SPMT : Chapter 92 Showing off

“Mu’an, why did you come here? You’re already so old. It’s too late to participate in the selection for Bifeng Academy now.” Zhang Lingyu sighed dramatically, full of regret.

 

Xu Mu’an smiled indifferently and said, “Madam is joking. I just heard that Bifeng City is bustling, so I came to take a look. Madam, what brings you here?”

 

“Bifeng City is about to hold an auction. I’m accompanying my husband to participate in the auction,” Zhang Lingyu said proudly.

 

“An auction?” Xu Mu’an couldn’t help but become interested.

 

Zhang Lingyu nodded and said, “Yes! Don’t you know? Bifeng City holds an annual auction where many treasures appear. It’s said that even Foundation Building stage cultivators will come, and there’s more than one.”

 

In Xu Mu’an’s eyes, there was a hint of longing that couldn’t be concealed.

 

“We’ll go check it out too,” Xu Mu’an said to Xiao Jingting.

 

Xiao Jingting nodded and replied, “Sure!” Such a good opportunity shouldn’t be easily missed.

 

Zhang Lingyu sighed lightly and explained, “Although the auction is good, it’s not easy to get in. There are strict rules for the auction. To participate, you must first obtain a card from the auction house, and pre-deposit one hundred thousand silver inside. My husband has a card, but only two people can enter with one card.”

 

Xiao Jingting glanced at Zhang Lingyu and simply responded with an “Oh.”

 

Seeing Xiao Jingting’s indifferent reaction, Zhang Lingyu thought to herself that Xiao Jingting was really good at pretending to be well-off. In Zhang Lingyu’s eyes, although Xiao Jingting might have some money, it would be unlikely for him to produce a hundred thousand silver all at once. After marrying Ji Mu, Zhang Lingyu felt that her vision had broadened, and she didn’t think much of the four major families in Mocheng anymore.

 

“Xiao, you’re here too!” A man in green clothes walked out, his face filled with surprise.

 

Hearing Ji Mu calling Xiao Jingting “Brother Xiao,” Zhang Lingyu couldn’t help but look astonished. Ji Mu was only at the fifth level of Qi Refining! How could he address Xiao Jingting as “Brother Xiao”? Could it be that Xiao Jingting’s cultivation level surpassed Ji Mu’s?

 

“Who are you?” Xiao Jingting asked, somewhat confused.

 

“You don’t recognize me, Brother Xiao? I also participated in the competition held by the Hou Family, but I gained little. I’m no match for Brother Xiao’s cultivation at the seventh level of Qi Refining. I made it to the top ten in the competition and even obtained a Frostheart Pill,” the man said.

 

Zhang Lingyu listened with widened eyes, full of surprise. Xiao Jingting made it to the top ten in the competition? How could this be possible? Although she hadn’t been very informed about Mocheng since she left, to her knowledge, Xiao Jingting was just a useless playboy! The participants in the Hou Family’s competition were all talented individuals. Xiao Jingting not only participated but also achieved a top-ten ranking? Xiao Jingting was actually at the seventh level of Qi Refining? When did Mocheng, such a small town, produce such a young cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining? Could it be that Xiao Jingting had been pretending to be weak all along?

 

“Brother Xiao, do you still have the Frostheart Pill? It’s priced at three hundred thousand taels, but I’m willing to pay three hundred and fifty thousand taels for it,” Ji Mu said.

 

Xiao Jingting thought to himself: People from big families are really well-off! With just a few words, they throw out several hundred thousand taels. However, Xiao Jingting speculated that Ji Mu probably didn’t have that much silver on hand. If he had claimed to have the Frostheart Pill, Ji Mu would likely have sought help from the elders of his family.

 

“Sorry, it has already been handed over to the family and used,” Xiao Jingting replied.

 

Ji Mu sighed regretfully and said, “Is that so? What a pity.”

 

Xiao Jingting nodded in agreement, saying, “Yes.”

 

Frostheart Pills, used to break through barriers in cultivation, have always been valuable and rarely traded. When big families obtain these pills, they usually keep them for their own family members to use. It’s difficult to buy them once they’re sold, as Xiao Jingting’s Frostheart Pill was intended for Xu Mu’an. He didn’t even give it to Xiao Qingyan, let alone sell it.

 

Xiao Jingting rented a separate courtyard and moved in with Xu Mu’an.

 

“That woman at the door doesn’t seem to get along well with you,” Xiao Jingting remarked.

 

Xu Mu’an nodded and replied, “A little bit. She was my former neighbor. I don’t know why, but she always had something against me.”

 

“Her husband seems to be from a big city,” Xiao Jingting said.

 

Xu Mu’an nodded again and explained, “I heard from Zhang Lingyu’s father that Zhang Lingyu married into a big family with an established foundation. Shortly after Zhang Lingyu got married, the Zhang family moved.”

 

“I see,” Xiao Jingting said.

 

…

 

Zhang Lingyu followed Ji Mu into the pre-rented separate courtyard.

 

“Do you know Xiao Jingting?” Ji Mu asked.

 

Zhang Lingyu was a little nervous and replied, “Not very well. But Xiao Jingting’s wife used to be my neighbor.”

 

Towards Ji Mu, Zhang Lingyu couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. Members of the Ji family would choose spouses from families of similar status. Zhang Lingyu was only Ji Mu’s concubine, but Zhang’s father told outsiders that Zhang Lingyu had married into a big family and become a wife.

 

“Isn’t that Xu Mu’an your neighbor? Xu Mu’an’s talent for cultivation should be quite high!” Ji Mu remarked.

 

Upon hearing Ji Mu’s words, Zhang Lingyu couldn’t help but feel surprised. “Xu Mu’an does have some talent, but his attributes aren’t good. He’s not valued at home and his cultivation wasn’t that great before.”

 

“Oh, but now he’s at the sixth level of Qi Refining,” Ji Mu said.

 

“What?” Zhang Lingyu struggled not to scream out loud. How could this be possible? Xu Mu’an’s cultivation level was actually higher than her husband’s?

 

Ji Mu thought for a moment and said, “He must have had some kind of fortuitous encounter. From the way Xiao Jingting treats him so considerately, your neighbor must have received a lot of benefits from Xiao Jingting. It’s really strange how Xiao Jingting is so considerate towards someone like Xu Mu’an.”

 

“I heard that Xiao Jingting really dislikes Xu Mu’an. I don’t know what’s going on now,” Zhang Lingyu said. According to her father, Xu Mu’an was forced onto Xiao Jingting by Xiao Jingting’s aunt. Xiao Jingting preferred women, and he was very opposed to this marriage. How could a stiff person like Xu Mu’an be compared to a woman?

 

“Anyway, the more friends, the more paths. It’s harmless for Xiao Jingting to move around now that he’s entered the seventh level of Qi Refining so early,” the Ji family was a business family, and Ji Mu’s talent was not very good. He had already taken over some family business to help make money.

 

…

 

When Zhang Lingyu walked into the dining room, she saw Xu Mu’an and Xiao Dong eating, but Xiao Jingting was nowhere to be seen.

 

“Mu’an, why are you the only one here? Where’s Young Master Xiao?” Could it be that Xiao Jingting left Xu Mu’an behind and went out alone?

 

“Jingting took Xiaofan out to play. I slept a little longer today. Since he didn’t wake me up, he didn’t ask me to go with them,” Xu Mu’an smiled and replied.

 

“I see,” Zhang Lingyu speculated that Xiao Jingting left Xu Mu’an behind and went out to have fun alone, which made her feel a little relieved. “Mu’an, do you have any plans for today?”

 

Xu Mu’an glanced at Zhang Lingyu and said, “I’m going to Tianchen Auction House later.”

 

Zhang Lingyu asked, “Why are you going to the auction? Are you planning to buy something? The items at Tianchen Auction House are not cheap.”

 

Xu Mu’an shook his head and replied, “I’m not buying anything, but if there’s something suitable, I might consider it. Didn’t you say that to participate in the auction, you have to pre-deposit one hundred thousand taels of silver at the auction house? I’m going to deposit the money later.”

 

Zhang Lingyu choked up a bit and asked, “Do you have so much silver?”

 

Xu Mu’an smiled and said, “I didn’t have it before, but Xiao Jingting just gave it to me.”

 

Zhang Lingyu gritted her teeth and said, “You and Young Master Xiao get along very well!”

 

“It’s okay,” Xu Mu’an said sweetly. “Jingting is very nice, but he’s a bit extravagant with money. He often buys me a lot of things that I don’t need, even though I’ve told him several times.”

 

Listening to Xu Mu’an’s sweet complaints, Zhang Lingyu felt a strong sense of oppression in her heart.

 

“Xiao Dong, are you full?” Xu Mu’an asked, rubbing Xiao Dong’s head.

 

Xiao Dong nodded and replied, “Yes, I’m full.”

 

“Then let’s go,” Xu Mu’an said, getting up.

 

Zhang Lingyu thought for a moment and said, “Do you know the way? Since you’re not feeling well, why don’t I accompany you?”

 

Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Okay! Thank you.”

 

…

 

Walking beside Xu Mu’an, Zhang Lingyu couldn’t help but keep looking at him.

 

Xu Mu’an’s expression was indifferent, as if he didn’t care about Zhang Lingyu’s scrutiny.

 

“Your bracelet is nice! But you didn’t seem to like these things before,” Zhang Lingyu remarked.

 

Xu Mu’an shook his head and smiled bitterly. He didn’t particularly like or dislike them before, but he couldn’t afford them. Now…

 

“Jingting bought it. He just loves to spend money,” Xu Mu’an thought to himself: Zhang Lingyu probably just thinks my bracelet looks nice and doesn’t know it’s a spatial device. Xu Mu’an noticed that although Zhang Lingyu wore many accessories, they were all decorative and had no practical function.

 

Xu Mu’an had seen Wang Lu before. The jade hairpin on Wang Lu’s head was not only beautiful but also a weapon that could be used in combat. The jade pendant on Wang Lu’s body was exquisite and beautiful, with the function of calming the mind and aiding in meditation.

 

Although Zhang Lingyu wore many accessories, they were all superficial and probably not worth much money.

 

Zhang Lingyu forced a smile and said, “You and Young Master Xiao get along very well! I heard that Young Master Xiao didn’t like Xu Mu’an at first, and he had many other lovers outside, so I was worried about you.”

 

“Jingting was a bit reckless a few years ago, but there have been some changes in the Xiao family. Jingting has come to his senses now and has distanced himself from those outside women,” Xu Mu’an said.

 

Zhang Lingyu smiled and said, “Is that so? That’s good.”

 

Zhang Lingyu thought to herself: Ji Mu said that Xu Mu’an is now at the sixth level of Qi Refining. Although Zhang Lingyu found it somewhat unbelievable, she didn’t think her husband would be mistaken. She just thought that with Xu Mu’an’s current strength, those outside women around Xiao Jingting might have been driven away by him.

 

As Xu Mu’an and Zhang Lingyu chatted along the way, they arrived at the business where the auction was going to take place.

 

“May I help you with anything?” As soon as Xu Mu’an entered the shop, a receptionist approached. Xiao Dong, who was beside Xu Mu’an, was completely ignored because of his small stature.

 

“I’m here to apply for a silver card,” Xu Mu’an said.

 

“Please come this way,” the receptionist said.

 

Xu Mu’an took out a pile of spirit jade from his spatial bracelet. Spirit jade, like silver, could be used as currency. In fact, spirit jade was even more popular than silver.

 

“This is your card. One hundred thousand taels of silver have already been deposited inside. Your card can be used in various shops under our auction house, and this is your admission ticket,” the receptionist said.

 

Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Thank you.”

 

Seeing Xu Mu’an take out the spirit jade from his bracelet, Zhang Lingyu was completely dumbfounded. “Is this a storage bracelet?”

 

Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Yes! Jingting just loves to spend money. Actually, I could have used a storage bag.”

 

Zhang Lingyu forced a smile and said, “Young Master Xiao is really generous to you!”

 

Xu Mu’an nodded with a smile and said, “Yes!”

 

After Xu Mu’an received the admission ticket, although Zhang Lingyu tried to remain calm, her eyes revealed a deep sense of shock.

 

Halfway there, Zhang Lingyu met an acquaintance and bid farewell to Xu Mu’an. Xu Mu’an understood and said goodbye to Zhang Lingyu with understanding.

 

Holding Xu Mu’an’s hand, Xiao Dong suddenly looked at Xu Mu’an with a sly smile and said, “Daddy, you did it on purpose.”

 

Xu Mu’an smiled bitterly. Yes! He did do it on purpose. He was already so grown up, but he still liked to show off like a child. In the past, Zhang Lingyu always liked to show off in front of him, but now he finally had the chance to show off. Xu Mu’an thought to himself that he seemed to be regressing more and more as he grew older.

 

“Mommy did it, do you hate it?” Xiao Dong shook his head and said, “No! That auntie actually doesn’t like you, Mom.”