Yu got up and went to the kitchen area to request rice pudding infused with whatever affinity she could manage to get in there. The woman said the best she could do was a minor infusion of Earth in the cream as plain rice was difficult to infuse for whatever reason. Yu approved and asked for a pot of infused tea to go with the pudding.

Returning, Yu said casually, “So, nothing really interesting so far.”

Laughing, Lei said, “You mean nothing interesting you didn’t sell.”

The girls laughed and Yu shrugged as if to say, “Well, yeah.”

“Hopefully at least something worthwhile comes up in the second half. It would be nice to try to win something of use.” Then rubbing her chin in exaggerated thought, she said, “Well, so far everyone was right. There were weapons, Qi plants, and beasts. So I guess I win, right girls?”

A napkin came flying at Yu from where Li sat. She caught it and laughed. The cook brought out a tray filled with five puddings and a pot of tea and Yu leaped onto the couch and dug in while her brother poured for everyone. Ever since an episode at home with her father’s first wife and a visiting sect elder, Yu had come to really appreciate the gently sweet taste of rice pudding. Everyone dug in and once again the twins yelled at Yu for spending points on them. She stuck her tongue out and said, “I’m allowed to spoil my friends when I want. Now shut up and eat the pudding and drink the tea. They’ll help you get stronger.” They shook their heads and Ai gave Yu a side hug which she returned with a kiss to the top of the head.

Lei chugged his down and said, “Father sent me a letter that said something about rice pudding and a trap that you foiled.” Yu nodded and told the story, ending in her rather public humiliation and punishment of the woman and her two horrible sons. As always, Li was gleefully vengeful when someone who she deemed “bad” was punished.

Yu adored the fiery girl’s perspective; it was just so honest.

Lei on the other hand looked at her curiously. Yu looked back and nodded. “Yes, I was disciplined. It kind of turned into a thing and I had to fight an elder and he died and I got all of his stuff.”

Everyone blinked at that very short summary but before she could explain the auction started back up with a ding and the lights dimming.

Lei glared at her.

“Whatever. It all ended well,” was all she was willing to say on the topic.

“Yu’er. . .”

But Yu ignored him and watched the auction. He sighed and turned back to the stunning woman who had returned to the stage.

“Welcome back all. Once again, we wish to start off with a bang, and so we bring out something we think you will like.” A small box, no bigger than two of Yu’s palms in width and one in height, was brought out and the woman walked over next to it but didn’t open it. “This item was found by one of the elders of this sect when he went exploring in an ancient tomb. We have determined its age is approximately twelve thousand years. Normally that would mean it lost its powers and would be worthless beyond its materials cost. But this item was found in a sarcophagus sealed by a strong formation.” Whispers could once again be heard in Yu’s booth.

The woman then opened the box by lifting the front and a simple but lovely bracelet sat in its red padded center. It was made of a thin silver loop with alternating gems of two amethyst and two rubies embedded and held in place with what appeared to be claws of some sort.

“As always with items such as this, there are risks. Use of the bracelet could cause any of a thousand different effects, positive and negative, thus we have not tested it. However, our examination indicates it likely contains lightning and fire affinities, as one might expect from the stones. Given the risk, the starting price is only three thousand five hundred points.”

***

Lei had been having an unexpectedly good time with his sister and her friends. He hadn’t really been paying attention to the stage or the bracelet when he felt it. The power of the world weighing him down. Lei saw his amazing and unpredictable little half-sister move and press the 1,000 stone on her jade tablet. He heard the woman on the stage say, “Well, someone is certainly interested. Our current bid is 4,500 from suite 843. Anyone else willing to take on the risk of something potentially invaluable?”

But Lei’s attention didn’t shift from Yu’er who’s gaze had turned distant. He could tell she wasn’t even really focused on the auction although she was looking that way. It looked like she was watching something else, far into the distance. Maybe she was. Yu’er’s silver eyes were swirling like a stirred liquid and hadn’t left that bracelet since the box opened.

He noticed peripherally that “the twins,” as Yu referred to them, were about to speak. Worse, the little cute fiery one next to him was about to touch Yu. The adorable and shy third princess was clearly scared and concerned at the same time. Lei put his hand on Jao Li’s shoulder and called everyone to be quiet as they all watched his sister’s hidden power show. Hopefully, Yu’er’s friends wouldn’t realize the truth of what was going on. If her master found out . . . Well, who knew with him?

Lei had been training as the future leader of their clan long enough to know about Long Meixiu’s family. Yu’s mother came from a long line of Spatial Affinity experts and their powers were beyond strange and mysterious. Lei knew for a fact that silver was the color of that affinity and thus he saw his half-sister’s bloodline showing itself. Their father speculated that Spatial was her original affinity before everything happened at her declaration. Not that he was allowed to speak of it. He shouldn’t even be thinking about that day.

Distracting himself, Lei watched as the number on the jade tablet increased by 100. Again without focusing, Yu’er pressed her 100 point stone nine times, bringing the bid up to 5,500.

“Once again, suite 843 has the highest bid of 5,500. Does anyone wish to compete with someone so passionate?” Silence followed and she sang, “Five thousand five hundred going once, going twice, sold to suite 843.” Lei saw the silver light die and felt the world relax around them. He reclined back into the comfortable couch and watched as the girls’ bodies became less tense but for a different reason.

***

Yu blinked, wobbled slightly, and fell back into the couch she shared with Ai as she came back to herself. Looking around she felt a little confused. “Huh. That was weird.”

Yu heard Lei say, “Girls. I don’t need to ask you to keep what you just saw a secret, do I?” The twins shook their heads and Ai side-hugged Yu tightly.

Yu looked curiously at everyone and then looked down at her hand. It took her a moment to process everything. “Oh.” Then she looked around at her friends, blushing brightly, and said, “Umm. Oops.”

Li said, “Yu. That was super creepy.”

Ai nodded into Yu’s shoulder and Yu whispered to the girl, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Sometimes. . . umm. . . well, I can get really. . . umm. . . focused?” Yu finished lamely.

Lei just sighed and said, “Whatever. You apparently picked up something interesting. I expect a full story on it.”

Speaking of, the door opened and the lovely Auction Assistant Mo entered with a waft of jasmine a huge smile, carrying the box from the auction. Here you go, young mistress. The cost has been deducted from your earnings for the evening, which we both know has just begun. She winked at Yu and then took her leave.

Lei looked curious and said, “What did she mean?”

Yu placed the box in her storage ring, coughed, and said innocently, “Well. I did find the entire litter.”

Jumping to his feet, Lei asked, “How many damned foxes did you find?”

Yu looked up at him holding up her hands, “Relax, will you? I found five.”

He didn’t sit and said slowly, “Are you telling me, you still have three more foxes coming in this auction?”

“No.” Her brother seemed to relax then until Yu explained, “I already sold one to Elder Butong at the beast center. So only four will be at the auction.”

“What?!” Lei was yelling now.

“Will you stop hollering and relax? Sit down before you hurt yourself or one of my friends.”

He finally recognized what he was doing and looked around and then down at Li, who was staring up at him with a mixed expression of entertained, afraid, and. . . something else Yu couldn’t identify.

Lei finally sat slowly and whispered to Li, “I’m sorry.” Her eyes flashed with that same unknown emotion and she snuggled closer to her brother and wrapped her arm through his. He looked at Yu and said stiffly, “My sister has a habit of getting her family worked up.”

Yu giggled and said without thinking, “You should have seen Uncle Zhao when I told him I gave away a grade 6 beast core.”

Everyone, including Ai, gasped at that. Lei and Li both swore and Lu’s mouth was opening and closing like a fish.

Oops. Ugh. Yu needed to get a grip. When was she getting those meditations?

Trying to keep the embarrassment from her face, Yu attempted to distract everyone. She scolded Lei and Li by saying, “Really you two? Honestly, with the language. Moving on, we are about to miss out on what looks like a lovely pair of daggers.” Li’s entire body jerked to the window and she saw a pair of glistening steel daggers with the jade tablet showing 3,340 on the tablet. She slumped but Ai said quietly, “Water, not Air,” and Li felt much better.

Yu said, “That makes sense. A pair of Air daggers of that quality would probably go for double that at least.”

Li nodded but Lei hadn’t taken his eyes off of his sister. Yu glared at him and said firmly, “Stop staring. It’s rude.”

Yu refused to say more about the core in front of her friends who already thought she was a weirdo. All they needed was to know she made friends with grade 5 and 6 demonic beasts and they’d go running for the hills. That and she probably shouldn’t talk about it openly anyway. But seriously.

A few more weapons and even a shield showed up but none of it interested her crew. They all went for above three thousand points. A few were crafted by elders and even disciples. Yu found it fascinating that not a single item was sold for silver. It was dragon points only.

“Well, we are down to our last five items, and that means we have something interesting to show next.” Once again a cage with a fox was brought out and shown.

She spoke with a sardonic smile. “Now, I know what you’re thinking. But I can tell you that the disciple who recovered this litter is very well known and prestigious.”

Great. Now people are going to be asking all the big names if it was them. She’ll be found out eventually, but hopefully everyone would move on quickly.

“That said, this cute little boy is the last of three brothers from the litter. He will start at five thousand as did the others. Will anyone bid on this last handsome young man from the fox’s den?”

Yu giggled at her phrasing. “She’s good.”

Lei grumped, still upset at her lack of sharing. “You said there would be four.” She nodded to him. He blinked and she could tell when he figured it out as her brother gasped out, “The last is a female? You caught a female fox?”

Yu smiled and said, “Two actually. The first went to Elder Butong.”

Female illusory foxes are many times rarer, have stronger powers, and can theoretically be used to breed if one can find the right male.

Yu told him, “Its parent was a grade 3 and a complete nightmare. She got into my head with her strange illusions and almost did me in. In fact, she set a trap hiding in Illusion Qi and was probably responsible for the deaths of disciples before me.”

Lu, ever knowledgeable about demonic beasts, asked, “How did you kill her? They are so hard to pin down. Usually, they flee when they sense stronger power but are able to use their illusions to kill those of equal or lesser strength.”

Yu said blandly, “A knife in the ear.” They all stared at her incredulously. She asked, “What? I didn’t want to ruin her eyes or pelt.” Lei snorted and Li swore again. Lu nodded as if her choice was totally logical and Ai just squeezed her harder.

“It was totally worth it,” Yu said. “I got like fifty-five hundred points for the carcass, and that was after the butchery fee.”

The auctioneer loudly called, “Sold for ten thousand nine hundred thirty points to suite 920.” Yu laid her head back, closed her eyes and smiled hugely at that. Ai asked what was wrong and Yu said, “Nothing at all. I can officially afford to have one skill for each of my classes.”

Everyone cheered and Lei ordered a drink for everyone. They had a small celebration and then Yu told everyone to not get distracted from the auction. Something had just come out that caught her eye.

The next item was another Qi plant, but it was much rarer than the previous one. And surprisingly familiar. A miniature tree with seven leaves of varied colors of the rainbow shown in front of everyone. Yu looked carefully and saw no fruit.

“Ladies and gentlemen. What we have here is a Prismatic Essence Heart Bush between the ages of seventy and ninety years. This is one of the most mysterious Qi plants in the world. Every leaf has its own capabilities when consumed, which appear utterly random. No direct correlation has been proven between a leaf and effect, but there is a good deal of speculation and research on the topic should you choose to purchase it. This might sound useless, but keep in mind the leaves sell quite well individually and are usually seen as something of a fun gamble. Beyond that, every century the plant produces a single fruit of the color matching a leaf. All we know is that the fruit is many times more potent than the leaf and the outcome always involves the affinity aligned with the fruit’s color. For this amazing plant, we are only asking for six thousand five hundred points as a starting bid.” That was the highest starting bid for any item thus far in the auction.

Yu rubbed her chin and mumbled to herself, “Huh. Do they not know or do they not want to share?”

Everyone turned to face her and she blushed. “Did I say that out loud?”

They all nodded and Lei said, “Why do you say that they don’t know? What don’t they know?”

Yu shrugged and figured why not. “If you take the leaf and fruit of the same color together, you are much more likely to have a positive outcome specific to that affinity.”

Li squinted her eyes and asked, “And just how do you know that?”

Yu cleared her throat and looked down. “Umm. I. . . umm.. . .”

Lu gasped and spoke as if in an epiphany, “You did it, didn’t you? You know first hand?”

Yu nodded. “Please don’t ask though. I don’t know if I can say.”

They nodded but Li pouted. “You have so many secrets, Yu.”

Yu put her head in her hands and shook them. “I know, I know. I’m sorry. I don’t want to, it just is how things are with me. I feel bad about it. You know I tell you what I can.” Lei patted Li and said to her in a loud whisper, “Don’t worry. I’ll tell you embarrassing stories about Yu that aren’t a secret.”

Yu threw a stuffed couch pillow at him and said, “Don’t you dare!” The room’s mood lifted with her brother’s timely interference on Yu’s behalf. He was so good.

The plant ended up going for 7,980 to someone in one of the highest numbered suites. Hopefully, they wouldn’t waste the hidden treasure they had just bought.

Ai fidgeted and Yu looked at her. “You ok?”

The girl nodded and whispered, “Family suite.”

Ahh. Yu nodded and asked gently, “And you want to know if you should tell them about taking the leaf and fruit together?”

Poor Ai nodded into her shoulder. Yu patted her back. “Do you think you can tell them without it being linked back to me?” she asked.

Ai shook her head. That made sense. They would probably force her to tell, or they’d figure it out.

Yu sighed and said, “I’m sorry, Ai. You know how important it is for me to stay neutral. I can’t be seen as taking sides, even peripherally.”

Lei’s face showed concern but he didn’t say anything.

Ai nodded and pushed closer into Yu who hugged her back and kissed the top of her head again. “Thanks for understanding. Maybe we can figure something out. Don’t forget it's ten to thirty years before the fruit ripens.”

The next two items were weapons of very high quality. Lei was initially interested in a bamboo staff but it wasn’t Ice Affinity and ended up above seven thousand points anyway.

The woman strutted around the stage and said, “And now. Our final item for the night. Well, ‘item’ isn’t quite right. It is something that is exceptionally difficult to acquire.” A box identical in shape but slightly bigger to those that held the foxes was carried out, covered in a red cloth with gold edges instead of brown like the others.

“Yes, it is another demonic beast. This beast is one of the rarest found anywhere and will no doubt make someone incredibly happy. You will recall that I said the prior fox was the last of three brothers born in the litter. Well, that was entirely true. However, what we have here is the final fox from that litter of four.”

Yu reflected that they didn’t know about her private sale, nor did it matter.

That said, it was obvious some folks were putting the truth together based on the auctioneer’s words because the place was stirring even worse than before.

“I see some of you have figured it out. Yes, what we have here for our final item of the evening is a single female Illusory Fox pup.” Then she took the cover off and showed the adorable little thing.

The place went absolutely berserk as their presumptions were confirmed. The words “light,” “darkness,” and “breeding,” were the most commonly bandied about.

The woman let the crowd be rowdy for a few moments before she covered the cage and said loudly, “Please,” while holding out her hands. Slowly (too slowly in Yu’s mind) everything calmed. “We all know how rare such a find is. A creature such as this brought up in the right conditions could be a lifelong partner for someone with the Light or Darkness Affinities as female Illusory Foxes are the only creatures on the continent known to use both simultaneously. Or she could be raised and bred if a suitable male could be found. Given her parentage, she will certainly grow to be at least grade 3. And that is a minimum. It is quite a miraculous and fortunate victory for that disciple, this sect, and now you.”

Yu watched the show and said, “Wow. She’s really working everyone up.”

Lei said, “You’re going to make out so well. Don’t forget your poor brother, will you?” Yu smiled at him.

“And so, with such a rare demonic beast we are asking for a price to match. Bidding will start at nine thousand points. Who will kick it off?”

Quickly the displayed number rose to 11,000 as someone pressed 1,000 twice quickly.

Then another clearly wanted in and hit 1,000 again. Suddenly a voice boomed from above everyone, somehow getting through the silencing of the private suites. “The Imperial Gui clan would appreciate it if nobody would compete with us regarding this creature. It is uniquely valuable to the throne.”

That might not have had the intended result because the price instantly shot to 13,000 and another voice echoed out from another booth far above the floor. “Your imperial family does not have the right to declare things yours before they are paid for. The Bao clan wishes to acquire this creature for its future prospects.”

Then the price shot up to 14,000 and the first voice said, “The good of the crown takes precedence. As much as the Bao wish they were, they are not more important than the empire.”

“The greed of the Gui clan is well known. We battle for the greater good of the empire and that is how this beast will serve, not for personal gain.” And the price rose to 16,000 with two more hits of the 1,000 button.

Yu’s hand slapped her forehead and she muttered, “Oh, boy.”

***

Seventh Prince Gui Zihao wanted that beast for his poor terrified little sister. That Ai’er had the rare Ice and Fire combination which had been absent in their royal family for generations was one of the worst kept secrets of the empire. But what only a handful of people knew—because her father silenced everyone who did and he didn’t trust—was that their father’s third-born daughter was a tri-affinity cultivator. She also had access to the Light Affinity and that fox would be a perfect fit. Not only that, she had always loved cute animals, and maybe having a companion would help her. And it was female, which is why he had bothered even trying. Hopefully, that would help build a connection.

The girl had been kidnapped three years ago and had never been the same since. She used to be so full of life and confidence. But ever since then, Ai’er had been shy in front of everyone except one or two people at home and scared of just about everything. And what’s worse, she absolutely flatly refused to cultivate. The only thing that drew any life and passion from her was painting.

From the reports he’d received, Ai’er seemed to be doing well in the sect. Specifically, she had repeatedly demonstrated both excitement and competence in calligraphy. Zihao thought that was excellent news.

Ironically, his reports also stated that she seemed to have befriended the only person in the sect he wanted to find details on but couldn’t. At least not to the level of depth he desired.

That verger girl who choked him out on the outer sect arena floor less than two weeks prior baffled him. That girl who has gotten under his skin and he couldn’t seem to get out of his mind. Every attempt Zihao made to find out Fenghuang Yu’s secrets hit a wall.

He was able to confirm she was indeed from the verge, which he originally doubted due to the high level of her martial skill and strong body. She was born and raised in some backwater city in the middle of nowhere in the Xing Nation, the second smallest in his empire. Her father was impressive as both a cultivator and military leader. But he was still young at four centuries and not as strong as his equivalent city lords in the center of the empire’s power. Zihao was still working on the mother but it looked like she was from the Long clan. However, she appeared to have no connection to them since her youth, having run away or some such.

The girl also had a brother at the sect who was, by all reports, gifted as well, if not up to her standards. He had placed in the top 100 in less than two years, which was impressive. Zihao had decided he would track that young man as a future investment. Or leverage.

The prince’s “researchers” found out that Fenghuang Yu had been born a cripple and spent the first eightish years of her life being treated as crippled trash. But then all of a sudden something happened and she miraculously awakened with amazing gifts. Nothing any of his people did could gather the missing information about her recovery. How does one go from trash to champion instantly? Obviously, it couldn’t happen without outside influence and so he asked his people to find the cause. All they had managed to report about it was what he already knew. She had six affinities and could use all three Qi types, which was utter insanity in and of itself.

There were also some odd reports of strange corrupted beasts in the wild areas in that kingdom. Normally he’d ignore it, but it had mirrored reports elsewhere in the empire, also on the verge. He had a few people looking into it. Oddly, his royal father has taken personal interest in those rumors for whatever reason and he had been told to back off for now. He’d silently poke around.

Anyway, back to the girl. He had been blocked when attempting to find her testing results but had hopes that enough coin and favors would expose at least that. He also had a niggling suspicion about her affinities based on her mother’s family, but couldn’t pin it down with finality yet. That said, he felt he was closer. But nowhere near close enough.

Of course, Zihao refused to think about how the stunning girl’s power felt when he apparently set her off, referring to her as a verger. He had been having her watched in secret and even checked up on her himself recently. He could have sworn she had become more beautiful in the two weeks since their fight. Was he losing his mind?

Well, all that aside, she was apparently his little sister’s best friend and the only one she trusted in the sect. The fact that the girl was getting under the skin of all the nobles and the Bao tickled Zihao to no end. He really liked seeing those arrogant asses put in their place, and she had repeatedly done it successfully, intentional or no. The tweaking at the Welcoming, the food mission, and everyone knew Bao Shi was dead and not “dismissed.” He wished her the best in continuing to slap their arrogant faces.

But it was always just between them. Fenghuang Yu never officially took the Gui clan’s side in the conflict. She just pissed the Bao and lesser nobles off because she dislikes them for whatever reason. She also seemed to irritate his half-brother, De. Zihao was also fine with that for now; the stuck up little snot bothered him too. He felt far too highly of himself for being a concubine’s son.

That aside, it was those damn Bao that drove him and his family crazy. And yet again, here they were. Trying to undermine the imperial family in front of all the nobles and wealthy in the sect. He wanted that girl fox for Ai’er and they were getting in the way. Well, they’d see.

He pressed the 1,000 button two more times and the price rose to 18,000. As he was when he faced the girl in the arena, Zihao was glad his family had an agreement with the sect that basically stated for one Gui child at a time attending the sect, points were. . . flexible. None of the Gui children abused it which is why it stuck around for generations. It was an old agreement and, thankfully, even the current lunatic running the place hadn’t canceled it. Zihao had been told by his father to step lightly around the sect leader. Quite literally, everyone who wasn’t themselves insane, was terrified of that man.

And that led to the next question. How had Fenghuang Yu gotten him to take her on? Ugh. There he was again, thinking of the girl.

Zihao was brought back to focus by hearing whichever arrogant Bao brat challenging him call out, “Being royalty means more than spending recklessly, as the Gui have done repeatedly for generations. The Bao will demonstrate our self-control and priorities by acquiescing on this beast.”

The seventh prince gritted his teeth and slammed his closed fist on the table in front of him. Those damn Bao had never even wanted the beast. They just wanted him to pay as much as they could get away with before risking their own points. And to slap his clan of course.

Well, it did not matter in the end. Points were only points and at least her sister would get a companion out of it. Hopefully, it would help poor Ai’er. Maybe that plus the beautiful and powerful silver-haired girl would help his scared and scarred sister find herself again.