67: Pei Lin

Today, Pei Lin was dressed to the nines, swaying gracefully, but the jealousy and arrogance on her face completely ruined her good looks.

Bai Yao felt annoyed. She was here for business and had no time to play boring games of rivalry with a spoiled little girl like this.

She indifferently withdrew her gaze, refocusing her attention on the auction stage downstairs.

This complete disregard made Pei Lin feel more humiliated than any sharp words could have.

She recalled that last time at the Auction House, it was this Female who caused the usually aloof and reserved Great Priest Xing Che to make an exception, protect her, and even publicly rebuke Pei Lin.

That humiliation and jealousy tormented her heart day and night.

She had finally managed to find out that Bai Yao was here, and knowing that Great Priest Xing Che had just been called away on important business, she couldn't wait to bring people to block her door.

Seeing that Bai Yao dared to ignore her so completely, Pei Lin immediately flew into a rage and rushed into the private room in a few steps.

"Who do you think will protect you this time? Lord Xing Che isn't here! Let's see who can save you today!"

The Beastman Servant of the Auction House standing by recognized both of them as distinguished guests, especially Miss Bai Yao, whom the Great Priest had personally instructed them to treat with caution.

He quickly bowed and tried to dissuade her: "Miss Pei, please calm your anger. Miss Bai Yao is indeed a distinguished guest of the Great Priest, look, this..."

"Shut up!"

Pei Lin interrupted sharply, "What are you? How dare you lecture me?"

Spoiled by habit at home, she would never tolerate disobedience from a lowly servant.

With a wave of her fair hand, the two guards behind her immediately stepped forward, unceremoniously hauling the servant who tried to mediate out, and slammed the door of the private room shut.

In an instant, only Bai Yao, Pei Lin, and a calm-faced personal guard beside Pei Lin remained in the spacious private room.

The guard frowned slightly and whispered a reminder into Pei Lin's ear: "Miss, this action might be inappropriate. She is, after all, the Great Priest's guest. If something happens here, and the Great Priest investigates..."

"What is there to fear?"

Pei Lin snorted coldly, "Father said that as long as no one dies, the Fox Tribe can settle it for me. Today, I must teach her a lesson she'll never forget."

"We'll leave once it's done. This Auction House is full of mixed characters; who can prove it was us?"

She was certain that Bai Yao had shallow foundations and would have to swallow her resentment even if she suffered a loss.

Although their conversation was quiet, Bai Yao heard every word clearly.

She sneered inwardly. It seemed this trouble was unavoidable. Since the other party had actively sought her out, wouldn't she be wasting their kind intentions if she didn't cooperate?

Since she couldn't avoid it, why not use this opportunity to give her soon-to-be-released New Weapon a groundbreaking advertisement in front of these self-important Beastman Nobles?

The corner of Bai Yao's eye swept over the long wooden box beside her. Lying quietly inside was the crossbow she had meticulously modified.

Just as Pei Lin signaled the guards to attack, Bai Yao suddenly stood up from her chair, took two steps back, and sharply raised her voice.

"Miss Pei, please don't do this. I know you have always admired the Great Priest, but... but I am just an ordinary Weapon Craftsman, merely favored by the Great Priest for my skill."

"I never intended to compete with you! Why must you make things so difficult for me?"

The guests bidding downstairs stopped their movements one after another, looking up at the second floor in astonishment. Beastmen have extraordinary hearing, and they caught most of Bai Yao's words.

"So it's because of the Great Priest..."

"Miss Pei Lin of the Fox Tribe? She's far too overbearing..."

"Tsk, their rivalry has actually reached the Auction House. How unseemly."

Pei Lin's face turned from red to green, and then from green to white with rage.

Her most shameful secret was exposed nakedly by Bai Yao in public, and her reason was instantly burned to ashes by fury.

"You... what nonsense are you talking about!"

"Grab this vile woman who is spouting nonsense! Tear her mouth apart!"

The two guards received the order and strode toward Bai Yao. They were burly and muscular, radiating immense pressure; ordinary Females would likely have collapsed before them.

However, Bai Yao merely stood still. Just as the two guards were only three steps away, close enough to almost grab her clothes, she moved.

She abruptly flipped open the wooden box beside her. A crossbow was already in her hand; stringing, loading, and aiming were done in one smooth motion. The cold arrowhead of the Crossbow Bolt was precisely locked onto the two guards charging ahead.

"One step further,"

"And I will let everyone witness what a true Instrument of Slaughter is."

The two guards were intimidated by her sudden explosive aura and the unseen weapon, and their steps involuntarily paused.

But Bai Yao gave them no chance to react.

"Swish—Swish—"

Two extremely faint sounds of piercing the air rang out almost simultaneously.

Two short, sharp Crossbow Bolts transformed into two streaks of black lightning, shooting out at a speed difficult for the naked eye to catch.

"Pfft."

The Crossbow Bolts pierced the thick, hard shoulder blades of the two Wolf Tribe guards with absolute precision.

What was more horrifying was the terrifying impact force attached to the bolts, which actually sent the two Burly Men, each weighing over two hundred catties, flying backward.

"Ah..."

Blood instantly gushed out, dripping down the arrow shaft. The two guards, known for their bravery and strength, could only squeeze out painful whimpers from deep in their throats... The entire Auction House fell into dead silence.

Everyone's eyes widened. A slender, frail Female...

Had actually... actually disabled two powerful Male guards in an instant, just by relying on a bizarre-looking weapon?

"beast god above, what kind of vicious weapon is that?"

"Such speed! Such fierce strength! There was no time to react at all."

"One strike to kill the enemy? No, it was precise control of the enemy. She didn't even use a shred of Beast Soul Power!"

"A Female, relying on an external object, can possess such terrifying strength? Is the world about to change?"

...Before everyone could continue their discussion, Bai Yao shut the second-floor window with a "snap."

Immediately afterward, she calmly took out a new Crossbow Bolt from the wooden box, re-strung the crossbow, and slotted the bolt into the groove.

She slowly walked toward Pei Lin, who was already scared out of her wits, steadily raising the fully-loaded crossbow in her hand, the arrowhead pointing directly at Pei Lin's bloodless face.

"Now,"

"Does Miss Pei still believe I need anyone's protection to gain a foothold on this land?"

Pei Lin trembled all over, her delicate makeup smeared by tears and fear. "Y-you can't kill me... My father is a Fox Tribe Elder... If you kill me, the Fox Tribe will hunt you down endlessly..."

She incoherently dragged out her last backing.

Bai Yao sneered, full of disdain. She moved her wrist slightly, lowering the Crossbow Bolt.

"Swish!"

A cold light flashed!

The Crossbow Bolt grazed the skin near Pei Lin's upper thigh, precisely shooting through her magnificent skirt, pinning her firmly to the floor.

"Ah..."

Pei Lin let out an extremely shrill scream, believing her leg was ruined.

"If this bolt had been off by three more inches."

Bai Yao leaned down, "Miss Pei, you likely wouldn't be able to use these legs again in this lifetime to chase after the person you can never reach."

Extreme fear and shame instantly broke down Pei Lin's last psychological defense.

Her eyes rolled back, and without making another sound, she fainted. A foul, musky odor permeated the air.

The door to the private room had been silently pushed open at some point.

Xing Che, dressed in his Priest Robes, leaned elegantly against the door frame, looking as if he had been observing for quite some time.

A playful curve slowly lifted the corner of his mouth on his usually impassive, handsome face.

"It seems,"

"I arrived at an inconvenient time."

"Great Priest, did you enjoy this 'Watching the Fire from the Other Side' show?"

Bai Yao's tone was neither humble nor arrogant, even carrying a hint of retort.

"I enjoyed it. Everyone downstairs is very interested in the New Toy you have. Let's go. It's time to demonstrate its value."