Ye Xi was well - organized and logical. Everyone present couldn't help nodding.
Seeing her identity exposed, the girl stopped pretending. She fixed her sharp eyes on the seller and said coldly,
"Just as the immortal maiden said, if this dagger is real, I'll buy it even if you raise the price. I won't bargain at all!"
"I..."
The seller's face turned pale. He tightly clutched the dagger in his arms. Seeing everyone around staring at him intently, he was suddenly overcome with evil courage. He drew out the dagger and lunged at Ye Xi.
"You damned Taoist nun! How dare you spoil my good deed!"
"Ah!"
"Miss!"
There were gasps all around, drowning out Sai Xing's scream.
The girl was the closest. Having some martial arts skills, she instinctively kicked at the crazy seller.
However, the seller also knew some boxing and kicking techniques. He turned around and stabbed at Ye Xi again.
"Clang!"
"Thud!"
"Thud!"
Just as the dagger was about to reach Ye Xi's face, several sounds rang out in succession.
A pebble flew in from each of three directions. One hit the dagger right on target, knocking it out of the seller's hand. The other two hit the acupoints on the seller's arm and leg respectively, forcing him to his knees.
The people from the Curiosity Hall quickly stepped forward and took the seller away. The other servants calmly dealt with the scene, in an orderly manner as if they were used to such situations. Although the people around were startled for a moment, they soon calmed down. It was obvious that such things happened quite often in the Curiosity Hall.
Still in a state of shock, Ye Xi was pulled to the side by the girl, and Sai Xing quickly followed.
Only then did Ye Xi see the three people who had shot the pebbles.
One was the servant who had been guarding the first floor of the Curiosity Hall; another was the elder brother of Young Master Qu Xian whom she had met in the Gathering Heroes Building before, but Young Master Qu Xian was nowhere to be seen; and the last one was -
Yi Yuan!
The girl beside Ye Xi's eyes lit up. She instinctively wanted to step forward. But then she remembered that Ye Xi had just helped her and was even in danger because of her, so she stopped in her tracks.
Ye Xi subconsciously touched her veil hat and then turned to look at Sai Xing behind her.
Both their veil hats were still intact. Only then did they heave a sigh of relief.
Remembering that both of them had just saved her, Ye Xi didn't know whom to thank first for a moment.
Just as she was hesitating, Yi Yuan gave Ye Xi a cold glance and then turned around and left.
He had only intervened as a matter of convenience. He had come to the Curiosity Hall mainly to buy some rare items to apologize to Ye Xi later.
After all, Yi Yuan knew that an apology should be done properly. He just didn't expect that the person he was going to apologize to was standing right in front of him now.
"Are you okay, immortal maiden?" The girl was a bit anxious when she saw Yi Yuan walking away.
Ye Xi shook her head.
"Thank you for your help today, immortal maiden." The girl took out a small pouch from her bosom, her cheeks blushing slightly.
"I still have something to do and can't stay long. Please accept this little token of my gratitude. Otherwise, I'll feel really bad."
Money was needed everywhere, so Ye Xi wasn't polite. She nodded, exchanged a few polite words and accepted it.
Just as the girl left, Shen Zhou came up to Ye Xi. He was a handsome young gentleman, as elegant as a jade tree.
"What a coincidence, Immortal Maiden Man Ping."
Ye Xi bowed respectfully and said sincerely,
"You've saved me again, sir. I really don't know how to thank you. May I know your name?"
"Shen Zhou."
Shen Zhou replied, with his peach - blossom eyes smiling charmingly.
"It's just a small thing. You don't have to take it to heart. Are you here for the treasure exhibition today too? How about we go together?"
"Ah, no, no." Ye Xi quickly refused.
If she hadn't seen Yi Yuan just now, she would have been quite willing to go. But after seeing Yi Yuan, Ye Xi instantly changed her mind.
Based on Ye Xi's understanding, if it were just the Ye family, they would probably only stay on the second floor and not go any higher. But if Yi Yuan was here, with his status, he would most likely go to the third floor.
Considering how she had slandered Yi Yuan in front of Ye Jueyao before, the Ye family would surely go up to talk to him. If she then went to the third floor to find the Fourth Princess, the risk of being recognized would be too great.
"Thank you for your kind offer, sir. I'm just here to have some fun. Since something bad has happened, it's not convenient for me to stay any longer. I'll go back first. But I'll surely remember your help today and will repay you in the future."
Ye Xi said seriously.
"In that case," Shen Zhou's tone was full of regret, "I won't force you. If you want to repay me, I might really need your help in the future. I won't be polite then. Take care, immortal maiden. See you... if we're fated."
Ye Xi always felt that there was something behind Shen Zhou's words, but she couldn't figure it out for a moment.
She looked at Shen Zhou suspiciously for a couple of times, then left with Sai Xing.
Facts proved that Ye Xi's guess was completely right.
Yi Yuan went straight to the third floor and was led by a servant towards a private room. However, just as he passed by the second floor, Ye Jueyao caught sight of him.
Seeing Yi Yuan going up to the third floor, Ye Jueyao quickly tugged at Qian Fangxue's sleeve and tilted her chin in Yi Yuan's direction.
Qian Fangxue just took a quick glance and understood Ye Jueyao's intention.
Thinking that it would be easier for them to talk alone, Qian Fangxue called her personal nanny, took out a gold ingot and gave it to Ye Jueyao, telling her to go up by herself.
Taking the heavy gold ingot, Ye Jueyao pursed her lips and smiled, then chased after Yi Yuan.
However, the girl also followed closely behind and stepped in front of Yi Yuan first.
"Prince Yu'an," the girl said with a beaming smile, "What a coincidence. Are you also here for this treasure exhibition?"
"Miss Qiao." Yi Yuan took an imperceptible step back, keeping a distance from Qiao Yan.
He wasn't very familiar with Qiao Yan. He only had some acquaintance with Qiao Yan's elder brother, Qiao He, the young marquis of the Changming Marquis Mansion. Qiao He was a military genius. Unfortunately, he was born in poor health and couldn't practice martial arts. So he especially liked to collect weapons and equipment to make up for his regret.
Yi Yuan nodded slightly as a greeting and then continued walking.
"Hey, Your Highness," Qiao Yan wasn't discouraged. She had been running around with her elder brother before. The first time she saw Yi Yuan, he was practicing sword - fighting. He was as graceful as a startled swan and as agile as a swimming dragon. His eyebrows were as cold as snow and his eyes were like cold stars.
Qiao Yan fell in love at first sight.
But Yi Yuan was so cold, always keeping people at a distance. If it weren't for following her elder brother, Qiao Yan would hardly ever see Yi Yuan.
Now that she finally had this chance, Qiao Yan wasn't going to let it slip away easily.
"I'm just here to choose a weapon for my elder brother. How about we go together?"
Qiao Yan trotted a few steps to catch up with Yi Yuan and looked at him expectantly.
Yi Yuan paused for a moment.
Maybe it was a good idea to go together. After all, they were both girls. They should like similar things. He had never had the experience of choosing things for girls. If Qiao Yan could help him make a decision, the things he chose might be more to Ye Xi's liking...
Just as he was thinking, a delicate voice came from behind,
"Your Highness..."
Ye Jueyao came over gracefully, looking shy.
"What a coincidence to meet Your Highness here. I wonder what treasures Your Highness is going to choose? I might be able to..."
Ye Jueyao didn't finish her sentence.
Because Yi Yuan turned around, revealing Qiao Yan behind him.