Chapter 10:- desires within 2
The grand hall of the Misty Mountain Auction House glowed with golden lanterns. A hush fell as the heavy velvet curtains parted. Then, she appeared.
The woman who stepped upon the stage was a vision of both allure and danger. She wore a revealing crimson dress that clung to her curves like molten fire. Her bare shoulders gleamed under the lamplight, and every sway of her hips sent ripples of temptation into the hearts of men. A rose in full bloom—beautiful, intoxicating, yet bristling with invisible thorns. Her eyes shimmered with a dangerous charm, warning every man present: look, but do not touch, or bleed for it.
She was Xiao Yuki, the auctioneer—renowned not just for her bewitching beauty but for the ruthless aura she carried. Her smile could melt hearts, but behind that smile lurked a blade sharper than any dagger.
At her gesture, a young maid stepped forward, carrying a tray draped in red silk. The tension rose like smoke in the air. When Xiao Yuki lifted the cloth with a graceful flick, a faint glimmer of fiery red gleamed under the lantern light.
Gasps echoed.
"A Crimson Horn," Xiao Yuki's voice rang out, sweet yet commanding. "Taken from the Rhino Flame-Lizard. When refined by a master craftsman, its defense and offense are both formidable. A high-tier common material, worthy of forging a weapon that could turn tides in battle."
Her crimson lips curved as she let her gaze sweep the audience. "The starting price is set at two thousand black crystals. Each raise no less than one thousand."
A silence—then the flood began.
"Two thousand!"
"Three thousand!"
"Four thousand!"
"Five thousand!"
The crowd's voices overlapped, excitement surging.
Wei Shiyan, seated lazily near the corner, smirked. His sharp eyes scanned the room. "The Desolate Mirage Ridge truly fattens people's pockets," he muttered, his voice dripping with amusement. "See how money burns holes in their hands? Heh. After tonight, there will be robbery without a doubt."
He leaned back with arrogance, confident in his strength. Who here could strip a wolf of its kill? He already regarded this entire auction as his personal hunting ground.
The bids climbed higher.
"Eight thousand!"
"Twelve thousand!"
A powerful voice thundered from a private curtained booth. The room froze. Such a leap—four thousand at once!
Murmurs erupted but none dared to contest further.
Xiao Yuki's eyes gleamed, lips curling into a satisfied smile. Her voice rang like silver bells, steady and enthralling:
"Twelve thousand once! … Twice! … Thrice! Sold—to curtain number four. Congratulations on securing the Crimson Horn."
Applause, scattered but admiring, followed.
Her tone soothed the crowd, her every gesture smoothing the tension. This was her stage, and every man, no matter how wealthy or powerful, danced in her palm.
Wei Shiyan didn't even blink. The Crimson Horn? Trash to him. His eyes only narrowed with sharp interest when a broken sword came up. Ordinary eyes dismissed it as junk, but to him, it whispered secrets. His lips twitched. Perfect. That one is mine, whether by bid or by blood.
The auction continued. Herbs, ores, minor treasures—each fetching tens of thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands. Wealth spilled like water, but Wei Shiyan's hunger wasn't for these. He waited, biding his time.
Then came the shocker: a medicinal herb fetched seven hundred thousand black crystals, shocking even veterans. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
But nothing, nothing compared to what came next.
Xiao Yuki's step slowed as she lifted another tray. The red silk shimmered, the anticipation palpable. When she revealed the item, the entire hall went silent.
A dark purple stone pulsed faintly with an otherworldly glow. Space itself seemed to ripple around it, bending subtly.
"The Void Spatial Stone," Xiao Yuki announced, her voice velvet-smooth, yet carrying a weight that pressed against every chest present. "A miraculous treasure discovered deep within the Stone Forest of the Desolate Mirage Ridges, guarded by natural formations. Upon integration, it can enhance one's comprehension of spatial law. A supreme chance to touch the very fabric of space itself."
Her crimson gown shimmered as she leaned forward, her voice dropping like a siren's call. "The starting price is one million mid-grade black crystals. Each increment no less than one hundred thousand."
The crowd erupted in disbelief and frenzy.
"Impossible!"
"One million starting price?!"
"Worth it—if it truly aids spatial law comprehension!"
But in one corner, Wei Shiyan's body tensed. His eyes, usually indifferent, locked onto the stone with burning hunger. His law path soul ring trembled in his core, vibrating with eager recognition.
Space law. A direct path to ascendancy. If I devour it, I can…
He clenched his fist beneath the table, muttering to himself, "Calm down, Lord Wei. No reckless moves. Even if mountains crumble, this stone will be mine. I don't need to bid. Others will steal. And I… will steal from the thieves."
A villain's smile tugged at his lips as he leaned back, closing his eyes like an idle predator waiting for prey to stumble close.
Bids crashed into the air like thunder.
"One point one million!"
"One point two million!"
"One point three million!"
"One point eight million!"
The hall shook with fiery competition, voices battling to outshout each other. Still, Wei Shiyan waited. Patience was his blade.
The bids climbed higher—two million, two point four, then nearly three. The numbers blurred. Sweat dripped from foreheads, voices grew hoarse. Yet the stone's glow seemed only to intensify, as if mocking their desperation.
Then, from a curtained booth, a new voice thundered:
"Five million mid-grade black crystals."
The air froze.
Silence swallowed the hall. Even seasoned bidders gasped. To leap so high… who could challenge that?
All eyes turned to curtain number two.
Xiao Yuki's smile deepened, her scarlet lips curving like a blade. Her voice, rich with triumph, rang out:
"Five million, once! … Twice! … Thrice! The Void Spatial Stone is sold! Congratulations to our distinguished guest in booth number two."
Polite applause rippled again, though this time strained.
Wei Shiyan did not clap. His eyes remained half-closed, but within them, storms brewed. His desire did not lessen—it sharpened.
Booth number two… enjoy yo
ur prize while you can. Soon enough, it will rest in my hands.
And thus, the auction continues to its climax.