bookbashuk Chapter 84 The Goods Are in Hand
Chapter 84 The Goods Are in Hand
Chapter 84 The Goods Are in Hand
"So, Little Star, you still haven't found a hotel to stay at?"
Yali's voice held just the right amount of surprise, then her eyes lit up, and her tone became even more enthusiastic, "In that case, how about coming to stay at Shrek Academy's inner courtyard for a while?"
From the street until now, Ya Li has been talking non-stop, sometimes asking Lu Xingchen which orphanage he grew up in, and sometimes chatting about which pastry shop in Shrek City has the most authentic pastries.
The seemingly casual conversation was actually a subtle way of closing the distance between them, trying to gradually increase their favorability in the child's heart.
When they talked about where to stay, and she learned that Lu Xingchen had only been in Shrek City for a short time and hadn't even booked a hotel yet, her secret anticipation was instantly ignited. She almost immediately extended an invitation, adding, "Our accommodation in the inner courtyard is very spacious; adding you won't be a problem at all."
Ever since she became certain that Lu Xingchen's martial soul was very likely the same type as her own, Ya Li's gaze towards him became increasingly gentle, and the affection in her eyes was almost overflowing.
Possessing the ability to heal both physical and mental injuries simultaneously, and seemingly having the special talent to draw upon the power of faith, is exactly like his younger self.
Moreover, the child is exceptionally delicate and adorable, and the faint fragrance of grass and trees emanating from him is also very pleasant. When I inadvertently approached him in the coffee shop before, I could feel that his small body was fragrant and soft, making it impossible not to feel affection for him.
Although this child always wears a cold little face and seems unapproachable, he is actually tough on the outside but soft on the inside.
If you were truly indifferent, why would you have taken the initiative to treat Mo Yu when you saw him seriously injured in the coffee shop?
As for the ten million federal dollars for treatment, Yali thought it was perfectly normal.
It is only natural for someone to ask for corresponding compensation when they are willing to expend their own soul power to save others.
Especially for a genius like Mo Yu, a serious injury without timely treatment would mean at least a year of lost cultivation time. But to recover completely and continue cultivating without interruption for ten million federal dollars, it's a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.
The more Ya Li thought about it, the more satisfied she became with Lu Xingchen; his gentle light was almost overwhelming.
Behind this almost abnormal affection lies Yali's unspeakable pain over the years.
During the plague that swept across the continent, Yali resolutely burned her own life force to save countless people.
Although she later recovered her strength and broke through to the Title Douluo level with the help of the power of faith, the price of burning her life force was that she was permanently deprived of her fertility.
Even though she was the top healing-type Soul Master on the continent and tried every possible method, she was still unable to heal her body and bear Yun Ming a child.
This has always been Ya Li's most hidden pain. She is a powerful Holy Spirit Douluo, but she is also an ordinary woman who naturally longs to have a child of her own and experience the joy of motherhood.
However, his physical disability made this simple wish an unattainable luxury.
Now, having met Lu Xingchen, a child whose abilities are remarkably similar to her own and who is also exceptionally pleasing to the eye, the maternal love that has been dormant in her heart for decades has surged forth like a flame ignited in an instant.
When Lu Xingchen heard the invitation, his heart did indeed flutter slightly.
But he didn't show any hesitation on his face. Instead, he frowned and asked, "Live at Shrek Academy?"
I don't think I'm a student there, so this must be against the rules, right?
"There's hope!" Ya Li was overjoyed and quickly took two steps forward, her tone confident. "That rule applies to the outer courtyard, but we're going to the inner courtyard this time."
Looking into Lu Xingchen's questioning eyes, she decided to reveal her identity, "Don't let my appearance fool you, I still have some influence at Shrek Academy."
Lu Xingchen's previous sneaky use of the Soul Guidance Phone to check things couldn't have escaped her and Yun Ming's notice. This child probably already knew her identity as the Holy Spirit Douluo; continuing to pretend would only make her seem distant.
Moreover, she never intended to hide her identity from the beginning. Given her status, she had no need to conceal it from a child.
"this----"
Lu Xingchen's face scrunched up even more, her fingers unconsciously fidgeting with her sleeve, looking conflicted, both excited and unsure of what to do. After a moment, she slowly opened her mouth, her voice tinged with embarrassment: "Then I'll trouble you."
"No trouble at all, it's settled then!" Yali smiled gently, the joy in her eyes impossible to hide.
She was not surprised by this result. Shrek Academy's reputation had long been known throughout the continent, and countless Soul Masters had devoted countless efforts to the chance to enter the academy.
Even in Mingdu, which is Shrek Academy's sworn enemy, many people secretly yearn for this place.
For a child like Lu Xingchen, the allure of Shrek Academy is almost irresistible.
"Xiaoya seems to really like this child."
Yun Ming followed a few steps behind the two, his white robes gleaming with a calm luster in the sunlight. He didn't interrupt, but simply watched his wife and child interact quietly, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
As Yali's husband, he was well aware of Yali's pain.
However, he was skilled in brute force but knew nothing about treatment. Faced with his wife's hidden illness, he could only watch helplessly.
Over the years, all Yunming could do was silently stay by Yali's side and gently comfort her when she was occasionally feeling down.
Now that his wife has finally found such a perfect child, her long-dormant maternal love has been released, and he is genuinely happy for her.
However, when Yun Ming occasionally saw Ya Li holding Lu Xingchen's hand or affectionately ruffling his hair, he would feel a little jealous. His wife was usually so gentle with him.
But this slight jealousy was quickly overshadowed by his heartache and relief for his wife.
As for taking Lu Xingchen to live in the inner courtyard, Yun Ming had no objection whatsoever.
With his status and authority as the head of the Sea God Pavilion, this little matter could be resolved with just a word and was hardly a problem.
What does it matter if it makes my wife happy?
Not to mention, Lu Xingchen's talent is indeed quite frightening. If he could be taken under Shrek Academy's wing, the inner academy might have another top-tier healing-type soul master many years later.
After settling down his accommodation, Lu Xingchen took out his Soul Guidance Phone and opened the navigation. Pale blue dots flashed on the screen, guiding him as he walked and stopped on the streets of Shrek City.
Ya Li and Yun Ming didn't ask him what he was looking for; they simply followed beside him.
From a distance, the child walks ahead, stopping and starting, while a couple with an elegant demeanor follow behind. The scene inexplicably exudes a warm atmosphere of a family of three.
Shrek City, as a gathering place for Soul Masters on the continent, is lined with large auction houses, each with its own prized possessions.
Lu Xingchen's destination was an auction house called "Fengtian".
Although this auction house isn't among the top-tier ones, it has a good reputation for trading spiritual herbs and ancient relics. It always manages to offer some rare treasures, making it a favorite destination for many knowledgeable soul masters.
He followed the navigation, going around in circles for a full forty minutes before finally stopping at the end of a relatively quiet street.
Before me stands a magnificent, pointed building. Its dark brown brick walls are carved with intricate patterns, and a gilded signboard hangs above the entrance. The five large characters "Fengtian Auction House" gleam in the sunlight, exuding an understated luxury.
This is his destination.
Lu Xingchen stepped inside. The interior of the auction house was far more impressive than the exterior. The high ceiling was painted with exquisite star maps, and the huge crystal chandelier emitted a soft light, illuminating the entire hall brightly.
As soon as he stepped through the door, a receptionist in a uniform quickly approached him with a professional, gentle smile: "How can I help you?"
"I'd like to buy a hundred-year-old vine, do you have any in stock?" Lu Xingchen's voice was clear and crisp as she stated her purpose directly.
He knew perfectly well that while these large auction houses centered around regularly held auctions, they also conducted offline transactions on a regular basis, making them not much different from ordinary chambers of commerce. Common, century-old medicinal herbs like *Gynostemma pentaphyllum* were most likely readily available.
Upon hearing this, the receptionist showed no disdain for Lu Xingchen's young age, but instead nodded even more respectfully: "Yes, please come this way with me, the three of you."
When receiving guests in Shrek City, one must have a basic sense of observation. The three people in front of him were all extraordinary in appearance and demeanor. Even if they were not from powerful forces, their backgrounds were definitely not low. Naturally, he dared not be negligent.
Lu Xingchen followed the staff, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the display areas on both sides.
As he passed the antique display area, he suddenly stopped, pointed to an item in the glass case, and asked with certainty, "How much is that?"
The receptionist looked in the direction he pointed and saw three old gold coins placed side by side in the glass case.
The gold coin is covered with a thick patina, and the edges are somewhat worn, with faint lines still visible, clearly indicating its long history.
He immediately perked up and introduced, "Sir, you have excellent taste! These three gold coins are ancient currencies that circulated ten thousand years ago—"
The Gold Soul Coin is a collectible item that our auction house has specially selected to showcase, and it possesses considerable collectible value.
"I'm asking how much this costs?" Lu Xingchen interrupted him, impatient with his explanation of its collectible value.
The receptionist's smile remained unchanged, and without any annoyance, she smoothly announced the price: "These three gold coins are sold together. If the guest wants them, they only need to pay 100,000 Federal Credits."
This price is actually ridiculously inflated. If we only consider the intrinsic value of the gold coins, the three coins together would only amount to a little over ten thousand federal dollars at most.
The extra 90,000 was used to sell the gimmick of "ancient artifacts from 10,000 years ago" and their so-called collectible value.
"Then I'll take it." Lu Xingchen waved his hand, his tone as casual as if he were buying a piece of candy from a street vendor, without any intention of haggling.
"Yes!" The receptionist was overjoyed, and her smile became even more genuine.
This deal came too easily; he barely had to say a word, and the sales were in his hands. He quickly walked to the display case, took out a special key, opened the door, and carefully took out the three gold coins.
He moved gently, as if afraid of bumping or damaging this "precious antique." He then put the gold coins into an exquisite rosewood box, and even lined the box with soft velvet before respectfully handing it to Lu Xingchen.
Upon seeing this, Yun Ming and Ya Li, who were following behind, had a slight glint of surprise in their eyes.
The two tacitly released their spiritual power slightly. The spiritual power of the Spirit Realm was like an invisible tentacle, instantly enveloping the small wooden box.
"So it's a broken storage soul tool. This kid's hobby is really unique." Ya Li thought to herself, feeling both amused and exasperated.
Her mental strength was so sharp that she saw through the trick at a glance. Among the three gold soul coins, one of them had a soul guidance array engraved on its inner side. However, it was too old, and the array had long lost its soul power fluctuations, making it a completely useless storage soul guidance device.
Occasionally, some Soul Masters manage to find a bargain with these discarded storage Soul Tools and, after activating them, discover some ancient relics within. However, more often than not, those who buy them simply suffer a loss.
After all, if there were really some precious treasures hidden inside, why would the auction house easily put them up for sale? Who knows if they had investigated beforehand?
Yun Ming couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Lu Xingchen holding the brocade box like it was a precious treasure.
But the two of them remained silent, knowing that since the child wanted to try his luck, they wouldn't spoil his fun.
Consider the 100,000 Federal Dollars a small lesson for the child, to teach him that there's no such thing as a free lunch. If the receptionist had asked for a higher price, they would have had to speak up and warn him.
Lu Xingchen took the small wooden box, his fingertips touching the cool surface, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
He could clearly sense that the seemingly broken gold soul coin contained a faint but exceptionally pure spatial energy, which could be reactivated with a little guidance.
He discreetly tucked the wooden box into his pocket and followed the receptionist to the herbal medicine section.
The herbal medicine section was filled with a rich medicinal aroma, and various packaged herbal medicines were neatly arranged on the shelves.
Lu Xingchen immediately took a liking to one of the top-grade century-old green vines. The vines were emerald green, the veins were clear, and the spiritual energy was so rich that it was almost overflowing.
Without much hesitation, he paid 1.1 million Federal Credits to buy it, thus concluding his trip to the auction house.
"Hmph~ Hmph~"
As he stepped out of the auction house, sunlight streamed onto Lu Xingchen's face. He couldn't help but hum a tuneless little tune, his steps becoming lighter, and he seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.