Female Protagonist Assistance System

Chapter 42 : . Bullying with Power

The five of them sat together chatting, though most of the conversation was between Qing Lin and Yafei. Hai Bo Dong and Gu Xun'er occasionally interjected, while Xiao Han simply drank tea, barely speaking.

"Speaking of which, it seems something has happened to the Nalan family's patriarch. The Nalan family has been searching for high-grade alchemists these days," Yafei suddenly said, as if remembering something.

"Isn't there Master Gu He?" Gu Xun'er asked.

Yafei shook her head: "Master Gu He went into closed-door cultivation after returning to the imperial capital some days ago. I heard he's already broken through to become a sixth-grade alchemist, apparently just a few months ago."

Xiao Han pondered for a moment, finally recalling this part of the plot. In the original story, Xiao Yan, under the alias Yan Shao, cured the patriarch and gained Nalan Yanran's affection. At the final three-year agreement, he revealed himself as Yan Shao, greatly shocking Miss Nalan.

However, in the original story, Xiao Yan's success in treating Nalan Jie relied on the Heterogeneous Flame. Now that the Green Lotus Core Flame he obtained at the beginning has been taken by Gu Xun'er, how will he treat Nalan Jie?

Just then, the maid who had left earlier to fetch the medicinal herbs came running back hurriedly.

"Where are the medicinal herbs?" Hearing the hurried footsteps, Yafei raised her head, looking at the empty-handed maid with slightly furrowed brows, and asked in a deep voice.

"Miss Yafei, the medicinal herbs... the herbs and the medicine cauldron were forcibly intercepted by Elder Lei Ou. He said the cauldron had long been reserved and couldn't be transferred to someone else," the maid said with some panic and timidity on her face.

"Slam!"

Hearing this, Yafei's pretty face suddenly darkened. Her jade hand slammed heavily on the table as she gritted her teeth: "That old fellow! This cauldron has been in the warehouse for over a few months. How come I've never heard it was reserved long ago?"

"Moreover, even if the cauldron was reserved, what about the medicinal herbs? These are just low-grade herbs, the warehouse is full of them."

The maid shook her head timidly: "This... I don't know either. Elder Lei Ou directly took away the storage ring containing both the prepared herbs and the cauldron."

Xiao Han raised an eyebrow slightly. What was going on?

Seeing Xiao Han's confusion, Yafei sighed and said: "This Elder Lei Ou is one of the cabinet elders of the Miteer family. He's obsessed with power and is determined to push his grandson to the position of clan leader, so our relationship is like fire and water."

"Personal revenge?" Gu Xun'er narrowed her eyes slightly, smiling faintly.

Beside them, Hai Bo Dong, who was slowly sipping his tea, raised his eyebrows slightly without speaking. However, the tea in the cup held between his hands instantly froze, surrounded by wisps of cold air.

"Sigh, that old fellow has indeed gone too far this time, doing such a thing," Yafei stood up, her pretty face somewhat gloomy, and said to the maid: "Lead the way, I'll go confront him personally."

Hearing this, the maid nodded timidly. Just as she turned around, an elderly cold snort came from outside the door: "Confront me? Hmph, fine, I also want to see how Miss Yafei, as one of the heirs of the Miteer family, disregards the rules!"

Hearing this cold snort, the coldness on Yafei's pretty face intensified. She supported herself on the desk, coldly watching several people pour in from the doorway, led by an elderly man in luxurious robes with a somewhat sinister face.

"Elder Lei Ou, what do you mean by this? Although you're an elder of the family, since when do you have the right to interfere with the auction house's affairs? Moreover, you dare to intercept the medicinal herbs ordered by customers. Are you trying to ruin the reputation of our Miteer Auction House?" With a face full of frost, Yafei glared at the old man, forcefully putting a tall hat on him.

Under this heavy hat that was almost suffocating, the expression of the old man named Lei Ou changed slightly, but then he sneered: "Huh, such grand authority. Yafei, do you really think you're a true elder now? Wait until you remove that 'acting' from your title of Acting Supervisory Elder before speaking to me like this."

"But I think you might not have that chance. As the Supervisory Elder of the Miteer Auction House, you've privately brought outsiders into important family areas. At the next Elder Council meeting, I will solemnly propose to the other elders to remove you from your position!"

After speaking, Lei Ou's vicious gaze slowly swept over Xiao Han and Gu Xun'er. Seeing their age, he sneered, his face full of disdain.

At this moment, Hai Bo Dong slowly spoke up: "What's this, Lei Ou? Since when do you have the right to discipline Miss Yafei's actions?"

Seeing that Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong was actually here, a flicker of uncertainty flashed in Lei Ou's eyes. Who in the Gamma Empire didn't know that the once-famous Ice Emperor was willingly serving as Yafei's guard, for reasons unknown.

But then, he curled his lips and cupped his hands, saying: "I wouldn't dare. It's just that the clan rules are such, and as an elder, I naturally must urge clan members to follow them. Moreover... this is a Miteer family matter. It seems inappropriate for the great Ice Emperor to interfere."

Hearing this, a thin layer of anger appeared on Hai Bo Dong's face, but in the next second, he was stopped by Yafei.

"Elder Lei Ou, you might have forgotten some implicit rules of the auction house. Certain major clients have the right to enter here," Yafei said coldly.

"Sharp-tongued girl, major clients? Heh, fine, then tell me, what identities do these two have? Let me judge whether their status is truly grand enough to meet the qualifications stated in the conditions," Lei Ou sneered, speaking in a sinister tone.

His connections in the Gamma Holy City were quite good. He could identify some larger forces, and he also knew quite a few local tyrant forces dominating provincial cities outside the Gamma Imperial Holy City, but he had never seen Xiao Han and Gu Xun'er before.

Hearing Lei Ou's words, Yafei hesitated slightly. She knew that Xiao Han and Gu Xun'er were disciples of a mysterious alchemist, but obviously, these two didn't seem to have any evidence to prove this identity, and moreover, Xiao Han didn't seem willing to reveal this identity.

As for the identity of being from the Xiao family...

How could a family from Wutan City intimidate Lei Ou?

Looking at Yafei who had no words left, a smug expression appeared on Lei Ou's face as he said insidiously: "It seems my niece is also unclear about their identity. Yet you dare to bring strangers into important family areas. It appears you are indeed not suitable for this position."

Faced with Lei Ou's rebuke, Yafei's pretty face turned somewhat green.

"Identity?" At this moment, Xiao Han, who had been sitting and watching without speaking, suddenly chuckled, though her laugh carried no warmth.

Lei Ou coldly snapped: "You have no right to speak here!"

Hearing this, Gu Xun'er's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but Xiao Han quickly pressed her hand, shaking her head slightly at her.

"What? Weren't you the one asking us to show our identity? Now you won't let people speak?" Xiao Han said coldly.

Lei Ou sneered: "Well then, do tell us what kind of identity you two little girls could possibly have to enter our Miteer family's important areas?"

"Identity..." Xiao Han stroked her chin, glanced at Gu Xun'er, then took out a badge from her system space. With a slight flick of her wrist, the badge flew directly towards Lei Ou.

Lei Ou casually caught it and glanced at it carelessly, but this one glance made his face suddenly turn pale.

On the badge was engraved an ancient medicine cauldron, with seven silver wave patterns particularly eye-catching on its surface.

"Se-seven... seventh-grade alchemist?!" Even the well-informed Lei Ou couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath.

As soon as he spoke, everyone present changed their expressions.

Yafei was also extremely surprised. She had always known that Xiao Han's teacher must be of high rank, but she hadn't expected them to be a seventh-grade alchemist!

Xiao Han slowly stood up, her expression slightly sinking: "My teacher is on good terms with Miss Yafei, and happened to be teaching my Junior Sister alchemy. We were short of some medicinal herbs, so we were sent here to purchase them. I wonder, with my teacher's status, are we qualified to enter this office area?"

Cold sweat suddenly poured down Lei Ou's forehead. What does a seventh-grade alchemist mean? The most respected alchemist in the Gamma Empire, Gu He, who was called the most untouchable in the empire, was only sixth-grade!

If the family found out that he had offended the disciple of a seventh-grade alchemist, at the next cabinet elder meeting, it wouldn't be Yafei being removed from her position, but himself!

Although everyone in the family knew that Yafei had a mysterious alchemist supporting her, who could have imagined that it was a seventh-grade alchemist?!

"Quick, quick, go and have someone bring up the medicinal herbs!" Lei Ou's face flashed with fear as he hurriedly shouted at the guard beside him.

"Yes, yes..." The guard, equally frightened, scrambled out of the room.

Looking at Lei Ou who had instantly become extremely compliant, Yafei shook her head with a bitter smile. This old fellow, really...

Putting away the badge, Xiao Han turned to Yafei with a smile: "Speaking of which, my teacher entrusted me with several pills, hoping to cooperate with the Miteer Auction House."

Hearing there was business, Yafei perked up: "What kind of pills?"

Xiao Han glanced at the sweating Lei Ou, the corner of her lips curling into a cold smile: "Sixth-grade, Dou Spirit Pills."

⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱

Leaving the Miteer Auction House with the storage ring, Xiao Han casually found an inn, planning to stay for one night and go to Cloud Mist Sect the next day.

But they searched many hotels, finding that either there were no rooms left, or only one room remained. Eventually, Xiao Han became quite annoyed and agreed to Gu Xun'er's suggestion for them to share a room.

Closing the door, Xiao Han took out the medicine cauldron of unclear grade. The cauldron was black and looked somewhat old and unremarkable. But Xiao Han could sense a strange energy from it, and the system was also clamoring for Xiao Han to take this cauldron, suggesting that it was no ordinary item.

"Then, Senior Sister, I'll take a bath first?" Gu Xun'er said to Xiao Han, who was examining the cauldron, holding her change of clothes.

Xiao Han made a sound of acknowledgment, studying the cauldron in her hand.

After some thought, Xiao Han used Dou Qi to form a small knife and gently scraped the surface of the medicine cauldron with the knife tip, scraping off some fine black substance.

"What is this...?" Xiao Han leaned forward, sniffing lightly, and a faint salty smell of seawater wafted up.

Seawater?

She puzzledly rubbed it between her fingers, finding these particles quite hard.

Even the usually knowledgeable and erudite Xiao Han was somewhat bewildered. After thinking for a moment, she decided to ask the system.

[Ah, host, please wait a moment, the system is searching...]

Soon, Xiao Han heard the system's exclamation: [Host! We've struck gold!!]

[These crystals are crystalline stones formed over tens of thousands of years from the corpses of countless magical beasts in the deep sea. Items refined with it are not only extremely hard but can also assist in cultivation! The effect is better than any auxiliary pills!]

[But that's not the point!! The key is that this type of crystalline stone only covers the Deep Sea Spirit Cauldron! The Deep Sea Spirit was originally an extremely hard coral at the bottom of the sea, which took on the shape of a cauldron after long-term nourishment by the essence of the sea.]

[And the Deep Sea Spirit is the tenth-ranked cauldron on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking!]