Twisting the Knife! . . .
The two remaining men from the Sunlight Sect exchanged knowing glances, their expressions filled with reproach as they turned their gaze toward the old man. It was a silent admonishment that spoke volumes.
"Really?" they seemed to say. "After enduring this grueling ordeal, now, at the very end, you choose to utter words that only exacerbate our predicament."
The sentiment wasn't inherently egregious, but it showcased a certain recklessness. One could display such sentiments to a wide audience, but the recipient, in this case, happened to be Wan of the Clouds. It was an ill-advised choice. The old man had been playing the role of a subservient for ninety-nine steps, only to falter at the hundredth. Why create trouble for oneself at this stage?
Wan of the Clouds remained silent, leaving the talking to the man who exceeded her in every aspect—Master Bai, the one who was thousands of times more formidable than she.
With Master Bai taking charge, the dignity of the Sunlight Sect was poised to be trampled upon mercilessly. There would be no leniency; the man was known for his uncompromising nature.
Purchasing a Bone Ablutionary Dan bead for five billion, even if it were of the supreme quality, was already a monumental jest. Yet, to compound the absurdity, they had invested this vast sum only to surrender the dan bead immediately afterward.
It was a joke within a larger joke—a five-billion-tael jest.
Master Bai had made a demand, and who dared to defy him?
The men from the Sunlight Sect wore somber expressions, fully cognizant that from this point onward, the Sunlight Sect's reputation in the Land of Han-Yang would be in tatters.
The old man with the white beard rose to his feet, exhaling deeply. "Very well," he conceded, his voice resigned. "Since we are destined for disgrace, adding a bit more won't make a difference."
He took possession of the supreme dan bead and proceeded to exit the room, his countenance solemn. Upon reaching the door of the Sky No. 1 Room, he announced, "Lady Wan, I have brought the Bone Ablutionary Dan bead. Please inspect it."
"Just leave it outside the door. Is it genuinely so valuable that I must personally examine it?" Her voice dripped with an undercurrent of anger, conveying her displeasure.
The old man clenched his teeth and gingerly placed the jade bottle outside the door before rising. Then, with a sudden outburst of frustration, he posed a question. "Given the current circumstances, there's something I must understand. It's been gnawing at me. Please enlighten me."
Wan of the Clouds's voice responded, "What is it?"
The other two Sunlight Sect members attempted to dissuade him with fervent eye gestures, urging him not to proceed recklessly. The old man, however, remained steadfast. Anger creased his face as he declared, "I simply want to know what offense we have committed against Master Bai today. What have we done to incur the wrath of the House of the Chaotic Storm? Why this aggression toward us?"
A contemptuous sneer reverberated from within the room.
Wan-Er's words cut through the air like ice, her tone devoid of sympathy. "We compelled you to expend five billion on an item valued at a mere 300 million, and you dare to feel humiliated?" she rebuked, her gaze unyielding. "When you tried to secure it for a paltry ten million, did you stop to consider the feelings of others?"
The old man stood in stunned silence, her words gradually sinking in. It was a moment before comprehension washed over him, a sensation akin to a surge of blood rushing to his lips.
In that instant, he wished for nothing more than to vanish from existence.
"All of this," he realized, "has been for such a simple reason?"
Wan-Er continued her cold indictment. "Ten million was merely a starting bid, and yet you boldly pursued that supreme dan bead. Your actions were tantamount to robbery—a purchase price at least thirty times below the reasonable value. My original intention was to permit you to acquire the supreme dan bead for a price thirty times its actual worth. It was Master Bai who intervened and stopped me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have paid a mere five billion; it would have been nine billion. Do you comprehend now?"
The old man trembled, gritting his teeth. "I understand," he conceded through clenched jaws.
"Yet," he continued, his voice resolute despite his trembling demeanor, "there is one matter that still eludes my comprehension: the relationship between Ling-Bao Hall and the House of the Chaotic Storm."
All ears perked up in anticipation, for this question bore considerable significance. If Ling-Bao Hall were indeed linked to the House of the Chaotic Storm, functioning as its subsidiary, it would necessitate a shift in their perceptions of Ling-Bao Hall.
Master Bai's voice interjected without delay. "No relation," he declared firmly.
It was evident that Master Bai was aware of Wan-Er's admiration for Feng Zhiling, as she had spoken favorably of Ling-Bao Hall. Yet he had no intention of allowing this to continue. The House of the Chaotic Storm had every intention of providing cover for Ling-Bao Hall and Feng Zhiling.
Master Bai elucidated his motives with a hint of amusement. "What I did today stemmed from a personal choice. I could not bear to witness you exploit others in this manner. Remember, an auction is ultimately a contest of wealth, not power."
He acknowledged the potential consequences of his actions, a touch of foreboding in his voice. "I may have inadvertently invited trouble upon Ling-Bao Hall," he admitted. "But you, from the Sunlight Sect, can address this issue with Ling-Bao Hall afterward, can't you? Rest assured, I won't involve myself in your affairs."
An undercurrent of dread laced his words.
"We dare not," the old man responded, his countenance darkening. He retreated with a lowered head.
To challenge Ling-Bao Hall was to challenge Master Bai himself, and given his endorsement, who would dare to tread that perilous path?
Could Master Bai truly remain uninvolved?
Could he?
What he had said about refraining from intervention—was it a mere assertion, a statement akin to telling children a comforting falsehood?
If one were to believe it, they might perish without ever comprehending the reason behind it. Master Bai possessed no need to take direct action; his mere words or a subtle hint conveyed through his eyes could prompt countless individuals to carry out his will willingly.
Did they appear as fools to him?
As the old man returned to his quarters, a desolate and humiliated figure, the weight of his emotions bore heavily on his shoulders. The crowd couldn't help but sense the palpable anger and sorrow that emanated from him.
Yet, against the imposing force of the House of the Chaotic Storm, he found himself powerless. In the face of such a colossal entity, he had no choice but to endure, repressing his emotions and grievances.
Not even a parting word could escape his lips. The simple utterance of "goodbye" was a luxury he couldn't afford.
The Sunlight Sect and the Starlight Sect both boasted histories spanning thousands of years, yet they had seen different leadership eras. The legend of Master Bai and the House of the Chaotic Storm, however, endured for millennia. Figures like Wan of the Clouds and Xiu of the Heavens thrived in the same era.
Confronted by three ancient beings with lifetimes spanning millennia, who would dare to seek retribution against them? The Sunlight Sect had stumbled into this quagmire on their own, and while they hadn't fallen entirely, their descent was inevitable.
The Starlight Sect, though innocent of any wrongdoing thus far, felt a chill settle in their hearts. They had no intention of following the Sunlight Sect down this perilous path. Against a force as formidable as the House of the Chaotic Storm, discretion was the only sensible course of action.
Moreover, who would dare provoke the House of the Chaotic Storm once more, especially with the Sunlight Sect's fate as a cautionary tale? It would be a reckless act that could only lead to a more severe retribution.
And so, the members of the Starlight Sect sat in silence, their fear palpable, not even daring to let out a single sound.
At that moment, a voice nonchalantly rang out, "The illustrious Sunlight Sect, truly living up to its grand reputation. My eyes have been opened today!"
All eyes turned to the source of the voice, a statement that might have been a compliment under normal circumstances but now carried a distinct air of mockery.
The Sunlight Sect members scanned the room, their thoughts clear. "We may not dare to provoke Master Bai, Wan of the Clouds, and the House of the Chaotic Storm," they silently conveyed, "but anyone else, even if they hail from the Starlight Sect, we will surely deal with them harshly!"
They quickly discerned that the voice belonged to Feng Monarch of Ling-Bao Hall, who now regarded them with cold, disdainful eyes. In his posture and gaze, there was no mistaking the intent: he was driving the dagger deeper into the Sunlight Sect's wounds.