Volume 4, Chapter 230 – I Choose Her

“I’m not joking! No matter how far your home is, she will protect you for as long as it takes. If you don’t return for a day, she’ll guard you for a day. If it takes a year, she’ll stay by your side for a year. And if your home is truly too distant… then she’s yours from now on.”

Liu Yingyue’s words were firm and resolute.

“What do you mean, ‘mine’? Shouldn’t you at least ask for her opinion first?”

Qi Huang swallowed hard as her gaze lingered on Xia Wei’s curvaceous figure, accentuated by her tight-fitting martial attire.

“Don’t worry, Ninth Miss. I guarantee I’ll complete the mission!”

Xia Wei immediately straightened up and accepted the order without hesitation.

“What kind of guarantee is that?! Can’t you see she’s practically selling you off?”

Qi Huang was both exasperated and alarmed. Sure, she appreciated beautiful women, but she valued her life even more!

“Is there a problem? I belong to the Ninth Miss anyway!”

Xia Wei replied matter-of-factly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Fine! But still—”

Qi Huang opened her mouth, then suddenly turned her head to scrutinize the signboard above, wondering if she had walked into the wrong establishment.

“Young Master, what are you looking at?”

Liu Yingyue asked curiously.

“I’m just making sure I didn’t walk into the wrong place. This is an auction house, right? Not some… Golden Fortune Escort Agency?”

Qi Huang still wasn’t entirely convinced.

“It is an auction house… though it might as well be an escort agency soon.”

Liu Yingyue let out a self-deprecating laugh, a trace of melancholy flashing across her stunning face.

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“What the hell?”

Qi Huang tilted her head, her confusion only deepening.

“Xia Wei, you know how dangerous escort missions can be. You must be careful in everything you do.”

Liu Yingyue’s tone was filled with concern.

“Ninth Miss, don’t worry. Even if I die, I’ll die before the Young Master does.”

Xia Wei’s voice was unwavering.

“Who’s dying?! Don’t curse me like that!”

Qi Huang was utterly speechless. All she wanted was to go home—why did it sound like she was about to walk through hell itself?

Still, despite her complaints, she couldn’t help but admire Xia Wei’s unwavering sense of duty.

“Young Master, to be honest with you…”

Liu Yingyue hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Over the past few years, our Yongning branch of the Golden Fortune Auction House has been targeted. Every client who entrusts items to us ends up in danger the moment they step outside. That’s why I insisted on sending Xia Wei to protect you.”

“So that’s it!”

Qi Huang finally understood. After a brief pause, she frowned. “Who’s behind this? And why? Do you have any leads?”

“Harming our clients is nothing more than an attempt to cut off our supply. I suspect it’s the work of a competitor, but without evidence, I can’t point fingers.”

Liu Yingyue was surprisingly candid, holding nothing back.

Qi Huang nodded inwardly. Dirty business tactics like this were hardly rare in any industry.

“Young Master, do you know? If our auction house were still as prosperous as it was a decade ago, those Nine Nether Demon Cats’ tears of yours could’ve fetched at least ten thousand taels more tonight.”

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Liu Yingyue sighed.

“Manager Liu, what do you mean? How does harming clients affect your business? Aren’t auction prices determined by bidders? And if suppliers are the issue, why not just purchase items directly?”

Qi Huang was puzzled.

“You’re oversimplifying things. First, regarding supply, our auction house operates primarily on consignment. Most of our clients are sellers like yourself. If they wanted to sell outright, why wouldn’t they just go to a pawnshop?”

Liu Yingyue paused before continuing, “As for the second point, client safety doesn’t just affect our business—it’s fatal to it. We always advertise our auctions days in advance to build hype. But what’s the use of attracting bidders if the consignor gets attacked? The items become part of an estate, seized by officials or family members, and the auction collapses. Once or twice is manageable, but if it keeps happening, our reputation is ruined. Who would come then? No matter how good your items are, they’re worthless if they can’t be sold. That’s why our nightly attendance keeps dwindling—and why your cat tears couldn’t fetch a higher price.”

“I see.”

Qi Huang nodded deeply. Truly, a single conversation with a wise man is worth ten years of study.

“Wait, that doesn’t make sense. Even you might not always know your clients’ identities, how would your competitors?”

Qi Huang’s suspicion only grew.

“…Who knows?”

Liu Yingyue smiled vaguely, her implication clear.

Qi Huang fell silent. She hadn’t expected the largest auction house in the Western Radiance Dynasty to face such troubles. Worse, she planned to work with them long-term, if this issue wasn’t resolved, her Nine Nether Demon Cats’ tears would never sell for their true worth.

“So, for your safety, please let Xia Wei accompany you. I don’t want those cat tears ending up in the government’s hands like previous items.”

Liu Yingyue pleaded earnestly.

“Young Master, don’t worry. I’m not a cultivator, but I’m a skilled martial artist. I’ll protect you with my life.”

Xia Wei’s determination was unshakable.

Qi Huang looked back and forth between the two women, one elegant and shrewd, the other steadfast and loyal, and found her resolve wavering.

“Ninth Miss!”

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Just as Qi Huang hesitated, an elderly voice interrupted.

She turned to see a tall, gaunt old man stride in. His gloomy expression clashed sharply with his lavish attire, as if he’d been personally wronged by the world.

“Uncle Duan.”

Liu Yingyue greeted him politely.

“I heard a distinguished guest entrusted us with dozens of vials of Nine Nether Demon Cats’ pure tears. This must be the young master in question?”

The old man, Duan Feng, fixed his gaze on Qi Huang.

“…”

Qi Huang was speechless. In such a short time, more and more people seemed to know about her auction.

Liu Yingyue also seemed caught off guard. She glanced around, as if searching for the source of the leak, but quickly gave up. “Yes, Uncle Duan is as well-informed as ever.”

“Lucky for me, or else would you have kept such important news from me?”

Duan Feng’s tone was reproachful.

“You flatter me, Uncle Duan.”

Liu Yingyue’s smile stiffened.

“Young Master, greetings. I am Duan Feng, deputy manager of the Yongning branch of the Golden Fortune Auction House.”

The old man introduced himself.

“Manager Duan.”

Qi Huang responded half-heartedly, inwardly noting how even a deputy manager carried himself with more authority than the actual manager. This auction house really is something else.

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“Young Master, given the recent unrest, I’d like to assign someone to escort you home.”

Duan Feng stated his purpose.

“Another escort offer?”

Qi Huang couldn’t believe it.

“Uncle Duan, there’s no need. I’ve already arranged for Xia Wei to accompany her.”

Liu Yingyue quickly interjected.

“Who? You can’t be serious! This young master is a major client, how could you send some amateur girl who only knows a few basic moves?”

Duan Feng scoffed, casting a disdainful glance at Xia Wei.

“…”

Xia Wei’s expression darkened, but she bit back her words.

“Young Master, let my bodyguard accompany you instead. He could take on ten of those girls. I trust you’ll make the right choice.”

Duan Feng gestured to the towering, muscular guard beside him.

Xia Wei’s shoulders slumped slightly. She knew she couldn’t compete in terms of raw strength.

Yet, despite her resignation, a flicker of hope remained in her eyes as she stared at Qi Huang, like a proud but pleading cat, unwilling to show weakness yet unable to hide her anticipation.

Meanwhile, the burly guard smirked arrogantly, already certain of his victory.

“Indeed, I do have good judgment. So I choose, her!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Qi Huang pointed straight at Xia Wei.