Wu Jian didn’t even need to turn his head to see the destitute expression on Hou Jingshu’s face. He could see it reflected in the window. Still, he turned anyway, glancing at the woman whose shoulders were slouched in defeat and whose face looked like the world was coming to an end. He’d never seen anyone appear so heartbroken.

It hurt.

“That’s 56,000,00. Is there anyone else willing to top that?” asked Zhou Lihua, glancing in the direction of their booth with a frustrated expression. She had done everything she could to help them earn enough money for this auction. She had even used her own resources to create alchemy pills for them to sell. It must have been just as difficult to see their opportunity disappear for her as it was for them.

“56,000,000 going once…”

Wu Jian thought about what he could do to give them one last chance. There surely must have been something he could do. He refused to believe there was no way to turn this situation around.

“56,000,000 going twice…”

They didn’t have any more money on hand. Even if Wu Jian gave her all the money he had, it was unlikely to make much of a difference, but this was an auction, a place where rare and powerful items were sold for profit. If that was the case…

“56,000,000 going thrice, and--”

“Wait!” Wu Jian suddenly called out, standing up before he even realized it.

His actions startled not only Hou Jingshu but everyone else in the audience and even Zhou Lihua. Nearly a dozen eyes turned to the booth. No one could see him, but he could almost feel their stares on his face.

“Yes, what is it?” asked Zhou Lihua.

Wu Jian spoke under the watchful eyes of Hou Jingshu. She didn’t seem to realize what he intended to do either.

“Can we trade items in lieu of money?” he asked.

Hou Jingshu gasped. “Wu Jian, what are you doing?”

“You can,” Zhou Lihua confirmed. “However, I should point out that the item currently being auctioned off here is worth a lot of money. Whatever you add to this auction would need to be worth at least one million spirit coins to even be considered.”

“I have something that I believe is worth much more than one million spirit coins,” declared Wu Jian. Hou Jingshu’s eyes widened. She seemed to realize what he was going to do, but he spoke before she could open her mouth. “It’s a greatsword from the White Tiger Sect Ruins--a high-grade earth profound spirit weapon.”

“Wu--Jian Wu, you can’t!” Hou Jingshu exclaimed in shock.

“I can. Your father’s life is far more important than a weapon,” said Wu Jian.

That shut Hou Jingshu up. She bit her lip so hard that she broke skin. A trail of blood ran from her lip down her chin.

“Very well. I shall have someone grab the weapon and appraise it. This could take a while, everyone, so I would like to ask for your patience while the item is being appraised,” said Zhou Lihua. She glanced at Zhou Wen, who bowed and left the stage.

Wu Jian summoned the Tiger Fang Greatsword from his storage ring. He was sad that he had only gotten to use it for a little bit, but nothing was more important right now than saving Hou Jingshu’s father.

“I’m so sorry, Wu Jian,” Hou Jingshu murmured.

He looked down. The young princess was clenching the fabrics of her gown so tight that her fists had turned white. Tears fell from her eyes and splashed against the back of her hands and her hanfu. The look of guilt on her face made him feel conflicted. How could his chest feel so warm and cold at the same time was a mystery.

Wu Jian leaned the sword against the couch, knelt before Hou Jingshu, and removed his mask. He leaned up and pressed their lips together. Hou Jingshu blinked several times. He almost laughed at how flabbergasted she looked when he pulled back, but instead, he gave her a reassuring smile, cupped her face, and wiped the tears from her eyes.

“You don’t need to apologize. I made this choice of my own volition. It’s like I said, your father’s life is more important than a weapon. I can always get another weapon.”

“But… you already gave up the Three-Layered Red Yin Yang Pill ingredients for me. How can I ask you to give up your greatsword too?”

He shrugged. “You don’t have to ask. I would gladly do this for you.”

“Oh… Wu Jian…” Hou Jingshu lunged forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her face into his chest, staining his shirt with her tears. “Thank you… thank you so much…”

“Mmm. You’re welcome.”

Wu Jian stroked Hou Jingshu’s hair as her body shook. They remained like that until a knock came at the door. Then they separated, Wu Jian stood up, put his mask back on, and grabbed the sword.

“Come in,” he said.

The door opened and Zhou Wen stepped inside. She paused upon spotting Hou Jingshu’s face in the mirror’s reflection. The woman was fortunately discreet enough to not say anything. She looked back at Wu Jian, or more specifically, the massive sword in his grasp.

“Is this the weapon you wish to use for the auction?” she asked.

“It is,” he said.

“Here. Let me take it for appraisal.”

Wu Jian handed the weapon over. Zhou Wen took it and left.

He sat back down after the door closed, removed his mask, and placed it on the couch. Silence reigned for a moment. Hou Jingshu soon leaned over until she was pressed against him. Wu Jian wrapped an arm around her waist.

Zhou Wen returned to the stage a while later. The crowd began to grow restless as the woman whispered something in Zhou Lihua’s ear.

With a smile, Zhou Lihua addressed the crowd. “The appraisal is in. It seems this weapon is indeed a high-grade earth profound spirit weapon. What’s more, it is made from a material that is incredibly strong. The estimate for this weapon is set at 10,000,000 spirit coins, meaning unless someone can offer 66,000,000 spirit coins, Her Highness wins this bid. Are there any takers?”

No one said anything. Even Hua Xue was silent.

“65,000,000 going once. 65,000,000 going twice. 65,000,000 going thrice. And sold. Congratulations, Your Highness. The Fifteen Thousand Year Spirit Spring Water is yours. I will have someone deliver it to you now.”

Zhou Wen was once again the person who delivered the item to Hou Jingshu, who gratefully accepted it. She stored the spirit spring water in her storage ring. Meanwhile, Zhou Lihua wrapped things up down below.

“I would like to thank everyone for participating in this auction. It was my honor to be your host, and I hope you will all come again.”

Everyone in the general admittance seating stood up and began leaving. Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu decided to wait for a bit before leaving. They wanted to avoid running into Cì Chuān, Duo Long, and Húndàn Wang.

“Wu Jian,” Hou Jingshu said softly.

“Hmmm?”

“Keep your window unlocked please.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you.”

Someone suddenly knocked on the door, making them both turn to stare.

“Who is it?” asked Hou Jingshu.

“It is Hua Xue. I would like to speak with you, Your Highness.”

Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu looked at each other. It was obvious to them both what this woman wanted. He didn’t think there was any reason to see her since there was no way Hou Jingshu would give up the Fifteen Thousand Year Spirit Spring Water, but it wasn’t like they could just send such a prominent figure away. If they didn’t give her face now, she might cause problems for them later.

“Come in,” Hou Jingshu said.

“Excuse me.”

The door opened and Hua Xue walked in. She looked as cold as he remembered, and as beautiful, but there appeared to be a hint of frustration on her placid features. Her walk as she strode toward them was not as graceful as it had been. Her bodyguards were nowhere in sight.

“I will not waste your time, Your Highness. I would like that Fifteen Thousand Year Spirit Spring Water, and I am willing to pay a hefty price for it,” said Hua Xue without preamble.

Hou Jingshu wore a stern expression even as she smiled. “I apologize, but I have no choice but to decline any offer you make. Not only did my partner sacrifice both the ingredients for the Three-Layered Red Yin Yang Pill and his sword, but I need this item to save my father.”

A crack appeared in Hua Xue’s countenance. She glanced at Wu Jian with furrowed brows. He could not see her mouth, but he imagined her frown.

“You are the one who put the Three-Layered Red Yin Yang Pill ingredients up for auction?” she asked.

“I am,” said Wu Jian.

“And it was all to help her acquire the Fifteen Thousand Year Spirit Spring Water?”

“It was.”

Hua Xue said nothing for a moment. She seemed confused and hesitant now, though her expression remained mostly calm.

“You must hold Her Highness in very high regard,” she said at last.

“I love Hou Jingshu very much,” Wu Jian confirmed.

He became surprised when Hua Xue suddenly flushed bright red. Was it because he admitted his feelings for Hou Jingshu so readily? He’d never seen someone look so embarrassed before.

“That… ahem… I see now. I had not realized your feelings for her were so… strong.” She paused. “I would still like to negotiate for the spirit spring water. I have great need of it.”

“That is quite the coincidence since I also need it.” Hou Jingshu shifted from foot to foot, subtle enough that most people would have missed it. “You know that my father is not in good health. The truth is that he’s been poisoned and is currently dying. He does not have much time left.”

Hua Xue paused again. Everyone knew that Emperor Hou Jun was bedridden, but most assumed it was due to illness. The people in the palace had kept a tight lid on the real reason.

Controlling the flow of information was incredibly important to maintaining peace within the kingdom. It would cause a huge uproar if people knew that their emperor had been poisoned, so they locked down the information with blood contracts. Every person who knew--with the exception of Wu Jian--had signed a blood contract to prevent the information from leaking.

“I see. You wish to create a Nirvana Soothing Pill,” Hua Xue said at last.

“That’s right,” said Hou Jingshu, nodding.

“Very well. I can give you Ten Thousand Year Spirit Water and a high-grade spirit rank profound spirit Weapon to replace the one he sacrificed. I assume you would prefer a greatsword?” she asked.

“… Yes,” Wu Jian confirmed.

“Do you have such a weapon?” asked Hou Jingshu.

Hua Xue nodded. “Not on my person, but I do own such a weapon. I found it during my travels, but I have no use for greatswords, so it has sat unused in my room.”

Hou Jingshu glanced at Wu Jian as if seeking advice. He didn’t know what to tell her, so he just shrugged.

“Zhou Lihua is not at a high enough level with her alchemy that she can refine the Nirvana Soothing Pill yet,” Hou Jingshu said as if to justify her next few words. “If you can bring the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Spring Water and the weapon for Jian Wu before she is able to refine it, I will trade with you.”

The Nirvana Soothing Pill called for spirit spring water that was at least ten thousand years old. Fifteen Thousand Year Old Spirit Spring Water would work just as well, but it wasn’t like being five thousand years older would change the pill’s effectiveness. Wu Jian did not doubt for a second that would accept this trade if she could get the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Spring Water and replace the weapon he had sacrificed for her.

Hua Xue nodded once. “The Shang Kingdom Tournament is coming up. My disciple will be participating. I shall have the spirit spring water and weapon prepared for you by then.”

“Then we have an agreement,” said Hou Jingshu.

Hua Xue nodded once, then offered a martial bow. “I thank you for your benevolence, Your Highness.”

“You as well,” said Hou Jingshu, mirroring her bow.

Hua Xue soon left the room, leaving the two of them alone. Hou Jingshu’s shoulders slumped like a deflating balloon. She looked exhausted.

“That was tiring, but we accomplished our goal. Let’s go back to the academy now,” said Hou Jingshu.

“I’m with you. I think I’m ready to relax after that intense auction.” Wu Jian agreed. “Think we can see Zhou Lihua before we go?”

Hou Jingshu shook her head. “Doubtful. She is likely busy managing the auction’s aftermath.”

“All right. I guess we should head home then.”

“Yes.”

The pair left the auction house, entered the carriage, and headed back to the academy.