Volume One: A Beauty’s Bane Chapter 20: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

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Six days passed in the blink of an eye.

Today, the grand auction at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion was held as scheduled.

When Jiang Hao and Fan Caiyun arrived at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, the area outside was already teeming with people. The scene was extraordinarily lively, resembling a grand festival.

Amid the bustling crowd, people from all walks of life had gathered. Some spoke in hushed voices, while others argued heatedly. The air was thick with excitement and anticipation. Gorgeous lanterns hung high overhead, and multicolored banners fluttered in the breeze. The entrance to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion shone like a dazzling river of stars.

Among the throng, an extravagantly luxurious carriage stood out at once. Its body was adorned with exquisite carvings and gleamed with a golden luster, like a brilliant jewel radiating a dazzling splendor.

Surrounding the carriage stood soldiers clad in armor, forming an impenetrable wall. They gripped long spears in their hands, their eyes sharp and vigilant as they watched everything around them.

Their armor flashed with a chilling light beneath the sun. Every detail proclaimed incomparable majesty and strength, as though announcing the nobility and power of the carriage's master.

Several tall, magnificent horses stood proudly before the carriage, their manes billowing like clouds. The two men mounted upon them were none other than Ge Tianlang, leader of the Wild Wolf Gang, and Yang Dahu, its second-in-command—the very men Jiang Hao and Fan Caiyun had encountered on the street several days earlier.

“It’s them!” Jiang Hao thought, inwardly sighing. Almost instinctively, he moved Fan Caiyun behind him.

“Brother Jiang Hao...” Fan Caiyun had noticed Ge Tianlang and Yang Dahu as well. She nervously clung to Jiang Hao’s arm, a trace of fear in her eyes.

“Caiyun, there’s no need to be afraid. With Brother Jiang Hao here, no one can hurt you.” Jiang Hao bent down, gently patted her hand, and comforted her in a tender voice.

Only after Jiang Hao reassured her did Fan Caiyun’s tense heart gradually ease.

“Who exactly is inside that carriage? To think the two leaders of the Wild Wolf Gang would show such respect...” Seeing Ge Tianlang and Yang Dahu willingly serving as mere attendants, Jiang Hao was filled with doubt.

“Boy, there is a powerful expert inside that carriage. It would be unwise for me to speak again. You’ll have to rely on yourself for the auction that follows.” Phoenix Ling’er’s voice carried a hint of urgency.

“Master, could his strength be greater than yours?” Jiang Hao hurriedly asked.

Yet there was no further reply from Phoenix Ling’er.

Jiang Hao was deeply shocked. According to what Phoenix Ling’er had told him earlier, her strength had already recovered to the pinnacle of the Spirit Sea Realm.

With her power, she could practically run rampant throughout Eternal Peace City. Clearly, her reaction now was caused by the strength of the person inside.

At that moment, a burly middle-aged man stepped out of the carriage. A sword wrapped in black cloth was strapped across his back.

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The man had a resolute face, thick brows, and large eyes. A determined light shone between his brows. His skin was slightly dark, and although his hair was somewhat disheveled, it could not conceal his heroic bearing.

“What an imposing presence—he’s incredibly powerful! He must be the expert my master mentioned, right?”

“Could he be a Spirit Core Realm expert?” Although Jiang Hao was still some distance from the middle-aged man, he could already sense a faint murderous aura.

Just as Jiang Hao was reeling from the shock, another figure emerged from the carriage—a young man dressed in a python robe. Magnificent golden dragons were embroidered across the garment, symbolizing nobility and power. The hem swayed gently in the breeze, like a dragon gliding through the clouds.

The young man was handsome, with striking features and deep-set eyes. An extraordinary air surrounded him, while intelligence and decisiveness flickered in his gaze, causing everyone nearby to glance his way.

“Your Highness!”

Ge Tianlang and Yang Dahu, who had been sitting atop their horses, immediately dismounted and came before the young man. They bent deeply at the waist, their expressions filled with reverence.

“I wonder what wind has brought Your Highness here. Yan Tao was discourteous and failed to welcome you personally. I hope Your Highness will forgive me!”

At that moment, Yan Tao led a group of maids out from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and bowed to the young man.

She then swept her gaze quickly across the surroundings, seemingly searching for someone in particular. Only when her eyes met Jiang Hao’s did a flicker of delight appear in them. Almost simultaneously, the two exchanged a slight nod in greeting.

“The young lady was right. The young master really has arrived,” Yan Tao thought with a secret sigh.

“Haha! So it’s Miss Yan Tao. It’s been a long time. I’ve missed you terribly!” the young man said with a laugh as he stepped forward, seemingly paying no attention at all to Ge Tianlang and Yang Dahu beside him.

As the young man advanced, the middle-aged man with the black sword followed close behind, never straying more than a step away. He clearly served as the man’s personal guard.

“Your Highness has traveled all the way from the imperial capital. Surely you didn’t come here for Yan Tao?” Yan Tao said coyly.

“Haha!” The young man laughed heartily, appearing especially pleased.

“I never expected the heir of the Northern Suppression King to visit our little Eternal Peace City in person!”

“Today’s auction must be extraordinary indeed, if it has drawn His Highness here himself!”

“As far as I know, this heir is notorious as a spoiled young master. His reputation for chasing women has long been famous throughout the imperial capital. I’ll wager he didn’t come for today’s auction at all. He came for Pavilion Master Qin!”

“Brother, you really dare to say that! Be careful His Highness hears you and has your head cut off!”

The presence of this heir was like an impossible-to-ignore radiance, drawing everyone’s attention and inspiring a natural sense of awe.

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Amid the bustling scene, the entrance to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion grew even livelier. People whispered among themselves, speculating about what kind of upheaval and unexpected turns the heir’s arrival would bring to the auction.

“So he’s the heir of a king. Judging by his appearance, though, he really does look like a lecher,” Jiang Hao thought with a quiet sigh. He then turned his attention back to the middle-aged man.

Jiang Hao dared not lower his guard around the man who had made even his master, Phoenix Ling’er, wary. By now, he had determined that the middle-aged man was a Spirit Core Realm expert.

“Your Highness, this way, please.” Yan Tao smiled sweetly and respectfully led the young man inside.

Before turning to enter the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, Yan Tao deliberately glanced back at Jiang Hao. He failed to notice.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Miss Yan Tao. I can hardly wait to see Yu Mei!” the young man said with a hearty laugh. He rubbed his hands together and revealed a lecherous grin.

From beginning to end, the middle-aged man carrying the long sword remained like a shadow at the heir’s side, faithfully guarding him. The two leaders of the Wild Wolf Gang followed close behind as well, terrified that anything might happen to the heir.

“He really is a spoiled young master,” Jiang Hao said with a cold laugh and a shake of his head, silently passing judgment.

Only after the heir had entered the Myriad Treasures Pavilion under layer upon layer of protection did the crowd outside gradually disperse. One after another, they followed him inside.

“Brother Jiang Hao, you seem to dislike that heir?” Fan Caiyun had somehow moved in front of him and was now looking at him in confusion.

“Caiyun, some people reveal their true nature at a single glance.” Jiang Hao gently stroked her head, his tone warm.

Fan Caiyun looked slightly surprised. Then, curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, “Brother Jiang Hao, what is that heir’s true nature, then?”

“A beast in human clothing!”

Jiang Hao uttered the four words with complete seriousness. Then he took the dazed Fan Caiyun by the hand and hurried into the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.