Chapter 204: Settling in Gold
Ye Lu couldn’t help but shake his shoulders slightly, exhaling a deep breath before turning his gaze back to Yu Luo’s bewildered face.
“There’s no processing fee,” he said with a hint of amusement. “But all transactions at the Feng City auction are settled in gold.”
Yu Luo!
Zhang Hu!
Tao Ming!
Gold?! Two thousand taels of gold—that was two hundred thousand taels of silver!
What in the world had she just done?!
Ha-ha… Two hundred thousand taels of silver…
Running a quick mental calculation, Yu Luo instantly realized why the cost of goods in Feng City was outrageously high, yet the starting bid for a boy that had shocked the entire crowd had only been one thousand taels.
Of course! One thousand taels—in gold!
Even if they had been increasing bids by one thousand silver taels each time, the base bid was the equivalent of ten thousand silver taels!
“Y-Young Master, w-what do we do?!” Tao Ming stammered, his legs trembling as he started to panic. “It’s all my fault! I should’ve asked around before! If we can’t come up with the gold, we might not even make it out of this auction hall alive!”
Even Zhang Hu’s expression darkened, his thick brows furrowing together in deep concern.
Meanwhile, Yu Luo sat there frozen, her spine ramrod straight, her mouth slightly open in stunned silence.
For the first time, she realized—the biggest money-waster in their family wasn’t her mother. It was her!
“Heh… The last time someone bid at the Feng City auction without the ability to pay up, they were immediately dragged onto the auction stage and torn apart by five horses.”
Ye Lu spoke so casually, his lips curled in an easy smile, yet his words were nothing short of cold-blooded.
The moment he said this, the trio became even more petrified.
Almost involuntarily, their gazes flickered toward the high stage once again.
“Young Master, Tao Ming and I will cover you. You must escape. Run out of the auction house and don’t look back,” Zhang Hu said, his voice steady and firm. “If you ever get the chance, please check on our families. And my two brothers—I leave them in your care.”
As Zhang Hu spoke, Yu Luo felt an almost unbearable pressure in her chest.
Was he… saying his last words?!
Already rattled, Yu Luo nearly broke down from hearing this.
“Yes, Young Master!” Tao Ming chimed in, his eyes red but determined. “We failed you on our first trip outside—we’re so sorry. Just leave everything to us. We’ll get you out safely!”
Looking at Zhang Hu’s serious expression and Tao Ming’s unwavering resolve, Yu Luo’s heart softened into a complete mess.
Perhaps her mother had been right—good deeds would always be repaid.
She had simply given Zhang Hu and Tao Ming a little kindness during their darkest days, yet they were willing to risk their lives to protect her?
Yu Luo’s eyes grew misty, but when she lifted her gaze again, her expression was cold and sharp.
Without hesitation, she turned and glared murderously at Ye Lu!
“So, you knew from the very start that we had no idea this auction was conducted in gold?” she spat. “You deliberately didn’t warn us?! You just sat there and watched, waiting for this moment—to see us panic?!”
Ye Lu shrugged, looking completely innocent.
“I wanted to remind you,” he said with an easy smile. “But you shouted ‘twenty thousand taels’ so decisively, without even blinking! There was no chance for me to step in and warn you.”
Yu Luo scoffed, her lips curling into a sneer.
“Oh? And I suppose you weren’t deliberately provoking me?” she retorted. “Telling me the kid was looking at me, calling me ‘sister’? You wanted me to fall into this trap! Look at that smug smile on your face—care to explain what the hell it means? Do you believe I can’t wipe it off for you?!”
With her reason back in place, Yu Luo no longer held back.
She could afford 200,000 taels of silver—but being played like a fool? Being led into a trap like this? That was infuriating!
Since entering Feng City, she had fallen into one pitfall after another—each deeper than the last.
This time, though, she had finally found someone she could take her frustration out on!
Having studied anti-fraud tactics extensively in her past life, Yu Luo had never expected these ancient folks to be so much craftier than modern-day scammers!
And now, she had caught one—she wouldn’t hold back!
Hearing Yu Luo’s furious rant—especially when she suddenly switched her self-reference to “Lao Niang” (this old lady)—Ye Lu’s laughter finally broke through.
“I only spoke the truth,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for not hiding your emotions better. It was written all over your face.”
Yu Luo…
She gritted her teeth, accepting her loss. Fine!
Down below, auction house staff members were already making their way up toward her, holding transaction boards.
If the bidders didn’t come forward to pay, Feng City’s enforcers would come to collect the money themselves.
And if they failed to pay up… well, the consequences wouldn’t be pretty.
Recalling Ye Lu’s warning about the last unfortunate bidder, Yu Luo’s eyes darted toward the advancing warrior, carrying a tray with her auction token.
Sweat beaded on Tao Ming’s forehead, and his knees nearly buckled in sheer terror. His survival instincts screamed at him to run!
Zhang Hu narrowed his eyes, watching the approaching enforcer before turning back to Yu Luo.
“Young Master, you must leave now!” he ordered, gripping the hilt of his sword.
At this moment, Ye Lu’s infuriatingly calm voice rang out again, making Yu Luo want to punch him in the face!
“Heh. If you really don’t have the gold to pay…” Ye Lu drawled, deliberately drawing out the suspense, “…I wouldn’t mind standing with you when Feng City’s enforcers come for you.”
“Pfah! Who the hell wants your help?!” Yu Luo spat.
As if she’d trust this snake!
He had obviously set her up from the start, watching in amusement as she walked right into his trap. This was exactly what he wanted!
“Honored guests,” the auction enforcer finally reached them, his tone completely formal. “This is the token for the violet-eyed boy you just won. After the auction concludes, Feng City’s staff will escort you to claim your purchase. Simply bring this token with you.
Now, may I ask—which of you will be settling the payment?”
