Chapter Ninety-Four: You're So Beautiful
The auction proceeded as scheduled, with rare and precious items, as well as some confidential information, being presented on the white marble platform, attracting frequent bidding from the audience and creating a lively atmosphere.
Li Bao'er sat comfortably in the VIP box, leaning back on soft cushions, her fingertips twirling a freshly brewed cup of fragrant tea. The rising steam blurred her vision, making her appear languid. Qing Luan sat not far below her, her gaze already captivated by the dazzling auction items. She had never seen anything like it before; the jewels were the epitome of luxury she had never witnessed in her entire life.
At this moment, two guards carefully carried up a long sandalwood sword case. The instant the case was opened, a cold, eerie light flashed, and even from a distance, one could feel the chilling sword aura emanating from the blade.
The auctioneer's excited voice rang out: "This sword is named 'You Tan'. It is forged from Western Region black iron and rare cold crystal. It can cut a hair with a single blow and is indestructible. What's even more rare is that this sword seems to have a unique effect on the conduction and amplification of internal energy! Starting bid: five thousand taels!"
A low gasp of surprise rose from the audience.
Li Bao'er's previously languid gaze suddenly focused on that sword. This sword... was cold, powerful, and contained an inner radiance, yet it also carried a subtle sense of loneliness, much like someone.
She felt that this "Youtan" sword was tailor-made for Mu Cenlin.
Without much thought, Li Bao'er spoke up the moment the auctioneer finished speaking:
"Ten thousand taels."
Doubled it all! A collective gasp rippled through the regular seats outside the VIP room. No wonder they were high-rollers in the VIP room; their spending was truly extraordinary.
The auctioneer beamed: "The VIP in Box Number One has bid ten thousand taels! Any higher bids?"
The scene fell silent for a moment, seemingly stunned by the price.
Just as the auctioneer was about to bring down the gavel, a slightly hoarse voice rang out from a dimly lit, secluded VIP box across the room:
"Ten thousand taels."
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to it. The curtain of the private room was half-lifted, and a man dressed in Da Lin clothing, with most of his face covered by a dark cloth, leaned against the window, revealing only a pair of deep-set eyes with light-colored pupils. He was looking unabashedly at the number one private room where Li Bao'er was.
Li Bao'er's fingers, which were holding the teacup, paused slightly.
Masked? A person from the Western Regions?
A cold smile curved her lips.
A man from the Western Regions came to an underground auction in the capital of Da Lin to compete with her for a sword that looked to have originated from the Western Regions.
It seems the person has shown up. Interesting.
"Fifteen thousand taels." Li Bao'er's voice remained unchanged as she raised the price again, her gaze sharply fixed on the Western Region man.
The masked man from the Western Regions seemed to chuckle softly, his voice muffled through the fabric, yet carrying a sense of unwavering determination: "Eighteen thousand taels."
"Twenty thousand taels." Li Bao'er replied without hesitation.
The price climbed steadily, quickly breaking through the 30,000 mark, leaving the audience stunned and even the auctioneer's voice trembling with excitement.
A sword fetching this price is already astronomical!
Bao'er felt helpless. This whole place belonged to her. Although she couldn't be described as richer than a country, she had long since achieved financial freedom with her own savings: "Tell that friend across the way that I'm determined to have this sword. No matter how much he offers, I'll always add ten thousand taels. Let him... act within his means."
These words caused an uproar, and even Feng Li, Yuan Ting, and Zhu Zhi, who were standing behind Li Bao'er, were speechless and almost lost their composure.
Fifty thousand taels! He threw it out without batting an eye! And he even declared he'd add another ten thousand no matter how much the other side offered?! This... how deep must their coffers be to dare to make such a demand?!
Feng Li subconsciously touched his empty purse, Yuan Ting swallowed hard, and even Zhu Zhi, who was usually the most composed, twitched his eye almost imperceptibly.
The three exchanged a quick glance, and amidst their shock, the same thought popped into their minds: The prince's judgment... is truly astute!
The woman they married was no ordinary sickly daughter of the Prime Minister's family; she was a walking gold mine! Luckily, the Princess Consort married into the Jing Prince's mansion. If the Third Prince Mu Yuan had actually succeeded in getting her, wouldn't he have gained both the woman and the wealth, like adding wings to a tiger?
Thank goodness it was our own prince! Thank goodness that he didn't get away with it, that hypocrite Mu Yuan!
Qingluan glared fiercely at Li Bao'er, naturally assuming that Li Bao'er, with her status, couldn't possibly have so much money; it must have come from the Prince Jing's mansion!
This money should have belonged to her, but it was squandered by a despicable woman, and she hated it terribly.
At this moment, the masked woman suddenly stood up and walked straight towards the No. 1 VIP room where she was. Yuan Ting, Feng Li, and Zhu Zhi reacted quickly and immediately stepped forward, forming three iron walls that firmly blocked the entrance to the VIP room.
The man from the Western Regions stopped a few steps away, his gaze, through the guards, precisely landing on Li Bao'er, who was waving a folding fan inside the private room. A peculiar smile flickered in his exposed light-colored eyes: "Young master, quite the grand gesture."
Li Bao'er raised an eyebrow, looked at him, but did not say anything.
He continued, "Since you like this sword so much, I will do you a favor."
That's strange. She clearly bought it herself because she had the money, so why does it sound like he gave it to her as a gift?
"I am Xi Yuan. I have come here with the intention of getting to know who this person is that I would be so reluctant to part with."
Li Bao'er found this person interesting; he came over to chat before the auction was even over, and his words were rather strange.
She felt a mischievous urge, lightly tapped her folding fan, and lazily said through the guard, "Want to get to know me? Sure. First, take off that cloth from your face. Hiding your face like that, who knows if you're someone you can't be seen with?"
Xi Yuan seemed to be taken aback by her blunt and barbed words, then chuckled softly, his shoulders twitching slightly: "I was being rude." He actually raised his hand and deftly untied the knot at the back of his head.
The moment the face covering slipped off, there seemed to be a faint gasp around.
The nonchalant smile on Li Bao'er's face froze instantly, her pupils contracted slightly, and she subconsciously sat up straighter.
Before me was a strikingly handsome face, with deep contours, a high nose bridge, and a pale complexion typical of people from the Western Regions. His light-colored eyes were like glass, holding a cynical smile.
She exudes a unique charm that blends exoticism with a certain wildness and untamed spirit.
Li Bao'er considered herself to have seen many handsome men. Mu Cenlin's coldness and Mu Yuan's gentleness were both top-notch. But the man in front of her was a completely different kind of handsome, extremely aggressive, like a dazzling gem under the blazing sun, so dazzling that it made people lose their senses for a moment.
She actually... embarrassingly stared blankly for a moment.
Xi Yuan clearly noticed her subtle lapse in composure, and his smile deepened in his glassy eyes, tinged with smugness and amusement. He tilted his head slightly, his voice clearer than before: "Now, may I introduce myself to this magnanimous young master?"
A voice, neither too loud nor too soft, came from behind: "No."
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