Chapter 82: Top Courtesan Princess, Why Have You Run Away?

Summer Nine Ginger's sudden appearance made Jun Bu Wen instantly breathe a sigh of relief, but that breath was only half released before it got stuck in his throat. He suddenly felt a surge of regret for bringing Summer Nine Ginger to Xi Shui Street.

The woman was stunned when she saw Summer Nine Ginger clinging to Jun Bu Wen in such an intimate manner. She pointed at Summer Nine Ginger, then at Jun Bu Wen, her face displaying a kaleidoscope of emotions like a burst of fireworks.

The woman knew that some men had peculiar tastes; there were even men’s houses on Xi Shui Street. But she never expected that a man as elegant and handsome as Jun Bu Wen would have a liking for men!

Her expression made Jun Bu Wen realize something was amiss. He turned to glance and abruptly remembered that Summer Nine Ginger was dressed in men's robes at this moment. Instantly, Jun Bu Wen's face darkened like charcoal.

Damn it, Summer Nine Ginger was wearing men’s clothes and saying things like that—was she trying to make people think there was something improper between them?

Summer Nine Ginger looked at Jun Bu Wen’s frosty expression and snorted inwardly. Let him probe her just now, daring to take advantage of Summer Nine Ginger—let’s see how she strikes back!

Clearly, Summer Nine Ginger wasn’t slow-witted; she simply chose to take it the wrong way.

But she underestimated the persistence of the woman trying to seduce Jun Bu Wen. Realizing both Jun Bu Wen and Summer Nine Ginger were men, the woman leaned in and said, “Both of you are like celestial beauties. I have connections at South Wind House. If you ever find yourselves at a dead end, I could introduce you there. I guarantee you’d both be the top stars.”

This enthusiastic sales pitch frightened Summer Nine Ginger so much that her face paled. Grabbing Jun Bu Wen, she dashed away. Even the women of Drunken Dream Pavilion were open to both genders!

Clutching Jun Bu Wen, Summer Nine Ginger ran wildly until she could barely breathe. Jun Bu Wen commented, “Top star, Princess, why are you running?”

Summer Nine Ginger glared at him. “What nonsense are you spouting? Top star? Even if I were, you'd be the real top star, Your Highness.”

“If you hadn’t insisted on wearing men’s clothes and calling me ‘husband’ at every turn, no one would have misunderstood.”

Summer Nine Ginger rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you mention how you’re so stunning that all the girls at Drunken Dream Pavilion are after you?”

Jun Bu Wen’s mood suddenly brightened. “Are you jealous?”

Summer Nine Ginger snorted smugly. “Who’s jealous? I am just as beautiful, thank you. Didn’t you hear the Drunken Dream girls say I’m a strong contender for top star?”

Was this something to be proud of? Jun Bu Wen glanced behind them. “Is that so? Strong contender for top star? The Drunken Dream girls are still chasing us from behind. Why don’t you go compete for the title?”

Damn! What relentless spirit was this? They’d run so far, yet the Drunken Dream women refused to let her go.

Panting, Summer Nine Ginger said, “Can’t you put in some effort? Didn’t you see I can barely breathe, and I still have to drag you along? Am I an old ox pulling a broken cart?”

Jun Bu Wen chuckled, “I don’t know about being a broken cart, but you certainly look like a tired old ox.”

He seemed entirely at ease, accompanying Summer Nine Ginger as if it were a game. Summer Nine Ginger shot him a glance. “You seem to enjoy the top star title quite a bit. Why don’t you stay and chat with the Drunken Dream girls?”

With that, Summer Nine Ginger let go. However, Jun Bu Wen suddenly quickened his pace, wrapped his arm around her waist, and, with a light step, lifted them both into the air.

Held in Jun Bu Wen’s embrace, Summer Nine Ginger felt her feet leave the ground. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his waist, breathing in the cool, delicate scent of flowers. She looked up, seeing Jun Bu Wen’s silhouette in the moonlight, and her heart skipped a beat.

Summer Nine Ginger gazed at Jun Bu Wen, feeling that every curve of his was deeply imprinted in her eyes. All the starlight and moonlight faded into insignificance; in her eyes there was only Jun Bu Wen. The sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears, and everything seemed so perfect…

Jun Bu Wen looked down at her and said, “We’ve arrived, Princess. Do you intend to keep holding me forever?”

It took Summer Nine Ginger a long moment to realize they were back on solid ground—and she was still clinging to Jun Bu Wen’s waist, gazing at him like a lovesick fool.

Jun Bu Wen’s mood soared.

Summer Nine Ginger straightened up, snorted, and said, “Who…who wants to hold you?”

As they stopped, they found themselves at the entrance of “Tong Sifang,” the largest auction house on Xi Shui Street. The grand building, constructed from black ebony, was illuminated by eight lanterns, giving off an imposing and solemn air. Inside, various goods were auctioned periodically—fine farmland, precious gems, martial arts manuals, and even exotic beauties.

Summer Nine Ginger followed Jun Bu Wen into the Heaven Room. The auction house offered regular and private rooms. The regular seats were on the auction floor, allowing for close observation and bidding, while the private rooms upstairs provided food and wine, offering a lofty vantage point for bidding.

Today’s auction at Tong Sifang was different; the guests were mostly martial artists, perhaps because the theme was the martial world—swords, poisons, manuals, and medical poison treatises.

Jun Bu Wen looked at the sword on display and asked, “How about this sword?”

“A fine sword. A fine deal.”

Jun Bu Wen pointed to the poison. “Don’t you like studying poisons and venoms? This one is said to be crafted by the Poison Sect.”

Summer Nine Ginger rolled her eyes. “Poison? That’s nothing compared to what I can concoct. No thanks! As for the manuals, those are even worse. Most martial arts manuals are like the Sunflower Manual—‘If you wish to learn this skill, you must first castrate yourself.’ Nothing good ever comes from such manuals.”

She showed no interest in the early items, letting others bid freely, until the Medical Venom Treatise appeared.

Summer Nine Ginger listened to the introduction and turned to Jun Bu Wen. “How much can I bid?”

Jun Bu Wen replied, “Bid as much as you like. Your husband can afford it.”

Like a fish jumping onto the chopping block, Summer Nine Ginger wasted no time in taking him for all he was worth.

The Medical Venom Treatise was a sacred relic from the Southern Kingdom, said to have been stolen by the previous Saintess when she left, and lost in the outside world. It contained secret techniques for controlling and creating venoms, highly coveted by martial artists.

It was supposed to be a chance to try one’s luck, but two people disrupted the proceedings—one of them being Summer Nine Ginger.

Summer Nine Ginger and the man from the Alpha Room bid fiercely, jumping from fifty thousand taels to two hundred thousand, with no sign of stopping.

She was furious. Who was this man in the Alpha Room who dared to compete with her, trying to snatch food from the tiger’s mouth? She refused to believe his money grew on trees.

“Two hundred thousand taels!” Summer Nine Ginger called.

The Alpha Room responded, “Two hundred and ten thousand taels.”

Ah, Summer Nine Ginger had finally met her match!