It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

In a private room, the Chairman of the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce sat leisurely, his attire luxurious, his face etched with the passage of time. He sipped tea, his demeanor calm and composed.

“Darling, where is this ‘important guest’ you mentioned? I need to attend the auction soon. Man’er is already waiting for me,” a beautiful woman said, massaging his shoulders. “This is the first time someone has stood you up, isn’t it?” Her tone was laced with annoyance.

She knew her husband placed great importance on this meeting, arriving at the auction house early in the morning to wait.

But nearly an hour had passed, and the “important guest” was still nowhere to be seen.

Chairman Huang chuckled, stroking his beard. “I didn’t make an appointment with him.”

“What?”

The woman stared at him, dumbfounded. “If you didn’t make an appointment, how do you know he’s coming?”

“He’ll come. It’s business,” Chairman Huang replied with a knowing smile. “It would be troublesome if he didn’t.”

His wife’s brow furrowed with worry. “Is this deal that important?”

“If he doesn’t come, I’ll make a fortune. And that worries me.”

“Worried about making money?” his wife repeated, confused.

Chairman Huang tapped his jade ring against the table. “There’s no such thing as easy money in this world. If I make a fortune now, I might have to pay a higher price later.”

“Free things aren’t always truly free.”

His wife nodded slowly, as if understanding, but not quite.

“Darling, it’s been over an hour. The auction is about to start. If I don’t leave now, Man’er will be upset,” she said.

“Let her be upset. You spoil her too much. That’s why she’s so reckless. One day, she’ll learn her lesson the hard way,” Chairman Huang frowned.

His tone was stern, but his expression softened as he thought of his daughter.

“Fine, go find Man’er. If he doesn’t show up, I’ll visit him myself in the next few days.”

He had no sons, only a daughter with his wife. They had doted on her since she was a child, spoiling her rotten.

His wife nodded and left the room.

Moments later, Feiying, clad in her red cheongsam, entered the room. “Chairman, the auction is about to begin.”

Chairman Huang rolled two smooth, round gemstone balls in his hand. “I know, but you usually handle these matters. There’s no need to consult me.”

He paused, then asked casually, “Is there something else?”

“The young master of the Mu family is here requesting an audience. He claims to be the ‘important guest’ you’re waiting for.”

Feiying hesitated, glancing at the Chairman, whose expression remained unreadable. “Shall I turn him away?”

“No. Go and host the auction.”

Chairman Huang set down the gemstone balls and chuckled, stroking his beard. “For an important guest, it’s only fitting that I greet him personally. We must show our sincerity.”

Feiying stared at him, surprised.

Then, she remembered the Mu family’s young master, his bold actions and his words.

Could it be… the Chairman’s “important guest” was truly that playboy from the Mu family?

She raised a hand to her lips, her eyes flickering.

…

Chairman Huang entered the private room and saw the young man sipping tea.

Mu Zhi’an looked up, smiling. “Uncle Huang.”

Chairman Huang smiled back and took a seat across from him.

A servant poured him a cup of tea, then discreetly retreated.

He dismissed the remaining servants, then took a sip of tea, a sigh escaping his lips. “Nephew Mu, I haven’t slept well these past few days.”

“If you’re having trouble sleeping, Uncle, I can ask Elder Ren to concoct some calming pills for you,” Mu Zhi’an said, his voice filled with concern.

“Thank you. Please convey my gratitude to Elder Ren,” Chairman Huang chuckled.

He paused, then sighed again. “But the key to a good night’s sleep isn’t medicine, Nephew Mu. It’s you.”

“Me?”

Chairman Huang nodded. “I was worried you saw me as an outsider. That’s why I couldn’t sleep.”

Mu Zhi’an smiled. “How could that be, Uncle? I’ve always considered you a close friend. That’s why I came to see you today.”

He got straight to the point. “You’ve heard about the black-robed man, haven’t you, Uncle? As long as he’s in Tianxuan City, none of us can rest easy.”

Chairman Huang nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Nephew Mu. We must get rid of him.”

He paused, then continued, “However, the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce is a relatively new establishment. Our foundation is weak. I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer. But if you need anything, just ask. I’ll do my best to help.”

It was always a pleasure dealing with smart people. Mu Zhi’an nodded. “Actually, I asked Feiying for some herbs earlier. They’re necessary for dealing with the black-robed man.”

Chairman Huang waved his hand dismissively. “Consider those herbs a gift, Nephew Mu. And I’ll provide you with some gold to cover the expenses of this operation.”

Mu Zhi’an shook his head. “I don’t need gold, Uncle. But I do need some Spirit Stones.”

He glanced at the generous Chairman.

If gold and silver were the currency of the mortal realm, Spirit Stones were the currency of the cultivation world.

Unlike gold and silver, Spirit Stones could be refined and absorbed, providing cultivators with pure spiritual energy.

For cultivators, Spirit Stones were far more valuable than any earthly treasure.

Of course, gold and silver still had their uses. In the mortal realm, they were the only currency that mattered.

Chairman Huang’s eyes flickered. “Spirit Stones. How many do you need, Nephew Mu?”

“Fifty thousand,” Mu Zhi’an replied.

Normally, even disciples from large sects only received two or three thousand Spirit Stones as their monthly allowance. He’d estimated that fifty thousand was the most Chairman Huang would be willing to part with.

However, the Chairman shook his head.

“No, that’s not enough.”

He looked at Mu Zhi’an, his expression serious. “I’ll give you one hundred thousand.”

Mu Zhi’an was stunned.

He hadn’t expected this. The Chairman wasn’t haggling. He’d doubled the amount!

“The black-robed man isn’t worth that much,” Mu Zhi’an protested.

“But you are, Nephew Mu.”

Chairman Huang set down his teacup and smiled. “You know I’m a businessman. I have no interest in power struggles. As long as I can live comfortably, I’m content.”

“As for your disagreements with the Gongsun and Bai families, I have no interest in getting involved.”

He was saying, I’ll provide the funds, but don’t drag me into your squabbles. I just want to make money… Mu Zhi’an understood.

“There’s something I don’t understand, Uncle,” Mu Zhi’an said. “If you don’t want to get involved, why did you cooperate with the Gongsun family to target the Bai family?”

Chairman Huang shook his head. “I never resorted to violence against the Bai family. In our line of work, we call it a ‘business war.’”

Come to think of it, he’d never sent anyone to attack the Bai family. At least, according to the information he had, the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce had only focused on undermining the Bai family’s business in Tianxuan City. Mu Zhi’an thought to himself.

“I’ll have the Spirit Stones delivered to the Mu Manor shortly. I hope they’re of use,” Chairman Huang said with a smile.

“You’re a wise man, Uncle Huang,” Mu Zhi’an replied sincerely.

Chairman Huang laughed heartily, setting down his teacup.

“And you’re a smart one, Nephew Mu.”

They chatted for a while longer, then Chairman Huang said, “The auction is still going on. If you’re interested, you can watch from a private room. Feiying is hosting today.”

He knew Mu Zhi’an had been interested in Feiying in the past. And he didn’t want to offend her.

With her skills, she could easily find work at another auction house.

And more importantly, due to her connections, he couldn’t afford to retaliate if she left.

As a businessman, he prioritized profit. He wouldn’t act rashly if it meant jeopardizing his business.

The one hundred thousand Spirit Stones he’d given Mu Zhi’an and his cautious approach towards Feiying were both motivated by profit.

“Well, since I’m already here…” Mu Zhi’an nodded.

Chairman Huang smiled. “But be careful, Nephew Mu. Don’t do anything inappropriate to Feiying. If you cause trouble, I won’t be able to help you.”

After all, Feiying had a powerful older sister.

She was a disciple of the Two Polarities Sect.

And rumor had it she was already an inner disciple.

The Two Polarities Sect… That alone was a deterrent.

The sect’s elders wouldn’t intervene in mundane matters.

But being a disciple of the sect meant connections.

Offending Feiying could mean offending a lot of people. Chairman Huang was well aware of this.

Mu Zhi’an smiled. “I understand.”

He understood better than anyone.

Killing one person often meant making an enemy of many. Kill someone, and their father might seek revenge. Kill the father, and the grandfather might appear, followed by the great-grandfather, and even the ancestor.

Even in the world of cultivation, connections mattered.

Those protagonists who killed with impunity… they were Chosen Ones, blessed with immense destiny. They were difficult to kill.

In reality, if you killed someone far more powerful than you, you wouldn’t get away with it.

Led by a servant, Mu Zhi’an arrived at the auction floor and settled into a private room.

It was spacious and comfortable, a welcome respite from the noise and crowds outside.

However, as he sat down, something caught his eye.

Among the bidders on the auction floor, he saw a familiar face.

Ye Yu.

“What a coincidence”

Mu Zhi’an chuckled. Was he destined to clash with the protagonist?

It might be a coincidence, but it felt as if fate was constantly trying to pit Ye Yu against him, to elevate the protagonist at the expense of the supporting character.

On the stage, Feiying, her figure alluring in her red cheongsam, surveyed the crowd, her voice soft and seductive. “The next item is rather unique. It’s said to be a fragment of a weapon wielded by an ancient expert. While it might seem rusty now, perhaps a skilled craftsman could restore it to its former glory.”

Mu Zhi’an looked at the item on display. It was an ordinary-looking bronze shard, its surface etched with intricate patterns, but it was broken and tarnished.

The bidders lost interest.

If Feiying wasn’t the one hosting the auction, they would probably be demanding refunds.

They hadn’t come here to bid on junk.

“Starting bid: one hundred Spirit Stones.”

Silence met her words. No one raised a hand.

Feiying wasn’t surprised. She continued smiling at the crowd.

They didn’t understand the true value of this bronze shard… While it might look like scrap metal, according to her sources, it was indeed a fragment of a weapon wielded by an ancient expert.

One hundred Spirit Stones was practically giving it away. If someone could integrate this shard into a weapon, it would become a priceless treasure.

Even if it couldn’t be used, it was still a valuable collectible.

Unfortunately, no one in the room seemed to recognize its potential.

“One hundred and fifty Spirit Stones.”

A young man’s voice, calm and clear, broke the silence.

Feiying looked towards the source of the voice, her brow furrowed in surprise.

It was that cripple from the Ye family. She’d heard he’d reached the peak of Qi Condensation in just a few months. A true genius.

So, there was someone with discerning eyes… A hint of admiration flickered in her gaze.

Ye Yu, noticing her attention, felt a surge of pride. He maintained a calm facade, but his eyes burned with excitement as he stared at the bronze shard.

The old man slumbering within him had declared it to be a treasure. He had to obtain it.

Thankfully, no one else seemed to recognize its value. Otherwise, things would get complicated.

“One hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. Do I hear a higher bid?”

Feiying scanned the crowd, then continued, “One hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, once—”

“Five hundred Spirit Stones.”

A voice echoed from a private room.

The entire auction floor seemed to freeze. Ye Yu stared at the room, his jaw slack with shock.

Even without seeing the bidder’s face, he recognized the voice.

… Mu Zhi’an.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming charged with a strange tension.

The other bidders recognized the voice as well, their gazes turning towards Ye Yu, filled with knowing smiles.

It was no secret that Mu Zhi’an and Ye Yu were rivals. Mu Zhi’an was clearly bidding against him out of spite.

Him again. Ye Yu glared at the private room, his eyes burning with anger.

However, Mu Zhi’an, who was enjoying a cup of tea and a shoulder massage in his private room, was oblivious to the drama unfolding below.

Even if he knew, he wouldn’t care.

He only needed to remember one thing.

Anything Ye Yu wanted was definitely a treasure.