Although it was only a rough outline that could be seen, it had already caused Lian Hao's heart to tremble violently. At this point, Lian Hao had forgotten about his dispute with Zhou Xian and was fully focused on observing Huo Ling.

The white dress could not hide her perfect curves, and even though her face was covered, it could not conceal her aura. The more Lian Hao looked, the more captivated he became by Huo Ling, almost wishing he could immediately tear off the veil on Huo Ling's face.

"You, come here." After pulling one of his followers over, Lian Hao whispered an instruction to him. As Lian Hao finished speaking, Yue Lan on the auction stage had just finished giving her speech, which was essentially a thank you, something that could be heard at every auction anyway.

"Let's go, the auction has ended, but it's a pity that today's auction was full of ordinary items. That Beast King Howl was really good, but it's a pity it ended up in Lian Hao's hands—truly a case of pearls cast before swine." Seeing that the speech had finished, Gu Yue shook his head while speaking, and the three of them stood up.

"Gu Yue." As the three of them were walking on the crystal-floored corridor outside the auction hall, a crisp female voice called out to Gu Yue. Hearing the voice, Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling both turned their heads and saw the caller was a woman dressed in a goose-yellow long dress, her face covered with a scarf, and her eyes indifferent and cold.

"What are you doing here?" Unlike Zhu Bufan and others, who had a slightly curious expression and demeanor, Gu Yue appeared somewhat annoyed, looking at the woman in the goose-yellow dress with a slightly harsh tone.

"I thought, after our conversation at the inn today, you had understood clearly." Despite Gu Yue's anger, the woman in the goose-yellow dress spoke indifferently.

"I also thought I had made myself clear to you; my matters are none of your concern." Glancing dismissively at the woman in the goose-yellow dress, Gu Yue turned to leave.

"These two." Before Gu Yue could step away, the woman had moved behind him and said to Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling: "Gu Yue was cut off financially by his family more than a month ago, so sticking with him now won't bring you any benefits."

"Gu Zheng!!!" Seeing Gu Zheng, the young lady in goose-yellow dress, utter such words, Gu Yue's anger reached its peak, "What do you mean by insulting people like this? Don't think I wouldn't dare teach you a lesson!!"

"Try it and see." After giving Gu Yue a cold look, Gu Zheng turned her head to look at Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling.

"Brother Gu Yue, you are decent, but it seems your family's manners are far from standard, reeking of the foul smell of money." With such provocation, Zhu Bufan sneered and said, "It's a pity, this is what's called 'all that glitters is not gold.'"

"Hmph!"

'Boom'

A sound exploded, and a burst of Poison Fire erupted between Zhu Bufan and Gu Zheng. After retreating three steps with a 'thud thud thud', Gu Zheng's gaze towards Zhu Bufan became incredulous. Although she hadn't used her full strength in just now's test, Zhu Bufan had effortlessly withstood her attack, and yet, she was the one pushed back?

"Next time you test someone, you'd better weigh your own abilities first." Regarding Gu Zheng's previous attitude, Zhu Bufan now had not a trace of goodwill towards this woman, so when Gu Zheng released Primordial Qi trying to embarrass him, Zhu Bufan did not hesitate to counter her face. With the help of Poison Fire and Cold Spring refining, Zhu Bufan was absolutely steady even against a Body Refining Ninth Layer Heaven Martial Cultivator, let alone Gu Zheng who only had about Eighth Layer Heaven Cultivation.

After losing face not too badly, Gu Zheng, her eyes filled with rage, turned and left. Looking at the receding figure in the goose-yellow dress, Gu Yue couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Hehehe, it seems that your Gu Family really doesn't know how to treat guests." A burst of laughter came, and Gu Yue's already grim expression immediately turned even more livid; he turned his head and sure enough, Lian Hao's figure appeared before the three.

"I say Brother Gu Yue, since you are not intent on treating guests well, let me, Lian Hao, take over. By the way, Miss, do you have a place to stay in Heiyan City? Our Lian Family is most hospitable; why don't you and your friends come to Lian Family's residence to rest?"

"No need, we are not acquainted with you." Faced with Lian Hao's sudden change of attitude, Zhu Bufan frowned, observing Lian Hao's reaction, it seemed that he was indeed targeting Huo Ling. Zhu Bufan couldn't understand why, even with Huo Ling's face covered now, she could still attract such fervent admirers.

At Zhu Bufan's rebuke, Lian Hao glanced at him with a sinister look and then said, "Hehe~~ unfamiliarity doesn't matter, we can get to know each other, right?"

"There's no need for that." Shaking his head, Zhu Bufan turned to leave, and Huo Ling, naturally, turned and followed him without a word. Watching Huo Ling's perfect silhouette, Lian Hao swallowed hard and then deeply said, "If it weren't for Lanyue Pavilion being here, I'd teach you, this bumpkin commoner, a lesson! How dare you contradict me! Go and assist Zhou Xian in preparing what I just ordered. Such a stunning beauty, besides me Lian Hao, who else is worthy to have her!"

After the auction, Zhu Bufan was somewhat speechless. He glanced at Huo Ling strangely and then said, "I didn't expect… even with your face covered, it's of no use."

"You could simply abandon me." Regardless of the time, Huo Ling's tone was always so indifferent — not the forced indifference one fakes like the Gu Zheng, but a true, heartfelt, cold disinterest.

"That's impossible," Zhu Bufan sighed bitterly, feeling completely at a loss with Huo Ling. Having said so indifferently, what else could he possibly say?

"Actually, it's not Ms. Huo Ling's fault." Gu Yue, who had been standing next to them, now spoke up, "I am very familiar with Lian Hao. If it weren't for the environment of Lanyue Pavilion here which he is wary of, he would probably have already made a move to snatch her."

"It's a pity I can't help you right now. From the look of Gu Zheng earlier, I reckon I'll be in trouble soon." Thinking this, Gu Yue hesitated for a while and then took out a copper plate from his bosom, saying, "Take this to the South Gate. There will be a caravan from Gu Family. According to the timing, they should be just about to depart to Baize City. Leave with the caravan, and once you are out of Heiyan City, Lian Hao won't be able to do anything to you."

Taking the copper plate from Gu Yue, Zhu Bufan felt puzzled. By all accounts, he and Huo Ling were mere strangers to Gu Yue, who had no reasons to help them. However, judging from Gu Yue's expression, he seemed determined to assist them, which endlessly confused Zhu Bufan.

Seeing Zhu Bufan accept the copper plate, Gu Yue bowed to them and quickly left. Evidently in a hurry, looking at Gu Yue hurrying off, Zhu Bufan could only sigh inwardly that indeed, everybody has their own issues, then turned to gaze at Huo Ling.

"Let's leave. After all, we are unfamiliar with this place." In response to Zhu Bufan's questioning gaze, Huo Ling was for once not indifferent, understanding that being targeted by a local power in a completely unfamiliar place was definitely not a good thing, unless one had the power to uproot and confront such a power directly, which in turn could possibly provoke the authorities.

So whilst not afraid of the Lian Family, Huo Ling still preferred not to invite trouble. Who likes unnecessary conflicts sprung from unexpected events? If these conflicts can be dodly avoided, then why not just evade them?

Both agreeing, after asking a staff member of Lanyue Pavilion for directions to the South Gate, they quickened their pace employing their movement techniques. Disregarding the surprised looks from onlookers, they sped towards the South Gate. Their speed was incredibly fast, and before long, Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling approached the city gate.

"Wait a minute!" Suddenly, Zhu Bufan sensed something was amiss, and Huo Ling, who also felt something unusual, stopped as well.

"Ha ha~~ Why are you two in such a hurry to leave? Is it because you don't want me, Lian someone, to extend my hospitality? If that's the case, then I'm truly heartbroken," Lian Hao, escorted by guards and slowly approaching from within the gate, said with a smile on his face as he looked at Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling. The area around them slowly filled with men in purple attire, and what they sensed earlier was indeed the Killing Intent being emitted by the hidden men.

"Were you waiting here for us all along?" In an instant, the thought that Gu Yue betrayed them occurred to Zhu Bufan, but he quickly shook his head, dismissing the idea. From every aspect, Gu Yue seemed to bear no ill will, even though there indeed was some concealment, but it was not of malicious nature — Zhu Bufan could see that much.

"Of course, because you were bound to exit this gate," hehe chuckled Lian Hao, clearly very satisfied with his arrangement, thus he didn't show any signs of urgency but leisurely said, "Actually, it's very simple. I just have to tell a few guards from Lanyue Pavilion at the gate to direct you towards this gate whenever you asked for directions. After all, relying on the fame of the Lian Family, it's too simple to make the guards of Lanyue Pavilion tell a few lies."

"Listening to you, it seems you had premeditated to intercept us. We don't recall having any conflicts with you, do we?" After hearing Lian Hao's words, Zhu Bufan finally understood where the problem lay, but this wasn't Zhu Bufan's fault. After all, who would expect the guards of Lanyue Pavilion to act against him? Of course, not checking clearly after leaving Lanyue Pavilion was also Zhu Bufan's mistake.

"So what are you going to do now?" Glancing indifferently at the nearly twenty guards of Lian Family surrounding them, Zhu Bufan's Primordial Qi slowly gathered within him.

"Originally, you were to get lost, and she was to stay. But due to your performance in the auction today, I've decided, you die, she stays," hehe chuckled Lian Hao, his face full of smugness as he spoke, and both Zhu Bufan and Huo Ling clearly saw, as Lian Hao's words fell, the giant city gate was also slowly closing.

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