Chapter Eleven: The Charity Auction!

"Mr. Ye, please listen to my explanation."
Seeing Ye Wushang growing angry, An Lan hurriedly spoke up, "I didn't mean to toy with you; I simply wanted to test your skills."
"A few days ago, my personal bodyguard, Ghosthand, was sent abroad for further training by my grandfather."
"Tomorrow night, there is an important charity auction that will affect the An family's fortunes for the next decade. I'm worried someone might try to harm me."
"I witnessed you dealing with Xu Lang in the manor firsthand, and combined with your performance just now, I believe you are the most suitable candidate."
"So, I'd like to hire you as my temporary bodyguard."
"If I offended you just now, I sincerely apologize."
Having finished, An Lan lowered herself, bowing with genuine humility.
After listening to her account, Ye Wushang understood.
"Alright, I forgive you."
His expression softened somewhat, but faced with her earnest request, he declined directly, "But I don't have the time. Miss An, you'd best seek someone else."
All he wanted now was to refine medicine and heal, avoiding any entanglements.
Though he had a decent impression of An Lan, there was no need for excessive contact.
"Mr. Ye!"
Seeing Ye Wushang about to leave, An Lan blocked him again, speaking solemnly, "Tomorrow, my grandfather will have Hanlong Grass delivered."
"But given his current health, he certainly can't bring it himself."
"He dotes on me most, so he'll surely entrust me with the task."
"If you accompany me to the charity event tomorrow, I'll hand over the Hanlong Grass to you. Isn't that the best solution?"
Hearing this, Ye Wushang's expression changed. He replied coldly, "Are you threatening me?"
"If I refuse, you won't give me the Hanlong Grass, is that it?"
An Lan shook her head, "You are the An family's savior; how could I ever threaten you?"
"I'm merely stating the facts. Of course, if you insist on refusing, I won't press you."
With that, she stepped aside, opening the path for him.
But this time, Ye Wushang did not leave.
With her status as the heiress of the An family, she could find any bodyguard she wanted.
Yet she insisted on having him, which meant her adversary was likely not ordinary.
To save someone, one must see it through to the end; to send a Buddha, send him all the way west.
He was genuinely concerned the Hanlong Grass might be used as leverage, and he didn't want to fall before dawn.
"Fine, I accept. Give me the address."
Ye Wushang took a deep breath and warned, "I hope you'll keep your word. If anything changes, don't blame me for turning hostile."
"Rest assured, I promise there will be no issues."
Seeing Ye Wushang agree, An Lan was elated and quickly replied, "Six o'clock tomorrow evening, at the Falling Dust Club."
"Alright, I'll be there on time."

With everything settled, Ye Wushang headed down the slope without looking back.
"Miss, if I may speak bluntly, this Ye fellow does have some skill."
"But perhaps you value him too highly. Tomorrow's charity banquet—the Jiaolong side is likely to make a move."
"Can he really guarantee your safety?"
At that moment, the bald man approached, his tone unfriendly.
They were all An Lan's bodyguards, normally under Ghosthand's command, mostly operating on the periphery.
Now that Ghosthand was absent, their abilities were average, hardly fit for such an important task.
Yet Ye Wushang was exceedingly arrogant. The young lady had already lowered herself, nearly pleading, and he still acted so aloof.
This left him dissatisfied, as did the other bodyguards, who murmured their doubts.
"Quiet, all of you!"
"You are not allowed to disparage Mr. Ye!"
An Lan snapped, lifting her gaze to watch Ye Wushang's departing figure, reflecting, "How could sparrows understand the aspirations of swans? Mr. Ye's abilities are far beyond what you see; I believe he's the most suitable to deal with Jiaolong."
His medical skills are superb.
His martial arts are formidable.
He possesses keen insight.
These were all qualities she had observed in him.
For some reason,
She felt as if he were shrouded in mist, drawing her irresistibly to explore him further.
Her heart fluttered.
Unconsciously, a blush crept over her beautiful face.
...
"Ahem."
With a bout of coughing, Ye Wushang, who was resting under a tree, awoke.
He reached out and found blood in his palm—more than before, and already coagulating, a sign his condition was worsening.
"It seems refining ordinary herbs to consume has little effect."
"Not only does it fail to ease my illness, it offers scant help to my cultivation."
"After a night of practice, I've accomplished nothing; my cultivation is still stalled at the peak of the ninth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, unable to break through."
Ye Wushang sighed despondently, gazing toward the foot of the mountain, lost in thought.
There stood an orphanage, where children played in the courtyard.
Among them was a delicate-faced girl, her eyes vacant, sitting motionless in a wheelchair.
"Wuyou, wait a little longer. Once I obtain the Hanlong Grass tomorrow, I'll advance to the second realm: the Qi Evolution Realm."
"Then I can cure your dementia, and you can tell me our family origins."
That little girl was Ye Wuyou, his own younger sister.
Three years ago, before his mother passed away, she told him he had a sister living in that orphanage.

She had urged him, at all costs, to awaken his sister, for only then could he learn their family's history and find clues to his father's disappearance.
She was poisoned.
The toxin was potent; with his current abilities, he was completely unable to cure it.
After much study, he concluded that only by reaching the Qi Evolution Realm could he open her blocked channels, trace the source, cleanse the poison, and restore her to normal!
The ringtone chimed.
Just then, his phone's notification sounded.
It was half past five in the afternoon.
Yesterday, he and An Lan had agreed he would arrive at the Falling Dust Club before six to protect her as a bodyguard for the night.
That way, he could finally obtain the Azure Dragon Grass as he wished.
He took a deep breath, thought no more of it, flagged a taxi, and headed toward the Falling Dust Club.
...
The Falling Dust Club was a high-end service center offering food, drink, and entertainment.
It belonged to the Family Guild, but tonight's main event belonged to the An family.
The venue was the Guild's, but the host was the An family.
This alone showed the An family's exceptional status among the clans.
At six in the evening, luxury cars gathered, and society's elite converged.
Nearly everyone was looking in one direction!
"Isn't that Lan Ruoxue, the so-called Flower of Jinghan from the Lan family?"
"Wow, her looks and figure put celebrities and online idols to shame."
"She's not only beautiful, but also highly capable. In just three years, she took her company public on her own."
"I heard she got divorced a few days ago—now's our chance!"
Stepping out of her luxury car, Lan Ruoxue strode confidently toward the club entrance.
Tonight, she was dressed to dazzle.
She wore a purple-black gown studded with diamonds, cinched at the waist, accentuating her curves flawlessly.
Her exquisite face was adorned with heavy makeup, yet she did not appear vulgar; rather, she radiated a fiery brilliance.
Especially her long legs, clad in alluring black stockings, the sound of her high heels echoing like a siren's call.
"Ruoxue, first, congratulations on your company's successful listing."
"And second, let me congratulate you in advance for winning the An family's market agency and making your company bigger and stronger!"
A young man in a tailored suit, wearing black-rimmed glasses, approached Lan Ruoxue with a teasing smile.
His name was Sun Chuan Zhi, elder brother to Sun Chuan Long.
...