The Girl And The Golden Hand . . .
In the spacious salesroom, an assembly of distinguished figures had gathered. Four groups represented the royal families, fifteen groups hailed from martial clans, and the eight noble clans each had their own contingent present. Additionally, several active sects were in attendance, but what truly astonished the crowd was the presence of fifteen secretive sects, which rarely participated in public events.
Nearly four hundred individuals had come to partake in this auction, and each held a lofty status in the mortal world. It was a rare occasion where such a diverse gathering of influential figures had converged.
As the auction was about to commence, the doors to the salesroom were slowly being sealed shut, with no more latecomers permitted to enter. However, just as the doors were closing, an unusual carriage rolled up.
This bamboo-made carriage possessed a unique charm, exuding an aura of refinement and natural beauty. It stopped before the entrance, and two burly attendants opened the drapes. A stunning foot emerged from the carriage, captivating the onlookers.
All eyes were now fixated on this enchanting foot.
In the next instant, a young woman clad in white, with a captivating figure and lustrous dark hair, gracefully stepped out of the carriage and stood at the entrance. She effortlessly became the focal point of everyone's attention. Even in her simple white attire, her beauty outshone the most extravagant of garments.
The salesroom fell into complete silence as attendees were awestruck by her elegance.
"So, this is the renowned Ling-Bao Hall, correct?" The young woman in white entered the doorway with a gentle smile.
The two lines of ceremonial girls at the door were certainly attractive, but they paled in comparison to the radiant beauty in white.
Guan Wan-Shan rushed forward, his usual composure replaced by a nervous demeanor. He halted before the young woman in white, offering a respectful bow. "It's truly an honor to welcome you to Ling-Bao Hall, my lady. How is the master?"
The young woman in white returned his salute with a slight nod. "I'm pleasantly surprised that Master Guan still remembers me. Thank you for your concern. My master is in good health."
Guan Wan-Shan felt a wave of relief and continued to bow deeply. "Having you grace Ling-Bao Hall with your presence, my lady, is an immense honor. Please, come inside."
With a gracious smile, the young woman replied, "I came without prior notice. I hope it's not an inconvenience, Master Guan."
Guan Wan-Shan, now perspiring slightly, continued to bow. "Not at all. Your presence is an enormous honor to us."
The young woman, accompanied by the humbled Guan Wan-Shan, entered the salesroom.
Behind her followed two men dressed in black, their expressions completely inscrutable, resembling two formidable pillars – one on her left and the other on her right.
Among the intrigued onlookers, Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but be curious about the identity of this young woman.
Who was she?
Guan Wan-Shan might be the connoisseur of Ling-Bao Hall, not a supreme cultivator, but it was common knowledge that a formidable force backed the establishment. That's why even the eight noble clans refrained from causing any trouble in the salesroom. Yet, Guan Wan-Shan displayed extreme deference before the young woman in white and seemed fearful of displeasing her. What was the reason behind this deference?
Furthermore, during their conversation, they had mentioned a person referred to as "the master." Who was this enigmatic master?
Cha-Eun Xiao's face remained composed, but internally, he felt a sense of unease creeping in. His thoughts raced, "Guan Wan-Shan referred to that individual as 'master.' That's not particularly unusual given the context. However, the noble girl also addressed him as 'master.' Now, that is indeed peculiar... Could it be..."
A sudden realization struck him, and he couldn't help but entertain a certain possibility. "Could it be that this seemingly powerful noble girl is merely a maid in service to that 'master'?"
As Cha-Eun Xiao pondered this notion, the idea took root. Perhaps, in this enigmatic relationship, the girl was nothing more than a maid, yet Guan Wan-Shan treated her with the utmost reverence—extreme humility, in fact. There had to be a hidden story behind their connection.
The burning question in his mind was, who in the world could have a maid of such breathtaking beauty?
As the girl gracefully strolled through the salesroom, her captivating eyes suddenly turned toward Cha-Eun Xiao, and she offered a warm smile. "Master Guan, the auction is still some time away, and there's already someone standing by the handrail on the upper floor... I sense that this individual is far from ordinary."
Guan Wan-Shan, an experienced and astute man, recognized that the girl was inquiring about Cha-Eun Xiao. It was apparent that the perceptive young lady had discerned that Cha-Eun Xiao was not your average attendee. The salesroom's staff was occupied with last-minute preparations for the auction, and Cha-Eun Xiao was the only one leisurely standing by the handrail on the upper floor.
The girl's curiosity about Cha-Eun Xiao's identity was piqued, and she was seeking more information.
Cha-Eun Xiao had intentionally positioned himself away from the bustling crowd for several reasons. Firstly, he wanted to observe the prominent cultivators in attendance to be prepared for any potential situations. Secondly, since he was in disguise, he felt no need to be cautious about getting entangled in trouble. Lastly, as a man with a mysterious aura, he was subtly attempting to catch the attention of elegant young ladies.
The girl in white had clearly taken an interest in Cha-Eun Xiao, which was precisely what he had hoped for. He had been captivated by her uniqueness from the moment she entered. The girl's presence had completely captured his attention, and her distinctiveness left him intrigued, not just by her but also by her master.
In this peculiar exchange, it appeared as if the girl and Cha-Eun Xiao were developing an unspoken connection, akin to a couple on their first date. However, unbeknownst to them, Guan Wan-Shan found himself in an awkward predicament.
The girl was inquiring about Cha-Eun Xiao, and it was expected that Guan Wan-Shan would provide a straightforward response. However, Cha-Eun Xiao was the individual who had supplied the supreme dan beads, and he had no intention of revealing this fact to her.
If her master were to discover Cha-Eun Xiao's role in providing the dan beads, the Ling-Bao Hall might lose the opportunity to acquire more from Feng Zhi-Ling.
Thus, Guan Wan-Shan found himself compelled to deceive the girl, even at the risk of offending her influential master.
With a hint of resignation, Guan Wan-Shan replied, "My lady, I humbly beg your pardon. This gentleman is an old friend of mine who has spent a considerable amount of time in the wilderness. As such, he may be unfamiliar with certain social graces. I beseech your forgiveness on his behalf."
The girl responded in a serene manner, "I see. An uncouth man, indeed. Such individuals may bring you significant trouble someday."
Her voice was gentle, but her words carried an eerie weight.
The elegant girl's gaze swept through the crowd, searching for answers, before finally settling on Cha-Eun Xiao once more. Her curiosity was piqued, and she made up her mind to uncover the identity of this mysterious individual.
Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but sense the intensity of the girl's scrutiny. Thoughts raced through his mind, "Hmm, it seems the young lady is trying to probe into my background. Is she attempting to ascertain my identity?"
With a calm demeanor, he mused, "Well, she's certainly assertive. But as a young lady, she may lack the authority to meddle in other people's affairs. Her assertiveness could be a sign of inexperience. In my view, her master should provide her with more comprehensive etiquette lessons."
Guan Wan-Shan had referred to her as 'my lady' out of respect, but when Cha-Eun Xiao employed the same address, it carried a sarcastic tone that couldn't be ignored.
The girl in white furrowed her brow slightly. "Sir, I believe you may be overreacting. Is your name truly that objectionable?"
A sidelong glance from Cha-Eun Xiao accompanied his response. "You initiated this confrontation with your acerbic words. I merely responded in kind. How can you accuse me of overreacting? As for my name, it may or may not be objectionable, but I stand before you, unapologetically."
Guan Wan-Shan watched with increasing anxiety. A standoff was unfolding right in front of him between the girl and Feng Zhi-Ling. If things continued in this manner, a confrontation seemed inevitable. Bitterness welled up within him as the situation spiraled out of control.
He couldn't comprehend how Feng Zhi-Ling, usually known for his composure, had become so unreasonable at this critical juncture. Engaging in a dispute with someone he should never cross was perplexing.
What he failed to realize was that both parties were accomplishing precisely what they intended. Despite their unfamiliarity with one another, both Cha-Eun Xiao and the girl recognized each other's significance. This unexpected clash was the catalyst for future interactions between them.
Their intelligence and perceptiveness guided their actions.
The girl in white, her voice icy, ventured a challenge. "You speak boldly, implying that you possess exceptional skills, I presume."
Cha-Eun Xiao's lips curled into a sneer as he countered, "Indeed, I possess certain talents. In a perilous world like this, it's imperative. Do you dare to test me?" He met her challenge head-on.
The girl's countenance darkened momentarily as she replied calmly, "Proceed."
One of the black-clad men flanking her leaped into the air with intense focus, transforming into a whirlwind of darkness that crackled with energy. His hand extended towards Cha-Eun Xiao's head, aiming to deliver a lethal strike.
It was a powerful blow, and any lapse in Cha-Eun Xiao's vigilance could lead to instant death.
However, Cha-Eun Xiao's glare remained locked onto the approaching figure. With a resolute shout, he catapulted himself from the upper floor's handrail like a speeding arrow, closing the gap between him and the black-clad assailant.
With a resounding "Puff!" his hand emerged from his sleeve, instantly taking on a golden hue. This was one of Cha-Eun Xiao's special martial techniques—the Golden Hand. It granted his hand the density and power of solid gold, capable of crushing mountains and shattering anything in its path. It was a formidable technique known as the Golden Hand!