The Price of a Life

As the auction continues, Mu Yue still did not see any item that is to her liking. She asked her father if the Yin items are rare.

"The most common items are those that uses the normal spiritual energy. Those items of Yin or Yang are rarer since they only form in the places with certain conditions. The same can be said to those who possess the Extreme Yin or Yang body constitutions. But if you want to buy them, I'll go ask the Treasure Pavilion. Sometimes, these items are not put in auction because they have low demand."

Mu Yue gave her thanks to her father. Still, even after hearing these, she still decided to stay until the end. They haven't bought expensive stuff yet so they are unlikely to be followed. She was also hoping to chance upon one.

"The tenth item would be a 7th tier sword. The starting price would be 30 000 gold with increments not lower than 500 gold."

Xiao Yan remembered a similar item that was auctioned on Yan city. She looked at Mu Yue and was surprised that the girl did not show an interest to the sword. Although using a strong sword in a lower cultivation level would not display it's full potential, it still make the wielder's attack stronger.

"Mu Yue, why don't you buy that sword? I can even buy it for you."

"No don't. I already have a better one given to me by my master."

"Oh, can I look at it when we are in our room?"

"Sure"

As for why Mu Yue decided that there is no problem on showing it to Xiao Yan. She trust that her lover won't steal the sword since she was already rich. It was also a show of trust. She also have questions she would ask to her after revealing the sword.

Mu Yue was disappointed that she did not find any items she needed. But looking at the items at the auction and their prices made her quite shocked and despair.

A pill that improves the body costs 100 000 gold? There was even that last item that went past 500 000 gold. She now realized that she would need more money to become stronger.

"Mu Yue, although I very much like the look on your face, but I still need to ask you what's the problem." Xiao Yan asked while stretching Mu Yue's cheeks.

After being free from Xiao Yan's clutches, Mu Yue then replied while rubbing her own cheeks.

"I realized that the money I have is quite pitiful if compared to the others."

"You don't have to worry if you are thinking that you won't have enough money for the future. First, I can always help you. Second, you might not need the items that were auctioned because of your uniqueness. Third, when you get stronger, you will also find more ways to make money." Xiao Yan replied.

Mu Yue now have a knowledge to the value of gold. She then questioned her father, "Is my life only worth 30 000 gold?"

Zhi Li was happy that Mu Yue finally remembered that he was with them. Yet he was shocked when he heard her question.

"W-what made you think of that?"

"I thought that when you swindled that general, 30 000 was a lot. But seeing the items here, you could have asked for more compensation…" Mu Yue replied. Of course she was not mad but was just curious.

Xiao Yan heard this and laughed. She then offered, "Mu Yue, can I buy you for 30 000 gold? No… I can also buy you for 100 000, even 1 000 000 gold."

"The offer is tempting…" Mu Yue said while showing a thinking expression.

"*Cough* Your life is priceless, Mu Yue. Also, do you want me to explain why I can only ask for that amount?" Zhi Li asked.

"Please explain it to me, father."

"First, even if that boy attempted to harm or even kill you, you successfully escaped well. This lowered the price for compensation.Then, I looked at the general's face and guessed that he did not care what would happen to his son. If I ask for more, he would become angry and will remember us. He can also just offer the life of his son or fight us since he has the numbers. The only thing that he wants to achieve is to appease us and avoid tainting their reputation."

It was the first time that Mu Yue heard that a father can offer his child's life. Although she was from the orphanage and knew that the orphans were abandoned, their parents were dead or just poor to raise them.

"Why would they offer their child's life? They are family, aren't they?"

Zhi Li thought for a while and decided to tell her. Anyway, this was just one of the dark sides of those with power.

"If they could offer a life for power, money, or even reputation, a son does not amount to much. They could always have another one…"