Chapter 31: Why does Gu Qing have no interest in me at all? I am very easy to pursue.
In the top-floor private room of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Chu Yao appeared somewhat impatient and spoke with annoyance.
"Master Xiao, for your pills I can at most offer one hundred million high-grade spirit stones. If you find that unacceptable, you may try other chambers of commerce."
Telling a customer to go elsewhere was simply too obvious a dismissal.
Chu Yao had no choice. The black-robed man before her bargained endlessly, haggling over every last detail.
He even wanted her to do business at a loss.
That she restrained herself from cursing him was already a sign of her excellent temperament.
At this moment, she could not help but think of Gu Qing.
Though Gu Qing was also shrewd, he was refreshingly straightforward.
As long as there was profit, he never cared how much she earned, understanding well the principle of mutual benefit.
Unlike the youth before her, who demanded she trade at a loss, making her seem as though she were running a charity.
"Just now did we not agree on one hundred and fifty million? Why now decrease instead of increase? Could it be that Fairy Chu wishes to deceive me?"
The youth hidden in the black robe spoke with an aged voice, yet revealed a hand as youthful as a boy's.
He was stunned at first, then said angrily.
"Apologies, I miscalculated just now," Chu Yao replied expressionlessly.
She had originally intended to take a loss to befriend this young alchemist.
She thought that though she lost this time, she could earn it back the next.
But now she no longer wished to befriend him.
Cooperation must be founded on mutual profit.
With such a greedy alchemist, even if she formed ties, she would always be the losing side.
What was the point of such a connection?
"Miscalculated? Hmph, it seems the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion does not welcome me. Very well."
The black-robed youth gave a cold laugh, feigning anger, and rose to leave.
At the door, seeing Chu Yao make no attempt to keep him, his heart sank, leaving him somewhat embarrassed.
Truthfully, he knew Chu Yao had already offered the highest price.
But who ever disliked earning more?
If he left now, other places would surely not pay one hundred and fifty million.
"Master, do you still have business?"
Chu Yao's alluring fox-like eyes narrowed, the corners lifting with a mocking charm.
Her expression was enchanting, bewitching like a peerless temptress who toyed with hearts.
"…"
Damn it—
The black-robed youth cursed inwardly.
If he stayed now, it would be like offering his face for Chu Yao to slap.
Yet he truly could not leave.
Because soon, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's once-in-a-century auction would begin.
Inside, there would certainly be treasures he needed.
He had originally planned to sell the pills and then request an invitation to the auction, hoping to seize a chance within.
"Master, I still have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."
Receiving Gu Qing's message, Chu Yao felt a surge of joy. Losing interest in mocking the black-robed man, she stood and excused herself.
She also transmitted an order to her subordinates to treat him properly.
…
Elsewhere, Gu Qing and Su Qingyue rode upon auspicious clouds, transcendent and ethereal, like immortals descending into the mortal world.
Arriving at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion auction, they immediately saw the graceful and enchanting Chu Yao standing at the entrance.
"Fairy Chu, it has been a long time," Gu Qing said with a smile.
Though Qingzhou was countless billions of miles from the Great Qian Empire, seeing Chu Yao here did not surprise him.
After all, she was the daughter of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's president.
"It truly has been long. Young Master Gu is even more remarkable than before."
Chu Yao smiled like a captivating fox, her gaze shifting toward Su Qingyue as she asked, "May I know this fairy's honored name?"
"This is my junior martial sister, Su Qingyue."
"Su Qingyue? Could she be the one who apprenticed under Venerable Zhimeng? You too are her disciple?"
Chu Yao exclaimed in astonishment.
"That is correct."
Gu Qing nodded lightly.
So it was as she suspected… Chu Yao understood.
She had long felt that the descent of those from the Starry Sky Temple into the Great Qian Empire might be connected to Gu Qing.
Though she did not know Su Qingyue personally, her name was thunderous in reputation.
Su Qingyue was already known as the foremost beauty of Qingzhou, possessing the Lunar Divine Body.
With the recent proclamations of the Three Heavens Moonwatch Holy Land, nearly all cultivators in Qingzhou knew she had apprenticed under a Saint Realm mighty one.
Moreover, Chu Yao had heard that Su Qingyue had become the Holy Maiden of the Starry Sky Temple.
Since Gu Qing was her senior martial brother, his aptitude must surpass even Su Qingyue's.
After all, both had gone to the Starry Sky Temple, yet Venerable Zhimeng had first accepted Gu Qing.
Perhaps Gu Qing possessed one of the legendary Supreme Divine Bodies.
Such thoughts flashed through her mind, and Chu Yao became even warmer toward them.
She invited them into the best Heaven-ranked private room and ordered rare spiritual fruits and delicacies to be served.
Chu Yao personally poured them each a cup of cool tea, smiling as she said, "Young Master Gu, it has been three years. I have missed you dearly."
"…"
Those words were not wrong.
But when spoken from this enchantress's mouth, they sounded strangely unsettling.
Gu Qing lifted his teacup and took a sip. A refreshing aura surged into his mind, instantly clearing his spirit.
This tea was extraordinary, even enough to allow one at the Mysterious Dan Realm to comprehend the Dao.
If not for Gu Qing's deep foundation, a single cup would have been enough to break through a realm.
"Fairy Chu…"
"Just call me Chu Yao, or Yao Yao, or even Yao'er. Calling me fairy sounds far too distant."
With a familiar air, Chu Yao sat down beside Gu Qing.
A faint fragrance wafted over, making his blood and qi restless and difficult to suppress.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of snow-white peaks, full and rounded.
He hurriedly recited the Heart-Clearing Formula three times before speaking.
"Chu Yao, how about we make a trade?"
"What kind of trade?" Chu Yao instantly grew interested. Whether intentional or not, she leaned her delicate body forward, smiling with unmatched charm.
"Vixen…" Su Qingyue, watching from the side, fumed with anger and cursed silently.
Always cold by nature, she became even colder now, her entire being exuding icy chills.
Seeing this, Chu Yao did not falter, but instead became more spirited.
She despised cold, aloof women the most.
What was the point of keeping up such a frosty facade all day long?
"I want to purchase a large number of demonic beasts, as many as possible."
"But I may not have enough spirit stones…"
Since Gu Qing had joined the Starry Sky Temple, he naturally had to make full use of his advantage to grow stronger.
He had no interest in relying solely on himself like some protagonist.
"A small matter."
Chu Yao twirled a lock of hair around her jade-like finger and smiled enchantingly. "Our chamber of commerce always gives privileges to geniuses — discounts of twenty percent, credit accounts, assistance in gathering resources, and so on…"
Though she did not know why Gu Qing wanted so many demonic beasts, she could guess they were likely for body refinement.
"Then let us consider it settled."
"By the way, I also have some treasures here to see if they can be auctioned."
Gu Qing brought out Lin Yang's broken artifacts.
The most valuable among them were three Heaven-grade artifacts and one King-grade artifact.
All were badly damaged, some missing pieces or corners.
They could still be used, but their power was limited, so Gu Qing naturally had no use for them.
As for the Solar Divine Furnace, Gu Qing had no intention of selling such a divine artifact.
"…"
What a cold and dull man… Chu Yao muttered inwardly.
Every time he earned money from her, he immediately wanted to leave, making her grit her teeth in frustration.
She truly could not understand — were spirit stones worth more than even one ten-thousandth of her charm?
Could he not be a little bolder and pursue her?
She was very easy to pursue.
Though she thought this, on the surface Chu Yao smiled sweetly, carefully examining the items.
After a while, she nodded and said, "Young Master Gu, these things are estimated to fetch forty to fifty billion high-grade spirit stones, though the exact amount will depend on the final auction price."
"Then I'll trouble you with it."
Though this little enchantress was frivolous, she was genuinely reliable in her work.
"Think nothing of it!"
"It's getting late. I must go preside over the auction, so I shall excuse myself."
With that, Chu Yao swayed her graceful, serpentine waist as she departed, every movement filled with countless charms, like a reincarnated enchantress.
After she left, Su Qingyue softly called "senior brother" with a trace of grievance.
Still, she did not say that she disliked Chu Yao.
Though she hated her, she would not interfere in Gu Qing's matters.
Meanwhile, once Chu Yao exited the private room, her face grew sullen.
"Young lady, what troubles you?"
The old woman asked in surprise.
It was the first time she had ever seen her young lady, such an enchantress, so disheartened.
"Tell me, am I not beautiful enough?" Chu Yao asked.
"How could that be?"
"Young lady, you are a peerless beauty, a single smile of yours captivates all, a supreme enchantress who has bewitched countless geniuses."
"Moreover, you possess a superior divine body, uniting beauty, talent, and wealth in one. Any goddess or holy maiden pales in comparison to you."
"How could you have such a mistaken thought?"
The old woman's flattery struck directly at Chu Yao's heart, instantly making her feel much better.
Still puzzled, she muttered, "Then why does that brat Gu Qing feel nothing for me?"
"…"
The old woman fell silent.
So her young lady was actually lost in her own halo of charm.
"I'm very easy to pursue. I've been so proactive, yet Gu Qing is like a block of wood," Chu Yao continued.
"…"
Young lady, perhaps you should listen to the words you are saying yourself.
Easy to pursue?
If those young geniuses chasing you heard this, they would probably spit out three liters of blood.
"By the way, how much of the ancestral teachings have you copied?"
Seeing the old woman not respond, Chu Yao asked with a playful smile.
"Ah, well…" She had been careless.
The old woman was deeply annoyed at herself.
How could she have allowed her mind to wander in front of the young lady?
"I have copied about two million words… I think," she said weakly.
"Good. Keep copying. You must firmly remember the ancestral teachings."
With that, Chu Yao swayed her slender waist and departed with grace and allure.
The old woman nodded repeatedly, secretly relieved.
If before she had been unwilling to copy them, now she was more than willing.
Fortunately, the young lady kept the ancestral teachings firmly in mind. Otherwise, had she made a mistake in the Great Qian Empire, ten thousand years of cultivation could have been ruined in a single day.
The wise and brilliant ancestor — the teachings left behind truly were words of gold.
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