The grand auction had finally come to an end. The laughter, the whispers, the thundering applause had faded into silence, leaving behind the faint fragrance of spilled wine and gold-laced ambition.
It should have ended with joy and glory. Yet, thanks to the Princes and their overbearing arrogance, the air was tainted with unease. Some left with dark faces, muttering under their breath.
Yang Mo was one of them as his once bright eyes were now dulled, and his spirit was quietly crushed.
But for most of the audience, the satisfaction prevailed. Their pockets were heavier, their tongues eager to spread gossip through the streets of Tian Xiang City.
The event was over, but its echoes would linger for days to come.
Up on the second floor, Jun Mo Xie leaned lazily against the carved wooden railing, watching the departing crowd with amusement. His lips curved faintly as General Dugu practically bolted from the hall, dragging his son along with him. The seasoned general, who had braved countless battlefields, now fled like a startled deer.
It was really a sight that was both ridiculous and delightful.
However, one person lingered.
Dugu Xiao Yi, cheeks slightly flushed, was making her way up the stairs, her curious eyes locked on Jun Mo Xie.
"Tell Tang Yuan and Song Shang to come up once the cleanup is finished," Jun Mo Xie instructed softly, his eyes turning sharp beneath the mellow light. "There's something that needs to be arranged."
His tone was calm, but his mind was already spinning like a blade.
This was not just an auction, but it was a spark in a forest of dry leaves. One wrong move, and the fire would devour everything.
'One butterfly flaps its wings… and the storm begins.'
He turned toward Jun Wu Yi, his gaze steady.
"Third Uncle," He said, his tone low and deliberate, "send our people to follow every noble family leaving tonight. Observe who they speak with, whom they associate with. Once they've gathered what they can, have them withdraw with no traces. Every powerful house in Tian Xiang was here tonight. If we do this right, we'll map out the city's true balance of power. Be cautious as there's no room for mistakes."
Jun Wu Yi's expression hardened, a spark of admiration in his eyes. "Understood. I'll see to it personally."
Jun Mo Xie nodded slightly. His voice grew quieter, his tone analytical. "Right now, only four people know I'm behind all this, and that includes Uncle, Tang Yuan, Song Shang, and the Prince Equivalent. Tang and Song will be under control once I speak with them."
His gaze drifted, landing on Yang Mo standing silently in the corner. An idea crossed his mind.
"Yang Mo," He said suddenly, his tone soft yet firm, "I'll write something down. Deliver it to your father once you get home. No one else must see it."
Yang Mo blinked, startled by the sudden attention, but he nodded dutifully. "Yes, Young Master."
Jun Mo Xie offered a faint smile but didn't linger. His thoughts were already elsewhere. 'Preparation is the foundation of survival. Only the cautious remain invincible.'
A shiver crawled down his spine. It was a feeling, faint yet undeniable. Someone was watching him. He scanned the hall. His gaze locked onto two figures covered with black-robes. They were silent, standing behind Princess Ling Meng. Their presence alone was enough to awaken his instinct.
Below, the last of the guests had begun to disperse. The Three Princes had already departed.
The Third Prince was the first, eager to hurry home and bask in his father's approval. He couldn't wait to show the Emperor his 'devotion,' even if it was born of deceit.
Yet Princess Ling Meng remained seated.
The soft golden glow from the chandeliers haloed her face, but her eyes seemed far away, distant, thoughtful, and lonely. She had never enjoyed these gatherings, nor the endless schemes between her brothers. If not for her father's insistence, she would never have come.
'They are my brothers… and he is my father,' She thought bitterly. 'So why must they tear each other apart? Why must I always be alone in the middle of it?'
Her delicate hand brushed against something cool and metallic. It was the four throwing knives lying beside her seat. The corners of her lips lifted faintly, tinged with melancholy. Those blades belonged to that mysterious man, the one whose face haunted her thoughts.
'Strange,' She mused softly. 'These blades are cold… yet they feel warmer than the world I live in.'
Her maid stood silently at her side, hesitant to disturb her. The hall had fallen eerily still, the scent of heavy wine slowly fading, replaced by the faint aroma of night flowers wafting in through the windows.
The musicians were still playing the soft notes, the sound drifting like a lament carried by the wind. The song spoke of old sorrows and lost generations.
It painted the Princess's silhouette in shades of melancholy, her beauty sharpened by sadness.
Meanwhile, Jun Mo Xie had quietly ordered an escort for Yang Mo. The boy was pale, shaken, his youthful pride wounded deeply. He had come expecting laughter and adventure, and left burdened with humiliation.
Yet Jun Mo Xie said nothing to comfort him. There were no gentle words, no pats on the shoulder.
'A blade must endure the forge before it can shine,' He thought coldly. 'A man must know humiliation before he grows strong. Pain is the seed of power. This will either break him… or make him.'
It was cruel wisdom, but true.
When Yang Mo finally left, silence settled over the hall once again.
Then, like a rolling thunder, a loud, wheezing laugh shattered the calm.
"Hahahaha! Huge profits! Insanely huge profits!"
Tang Yuan burst in, his plump face glowing red, his entire body shaking like a giant dumpling on legs. He flung his arms open dramatically. "Boss! You won't believe it... Ninety million! A full ninety million taels of silver! I thought we'd make a fortune, but this? This is a damn miracle! Hahahaha!"
Jun Mo Xie massaged his temples, half in amusement, half in resignation.
"Money," He muttered dryly, "is truly the original sin."
Trailing behind was Song Shang, but he was calm, quiet, and visibly troubled. His eyes lowered, his voice subdued.
"Such divine wine," He murmured, "should not have been sold to those pompous fools. Something so heavenly… reduced to a number on paper. It feels like sacrilege."
Dugu Xiao Yi was practically bouncing on her toes, her eyes shining brighter than the chandeliers that hung above the hall. The success of Jun Mo Xie's auction seemed to thrill her even more than her own victories ever could
Jun Mo Xie leaned lazily against his chair, a faint, knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"What?" He drawled, raising a brow at the round figure beside him. "Your share in the profits is already soaring into the tens of millions. So, Fatty Tang, tell me... what grand plans do you have for your newfound fortune?"
Tang Yuan's plump face froze mid-chew. His eyes narrowed, rolling up as though he were peering into the heavens themselves for inspiration. Then, with the air of a man revealing a profound secret, he let out a sigh that seemed to come from his very soul.
"What will I do with it, huh?" He murmured, his small eyes gleaming faintly. "Ah... why not? I've always had one dream since childhood. But I never had the money to make it real. My family never gave me enough. So I could only keep that dream buried deep in my heart."
There was a rare silence in the room.
Even Dugu Xiao Yi, who loved nothing more than to tease him, tilted her head curiously, waiting.
Tang Yuan's expression grew complicated as though he were standing on the edge of a long-forgotten memory.
Jun Mo Xie arched an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "A dream, you say? Come now, Fatty. Don't leave us hanging. What dream could possibly haunt you so much?"
He spoke casually, but there was genuine curiosity behind the teasing tone. After all, Tang Yuan was a man of legendary appetites, and not the virtuous kind.
Whatever this 'dream' was, Jun Mo Xie had a feeling it would be anything but pure.
Tang Yuan took a deep breath and puffed out his chest as if gathering courage.
"I've been thinking..." He began, voice suddenly solemn. "Now that I have real money, I can finally... fulfill it."
He paused, eyes glimmering like oil lamps.
"...I often visit Spirit Fog Lake," He continued. "You know, that stretch is filled with pleasure houses. Each establishment has its share of beauties who sell their bodies, some who dance, some who sing, some who..."
He trailed off, smacking his lips with a kind of reverent nostalgia, his expression halfway between regret and satisfaction.
Everyone in the room stared at him wordlessly.
Jun Mo Xie pinched the bridge of his nose.
Dugu Xiao Yi blinked twice, then covered her mouth, half in horror, half in barely contained laughter.
Tang Yuan, completely oblivious to their reactions, went on, voice growing increasingly impassioned. "But the problem is... those women are scattered all over! The ones who actually sell their bodies are few. The rest just prance around singing and dancing, throwing those damned flirtatious glances, hinting this and that... but the moment I offer them silver, they act all offended!"
His fat hand slammed the table. "Hypocrites! They tempt a man's heart but turn shy when it's time to earn their keep!"
Jun Mo Xie coughed into his fist, his lips twitching. "So, your dream... is to reform the pleasure industry?"
"I cannot bear women like that!" Tang Yuan burst out, face red with righteous fury. "If you're a prostitute, be a prostitute! Don't pretend to be some 'entertainer' with airs of a saint!"
"If it's not about the money, and they care so much about looking bad in front of the public... then they should just find a man and get married. Wouldn't that make their life more comfortable and secure? It absolutely would! These entertainers are prostitutes as well. I will bury them in silver, and see if they are willing to sell their bodies or not!" Tang Yuan's voice seemed to be brimming with grief and indignation.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 Author's Note 📢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Patreon. There you'll find:
✅ Daily updates – never miss a day of new content
✅ Advanced chapters – read far ahead of public releases
✅ Exclusive perks & extras – only available to patrons
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
👉 Dive into more chapters today: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨