Chapter 179: Ya Fei's Request and the Gathering

Chapter 179: Ya Fei's Request and the Gathering

As Mo Yu's gaze swept over Ya Fei's alluring figure, he quickly followed her through the auction hall, with many eyes on him as he went.

Silently leading the way, Ya Fei swayed her graceful figure as they arrived at a staircase guarded by several sentries. The guards exchanged puzzled glances at Mo Yu, who was following behind her. Typically, only family members were allowed in, but since Ya Fei had recently been elevated to a position of significant authority by the family elders, none of them dared to question her.

Ascending the stairs and rounding a few hallways, they arrived at a room. Pushing open the door, a spacious office was revealed, lined with bookshelves filled with thick books of various kinds.

Ya Fei walked past the bookshelves and reached a desk, where she turned to face Mo Yu with a smile. Gesturing to a nearby chair, she said, "Please, have a seat. Now, tell me, what is it that brings you here?"

"Given that our Mittel Auction House is the largest in the Jia Ma Empire, you might just find what you're looking for here," she added confidently.

Mo Yu nodded. The reason he had come here was precisely because he trusted the Mittel family's influence.

"Ya Fei, could you help me check if there's anything in the auction house that can restore bloodline power?" Mo Yu asked.

"Restore bloodline power?" Ya Fei was momentarily stunned. Frowning, she said, "That's an incredibly rare type of item, usually only useful to those with special physiques… Let me check."

She turned and walked behind one of the bookshelves, searching for a moment before returning with a thick book. After flipping through it for a while, she shook her head with a hint of regret. "I'm sorry, but such items are exceedingly rare. I've checked our auction house's inventory for the past year, and we haven't collected anything like that."

A flash of disappointment crossed Mo Yu's silver eyes, though his face remained calm. He lightly tapped his fingers on the table and sat back in his chair, looking a bit downcast.

Seeing Mo Yu's quiet demeanor, Ya Fei shook her head sympathetically but felt powerless to help.

After a moment, something seemed to occur to Ya Fei, and she spoke up. "Mo Yu, do you really need such a rare treasure?"

"Yes, I do," Mo Yu nodded, his gaze fixed on Ya Fei as he spoke softly, "If the auction house has anything, I'm willing to pay a price that will satisfy you."

"Such treasures are incredibly rare. Even with our Mittel Auction House's extensive reach, we rarely come across such items," Ya Fei said, shaking her head helplessly.

"Is there any other way?" Mo Yu pressed on.

"While we don't have such items, the upcoming Alchemist Conference in Jia Ma Sacred City might be a good opportunity. Our Mittel Auction House is renowned across several nearby empires, and our intelligence network is top-notch. If any alchemist from the empire or neighboring regions possesses such a treasure, I'll let you know as soon as possible. Then, it will be up to you to persuade them to part with it," Ya Fei said with a smile.

Hearing this, Mo Yu's eyes lit up, and he nodded. He had been wondering how to approach the alchemists to see if they had anything that could restore bloodline power. With the Mittel family's help, his task would be much easier.

As for whether he had anything to trade, Mo Yu wasn't worried. He had plenty of treasures. And if push came to shove, though he wasn't one for unnecessary violence, he wasn't above making a deal forcefully if needed.

With that in mind, Mo Yu smiled and said, "Thank you, Ya Fei."

Hearing Mo Yu address her so directly without the usual "sister" attached, Ya Fei's face flushed slightly. She hesitated, her blush deepening as she gathered the courage to speak.

"Mo Yu, I have a favor to ask of you. Would you have the time?" she asked softly.

"Oh? What kind of favor? But since it's you asking, of course, I won't refuse," Mo Yu replied with a gentle smile.

Seeing his smile, Ya Fei blushed even more and murmured shyly, "It's not a difficult task… Tonight, the Nalan family is hosting a gathering, and I was hoping you could accompany me. Would that be alright?"

Mo Yu was taken aback. "Attend a gathering? That's not all there is to it, is it? What do you really need from me, Ya Fei?"

Seeing how perceptive Mo Yu was, Ya Fei decided not to hide anything. She bit her lip and said softly, "This gathering is for the prominent young talents and the older generation leaders of Jia Ma Empire's elite families. One particularly troublesome individual will also be there."

"Who is it?" Mo Yu asked, rubbing his chin.

"Mu Zhan!" Ya Fei said with some frustration.

"Mu Zhan, from the Mu family, one of the three great families. He's quite a handful and, for some reason, has been relentlessly pursuing me. There are so many beautiful noblewomen in the empire, but he only has eyes for me. Part of the reason I went to Wu Tan City for training was to get away from him," Ya Fei explained, looking at Mo Yu with a helpless smile.

Hearing this, Mo Yu chuckled and reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from Ya Fei's forehead. "Ya Fei, your beauty is renowned throughout the capital. If Mu Zhan is interested in you, it shows he has good taste."

Feeling the warmth of his touch and hearing his simple compliment, Ya Fei's heart began to race—something that hadn't happened with the countless compliments she'd received before. For the first time, she realized that the young man before her had truly become a man.

As the moment passed, Mo Yu withdrew his hand and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll go with you tonight. I'll deal with Mu Zhan and make sure he doesn't bother you anymore."

"Be careful. Mu Zhan had already reached the level of a Three-Star Dou Shi (Battle Master) before he left the capital. After two years of training at the empire's border camps, he's likely at the peak of the Dou Shi level now," Ya Fei warned gently, moved by Mo Yu's quick agreement to help.

Mo Yu smiled confidently. "The peak of the Dou Shi level? Don't worry. I didn't even consider the Mo family a threat. A mere Mu Zhan is no problem."

Recalling Mo Yu's terrifying achievements from over a year ago, Ya Fei felt a bit more at ease. She nodded and said, "Alright then. Although the Mu family is one of the three great families, they won't interfere in disputes between younger generations. Just teaching Mu Zhan a lesson will be enough."

Mo Yu nodded noncommittally. He didn't tell Ya Fei that even the Mu family was of no concern to him. Even without relying on Snake Uncle's power, he believed that in a few years, he could reach the level of a Dou Wang (Battle King) himself.

After chatting with Ya Fei for a while longer, the sun began to set. Ya Fei excused herself to change into something more appropriate for the gathering, leaving Mo Yu to wander the study, sipping tea and enjoying the peaceful moments.

However, this peace didn't last long. Soon, Ya Fei returned, now dressed in a form-fitting red qipao. The elegant and exquisite qipao accentuated her already stunning figure, and with the addition of a white fox fur shawl, she exuded a noble and dignified aura. If she had been the epitome of allure before, now she embodied regal elegance.

"Hehe, it seems my noble princess has finally arrived," Mo Yu teased.

Hearing Mo Yu's compliment, Ya Fei smiled and said playfully, "No more jokes. There will be a real princess at the gathering tonight. Don't let her charm you."

"Haha, no princess could compare to your beauty, Ya Fei. I'm sure you'll outshine everyone at the gathering tonight," Mo Yu replied with a laugh.

"Thank you for the compliment, Mo Yu," Ya Fei said with a giggle.

After finishing her preparations, Ya Fei shed her earlier shyness, taking Mo Yu's arm as they left the Mittel Auction House and headed for the Nalan family estate.

Along the way, Ya Fei's beauty naturally attracted countless admiring glances from men. However, when they saw Mo Yu by her side, their expressions turned envious and resentful.

While Mo Yu didn't care about these looks, a mischievous thought crossed his mind, and he wrapped his arm around Ya Fei's slender waist.

Feeling his arm around her waist, Ya Fei let out a soft gasp. Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't resist. Instead, she gradually leaned into his embrace.

Only when they approached the Nalan family's main gate did Mo Yu reluctantly release her, the warmth of her body still lingering in his hand.

Ya Fei's reputation in the capital was well-known. When the Nalan family's guards recognized her, they didn't stop her. Instead, they respectfully bowed as she passed by, paying no attention to Mo Yu, assuming he was just her companion.

The sky was already darkening, but the Nalan family estate was still brightly lit, with people bustling about as if it were a lively marketplace.

Ya Fei led Mo Yu through several small paths until they reached the family's grand hall, which came into view. As they approached, they could hear the sound of lively conversation and music coming from inside.

"Looks like we arrived just in time," Mo Yu said with a light smile as he glanced at the bustling hall.

At that moment, a gentle female voice suddenly called out from the side, "Sister Ya Fei, you're here!"

The ethereal voice came from behind them, and Mo Yu turned to see a beautiful young woman standing by one of the columns.

"It's her…"

The young woman standing by the column was none other than Nalan Yanran, the cherished daughter of the Nalan family. She stood there, her delicate face adorned with a gentle smile. Her wide-sleeved, moon-white robe, worn only by disciples of the Yun Lan Sect, subtly accentuated her graceful figure, which was on par with Ya Fei's, though their temperaments were entirely different.

"Oh? And who is this?" Nalan Yanran asked, her gaze shifting from Ya Fei to the young man beside her.

Mo Yu had changed significantly in the past year, especially with his silver eyes, so while Nalan Yanran found him familiar, she didn't immediately recognize him.

"Hehe, this is Mo Yu, a good friend of mine. Yanran, I brought him along to the gathering. I hope the Nalan family won't mind," Ya Fei said with a playful smile, her arm once again linked with Mo Yu's.

Nalan Yanran didn't pay much attention to Ya Fei's affectionate gesture. But when she heard the name "Mo Yu," her expression changed slightly. Memories of the events in Salt City and the destruction of the Mo family flashed through her mind, aligning the figure in her memory with the young man before her.

"You're Mo Yu? What are you doing here?" Nalan Yanran asked, taking a deep breath. The memory of Mo Yu's overwhelming presence when he had wiped out the Mo family was still fresh in her mind. Could he be planning to do the same to the Nalan family during this gathering?

Though the Nalan family was much stronger than the Mo family, the fearsome reputation of the young man before her made her uneasy.

"Hello, Miss Nalan. I'm just here to accompany Sister Ya Fei to the gathering. There's no need to worry," Mo Yu said with a smile, seeming to understand her concerns.

After a moment's hesitation, Nalan Yanran took a deep breath and decided to believe him. After all, they were in the capital, at the Nalan family estate, under the protection of the Yun Lan Sect. Who would dare cause trouble here?

However, when she noticed how closely Ya Fei was holding onto Mo Yu's arm, a complex expression crossed her face. If her suspicions were correct, this young man had an unclear relationship with her teacher, and now another beautiful woman was clinging to him. The situation made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Hehe, Yanran, there are a lot of people waiting for you inside, but here you are, chatting away," a young man's voice suddenly called out.

The man, dressed in an alchemist's robe, appeared quite young. His tall, handsome figure exuded a refined aura, with a face as sharp as if chiseled by a knife, possessing a soft, captivating smile that could easily charm many women. Though not as striking as Mo Yu, he was still very attractive.

"This is Liu Ling, a Three-Star Alchemist and the disciple of the Alchemist King Gu He, as well as a suitor of Nalan Yanran," Ya Fei whispered to Mo Yu.

Mo Yu glanced at Liu Ling and nodded indifferently. He had no interest in Nalan Yanran, so Liu Ling's pursuit of her didn't concern him. However, the subtle coldness in Liu Ling's gaze as he looked at him was off-putting, and Mo Yu couldn't help but feel a growing dislike for him.

At that moment, a young man dressed in black, with a nondescript appearance but a distinct presence that seemed out of place, suddenly entered the hall.

Noticing the lively scene, the young man in black frowned slightly, clearly displeased. However, as he was about to leave, he caught sight of Mo Yu out of the corner of his eye, causing him to pause. His normally emotionless eyes revealed a hint of surprise and delight.

Mo Yu also noticed the commotion nearby. His gaze shifted, and when he saw the familiar yet unfamiliar face of the young man, he raised an eyebrow, a smile curling his lips as he whispered to himself in a voice too low to be heard by anyone else.

"Cousin Xiao Yan, you're here too…"

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