"

"Blossoming? Don't underestimate his power—if he goes mad, even I can't stop him," Hai Bodong said gravely. Now, whenever he recalled the Buddha Fury Lotus Xiao Yan had once created, his heart trembled—that power was simply too terrifying.

If Xiao Yan reached the Dou Ling realm, he absolutely couldn't stop him.

Seeing Hai Bodong's rare gravity, the Elders and Miter Tengshan in the Hall could not help but feel a surge of awe. Those who knew his nature understood that in the entire Jia Ma Empire, fewer than three people had the stature to warrant such treatment from Hai Bodong—and those few were ancient, immortal-like figures. Yet this young man named Xiao Yan was barely twenty.

"Rest assured, Hai Lao—I'll sternly instruct my clan members to avoid enmity with him and strive to build ties," Miter Tengshan said solemnly, nodding firmly. In matters of this magnitude, he dared not act carelessly.

Miter Tengshan turned to Ya Fei and said, "Ya Fei, from now on, the Wang Du Auction House is entirely under your management. Whatever it takes, maintain good relations with Xiao Yan—supply him with any medicinal materials he needs."

"Yes, Supreme Elder. Ya Fei understands."

At that moment, a maid knocked and entered, saying, "Miss Ya Fei, Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Clan requests an audience."

!!!!

Upon hearing the name Nalan Yanran, Hai Bodong frowned and asked, "Nalan Yanran? What's she doing here at the Auction House?"

Ya Fei bowed and replied, "Respected Supreme Elder, a few days ago, Nalan Jie, head of the Nalan Clan, suffered a rupture of Luo Du in his body. He's searching nationwide for Alchemists with Strange Fire to cure him, and he's asked our Auction House branches to assist in the search."

Hai Bodong's expression turned wry, a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Hehehe, the world truly is full of wonders."

"Hai Lao, is there a problem?" Ya Fei asked softly.

"The Alchemist with Strange Fire that the Nalan Clan is seeking just ran away."

"Oh, what?!?!"

In the Hall, the atmosphere grew strange once more.

Xiao Yan was forced to land in a deserted place, for shortly after taking flight, he had drawn attention from multiple sources—even a Dou Huang-level Spiritual Soul had swept over him.

"That Dou Huang-level Spiritual Soul must be Jia Xingtian, the old monster Hai Lao mentioned."

As Xiao Yan pondered, he walked to the street where the Nalan Clan resided. Regardless of his relationship with Nalan Yanran, since he had come to Jia Ma Sheng Cheng, he ought to pay a visit.

In truth, if not for the broken engagement, Nalan Jie was Xiao Zhan's senior—after all, Xiao Yan's grandfather, Xiao Lin, had sworn brotherhood with Nalan Jie.

"Damn it—I meant to bring those items from the Auction House as a gift, but Hai Lao's antics made me forget," Xiao Yan said, looking at his empty hands and feeling slightly embarrassed.

He took several Spirit Fruits from his Spirit Ring, quickly assembled them into a small Fruit Basket, and walked slowly toward the grand mansion in the distance.

As he approached, Xiao Yan's face twisted in shock—the front gate of the Nalan Mansion was packed with people, all wearing Alchemist Long Robes, each at least Two-Rank!

Many passersby cast envious glances; even a One-Rank Alchemist was highly sought after in remote cities.

"What's going on? Why so many Alchemists?!" Xiao Yan didn't bother to queue—he planned to slip in from the side.

Pushing through the crowd, Xiao Yan stepped forward. An elderly man, seemingly the steward, stepped before him, glanced at Xiao Yan's chest—no Alchemist Class Badge—and his cloudy eyes flickered with confusion. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Young sir, I am the steward of the Nalan Clan. Are you an Alchemist?"

Xiao Yan looked up at the old steward on the steps and smiled brightly. "I am indeed an Alchemist. But Zhaoguanjia, though we haven't met in eight years, my face hasn't changed that much, has it?"

At these words, the old steward's cloudy eyes gradually cleared. Seeing that smile and those bright, intelligent eyes, he recalled a clever boy who had once accompanied his father to visit—the boy who had been sharp-witted since childhood.

The two faces slowly overlapped.

"Young Master Xiao Yan!! At last you've arrived!! Quick! Inform the Master—Young Master Xiao Yan is here!!" The old steward, as if revived, no longer gasped for breath, no longer squinted—he roared into the courtyard.

"Quick! Young Master Xiao Yan is here!"

"Tell the Master—Young Master Xiao Yan is here!"

"Young Master Xiao Yan has arrived~~~"

Xiao Yan was stunned by this scene. Not just him—even the Alchemists waiting in line turned to stare at him, wondering who this boy was to cause such a commotion throughout the Nalan Mansion!

"What's going on? Should I prepare something?!" Xiao Yan asked, bewildered.

With a snap, the old steward grabbed Xiao Yan's arm and said seriously, "No time to explain—follow me, Young Master Xiao Yan."

The old steward even unleashed Dou Qi, gripping Xiao Yan's arm like a kite and sprinting toward the mansion.

(End of Chapter)