Chapter 220: Anomaly
"Don't worry, nothing will go wrong. Unless they dare to snatch the item right at the auction... heh, the amount of money I've prepared this time is no small sum!"
Wang Kaixuan snorted.
He'd gotten word that the people showing up this time were all prominent figures. It was impossible they'd snatch something in plain sight.
He was only here to show off a bit, anyway. Once the auction was over, he could just take his men and leave.
Besides, the organizers had one condition for their participation: they had to bring a Peak Late-Stage Innate Ancient Martial Artist to maintain order.
An Innate Martial Artist wasn't someone just anyone could hire, let alone a Peak Late-Stage Innate Martial Artist.
That's why Wang Kaixuan wasn't worried about this operation in the slightest.
"Since you're so confident, Brother Kai, I can rest easy. By the way, how much are you planning to spend at the auction to buy that Purple Cloud Grass everyone's been exaggerating about?"
Wu Yu asked, his thoughts turning to the auction.
"I don't know. We'll see how it goes. In any case, I'm not short on cash!"
Wang Kaixuan pursed his lips and said dismissively.
"Haha, Brother Kai, you're as generous as ever."
Hearing this, Wu Yu immediately gave him a thumbs-up and offered a fawning smile.
"Alright, you should get going. Make sure you keep this confidential for the time being. Don't you dare leak our whereabouts, or we're finished."
Wang Kaixuan instructed.
"I understand, Brother Kai, don't you worry. How could I possibly leak something so confidential? We're in the same boat, you and I."
Wu Yu agreed with a cheerful laugh.
With that, he took his leave.
Wang Kaixuan watched his retreating figure, his heart brimming with contempt.
He scoffed. "Tch. A bunch of trash."
After saying this, he stood up, adjusted his collar, and picked up a teacup from the table to take a sip.
Gazing at the night outside the window, a vicious and eager glint flashed in his eyes.
...
"Who are you?"
Dressed in casual clothes, Murong Qian peered from behind her assistant at the man who had suddenly appeared before them, her expression filled with suspicion and a cold chill.
A grown man standing outside her door in the middle of the night instead of being in his own room... she couldn't help but be suspicious.
"Hello, Miss Murong. My name is Lin Feng."
Lin Feng didn't mind her wariness; after all, his actions were indeed quite sudden.
After the banquet, he had taken Su Yanxue back to her room and made sure she was settled before heading out alone.
However, just as he was leaving the hotel, he sensed he was being tailed. He didn't need to guess to know it had to be Murong Qian's bodyguards.
That's why he had appeared directly at Murong Qian's door, slipping past her guards by taking to the roof and dropping down the moment she opened it.
"Lin Feng? You're the young man who's been causing such a stir in Xijing City lately?"
Murong Qian recognized the name instantly and blurted out in surprise.
"The very same," Lin Feng nodded, then added an explanation.
"You don't need to be alarmed. I'm here to treat your illness."
"Treat my illness?"
Upon hearing Lin Feng's words, Murong Qian's expression visibly cooled.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lin, but it won't be necessary."
With that, Murong Qian turned to leave without a moment's hesitation.
She had heard those words too many times over the years, so many times that she no longer even felt disappointment.
'They're just a bunch of quacks, only after my looks and the Murong Family's fortune.'
'Instead of wasting time on these so-called doctors, I'd be better off figuring out how to improve my chances of getting the Purple Reishi tomorrow.'
"To think Miss Murong still has such a strong will while suffering from Cold Vein Syndrome... It seems I was being nosy. In that case, I won't disturb your rest."
He sighed softly. He hadn't expected such a reaction from Murong Qian, but he wasn't going to force the issue.
'Worst case, I'll just have to find some other item of extreme cold to neutralize the Red Flame Fruit's extreme yang energy.'
"Wait!"
Just as Lin Feng turned to leave, Murong Qian's voice called out from behind him.
The earlier coldness in her voice was gone, replaced by shock and delight.
"How... how did you know the name of my condition?"
She couldn't help but press him.
"Heh, I know a thing or two. It's nothing worth mentioning. Miss Murong, are you inviting me inside?"
Lin Feng said with a light shake of his head and a smile.
"Yes."
Murong Qian hesitated for a moment before nodding and gesturing for Lin Feng to come inside.
"Please, come in!"
Murong Qian stepped aside, extending a slender hand to invite Lin Feng inside.
Lin Feng paused for a second, then stepped into Murong Qian's room.
As he entered, he caught a light, elegant fragrance in the air.
"Please, have some coffee."
Just then, Murong Qian brought two cups of rich, fragrant coffee over to Lin Feng.
"Thank you."
Lin Feng accepted the coffee with a quiet word of thanks.
"Please, sit."
After saying this, Murong Qian sat down on the sofa, looking at Lin Feng with a hopeful expression. "Can my condition be cured?"
Seeing this completely different side of Murong Qian, Lin Feng wasn't surprised. In fact, he found it perfectly normal.
'After all, he'd seen Cold Vein Syndrome before. When it flared up, the victim felt as if they had been plunged into an ice cave. It was a pain that radiated from the inside out, something no ordinary person could withstand!'
Lin Feng took a sip of coffee before speaking calmly. "I can help you treat the cold toxin."
"But I have one condition," he said slowly.
"What condition? Money or connections?"
"As long as you can cure me, you know what the Murong Family is capable of."
Murong Qian breathed a sigh of relief.
She wasn't afraid of him stating his terms; she was afraid he wouldn't. As long as he had a price, she was confident that the Murong Family could afford it.
"I'm not short on money. As for connections, I'm afraid the Murong Family doesn't have what I'm looking for," Lin Feng said, shaking his head.
He was from the Cultivation Realm and had met countless powerful figures on his journey. A family like the Murongs, in comparison, was hardly significant.
"Then what exactly do you want?"
Hearing this, Murong Qian's brow furrowed, and her tone turned hostile.
'Her mind immediately went to the one condition she would never accept: that he wanted her.'
'If that was really his price, she would throw him out without a second thought.'
"Miss Murong, there's no need to be angry. My condition is simple. I can cure you, but the thing inside your body must belong to me."
Seeing Murong Qian's frown, Lin Feng realized she had misunderstood and slowly explained.
"Hmph, I knew you were a scoundrel who wanted my bo... Huh? Mr. Lin, what did you just say?"