Chapter 16: Auction House
Morning came quickly, but Bai Qingyue was still sound asleep, her delicate breathing steady and calm. The door then creaked open slightly, and Lin Yuan stepped inside.
In his hands, he carried a wooden tray holding a small teapot and a plate of sweets. Having received the recipe for the Upper Dew Pastry the previous day, Lin Yuan had risen before dawn to meticulously prepare it. The pastries were shaped like delicate lotus petals, shimmering with a faint glaze that released an incredibly sweet, floral aroma into the room.
The scent was intoxicating, possessing a faint trace of spiritual essence that instantly energized the mind.
As Lin Yuan approached the bed, Bai Qingyue’s eyelashes fluttered. The irresistible aroma coaxed her from her sleep. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep, only to find her husband sitting on the edge of the mattress, a warm smile on his face.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Lin Yuan teased gently, setting the tray on the bedside table. "I brought you something sweet."
Bai Qingyue pushed herself up against the headboard, her hair falling in a beautifully disheveled cascade over her shoulders. She looked at the pastries, her mouth watering instinctively. "You cooked again? Lin Yuan, you spoil me too much. I am beginning to feel like a lazy empress."
"If you are an empress, then I am merely your humble chef," Lin Yuan chuckled. He picked up one of the pastries with a pair of chopsticks. "Open."
A brilliant pink flush dusted her cheeks, but she didn’t resist. She parted her soft lips, allowing him to place the pastry into her mouth. The moment she bit down, the Pastry seemed to melt instantly on her tongue. A burst of refreshing sweetness, like drinking the purest spring water mixed with honey, flooded her senses.
"Mmm..." She let out a soft, involuntary hum of pure bliss, her eyes closing as she savored the taste.
Lin Yuan patiently fed her the rest of the pastries, following it up with small sips of tea. He wiped a tiny crumb from the corner of her mouth with his thumb, his gaze filled with an ocean of affection.
Just as she swallowed the last sip of tea....
[Ding!]
[Host has invested: Time spent preparing breakfast and feeding Dao Companion.] [Triggering critical multiplier... calculating...]
[Congratulations to the Host! You have triggered an Attribute Return!]
[Reward: +2000 Points added to Comprehension Ability!]
Lin Yuan’s breath hitched slightly.
Boom!
A massive tidal wave crashed into his Sea of Consciousness. If the previous five hundred points had wiped a layer of grime from a window, this additional two thousand points completely shattered the glass, removing the wall between him and the profound mysteries of the world entirely.
He then suppressed the immense surge of mental energy, keeping his expression perfectly composed.
Bai Qingyue looked up at him,
"Lin Yuan," she murmured, her voice soft. She then reached out, her fingers lightly resting on his forearm. "I know you promised to heal my meridians, and I long for the day I can stand by your side... but I must confess a selfish thought."
"What is it?" he asked, leaning in closer.
"Even when I regain my full strength," she whispered, her gaze dropping to his lips before meeting his eyes again, "promise me you will never stop feeding me like this. I do not think I could ever give this up."
Lin Yuan’s heart melted. The former genius of the Bai Clan was effectively demanding to be pampered for the rest of her life. A slow romantic smile spread across his face.
"I promise," Lin Yuan said. "Even when you are an immortal soaring above the Nine Provinces, you will still be my wife. I will feed you every morning, for as long as the heavens exist."
A breathtaking smile bloomed on her face.
The tender atmosphere lingered in the room for a long moment before Lin Yuan gently patted her hand. "Now, as much as I would love to stay in this room all day, we have an important destination this morning. We are going out."
Bai Qingyue blinked, surprised. "Out? To where?"
"To the inner city," Lin Yuan declared smoothly. "The Premier Merchant Guild is hosting their grand seasonal auction today. I intend to buy you a zither."
The color instantly drained from Bai Qingyue’s face. Her grip on his forearm tightened, turning somewhat frantic.
"No... Lin Yuan, we cannot go there," she objected immediately. "The seasonal auction is the grandest event in Azure Cloud City! The Bai Clan elders, the direct disciples, the other families—everyone will be there in full force!"
She looked down at her paralyzed legs, a bitter shame twisting her features. "If they see me... the crippled trash of the Bai Clan, rolling into their grand auction... they will mock you. They will humiliate us. I do not wish for you to be dragged into their petty venom because of me. Please, I do not need a zither."
Lin Yuan did not sigh, nor did he look at her with pity, because he understood her fears perfectly, but he was entirely prepared.
"Qingyue, look at me," Lin Yuan said firmly, placing his hand over hers.
"They will not mock you, because they will not know it is you," Lin Yuan explained. "With my comprehension into the Dao of Rain, I can weave a veil of spiritual mist around your face and body that acts as a perfect illusion. It will alter your features, your aura, and your presence. To pierce it, one would need a cultivation base that far suppresses mine."
He smiled confidently. "And unless the Bai Clan has secretly birthed a Nascent Soul almighty overnight, their core formation elders will see nothing but a distinguished guest."
Bai Qingyue’s eyes widened. Using the Dao of Rain to manipulate light and weave an unbreakable illusion? Such a profound, delicate application of qi was unheard of! But knowing her husband’s unfathomable means, she slowly nodded.
"Okay... I trust your illusion," she said hesitantly. "But what about you? The Bai Clan members know exactly who you are. You are their son-in-law. If you suddenly show up at the auction, they will instantly target you. I don’t want a scene unfolding and putting you in danger."
Lin Yuan chuckled, finding her protective worry incredibly endearing.
"Do not worry about me, Wife," Lin Yuan said. He waved his hand over his own face, and to Bai Qingyue’s astonishment, Lin Yuan’s facial features shifted. His aura also completely changed.
"The illusion applies to us both," the Lin Yuan spoke, his voice remaining the same but perfectly masking his identity to anyone else. He then waved his hand over her, casting the same profound veil over her features, transforming her into a veiled, ethereal fairy of unknown origins.
Bai Qingyue looked at her own hands, seeing the illusory body that had replaced hers. It was flawless.
"But..." she hesitated, looking down at the wheels of her chair. "Even with an illusion, pushing a wooden wheelchair through the muddy streets and into the merchant guild... it will draw unwanted attention. A master of your caliber pushing a wooden chair is too conspicuous."
Lin Yuan smiled. "Who said anything about pushing a wheelchair?"
He stood up and took a step back. With a flick of his wrist, a brilliant azure light flashed in the room. The Rain Blade materialized in the air.
Instead of grabbing the hilt, Lin Yuan formed a sword seal with his fingers.
Hummmmm.
The Rain Blade vibrated wildly, emitting a chilling, majestic aura as it expanded slightly and hovered horizontally a few inches above the floorboards.
Then, Lin Yuan stepped onto the flat of the hovering blade. The sword easily bore his weight, thrumming with power.
Bai Qingyue gasped. "Sword flight! But I cannot—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Yuan raised his hand. An incredibly stream of qi flowed from his palm, entirely enveloping Bai Qingyue’s body.
She felt herself become as light as a feather. The spiritual energy effortlessly lifted her from the bed, floating her through the air until she was hovering gently right beside Lin Yuan, suspended completely by his power.
"Hold onto my arm," Lin Yuan instructed softly.
Still in a state of utter shock, Bai Qingyue reached out and wrapped her arms securely around his waist, burying her face into his chest.
"Hold on tight," Lin Yuan smiled.
With a single command, the Rain Blade tore out of the bedroom window. Like a streak of azure lightning cutting through the morning sky, Lin Yuan and his wife shot upwards, leaving the outer city behind as they flew gracefully toward the auction house.