Chapter 45 – The Heiress of Red Phoenix
Bargaining with the Captives
With the Heart Orchid secured, Lin Xuan turned back to the bound leader of the Red Phoenix squad. The man glared, bloodied but unbroken.
"You risked your lives for this orchid," Lin said evenly, spear resting at his side. "So I'll ask directly—does your auction house hold any of the other ingredients we need?"
The man hesitated, eyes narrowing. "What if it does?"
"Then you'll be ransomed back," Lin replied, his voice calm but cutting. "Not for coin or treasures. For one ingredient. A single trade. You live, your people live, and we take what we need for the Sect Master."
The man's sneer faltered. He understood the weight of those words—Cloudsky Sword Sect did not bluff.
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Arrival at Red Phoenix City
Three days later, the disciples reached Red Phoenix City, a sprawling hub of trade where banners marked with the phoenix crest hung from every gate. The Auction House's headquarters towered above the city like a palace, its walls gleaming crimson and gold.
But as they approached, chaos spilled into the streets.
A beautiful maiden in silk robes embroidered with a phoenix motif sprinted through the crowd, panic in her eyes. Behind her, armored guards wearing the auction house crest pursued relentlessly, blades drawn.
Her gaze fell on the captured leader in Lin's group. "Master Zhou! Save me!" she cried, desperation clear.
But seeing Zhou bound and bloodied, her eyes darted instead to Lin's group. "Please! Help me, and I'll give you one treasure from the vault of the Red Phoenix Auction House. Anything you want!"
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The Street Battle
The guards closed in, shouting orders to seize her. Lin didn't hesitate. He lifted his spear, lightning sparking across the cobblestones.
Bai Liang's saber flashed, cutting down the first wave. Wen's sword intercepted two more, his strikes sharp and merciless. Mu's flames roared, forcing the rest back. Within breaths, the street was ablaze with battle.
The guards were skilled, veterans with disciplined formations, but they weren't prepared for cultivators who had survived the forbidden zone. The disciples cut through them with brutal precision, scattering the rest in terror.
The maiden collapsed to her knees, clutching her chest. "Thank the heavens… I thought I was finished."
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The Heiress Revealed
When she caught her breath, she stood tall, dignity seeping back into her bearing. "I am Feng Xiaoyue, daughter of the Auction Lord of Red Phoenix. My father has been bedridden for months, poisoned by treachery. While he lies weak, his steward—our butler—seeks to usurp control. Those guards were his men, hunting me to end our bloodline."
Lin's group exchanged glances. This was no coincidence—they had stumbled into the very heart of Red Phoenix's turmoil.
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The Next Step
Xiaoyue looked at Lin with eyes sharp as steel despite her exhaustion. "You saved me. Now I will honor my word. I will grant you one treasure from our vault. But… I beg for more. My father needs an alchemist capable of refining a Heaven-grade restorative elixir. If you can help him recover, the Red Phoenix Auction House will owe Cloudsky Sword Sect a debt greater than gold."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with promise.
Lin Xuan's mind churned. This wasn't just about repayment. If the Auction House truly held ingredients needed for the Sect Master's pill, then fate had delivered them into his hands.
But Red Phoenix was no ally. Not yet. They stood on the razor's edge between potential partner and hidden enemy.
Lin's gaze hardened. "Then let's see what secrets your vault holds. And if your words are true—whether Red Phoenix becomes a friend… or another foe."