C60

The price had already exceeded what many gangs could afford, and they chose to back down.

"Twelve million!" Huang Qing turned to look at Lyi Xiaotian, who was sitting not far away. "I advise you to give up. Everyone knows what No-south House is capable of."

"Fifteen million." According to the rules, every mine must be contested. Since Lyi Xiaotian had discovered there was a tin and iron mine behind Meiniang's place, he had to follow the rules.

Huang Qing glared, gritting his teeth. "Seventeen million!"

Nearby, a skinny lackey cautiously leaned over to Huang Qing. "Boss, we only have fifteen million on the books..."

"Nineteen million." Though Lyi Xiaotian's face remained calm, he was starting to hesitate internally. No-south House didn't even have fifteen million on their books.

"Twenty million!" Huang Qing was getting desperate. The last thing he wanted was to lose to No-south House.

Lyi Xiaotian clenched his fists, sweat seeping from his palms, while Lyi Jing's face turned extremely grim beside him. They wanted to compete, but their strength didn't allow it. If they couldn't produce the amount they bid on the spot, being mocked was the least of their worries—their reputation would plummet in the Fish Market.

On the stage, Meiniang signaled to her people in the crowd.

"Is there anyone willing to go higher than twenty million?" the auctioneer called out loudly.

Huang Qing spat in Lyi Xiaotian's direction, suddenly standing up and arrogantly holding up his fingers. "Twenty million once, twenty million twice..."

"Thirty million dollars," Lyi Xiaotian announced, his voice resonating through the room, causing a stir among the crowd.

Not only was Huang Qing shocked, but even Meiniang was taken aback, as her people hadn't delivered the money yet. However, Meiniang noticed a woman had quietly appeared behind Lyi Xiaotian.

Dressed in white with dark hair, her face was partially covered by a delicate veil. Feng Tiange had arrived silently, sitting behind Lyi Xiaotian and gently tapping him on the shoulder, discreetly handing over a banknote.

The moment Lyi Jing saw the banknote, his expression lit up. If it weren't for Feng Tiange giving him a stern look, he might have rushed over to give a bear hug.

"Thirty million dollars, going once, thirty million dollars, going twice..." The auctioneer on stage picked up the gavel, "Thirty million dollars, sold!"

The gavel struck, and the deal was sealed with the No-south House.

"Impossible! Old man Lyi, do you dare show everyone the thirty million dollar banknote?" Huang Qing, furious, stormed up to Lyi Xiaotian, his face menacing.

"Please step aside," Lyi Xiaotian said calmly as he stood up slowly.

With all eyes on them, Huang Qing couldn't make a move and reluctantly stepped back a couple of paces.

Lyi Xiaotian straightened his slightly wrinkled coat and confidently walked up to the stage. There, he handed the thirty million dollar banknote to the auctioneer and, under the auctioneer's witness, signed the contract with Meiniang.

As the pen touched the paper, No-south House quickly gained fame at the Fish Market. In front of the crowd's mixed reactions of admiration and sighs, Lyi Xiaotian finally restored the honor that belonged to No-south House. This was precisely Feng Tiange's intention. She didn't announce the 'thirty million' herself but let Lyi Xiaotian do it because the Fish Market was his domain, and she wanted to give him the spotlight. However, when Lyi Xiaotian stepped down from the stage, Feng Tiange was nowhere to be seen. Still, she had conveyed through Lyi Jingzhi that he did a great job and that those above were very pleased...

At the Xie Mansion, in the main hall, Xie Jin, dressed in a brown silk robe, was sipping tea from the head seat. He was of average build with a square face. Perhaps due to his early years as a drill sergeant, his complexion wasn't very fair. His eyebrows were thick and neatly groomed, his eye sockets slightly recessed, and his gaze was sharp and profound. As the backbone behind the Azure Jade Sect, he was fully confident in today's successful bidding. Since Dugu Yan's influence at the Fish Market had crumbled, no one should be able to challenge his power there.

"Stop," Xie Jin commanded, setting down his teacup and calling out towards the hall door. In no time, a flash of bright green retreated from under the window to the doorway. "Dad..." "Come in," Xie Jin glanced at his daughter, maintaining a composed demeanor.

Xie Ruxuan hesitated, shifting from side to side, reluctant to take a step forward.

"Get in here!"

"Oh..." With no other choice, Xie Ruxuan walked into the main hall. Standing before Xie Jin, she kept her eyes down, focusing intently on the floor, her head bowed low.

"Lift your head." Xie Jin was at his wit's end with his daughter. She was always getting into trouble. If she put even a fraction of her energy into her studies, she wouldn't have missed the top ten in the Martial Academy exams.

Knowing she couldn't avoid it, Xie Ruxuan raised her head.

Xie Jin's eyes widened in anger. "What happened to your face? Who hit you?"

"This little scratch is nothing, Dad. You should see Qin Luoyi!" Xie Ruxuan quickly straightened her neck, her pride evident.

Xie Jin frowned. "Who?"

"Qin Luoyi from the Marquis Mansion. I grabbed her by the collar, slapped her a dozen times, tore her clothes, and even kicked her a couple of times..."

'Bang—'

Xie Jin slammed his hand on the table, nearly bursting with frustration as he looked at his daughter. "You troublemaker! Who told you to hit Qin Luoyi?"

"She insulted Xueyao..." Xie Ruxuan replied nonchalantly. Besides, she was just minding her own business on the street when Qin Luoyi decided to block her way. She was asking for it.

"Again with Feng Xueyao! Last time, you tried to have someone from the No-south House assassinate Feng Tiange. It's a good thing Lyi Xiaotian failed. If something had happened to Feng Tiange, even a hundred heads wouldn't be enough to appease Empress Dowager Chu!" Xie Jin couldn't understand what spell his daughter was under, that she'd go to such lengths for someone like Feng Xueyao, who had no status or position.

"Oh, come on, Feng Tiange's fine, isn't she? Besides... with her skills, who could possibly kill her?" Xie Ruxuan retorted angrily.

Xie Jin sighed, exasperated. "Regardless, when you return from the Imperial Academy tomorrow, you're coming with me to the Martial Peace Marquis Mansion to apologize."

"I'm not going!" Xie Ruxuan stubbornly lifted her chin, filled with resentment.

Just then, a young servant ran in from outside.

Taking advantage of her father's distraction, Xie Ruxuan slipped out of the main hall.

Xie Jin let out a long sigh and turned to the servant. "Well?"

The servant hesitated, afraid to speak.

Xie Jin was taken aback. "Didn't win? Who took it, and how much?"

"Sir, it was the No-south House. They took three million dollars," the servant reported truthfully.

Xie Jin staggered back, collapsing heavily into a chair. The No-south House again. Ever since he decided to abandon them, those three words had been a constant thorn in his side. First, they were saved by a powerful figure in court, then they ensnared his daughter, and now they even dared to intercept his fortune!

“What on earth is Huang Qing doing? Why didn’t he raise the bid for a mere three million dollars? Doesn’t he know the old rules of the market?” Xie Jin slammed his fist on the table, growling in frustration.

The servant stood by nervously, not daring to speak...

The next day was when the new students returned to the Imperial Academy to choose their courses. Outside the academy, Feng Tiange had just stepped out of her carriage when she noticed a figure in white leaning against the archway of the Wenn Mansion, waving at her with such enthusiasm that his wide sleeves flapped like flags.

Feng Tiange ignored Rong Qi, pretending not to recognize him as she headed straight for the Martial Academy entrance.

“Feng Tiange!”

A voice called from behind. When Feng Tiange turned, Su Hu was already approaching.

If Feng Tiange hadn’t paid much attention to the man during the Martial Academy competition before, her interest in him had grown significantly after her numerous investigations turned up nothing.