Chapter 3658: Auction House

Ning Shu asked Mei Ziqing to bring Xiao Huo to the restaurant in the City of Water. Before leaving, she offered a silent prayer that she wouldn’t run into the judge. Then, she said to 2333, “To the City of Water.”

After a brief dizzy spell, Ning Shu found herself standing on the street in front of the restaurant. Mei Ziqing and Xiao Huo were already waiting at the entrance.

She walked over and studied Xiao Huo. “Mhm, he seems a bit sharper than before.”

He no longer looked as dazed as he used to, nor was he constantly in a state of confusion. It seemed that reading more books truly did make a difference.

“Of course. It is all thanks to my excellent education,” Mei Ziqing said.

Ning Shu replied, “Hah…”

The three of them entered the restaurant and found a table. When Shu Bai spotted Ning Shu, she came down from the upper floor with a smile. “Seeing you safe and sound sets my mind at ease. When Si Tian told me you were fine, I found it a bit hard to believe.”

Ning Shu hummed in response. “Thank you for your concern. Please, give me a menu.”

“Very well. I shall give you a fifty percent discount this time as a celebration of your narrow escape,” Shu Bai said generously. She was sensible in her business. She wouldn’t make it entirely free, as that might lead to expectations of free meals in the future. A half-off discount at least covered her costs.

“You order. It’s her treat, so pick the good stuff,” Ning Shu said, handing the menu to Xiao Huo. The boy took it and ordered quite a few dishes.

Shu Bai narrowed her eyes. “To be able to escape the hands of the judge… you are truly remarkable, City Lord.”

“It is nothing remarkable. I simply have a few secret methods.”

To be precise, they were 2333’s methods. 2333 seemed to be becoming increasingly mysterious.

Shu Bai fanned herself with a silk fan, looking exceptionally graceful. She was an elegant, gentle woman who clearly possessed the air of a scholar. “I must congratulate you, City Lord. The next round of taxes will likely hit a new high. Si Tian has already reopened the auction house.”

“Is that so? It is good that it’s open again,” Ning Shu said while sipping her tea. “As long as everything is done according to the rules.”

Shu Bai gave a reserved smile. “Please, enjoy your meal.”

She swayed gracefully as she walked away. Her silhouette alone was that of a peerless beauty—the kind of woman who moved one’s heart without appearing vulgar. She radiated an aura of refined intelligence.

“The owner certainly knows how to carry herself,” Mei Ziqing remarked as she drank her tea.

Ning Shu simply said, “We are nodding acquaintances. There is no great bond between us. In their eyes, I am simply the city lord.”

Their relationship was one where friendship didn’t quite apply; it was based mostly on mutual interest. It was the kind of ‘gentleman’s friendship as light as water.’

There would be no life-and-death trusts or sharing of deep secrets here.

Mei Ziqing poured some tea for Xiao Huo. “That is only natural.”

“Xiao Huo, let me see the items,” Ning Shu said.

Xiao Huo took a sachet from around his neck. Ning Shu opened it and looked inside. The items were exactly as they had been—no change at all. It seemed hatching them would take quite a while. There was even a possibility that after all that effort, they might turn out not to be world origins at all, which would be a total disaster.

Ning Shu tied the sachet shut and handed it back. “I’ll have to trouble you to keep incubating them for me.”

“Oh, okay.” Xiao Huo tucked the sachet back inside his collar, keeping it against his skin.

Ning Shu watched him and then turned to Mei Ziqing. “Have you thought about his future?”

Mei Ziqing shook her head. “I don’t know what to have him do.”

Xiao Huo couldn’t become a task-taker, yet being shut away in a system space all day was a form of torture. Even if he could read books, it wasn’t certain that he truly enjoyed such a life.

“Xiao Huo, what do you think?” Mei Ziqing asked. The boy blinked and said, “I am fine. I can live anywhere, as long as I am with Ziqing.”

Hearing this, Ning Shu wiggled her eyebrows at Mei Ziqing with a mischievous grin. Mei Ziqing rolled her eyes. “Should we go play somewhere else? Or perhaps you could follow Pan Chen to see other worlds?”

Ning Shu shook her head. “Pan Chen is a lawless individual who is untouched by karma. He is strong enough to protect himself if something goes wrong, but Xiao Huo might not be.”

As she spoke, Ning Shu felt like a nagging old woman, so she decided to stop worrying. The food arrived, and she picked up her chopsticks.

“Let’s just wait until Xiao Huo is a bit more mature,” Mei Ziqing said.

She kept placing food on Xiao Huo’s plate, clearly treating him like a child.

Ning Shu bit her chopstick and thought for a moment. “Since the auction house is open, let’s go check it out after we eat.”

As she hadn’t encountered the judge again, Ning Shu felt a bit relieved. It seemed he wouldn’t be stalking her here. She hoped he was buried in work—ideally to the point of exhaustion. Then she wouldn’t be hunted and wouldn’t have to be a fugitive.

“I am a bit afraid of auction houses now. Ever since I bought Xiao Huo, I haven’t stepped foot in one. Impulse buying is a terrifying thing.” Mei Ziqing shook her head repeatedly. She was clearly unwilling to go.

“We are just going in to look, not buy anything,” Ning Shu insisted.

“Drop it. I say that every time, but as soon as I see something, I can’t control myself. You overestimate your own willpower,” Mei Ziqing countered.

“What does it matter? I am rich anyway,” Ning Shu said smugly.

After paying the bill, the three of them headed to the auction house. The entrance fee was five hundred merit points. Ning Shu swiped her card, paying for herself and Xiao Huo, while Mei Ziqing paid for herself.

They took their seat numbers and entered the venue.

“Why do I feel like you treat Xiao Huo better than you treat me?” Mei Ziqing asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ning Shu tilted her head. “If you can help me hatch world origins, I’ll pay for you too.”

Mei Ziqing curled her lip. “If I remember correctly, you are currently a fugitive. Is it really wise to show your face so openly? The people who come to auctions are not ordinary. If someone notifies the judge, you’re dead.”

Ning Shu smiled. “I have already come prepared.”

She pulled out a veiled hat and put it on. The thin veil covered her face. “This way, no one can see me.”

“Now you’re just drawing even more attention to yourself,” Mei Ziqing grumbled.

Ning Shu found her seat and waited for the auction to begin.

She wondered how Si Tian was managing the place. If he did a good job, her tax revenue would be significant.

The auction began with a female auctioneer. She was quite beautiful—certainly better than the dry old man who had run the previous one.

The items were all rare and strange. Ning Shu was hoping to encounter a world carrier again. She still felt a lifelong regret over missing out on that world tree carrier previously.

She hoped for good items today—ideally a world origin at the very least.

The atmosphere in the auction house was lively. Ning Shu noticed Si Tian on the upper floor, closely monitoring the situation.

He was overseeing things personally, likely to prevent any accidents. She wondered if the people from the previous auction house would come to stir up trouble.