Chapter 3254 — The Overseas Cultivators' Association?

The plane descended slowly, landing in the city nearest to Butterfly Town—the very city where the Christon Auction House was located: Christon City.

In truth, Christon City was still quite far from Butterfly Town, and the most convenient route there was actually by water. But travel by water was slow, and Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi might not have taken well to life aboard a boat, so Wei Zhao had simply bought the plane tickets straight to Christon City.

The auction, of course, was to be held here, and Butterfly Town was where Wei Zhao planned to go after it was over. By then, Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi would just happen to be away negotiating a business partnership, which would leave Wei Zhao free to follow Yang Qiqi back to Butterfly Town for a look around.

The moment he stepped out of the airport, Wei Zhao caught sight of Yang Qiqi's cool, petite figure in black, standing at the arrivals gate and craning her neck anxiously in his direction. As soon as she spotted him coming out, she ran over joyfully. "Brother Wei Zhao!"

And with that, she threw herself into his arms and clung to him like an octopus, refusing to let go.

Yang Qiqi was, after all, a cultivator herself, and she paid little heed to the stares of the outside world. On top of that, having confirmed that Wei Zhao was her Brother A-Yi, a few intimate gestures seemed only natural—she and Wei Zhao had been physically close often enough as children, so this was nothing at all.

Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi had never met Yang Qiqi before, but they had learned on the flight that she was the childhood friend Wei Zhao had grown up with, so they bore her no ill will.

"Qiqi, there are friends here with me. You're clinging to me like a koala—what are other people supposed to think?" Wei Zhao said with a wry smile.

Yang Qiqi obeyed Wei Zhao in all things. She hopped down from him at once and turned to Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi with a touch of embarrassment. "You must be Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi, right? Welcome, and please make yourselves at home here. It's a pleasure to meet you! I have an aunt who's a star too, so I think we'll get along splendidly."

Yang Qiqi had clearly taken Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi for Wei Zhao's women—otherwise, why else would he protect them and even help arrange their performances?

Xu Shilan and Cheng Yiyi were somewhat taken aback, and rather embarrassed too. Yang Qiqi's words had made two things plain: one, that her father seemed to have several women as well; and two, that she herself did not object to such an arrangement.

Wei Zhao was caught between laughter and tears, but he offered no explanation. There was nothing to explain about such matters—Xu Shilan had already hinted at her feelings, and as for Cheng Yiyi, they had seen each other in the raw; to claim there was nothing between them was plainly impossible.

It was only that Wei Zhao had yet to give them a clear answer. His road ahead was complicated. For the moment his enemies seemed to be biding their time, but it all rested on a lie—and once that lie was exposed, Wei Zhao's good days would be over. So he truly could not make Xu Shilan any promises.

"All right, Qiqi, let's set that aside for now. Have you booked the hotel?" Wei Zhao asked.

"Yes. The best hotels in this city are the Christon Grand and the Douglas Grand. The Christon Grand belongs with the Christon Auction—both are under the Overseas Cultivators' Association," Yang Qiqi explained. "As for the Douglas Grand, our family holds shares in it, so it's easier to get a room there. But it won't be convenient for finding out the auction's details."

Yang Qiqi briefly laid out the pros and cons of each for Wei Zhao's benefit. At this moment she was no longer the cool, silly little girl of before, but a shrewd young woman—which rather surprised Wei Zhao.

In fact, Yang Qiqi had grown up long ago. In the past, it was only for Xiao Jiu's sake that she had been forced time and again into trials and market fairs, playing the whipping girl. After all, her cultivation level was what it was; in the world of cultivators, strength was what commanded respect—without strength, no matter where you came from, people would look down on you.

The mundane world was different. Here, Yang Qiqi evidently wielded considerable influence, so these matters came to her with ease.

It was just like Wei Zhao himself. Back when his strength had been lowly, at the Yu family auction house, any random person had paid him no mind, and even ordinary clans could swagger and boast before him. But now, even those of the ancient tier trembled with dread when they faced him, did they not?

"The Overseas Cultivators' Association?" Wei Zhao's brows knitted at once. He had not expected the Christon Auction House to be an enterprise of the Overseas Cultivators' Association! The enmity between Wei Zhao and that Association ran deep indeed—he had killed one of their elders. Though no word had come of it yet, they had likely long since consigned him to their blacklist.

He only wondered whether anyone at this auction would recognize him. Either way, Wei Zhao would have to be careful, lest the Association's people learn he had come and ruin his plans for the auction.

"That's right. These strange and curious materials are really only to be found through the Overseas Cultivators' Association; other auction houses simply don't traffic in such things," Yang Qiqi said. "The Association has its own channels for procuring these peculiar wares."

"So these are their holdings in the mundane world?" Wei Zhao nodded and asked.

"Yes. Cultivation costs money too, after all, and these mundane enterprises make up for the shortfall," Yang Qiqi said.

"I see. Qiqi, when you register, leave my name off it—just register under your own," Wei Zhao said after a moment's thought. Better not to reveal his identity. If anyone here recognized him, it would only breed complications.

"Oh? All right..." Yang Qiqi nodded, though she was rather puzzled. It was no great matter, but she was curious. "Brother Wei Zhao, have you heard of this Overseas Cultivators' Association before?"

"Mm, a little." Wei Zhao waved a hand. "Just make sure to keep things quiet."

"All right." Yang Qiqi asked no more.

Since Wei Zhao wished to keep a low profile, Yang Qiqi naturally drove them all to the Douglas Grand Hotel, where her family held shares and where checking in proved a simple affair. Every registration was marked "guest of the Yang family," with not even names recorded.