These two just had to say something so infuriating!
"Do you even know who she is?"
Bai Ye's voice dropped low and heavy, the pressure in the room sinking with it.
Hua Kongque froze for a moment. "Who could she be? Isn't she just some rootless beast cultivator?"
Bai Feng's eyes flickered with a trace of hidden light, but his face remained blank. "Big Brother, you know them? Who are they?"
All eyes turned to Bai Ye.
Among the beast race, they knew most of the big names and young geniuses. Yet they'd never seen Song Wanníng or her companion before. So how could she possibly have some shocking background?
Bai Ye looked at their clueless expressions and felt an ache in his head.
"That woman is the one who broke the restriction in the Central Region days ago—Song Wanníng! She's not a beast cultivator at all, and there's no way she'd ever join the Peacock Clan. You two nearly caused a disaster!"
He didn't even want to imagine what would've happened if he hadn't rushed here. Hua Kongque could've easily provoked her, and then the entire Peacock Clan would've been dragged down. Just thinking about it left him rattled.
Bai Feng's expression shifted, a flash of shock flickering in his eyes.
Hua Kongque was surprised too, but instead of fear, her gaze hardened. "So she's Song Wanníng? Ha, what a narrow road for enemies to meet!
If she hadn't broken that restriction, we wouldn't have had to split resources with the Central Region. And now she dares to show up on our beast race's turf? She's asking for death!
Big Brother, we have to catch her and let her know what happens when someone dares to cross the Peacock Clan!" Her face was twisted with fury. She'd already wanted to deal with Song Wanníng, and now that the woman had appeared right in front of her, it felt like fate's arrangement!
The temperature in the private room plummeted.
Bai Ye looked at Hua Kongque with eyes that almost burned holes in her. He wanted nothing more than to slap her. "Do you even realize what you're saying? Someone like Song Wanníng isn't someone our Peacock Clan can afford to provoke!"
He honestly wanted to pry open her skull just to see what was rattling around inside.
At the same time, his decision solidified. Hua Kongque must never become the next Patriarch, no matter how good her talent was. He couldn't stand by and watch the Peacock Clan walk toward destruction.
But Hua Kongque completely ignored his rage, her face full of disdain. "So what if she got lucky and opened that restriction? What's so impressive about it?
Besides, this is beast race territory. It's not her place to run wild here!"
Her voice dripped with arrogance, her eyes full of scorn.
So what if she had a little luck? Did she really think an Out-of-Body cultivator was something extraordinary?
Bai Ye: "…"
His fists clenched and loosened, over and over again. He wanted nothing more than to punch her in the mouth.
How could someone be this stupid?
"Do you even know why the Central Region didn't sign an agreement with the Guhan Sect where Song Wanníng belongs?
And according to reliable news, the destruction of the Huo family is closely tied to her. Even the Central Region doesn't dare to provoke her. Do you really think our Peacock Clan can?" His laugh was cold and furious.
Only then did Hua Kongque start to realize that Song Wanníng might not be simple. But she still refused to admit fear. "That's all just hearsay. Who knows if someone deliberately spread those rumors to mislead people?
Big Brother, you're exaggerating too much. She's just an Out-of-Body cultivator. How could she have that kind of power?
Alright, enough about her. Just hearing her name annoys me."
Seeing Bai Ye about to launch into another lecture, she quickly cut him off.
"The Beast King Map is up. Let's focus on the auction!"
She turned her attention to the stage, where the Beast King Map was finally being displayed.
Bai Ye closed his eyes in frustration. He resolved to stay glued to Hua Kongque's side, never letting her go anywhere near Song Wanníng. But plans never keep up with changes. The auction wasn't even half over before he suddenly received the Patriarch's order.
The Serpent Clan had sent an envoy, offering up a secret realm in exchange for an alliance against Bai Yao Palace. The Patriarch ordered him to return immediately and lead a team to verify the secret realm. Bai Ye wanted to refuse, but the Patriarch insisted he couldn't delay. Left with no choice, he could only leave.
Worried, he pulled Bai Feng aside again and again. "You must keep an eye on her. Don't let her provoke Song Wanníng, no matter what. This is serious. You have to remember!"
Bai Feng nodded quickly. "Don't worry, Big Brother. With me here, she won't get the chance to cause trouble."
Only after Bai Feng swore several times did Bai Ye finally leave the auction house.
In the end, the Peacock Clan successfully won the Beast King Map, securing the most important item of the event.
Song Wanníng sat in her private room, her eyes lighting with interest when she saw the painting. But they didn't have enough beast stones. This time they were just here for the fun of it and didn't win anything.
"Didn't think I'd get to experience what it's like being broke," she said with a helpless shrug and a wry smile.
Liu Lanyi laughed out loud, shaking her head. "Come on, just treat it as broadening our horizons."
"We won't be staying in the beast lands much longer anyway. Once we grab what we came for, we're gone."
"Alright, let's go!"
Song Wanníng pulled Liu Lanyi along, the two slipping out of the auction hall through the passageway.
They returned to their inn, checked out, sold off a batch of goods, then left the city and continued toward their destination.
Meanwhile, Hua Kongque was still frantically asking around about their whereabouts.
Bai Feng immediately tried to stop her and forbade the beast cultivators from searching. The two argued bitterly, parting on bad terms.
But that night, Bai Feng slipped into Hua Kongque's room.
The moment she saw him, her face sank.
"What are you doing here?"
Her Second Brother, who usually treated her the best, had actually quarreled with her over some woman. She was furious!
Bai Feng quickly pulled out a candied hawthorn stick and pressed it into her hand.
"Still mad?"
He grinned, reaching over to rub her cheek.
"I didn't mean to fight with you earlier. It's just that Big Brother ordered me to stop you, I had no choice!"
He sighed dramatically. "Honestly, I don't even understand what Big Brother's thinking. Making such a fuss over some Out-of-Body cultivator? And saying it's tied to the Peacock Clan's survival? What a joke, don't you think?"
His tone was full of disdain, but if one looked closely, there was a flicker of scheming in his eyes.
"Well, orders are orders. We can't go against them. Big Brother's status in the clan is sky-high now, so I can't disobey. Today the Patriarch even gave him another mission. Honestly, I'm jealous!"