Chapter 045: Meng Yunxi

  A red-robed maiden stood with her head bowed inside the room. It was the same girl who had delivered the Crimson Blood Rock to Yang Tian earlier. When she heard faint footsteps approaching, her lips twitched slightly, and a trace of nervousness flickered across her delicate,瓜子-shaped face.

  "Why is she here?" Yang Tian thought as he entered the room, his gaze falling on the red-robed girl. He frowned slightly, muttering to himself, "Did the auction house discover something?"

  "Young Master," the red-robed girl curtsied respectfully as Yang Tian approached. "Young Master, my lady requests your presence for a conversation. Do you have the time?"

  "Your lady?" Yang Tian pondered for a moment before replying calmly, "I’m busy."

  Hearing Yang Tian’s refusal, the girl’s face filled with anxiety. Just as she was about to speak, a soft, enchanting voice drifted into the room.

  "Xiao Ling, you may leave."

  The door suddenly opened, and a petite, delicate foot stepped inside. The figure was clad in a red floral dress that hugged her perfect figure, causing Yang Tian’s gaze to linger for a moment.

  However, he quickly regained his composure, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. Fortunately, his face was hidden beneath the black robe. His eyes shifted to her fair, flawless neck, her skin so delicate it seemed as if it could be bruised with a touch. A faint blush adorned her cheeks, and her long, narrow eyes, like autumn waters, were fixed on Yang Tian.

  "Yes, my lady," the red-robed girl nodded, bowing as she retreated from the room with utmost respect.

  "Please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable," the young woman gestured gracefully toward a chair, her voice as sweet as honey.

  "Isn’t this the voice that spoke in the hall earlier?" Yang Tian thought, recognizing a hint of familiarity in her tone. He recalled the mysterious woman’s voice during the auction.

  As he observed the young woman, Yang Tian couldn’t help but marvel at her presence. Whether standing or sitting, she exuded an overwhelming visual impact. A saying came to his mind…

  "May I ask why you’ve summoned me, my lady?" Yang Tian asked, keeping his gaze fixed ahead, though a hint of nervousness lingered in his heart. Inside his Ancestral Dragon Ring was a demon core, and he wasn’t sure if the Myriad Phenomena Auction House would try to seize it if they discovered it.

  "Little one, there’s no need to be nervous. Consider that demon core a gift from me," the young woman twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she gazed at the black-robed figure before her.

  "So, they did find out," Yang Tian’s heart skipped a beat, and a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. Suppressing his panic, he forced a calm smile. "My lady, I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

  "Giggle, little one, you can call me Meng Yunxi. ‘My lady’ sounds too formal," she chuckled, her long, narrow eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.

  "May I ask why you’ve sought me out, Miss Meng Yunxi?" Yang Tian pursed his lips, his mind filled with questions.

  From the red-robed girl’s attitude, it was clear that this woman held a high position within the Myriad Phenomena Auction House. Why would someone of her stature seek out someone like him, who hadn’t even broken through to the Martial Warrior realm?

  "You’re heading to Martial Mountain tomorrow, aren’t you? I’d like to ask for your help with something. How about it?" Meng Yunxi’s red lips curved into a smile as she spoke.

  "Miss Meng Yunxi, are you joking?" Yang Tian turned his head slightly, glancing at her captivating face before replying indifferently, "I have matters to attend to. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

  "What a strange boy," Meng Yunxi’s brows furrowed slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise. She was used to having men fall at her feet with just a glance, yet this boy seemed completely unaffected. It was the first time she had been outright rejected.

  "Little brother, aren’t you curious about why I’ve sought you out?" She batted her eyelashes, her eyes shimmering with a captivating light as she gazed at him.

  "You’re Yang Tian, aren’t you?" Suddenly, the smile on Meng Yunxi’s face faded slightly. She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, her tone casual but probing.

  Hearing this, Yang Tian’s heart skipped a beat, and a sense of danger surged within him. His fists clenched inside his robe. He had disguised himself to enter Martial City, and unless someone had used spiritual senses to see through his disguise, the only other possibility was that the jade slip had been compromised.

  "Little brother Yang Tian, there’s no need to be nervous. When a mysterious guest suddenly appears in the Celestial Rank room, it’s only natural for me to investigate, don’t you think?" Meng Yunxi smiled, clearly sensing Yang Tian’s tension.

  "Whether I’m Yang Tian or not doesn’t concern you, does it, Miss Meng Yunxi?" Yang Tian took a deep breath, suppressing his unease. He didn’t believe the Li family could have bribed the auction house, so he replied calmly.

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  "It doesn’t concern me much, but I’d like to make a deal with you. I believe you won’t refuse," Meng Yunxi smiled as she poured a cup of tea and handed it to Yang Tian.

  "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. I’m not interested in making deals," Yang Tian stood up and headed for the door.

  Watching his retreating figure, Meng Yunxi was momentarily stunned. She rolled her eyes and said lightly, "Little brother Yang Tian, you have an older brother named Yang Ba, don’t you?"

  *Crack!* A sharp sound echoed as Yang Tian’s breathing quickened. He spun around, his eyes locking onto her face, though her beauty no longer held any allure for him.

  "Where is he? Where have you seen him?" Yang Tian’s voice trembled as he spoke. Eight years had passed since he last saw his brother, and the emotions he had buried deep within his heart were now surging to the surface.

  "Giggle, I thought nothing could move you, but it seems the bond between you brothers is quite deep," Meng Yunxi covered her red lips with her hand, her eyes gleaming with a sense of triumph at Yang Tian’s reaction.

  "Tell me, where is my brother? Name your conditions," Yang Tian clenched his fists, his voice low and urgent.

  "I can tell you," Meng Yunxi stood up gracefully and walked over to Yang Tian, her smile radiant. "But first, call me ‘sister.’"

  "Sister…" Yang Tian was momentarily speechless. Staring at her face, which was now inches away, he managed to squeeze out the word.

  "Not good enough," Meng Yunxi frowned slightly. She reached out with her delicate hands and slowly removed Yang Tian’s hood, revealing a youthful face with calm, dark eyes.

  "That’s better," she sniffed lightly, her eyes twinkling as she gazed at his expressionless face. "Now, say it again."

  "Uh…" Seeing Meng Yunxi’s serious expression, Yang Tian couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Did this woman have some kind of sister complex? Gritting his teeth, he said, "Sister Meng Yunxi, are you satisfied now?"

  "Not bad, it sounds quite pleasant. Say it again, and it’ll be even better," she batted her eyelashes, her smile widening.

  "Sister Meng Yunxi, can you tell me now?" Yang Tian suppressed the urge to bite her and asked through clenched teeth.

  "Well, the thing is… I don’t actually know where he is. What should we do?" Meng Yunxi shrugged, her tone suddenly turning helpless.

  "You don’t know?" Yang Tian’s eyes widened, and he glared at her with a murderous expression. "Then why did you make me call you ‘sister’? Are you an idiot?"

  "An idiot…" Meng Yunxi’s eyes widened in shock. It had been years since anyone had dared to speak to her like that. As the young lady of the Myriad Phenomena Auction House, even the most prestigious young masters wouldn’t dare to be so disrespectful.

  Seeing Yang Tian’s furious expression, Meng Yunxi felt both amused and exasperated.

  "Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. You’re no fun," she rolled her eyes and smiled faintly. "I can help you find him. What I can tell you for sure is that your brother is still alive."

  "Why should I believe you?" Yang Tian had calmed down by now, his tone steady. He didn’t doubt the Myriad Phenomena Auction House’s capabilities—their intelligence network was on par with any major sect. If they had clues about Yang Ba, they likely knew a thing or two about the Yang family as well.

  "Because I’m the one who can find him," Meng Yunxi pouted slightly, clearly annoyed by Yang Tian’s skepticism.

  After a moment of silence, Yang Tian looked up at Meng Yunxi and asked, "You want me to help you with something at Martial Mountain, but my cultivation level isn’t impressive. Why me?"

  "In just over a year, you’ve risen from a remote, desolate land and killed a half-step Martial Warrior. I see no reason not to seek your help. Don’t you agree, little brother Yang Tian?" Meng Yunxi glanced at his wary expression and couldn’t help but chuckle.

  "Fine, I agree," Yang Tian nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face. "But words alone aren’t enough. I can’t wait forever. Give me a timeframe."

  "Three years. Give me three years, and I’ll definitely find him," Meng Yunxi clenched her delicate hands, her confidence shining through.

  "Here’s a map of Martial Mountain. Three months after you enter, meet me at this location. Someone will be waiting for you. As for what we’re looking for, don’t ask for now," Meng Yunxi handed him a map, pointing to a red dot on it.

  "If I fail, don’t blame me. But you must keep your promise. I trust you won’t go back on your word, Sister Meng Yunxi," Yang Tian took the map and gave her a deep look before turning to leave.

  "What a cunning little brat," Meng Yunxi glared at his retreating figure, though her expression was more endearing than angry.

  "Little brother Yang Tian, a word of advice: be careful with that strange beast you’re carrying. I don’t know what it is, but you’d better keep it safe."

  As Yang Tian reached the door, her voice suddenly rang out again. His body stiffened slightly, but he didn’t stop, walking out and disappearing into the distance.

  "Miss, can we trust that boy?" An elderly man materialized out of thin air shortly after Yang Tian left, his gaze fixed on the direction Yang Tian had gone.

  "Elder Zhou, whether we can trust him or not, we must obtain that item. Besides, I believe in him," Meng Yunxi clenched her delicate fists and reclined on the couch, her curves on full display.

  "Sigh, I hope they succeed," Elder Zhou’s cloudy eyes flickered with hope as he sighed softly.

  On his way back, Yang Tian didn’t stop, heading straight for his residence. The events of the day had left him with a headache, and Meng Yunxi’s warning echoed in his mind.

  It seemed they didn’t know Little White’s origins, but its intelligence was remarkable. Once back in his room, Yang Tian activated the protective formation and sat on the bed, pulling Little White out.

  "Arf!" Little White shook its fur and leaped onto Yang Tian’s shoulder, nuzzling him affectionately.

  "Ah, I almost forgot," Yang Tian patted his forehead as he saw Little White’s eager expression. With a thought, he entered the Ancestral Dragon Ring.

  Inside the ring, the once-mighty demon core from the auction house now lay quietly on the ground, its overwhelming demonic aura completely contained.

  The black orb, about the size of a thumb, shimmered with dark light, exuding a faint, terrifying aura.

  "Is this the demon core?" Yang Tian picked it up and examined it closely. After a moment, he couldn’t help but inhale sharply.

  The energy within was tightly condensed, and Yang Tian could sense a trace of destructive power. If that energy were to burst forth, it would crush him instantly.

  "What level of demon beast was this? It must have been incredibly powerful in life," Yang Tian placed the core back on the ground, a wry smile on his face. "This demon core is even more valuable than that movement technique. How did Little White’s nose become so sharp?"

  "Arf! Arf!" Little White looked at Yang Tian with pleading eyes, drooling.

  "Don’t even think about it. Even if I gave this to you, it would explode you," Yang Tian patted its head, scolding it lightly.

  "Whimper…" Little White hung its head, looking utterly dejected.

  Yang Tian shook his head and ignored it, entering a meditative state. Tomorrow was the day Martial Mountain would open, and he knew that the events within would be nothing short of extraordinary.