The glamorous auctioneer stepped onto the stage, her voice echoing throughout the grand arena.
Auctioneer: “Ladies and gentlemen, what you see before you is a mythical ginseng root estimated to be over five thousand years old, preserved in absolute stasis. The opening bid for this miraculous specimen is one billion yuan, with each subsequent bid increasing by no less than one hundred million yuan.”
Before she could even finish speaking, an elite tycoon in the front row raised his bidding paddle.
“Two billion yuan!”
A trace of urgency appeared on Han Ji Shen’s face.
Swallowing his pride, he turned toward Mu Chen.
Han Ji Shen: “Young Master Mu… I need that herb at all costs. Please obtain it for me.”
Mu Chen stared at him in disbelief.
Mu Chen: “Are you out of your mind, old man? What are you planning to do with a dusty old root?”
Han Ji Shen’s expression remained solemn.
Han Ji Shen: “Your understanding of this world prevents you from comprehending its true value. That herb is far more important than you can imagine.”
Mu Chen pointed helplessly toward the stage.
Mu Chen: “They’re bidding in the billions! Buying that thing would wipe out my entire personal savings.”
Han Ji Shen looked him straight in the eyes.
Han Ji Shen: “Do this for me, and I shall grant you a Sovereign’s Promise.”
Mu Chen blinked.
Mu Chen: “Wonderful. And what exactly am I supposed to do with a promise from a broke old man who doesn’t even remember where he came from?”
Han Ji Shen answered calmly.
Han Ji Shen: “The value of my promise will become clear the day I return to my peak.”
Mu Chen slapped his forehead in frustration.
Mu Chen: “Unbelievable… this crazy old man is actually going to bankrupt me tonight.”
Down on the stage, the auctioneer raised her hammer.
Auctioneer: “Three billion yuan… going once.”
She paused briefly.
Auctioneer: “Three billion yuan… going twice.”
Without another moment of hesitation, Mu Chen grabbed the VIP bidding console and pressed the button.
Mu Chen: “Four billion yuan.”
The entire auction hall fell silent.
Every guest turned toward the Mu Family’s VIP suite.
Even the auctioneer froze for a brief moment before regaining her composure.
Auctioneer: “We have a bid of four billion yuan from VIP Suite One, representing the Mu Family. Are there any higher bids?”
Silence.
Not a single billionaire dared to raise another paddle.
Challenging the Mu Family over an unfamiliar medicinal herb simply wasn’t worth the risk.
The auctioneer smiled before bringing down the gavel.
Bang!
Auctioneer: “Sold! Congratulations to the distinguished guests of VIP Suite One.”
At that exact moment, the suite door opened, and Lan Hai quietly walked back inside.
Mu Chen immediately looked toward him.
Mu Chen: “Oh, look who finally decided to show up! While you were camping in the bathroom, this crazy old man wiped out nearly thirty percent of my personal savings!”
Lan Hai blinked in confusion.
Mu Chen let out a long sigh.
Mu Chen: “This psycho practically begged me to buy that ancient ginseng root. I had no choice but to spend four billion yuan on it.”
Lan Hai looked at Han Ji Shen before turning back to Mu Chen.
Lan Hai: “Come on, look at the bright side. You’re the prestigious Young Master of the multi-billion-yuan Mu Family.”
Mu Chen rolled his eyes.
Mu Chen: “Yeah, I’m the heir to the Mu Family, but I’m definitely not this old man’s biological father.”
Lan Hai laughed softly.
Lan Hai: “Alright, alright. Stop complaining. I’ll cook your favorite glazed pork belly tonight to make up for it.”
Mu Chen folded his arms with a satisfied grin.
Mu Chen: “Fine. Deal. That’s the only reason I’m letting this go.”
A few minutes later, an armed security team entered the VIP suite carrying a sealed containment case.
After completing the biometric verification, they respectfully handed it over to Mu Chen before leaving.
Mu Chen casually tossed the case toward Han Ji Shen.
Mu Chen: “Here you go, old man. There’s your multi-billion-yuan weed. But remember this—the day I ask you to fulfill that promise of yours, you’d better not make excuses.”
Han Ji Shen caught the case with both hands.
Han Ji Shen: “Naturally. My word is absolute.”
His fingers tightened around the case as excitement surged through his heart.
“Once I absorb the primordial essence contained within this Spiritual Ginseng, my cultivation will immediately recover by fifty percent. Combined with the power I’ve already restored, my total strength will reach sixty percent. At that point, I can open a stable space portal and return to my world.”
As the auction concluded, the guests gradually began leaving the Grand Capital Auction House.
Xia Qinue walked beside Hua Tian, while Lan Hai and Mu Chen followed a short distance behind.
Han Ji Shen quietly brought up the rear.
After walking for a while, Xia Qinue glanced over her shoulder.
Xia Qinue: “By the way, where’s the elderly gentleman who’s been staying with you?”
Lan Hai smiled faintly.
Lan Hai: “He’s right behind us.”
Mu Chen chuckled.
Mu Chen: “Yeah. That old fossil’s practically walking on clouds after I bought him his favorite toy.”
A curious expression appeared on Xia Qinue’s face.
Xia Qinue: “Come to think of it… we’ve never even asked Senior for his name.”
Han Ji Shen calmly stepped forward into the moonlight.
Han Ji Shen: “My name… is Han Ji Shen.”
Mu Chen smirked.
Mu Chen: “Listen to him. The way he introduces himself, you’d think he was some legendary immortal from ancient times.”
Ignoring Mu Chen’s teasing, Lan Hai drew a deep breath and slowly walked toward Xia Qinue.
His expression gradually became serious.
Lan Hai: “Qinue… I need to talk to you. Alone.”
Xia Qinue looked into his eyes and gave a small nod.
Xia Qinue: “Alright… what is it?”
Lan Hai: “Qinue… is there any way you can call off this engagement?”
Xia Qinue gasped softly, her beautiful face filling with disbelief.
Xia Qinue: “Lan… what are you saying? You know that’s impossible.”
Lan Hai clenched his fists.
Lan Hai: “Qinue… please. I need you in my life.”
Pain flashed across Xia Qinue’s face.
Xia Qinue: “Lan, it’s too late. I’ve finally forced myself to move on. How much longer did you expect me to wait for you? How much longer was I supposed to wait for you to accept my feelings?”
Before she could say another word, every restraint holding Lan Hai back shattered.
In one swift motion, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her into his embrace, and kissed her, pouring years of hidden love, pain, and regret into that single moment.
Xia Qinue’s entire body froze.
Her mind went completely blank.
Yet, deep within her heart, an overwhelming wave of happiness erupted.
This was the moment she had dreamed of for years.
At last…
Lan Hai had chosen to fight for her.
Witnessing everything unfold before his eyes, Hua Tian’s face twisted with uncontrollable rage.
He charged forward like a madman and drove a heavy punch straight into Lan Hai’s face.
Hua Tian: “You filthy piece of trash! How dare you touch my fiancée?! Are you tired of living?!”
Lan Hai staggered backward from the impact.
Before Hua Tian could throw another punch—
Slap!
A thunderous slap echoed across the plaza.
The force sent Hua Tian stumbling several steps before crashing onto the ground.
Mu Chen slowly lowered his hand, his eyes burning with fury.
Mu Chen: “How dare you lay a hand on my brother?!”
Blood trickled from the corner of Hua Tian’s mouth as he struggled to his feet.
He pointed furiously at Lan Hai and Xia Qinue.
Hua Tian: “Your brother just kissed my fiancée right in front of me! Are you blind?!”
Mu Chen looked at him as though he had heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.
Mu Chen: “Relax. He kissed her—he didn’t get her pregnant. Stop barking like a rabid dog.”
Hua Tian’s face turned crimson with rage.
Hua Tian: “What the hell did you just say?!”
Mu Chen took a step forward, his carefree expression disappearing completely.
Mu Chen: “Listen carefully, Hua Tian. Lan Hai is my brother. If you, your family, or anyone else in this city dares to touch him again…”
He pointed directly at Hua Tian.
Mu Chen: “…I’ll personally send you straight to hell.”
Trembling with humiliation and fury, Hua Tian violently grabbed Xia Qinue’s wrist and dragged her toward his luxury maglev vehicle.
Even as she was pulled farther and farther away, tears streamed down Xia Qinue’s face.
Her eyes never left Lan Hai.
Not for a single second.
She continued looking at him until the vehicle finally disappeared into the night sky.