Chương 10: I’d Actually Just Like To Have You as a Friend!

Before Tang Zefei could press further, the carriage rolled to a smooth stop. They had arrived at the grand, towering gates of the Tang Auction House. Stepping out of the carriage, Xiao Xuan was in awe. The building was an opulent structure made of white marble and dark rosewood, exuding wealth from every gilded pillar. A line of sharply dressed high-ranking members of the Tang House were already lined up in the courtyard, ready to welcome their new manager.

They blinked in surprise as their beautiful Madam stepped out of the carriage, followed closely by a handsome young man they didn't recognize. Given her status, they instinctively assumed the most logical conclusion. An elderly manager in gray robes quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Madam Zefei! And… ah, welcome, Master! We apologize, we were not informed you were traveling with your husband!" Zefei flinched, her usual cool composure shattering instantly as a red blush crept up her neck.

"N-No! Elder Hua, you misunderstood! He is a guest!"

"This is Young Master Xiao Xuan of the Su Clan," Tang Zefei corrected sharply, though her cheeks were still a bit pink.

"He is an esteemed guest who assisted me today. Treat him with utmost respect." Xiao Xuan burst out laughing, waving his hands defensively.

"Though I am flattered, Elder Hua, my wife back home might skin me alive if she heard you say that!" Elder Hua cleared his throat awkwardly, his face turning pale.

"Ah… my deepest apologies, Young Master." Still flustered but recovering her poise, Zefei made someone attend to Wei Tu while she guided Xiao Xuan into the lavish manor. She led him to a private, sunlit pavilion overlooking a pristine koi pond. The seating was made of fragrant, carved sandalwood. Zefei personally took the delicately painted porcelain teapot, her slender fingers gracefully pouring a stream of steaming, jade-colored tea into Xiao Xuan's cup.

The aroma instantly filled the air, a rich scent of spiritual herbs that warmed his chest. He might not have any Qi yet, but he was certainly starting to enjoy the perks of this cultivation world. Xiao Xuan savored the rich, jade-colored tea, feeling a warm, soothing energy settle in his chest. In the ruthless, stab-first-ask-questions-later world of Xianxia, finding someone who prefers pouring tea over pouring blood is rarer than a vegan dragon.

In every novel he had translated, a well-connected auction house manager was the single most valuable ally a protagonist could stumble into. Wealth, information, and a working brain; an all-in-one person. After a pleasant chat outlining some basic business philosophies, where Xiao Xuan casually dropped a few Earth-style marketing concepts that left Zefei deep in thought, he prepared to leave. Zefei personally escorted him to the grand marble entrance.

The same high-ranking members were waiting, standing at strict attention. Wei Tu was also waiting, having changed his clothes. Elder Hua stepped forward, carefully balancing a silver tray that held a pristine red envelope lined with shining gold leaf.

"This is a small token of our gratitude," Tang Zefei said, personally lifting the envelope and offering it to him.

"This is a VVIP invitation to our grand auction event next month. I am very much looking forward to having you there, Young Master Xiao. I am certain you will find something of great interest." She offered a proud, professional smile, her sharp eyes locking onto his.

"Thank you very much, Miss Zefei." Xiao Xuan accepted it happily, tucking it into his robes. Then, an eager spark ignited in Tang Zefei's eyes as she swiped her hand over her glowing storage ring.

"And this… is my personal gift to you." Shing. A stunning, double-edged longsword materialized in her palms. The blade was a serene, navy blue, dusted with shimmering silver specks that made it look exactly like a captured slice of the night sky. The hilt was wrapped in pristine white silk. It radiated a chilling aura. Xiao Xuan stared at it mesmerized. Wow. He had described swords like this across hundreds of translated chapters without ever expecting to see one in person.

Seeing his awe, a deeply satisfied look crossed Tang Zefei's face.

"This is the Moon Slayer. A high-grade spiritual weapon. I hope you will accept this humble gift from me." The Tang House members held their breath. A high-grade weapon was worth a small city. But Xiao Xuan just sighed, immediately shaking his head.

"No, no. I definitely didn't help you today to extort a weapon out of you. The VVIP invitation is more than enough. A high-grade sword is way too much." He paused, looking at the glowing blade with deadpan honesty.

"Besides, Miss Zefei, I can't even cultivate. Giving me a legendary sword is like giving a beautiful painting to a blind man. I couldn't even chop firewood with it." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Tang Zefei's smile faltered.

"The invitation was a standard courtesy from the House. This sword is from me. Please, you must accept it."

"I really have no use for a sword right now," Xiao Xuan replied gently but firmly.

"But… if you really want to give me something personal, I'd actually just like to have you as a friend…" Looking straight into her charming, slightly widened eyes, Xiao Xuan casually raised his right hand forward in a classic Earth-style handshake.

"Would you take me as your friend, Miss Zefei?" Tang Zefei stared at his outstretched hand. For the last hour, her mind had been a whirlwind of calculations. She was a businesswoman first and foremost. She had seen this mysterious boy pacify a frenzied beast with a mere whisper. She knew he held an unknown power. She had offered the Moon Slayer specifically to bind him to her, to create a heavy debt of gratitude so she could slowly uncover his secrets. But he didn't want the sword. He just wanted… a handshake?

In her world, people approached her for two reasons: lust for her beauty, or greed for her Tang family resources. Every smile was a transaction. Every gift was a trap. No one had ever outright rejected a high-grade weapon, and no one had ever looked at her with such clear, unburdened sincerity and asked for something as simple as friendship. Before she even realized what she was doing, she raised her own arm. Her soft, delicate hand slipped into his. For a moment, everything around her became strangely quiet.

The warmth of his palm was grounding. It made her look at him in a new light. In this brutal cultivation world, poor talent was a death sentence. As a branch family member with weak cultivation, she should have been a mere servant. But she had fought and clawed her way up, using her sharp intellect, networking, and social manipulation to become the youngest manager in the Tang House. Xiao Xuan was worse off: an orphan, a cripple, the infamous 'trash son-in-law'.

Yet here he was, surviving and commanding respect through an unheard-of talent for beast taming and an unshakable confidence. He wasn't relying on Qi. He was relying on himself. She found herself feeling ashamed for being so selfish. The Tang family members stared at the scene in shock. Their untouchable, brilliant mistress was shaking hands with a married man. They awkwardly glued their eyes to the cobblestone floor.

"Um… maybe you could let go of my hand now?" Xiao Xuan's voice broke the silence.

"Otherwise, this time my wife will definitely think I am flirting!" Tang Zefei snapped back to reality. She had been holding his hand for nearly half a minute. A bright blush exploded across her cheeks, and she quickly snatched her hand back. Xiao Xuan chuckled. She might be a high-society boss, but she's actually sweet. Just then, a sleek, heavily armored carriage pulled up to the entrance. It was being pulled by the very same blood-red beast Xiao Xuan had calmed earlier, though it was now docile.

"This carriage is prepared to take you directly back to the Su Clan," Tang Zefei said quickly, trying to hide her flushed face.

"Please, do not refuse."

"Well, I don't have a ride home. So I won't refuse!" Xiao Xuan replied cheerfully. She couldn't help smiling at his blunt honesty. At her subtle nod, all the Tang House members, including Tang Zefei herself, clasped their hands and offered a deep, formal bow of respect. Xiao Xuan and Wei Tu returned the gesture before stepping into the luxurious carriage. Watching the carriage disappear down the bustling street, the blush finally faded from Tang Zefei's face, replaced by a confident, deeply satisfied smile.

She had made a highly profitable connection today. But more importantly, for the first time in a very long time, she had made a friend. … Miles away, the atmosphere inside the Su Clan Manor was grim. The setting sun cast long, orange shadows across the stone courtyard. Inside the grand Council Hall, the heavy scent of burning incense lingered.

"Will brother-in-law be severely punished? Can't father just pardon him?" Su Luoyao whispered anxiously from the sidelines, her fingers gripping the fabric of her robes.

"Father is the Patriarch, but his hands are tied by clan law. But do not worry, it is just a disciplinary hearing, not an execution," Su Luoyang replied softly, her icy demeanor hiding her own complicated feelings. She still didn't understand when and how her little sister had bonded so deeply with her husband. Luoyao bit her lip. She could see that the branch family was targeting him. They were pushing for punishment when her own main family would have easily spared him. She felt terrible.

Just last night, Xiao Xuan had confided in her, telling her how he viewed the Su Clan as his own family, but was always seen as a disappointment. She had proudly promised to take him under her wing and protect him from the servants who bullied him. But she had failed. She wasn't there in the morning when Guard Li had humiliated him. And now he was being punished instead of the Guard.

Looking up at her father's towering figure seated at the head of the hall, currently wearing a deeply annoyed expression, she wondered why he, as the all-powerful Clan Leader, could not simply stop this from happening. Outside the towering iron gates of the manor, Guard Li and his comrades were standing at attention, smirking in the twilight. They were eagerly waiting for the trash son-in-law to walk back on foot, ready to drag him straight into the council's judgment.

A heavy thud of massive hooves echoed down the street. The guards narrowed their eyes. There were no guests scheduled for the evening. But as the carriage emerged from the shadows, the smirk vanished from Guard Li's face, replaced by panic.

"That crest…" one of the guards gasped, his face turning pale.

"That's a direct executive carriage from the Tang Auction House! Open the gates! Open the gates now!" The guards scrambled like frightened mice. The Su Clan was a mighty martial force, but the Tang Auction House was an economic behemoth that spanned all over the Eastern Continent. Offending them was diplomatic suicide. A senior guard abandoned his post and sprinted at top speed across the courtyard, bursting through the heavy oak doors of the Council Hall.

"Patriarch!" The guard dropped to one knee, bowing deeply. First Elder Su Jiang frowned, irritated by the interruption to his trial.

"What is it? Did that useless boy finally return?"

"No, First Elder," the guard replied breathlessly.

"A heavily armored carriage bearing the main crest of the Tang Auction House has just arrived at our gates!"

"What?" Su Jiang muttered, his eyes widening. The unannounced arrival of a Tang House executive carriage was a huge event. Instantly, all thoughts of Xiao Xuan and the petty carriage dispute evaporated from everyone's minds. Patriarch Su Zhongtian slowly stood up from his throne, his towering, dominant aura filling the room. The Su Clan did not cower before anyone, but they respected power.

"Halt this trial immediately," Su Zhongtian commanded, his voice echoing like thunder.

"The Tang House does not visit a martial clan unannounced without heavy purpose. Elders, compose yourselves. We shall go to the gates and receive our guests with the full dignity and respect." With a sweep of his robes, the Patriarch led the Clan council out of the hall, marching toward the gates to see exactly what kind of storm had just arrived at their doorstep.