Chapter Seven: Ten Thousand, Fifteen Thousand, Twenty Thousand

Zhong Kui said, "That's because our country in the world of the living has grown strong—no one dares to provoke us anymore. And this is our territory, after all. There's always some protection. The M Country claims to be the greatest power, but the odds are fifteen to one. The island nation fares even worse: five hundred to one."

The two were deep in conversation when they suddenly heard voices below: "One thousand one. I bid one thousand five. One thousand six. One thousand eight, two thousand four."

Wang Zixuan sensed something was off. Someone was deliberately driving up the price. Was it the seller? Or did someone have another motive? There was no way to guess, but she wanted to test the waters.

She turned to Zhong Kui and asked, "How many universal coins do you have in the account?"

Zhong Kui replied, "About seven thousand."

"Good," Wang Zixuan said softly.

Then, facing outward, she raised her paddle and bid eight thousand. Zhong Kui was stunned. He had just said seven thousand—seven thousand! If the item was won at eight thousand, where would he possibly find the extra money? Yet his anxiety was unnecessary. Before the auctioneer could even count, someone else raised the bid to ten thousand, and then another pushed it up, climbing all the way to fifteen thousand. At last, things began to settle.

"Can universal coins be exchanged here if they're not enough?" Wang Zixuan asked.

Zhong Kui replied, "It's possible, but you'd need to find someone and pay a fee. One fifth is taken."

Wang Zixuan listened but paid him no mind, raising her paddle again and bidding twenty thousand. After she did so, she felt a sudden pulse of heat from the ring on her finger, as if a Morse code of warmth and cold was being transmitted. She glanced around and caught sight of a familiar figure standing in the auction hall on the first floor, bidding twenty thousand one hundred.

She recognized the person, though their purpose remained unclear. Still, this was no longer an item she could fight for. The ring pulsed with alternating heat and cold, but she acted as though nothing was amiss, watching the auction for a while longer before leaving a message and heading out.

"Shall I escort you?" Zhong Kui offered.

"Better not," Wang Zixuan replied. "If you don't, I'm safer."

Without looking back at Zhong Kui's conflicted expression, she went downstairs. As she left, Zhong Kui pursed his lips at her retreating figure. Two little spirits soon followed after her, and he instructed two more to tail her.

A short while later, someone beside Zhong Kui spoke in a chilling voice: "Is it really necessary to be so cautious? It's just a little girl. We've been planning this for so long. She can't possibly ruin it."

"You don't understand a thing," Zhong Kui retorted. "If she truly is that person, if she regains her memories, or even brings him back—it's not just us, even the heavens would be wary."

The voice replied, "I am enlightened, old master. But if it comes to it, why not simply get rid of her? Keeping her around will only lead to trouble."

"Enough," Zhong Kui said. "Do you think I haven't considered it? The events of those years alarmed so many, wiped out an entire family, yet she remained untouched. Now, with the King of the Underworld protecting her, if you dare lay a hand on her, even wishing for oblivion would be too much to hope for."

Just then, a subordinate reported, "Wang Zixuan has disappeared. The two spirits tailing her have also lost contact."

Zhong Kui shook his head. "Fine, I understand. Tell those two to follow if they can, but if not, withdraw. That's all—go."

The man bowed and retreated. Zhong Kui gazed up at the ceiling, lost in thought, uncertain whether his actions were right or wrong. Failure would mean not just disgrace, but ruin.

Meanwhile, after dealing with the two little spirits, Wang Zixuan sped off in her car, putting considerable effort into shaking off her pursuers.