Most of the people did not take seriously the auction. After all, the auction was held by an unknown auction house that was located in the outer region. A few big forces sent their men, but that was it. They just wanted to get the Gold Class Gear into their collections.
Even if the fame of Blacksmith Huang had spread out, the big force did not pay much attention to him. Every big force had its own blacksmiths. However, everything changed right after the auction was over.
Half an hour after the auction. A piece of news about Huo Liang Xun's defeat spread out on the Star Webs' exclusive forum.
Star Web was a platform that provided a service for all people, but there was an exclusive forum only to heroes and rankers. Ordinary people could not get access to this exclusive forum, low-class heroes and rankers also could not gain access to this exclusive forum.
One at least must be at Silver Class to gain access to this exclusive forum. A forum where the heroes and rankers gathered. Exchanged information and even did trade amongst themselves.
A post was uploaded claiming that Emperor Class Hero - Rank 18. Huo Liang Xun was defeated by a mysterious man living in the outer region.
This first post was narrating the course of the auction. Merely words could not make the other heroes believe the post while the rankers cheered for Huo Liang Xun's defeat, wishing the post was true.
However, as time passed, more and more posts about the defeat of Huo Liang Xun appeared. The most convincing one was a post with footage of how Huo Liang Xun was defeated by a wooden masked attendant of the Xing Auction House.
The news blew up, more and more rankers jeered at the heroes. One of the strongest heroes was defeated and locked in a dungeon. The rivalry between Hero League and Ranker Alliance was not new, it happened quite often.
Huo Liang Xun's defeat certainly affected the Hero League, it would be worse if the civilians knew about this matter. They could lose the trust of the masses who funded the Hero League.
As the news reached the executives' ears, they held a meeting to solve this issue. After a short meeting, it was decided that the executives at least had to take Huo Liang Xun out of the dungeon first.
Bai Xian Ming volunteered to negotiate with the auction house's side. The defeat of Huo Liang Xun was related to Sun Zhou Yi's Master and amongst the twelve executives, he was the closest one with Sun Zhou Yi.
Asking Sun Zhou Yi's help was the safest choice rather than using an extreme mean just like what Executive Feng and Executive Yuan suggested.
Bai Xian Ming did not want to have an unnecessary conflict with the potential ally. That was why he came to the Xing District early in the morning. He thought Sun Zhou Yi would give him some face and release Huo Liang Xun.
Out of his expectations, however, Sun Zhou Yi did not even consider helping the Hero League. Sun Zhou Yi gave a straightforward response that he refused to help them. If Sun Zhou Yi had an intention to help them, he at least could talk with his Master first.
But he did not, Sun Zhou Yi did not even try to help him out. Anger boiled up inside him but Bai Xian Ming controlled it as he realized his anger would not solve the problem.
"You can try, Executive Bai. However, I advise you to not do that. You will only end up locked in the dungeon as Huo Liang Xun. Please think thrice before you make your decision," Sun Zhou Yi responded.
Despite the strong manner of Bai Xian Ming, Sun Zhou Yi did not feel pressured in the slightest. His tone was still polite as he regarded Bai Xian Ming as an elder and one of his idols before his Master appeared in his life.
"See, grandpa, I told you, this guy is ungrateful, asking help from this guy is meaningless. We helped to get his achievement back, but this is what we get, 'everything is up to my Master… bla… bla…"
Bai Shuang'er tried to imitate Sun Zhou Yi's voice and tone as she spoke. It earned a chuckle from a person on their side. She looked up, the other two also looked up.
Heero was standing next to them, bringing the noodles. He put the noodles on the table while Bai Shuang'er stared at Heero intensely. Bai Xian Ming gave a glance, but then he looked back at Sun Zhou Yi.
He was thinking about how to persuade this young man to help him but reached a dead-end. Hearing her granddaughter's words, he gave her a stern stare to not speak nonsense.
Bai Shuang'er shrugged casually, but her eyes never left Heero. She had been staring at Heero since she heard the chuckle. Boldly staring at Heero's face while Heero remained unperturbed as he served the noodles.
"Enjoy your noodles~" with that said, Heero turned around. However, Bai Shuang'er made a sudden movement as she reached Heero's wrist.
Sun Zhou Yi instantly glanced at Bai Shuang'er while Bai Xian Ming let out a sigh. He began regretting bringing his mischievous granddaughter with him.
"Are you Handsome Brutal Savage?" Bai Shuang'er threw out her curiosity into an inquiry. She was not a hero, but his grandfather educated her to be his successor in the Hero League.
She began working in the Hero League's HQ at the core region from the lowest position as an attendant. However, an attendant in the core region had almost no work except if there was a big event like the dungeon break incident.
Because of that, Bai Shuang'er often surfed the Star Web during her work time and found many interesting events. Handsome Brutal Savage was the most phenomenal one on the Star Web in the last few months.
So when she chose this place, Bai Shuang'er had a hidden intention. She wanted to meet the new Starceleb, Handsome Brutal Savage.
Heero returned it with a smile and replied positively, "People called me that and I do look handsome, but I am not Brutal and Savage."
"Indeed, you looked the harmless and kind-hearted young man to me. It seems JusticeMan's post is just a scam, looking for sensation," Bai Shuang'er instantly commented on her view which was siding on Heero.
"Miss, not only you are a beauty, but you also smart," Heero praised Bai Shuang'er. Based on the article he recently read ladies liked being praised. He did not mean to flirt with this girl, he was just happy that someone was taking on his side.
"Hoho, not only do you look handsome, but you also have good eyes, not like certain someone else," as she said this, Bai Shuang'er sent a furtive glance toward Sun Zhou Yi. The latter did not notice it though, but Heero did.
Nodding understandingly, Heero excused himself and walked back to the counter. As the noodles arrived, the three filled their empty stomach with the noodles. The slurping sound filled the shop, and most of the slurping sound came from Bai Shuang'er.
She unrestrainedly devoured the noodles without caring about the surroundings. She did not care if the way she ate was not lady-like. The bow was emptied in three minutes, then she slammed the table and ordered another bowl of noodles.
"One more, please! Oh, also I want Hover Flame Tail topping~"
Different from Bai Shuang'er, a bow was enough for Bai Xian Ming. He continued the talk afterward, he used every means to get Sun Zhou Yi to help him, but the latter firmly refused him.
"I am sorry, Executive Bai. I can't help you. The same as the Hero League, Xing District also has its own rules and Huo Liang Xun violated the rules. But you don't have to worry. My Master will not kill Huo Liang Xun, but will only give a little punishment. After that my Master will release him in a week," it was Sun Zhou Yi's final answer.
"If you don't want to help, then can you let me meet your Master? I want to talk to him, maybe I can persuade him to release Huo Liang Xun," Bai Xian Ming still had not given up yet. Whether it was meeting Sun Zhou Yi's master or freeing Huo Liang Xun.
Sun Zhou Yi shook his head with a helpless smile on his face. He wanted to help Executive Bai, but it would spoil his Master's plan if he did so. Moreover, he knew that even he talked to Heero; it would change nothing as his Master would not change his mind.
In the end, Bai Xian Ming was running a fruitless errand. He failed to release Huo Liang Xun and to meet Sun Zhou Yi's Master. But he did not use force as he said earlier, just like he thought, he wanted to make Sun Zhou Yi's Master as Hero League's ally.
Bai Xian Ming left the noodles shop empty-handed, but his granddaughter walked out with a content smile on her face. She filled her belly with four bowls and if not for him, she might continue eating the noodles.
*** ***
Bai Family Residence, Core Region,
It was one of the biggest residences in the core region. It did not have a high building or look luxurious just like the other residences. However, Bai Family built their residences were based on Chinese traditional buildings.
Courtyards for the main family members. Courtyards for heroes they recruited under their wings. Training ground, smithy workshop, and more. Bai Family had complete facilities, a good place for a hero to grow stronger, and all of these facilities were built on the top of twenty thousand acres of land.
At the private training ground, two figures just finished their training. A man and a woman. The man was topless as sweat covered his body which was full of various kinds of scars.
Meanwhile, the woman was down on the ground with one of her knees and her right hand was holding a spear. She gasped out of breath as sweat damped her training clothes, showing the outstanding curve of her body.
"Your spear technique is pretty good, but your control over your power is lacking. You have to work harder if you want to enter Emperor Class," The topless man commented in a deep voice.
'Yes, Father." Bai Xin Yue responded respectfully. The woman was Bai Xin Yue while the man was her father, Emperor Class Hero - Rank 2, Bai Tian Ming.
Despite the various kinds of scars on his body, Bai Tian Ming had a clear look and sharp features. The most noticeable feature was his eyes, he had crimson pupils. These crimson pupils earned him the title of Crimson Emperor.
Bai Tian Ming looked like a man in his mid-thirties, but in fact, he was fifty-one this year. It was not a secret that one with more power would stay younger than his actual age.