Xu Zihuang did not linger on the two girls; he withdrew his gaze.
The two blue-haired maidens opposite him were indeed quite attractive, especially the one who looked only a few years older than Xu Zihuang.
Her height, just under one meter sixty-five, was not tall but perfectly proportioned. Her snow-white skin glowed with a healthy flush, her small delicate nose slightly upturned, lips soft and pink. Beneath her long, thick lashes, her aquamarine eyes were pure and bright. She wore a white silk puffed gown, exposing a pair of slender calves as pale as lotus roots. Around each delicate ankle gleamed a silver chain. Her aquamarine shoulder-length hair curled slightly, carrying a unique allure.
Yet for Xu Zihuang, born of the imperial clan of the Sun Moon Empire, noble ladies of such beauty and grace had surrounded him since childhood. This much was hardly enough to catch his eye.
As the girl known as "Water-sister" grew increasingly embarrassed, Director Zhu let out a satisfied hum and led Xu Zihuang and the others deeper into the VIP passage.
The lighting here was dimmer, the air cooler, peaceful and serene.
Before long, a heavy door of purple sandalwood came into view. Nearly five meters tall and more than three meters wide, it was carved with intricate patterns.
Director Zhu, walking ahead, lightly knocked a few times before pushing the door open.
If the door was refined and understated, the interior beyond was nothing short of extravagant. Except for the wall with the entrance, the other three walls of this hundred-square-meter VIP suite were inlaid entirely with deep-violet crystal. Specially treated, the crystal blocked the view from outside while allowing those inside a clear sight of the vast auction hall below.
Only two figures occupied the broad suite: Yao Yang and Wang Xiao, who had arrived in Moon Axis City ahead of time.
They sat on a wide sofa in the center. When Xu Zihuang entered behind Director Zhu, both immediately rose to greet him.
"Zihuang, you're here so soon? Didn't Uncle Wang say you planned to stroll through Moon Axis City first?"
"I had intended to, but something unexpected happened along the way." Xu Zihuang smiled faintly, his eyes sliding briefly toward Director Zhu.
He had not expected Yao Yang to so openly expose his connection with Wang Xiao in front of her.
It seemed this Director Zhu's relationship with Yao Yang was indeed not ordinary.
From the moment they entered, her gaze had lingered on Yao Yang, but he had never once met her eyes. Pouting with faint resentment, she clicked away on her crystal heels, leaving the room.
"Since I have brought them, I will not disturb Lord City Master's important discussion."
Behind Xu Zihuang, Meng Lang and the others glanced at each other knowingly and withdrew as well.
Now, in the spacious top-class suite, only Xu Zihuang, Yao Yang, and Wang Xiao remained.
Xu Zihuang made himself at home, lounging onto the sofa by the crystal table. Resting his hands behind his neck, he gave Yao Yang a teasing smile.
"Brother Yang, does Director Zhu like you?"
Yao Yang's expression froze, then he shook his head helplessly.
"Yao'er may indeed depend on me somewhat. We've known each other since childhood. During that calamity back then, her family—long allied with mine—was also destroyed. Later, when His Highness the Prince rescued me from those evil soul masters and I came alone to Moon Axis Island, I was fortunate to discover she had survived. Though at first I had Uncle Wang's hidden support, it still took me nearly ten years before I fully regained control of the island. Through those years, it was she and I supporting one another."
So, Director Zhu's real name was Zhu Yao.
"Oh, so it's childhood friends, sharing hardship together." Xu Zihuang's smile did not fade.
"Brother Yang, you can fool yourself, but don't try to fool us."
Yao Yang sat beside him, flushed with embarrassment, and scolded with a laugh:
"Enough, Zihuang, don't tease me. Better worry about yourself. With your talent, even without your identity as imperial bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire, when you're grown the women entangled with you will be countless. Let's see how you choose then."
Only before Xu Zihuang and Wang Xiao could this Viscount of Moon South, a man others saw as lofty and unapproachable, reveal his truest self.
"Choose?" Xu Zihuang straightened, violet eyes clear with doubt.
"Brother Yang, what do you mean? Why would I choose? Why not just take them all?"
It was not bravado, but the honest thought of his heart. From childhood, as a prince of the imperial clan, fidelity had never once been part of his education.
Yao Yang frowned, meeting Xu Zihuang's gaze. Strictly speaking, he was not wrong. In both the Sun Moon Empire and the three former empires of Douluo, most noble sons had three wives and four concubines.
On the Douluo Continent, strength defined status, and the strong stood above others.
Yet with his impression of Xu Zihuang's father, to hear the son speak thus still felt strange. Father and son—yet their views stood worlds apart.
At the side, Wang Xiao explained at the right moment:
"Back then, His Highness the Prince was often occupied with state affairs. The young master's early tutelage was all under the palace's unified system."
That explained it.
Yao Yang rubbed his forehead, letting the matter drop.
By now, the auction hall below was filling with people. At its center stood a circular stage, with seats arranged in radiating rings.
Five sections divided the seating: the three rows nearest the stage were red, then black, violet, yellow, and white further outward—each color denoting the bidders' rank.
Naturally, there were also private suites like the one Xu Zihuang occupied. These too had crystal walls treated to conceal their interiors. The difference was that this top-level suite allowed a clear view into all the others.
Noticing the growing bustle, Yao Yang smoothly shifted the subject.
"Zihuang, for this auction, Uncle Wang and I decided to put up that living thousand-year Demonic Killer Whale and several dried ten-thousand-year whale tendons. One reason is to gather funds for rare metals. The other is to give you some insight into the major powers of the Moon South Archipelago."