510: Chapter 510: Even a petal gets stuck on you.

Yue Xinlan froze for a moment.

She felt Ling Hao's fingers undo her twin braids, run through her loose, raven-black hair, and gather it behind her head. His fingertips meticulously smoothed over every strand before he wound it twice and loosely pinned it into a casual, hanging bun at the back of her head.

The experience Ling Hao had gained from styling the hair of so many women proved useful; his movements were unexpectedly careful, and he did not pull on her hair at all.

The Blue Bird Holding a Pearl hair accessory was inserted into the loose bun from behind at an angle. The blue jade bead hung beside her ear, and the short silver tassels swayed slightly with Yue Xinlan's breathing, their clear, moist luster reflecting against her fair, petite face.

Ling Hao reached out again to pull a few stray strands from Yue Xinlan's temples, letting them hang loosely across her forehead and along her cheeks.

He stepped back half a pace to examine his work for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction.

The new hairstyle was simple and elegant, and the stray strands added a touch of softness, making Yue Xinlan's petite face appear even more refined. The Blue Bird Holding a Pearl glowed with a gentle luster amidst her dark hair, making her look as if she had just stepped out of a painting.

"Hmm, this looks much better than before."

Yue Xinlan sat where she was, her earlobes flushing a thin shade of red at a visible speed.

She raised her hand to touch the hair accessory but forced herself to lower it, only murmuring in a low voice, "Meddlesome."

Ling Hao chuckled and patted the top of her head, "Things given by an old father to his daughter naturally have to look good."

Yue Xinlan whipped her head around and bit down hard on his forearm.

The force was not light, and her teeth sank into his flesh, but Ling Hao did not pull his arm away; he only hissed and looked down at her.

There was a mix of embarrassment and anger in Yue Xinlan's dark eyes. She bit him for quite a while before letting go, glaring at him with cheeks flushed as if dyed, "I'll bite you to death! I'll bite you to death! Say it again! Just try saying it one more time!"

Ling Hao smiled and rubbed the shallow ring of teeth marks on his arm, his gaze pausing for a moment on her loosely pinned bun, where the Blue Bird Holding a Pearl was swaying gently with her rapid breathing. The curve of Ling Hao's lips deepened slightly.

Yue Xinlan also realized what she had done. What a stupid thing to do!

Ah, what am I doing?!!!

She had clearly lived for over ten thousand years, yet she was biting people. It must be that this child's body was affecting her thinking—it must be! ...

Yu Lingshuang watched from the side while holding her tea, the corners of her lips curling slightly.

Mu Xiyao knelt beside the tea table, watching the three of them with a smile.

She had met quite a few Tribulation Transcendence Heavenly Venerables and had even seen Mahayana Supremes, but those people were always stiff-faced and full of majesty, making her feel constantly on edge in their presence.

Yet, this Moon Shadow Sect Master seemed different?

On the auction stage, Mu Qinglan was announcing the next auction item.

"A pair of East Pearls, inlaid with deep-sea coral gold to create a pair of earrings. It is a top-grade Dao Artifact containing the 'Water Curtain Protection' inscription. When activated with Qi, it can generate a water curtain barrier capable of withstanding a full-force blow from someone Undergoing Tribulation. The starting bid is eight billion Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with each increment no less than one hundred million."

A pair of earrings lay quietly on a silk-lined tray. The East Pearls were bright white and round, and the coral gold base was polished into the delicate shape of leaves, cradling the two pearls that shimmered with luster. When the spirit lamp shone on them, they emitted a soft, glowing light.

Mu Xiyao's gaze lingered on that pair of earrings for a moment, moved away, then returned, and lingered for another moment.

Ling Hao had not originally intended to make a move, but he caught sight of the unusual reaction from Mu Xiyao beside him.

Ling Hao picked up his teacup and took a sip, his voice unhurried, "Thirty billion."

Mu Xiyao's hand paused, and she raised her eyes to look at him. Before she could even react, Mu Qinglan's gavel had already fallen three times.

When the attendant brought the silk-lined tray over, Ling Hao did not take it; he simply tilted his chin toward Mu Xiyao, "Give it to her."

Mu Xiyao was stunned and blinked, "For... me?"

"Who else is here besides you?"

Ling Hao smiled and pushed the tray forward, "You have been serving us tea here for most of the day; consider this your compensation."

Mu Xiyao waved her hands repeatedly, "Moon Shadow Sect Master, this... this is too valuable, I cannot accept it—"

"Take it."

Ling Hao's tone was casual yet brooked no refusal as he placed it directly into her hands, "I have plenty of Spirit Stones; I don't mind one piece."

Mu Xiyao opened her mouth, looking into Ling Hao's smiling eyes. The words of refusal turned on the tip of her tongue, but in the end, she did not say them.

In fact, Mu Xiyao already had several protective Magic Treasures on her, including some of top-grade Dao Artifact level, which were even better than these earrings in terms of function.

But she really, really liked these earrings!

However, these were consigned by someone else; even if her Mu Family wanted them, they would have to pay.

Mu Xiyao lowered her eyes and took the tray. When her fingertips touched the cool earrings, the tips of her ears turned red. She tucked the tray into her sleeve and said in a much softer voice, "...Thank you, Moon Shadow Sect Master. I... I accept. I will return the Spirit Stones to you later!!!"

Thirty billion—she, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, didn't know how long that would take.

The discussions in the general seating area continued.

"This Young Master of the Liu family is truly attentive to the Golden Crow Saintess. He just snatched up a hair accessory earlier, and now he has consecutively bid on three more items. I fear he might be planning to deck her out from head to toe."

"Such devotion is truly rare to see; he really is a lovesick seed."

"If such a big shot from an outside province were chasing me like this, I'd wake up laughing in my dreams."

"( ˉ ▽ ￣ ～ ) Tsk~~, just look at yourself."

"Say that again?!"

"So what if I did? Want to fight?"

"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!..."

These fragments of conversation drifted into the private boxes. Yu Lingshuang's gaze swept across Mu Xiyao's face, and she shook her head, raising her teacup to hide the curve of her lips.

A lovesick seed? It wouldn't be wrong to call him a lovesick seed, obsessed with... all the females... all the females in the entire Three Provinces Realm...

Yue Xinlan snorted coldly and muttered something under her breath. The voice was very soft, but Ling Hao heard it clearly— "Another one."

Yue Xinlan glanced at Ling Hao with disdain. She had seen countless Mahayana Supremes, each with their own quirks. Some favored antiques, some favored spiritual materials, some favored power, Spirit Stones, or Medicinal Pills...

But she had truly never seen a dignified Mahayana Supreme with such unique, such lecherous habits.

Seeing her expression, Ling Hao rubbed his nose and pretended not to hear.

Yue Xinlan continued on her own, "Passing through a hundred flowers without a single petal sticking to one's body. You, on the other hand, stick to every single petal."

Of course, these sounds were only heard by the three of them.

The hand with which Yu Lingshuang held her teacup trembled slightly, and she held back from laughing out loud.

Those murmurs drifted sporadically up to the fifth floor. In the Heaven-2 private box, Saint Son Yang Ritian leaned back on a soft couch, his expression calm.

Mu Yunqing was carefully peeling spirit fruits beside him, not daring to say anything.

The anger from just a moment ago had been suppressed.

Saint Son Yang Ritian picked up his teacup and looked through the pearl curtains at the brightly lit private box opposite, calculating in his heart.

Since this Liu Mobai was a playboy from an outside province, it was reasonable for him to bid on jewelry to please women.

As long as he had no interest in the kan cauldron, everything was negotiable.

It was just that he was actually interested in his own aunt...

Saint Son Yang Ritian slowly clenched his fists.