Ye Bai was currently hiding in a secluded corner behind a thick curtain, out of view of all surveillance cameras. As a cleaner, he had already scouted the area thoroughly—he knew the exact positions and angles of the cameras. Even if he were to appear on stage during the auction, it would be within the rules.
According to the Longteng Auction House regulations, cleaners must be ready to rush onto the stage to clean up any stone debris after a rough stone is cut, ensuring the next item can be auctioned on time.
While the other cleaners kept their distance from the ongoing chaos, Ye Bai remained hidden behind the curtain, observing the scene.
Within this surveillance blind spot, a ripple appeared around Ye Bai. From within it crawled the Thousand-Change Silkworm, groggy and half-asleep. It rubbed its large belly and licked its lips, as though reminiscing about something delicious.
> "Time to work, Thousand-Change Silkworm. Spit out your transparent threads and carefully drag over the treasures I pointed out."
Ye Bai's operation was incredibly risky—if caught by the auction house, there would be no escape. But the word "treasure" jolted the silkworm wide awake.
> Treasure? No more sleep for me!
To the Thousand-Change Silkworm, treasures were equivalent to a pile of gourmet meals. It wanted to eat like the Boxing Rabbit, who always feasted well.
Looking left and right but finding no visible treasure, the silkworm turned to Ye Bai with a puzzled look, its eyes seeming to say:
> I didn't study well, so don't lie to me. Where's the treasure?
Ye Bai chuckled.
> "Haha, those pieces of stone over there are the treasures. Just follow my directions and spray your silk. I promise I'll treat you to something delicious later."
The Thousand-Change Silkworm stared at Ye Bai suspiciously, as if saying:
> You better not be lying!
But Ye Bai's sincere gaze ultimately convinced it. With a soft hum, the silkworm opened its mouth and sprayed out a thread of crystal-clear silk, which landed not far away.
These silkworm threads were incredibly strong. Ye Bai had tested them before—they could easily drag objects weighing dozens of kilograms.
Under Ye Bai's command, the silkworm began pulling over fragments of the rough stone that were wrapped in gray mist. Thanks to the Four-Armed Mantis, the huge stone had already been sliced into palm-sized pieces, and the chaos between He Guangda and the appraiser meant nobody was paying attention to them. It was the perfect chance to fish in troubled waters.
As the threads dragged the fragments to Ye Bai's feet, he swiftly stored them in his pet space.
> "Excellent work," he praised. "Now, go get the next one."
The silkworm obediently continued to gather the remaining pieces, though it ran into a minor hiccup on the last fragment. It dropped to the floor with a clink, but fortunately, everyone's attention was still on the scuffle. The final piece, also enshrouded in gray mist, was secured without notice.
Before disappearing back into the spatial ripple, the Thousand-Change Silkworm made a dramatic gesture, rubbing its hands and licking its lips—demanding that Ye Bai not forget its "hard work" and reward it with lots of tasty food.
Meanwhile, He Guangda and the appraiser were finally separated after their wild brawl. Both were bruised and disheveled—He Guangda's gold-rimmed glasses were crooked, and his tailored suit was now a crumpled mess. His eyes were bloodshot, and the proud, refined air he once had had completely vanished. Now, he looked more like a desperate gambler who had lost everything.
> "Master He," the host said, savoring He Guangda's misery, "would you like to pack these fragments and take them home? There might still be something inside."
> "Shall I cut them open here for you?" he added casually.
> "Cut them!" He Guangda replied with urgency. "Of course, cut them!"
Hope still flickered in his eyes—perhaps there was still a chance to recover something.
The Four-Armed Mantis resumed cutting the remaining stones. Dust filled the air as He Guangda watched with growing despair.
But it was all futile.
Ye Bai had already taken the only fragments containing any real treasure. The rest were just useless marble. In the end, He Guangda collapsed like a man who had gambled away his life savings. He clutched his head in both hands, a broken shadow of the confident man he had been earlier.
> It's over. Completely over.
His first major decision as the acting head of the family had ended in total disaster. When he returned, he would likely be removed from his post—perhaps even held responsible for repaying the 300 million alliance coin loss. His future looked bleak.
As he was dragged away in defeat, Ye Bai quietly swept the remaining stone debris, blending back into the role of a simple cleaner.
It was already 11 p.m. when he finished. His entire body ached, and his joints cracked as he stretched.
The pay at this job was decent, but the workload was punishing. Most people couldn't handle it—especially with someone like He Guangda obsessively ordering more and more stone cuts.
Still, tonight's debacle had removed a troublesome obstacle from Ye Bai's path. He wondered how much valuable information would be refreshed in his system by tomorrow morning.
---
Meanwhile...
At the former site of the Fangyuan Breeding House, Steward Wang stood under a dim light, swatting mosquitoes.
He already knew what had happened at the Longteng Auction.
> The plan to trap Ye Bai is over.
Now the He family had bigger problems—a massive financial loss that could disrupt their entire capital chain. 300 million alliance coins, gone just like that.
The fallout would rock the He family, and the internal power struggle would only grow more intense.
Steward Wang was already wondering if he should look for a new job.
> Honestly, I haven't smiled once since joining the He family.
An idiot heir who constantly ranted about dragging everyone down with him.
A drama queen always threatening to run away.
And a manipulative man who tried to profit from everything.
> I've had enough.
> Next time, I won't let anyone bully me—unless they offer a mountain of money.