Bai Xiaochun's eyes flew wide open, his mind filled with nothing but three thousand spirit stones… Looking at Hou Xiaomei, his eyes gleamed. At this moment, he so badly wanted to rush up and give Hou Xiaomei a big hug and three thousand thumbs-ups…
To tell her: You're amazing!
Inside the auction hall, everyone was in an uproar at this outrageous price. When Hou Xiaomei's voice rang out, everyone froze for a moment and turned to look at her. There they saw a petite, fair-skinned girl, tiny yet lively, standing with her hands on her hips and her chest puffed out proudly like a little chili pepper.
She lifted her chin at Zhou Xinqi, wearing an expression of I'm from a cultivator clan, I fear no one, and I'm filthy rich. Instead of making people annoyed, it made her seem even more adorable.
Quite a few people had smiles in their eyes. Some were even captivated.
"Three thousand one hundred spirit stones!" Zhou Xinqi said calmly, her expression turning cold.
"The little turtle is very important to me! Anything related to his pills, I, Hou Xiaomei, will buy at any cost. Hmph! I'll pay four thousand spirit stones! I'm from a cultivator family, I have plenty of spirit stones!" she emphasized again, especially that last sentence. Beside her, Hou Yunfei lowered his head, looking embarrassed and worried. He didn't know how his sister had become so obsessed with the little turtle over these years — her obsession had grown borderline fanatic.
Around them, Zhou Xinqi's admirers couldn't stand it any longer. Many people began to speak up, criticizing Hou Xiaomei for spending so much on a mere tier-two pill — how wasteful!
"Missy here's loaded — what, you gonna bite me?" Hou Xiaomei snapped right back, puffing out her tiny chest and putting her hands on her hips, her crisp voice defiant.
On the balcony, Bai Xiaochun watched this scene and felt more than ever that his decision to guide Hou Xiaomei back onto the right path years ago had been absolutely correct.
Zhou Xinqi frowned. She didn't have that many spirit stones left. After a moment of silence, she sighed softly and had no choice but to give up.
When Hou Xiaomei saw that Zhou Xinqi didn't bid again, she was overjoyed. In truth, she had only put on a brave front — she didn't actually have that many spirit stones. But with all these people watching, the old ancestor wouldn't dare not to back her up.
In the end, amid Hou Xiaomei's triumph, the triple-spirit-refined pill was successfully bought by her.
Bai Xiaochun felt satisfied and shot an approving look toward Hou Xiaomei in the distance. Clearing his throat, he thought to himself that since Hou Xiaomei admired him so much, it would be wrong if he didn't reveal his true identity to her.
He made up his mind. Seeing that the first day of the auction was ending and his pills were all sold out, he hurried out, planning to reveal his identity to everyone.
At the back of the auction hall, a few elders from the major cultivation clans were guarding the place. A middle-aged man gave a dry cough, glancing at his companions with a wry smile.
"Um… my granddaughter is a bit unruly — apologies for making a spectacle of ourselves." As he spoke, he bitterly took out the matching spirit stones and placed them to the side.
"A pure heart, that's all," the others laughed heartily.
The first day of the auction ended. It would usually last several days, but Bai Xiaochun didn't plan to return. His pills were sold out, and he felt exhilarated as he stepped outside and stood at the entrance, watching the crowd pouring out of the auction hall.
These people were all sect disciples, each one excitedly discussing the Violet Qi Spirit Ascension Pill.
Before long, Bai Xiaochun spotted Zhou Xinqi. There was encouragement and admiration in his eyes, as if urging her not to lose heart. Just as he stepped forward, his gaze startled Zhou Xinqi. She hurriedly looked away, and before he could get close, she transformed into a rainbow streak and flew off.
Bai Xiaochun felt frustrated, but then a delighted voice called from behind him.
"Brother Xiaochun!" Hou Xiaomei squeezed through the crowd, skipping over with a joyful face and swaying her tiny waist. Hou Yunfei followed behind her and, when he saw Bai Xiaochun, he also smiled.
Bai Xiaochun turned away from Zhou Xinqi's departing figure and looked at Hou Xiaomei with approval. He patted her head like an elder.
"Good job, Xiaomei. When you buy something, you need that kind of spirit!"
Hou Xiaomei's face turned red, but she quickly remembered something. Happily, she took out the Violet Qi Spirit Ascension Pill.
"Brother Xiaochun, look! This is a pill made by the little turtle. I bought it! Do you want it? I'll give it to you. Didn't you always say you admired the little turtle the most? I bought it just for you." Her eyes sparkled with innocent affection as she held out the pill to him, her little face full of hopeful excitement. At that moment, it was as if her entire world revolved around Bai Xiaochun alone.
Next to her, Hou Yunfei watched the scene warmly, smiling without saying a word.
Bai Xiaochun was stunned. He hadn't expected her to buy the pill for him. He was deeply moved. Seeing that there were quite a few people around, he took a deep breath, his expression suddenly serious.
"Xiaomei, I have to tell you a huge secret!" Bai Xiaochun's eyes filled with resolve. As he spoke, he radiated an aura of lonely mastery.
Over the years, he had mastered the ability to switch into this persona at any time.
Hou Xiaomei froze, and Hou Yunfei looked surprised too, glancing at Bai Xiaochun.
"What secret?" Hou Xiaomei asked, listening intently with curiosity.
Bai Xiaochun coughed forcefully, lifted his chin, and flicked his sleeve dramatically.
"I, Bai Xiaochun… am that world-famous, unfathomably mysterious, earth-shattering and ghost-weeping… mighty… Lord Turtle!!" Bai Xiaochun threw back his head and laughed wildly. As he spoke these words, he felt deeply emotional — he'd been holding this line in for years. Now, at last, he could say it, and say it in front of his biggest admirer, Hou Xiaomei, and with a whole crowd watching. This was true glory.
Most importantly, he felt it would be wrong to let his admirers never know that their idol was right beside them all along! Bai Xiaochun lifted his head to look at the white clouds overhead, striking a lonely pose. But his ears were pricked up, waiting for Hou Xiaomei and the crowd to gasp in awe.
He'd already prepared what dramatic lines to say next when the exclamations came.
But after a long moment, no sound came at all. The surroundings fell silent. Bai Xiaochun was baffled. He couldn't help but lower his gaze from the clouds and peek at Hou Xiaomei and Hou Yunfei.
Hou Xiaomei was frozen. Hou Yunfei was frozen too. They both stared at Bai Xiaochun in a daze. The disciples filing out from the auction all wore odd expressions.
"The little turtle is a person who shuns fame and wealth, like the drifting clouds in the sky. Uncle Bai actually claims he's the little turtle? Hehe… let's go, let's go."
Bai Xiaochun's face turned dark. He was about to explain.
"Xiaochun, are you okay?" Hou Yunfei asked worriedly, patting Bai Xiaochun's head.
"I really am!" Bai Xiaochun said urgently.
"Ah? Sure, sure, you are, you are…" Hou Yunfei's expression turned awkward, and he quickly nodded.
"Brother Xiaochun, you always told me the little turtle was like the drifting clouds above, indifferent to fame and wealth… In my heart, you and the little turtle are at the same level. You don't have to pretend to be him…" Hou Xiaomei said softly, looking at him with big, gentle eyes.
"I really…" Bai Xiaochun tried to continue, but Hou Yunfei suddenly grabbed his arm seriously.
"Xiaochun, we believe you!"
"I really…" Bai Xiaochun's eyes widened. He just opened his mouth when Hou Yunfei's expression turned even more solemn.
"Xiaochun, we really believe you!"
"I…" Bai Xiaochun felt lost and defeated. No matter how he tried to explain, they wouldn't believe him. The crushing gap between his ideal and reality left him despondent. He turned and drifted away in a daze, not even sure how he made it back to the sect.
Back in his courtyard, he sat staring blankly at the sky, his face full of sorrow.
"I really am Lord Turtle…" He felt so wronged. The grand dream of revealing his identity in front of a crowd had completely shattered.
And he even figured out the reason — he'd hyped up the little turtle too much all these years… so much so that in everyone's minds, the little turtle had become this untouchable, otherworldly figure.
In truth, thanks to his and Hou Xiaomei's efforts, the little turtle had basically been deified…
After a long time, unwilling to give up, he went to find Xu Baocai. Right in front of him, Bai Xiaochun solemnly revealed his true identity. Xu Baocai froze… then nodded repeatedly, saying I believe you.
Bai Xiaochun trudged back to his courtyard and dazed off again.
A few days later, Sun Chen came to visit. Bai Xiaochun felt a spark of hope — Sun Chen knew the pill had come from him!
But before he could speak, Sun Chen handed over a large amount of spirit stones and bowed deeply to Bai Xiaochun, his expression grave and respectful.
"Brother Bai, I didn't know that pill actually came from your sect's hidden genius. My grandfather was shocked too. It seems in our sect, only you have contact with this person — otherwise you wouldn't have the pill.
"Please, Brother Bai, convey to this genius that the Sun Clan wishes to build a long-term friendship. If he ever has pills to sell, we will spare no effort to help!
"Please, Brother Bai, make sure to tell him. I know he shuns fame and wealth, like drifting clouds, pursuing the ultimate Dao of Alchemy. Such a figure will surely soar to the heavens one day. My Sun Clan will handle the worldly matters for him." Sun Chen bowed deeply again. Seeing Bai Xiaochun's vacant expression, he waited a moment, then bowed once more and left.
In his heart, he was amazed — Bai Xiaochun must hold a powerful position in the Spirit Stream Sect to have ties with such a mysterious genius.
Not for a second did he imagine that Bai Xiaochun was the little turtle — the difference in character was just too big. The Spirit Stream Sect disciples knew it, the other cultivation clans knew it too — they had all looked into it and concluded the same thing, matching Zhou Xinqi's assumptions exactly.
Only when the bright moon rose high did Bai Xiaochun come back to his senses. He sighed, his body drifting up onto a bamboo tree in his courtyard. Hands behind his back, he gazed at the stars, mountain winds blowing his hair and robes with a soft rustling sound.
"I never realized how deep in my bones my indifference to fame and wealth runs — like drifting clouds in the sky. Sigh… it's my fault for hiding it too well all these years. Sometimes, being exceptional is a kind of loneliness too." Bai Xiaochun flicked his sleeve dramatically. In the moonlight, his silhouette really did look like a lonely master standing alone in the world.