Going through the busy streets of Thunder Vale's capital, the Golden Thunder City; the bustling streets was totally different from the time that Fan Zhu Xia and Fan Hui Zhong first arrived and the only difference is the time of the day!
Before, it was early morning and although there were already people hurrying about back then, most had a calm, leisurely pace which in contrast to now, despite of the high sun in the sky in the middle of the day, a lot more people are roaming about, servants rushing about with errands, peddlers and a couple of shopowners shouting about as they tried to draw attention to their various wares and businesses and even several of the nobility flitted through the crowd followed by a couple of escorts, along with their maids and stewards as they entered the different tea houses and browsed through shops.
To sum it up, everything was so lively!
In the midst of the wide busy streets, countless carriages and horses passed but one in particular stood out and inexplicable drew attention.
The carriage was larger than usual and was amazingly made of the same deep, dark red of the Onyx Blood Darkwood with gold detailings. It was almost exactly like the one that the royal family uses, the only difference is the family crest that was engraved in gold at right at the carriage doors and this was the one that drew attention the most.
The crest of the infamous Lei Palace which belonged to no other than the reclusive Lei Wangye; Fan Hui Zhong!
Of course, this was precisely the one that Fan Hui Zhong and Fan Zhu Xia were riding in as they remained completely oblivious to the shock that the carriage sent through the ones that recognized the crest as the people started to talk and gossip as they spread the news.
This was in total contrast to the people who were settled comfortably inside the luxurious carriage where the atmosphere inside was more calm and relaxed compared to the streets they were passing. Fan Hui Zhong just watched silently with an indulgent smile as Fan Zhu Xia curiously pulled back the curtains to gaze outside the windows and observe the comings and goings of the people and establishments that they were passing.
Unbeknownst to her, despite covering half of her face with a thin silk veil, coupled with her breathtakingly beautiful eyes filled with curiousity and the eye-catching carriage they were riding, she inadvertently drew attention without meaning to.
Everyone now wondered who this young lady was and what relations she had to Lei Wangye!
Speculations ran rampant and slowly spread through the crowd which inevitably travelled all throughout the capital shocking not only the commoners but also the various noble families.
This was because almost everyone from the upper echelons of each prestigious family knew that Lei Wangye had left the capital several years ago and there has been no news since!
While this piece of news threw the various family heads and elders into an agitated state, their younger generations were a totally different matter.
Some families' young ladies felt jealous of the attention Fan Zhu Xia drew with just a mere glance outside the carriage, most were in a state of shock as they hurriedly sent servants to bring the news back home while the young masters' took note of this development and started planning on how to make the aquaintance of this mysterious young miss.
Unknown to them, on the top floor of one of the tea houses in a private room, a young man with handsome features was staring fixated towards the carriage as it slowly drove away with glittering eyes. A smile slowly lifted the corners of his lips as he whispered to himself, "Found you..."
In a blink of an eye, a strong breeze blew, momentarily making everyone in the streets shield their eyes as dust got blown around and if one looked towards the private tea room once more, they would notice that the young man was gone, only leaving a small pouch of gold coins, leaving the tea house's servant who came in completely flabbergasted as he looked around the empty room.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Fan Zhu Xia was animatedly talking to her father, seemingly carefree.
"Did you see anything that piqued your interest?" Fan Hui Zhong asked.
"Some but we can check them out later. I wonder... Is there anything fun or exciting happening in the capital today?" Fan Zhu Xia innocently queried as she looked at Fan Hui Zhong with eyes glittering with anticipation.
If Fan Hui Zhong wasn't used to it already, he would be dazed just like all the others who had Fan Zhu Xia's eyes directed straight at them like this. Instead he just smiled dotingly and after a moment's thought he replied, "I believe there should be an auction going on today."
"Really?"
"En. Let me have someone confirm then."
With that, Fan Hui Zhong gave three sharp knocks and a small window opened up behind him, revealing the face of the driver directing the carriage.
"Yes my lord?" A middle-aged man respectfully asked as he peered inside the carriage. This man was no stranger to Fan Hui Zhong and was named Min Sheng, a former subordinate of his while he was still in the army.
A bit surprised to see him, Fan Hui Zhong exclaimed, "Min Sheng! What are you doing here? I thought you were still in the army?"
"Answering Master, this lowly one decided to retire from the army and go and enlist under the Lei Sha Di Army that was established under your family's banner to repay the grace that you have given before."
"Ahh, that was nothing, no need for thanks. This Fan is just glad to see you well old friend."
"Likewise, Wangye." Min Sheng replied with a heartfelt smile.
"I almost forgot, Min Sheng, is there an auction going on today at the Thousand Treasures Pavillion?"
"Replying to Master, yes there is one. It is due to start an hour from now."
"Is that so? Little Xia'er, what do you think?"
With twinkling eyes, Fan Zhu Xia grinned and happily nodded.
"Sound like fun!"