Chapter 202: The Young Lord of Mercenary City

They said they were from Mercenary City too, and that Dongfang Ji was not only ranked first on the Mercenary City mercenary leaderboard, but also the young lord of Mercenary City.

When she heard that title, Ding Rou's heart thumped wildly—she was instantly smitten.

This Dongfang Ji wasn't just strikingly handsome and proud, he was also young, spirited, and full of vigor—so much better than that old man Lin Qiu.

Dongfang Ji's delicate, arrogant face twisted into a frown as he looked at Ding Rou, his tone displeased. ""Were you just sneaking a look at me?""

""N-no, I wasn't."" Ding Rou's soft, delicate voice trembled with shyness. She lowered her head, her cheeks flushing red, not daring to steal another glance at Dongfang Ji.

As for his tone, Ding Rou's mind was already lost in daydreams of a beautiful encounter between a boy and a girl, falling in love at first sight. She didn't have the attention to spare for how he was speaking to her.

And so, she was met with Dongfang Ji's merciless rebuke.

Dongfang Ji lifted his chin and snorted coldly. ""Liar.""

Then, with haughty disdain, he declared, ""I was born with good looks, am brilliant and heroic, and hold a high status. Someone like you—a little ugly duckling—could never hope to reach my level, nor are you worthy. I advise you to give up any thoughts about me as soon as possible. Otherwise, don't blame me for being harsh. If you keep staring at me and I get annoyed, don't blame me for taking action. A woman like you, I could shoot down with one arrow—right through the heart.""

Ding Rou's smile froze on her face. She looked up in disbelief at the exquisite, dazzling youth before her, who was as proud and willful as a spoiled young prince. ""Y-you... what did you say?""

Dongfang Ji's fair, jade-like face twisted in disgust. ""So you're not only ugly, but deaf too?""

""You can't say that about me!""

Ding Rou's voice grew shrill and urgent, her expression aggrieved as she cried out, ""I led the way for you! You can't humiliate me like this—I did you a favor!""

Dongfang Ji bared two little canine teeth, his smile devilish, his tone nasty. ""Longteng is so close, and they made such a racket—how could I not find the way? It was all in your head, insisting on leading us. I don't acknowledge any such 'favor.' If anyone could just pull a trick and claim to have done me a favor, how many favors would I have to repay? Hmph! You scheming, vicious woman—you're just trying to trick me into doing something for you.""

""I didn't! I didn't!"" Ding Rou protested miserably, nearly coughing up blood from anger.

What kind of demon was this? How could someone have such a wicked tongue?

Truly an angel when silent, a devil when he speaks—Ding Rou's heart was shattered to pieces.

Dongfang Ji continued his arrogant tirade. ""Hmph! You did, you did! You just want my looks and my energy credits, trying to use a 'favor' to get something out of me. I've seen right through women like you and your nasty little schemes.""

Seeing Ding Rou so furious she was speechless, clutching her chest and grinding her teeth, Dongfang Ji finally lifted his chin and strutted off, proud as a peacock.

The people following behind him were already used to this. Each of them followed along, and as they passed Ding Rou, they glanced at her—but their eyes held no sympathy, no pity, and certainly no comfort.

Because they all knew that, although Dongfang Ji was arrogant, spoiled, and overbearing, he actually possessed the sharp intuition of an archer, able to accurately sense the emotions of anyone who approached him.

For him to lash out so ruthlessly and passionately at a woman like this, she was clearly up to no good.

So naturally, they felt no need to show Ding Rou any mercy. In their eyes, she deserved what she got.

Ding Rou could only watch helplessly as they disappeared into the crowd of frenzied bidders, her eyes full of resentment, her heart pounding with anger.

She was both furious and unwilling to accept it. Why did Dongfang Ji have to have a mouth? How nice it would be if he didn't.

""Hey, isn't that Xun Min, that bastard, over there shouting bids?""

As they entered the bidding crowd, Dongfang Ji's sharp ears caught a familiar voice. He looked up, and sure enough—it was that bastard Xun Min.

""What are they bidding on? Xun Min's already up to three hundred thousand? No way, I can't let him get his hands on anything good.""

Dongfang Ji's brows shot up coldly. He immediately raised his hand and shouted, ""Three hundred and ten thousand!""

Tang Liangjun and the others, following behind, couldn't stop him even if they tried.

But there was nothing they could do—Dongfang Ji was just that willful.

They could only exchange helpless glances, then politely turned to ask the people nearby, ""Excuse me, what's being auctioned here?""

The person next to them was shocked. ""That handsome young guy shouting bids—is he with you? You guys don't even know what's being auctioned and you're bidding? And you just jumped to three hundred and ten thousand energy credits?""

""Uh..."" Tang Liangjun saw the obvious ""Are you guys crazy?"" look on the man's face, and could only smile awkwardly, nodding. ""Yes, but with so many people bidding, it must be something good. We can't go wrong joining in.""

""Oh, that's true,"" the man finally looked less shocked, then eagerly pulled Tang Liangjun aside to explain, ""They're auctioning off Miss Yun's Red Elixir and Greater Red Elixir. These red elixirs can heal any injury, no matter what. I saw it with my own eyes—Uncle Yu from Longteng had a wound so big you could see his intestines. Miss Yun poured a Greater Red Elixir down his throat, and guess what happened?""

Tang Liangjun guessed cautiously, ""The hole closed up?""

The man slapped his thigh excitedly. ""More than just closed up! The flesh grew back, good as new! In just fifteen minutes, it went from a bloody mess to perfect pink flesh. It's as effective as an S-class or higher healing ability user! Isn't that amazing? Shouldn't you bid?""

""We should,"" Tang Liangjun nodded. Absolutely—they were mercenaries who lived on the edge, braving danger every day. This kind of potion was exactly what they needed.

By the time he came back to his senses, Dongfang Ji and Xun Min were already locked in a bidding war.

The price had already shot up from three hundred and ten thousand to five hundred thousand energy credits.

An enraged Xun Min, already driven mad by the bidding, turned around to glare at the brat daring to challenge him—only to realize it was someone he knew.

""Dongfang Ji? You—what are you doing here?""

Xun Min's face twisted in shock.

Dongfang Ji lifted his chin, his beautiful eyes full of mocking arrogance as he looked at Xun Min. ""Why shouldn't I be here? What, it's fine for you to run around pretending to be the city lord's illegitimate son, but the real young lord can't show his face?""

Xun Min's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth in frustration. ""That's not what I meant.""

""Then what do you mean? Say it,"" Dongfang Ji pressed, refusing to let it go.

""I was just surprised, that's all. I didn't expect to run into you here,"" Xun Min forced himself to sound calm, suppressing his anger.

But in his eyes, a flash of bloodthirsty killing intent appeared. Stupid Dongfang Ji actually dared to leave Mercenary City? Then this Chaos City would be his grave."