Chapter One Hundred and Two: A Pleasant Collaboration

Ye Chen gave a light cough and gathered his wits, thinking to himself that it was fortunate he had spent so long surrounded by beauties; his resistance had grown considerably, or else this little enchantress might truly have stolen his soul. The woman was indeed dangerously alluring. No wonder even that icy fellow who never left a thing behind had fallen beneath her spell.

"This was my first time seeing the process of a player-run auction house. It seemed interesting, so I joined in myself," Ye Chen said, setting down the Snow Peak Brew at his side.

Ling Tong nodded and said with a soft laugh, "Speaking of that, Brother Ye Chen, you really gave me quite a surprise. Whether it was that bronze set or that silver staff, either one would be worthy of a finale lot. With these two items, this first auction is bound to shine all the more. Thank you, Brother Ye Chen."

Ye Chen shook his head. "Today's auction waives the transaction fee, so I'm the one taking advantage of you."

"Such a small fee hardly matters. What matters most is making sure the first auction succeeds. Every additional finale item adds another layer of brilliance." Ling Tong smiled and waved the little dwarf girl away, then continued, "I wonder how many White Tiger Pills Brother Ye Chen brought. If you could tell me the number, I can estimate the starting price."

"Forty-five. They're all here." Ye Chen did not bother with pleasantries and transferred all the White Tiger Pills directly to Ling Tong.

Ling Tong's eyes lit up. As she accepted the pills, she also handed Ye Chen a diamond token about the size of a palm, smiling sweetly. "Please accept this diamond token, Brother Ye Chen."

This thing was surely useful, so Ye Chen did not stand on ceremony. He took it, toyed with it twice, and tossed it into his pack.

"Brother Ye Chen is a hidden secondary profession user, so the things you produce are sure to be monopoly-grade goods. Only an auction can maximize their value. If Brother Ye Chen is interested, perhaps our two sides could work together long-term. We gain reputation, and Brother Ye Chen gains gold. What do you think?" Ling Tong said with a faint smile after seeing him accept the token.

Night Radiance Gold had only just begun to establish itself in the Four Districts, so drawing in a hidden secondary profession user like him was entirely expected. While his value was high, securing the greatest possible benefit now was the proper course. Ye Chen rubbed his chin and nodded. "Cooperation is certainly a good thing. But I wonder what discount your house can offer on the transaction fee. If it is suitable, I would have no objection to working only with your auction house in the future."

At that, Ling Tong gave Ye Chen a coquettish glance and said in mock reproach, "A master as skilled as Brother Ye Chen still wants to take advantage of a little woman like me?"

The charming look made Ye Chen's heart skip a beat. He almost blurted out his agreement to pay the full amount, but he quickly came to his senses and inwardly cursed her as a little enchantress. Then he hurriedly shook his head. "Business is business. Besides, I'm taking advantage of Night Radiance Gold, not you, Miss Ling Tong. Your advantage, I would never dare take." As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at the white, deep hollow beneath her slender neck and nearly got drawn in.

Silently cursing himself for lacking discipline, he was relieved he had lowered his head to drink just now. Otherwise, being caught in the act would have been truly awkward. He set down his cup, suppressed the agitation in his chest, and looked at Ling Tong with clear eyes, waiting for her answer.

Ling Tong gave a light laugh, then winked at him. "Since Brother Ye Chen has said so, how could Ling Tong refuse? I’ll make the decision myself: the transaction fee will be fully waived."

"Fully waived?" Ye Chen was startled. He had only expected at best a fifty percent reduction. One had to know that the pills he was selling were all extremely expensive. Even if the player auction house charged half the fee of the system auction house and only took ten percent, that would still amount to over a hundred gold coins. If it were truly free, that would be a huge gain.

"Free," Ling Tong said with a nod, then added slyly, "for one month only. After that, it will be charged at eighty percent of the diamond token rate."

Ye Chen studied her carefully. What a calculating woman. One month of free fees would indeed let him earn a great deal more money. Yet that sum was nothing worth mentioning to Night Radiance Gold. On the other hand, his special pills could help them open up the market and expand their influence. Moreover, although his pills were already expensive, in another month he might be able to produce level-four or even level-five pills. By then their prices would be astronomical, and if the auction house charged normally, they would not really lose much at all. Still, this discount was something he truly could not refuse; the transaction fees alone would be a hefty sum to him.

"A pleasant cooperation?" Ling Tong extended her fair hand.

"A pleasant cooperation." Ye Chen reached out and shook her hand.

Letting go of that smooth, boneless hand, Ye Chen rose to his feet. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. I’ll come back this afternoon when the auction begins."

"Wait, Brother Ye Chen."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Ling Tong hurriedly stood and stopped him, saying with a bright smile, "I heard that Brother Ye Chen still has two more kinds of special pills. Might you bring them out to join the auction as well? The first auction is very important, after all."

"Those Dragon Soar guys really sold me out completely," Ye Chen said with a wry smile. Then he shook his head. "There are indeed two other kinds of special pills, but I haven’t gathered the materials yet, so I can’t refine them for now."

"Oh? What materials are needed?" Ling Tong asked quickly. "Our auction house has recently collected quite a few medicinal herbs. If Brother Ye Chen can use them, we can supply them directly. You can pay us the original price for the herbs, and if it’s inconvenient for you right now, the cost can also be deducted from the auction proceeds."

Her tone had become somewhat hurried; it was clear she cared deeply about whether those two other special pills could appear in the auction.

Ye Chen's heart stirred. The formula for the White Tiger Pill involved a beast core, which would not be suitable for them to control. But the Intermediate Strength Pill and Awakening Pill were another matter. The required level-three herbs were ordinary goods and not something any single force could monopolize. If they were willing to supply the raw materials, it would not matter if he earned a little less. After all, gathering herbs was also a time-consuming and laborious task. Relying on himself alone, who knew how long it would take to push his alchemy skill to level four?

"The other materials are all ready. I’m just missing a few auxiliaries: level-three Dragonbinding Grass and Dreamflower. If you can provide those, I can refine them this very afternoon," Ye Chen said without the slightest blush. In truth, those two herbs were the main ingredients of the Intermediate Strength Pill and the Awakening Pill; the rest were merely consumables.

"Dragonbinding Grass and Dreamflower?" Ling Tong could not help covering her red lips with her fair little hand, crying out in disbelief. "Those are both rare level-three herbs. And such ingredients are only auxiliary?"

"Of course. The effects of these two pills are astonishing. It would be strange indeed if ordinary materials could refine them," Ye Chen said with complete conviction, working her expertly. To make Ling Tong believe him, he immediately sent her screenshots of the properties of the Intermediate Strength Pill and the Awakening Pill.

Tomorrow, there will be three chapters a day, one each in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Please collect, please recommend. Xiao Jiu thanks you deeply.