The crowd turned their heads in unison, momentarily stunned when they saw who had made the bid.
It was none other than Ye Chu.
"Who's that kid? Never heard of him."
"You don't know him? That's the infamous Jiang family son-in-law."
"Impossible. How could a live-in son-in-law afford that kind of money?"
"Rich? My ass. He's obviously just here to stir up trouble."
Some were curious, others astonished, while a few began to sense something unusual.
Even Wang Zihao believed Ye Chu was deliberately causing trouble, his heart seething with anger.
"Host," he barked toward the stage, "this punk is just a useless son-in-law. There's no way he can produce that kind of money—he's only here to make a scene."
"I demand that the organizers verify his funds first."
Hostess Dandan glanced at Ye Chu, who sat calmly in the front row, and found herself doubting Wang Zihao's words.
Just then, a low voice came through her earpiece—Long Jiuye's.
"Pay him no mind. Continue the auction."
Dandan smiled politely. "Sir, we have no policy requiring pre-verification of funds. Please refrain from disrupting the proceedings."
Wang Zihao nearly exploded. Who was really causing the disruption here?
Grinding his teeth, he raised his hand again. "1.25 billion!"
"1.27 billion," Ye Chu replied, his tone utterly serene, as though he were merely reading out a number.
A flicker of surprise crossed Zhuge Zheya's eyes. Seeing that Huangfu Shiyue had yet to bid, a quiet suspicion began to take root in her heart.
Ye Chu was an alchemist. Could it be that this batch of Minor Vitality Pills was crafted by him? That would explain everything.
Otherwise, with Huangfu Shiyue's temperament, she would never have let such treasures slip away.
"Could I be mistaken?" she wondered.
"1.3 billion!" Wang Zihao hissed through clenched teeth.
"1.32 billion."
"1.38 billion."
"1.4 billion."
No matter how much Wang Zihao raised the price, Ye Chu always followed with a calm increase of twenty million.
By now, everyone could see—he was doing it on purpose.
"So that's his game," Zhuge Zheya murmured in sudden realization.
"Ye," Wang Zihao growled, barely containing his fury, "don't go too far."
Ye Chu's gaze remained impassive. "What's the matter? Are only you allowed to bid?"
"You—!"
Wang Zihao's eyes burned with murderous rage. If looks could kill, Ye Chu would have been riddled with holes.
"1.5 billion! If you raise again, I'm done."
This time, his voice trembled with strain; he was clearly at his limit.
Ye Chu smiled faintly. "As expected of the Wang family—truly wealthy beyond measure. I can't compete with that."
He sighed dramatically, though the amusement in his eyes betrayed him.
Wang Zihao's face darkened to iron. Despite winning the bid, there was no trace of joy.
After all, he had just overpaid by three hundred million—no one would be happy about that.
If he knew that the money would ultimately end up in Ye Chu's pocket, he would likely cough up blood on the spot.
The three Minor Vitality Pills sold for a staggering thirty-seven billion.
Indeed, alchemy was the surest path to fortune.
Next came the Detoxification Pills.
Unlike the fiery bidding before, almost no one showed interest this time.
Understandably so—poisoning was exceedingly rare in this era of health-conscious living.
In the end, four pills sold for a mere four and a half billion.
When the auction finally concluded, the guests began to disperse.
Zhuge Zheya handed a wooden box to Ye Chu. "Divine Doctor Ye, this is the Youth Preserving Herb. Don't let me down."
"Rest assured," Ye Chu smiled, taking it. "You'll be more than satisfied."
Yun Bingwan's voice was soft and gracious. "Divine Doctor Ye, might I also have a pill when the time comes?"
Ye Chu didn't immediately answer but glanced at Zhuge Zheya instead.
After all, the herb belonged to her.
"How many pills can be refined from one Youth Preserving Herb?" Zhuge Zheya asked after a pause.
"With some luck, six or seven," Ye Chu replied.
Her eyes brightened slightly. "Then give one to Bingwan."
"Of course." Ye Chu nodded.
"Thank you, Divine Doctor Ye. If you ever need my help, just ask."
Yun Bingwan extended her slender jade hand, and Ye Chu quickly shook it.
He had wanted to probe her constitution with a trace of true energy, but she withdrew before he could.
"Master Ye, farewell."
With that, she and Zhuge Zheya departed.
Ye Chu couldn't help feeling a tinge of disappointment. Yun Bingwan's presence was extraordinary, especially with that rare violet hair—he was certain her physique was far from ordinary.
"Stop staring. She's long gone."
Ye Chu blinked and turned to find Huangfu Shiyue looking at him with quiet reproach.
"Ahem. Sister Shiyue, let's go collect our things," he said hastily, changing the subject. She nodded and led him to meet Long Jiuye.
From afar, Wang Zihao's eyes glinted coldly. "You damned wretch, this isn't over."
He had already decided—once his family produced another grandmaster, he would make Ye Chu pay for today's humiliation.
Nearby, Jiang Junlan's eyes burned with spite.
As she watched the trio leave, her expression twisted. She quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a photo.
In the picture, Ye Chu walked between two women, smiling as he spoke to Huangfu Shiyue.
His profile was clear and unmistakable.
She opened the family group chat and sent the photo with a caption:
Shocking—our useless son-in-law is keeping not one, but two mistresses outside!
The chat instantly exploded.
Completely unaware of the storm brewing, Ye Chu followed Huangfu Shiyue to Long Jiuye's office.
"Master Ye, here's the bronze cauldron you purchased," Long Jiuye said, gesturing for someone to bring it over, then added, "and here's your payment."
A notification soon buzzed on Ye Chu's phone. He glanced down—and froze.
Seventy-one billion had been transferred.
"Ninth Master, there must be some mistake," Ye Chu said in confusion.
He had provided ten pills in total—five Detoxification Pills and five Minor Vitality Pills.
By the auction's highest prices, the total should have been about seventy billion; deducting the thirty percent fee, he should have received only fifty billion.
"No mistake," Long Jiuye replied with a hearty laugh. "You're a friend of Miss Shiyue—no service fee necessary."
Ye Chu was momentarily taken aback. "That's too generous, Ninth Master. I can't let you work for free."
"It's nothing," Long Jiuye said cheerfully. "Consider it a token of friendship. If you ever have more treasures, remember to come to me."
Ye Chu smiled. "I certainly will."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries and contact information, they parted ways.
Leaving the manor, Ye Chu intended to visit Huangfu Shiyue's home to study the bronze cauldron.
But just then, a call came from Han Mengjuan, her tone unusually tense.
Something had happened.
Sensing the gravity in her voice, Ye Chu didn't hesitate. "Sister Shiyue, keep the cauldron for now. Something's come up—I need to go."
"Shall I drive you?"
"No need. It's late; you should head home."
He waved, hailed a cab, and sped toward the Jiang residence.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the villa—only to feel the heavy tension in the air.
On the sofa sat Jiang Haiyun and Han Mengjuan, faces expressionless and cold.
"Dad, Mom," Ye Chu asked cautiously, "what happened?"
Jiang Haiyun tossed a phone at him, his tone icy. "Explain this."
Ye Chu caught the phone and frowned.
On the screen was the photo—him walking between two women, his smiling profile perfectly captured.
It could only have been taken by Jiang Junlan.
"Damn that woman," he cursed inwardly, realizing just how bad this looked.
"Dad, Mom, please don't misunderstand. They're just my friends."
"Friends?" Jiang Haiyun sneered. "You've barely been out of prison a few days, and already you've made two female friends? Impressive."
"Dad, please, that's not what—"
"Enough!" Jiang Haiyun snapped. "The evidence is right here, and you're still denying it?"
"Barely married, and you're already keeping mistresses outside—two of them, no less. You really are something."
His voice rose with every word, eyes filled with disgust.
Had Han Mengjuan not been there, he might have struck Ye Chu outright.
Ye Chu's lips twitched in irony. Keeping Huangfu Shiyue as a mistress—what a joke.
"Mom, please let me explain. It's not what it looks like."
Seeing his earnest expression, Han Mengjuan hesitated, but Jiang Haiyun cut in again.
"Enough talk! If you claim you've no mistresses, then prove it. Didn't Mengjuan give you a million the other day? Show us the money."
"If the funds are still there, we'll believe you—for now."
Han Mengjuan nodded softly. "Yes, Xiao Chu, show us. I don't want to believe you'd do such a thing."
Indeed, if the money was untouched, there'd be no way he could afford to keep anyone outside.
Ye Chu's eyes brightened. He hadn't touched that money.
He hurried upstairs and brought down the card. "Mom, here it is. I haven't spent a single cent."
Han Mengjuan linked the card to her phone—it was under her name, after all—and checked the balance.
Ye Chu smiled confidently. "See? Not a dime spent."
But his smile faltered when he saw her face darken.
Peeking at the screen, he froze—the balance was zero.
He was dumbfounded. He knew he hadn't touched it.
Jiang Haiyun seized the moment. "Useless trash! Didn't you say the money was there? Where is it?"
With the truth staring him in the face, Ye Chu was momentarily speechless.
"Ha! Nothing to say now? Barely a few days, and the million's gone. And you still dare say you're innocent?"
"Divorce! You must divorce him!" Jiang Haiyun roared. "A man as vile as you stains our family's honor."
Ye Chu's expression shifted—he understood now.
It had to be Jiang Haiyun. With his access to the family's accounts, it would've been easy to transfer the funds.
Did this old bastard realize Ye Chu had seen through him?
Feeling the weight of Ye Chu's steady gaze, Jiang Haiyun's heart fluttered, but he quickly masked it with bluster.
"What? Still think you can glare your way out of this? If not for Mengjuan's sake, I'd have beaten you already."
A cold smile tugged at Ye Chu's lips. "You and I both know who's really in the wrong."
He turned to speak to Han Mengjuan—
But she suddenly cut him off, her voice trembling with anger and hurt.
"Enough, Ye Chu. You've truly disappointed me."