Return of the Celestial King

Ouyang Tianqi got straight to the point with a smile:

”Mr. Qin, I’ve made a special trip to visit you today because I have something very important to inform you about.”

Qin Tuo nodded and asked with some curiosity:

”Mr. Ouyang, what could be so important that you’d trouble yourself to come here in person?”

Ouyang Tianqi stroked his beard and smiled smugly:

”Mr. Qin, I’ve received reliable information that an antique auction will soon be held in the Capital City. They say its origins and scale are quite extraordinary!”

A thought struck Qin Tuo. Not long ago, Kong Lianqing had told him the very same thing.

’It seems the antique auction in the Capital City is really happening.’

Seeing the look on Qin Tuo’s face, Ouyang Tianqi smiled and continued:

”And what you may not know, Mr. Qin, is that this auction is supposedly being organized single-handedly by Wu Qihao, a famous major merchant from Bay Port. He’s even brought along the renowned Qi Wuqi, Bay Port’s number one Magic Master, to hold down the fort! It looks like some incredible treasures are bound to appear this time around!”

Hearing this string of famous names, Qin Tuo was naturally a bit surprised.

Although he knew about the auction, he hadn’t known who was organizing it.

This piqued Qin Tuo’s interest in the antique auction even more.

So, Qin Tuo nodded and said with a smile:

”Mr. Ouyang, I’d heard about this auction from someone else before. I’m planning to go check it out when the time comes!”

But Ouyang Tianqi was suddenly surprised and quickly asked:

”Mr. Qin, how did you find out?”

After all, he himself had only just learned of the auction.

Furthermore, news of a grand-scale auction like this usually circulated only among insiders. It was highly unlikely for such information to leak to the masses.

Ouyang Tianqi had thought he had gotten ahold of firsthand information, but to his surprise, Qin Tuo had found out even earlier than him.

Qin Tuo replied with a smile:

”A few days ago, Pavilion Master Kong of the Capital City’s Security Pavilion told me about it. He even invited me to attend.”

Hearing this, Ouyang Tianqi couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.

”Heavens, Pavilion Master Kong himself?”

The Pavilion Master of the Capital City General Security Pavilion was a truly powerful and influential figure.

Even back when Ouyang Tianqi was in his post, his status couldn’t compare.

Ouyang Tianqi never would have imagined that Qin Tuo could have connections with such a major figure.

At this, Ouyang Tianqi gained a deeper appreciation for just how ridiculously vast Qin Tuo’s network was!

Thinking of this, Ouyang Tianqi couldn’t help but marvel, murmuring to himself:

”So it was an invitation from Pavilion Master Kong. No wonder you heard the news so quickly, Mr. Qin! After all, who could possibly get this kind of information faster than Pavilion Master Kong?”

Qin Tuo simply gave a slight nod, smiling without a word.

Ouyang Tianqi thought for a moment, then extended a serious invitation:

”Mr. Qin, if you’re really interested, how about I come and pick you up personally tomorrow? We can go to the Capital City for the auction together.”

Qin Tuo had no objection. He had to make the trip anyway, so he might as well go with Ouyang Tianqi.

Ouyang Tianqi then chuckled to himself and added:

”Speaking of which, this old man would love to join in on the excitement. After all, I bought that dragon robe at an auction in the Capital City. Who knows if I’ll have the same good fortune this time and stumble upon another treasure!”

Ouyang Tianqi chuckled sheepishly as he spoke.

Clearly, you might get lucky once, but it’s unlikely to happen a second or third time.

Qin Tuo nodded and said:

”Alright, Mr. Ouyang. In that case, please come pick me up tomorrow.”

Ouyang Tianqi nodded. He then chatted casually with Qin Tuo for a few more minutes before getting up to take his leave.

After Ouyang Tianqi was seen off, Ouyang Feifei, who had been hiding behind the screen, emerged, pulling Chen Man Ni along with a furtive expression.

It turned out they had been hiding behind the screen the whole time, not daring to come out and face Ouyang Tianqi.

Only after Ouyang Tianqi had left did Ouyang Feifei dare to show herself.

Chen Man Ni said in exasperation:

”Feifei, you’re so strange. Why are you hiding from your grandfather? He’s your grandpa, after all. You should have come out to say hello!”

But Ouyang Feifei just rolled her eyes and snorted:

”No way. If the old man saw me, he’d just start nagging me again to go back to the Provincial City’s Security Pavilion.”

Chen Man Ni smiled and said:

”Just do what Elder Mr. Ouyang tells you. What, are you planning to defy your grandfather?”

Ouyang Feifei shook her head and said:

”I don’t want to! I’m staying here to learn skills from Qin Tuo!”

At this, a wry, helpless smile appeared on Chen Man Ni’s face.

Qin Tuo, meanwhile, didn’t interject. He was busy thinking about the auction in the Capital City.

Seeing Qin Tuo lost in thought, Chen Man Ni couldn’t help but ask:

”Qin Tuo, Elder Mr. Ouyang made a special trip to see you just now. What did you two talk about?”

Qin Tuo thought for a moment and said:

”He came to invite me to a very grand antique auction in the Capital City.”

The moment they heard this, both Chen Man Ni’s and Ouyang Feifei’s eyes lit up, their interest intensely piqued.

The two women said excitedly in unison:

”That’s great, Qin Tuo! We want to go to the auction with you too!”

But this put Qin Tuo in a difficult position.

’A big place like the Capital City is a chaotic mix of all sorts of people, and the auction is bound to attract powerful experts from every corner. Is it really a good idea to bring the two of them along?’

Chen Man Ni earnestly patted her chest and promised:

”Don’t worry, Qin Tuo. Feifei and I definitely won’t cause you any trouble.”

Ouyang Feifei also nodded and said with a smile:

”Yeah, Qin Tuo, don’t worry. Isn’t my grandpa going too? I’ll stick with him, so you won’t have to worry about my safety!”

Since they both put it that way, Qin Tuo didn’t refuse and nodded in agreement.

”Yay! That’s great! We get to go have fun in the Capital City!”

The two women’s faces bloomed into smiles, and they jumped for joy.

Early the next morning, Ouyang Tianqi’s car had already arrived outside the villa.

Qin Tuo came out at the agreed-upon time, bringing the two women with him.

From a distance, Ouyang Tianqi saw Ouyang Feifei with them and was quite surprised to realize she was also living there.

He couldn’t help but ask curiously:

”Feifei, why are you living with Qin Tuo?”

Ouyang Feifei’s gaze shifted evasively, and she said sheepishly:

”Grandpa, I’m just staying here temporarily. Don’t get the wrong idea!”

A glint appeared in Ouyang Tianqi’s eyes, and he immediately broke into a hearty laugh.

”What are you talking about, you silly girl? How could Grandpa possibly get the wrong idea? Now, hurry up and get in the car!”

In his heart, however, Ouyang Tianqi felt a twinge of regret. He was actually hoping something *would* happen between Ouyang Feifei and Qin Tuo!