"How dare you!"
"What right do you have to demand verification of our funds?" the middle-aged man pointed at Zhao Linglong and said sternly.
Despite his calm demeanor, he was panicking internally.
"What? Why so agitated?" Zhao Linglong sneered.
However, from the other party's reaction, Zhao Linglong could tell.
Her guess was correct; these people were just shouting prices randomly, and they couldn't afford that much money.
Zhang Yang, who had been observing from the sidelines, also reacted.
He quietly reminded Luo Yiren, who immediately stood up to support Zhao Linglong.
"Does Taohua Shuixiang like to conduct business in a shady manner? Since the courtesans are already decided, what's the point of an auction? Are you trying to cheat us out of our entrance fees?"
"And since both parties have verified their funds, why not just announce them for everyone to see?"
This!
Hong Xiu's expression was extremely displeased.
She hadn't expected these two to react so quickly and discover the problem so soon.
Moreover.
With Luo Yiren and Zhao Linglong's commotion, the entire auction hall's guests also started to clamor.
"So they were just bidding randomly just now. No wonder they were so hesitant with their bids earlier and then doubled the price later."
"Damn it, so Taohua Shuixiang treated us all like suckers and fools?"
"Bastards, I still have money in my account, I want a refund, and the entrance fee for this courtesan competition too!"
"That's right, refund our money!"
"..."
Instantly.
The guests' anger was ignited.
Everyone stood on Zhao Linglong's side, accusing Taohua Shuixiang of dishonest dealings.
"Who exactly are these two people! Investigate them thoroughly." Hong Xiu was furious.
Just as it was about to end, a bigger storm erupted.
The staff members who heard her words.
Dared not linger any longer and quickly turned to investigate, while also reporting the situation to their superiors.
Hong Xiu took a deep breath and looked at the guests, explaining.
"Everyone, please remain calm. Taohua Shuixiang treats everyone equally and has never done anything underhanded."
"I don't know what these two people's intentions are, to slander Taohua Shuixiang like this. If you cannot give us an explanation today, then you are not leaving either!"
As Hong Xiu finished speaking, thirty to forty guards appeared at the entrance of the auction hall.
"What? You've been caught red-handed and now you plan to silence us with force?"
"Heh, so this is what it means for a big shop to bully its customers. Taohua Shuixiang has truly opened my eyes!"
Zhao Linglong and Luo Yiren played off each other.
They showed no fear, pushing Hong Xiu back into the spotlight.
The guests also looked at Hong Xiu in unison.
Hoping that she would provide a reasonable explanation before resorting to action.
"Miss Hong Xiu, if these two are enemies sent to cause trouble, then produce your evidence!"
"That's right, just show us the funds in the hands of these five people."
"That's the only way, otherwise, we have no way of knowing who is right and who is wrong!"
"We really don't dare to patronize Taohua Shuixiang like this anymore. Otherwise, the next sucker might be us."
Clearly.
The guests were not fools.
Those who could afford to spend money and come to such high-end establishments wanted an explanation.
This undoubtedly put Hong Xiu in a very awkward position.
These guests were considered mid-tier customers of Taohua Shuixiang, with substantial spending each time.
Although it couldn't compare to the auction event today, their consistent patronage was crucial.
These people were the most important consumer base for maintaining Taohua Shuixiang.
If they were disappointed with Taohua Shuixiang, the loss would be immense.
Furthermore.
If this matter could not be handled properly.
And it spread, Taohua Shuixiang's losses would be even more severe.
At that time, she wouldn't be able to explain to the young master.
"Everyone, please be quiet!" Hong Xiu raised her hand again and shouted.
"The explanation you want, I can give, but let me deal with these two troublemakers first!"
Another delaying tactic.
Zhao Linglong and Luo Yiren sneered again, exposing her plan.
"What? Are you still planning to stall for time to transfer money and falsify accounts for these five people to trick us?"
As soon as the two spoke.
The guests felt even more that something was amiss, sensing a hidden agenda.
They all started shouting.
"That's right, announcing the funds doesn't require complicated procedures. Miss Hong Xiu, these two aren't going anywhere, show us first."
"If you can't produce it, then refund our money, and we'll never come here again. Taohua Shuixiang is a bunch of scammers!"
"..."
Zhao Linglong and Luo Yiren's relentless pressure left Hong Xiu unable to cope.
That's right.
Her original plan was to apprehend Zhao Linglong and Luo Yiren first.
To shut them up and prevent them from fanning the flames.
Then, she would take advantage of this time to quickly forge a proof of funds to fool the guests.
Unfortunately.
They discovered it again.
Hong Xiu was furious but couldn't produce the proof of funds immediately.
Fortunately, at this moment.
A person walked in from the entrance of the auction hall.
"Evidence, we naturally have it. Esteemed guests, please remain calm and don't be manipulated by those with ulterior motives."
The woman who entered was named Tian Xiang.
She wore the same qipao as Hong Xiu.
She and Hong Xiu were sisters and also management staff of Taohua Shuixiang.
After the staff who had left earlier informed Tian Xiang about the situation with Hong Xiu.
Tian Xiang rushed over immediately.
She also brought with her what could help Hong Xiu escape this predicament.
"Miss Tian Xiang is here too."
Seeing Tian Xiang, the guests quieted down a bit.
Clearly.
Tian Xiang held a certain degree of credibility in the eyes of these guests, and they didn't make a scene.
Then, a few guests stood up and said.
"Miss Tian Xiang, it's not that we want to cause trouble, but something is very wrong today, and we don't want to be treated like fools."
"We are very fond of Taohua Shuixiang, and we just want to know the truth of what happened today."
"..."
Tian Xiang listened to their words and nodded slightly.
"I understand everyone's feelings, and Tian Xiang can empathize."
"However, you have been used by these two individuals today. They are troublemakers sent by Taohua Shuixiang's rival forces, with the sole purpose of causing trouble for Taohua Shuixiang."
"Everyone, you want to see proof of funds, don't you? Then please look at the big screen."
After Tian Xiang finished speaking, she pointed to the screen in the center of the auction stage.
At this moment.
The funds in five bank cards were being displayed in rotation.
Moreover, names and other details were included, and they were in a networked state.
Clearly.
This was not a forged or photoshopped image.
These five proofs of funds were all genuine.
Zhao Linglong and Luo Yiren inwardly knew it was bad.
Luo Yiren was fine.
After all, the scene was already chaotic, and it would only become more so if a fight broke out.
Her not acting immediately was just to buy more time for Zhang Yang.
Zhao Linglong, however, thought more deeply.
She knew the identities of the five people bidding earlier.
This money definitely didn't belong to them; it was likely transferred by Taohua Shuixiang temporarily.
However, even if she revealed this now, no one would believe her.
It seemed that tonight, it was no longer realistic to leave with the five courtesans on stage peacefully.
"So they really brought so much money. We misunderstood Taohua Shuixiang. We're truly sorry."
"I knew it, how could Taohua Shuixiang, such a large establishment, resort to underhanded tactics."
"Damn it, we were actually being used!"
"..."
Tian Xiang's presentation of the proof of funds instantly shifted the guests' stance. They apologized to Tian Xiang one by one.
In response.
Tian Xiang chuckled, showing no signs of displeasure.
"Everyone is a distinguished guest of Taohua Shuixiang. As long as we resolve any misunderstandings, there's no need for apologies. After all, Taohua Shuixiang relies on your support."
At this moment, Hong Xiu also walked over to her sister, Tian Xiang, and said.
"Since the misunderstanding has been cleared, please leave the auction hall. We have other matters to attend to."
Hong Xiu's intention was clear.
The guests naturally wouldn't stay there and headed towards the exit of the auction hall.
They wanted to go outside and find a woman to calm their nerves.
A moment later.
All the guests in the auction hall had left.
Only Zhao Linglong, Zhao Jian, and Luo Yiren remained.
As for Zhang Yang.
He had disappeared from his seat at some point without anyone noticing.
However.
His departure went unnoticed by anyone.
Even Hong Xiu, who was filled with rage, automatically ignored him.
Because during the auction earlier, it was Luo Yiren who had been bidding.
Zhang Yang, who accompanied her, was merely an observer.
In Hong Xiu's view, Zhang Yang had probably taken advantage of the chaos to escape.
Zhao Linglong and Luo Yiren in front of her were the instigators of the trouble.
"Hong Xiu, have you found out the identities of these two? Who are they and where are they from?" Tian Xiang asked.
"I don't know, we haven't found anything yet." Hong Xiu frowned.
"You can't find anything? That's fine, then let's arrest them and interrogate them slowly!" Tian Xiang's face revealed a sinister smile.
With a wave of her hand, the guards of Taohua Shuixiang immediately rushed forward.
"Miss, be careful." Zhao Jian's expression turned serious.
As if performing a magic trick, he pulled out a long sword from behind him and charged at the guards.
Zhao Linglong's strength was only at the Outer Body Refining realm, not enough to participate in such a fight.
She had investigated before coming.
The weakest guards of Taohua Shuixiang were already at the peak of the Outer Body Refining realm.
Zhao Linglong could not handle them.
Therefore, she was preparing to approach Luo Yiren to ask where Zhang Yang had gone.
However, to Zhao Linglong's surprise, Luo Yiren instead charged forward proactively.
She zipped past Zhao Linglong like a gust of wind, shouting, "I'm going to smash this damn Taohua Shuixiang today!"
Instantly.
A surge of true qi erupted from Luo Yiren's body.
Her strength, revealed to be at the Hidden Yuan realm, was undeniable.
Zhao Jian, who was fighting the guards with his long sword, was also greatly surprised.
He hadn't expected Luo Yiren to possess such high strength.
However.
Since Luo Yiren was an ally and not an enemy, it did lighten his burden.
In just one minute.
All the guards of Taohua Shuixiang were incapacitated, with most of them losing their lives on the spot.
These people were all killed by Zhao Jian.
With the cooperation of Luo Yiren and Zhao Jian, Luo Yiren would knock one down, and Zhao Jian would finish them off.
"Two Hidden Yuan realm experts? It seems they were well-prepared!"
Tian Xiang and Hong Xiu's expressions changed.
However.
The two sisters did not show fear. If the guards couldn't handle them.
Then they would step in themselves.
Because their strength was also at the Hidden Yuan realm.
In a two-on-two situation, even if they couldn't defeat them, they could at least hold them back.
This way, as long as the young master arrived, these people would not be able to escape.
"Attack!"
Hong Xiu and Tian Xiang exchanged glances and attacked directly.
Zhao Jian's eyes narrowed.
He wielded his long sword, creating sword flowers, blocking Tian Xiang.
Luo Yiren, on the other hand, was not to be outdone.
"Good! I haven't had enough of fighting yet." Luo Yiren's true qi surged as she advanced again.
At this moment.
She no longer concealed her gender, as she was going to cause chaos anyway. If she could smash the entire place, even better.
Therefore.
Luo Yiren's fighting style was clearly more brutal.
Every move she made had a wide area of effect.
Before long.
The entire auction hall was in disarray.
Even the screen hanging in the center of the auction stage was shattered at some point.
As for Zhao Linglong, she didn't stand idle either.
When Hong Xiu and Tian Xiang hadn't made their move, she didn't dare to act rashly for fear of being captured.
Now that they were entangled with Luo Yiren and Zhao Jian.
Zhao Linglong also immediately went onto the stage and opened the cages that were not locked.
She then released the five women who were imprisoned inside one by one.
At the same time.
Zhao Linglong seemed to know in advance that they had been acupoint-sealed and drugged.
She took out the antidote she had prepared earlier and personally unsealed their acupoints.
"Are you alright?" Zhao Linglong asked.
"Thank you for your assistance, sir." After taking the antidote, the five courtesans bowed gratefully to Zhao Linglong.
Clearly.
They had witnessed everything that happened tonight.
They knew that Luo Yiren and Zhao Linglong were there to save them.
Although they didn't know the reason, they had been captured from the Western Regions and brought to the capital.
They were already without anyone to rely on. At this moment, someone was willing to save them, and they were naturally grateful.
"Don't thank me yet, I have a purpose in saving you. Can you answer a few questions for me first?" Zhao Linglong said directly.
"Please speak, sir. As long as we know, we will tell you everything." The five girls nodded in unison.
Zhao Linglong heard this.
Her gaze swept over the five girls, particularly their key body parts.
This gaze made the faces of the five girls blush.
They thought Zhao Linglong was also interested in their bodies.
If that were the case...
Should they comply or not?
Zhao Linglong had no idea what they were thinking.
She was still disguised as a man and hadn't realized how presumptuous her gaze was.
The reason for this was.
It was because Zhao Linglong had heard a legend and wanted to verify if it was true.
"Are the five of you from the same place, and are your bodies..."