Lu Chengze said, "The Treasure Auction House has six levels, but the top floor is not open to the public. Only members of the Nangong family may enter those rooms. This black token represents access to a room on the sixth level of the Treasure Auction House.
"You could say this is the first time the sixth-level rooms have been opened since the auction house was established. Even our Lu Family Chamber of Commerce can only secure rooms on the fifth level."
Miss Murong’s brows furrowed slightly. After a moment, she spoke, "Third Young Master Nangong, a standard room will suffice. There is no need for anything so extravagant."
Nangong Yushao replied, "How could that be? Miss Murong, you are my guest, the guest of the Third Young Master of the Nangong family; you must have the very best."
Miss Murong remained silent.
*Ugh...*
Lu Chengze chimed in, "Miss Murong, why not join us instead? Although our Lu family cannot go to the sixth level, we will have a room on the fifth. You entered the city with me, so it wouldn't seem strange for you to attend the auction with us."
"Absolutely not," Nangong Yushao interrupted.
"Why not?" Lu Chengze asked.
*This guy is clearly trying to poach my guest. Hmph!*
Nangong Yushao was momentarily stumped, but his mind raced until he hit on an idea. He said triumphantly, "Master Lu and Madam Lu will be in attendance. It would likely be quite inconvenient for Miss Murong to be with all of you, don't you think?"
Since Miss Murong had already refused to stay at the Lu Estate, she clearly wanted to avoid excessive contact with the rest of the family. Now that he had informed her that Master Lu and Madam Lu would be there, she surely wouldn't choose to join them, right?
Lu Chengze said, "Oh, my apologies. My parents are busy handling Chamber of Commerce affairs and do not plan to attend this auction."
Nangong Yushao was speechless.
Miss Murong said, "Very well. Then I shall trouble you, Young Master Lu."
***
A short while later, outside Lanyue Inn.
Nangong Yushao snapped, "Lu Chengze, are you deliberately trying to spite me?"
Lu Chengze retorted, "Nangong Yushao, you were the one who tried to poach my guest first! How dare you accuse me? Besides, I met Miss Murong first."
Nangong Yushao scoffed, "Hmph! Is this how you treat your savior?"
Lu Chengze groaned, "Oh, please. You’re always holding that 'lifesaver' card over my head. Give it a rest! I can repay that debt of gratitude in other ways, but don't even think about Miss Murong."
Furious, Nangong Yushao stomped his feet. "You—you—you just wait!"
Passersby, witnessing the heirs of the two great merchant houses bickering in the middle of the street, looked on in confusion.
The news of the Third Young Master of the Nangong family and the eldest young master of the Lu family hurling insults at each other in the street spread through the Imperial City like wildfire.
Back at the Nangong estate, Master Nangong chased Nangong Yushao all over the grounds with a wooden staff. "Nangong Yushao, are you trying to be the death of me? Can’t you just behave yourself for once? You will sign up for the Shuangmeng Academy admissions test! If you don't get in, don't you dare come back!"
As he spoke, he hurled the staff at the fleeing red-clad figure. Nangong Yushao channeled his Spirit Power, leaped into a tall tree, and narrowly dodged the flying weapon.
Clinging to the tree, Nangong Yushao cried out, "Father, aren't you being a bit ruthless? What if you knock me senseless?"
Master Nangong stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at his useless son with a face full of disappointment and gasping for breath. "Being a fool would be an improvement! What were you thinking, bickering with that Lu brat in front of Lanyue Inn? Have you no shame? You're a grown man, yet you still curse like a child!"
Nangong Yushao yelled back, "So what? I wanted to curse him, and it made me happy!"
Master Nangong raged, "You—you—you'll be the death of me! You will go to the Shuangmeng Academy admissions test immediately. If I find out you didn't go, I'm arranging your marriage the moment you step foot back home!"
At the mention of marriage, Nangong Yushao lost all his composure and looked at his father in disbelief.
"Hey, old man, you can't be serious! You're throwing your own son under the bus!"
And doing it so flagrantly, too...
Master Nangong declared, "Either way, choose between the admissions test or the marriage."
With that, he refused to waste another word on the brat. Flicking his sleeves, he supported his aching lower back and walked away. *Oh, my aching bones. I'm going to be the death of myself. None of these boys are any trouble-free. What sins did I commit in my past life? Daughters are so much better! Sigh!*
Nangong Yushao was left alone in the tree, utterly bewildered.
***
Meanwhile, the situation at the Lu family was quite the opposite.
Lu Sui listened to the servant's report, a look of gratification on his face. "It seems our Ze'er has truly changed."
Madam Lu agreed, "Indeed, Master. Ze'er was always too sensible in the past. Acting like this is exactly what someone his age should be like."
If Nangong Yushao knew the contrasting attitudes of Master and Madam Lu, he would likely be enraged to the point of collapse. *Why is the gap so wide?! Ahhhhh!*
***
In the inn, Miss Murong had no time to concern herself with their affairs. She was looking at two booklets spread out on the table.
One was from Lu Chengze, and the other from Nangong Yushao. Both contained lists of items to be auctioned.
She flipped through them page by page and discovered that the auction really did cover everything—pills, Magical Beast Crystal Cores, Spirit Artifacts, talismans, medicinal herbs...
The list was endless. However, the highest-grade pill was only a seventh-grade replenishment pill—a very common item.
Chiyun spoke up, "The Magical Beast Essence Blood listed here is decent. We should bid for some of that. Aside from the Essence Blood, we don't really need anything else."
Miss Murong nodded slightly. "I know."
***
Two days later, at the Hour of the Rooster (5:00 PM to 7:00 PM).
The sun dipped below the horizon, and night fell, bathing the city in the glow of the twilight. The Treasure Auction House was already bustling with noise. Red lanterns were hung all the way to the sixth level, and the high pavilion was ablaze with light as members of various major factions arrived.
The streets in front of the auction house and the courtyard behind it were packed with carriages of all kinds.
When Miss Murong, Lu Chengze, Lu Muning, and Lu Chengfeng—who had finally emerged from his quarters—arrived at the Treasure Auction House, the first floor was already packed wall-to-wall.
However, a path had been specifically reserved for guests of status. The attendant hosting the guests had already been instructed by his Third Young Master that the lady arriving with the Lu family was to be treated with the utmost respect. Any slight against her would not be forgiven.
When the attendant saw the eldest young master of the Lu family, he recognized the others as well. He deduced that the woman in the black dress wearing a mask must be the one their Third Young Master had mentioned.
"Young Master Lu, Miss, Second Young Master Lu, Miss Lu, please, come in!"
The attendant’s smile stretched almost from ear to ear.