Gu Fengyao: Fairy Gu, I Will Protect Your Freedom

Early the next morning, a considerable crowd had already gathered outside the auction house.

Every individual present was someone of status and reputation within the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty—though, admittedly, a portion of them had since become wandering spirits, having met their end at the hands of Chen Chang'an. Otherwise, the turnout would have been even larger.

"No way, the emperor himself is here?"

"Who would’ve thought Emperor Yin Gongyu would make an appearance?"

"At a time like this, his presence surely isn’t just to give face to the Gu Family, right?"

"Could it be… His Majesty is seeking the Gu Family’s assistance?"

"Hard to say. But the Gu Family is no ordinary force—why would they care about some minor Fengtian Imperial Dynasty?"

"I heard the Gu Family sent someone for this auction. Naturally, the Emperor had to show up in person. After all, this is the Gu Family we’re talking about."

"What? The Gu Family sent someone? How do you know?"

"Just rumors."

If the Gu Family had indeed dispatched someone, then today’s grand spectacle made perfect sense. Who would dare disrespect the Gu Family?

Even if you were the emperor of the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty, in the eyes of the Gu Family, you were nothing more than an insignificant figure to be manipulated at will.

Not just the emperor—even if the Son of Heaven himself came, the Gu Family might not even spare him a glance.

Within the Gu Family, there wasn’t just one peak-level Great Emperor. Rumor had it that the family boasted three more experts at the Great Emperor level.

By the time Chen Chang'an and Gu Xian'er arrived, the area outside the auction house had quieted down considerably, as most attendees had already entered.

True to the prestige of the Gu Family’s auction house, there were no snobbish gatekeepers. Despite the two appearing young, the attendants greeted them with polite smiles and ushered them inside.

"You two seem unfamiliar—first time here?"

"To participate in our auction, no special status is required. However, there is one crucial condition: assets."

"If your assets are insufficient, entry is impossible. So, if you don’t mind, could you provide proof?"

Without wasting words, Chen Chang'an retrieved 10,000 top-grade spirit stones and asked, "Is this enough?"

"If not, I have more."

While 10,000 top-grade spirit stones was no small sum, this was the Gu Family’s auction house. The attendants had seen their fair share of wealth and didn’t react with shock.

"That should suffice. However, with just this amount, you’ll only be seated in the main hall—not a private booth."

No private booth?

"What’s the requirement for a booth?"

"More spirit stones? How about these?"

Chen Chang'an then produced another 100,000 top-grade spirit stones. The attendant’s eyes widened slightly as he realized that if this still wasn’t enough, Chen Chang'an would keep pulling out more.

While 100,000 top-grade spirit stones wasn’t an astronomical sum, within the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty, few could produce such an amount in one go.

And Chen Chang'an’s demeanor made it clear—he had even more.

"That will do."

"This is more than enough."

"Please follow me."

"Very well."

Chen Chang'an nodded and followed the attendant to the third floor of the auction house.

Suddenly, a woman caught Chen Chang'an’s attention.

She appeared young, yet her beauty was striking—comparable to Gu Xian'er’s, though her aura was far colder, creating a stark contrast to Gu Xian'er’s gentle demeanor.

Young, at the Divine Transformation Realm’s third layer, and in the Gu Family’s territory?

Could she be…?

Chen Chang'an immediately connected her to Gu Fengyao but found it curious. As the Gu Family’s prodigy, why would she be here?

At that moment, Gu Fengyao also glanced over. Her expression remained indifferent upon seeing Chen Chang'an—but when her gaze landed on Gu Xian'er, her brows furrowed slightly.

She could tell that Gu Xian'er seemed even younger than herself, yet her cultivation…

Also at the Divine Transformation Realm’s third layer?

"Gu Xian'er?"

"You’re Gu Xian'er?"

Gu Fengyao’s expression shifted as she quickly approached, her emotions visibly stirred.

"Gu Fengyao?"

Gu Xian'er wasn’t slow-witted either. If the other party didn’t know her yet called her name, it could only mean one thing—she had seen her on the Human Rankings.

Given Gu Fengyao’s age and cultivation, Gu Xian'er quickly pieced it together.

"Never thought I’d meet you here."

"I recall when the Human Rankings were first unveiled, you weren’t even in the top hundred. Back then, your cultivation was likely just breaking into the Divine Ability Realm—if not weaker."

"How did you break through so many realms in just a year?" Gu Fengyao asked, puzzled.

As a woman, Gu Fengyao had initially been displeased yet secretly pleased to rank third on the Human Rankings—after all, she was the only female in the top three.

But within a year, she had fallen out of the top five, while the previously unknown Gu Xian'er had surged to third place.

However, as soon as she spoke, Gu Fengyao realized her impropriety. Cultivation methods were personal secrets—how could she pry so directly?

"My apologies. I’m here accompanying my Young Master to the auction, so…"

Young Master?

What did that mean?

"What do you mean by ‘Young Master’?"

"Him?"

"You’re his maid?"

Gu Fengyao could hardly believe her ears. The third-ranked genius on the Human Rankings, a true prodigy, was actually this young man’s maid?

Was there no justice in the world?

How could someone with such achievements willingly degrade herself as a servant?

"Is there a problem?" Gu Xian'er frowned.

"You… You don’t see a problem with this?"

"How could you debase yourself like this?"

"You’re third on the Human Rankings—a true genius!"

"What right does he have to make you his maid?"

"What qualifications does he possess?"

Gu Fengyao’s inexplicable anger left Gu Xian'er baffled.

I’m the one serving as a maid. If I don’t mind, why do you care?

Are you… jealous?

Gu Fengyao couldn’t fathom how a woman more talented than herself could willingly submit as a servant.

The thought drove her mad. If someone stronger than her was a maid, what did that make her?

Inferior to a maid?

The blow to her pride was unbearable.

"My current cultivation is entirely thanks to my Young Master."

"You ask what right he has?"

"You have no standing to criticize. I don’t know you, and we’re not acquainted."

"If you dare disrespect my Young Master again, don’t blame me for being impolite," Gu Xian'er said coldly.

All given by him?

Him?

His own cultivation was only at the first layer of the Divine Transformation Realm—what could he possibly offer?

Was this girl out of her mind? So easily deceived?

"If your Young Master is so impressive, then I’d love to know—just who is this great figure?" Gu Fengyao sneered.

"Chen…"

"Chen Yunxuan?"

Chen Chang'an had just uttered the surname "Chen" when Gu Fengyao impatiently interrupted him. But then she reconsidered—Chen Yunxuan was at the fourth level of the Divine Transformation Realm, not the first.

"Chen Chang'an!"

So, it wasn’t him after all.

"I thought it was Chen Yunxuan. Turns out, your name is Chen—"

"You’re Chen Chang'an?"

"No, you can’t be. The Chen Chang'an who wreaked havoc in the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty couldn’t possibly have such meager cultivation."

Since arriving in the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty, Gu Fengyao had naturally heard about the recent uproar.

But she never once connected the man standing before her to the infamous slaughterer.

"Regardless, she can’t remain your servant."

"Name your price to set her free."

"Surely you’ve heard of the Gu Family. Rest assured, we won’t shortchange you," Gu Fengyao said coldly.

Huh?

Gu Xian'er stared at Gu Fengyao as if she were a madwoman. They weren’t even acquainted, yet this woman was so adamant about keeping her from being a servant?

But Chen Chang'an saw through it—Gu Fengyao was doing this for her own sake. She couldn’t bear the thought of someone stronger than her serving another. How would that reflect on her reputation?

"Gu Fengyao, this is my own affair. Stay out of it."

"Besides, we’re here for the auction, not to listen to your nonsense."

"Move aside," Gu Xian'er snapped.

Gu Fengyao shot her an irritated glare. Was this girl really so ungrateful? She was trying to help, and this was the attitude she got?

Meanwhile, the auction house attendant stood awkwardly between them, unsure what to do. One was the young mistress of the establishment, the other a guest. Should he intervene? Say something?

"Let’s go. No point wasting words on her."

"We were never on the same path to begin with."

Chen Chang'an chuckled, patting Gu Xian'er’s shoulder before continuing upstairs.

As she watched him leave, Gu Fengyao’s frustration only grew.

No!

"Today, I will free you from this misery!"

"Gu Xian'er, I swear I’ll save you!"