After Cultivating With the Enemy - CH 11.2

Note: When respectful ‘you‘ is used, it’ll be underlined.

A long street ran from the start to the end of the city. Rows of shops and vendors were on either side of the street, it was all very lively. Ji Chaoyun hadn’t seen such a lively scene for a long time, and he was left momentarily dazzled.

But Feng Qi did not look around, he pulled Ji Chaoyun quickly as he walked in front. He walked very familiarly to where a tall building stood.

Ji Chaoyun raised his eyes. The plaque overhead had three big characters written on it: Luo Huan Building.

This name, no matter how one looked, was not proper.

Not only that, from their perspective as they looked up and within, the second floor had layers and layers of veils shielding it from view. Looking closely, a number of delicate and graceful silhouettes were faintly visible.

Ji Chaoyun’s cheeks burned as he withdrew his gaze.

This, this, this was clearly a place for a tryst!1

Feng Qi was just about to lift his foot to step forward when he was pulled by Ji Chaoyun. “We… Are we really going in?”

“Aren’t you looking for your stuff?”

“But…” It was rare for Ji Chaoyun’s expression to be so uneasy. He glanced uncomfortably at his surroundings and whispered, “Can you really find it here?”

Feng Qi: “Of course. Otherwise, what would I have brought you here for?”

Ji Chaoyun wanted to ask more questions, but Feng Qi was reluctant to explain further. He simply grabbed Ji Chaoyun by the shoulders, half-pushing and half-pulling him into the building.

As the two stepped in, a beautiful woman immediately welcomed them.

When the woman saw him, she was startled. “Feng—”

“Shh.” Feng Qi raised a finger to his lips to stop her words, softly saying, “Bringing a friend here to have fun. Help us find a secluded place, don’t say anything else.”

The woman’s eyes glanced between the two of them, nodded and turned to lead them upstairs.

Luo Huan Building had a total of three floors. The ground floor was a lobby with some scattered square tables, and at the center was a theater; the stage was paved with red silk, but at the moment it was empty. The first floor was much clearer, layers of curtains separating the seats from each other, the shadows further aiding to hide them from sight.

However, the third floor held several private rooms.

The woman pushed open a door. Inside the private room, the window was wide open with just the best view of the place; the whole interior of the Luo Huan building was in full view.

Ji Chaoyun frowned at the sweet and clogging fragrance and heard the woman say, “What does Second Master Feng think of this place?”

Feng Qi: “Good, here is good.”

The woman nodded and agreed. She guided them to sit beside the window, poured tea for them, and then whispered, “Second Master Feng, who would you like to accompany you today? Would you like me to find a few young beauties 2 to dance for you?”

“Cough cough…” Ji Chaoyun wanted to drink some tea but almost choked to death instead.

Not to consider the fact that he went to visit a brothel, but he also wanted someone to accompany him all the while?!

Ji Chaoyun stared at Feng Qi in horror. The latter’s expression remained unchanged. He took a sip of tea and said quietly, “Bi Luo, is this deliberate?”

After saying so, he suddenly leaned in and took Ji Chaoyun into his arms.

At the top of the cliff last night, Feng Qi had already embraced him once, but he’d been unconscious and couldn’t care about it at all. Now, this was their first hug in the truest sense since he had met this person.

Ji Chaoyun stiffened all over, staring at the other’s close familiar figure. He couldn’t produce half of his strength to push Feng Qi away.

Feng Qi smiled at him, leaned closer to his ear and warmly coaxed, “Hey, don’t be angry, I’ve never asked for any female dancers here. She’s deliberately angering you.”

Ji Chaoyun didn’t understand what he was talking about, but heard the woman called Bi Luo hide her mouth as she chuckled. “Second Master Feng, you may not know how many enchanting beauties here are looking forward, day and night, for you to call for them. If I don’t get a confirmation from this master, I’ll be torn apart by those people when I get back.”

With one hand, Feng Qi held Ji Chaoyun, and with his other he took out a few spiritual stones from his sleeve and threw them to her. “This is good enough for an explanation ba. Go.”

Bi Luo’s eyebrows lifted as she beamed. “Understood.”

The woman closed the door and left. Ji Chaoyun suddenly broke free from Feng Qi’s embrace, his cheeks slightly hot. “What, what is going on?”

“Don’t look at me with that kind of gaze, I really don’t visit brothels.” As soon as this remark came out, Ji Chaoyun’s distrustful gaze was immediately shown.

His Second Highness Feng, who had always been fearless and unafraid of both heavens and earth, felt a little guilty when he was being stared at by Ji Chaoyun. He touched his nose and explained, “I have a little friendship with the boss here. Been here several times, so I recognize a few people.”

Ji Chaoyun suspiciously asked, “It is that simple?”

“Hmm, it’s not that simple. Look there.”

Ji Chaoyun followed Feng Qi’s gaze. At some point in the middle of the stage, a showcase had been pushed up to it. Several wooden boxes of different sizes were thus displayed.

The light in the lobby suddenly dimmed, and more than a hundred red candles around the stage lit up at the same time, illuminating that square inch of area.

Ji Chaoyun suddenly understood. “Bidding?”

“Not bad,” Feng Qi said. “Luo Huan Building is not only the land of wind and moon, but also the largest auction venue in the entire sea market.”

While the two were talking, several graceful enchanting beauties stepped onto the stage, and after a short opening remark, the first lot of the show was presented.

Haishi’s bidding method was different from that of ordinary folk. Everyone had a silver hand card in front of them, in which spiritual power would be injected when bidding. The enchanting beauties on stage would then automatically quote the hand card number and bidding price.

The auction started. Ji Chaoyun looked down, and there was a similar silver hand card on the table in front of them.

Ji Chaoyun questioned, “How do you know that item is here?”

Feng Qi propped his chin, looked downstairs with bored eyes, and said leisurely, “What’s so difficult about this. You underestimate me.”

“Although the Nameless Sea is a place outside the law, there are many people with eyes. Xu Zixing came here with such bold arrogance; walking through the road, there were so many people who saw him. Is it thus that difficult to know his whereabouts?”

Ji Chaoyun nodded his head, feeling vaguely unsettled, but he said nothing.

The auction went on very quickly, and within an hour, only the last lot was left on the stage. The hostess of the auction slowly opened the wooden box in her hand. A bright gold phoenix-patterned purse was lying quietly inside it.

Ji Chaoyun’s breathing halted.

“This is the last lot for today. The starting price is two thousand high-grade spiritual stones…”

Everyone was in an uproar.

Spiritual stones were a thing circulated among the three realms, divided into high-grade, middle-grade, and low-grade. Previously, Luo Huan Building had auctioned no less than ten magical artifacts and treasures, and the most expensive one was no more than 500 high-grade spiritual stones. But the starting price of this item had already reached two thousand.

Feng Qi’s expression also changed.

Luo Huan Building’s lots were mostly rare items. They had someone to professionally appraise it. It seemed that it was no ordinary treasure to be able to set such a high starting price.

He thoughtfully turned his head to look at Ji Chaoyun, his gaze holding a certain complex meaning.

He’d asked Qi Xuan before and was told that the stolen item was a purse embroidered with a phoenix pattern. Traces of the phoenix was not exclusive to the Feng clan. Hence, though Feng Qi thought it was a coincidence at the time, he did not dare to hypothesize. Now, however, with such a high starting price and with Tianshu once saying that Ji Chaoyun had a relationship with the Feng clan, this thing probably had an inseparable link with his clan.

What exactly was being hidden inside that purse?

Downstairs, someone started to bid. Most of the people who could come here were rich and wealthy. The starting price was slowly rising. During the time Feng Qi was in a trance, it had risen by 500 spiritual stones already.

“Feng… Feng Qi?” Ji Chaoyun hurriedly pulled Feng Qi’s hem.

Of course, he knew of the phoenix’s golden tail feather’s value. This item was a priceless treasure, so when he understood that it would appear in the auction, his heart became unsettled. Although Feng Qi agreed to help him, could he really come up with so many spiritual stones?

Feng Qi recovered, and quietly apologised, injecting a strand of spiritual power into his numbered one auction card.

The enchanting beauty who was in charge of the bidding was the previously met Bi Luo. She cast a surprised glance in their direction, and read, “Number 1, three thousand high-grade spiritual stones.”

The price increased by over five hundred spiritual stones.

As soon as the price was released, there was a lot of discussion in the audience. To bid this way, it proved furthermore that this item had to be obtained. What’s more, the person who could get the numbered one auction card in Luo Huan Building was definitely not one who would want to waste time.

Everyone glanced at each other. The bidders who originally started it off all retracted their hands.

However—

“Number 22, three thousand and two high-grade spiritual stones.”

Feng Qi raised his eyebrows, and lightly tapped his fingertips on his card.

“Number 1, three thousand and five high-grade spiritual stones.”

“Number 22, three thousand and six high-grade spiritual stones.”

“Number 1, four thousand high-grade spiritual stones.”

“Number 22, four thousand and two high-grade spiritual stones.”

Feng Qi silently cursed.

Ji Chaoyun sat quietly at the table and listened, feeling even more nervous.

Hongmeng Academy gave Heaven-level disciples a monthly salary of only two high-grade spiritual stones and seven medium-grade spiritual stones. He didn’t know for how many years he would have to save to pay back these four thousand-odd spiritual stones.

But he had to take this item back.

Feng Qi observed Ji Chaoyun’s expression, deliberately making a hesitant look. “Ji Chaoyun, the price is a bit high now ah?”

Ji Chaoyun let out a “En” and whispered, “You… don’t have enough?”

“It’s not that there’s not enough…” Feng Qi said. “It’s just that I’m spending so many spiritual stones for you. Will you be able to pay me back?”

“I can.” Ji Chaoyun grabbed Feng Qi’s sleeve and anxiously uttered, “I, I still can’t take out so much, but I will find a way to pay you back. No matter how many years it takes, or whatever other repayment method you want, I can accept it all.”

Feng Qi’s heart thumped. He asked, “Even if you sell yourself to me?”

Ji Chaoyun was startled. At that moment, he couldn’t tell whether the other was serious or joking.

Luo Huan Building’s interior was totally silent. As no one raised the price, the final bid had been repeated for the second time on stage. Just before the third repetition was about to be announced, Ji Chaoyun blurted out, “I promise!”

Feng Qi smiled, raised his hand and pressed it heavily on his auction card.

Five thousand high-grade spiritual stones.

The author has something to say:

If spiritual stones are converted into RMB, the top grade ≈ ten thousand, the medium grade ≈ one thousand, and the low grade ≈ one hundred.

Phoenix: ? ? ? So I spent 50 million to buy my own feather? ? ?

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Let me tell you a sad news that my archives have finally been officially spent today qwq

In the future, we will try to keep this time updated, so that everyone can see it at a fixed time. If you can’t update on time, you will be notified in the first line of the copy. Add more and wait for v. With my speed of 500 words per hour, I feel that I am very good after writing a chapter in a day.

Literal meaning for 风月之地 is ‘Land of wind and moon’.

仙姬: Female immortal dancers / fairy-like immortals dance