After the Eighteen Caverns Demon Race finished their matters today, they bid farewell and Xiaokai didn't bother with them. After turning down the strong demands from a few demon races clamoring to present beautiful women as a gift, he focused on paying attention to the situation inside the Wordless Heavenly Scripture.
Xiaoguan and the four Elders were very interested in each other. They asked each other questions, but none could figure out each other's origins. Xiaoguan remembered being the Demon King, but completely forgot what the Demon King actually was. As for the four Elders, apart from having an aversion to the name "Demon King", they knew nothing else. The five experts started exchanging excitedly in the Wordless Heavenly Scripture, but their conversations were completely irrelevant. After being imprisoned for ten thousand years, everyone's sense of good and evil and their outlook on life had changed subtly. Although the four Elders knew the Demon King was a demon, they didn't harbor any malice. As for Xiaoguan, his mind was full of "we want peace", so naturally, he was absolutely unwilling to go to war with the four of them.
As they talked on and on, the most discussed topic was the analysis of the Wordless Heavenly Scripture. The four Elders were envious that Xiaoguan could freely enter and exit the scripture.
After focusing on it for a few minutes, Xiaokai felt it was boring and was eager to go to work. So, he gave up on it. This day passed uneventfully until someone suddenly came to find him before he got off work. It was none other than the host from the auction two days ago.
"What's the matter?" Xiaokai was puzzled. "There shouldn't be any problem with our auction process."
"Don't worry, there's no problem with the auction. Mr. Yan, the thing is..." The host's smile was somewhat forced. "... The family who owned the stone you won at auction immediately got in touch with us after the auction ended to inquire about the situation. After learning about it, they strongly requested to meet the winner of the stone, which is you. I've come to invite you to meet with this prominent family."
Xiaokai didn't have much to consider. Although he found the family's behavior a bit strange, he didn't want to dwell on it. He just nodded, "Alright, when and where?"
"The day after tomorrow, in the morning, at our auction house," the host said. "I'll come to escort you in. Is that ok?"
Tomorrow was the day of Xiaokai's final bet with Ningyuan, so there was no conflict in terms of timing. Xiaokai nodded, "Alright."
After getting off work and returning home, Xiaoyue and Xiaoxin were exceptionally enthusiastic and served Xiaokai with exceptional care. They brought tea and water, massaged him carefully, and even prepared a midnight snack for Xiaokai from who knows where. Unexpectedly, they prepared three or four small dishes for him. Xiaokai, who had already begun to develop a potbelly, firmly declined the earnestness of the two little foxes.
He didn't know that the two little foxes' gratitude and admiration for him had long swelled to the extreme, and their efforts to do various things that might or might not please him were simply to slightly release their inner feelings of gratitude.
"Sister, should we act now?"
"Not today. The master will compete against Ningyuan tomorrow. I'm afraid we'll delay the master's important affairs."
"What about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, the master will definitely defeat Ningyuan. After that, there should be nothing else."
"Then, we'll act tomorrow?"
"Yeah, that's what I think."
"heehee, sister, will you go first, or should I?"
"...I'll go first."
"Okay, sister, you go first, and I'll follow. We'll definitely make the master very comfortable."
"Yes, the master is so powerful, we can't really help with anything. All we can do is this."
"Yes, that's why we must do tomorrow's task well."
"We must do it well!"
The two little foxes blushed, exuding a flowering spring between their eyebrows. While their expressions couldn't conceal their shyness, they also exuded an air of seriousness and determination. After whispering together for a long time, they turned and looked at Xiaokai's room before leaving giggling.
Next, the day of the third bet finally arrived.
"What are we betting on this time?" Xiaokai not only had four Elders on his side now, but also Xiaoguan as a strong ally. His confidence swelled and his voice grew stronger when he spoke.
"Don't get too cocky," Ningyuan sneered. "You winning the last two was just a fluke. This time, you're going to lose no matter what."
"For heaven's sake, you've said this more than once," Xiaokai said with a cheeky smile. "So, what are we betting? Just tell me already."
Instead of speaking directly, Ningyuan looked at Xiao Yun, then at Ning Qing, and said with a smile, "Xiao Yun, little sister, please bear witness and tell us who is more handsome, Xiaokai or me."
"Of course, big brother Xiaokai is the most handsome!" Ning Qing waved her little fist, not giving face to her brother. "In my eyes, big brother Xiaokai is the most handsome person in the world!" After speaking, she quickly hugged Xiaokai's arm, raised her face, pouted, and looked like she was asking for a reward.
Ningyuan naturally paid no attention to the little girl's insincere opinion and smiled wryly before turning to Xiao Yun. "What do you think?"
Xiao Yun was quite objective. "Without a doubt, you are more handsome."
Ningyuan nodded silently. Before he could speak, Xiao Yun added, "However, I don't like overly handsome men."
Ningyuan was instantly struck and sighed wryly, "You don't have to be so quick to draw the line, do you?"
Xiao Yun smiled faintly, with a hint of cunning in her eyes: "Of course, we need to set clear boundaries, otherwise my boyfriend will be jealous."
Ning Yuan gritted his teeth, feeling dispirited: "Fine, then let me ask you, between me and Xiao Kai, who has better eloquence? Whose knowledge is broader, whose demeanor is better?"
Xiao Yun didn't evade the question, and replied: "In terms of eloquence, you have spoken confidently in front of tens of thousands of people at world debate conferences, and have also delivered speeches at the highest level international economic summits; in terms of knowledge, you spent three years traveling around the world and even solo drifted on the dangerous Amazon River; in terms of demeanor, you were brought up with a complete set of aristocratic etiquette and frequented social elite gatherings. In any aspect, Xiao Kai is obviously not your match."
Ning Yuan's eyes shone with confidence and self-loathing as he asked, "If that's the case, why do you favor him over me?"
Xiao Yun smiled faintly, but didn't say anything, silently holding Xiao Kai's hand.
Suddenly, Xiao Kai thought about the rule of the Chosen Door, and remembered the strange custom that female disciples of the Chosen Door must marry the sect leader. He felt a bit resentful, subconsciously trying to pull his hand away, but Xiao Yun noticed his action and firmly held onto his finger with her soft and smooth jade-like palm.
Ning Yuan was only disheartened for ten seconds before quickly adjusting and saying, "So tell me, if an ordinary girl sees me and Yan Xiao Kai, who would she choose?"
Xiao Yun said, "Of course, it would be you." But she tightened her grip on Xiao Kai's hand.
Ning Yuan immediately smiled, "Good, heeding your words, today I will compete with Yan Xiao Kai in picking up girls! This is a man's business, so this time, don't follow us," he added, addressing Ning Qing and Xiao Yun.
Ning Yuan skillfully drove through the streets. This area was not bustling, rather it seemed run-down. Xiao Kai was puzzled and asked, "Where are we going to pick up girls? A bar? Ballroom? Or nightclub?"
Ning Yuan shook his head disapprovingly, "What's the point of those tacky and vulgar places? I'm taking you to an interesting place called 'Golden Auction'."
"Golden Auction?" Xiao Kai said, "Why have I never heard of it? I remember there are hardly any entertainment venues in this area other than residential areas."
Ning Yuan smiled smugly, "Xiao Kai, in this city, there are many interesting things that are beyond the sight of most people. Once you have a certain qualification, you will see a completely different world."
"Hah, don't make it sound so good," Xiao Kai retorted, "Isn't it just a high-end red-light district?"
"No, of course not a red-light district," Ning Yuan patiently explained, "Although there are many girls selling their bodies, there are even more girls just looking for entertainment. In a stimulating place like the Golden Auction, if you spend money on women, not only will it waste a rare opportunity, but others will also look down on you. So, while there are many beautiful women at the Golden Auction, they usually only accompany guests for dining and drinking. If you really want to take them to a room, you will be regarded as low."
"Oh, what should I do then?" Xiao Kai asked.
"It's simple, you pick them up yourself," Ning Yuan said, "Picking up wealthy girls who seek pleasure and bringing them to bed without spending a penny is the true way of a successful man. We agreed to compete without spending money on picking up girls, so it's meaningless if you pay for it."
"No way, I have to take them to bed?" Xiao Kai said with a bitter face, "You can do it if you want, I'm not interested."
"You don't have to go to bed," Ning Yuan said, "We're just competing. As long as she doesn't mind going to bed with you, that's enough."
The car stopped in front of a dilapidated house. Two workers at the door nodded at Ning Yuan as he got out of the car, expressionless, and held out their oily hands.
"Is this really the legendary Golden Auction?" Xiao Kai couldn't help but ask, "Why does it look like the site of underground work?"
"It's always been underground work," Ning Yuan laughed, "The Golden Auction is the most famous underground entertainment venue in S City."
As he spoke, he handed over a beautifully decorated card. The workers at the door touched it with their oily fingers and without any inspection, handed it back to Ning Yuan. "Mr. Ning, welcome to the Golden Auction!"
Ning Yuan was quite courteous, accepting the card and nodding to the two men before leading Xiao Kai inside.
"Hey, what was that about just now?" Xiao Kai asked, "Is that a membership card?"
"Of course, do you think just anyone can come here?" Ning Yuan seemed pleased, "There are no more than two hundred membership cards issued by the Golden Auction in the entire S City. Most members are only allowed to enter three times a month, but my membership card is at the VIP level, allowing me to enter ten times a month."
"But... how do they confirm if the membership card is genuine?" Xiao Kai continued to ask, "I clearly saw him just touch the card, isn't there a need for an electronic verification device?"
Ning Yuan looked at Xiao Kai and suddenly asked, "Do you know who those two at the entrance are?"
"They're just the gatekeepers, right?" Xiao Kai said, "Judging by their appearance, at least one month has passed since they last had a bath, but it's strange that they don't smell."
"You're wrong," Ning Yuan said, "The two men at the entrance, the one on the left is called 'Clever Seven Orifices,' and the one on the right is called 'Ghost-Handed Compassion.' They are both well-known figures in the international underworld."
"No way!" Xiao Kai was startled, "Those two are internationally famous figures?"
Ning Yuan solemnly nodded, "Clever Seven Orifices is a rare genius. It is said that he never forgets anything. He never makes mistakes with things he has seen, news he has heard, or even smells he has encountered. Therefore, he is not only a world-class tomb robber, but also a part-time international assassin. In his twenty-three-year career, he has never failed. And Ghost-Handed Compassion is even more extraordinary. It is rumored that his hands are extremely dexterous, each of his ten fingers can bend in unbelievable ways, and anything peculiar or unique, as long as you can think of it, he can make it by hand. Many people believe he has trained in some kind of mysterious yogic art, and some say he is a once-in-a-millennium genius of the ancient Chinese Empty Door tradition. But regardless, everyone has to admit that he is the world's number one super thief, who has stolen countless things without ever failing."
Xiao Kai listened with wide eyes and couldn't help but exclaim, "If they are so formidable, why are they here guarding the door?"
Ning Yuan smiled again, "Do you think being a gatekeeper is disgraceful?"
Xiao Kai nodded, "Honestly, it does feel a bit embarrassing."
"Do you know that they earn half a million dollars a day by guarding the gate here, and compared to their previous activities, this job has no risk at all. They just need to stand here for a few hours a day, exchange a few pleasantries, and they can make a considerable income. Would you not want such a good job?" Ning Yuan said, "Moreover, while it seems like just simple gatekeeping, the real difficulty of this job is at least a hundred times greater than you can imagine."
Xiao Kai blinked, suddenly remembering the scene where the underworld master checked the card just with his hands. "Do they... do they check the membership cards purely by hand?"
"You finally understand," Ning Yuan nodded, "Entry checks at the Golden Auction don't require any electronic devices, it's all based on their eyesight and hand skills. The number of membership cards distributed worldwide is not more than 20,000, and all the related information is stored in the minds of Ghost-Handed Compassion and Clever Seven Orifices."
Ning Yuan showed his membership card to Xiao Kai. The card had a row of intricate patterns underneath, the patterns were semi-embossed, creating a bumpy texture: "The password patterns on each card are different. Just now, when Ghost-Handed Compassion touched it, he already sensed the pattern, and simultaneously knew who the card belonged to. If Clever Seven Orifices had taken it, he wouldn't have touched it, he would have used his eyes to see and could also discern the card's information."
Ning Yuan took back the card and added, "You should know, at a place like the Golden Auction, there are always many dangerous individuals present, and they often carry some secrets that shouldn't be known. If the Golden Auction used electronic scanning, it would have to expose these secrets, thus driving away many customers and likely offending the wrong people. So, the Golden Auction's method of purely manual inspection is also highly thoughtful."
Xiao Kai stood with his mouth open, not closing it for a long time. He followed Ning Yuan for a full minute while still sighing, "I'm impressed."
After passing through the dilapidated houses and long corridors, they turned a corner and suddenly, everything became clear! Compared to the outside, it was a completely different world inside.
The hall in front of them was "enormous," resembling a square rather than a hall. In the center, there was a fountain approximately thirty or forty square meters in size, with white water shooting up and transforming into misty droplets that created a pleasant tinkling sound. As Xiao Kai looked around, he saw many pretty girls in white dresses playing in the water, swinging their ankles, giving off an unexpectedly charming vibe.
Seeing Xiao Kai looking dazed, Ning Yuan tugged at him, "Don't just stand there, let's go, we're still at the entrance."
"Right," Xiao Kai nodded absentmindedly, "What are these girls doing?"
"They are the staff inside the Golden Auction. Their job is to adorn the fountain and create an atmosphere here," Ning Yuan suddenly smiled at Xiao Kai, "Of course, they also don't mind chatting with customers. Do you want to give it a try?"
"No, no, of course not," Xiao Kai waved his hands frantically, blushing, "Let's go, let's head inside."
Ning Yuan's chest swelled even higher. He realized that Xiao Kai was even more naive than he had imagined. This time, it seemed that he was in complete control.
Ning Yuan was already elegant and graceful, walking with his head held high past the white fountain, attracting numerous admiring glances from the young girls. Xiao Kai followed behind with drooping head, feeling as if all the attention was on Ning Yuan. He furrowed his brow and thought to himself, "How can I win in this situation?"
"Mr... Mr., would you like to take a break?" A sentimental young girl had already walked lightly over, her snowy white bare feet stepping on the dark green floor, looking exceptionally pleasing to the eye. She gently took Ningyuan's hand, "Would you like to take a photo with me?"
Ningyuan's smile was kind and mature, and his every move exuded an elegant and noble demeanor. He bowed courteously and said, "Of course."
The young girl smiled cheerfully and led Ningyuan to the fountain. Another girl had already aimed a camera at them and snapped three or four pictures, then smilingly released Ningyuan. A group of girls gathered together and chattered happily. The girl who took a photo with Ningyuan blushed, looking shy.
Xiaokai stood somewhat embarrassed, feeling that the situation today was becoming more and more serious.
"Hey, this doesn't count," Xiaokai said, seeing Ningyuan approaching. "We just said that staff members don't count."
"Of course I know," Ningyuan laughed heartily. "Don't worry, I will definitely make you acknowledge my ability!"
After passing the fountain, they entered a magnificent golden door. As Xiaokai stepped inside, he discovered that the place was even more spacious than he had expected. It seemed to cover hundreds of square meters. The decoration inside was extremely luxurious, with a floor covered in velvet carpet and European-style wooden sofas placed seemingly casually but without any mess. The room was divided into small compartments with folding screens along the edges, with the doors tightly closed, revealing nothing about the situation inside. The outer areas were styled like a bar, with many elegantly dressed men and women sitting or reclining on chairs or sofas, holding various types of drinks and engaging in secretive conversations.
In the center of the room, there was a large open space, undoubtedly the dance floor.
"This is the outermost area, where new guests can rest and socialize," Ningyuan explained. "If you want to have some fun, you can swim, play sports, or go horseback riding and archery. Basically, anything you can think of is available here. If you want something more exciting, you can gamble in the casino or watch underground arena fights. If you simply want to relax and enjoy, you can get a massage or watch singing and dancing performances. Of course, if you have any special hobbies, there are dedicated locations here, such as drug use or sexual abuse."
After entering the Golden Grotto, Xiaokai was one after another, shocked and couldn't help but ask, "Who is the owner of the Golden Grotto? This scene is too grand!"
"It's a secret," Ningyuan explained. "The scale of the entire underground industry of the Golden Grotto is like a myth to everyone who knows about it. No matter how much people inquire, they can't find any information about the mastermind behind it. So some people even joked that the owner here must be an alien."
Seeing Xiaokai's stunned look, Ningyuan laughed and said, "Alright, since it's your first time here, I will let you choose this time. Where do you want to go, the casino, the ballroom, the arena, or the underground arena?"