In the evening,
Tian Duo Auction was booming with nobles and soul masters, the halls echoing with chatter and laughter. Tang Yin's eyes shimmered gold, as he watched the leeches gather—ready for him to steal from.
Just as he was preparing to act, two figures in the crowd caught Tang Yin's attention. One of them—a tall, composed man—stepped into the hall, his face hidden behind an elegant mask.
Tang Yin's violet eyes narrowed.
Even with the mask, Tang Yin saw clearly—long chestnut-brown hair tied neatly behind his back, calm and intelligent eyes beneath sharp brows, and a warm, noble smile that barely concealed the cunning beneath.
Standing beside him was a man with a smooth jade-like face and sword-like brows, silver hair cascading down his back. He stood with hands clasped behind him, radiating an invisible yet razor-sharp sword aura that made the air around him feel like it might slice at any moment.
Tang Yin froze.
"Wait… isn't that Ning Fengzhi? And Sword Douluo?"
He quickly pulled back into the crowd. "Yeah no. Now is not the time to be reckless. Let's stick to the shadows. Just need that Whale Glue anyway."
The auction hall was divided by wealth—average buyers crowded the back, while the elite lounged in luxury at the front. Blending into the packed rear section, Tang Yin discreetly unleashed his telepathy, controlling the actions of the wealthiest nobles seated ahead.
The auction began.
And when the Whale Glue was brought out—its clear, shimmering contents glowing faintly under the lights—Tang Yin pounced.
With a flicker of thought, five of the richest nobles suddenly became obsessed. Their eyes lit up as they competed viciously, shouting bids that left the crowd stunned and the auctioneer nearly fainting from joy.
Ning Fengzhi raised his paddle to join in—only to be instantly crushed by a round of outrageous overbids. Again. And again.
Tang Yin grumbled under his breath. "Old man, seriously? You still want Whale Glue? What, trying to eat swan meat at your age? Not today."
From the front row, Ning Fengzhi blinked in disbelief. "What's with these nobles? Aren't they a little too… enthusiastic? Hmph. Guess Whale Glue's really that entertaining to them these days."
When the auction ended, Tang Yin didn't relax. Not yet. First, he made his puppet nobles discreetly stash the goods—along with their personal treasures—in a nearby inn.
Afterwards, he wiped their memory of stashing the goods clean. That way, No loose ends for Tang yin.
Then, when the coast was clear, he slipped in and pocketed the twenty Whale Glue & the gold coins for himself.
"Phew," he sighed, hefting the stash onto his storage tools. "All the day worth of setup finally paid off."
"Hmm? Am I forgetting something?" Tang Yin muttered to himself. Then suddenly, wide-eyed, he exclaimed, "Oh shit!" Realizing what he'd missed, he dashed straight back to Lanba Academy without a second thought. Heading directly to the girls' dorm, he stopped by Dugu Yan's door and knocked gently.
"Yan Yan, it's me," Tang Yin coaxed softly. "Sorry, I got held up with something important... that's why I'm late."
But Dugu Yan had been waiting for him for over an hour. Her mood was as stormy as ever. She huffed in annoyance and deliberately didn't open the door.
Tang Yin sighed, unwilling to wait any longer. Spotting a window on the second floor, he grinned mischievously and slipped inside. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Yan Yan," he whispered, scooping her effortlessly into his arms.
Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed pink. "You! What do you think you're doing? Put me down!" she demanded, though her struggles were half-hearted at best. Before she could protest further, Tang yin gently kissed her in the lips.
Tang Yin smiled against her lips and dove headfirst into a long, slow French kiss that left no doubts about how much he'd missed her.
Dugu Yan barely resisted—in fact, she grabbed the back of Tang Yin's neck and pulled him in for a kiss. Tang Yin didn't hesitate; he melted into a long, slow French kiss, punctuated by soft gasps and stolen breaths.
Then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Tang Yin settled Dugu Yan into his lap. Both hands roamed over her soft, perky curves, feeling the delicious hardness of her nipples through the fabric. The subtle, milky scent that drifted from her only fueled his desire further.
He kneaded her breasts gently, teasing her nipples between his fingers before flicking his tongue over them. "Umph," Dugu Yan moaned, her eyes rolling back as she clutched Tang Yin's hair, pressing him closer to her.
Tang Yin's hands didn't stop, expertly exploring her body until Dugu Yan shuddered and trembled in his arms. He felt the wetness seeping through, dampening his own clothes.
Grinning, Tang Yin teased, "I haven't even started, and you're already done? You're too weak, Yan Yan."
Her cheeks flamed red. "That's not true! I didn't finish at all—hmph!" she stammered, clearly flustered.
But Tang Yin paid no mind and continued his gentle torment well into the night, until the heat of Dugu Yan grinding against him pushed them both to the edge. She started to reach for his clothes unconsciously.
Tang Yin gently stopped her. "Let's hold off for now. I don't want to face the wrath of the girls," he whispered with a smirk. "We'll continue after booking a lodge or hotel tomorrow."
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes with a smirk. "You! Forget it. I'll take my revenge tomorrow—be prepared for a serious thrashing." Her legs trembled from the lingering stimulation as she slumped against Tang Yin's shoulder, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips.
Taking advantage of the quiet moment, Tang Yin transferred the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record into her mind. For secrecy, he used telepathy, ensuring she wouldn't share the record with anyone else.
"This!! What's this?" Dugu Yan blinked, clearly puzzled by the sudden flood of new information in her mind.
Tang Yin grinned cheekily. "Your reward. What, am I not generous enough?"
As Dugu Yan began to cultivate using the mysterious heaven technique, her eyes widened in astonishment. "This fast? And the soul power—it's so incredibly pure. Tang Yin, you really are a genius!" she exclaimed, her voice full of admiration.
With a grateful smile, she wrapped her arms around him, spending the rest of the night nestled comfortably in his embrace.
The next day,
Tang Yin arrived alone at Liu Erlong's cottage and knocked gently. The door creaked open slowly, revealing Liu Erlong's dazed yet familiar face.
"Good morning, Dean Liu Erlong. How are you feeling today?" Tang Yin greeted her warmly.
Liu Erlong blinked, taking in Tang Yin's handsome profile. "Hello, Tang Yin... Are you here alone?" she asked, a hint of expectation in her voice.
Tang Yin smiled and nodded. "Yes, the girls are still tired from yesterday's shopping spree, so I came by myself. I was worried about you and wanted to check in. Sorry to intrude."
A soft blush colored Liu Erlong's cheeks and neck, her smile deepening. "No—no intrusion at all! You're always welcome here. Please, come in," she stammered.
Before she could say more, Tang Yin gently caught her by the waist and supported her toward the bedroom, just as he previously did.
"Dean Erlong, you're not in the best of health. I'll be coming by often to check on you," Tang Yin said kindly, presenting a steaming pot of aromatic soup. "I prepared this for your health—please have some."
Liu Erlong felt a warm glow spread through her chest, her eyes folding into a gentle crescent smile. "You trouble me, Tang Yin. I'm so lucky to have such a caring person by my side," she murmured softly, her voice trembling as tears threatened to spill over.
Tang Yin caught her delicate, limp hand and squeezed it gently. "Please don't cry, Miss Erlong—I can't bear it," he said dramatically, his voice full of affection. "I'll take care of you. Just lay back and let me feed you."
With that, he lifted the spoon and brought the hot soup to her lips. "Fuu—" "Fuu—" the gentle sound of the soup being sipped filled the quiet room.