High above the bustling street, in the opulent VIP suite of the Miteer Auction House, the silence was deafening.
Through the thick, one-way glass window, the mysterious Alchemist—Xiao Yan hidden beneath layers of heavy black fabric—watched the final act of the drama unfold. He watched as the red-robed figure of Yoriichi Tsugikuni calmly accepted the heavy pouch of gold, bowed respectfully to the burly Grandmaster Smith, and walked away into the fading afternoon light.
Xiao Yan's hands, hidden deep within his voluminous sleeves, were clenched so tightly that his fingernails dug into his palms, drawing tiny beads of blood.
The frustration burning inside his chest was a suffocating, acidic wave.
"He won," Xiao Yan thought, his jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. "He didn't even draw a weapon. He didn't even raise his voice. He just stood there, and the entire Miteer Auction House bowed to him."
For a brief, reckless moment, Xiao Yan had wanted to throw open the window. He had wanted to channel his Dou Qi, leap down onto the street, and challenge Xiao Ning right then and there. He wanted to wipe that infuriatingly calm, stoic expression off his cousin's face.
But he didn't.
He had seen the sheer panic in Ya Fei's eyes when Tie Shan had threatened to cut off their weapon supply. He had seen the absolute terror of the Head Guard facing a man who didn't care about the rules of the city.
If Xiao Yan had opened his mouth earlier—if he had demanded that Ya Fei honor his petty request to humiliate the boy—he knew exactly what would have happened. Ya Fei's charming smile would have turned into a venomous sneer.
She would have weighed a mysterious Tier 2 Alchemist against a confirmed Tier 3 Grandmaster Blacksmith who controlled half of her inventory... and she would have thrown the Alchemist out the front door without a second thought.
Business was business. In the Dou Qi Continent, face was important, but profit and survival were absolute.
Xiao Yan slowly exhaled, forcing the hot, toxic air from his lungs. He forced himself to unclench his fists.
"I was foolish," Xiao Yan admitted to himself, the bitter realization cooling his anger into a heavy puddle of shame. "I let my jealousy over Xun'er blind me to the reality of the board. Xiao Ning is no longer a pawn I can just kick off the table."
The heavy oak door of the VIP suite clicked open.
Xiao Yan didn't turn around immediately, maintaining the mysterious, imposing aura of his alter ego.
It was Gu Ni. The gray-robed Da Dou Shi and 3-Star Alchemist stepped into the room, gently closing the door behind him. He had just finished escorting Ya Fei and the incredibly volatile Tie Shan to the private negotiation rooms on the third floor.
Gu Ni paused, his sharp eyes taking in the silent, still figure of the black-robed Alchemist standing by the window. He could sense the faint fluctuations of the Alchemist's aura—a sign of inner turmoil that had been tightly suppressed.
Gu Ni coughed slightly, a polite, clearing-of-the-throat sound designed to break the ice without shattering it.
"Mister," Gu Ni began, his tone soothing, melodic, and layered with years of practiced diplomacy. He walked forward slowly, ensuring his hands were visible. "I must deeply apologize on behalf of Manager Ya Fei for her sudden departure. The situation downstairs... escalated beyond our initial projections."
Xiao Yan remained silent, letting the old man speak.
Gu Ni stopped a respectful distance away, clasping his hands behind his back. "I am aware of the... small favor you asked of Miss Ya Fei regarding the young master of the Xiao Clan. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a trivial matter to arrange. A simple lesson in humility."
Gu Ni sighed, looking out the window at the empty street where Tie Shan had stood moments before.
"But you know our situation, Mister," Gu Ni continued, his voice dropping to a level of professional confidentiality. "The Miteer family is powerful, yes. But Wu Tan City is a nexus of trade. We are surrounded by wolves—the Jia Lie Clan, the Ao Ba Clan, mercenary bands. To maintain our absolute dominance, we need partners to secure our positions. Partners who bring us unrivaled profit and strategic advantage."
He turned to the Alchemist, his eyes carrying a weight of shared understanding.
"A Tier 3 Blacksmith is a walking fortress of influence. If we had offended him permanently over a minor slight... the economic damage to this branch would have been catastrophic. I trust an esteemed Alchemist such as yourself can understand the brutal arithmetic of our decision."
It was a graceful out. Gu Ni was giving Xiao Yan the chance to back down without losing face, acknowledging the Alchemist's value while explaining why the Smith took priority.
Beneath the hood, Xiao Yan took a deep breath. He engaged the throat-modulating technique Yao Chen had taught him, ensuring his voice sounded ancient, raspy, and completely devoid of teenage angst.
"There is no need for apologies, Master Gu Ni," Xiao Yan said calmly, turning away from the window. "It was my fault at the beginning. I allowed a fleeting moment of personal distaste to interfere with the sanctity of your business hall. It was an unreasonable request on my part."
Gu Ni's shoulders relaxed visibly. The tension in the room evaporated. "Thank the Heavens," the old man thought. "This Alchemist is rational. We haven't lost him."
"You are too magnanimous, Mister," Gu Ni bowed slightly.
"I am a man of the cauldron," Xiao Yan replied, his raspy voice echoing in the quiet room. "I understand that when the fire is too hot, the pill is ruined. Miss Ya Fei made the correct tactical decision to save the furnace. I will not hold it against her, nor the Auction House."
He stepped toward the door, his black robes sweeping across the thick carpet.
"I will take my leave for now. I will come back later when Miss Ya Fei's mood is better, and the fires of today have cooled. I will be extending a more profitable partnership then. We have much Foundation Elixir business to discuss."
Gu Ni broke into a wide, genuine smile. Crisis averted. Not only had they secured the Tier 3 Blacksmith, but they had also maintained their lucrative Alchemist.
"Sure, sure, Mister!" Gu Ni said eagerly, stepping aside to open the door for him. "Your understanding is deeply appreciated. Please, take care on your way back. Goodbye, and may your flames burn bright."
Xiao Yan gave a single, curt nod and swept out of the room, disappearing into the dimly lit corridors of the Auction House's private exits.