CHAPTER 119: CHAPTER 114: BIDDING

The ring-shaped enclosed iron cage, nine meters in diameter and five meters high. The cement floor was stained with various blood marks and grime.

The large lighting source above made the inside of the iron cage as bright as daylight, revealing every detail clearly.

The circular seating around the iron cage was arranged in tiers, all hidden in darkness.

The swordsman standing in the iron cage slightly squinted his eyes. Coming from darkness to such a bright place, he needed to adjust his eyes.

The swordsman waited a few seconds, and finally his eyes adapted to the bright environment. He still couldn’t see the situation in the stands clearly, only vague figures moving about.

He heard the audience making various clamorous noises and the host shouting wildly into the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this fifth-level swordsman comes from the Outer Star Realm. He is a seasoned veteran. His nickname is Old Soldier. Today, his opponent is Blood Drinking, whom everyone surely knows, as Blood Drinking is our ace swordsman..."

As the host introduced, Blood Drinking appeared.

Blood Drinking was tall and strong, holding a long sword. Wearing heavy black armor, he looked extremely fierce.

The audience was evidently very familiar with Blood Drinking, erupting in huge cheers. The scene was very lively.

Blood Drinking also raised both arms, nodding to the surrounding audience.

Under the host’s command, the two swordsmen quickly began their battle.

Since it was a true sword combat, although both wore armor, it only protected their crucial chest and abdomen areas. Getting struck anywhere else would almost instantly end the fight.

Therefore, both swordsmen behaved very cautiously, circling each other. No one was in a rush to make a move.

"Both of them are fifth-level swordsmen. This fight should be very exciting."

Bai Yutang introduced the battle situation to Gao Xuan, her eyes sparkling, clearly very interested in this true sword duel.

Gao Xuan was also a bit surprised. A fifth-level swordsman was quite impressive, capable of making a living anywhere. Yet, he came here to participate in such a brutal true sword duel.

Even though medical technology is advanced now, if one’s head is chopped, survival is impossible.

In this kind of underground true sword duel, swordsmen are consumables.

This shows how powerful this underground true sword duel arena must be.

"Blood Drinking is going to win. This ace swordsman indeed has a lot of strength."

Before Bai Yutang’s voice fell, Blood Drinking suddenly went on to slash horizontally multiple times.

The old soldier swordsman, forced into a corner, rolled horizontally on the ground to avoid the powerful horizontal slice. Yet, he didn’t expect this strike to be a feint, and Blood Drinking quickly followed up with another fierce slash.

The old soldier, rolling on the ground, had no way to evade, and could only raise his sword with both hands to block forcefully.

The two swords clashed, and the old soldier’s sword was suddenly driven downward forcefully.

Blood Drinking’s heavy sword deeply embedded into the old soldier’s shoulder, pinning him to the ground.

The old soldier’s face was full of despair, helplessly looking at Blood Drinking, eyes filled with pleading and pity.

However, the audience was boiling, all shouting together: "Kill, kill, kill..."

Blood Drinking seemed to receive some form of instruction. He grinned viciously, slowly slicing horizontally to sever the old soldier’s neck.

Seeing the old soldier’s head and body separate, the audience shrieked with excitement, bringing the atmosphere to its peak.

Bai Yutang’s bright eyes sparkled as she appreciated the slaughter before her.

She glanced at Gao Xuan beside her, noticing he wasn’t excited nor frightened, appearing very calm.

This made her somewhat doubt if Gao Xuan could see the on-site battle.

Until now, Bai Yutang hadn’t figured out the functioning mode and observation range of Gao Xuan’s mental sensing.

For this, Bai Yutang had conducted several tests.

Evidently, Gao Xuan could perceive things that ordinary people could see. He could even observe colors, including specific shapes of objects, and other details.

However, mental sensing is clearly not the same as vision and cannot be considered as such.

The box they were in was the top VIP box, approximately a straight line distance of nearly a hundred meters from the duel arena. At this distance, if Gao Xuan couldn’t sense the situation in the duel arena, it would be quite normal.

"Ah Xuan, can you see the fight?" Bai Yutang asked casually.

"Barely, I can sense it."

Gao Xuan said, "The old soldier died by decapitation, quite tragic."

Only then did Bai Yutang believe Gao Xuan could indeed sense things from a hundred meters away. This kind of mental sensing was indeed impressive.

She explained casually, "Real life is just this cruel. This old soldier owed huge gambling debts and could only put himself on the line. As a result, he lost and could only die in the duel arena."

Bai Yutang said with some emotion, "In the Star River Era, humans have become more realistic. Everything they do is for profit."

"I always feel Sister Tang is reminding me to repay the money." Gao Xuan said with a smile.

"Haha, not at all."

Bai Yutang chuckled, "Tens of millions are nothing to me. You can pay me back when you have money."

Bai Yutang emphasized, "I am just reminding you, the Alliance is a business alliance, and it is the commercial era now. Everything is based on profit. Whatever you want, money is a necessary foundation."

Gao Xuan sighed and said, "I’ve noticed, making money doesn’t seem to be that easy."

He was also curious, "How much do fifth-level swordsmen get paid per match?"

"Fifth-level swordsmen are already quite rare. With high risks, their pay per match is usually two to three million entry fees."

"That’s quite a lot of money."

Gao Xuan’s interest was piqued, "Then if I win ten matches, I could earn tens of millions."

"No, that’s too dangerous."

Bai Yutang, holding Gao Xuan’s hand, said, "I would never let you take such risks."

She paused and then said very seriously, "I’ll give you the Seven-Star Treasure Pearl as a gift. I don’t want the money."

"Sister Tang, don’t be like this."

Gao Xuan also said seriously, "Friends and money are separate. Don’t mix them together."

Bai Yutang, somewhat helpless, said, "No matter what, you should never participate in true sword duels."

She lowered her voice and said, "The bosses of these underground duel arenas are very powerful. They’re part of a huge organization. I can’t afford to mess with them. Once you enter their game and make money from them, forget about escaping."

Gao Xuan nodded; he was inclined to believe that Bai Yutang wasn’t lying to him. As an assassin himself, he was well acquainted with the dark world.

What he had said earlier was just a casual remark to test Bai Yutang’s attitude.

He didn’t expect Bai Yutang to be so concerned about him. But then again, it could be that Bai Yutang was just putting on an act.

The Six-winged Celestial Cicada, despite being spiritually the most adept, lacked the ability to read people’s hearts.

Bai Yutang was the kind of person who wouldn’t easily show any flaw, even when lying.

Moreover, he quite enjoyed chatting with Bai Yutang. There was some sentiment between them.

It’s the same old saying, bad people are still human... You can’t treat them as monsters.

Even Gao Xuan quite admired Bai Yutang. She was beautiful and charming, smart and gentle. She treated him very well. Even if she had ulterior motives, the kindness still made him very comfortable and satisfied.

Bai Yutang was holding Gao Xuan’s hand and talking when someone suddenly knocked on the door.

A short and stout old man walked in, holding a hefty cigar in his hand, with an unmistakably brutal smile on his face.

"Yutang is here, how come you didn’t say anything."

The old man seemed very enthusiastic. His glance swept over Gao Xuan, then to Bai Yutang and Gao Xuan’s clasped hands, and his eyes briefly narrowed.

"This young man looks unfamiliar. Is he Yutang’s brother?"

Bai Yutang smiled slightly, "He’s my brother."

She then introduced Gao Xuan, "This is Boss Hong, Hong Anfu. He’s not only the boss of this underground duel arena but also a big shot in Mingjing City’s underworld."

"I don’t dare take that title."

Hong Anfu was elated by the compliment, yet maintained a modest posture on the surface.

He then said to Gao Xuan, "Brother, you’re really handsome. If you got into the ring, you wouldn’t even need to fight; just your looks would make the women go crazy."

Bai Yutang interrupted Hong Anfu, "My brother is a good person. I just brought him here to broaden his horizons."

Hong Anfu looked at the sunglasses on Gao Xuan’s face and found it a bit odd. The room wasn’t brightly lit, and it was far from the duel arena. What was the point of wearing big sunglasses?

Moreover, keeping them on in his presence, what did that mean?

Suddenly, Hong Anfu had a thought, remembering the rumors circulating about Bai Yutang keeping a pretty boy named Gao Xuan. It’s said that this pretty boy is blind.

Could it be him?

Hong Anfu cautiously asked, "Is this young brother’s surname Gao?"

"Gao Xuan."

Gao Xuan smiled, "Please take care of me in the future, Boss Hong."

Hong Anfu sneered internally; damn, a gigolo, and a blind gigolo at that.

His face, however, was full of hearty laughter, "If you’re Yutang’s brother, you’re my brother. Add me as a friend, and feel free to reach out if you ever need anything."

Hong Anfu exchanged contact information with Gao Xuan, then turned to Bai Yutang and said, "Yutang, come find me when you have a moment; there’s something I want to discuss with you."

Bai Yutang nodded. After Hong Anfu left, she solemnly warned Gao Xuan, "Hong Anfu is the kind of person who would squeeze oil out of his own mother; he’s rotten to the bone. Don’t have any dealings with him."

"I’m not interested in mingling with such an ugly wretch."

Gao Xuan said, "Besides, he seems very hostile towards me, and I don’t know why."

Curious, Gao Xuan asked, "Could this Toad be jealous of the bond between us siblings?"

"Haha, your tongue is sharp."

Bai Yutang then reminded, "Fatty Hong is especially petty. Be careful what you say about him. If he hears, he’ll hold a grudge against you for life."

Bai Yutang and Gao Xuan exchanged a few more words before she got up and left the private room, heading to Hong Anfu’s office.

There were two bodyguards in the office, both wearing exoskeleton armor.

Bai Yutang glanced at them and said with some amusement, "Isn’t this a bit much?"

"The Blood Sword has been rampant in Mingjing City recently, so it’s better to be cautious."

Hong Anfu pointed to the sofa and said, "Yutang, it’s been a while since you came by. The quality of the supplies you’re providing is getting worse."

Bai Yutang coldly replied, "Aren’t ten Level 5 swordsmen enough? How many more do you want?"

"Level 5 swordsmen are too expensive. I’d rather have a batch of something more affordable."

Hong Anfu said, "You mentioned last time about a batch of fifteen-year-old swordsmen. I’ll take them all. Child death matches are thrilling."

"Eight hundred thousand each, how many do you want?"

"That’s too expensive. Six hundred thousand."

"A hundred for seventy million in total."

"Alright, it’s a deal. Make the delivery soon."

Bai Yutang and Hong Anfu often did business together, and within a few words, they had finalized a deal.

"You guys are the real money-makers, casually abducting a batch of kids and selling them for tens of millions. Tsk tsk..."

Hong Anfu enviously remarked.

"You don’t lose out either. These swordsmen can fetch a profit in fights. Even if they die, you can break down their bodies for organs, extract genes, and resell for money. Finally, they can be used to feed Alien Beasts."

Bai Yutang calmly said, "You even make money off the bone scraps; what’s there to be dissatisfied with?"

Hong Anfu dryly chuckled, "Yutang, you really know your way around, haha."

Hong Anfu’s eyes glinted as he said, "Yutang, why don’t you sell Gao Xuan to me? He’s so handsome, wealthy noblewomen would go crazy for him!"

"Impossible." Bai Yutang rejected flatly.

Hong Anfu seemed unconcerned, "You’re just playing around, why keep him long-term?"

He thought for a moment, then extended a short, thick hand, "I’ll give you five hundred million; that should be enough!"

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