The first ray of dawn, filtering through the distant mountains, illuminated Ye Bufan as he gently took Chu Mengyao's hand, gazing at the rising sun in silence.
Subtly, Ye Bufan circulated his cultivation technique, channeling vital energy into Chu Mengyao’s body to ward off the mountain chill.
Chu Mengyao, her hand held by Ye Bufan, was initially startled. But in the next moment, feeling the warmth from his grasp, her heart began to race, and her body was suffused with an ineffable sense of comfort.
Once the sun had fully ascended, Ye Bufan once again took to the skies on his sword, carrying Chu Mengyao away from the mountaintop.
As the two departed, five hikers slowly ascended the peak.
"Did I just see two people flying in the sky?" one of the young men panted. "Oh no, I think I'm hallucinating."
"Tell me about it. I saw it too," another hiker chimed in.
With two voices confirming it, the remaining three also agreed they had seen the same. One person might hallucinate, two could be a coincidence, but all five seeing it made them exchange glances.
"Did we encounter something…unsettling?" someone asked.
At the question, a slight shiver ran down their spines, and cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.
Ye Bufan, with Chu Mengyao in tow, returned directly to the Chu family villa, then proceeded to his own Xiangshan villa. After changing into normal attire, he joined Zhu Zizhen and headed for the auction at Jinfang.
Upon arriving at Jinfang once more, Ye Bufan first made his way to the end of Jin Street to visit Daoist Mingyuan.
The Daoist had been injured while defeating the Flame Horned Rhinoceros, and there had been no news of him since.
To Ye Bufan's surprise, when he reached Daoist Mingyuan's shop again, it had already changed hands. A boy of about ten years old was now tending the shop.
"Sir, who are you looking for?" the boy asked upon seeing Ye Bufan.
"I'm looking for Daoist Mingyuan," Ye Bufan replied.
Hearing Ye Bufan inquire about Daoist Mingyuan, the boy looked at him with a touch of surprise.
"What do you need from my master?" the boy asked, looking at Ye Bufan.
"A while ago, your master and I went out together, and he was injured. I was just passing through Jinfang and wanted to check on him," Ye Bufan explained.
"My master's condition has greatly improved," the boy replied, bowing respectfully to Ye Bufan. "My master has gone to procure some goods and should be back in about ten days to half a month."
"Alright. When your master returns, please tell him Ye Bufan came by. See if he has any free time and ask him to visit me at my place," Ye Bufan said, handing the boy a slip of paper with his address.
After bidding farewell to the boy, Ye Bufan and Zhu Zizhen proceeded to the Jinfang auction.
The venue had undergone significant renovations since Ye Bufan's last visit. Families from the capital were assigned premium private boxes, followed by families from Shanghai, who were given standard private boxes.
Below them were general private boxes and then the audience seating.
To Ye Bufan's surprise, individuals from Yingguo were also present in the audience seating, and yet, Jinfang had provided them with private boxes of the same caliber as those for the capital families.
However, Yamamoto Natsuryuu's mood soured considerably upon seeing Ye Bufan, his face a constant scowl.
As for Ye Bufan and Zhu Zizhen, being the owners of the Marrow Cleansing Pills – the main item for auction – they were also assigned to boxes as exclusive as those for the capital families. Nevertheless, due to the nature of auctions, information about the original owners of the items was kept strictly confidential.
Following the Battle of the Martial Arts Tournament, many families recognized Ye Bufan and approached him to offer greetings.
Meanwhile, Chu Mengyao and Wang Xinyan also arrived at the auction. Chu Mengyao had come alone, while Wang Xinyan was with her parents. Upon spotting Chu Mengyao, Wang Xinyan joined her.
Just as Ye Bufan was about to approach them, another figure stepped in front of Chu Mengyao.
"Mengyao, would you like to come up to our Jin family's private box to have a look?" Jin Dalang said. "My eldest and second brothers are there; I can introduce you."
"No, thank you, Young Master Jin," Chu Mengyao replied with a smile.
"Oh, right, Mengyao, I forgot to mention. The Jin family that is cooperating with your Chu family, Jinhe, is also a branch of our Jin family," Jin Dalang persisted, unwilling to give up. "With a word from me, they can deepen their cooperation with you."
"Thank you, Young Master Jin, but our Chu family is doing quite well as it is," Chu Mengyao politely declined again.
"Chuchu."
Ye Bufan walked forward and called out her name. Upon seeing Ye Bufan, Chu Mengyao bypassed Jin Dalang and went to his side.
"Come with me later," Ye Bufan said to Chu Mengyao.
With that, they naturally took each other's hands. Jin Dalang, seeing this, still refused to give up and strode in front of Ye Bufan and Chu Mengyao.
Not far behind, Wang Xinyan watched as Chu Mengyao and Ye Bufan held hands, finding it hard to believe their relationship had progressed so quickly.
"Ye Bufan, who do you think you are, holding Mengyao's hand?" Jin Dalang demanded.
"On the grounds that she is now my girlfriend," Ye Bufan stated, deliberately lifting Chu Mengyao's hand for Jin Dalang to see. The latter was so enraged he didn't know what to say.
"Ye Bufan, you're just a Great Martial Venerate who gained some fame at the Martial Arts Tournament. What's so great about that? Our Jin family has plenty of Great Martial Venerates, and our ancestor has been in the Martial Saint realm for years," Jin Dalang declared. "Besides, you're just a penniless nobody."
"So what?" Ye Bufan retorted.
"Hmph! I've investigated everything. You're just a martial artist living off a woman. Your food, your clothes, your necessities, even your Xiangshan villa, were all given to you by Mengyao. You are a complete failure," Jin Dalang asserted. "On this point alone, I, Jin Dalang, could easily surpass you by miles."
Ye Bufan looked at Jin Dalang, a slight smile on his face, and countered, "Since that's the case, young master Jin, I have to ask you: where were you when Chuchu's grandfather was gravely ill? Did you offer any assistance? Where were you when Chuchu was being bullied? Were you perhaps beneath some girl's skirt?"
"You!" Jin Dalang was fuming.
"Third brother, what's wrong? What's making you so angry?" Just then, another male voice rang out.
Jin Dalang turned around to see a young man standing behind him, bearing a striking resemblance to himself.
"Second Brother!" Jin Dalang's eyes lit up upon seeing the newcomer.
"It's this Ye Bufan, he's trying to get between me and Chu Mengyao," Jin Dalang blurted out, immediately throwing mud at Ye Bufan.