Chapter 24

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Chapter 24: Courting Death!

Tang Xiaorou’s face was full of excitement. She finally had a chance to teach Fang Yu a lesson.

“Usually in mock exams, what’s your highest score?” Fang Yu asked.

Tang Xiaorou wore a proud look. “I once got 709 marks—top of the honors class!”

“Oh,” Fang Yu responded. “So if I just score over 710, I’ll beat you. Maybe I’ll go for 715, just to be safe.”

“Hmph! You really think it’s that easy to get over 700 points? If you actually get that high, I’ll let you do whatever you want!” Tang Xiaorou replied indignantly, puffing out her chest.

Fang Yu glanced at Tang Xiaorou but didn’t say anything.

Tang Xiaorou also realized the ambiguity in what she’d just said. Her cheeks reddened, and she turned away to continue studying.

She had to win this bet! She had to knock Fang Yu down a peg!

Otherwise, Fang Yu always acted like he was so amazing, and she found that insufferable.

After early-morning reading time ended, the students had to move their desks apart for the mock exam.

During this break, Tang Xiaorou went to Liu Pangzi and asked, “Liu Dong, how does Fang Yu usually do on exams?”

Seeing Tang Xiaorou’s face up close, Liu Pangzi was a little nervous. “He…he normally ranks around 30th in the class,” he said.

“30th?”

There were 60 students in total in that class, which meant Fang Yu’s grades placed him in the middle. And being a regular class, even its top scorer wouldn’t exceed 650 points.

If Fang Yu was only around 30th there, aiming for 715 was nothing but a pipe dream.

With that in mind, Tang Xiaorou felt completely at ease.

Before long, the exam started, with Chinese as the first subject.

Tang Xiaorou paid more attention to detail than ever as she answered. She had to score high and show off to Fang Yu.

Before starting on the essay, she stole a glance at Fang Yu not far away.

He was already lying on his desk, apparently asleep.

Hmph! And he still wants to beat me? He must be dreaming!

Ignoring Fang Yu, Tang Xiaorou focused entirely on writing her essay.

After Chinese finished, the second subject was math.

Math was Tang Xiaorou’s strong suit—she always scored above 140.

While working on her math paper, she checked on Fang Yu again. She noticed that he wrote for about thirty minutes before lying down to sleep.

Half an hour—enough time to finish the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions at best.

So he’d just given up on the calculation and application problems. Total slacker!

In the afternoon, they sat for the comprehensive exam and English. Fang Yu behaved the same way: finished after thirty minutes and then slept.

When the tests were over and school ended, Tang Xiaorou moved her desk back to its original spot.

“Fang Yu, with such a lazy attitude, how can you possibly get good grades?” she said as she stared at the bleary-eyed Fang Yu, sounding exasperated.

She’d thought Fang Yu would at least take the bet seriously, but he’d just slept the whole time. It was discouraging—there wasn’t much satisfaction in winning now.

Fang Yu paid no attention to Tang Xiaorou’s mood. He got up to go home when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took out his phone; it was a call from Tang Mingde.

“Master Fang, Tang Si has picked up some information about a demonic beast’s inner core,” Tang Mingde said.

“Where is it?” Fang Yu asked.

“It’s at an underground auction for martial artists. He heard that in tonight’s auction, one of the items is a demonic beast inner core. If you’re interested, I’ll have Tang Si bring you there. He’s already waiting for Xiaorou at the school gate,” Tang Mingde replied.

“Alright.” Fang Yu agreed.

…

Fang Yu and Tang Xiaorou both got into Tang Si’s car.

“Mr. Fang, I’ll take Miss home first, then go with you to the auction. Is that fine?” Tang Si asked politely.

Ever since seeing Fang Yu’s formidable abilities in the rundown part of town, Tang Si’s attitude toward him had changed.

“Sure. I don’t want her tagging along anyway,” Fang Yu said.

“Where are you going? Why can’t I come!?” Tang Xiaorou burst out, finally registering what was happening.

“Miss, I’m taking Mr. Fang to an underground martial arts auction. It’s filled with all sorts of people—definitely not the place for you,” Tang Si explained.

Tang Xiaorou bit her lip, unwilling but aware that Tang Si wouldn’t lie to her, so she didn’t insist.

After dropping Tang Xiaorou off at the Tang residence, Tang Si and Fang Yu headed to the underground auction.

This auction house was geared toward martial artists, holding at least two auctions every month.

Its location was remote, on a patch of unused land in Jianghai City’s outskirts.

On that land stood a somewhat dilapidated building, the venue for the auction.

A number of cars, including several worth millions, were parked in the open space in front of it.

“What sort of currency do they use for transactions here?” Fang Yu asked.

“Just the same money we usually use. There’s nothing special,” Tang Si answered.

Fang Yu recalled more than four thousand years ago, when auctions used spirit stones as currency.

Entering the auction hall, Fang Yu saw nearly a hundred cultivators. All were in the Qi Refining stage, the strongest no higher than the tenth level, and the weakest just at the third.

“This auction typically deals in various elixirs, rare medicinal herbs, weapons, and so on,” Tang Si explained.

He led Fang Yu to seats in the back and said, “There aren’t many rules here. You just find a place to sit when you arrive. Once the auction starts, if you see something you want, you call out a bid. Highest offer wins, and the transaction happens on the spot. You can leave any time.”

“Not bad,” Fang Yu said with a nod, then suddenly realized he hadn’t brought any money.

“Master Tang already instructed me to secure the demonic beast core for you if it appears, no matter the price,” Tang Si said, as though anticipating Fang Yu’s concern.

“Then please give my thanks to Master Tang,” Fang Yu replied.

Soon, the auction started.

“Today’s first item is the Yanglong Pill, refined by Master Wu from Huaibei, known as the King of Medicine. Its effects are…” the auctioneer announced energetically from the stage.

Only after listening did Fang Yu realize this so-called Yanglong Pill was essentially a male potency enhancer.

Yet it sold for an astonishing 300,000 yuan, going to a white-haired old man who looked like he didn’t have much longer to live.

Fang Yu felt speechless. This auction house really did attract all sorts of people.

The next ten or so items were elixirs and weapons. To Fang Yu, they were all junk.

“Up next,” the auctioneer shouted, “brought back by a master after facing many dangers: a demonic beast inner core!”

The item was then placed on the stage: a fist-sized, dark red inner core.

A fifth-tier demonic beast core!

Sensing the aura it gave off, Fang Yu was instantly excited. He hadn’t seen a beast core of such a high level in years!

If he swallowed it, he might break through two or three more levels!

He had to get it!

“You might think there’s no real use for a demonic beast inner core beyond collecting it,” the auctioneer said, “but if ground into powder and added to certain medicines, it has excellent strengthening effects…”

“One million!” Fang Yu called out before the auctioneer had even finished.

A low murmur of exclamation spread through the crowd. Nobody knew the core’s practical value, yet he had opened straight at a million.

“One point zero five million,” came a deep voice.

Everyone turned to see a rugged-looking middle-aged man.

“It’s Wu Xiong!”

“Damn, forget fighting him. Just hand it over, then.”

“That kid definitely won’t dare name another price. He’d be going up against Wu the Tiger.”

People discussed it in low voices, some giving Fang Yu mocking looks. Wu Xiong had only raised the price by 50,000 as a warning to Fang Yu not to keep bidding. Continuing would likely earn Wu Xiong’s revenge.

“Who is he?” Fang Yu asked.

Tang Si’s face looked unpleasant. “His name is Wu Xiong, a tenth-level innate martial artist with tremendous strength. He’s extremely arrogant and notorious in Jianghai’s martial arts circles.”

“Mr. Fang, about that beast core…maybe we should back off and then buy it from him at a higher price…”

“No need. Let’s win it right here,” Fang Yu said calmly.

“Two million!” he called out.

The crowd erupted. The auctioneer was thrilled.

From the auction house’s standpoint, Wu Xiong was like a cancer that cut their profits short. But, because he was too strong, they couldn’t offend him. Fang Yu, however, was raising the bid on his own—a separate matter entirely.

“Huh?” Wu Xiong frowned, looking in Fang Yu’s direction.

Fang Yu gave him a slight smile.

“You’re courting death.” Wu Xiong sneered cruelly and fell silent.

The martial artists present began buzzing again.

“It’s over—Wu the Tiger wants blood.”

“That kid’s only at Qi Refining stage five. Which family does he belong to? How can he dare provoke Wu the Tiger?”

“He basically spent two million to buy that core on Wu Xiong’s behalf, and he might even lose his life in the end—complete loss!”

Fang Yu turned to Tang Si, who was pale-faced. “You brought enough money, right?”

“We do have enough, but…” Tang Si hesitated. He thought Fang Yu was being rash. Offending Wu Xiong wouldn’t end well.

Originally, the safest approach was letting Wu Xiong win the beast core first, then purchasing it from him at a higher price. After all, for other martial artists, a demonic beast core wasn’t that useful—only Fang Yu urgently needed it.

“Mr. Fang may be talented, but he’s still acting too impulsively,” Tang Si lamented to himself. Though Fang Yu was skilled, he definitely wasn’t a match for Wu Xiong. Wu Xiong’s arrogance came from his dominating strength, far beyond most martial artists. Even among others at the tenth-level innate realm, few could stand up to him.