Li You Ran's words dripped like honeyed poison, each syllable weaving a subtle snare. With every polite smile, every calm remark, he was slowly entrenching his position, pulling Hai Chen Feng step by step into a rhetorical ambush.
Hai Chen Feng was usually calm and steady as a mountain. Yet now, a few well-placed words had managed to rattle his composure, fanning the flames of anger in his chest.
This scheme of Li You Ran's was as deep as the sea and as quiet as the abyss. Even Jun Mo Xie, watching from above, couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
"Truly a formidable opponent," Jun Mo Xie thought, fingers lightly tapping the armrest. "Each word of his is like a step in a dance... measured, precise, and deadly."
He could already see the game's direction. If Hai Chen Feng continued bidding blindly in anger, Li You Ran would retreat at the perfect moment, leaving his foe to bear the financial wound.
A brilliant trap, but Jun Mo Xie's lips curved faintly.
'Unfortunately for you, Young Master Li, the man you're playing against isn't alone.'
Hai Chen Feng suddenly threw his head back and laughed. The sound rolled through the hall like a thunderclap, full of wild amusement. In an instant, the rage on his face melted away, replaced by a smile so broad that it nearly split his beard in two.
"Hahaha! The Li Family truly deserves its name as one of Tian Xiang's greatest! Such wealth, such wit... truly admirable!" He clasped his hands toward Li You Ran. His tone was now calm, even light-hearted. "I am but a humble gang leader. How could I dare compete with the Imperial Preceptor's esteemed family? These fifty bottles... I'll let Young Master Li have them. After all, there's still more Heavenly Wine to come, is there not?"
The sudden shift stunned everyone.
The same man who had moments ago looked ready to tear the hall apart was now all smiles, conceding with elegance.
Hai Chen Feng even bowed slightly, his smile sharp and deliberate. "Congratulations, Young Master Li. You've won the first batch. May the wine taste as rich as your reputation."
A few words that were light, courteous, but with blades hidden beneath, had completely turned the tide.
Li You Ran sat motionless for a heartbeat. Behind the silk veil, his eyes flashed like cold stars. Though not a ripple escaped his mask of composure, confusion churned within.
"How did this happen?" He wondered. 'He was in the palm of my hand just a moment ago. His fury was real… even his killing intent was real. Yet he stopped, as if someone had cut the strings at the last instant.'
He had planned for Hai Chen Feng to shout another few bids, perhaps even ten million in anger. But now, the man had withdrawn gracefully, flipping the tables in one stroke.
'Could he have realized my trap? Impossible… Hai Chen Feng's no schemer. Someone must be advising him from the shadows. But how?'
The young master's thoughts spun rapidly. 'To send instructions in the midst of this hall… without a trace of movement… impossible. Unless…'
He fell silent, his brow slightly furrowed beneath the veil.
Still, Li You Ran was no amateur. The flicker of uncertainty lasted only a moment before his calm, gentle smile returned, his every gesture once again composed and flawless. He rose gracefully, cupping his hands toward Hai Chen Feng.
"Haha, Gang Leader Hai, my sincerest thanks for allowing this young master to win the bid," He said with an air of good humor. Then, with a self-deprecating laugh, he added, "It seems I have fallen into my own trap. I sought to tease the tiger and ended up paying dearly for it. I must admit that the Gang Leader Hai's patience and wisdom are truly beyond my reach."
The hall erupted in soft laughter. His tone was sincere, his words smooth as jade. Even those who had seen through the game found themselves nodding in admiration.
Upstairs, Jun Mo Xie exhaled softly, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"Li You Ran…" He mused, "…you really do know how to land on your feet. To admit defeat so gracefully after being cornered, that really takes nerve. You might have lost five million taels, but you gained everyone's respect. You're cunning, refined… and dangerous."
The crowd murmured in appreciation, many exchanging glances.
Everyone knew Li You Ran had tried to manipulate the bid and failed spectacularly. But the way he handled the aftermath with humility, the calm, the measured laughter, it disarmed everyone.
In that moment, even defeat became his weapon.
Behind Princess Ling Meng, two black-clad figures exchanged a knowing glance. Their eyes, sharp as blades, shimmered faintly with appreciation.
Mr. Wen, the older of the two, broke the silence first. His lips curved slightly as he spoke in a low, measured tone, "He adapts quickly, even when the ground shifts beneath his feet. This Li You Ran… truly an outstanding young man. Such poise, such presence... he is a rare talent in this generation. Wouldn't you agree, Your Majesty?"
The man beside him was the Emperor of the Tian Xiang Empire. He inclined his head slightly. His gaze was deep and unreadable, like an ancient well concealing countless secrets. His voice, though calm, carried the authority of a ruler accustomed to weighing men's souls.
"Indeed," The Emperor said softly. "Li You Ran is exceptionally calculating, composed, and dangerously clever. But…"
His eyes gleamed with quiet intensity. "The one behind Hai Chen Feng is even more impressive."
Mr. Wen's brows furrowed. "Behind Hai Chen Feng?"
The Emperor nodded faintly, his expression thoughtful. "Yes. Think about it. Hai Chen Feng was driven into a perfect snare; Li You Ran's words had pressed him into a corner with nowhere to turn. His pride as a Sky Xuan expert was on the verge of collapse. When Li You Ran added only a single copper to the bid, it was an open humiliation. Then, when he followed it up with two coppers, even the calmest man would have exploded. Hai Chen Feng's fury was genuine, and his reaction was instinctive. By all reason, he should've continued his charge, mind clouded by anger…"
Mr. Wen's eyes narrowed as he recalled the scene. The image of Hai Chen Feng standing on the table, veins bulging, came vividly to mind. He had looked ready to crush the furniture or Li You Ran himself.
"Yes," Mr. Wen murmured. "He'd forgotten his bearing as a Sky Xuan master entirely. His rage was real, and that kind of anger can't be faked. But then… in the very next instant, it vanished."
The Emperor smiled faintly, his gaze distant yet razor-sharp. "Exactly. One moment, he was a raging bull; the next, he was calm as a monk. It was as if a raging river had been frozen solid in an instant. Tell me, Mr. Wen, can such restraint come from self-control alone?"
Mr. Wen was silent. His mind turned over the Emperor's words again and again before his expression shifted. "Someone stopped him."
"Precisely." The Emperor's tone was cool and steady. "Someone with formidable insight and impeccable timing. Someone who saw through Li You Ran's scheme and cut the thread at the exact moment before disaster struck. Whoever this person is, he guided Hai Chen Feng to turn the trap back upon its maker, making Li You Ran spend five million silver taels for nothing but his own embarrassment. That kind of intellect… that kind of precision… It's not ordinary."
He leaned back slightly, a thin smile touching his lips. "This unseen hand… that is the true power in this room."
Mr. Wen's gaze flicked briefly toward Hai Chen Feng below, who now sat composed, his expression unreadable. "To give instructions without a trace, not even a flicker of movement… that's not something ordinary men can do. Your Majesty, do you believe this hidden figure might be the true master of this auction?"
The Emperor's eyes sparkled like twin stars beneath his hooded lids.
"It's possible," He said, voice low. "And more than that... I believe this mysterious strategist may also be the one responsible for Hai Chen Feng's sudden rise to power in the Jin Yang Gang."
He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. "If memory serves, the gang's former leader was Jin Feng Lie, correct?"
Mr. Wen's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Your Majesty even remembers the names of underworld leaders now?"
The Emperor chuckled softly. "One must know the weeds in the garden as well as the flowers, Mr. Wen. That's how an empire survives."
His eyes grew colder. "Keep your eyes on Hai Chen Feng. The man behind him will reveal himself soon enough if we're patient."
Mr. Wen's expression hardened. "If patience fails, this old man can always seize Hai Chen Feng and make him talk. Even if he's as hard-headed as an iron wall, I have ways of loosening tongues."
The Emperor gave a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "You underestimate the danger, old friend. Hai Chen Feng is the Blue Master's disciple. And the Blue Master… is not someone we can afford to offend. Even the throne cannot shield us from that storm."
Mr. Wen's eyes flickered in faint surprise. "So the rumors are true…"
"They are," The Emperor said quietly. His gaze drifted down to the plump figure of Tang Yuan, who was busily announcing the next round of bidding. "There are many ways to gather information, Mr. Wen. For now, let us simply watch."
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