The Story Of Dusk

Those children were around five to seven years old, boys and girls. They were weeping, but didn"t dare to cry out loud.

"Inside this cage, there was around sixty three Xinghe"s children! The boys are strong enough to run your errand and the girls are beautiful enough to be your maidservant." Tang Zhenghao winked with hidden meaning when he said "a maidservant".

People would easily catch his innuendo and smiles lewdly. It was a common knowledge that lady from Xinghe, regardless their status, would not be born under ill-intention.

After a few more talk and veiled remark, Tang Zhenghao started to open the price that started from…"…FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND TAELS FOR ALL OF THEM!"

His voice became so loud and energetic, this was the last items and he determined to close it with an amazing deal.

A few people from the rooms tried to bid, including Xiao Jun, he instructed Liu Wei to keep biding, and also there are three from the benches, there was quite uproar afterward, but when the bid had reached five millions there was only three people whose still interest with the children.

"Five million five hundred thousand taels!" The owner of room number fourteen cried out.

There was silence that follow, the owner of the room number eleven didn"t raise his bid so do Xiao Jun, he held back Liu Wei he wanted to bid.

Tang Zhenghao looked please when he heard the value of those children had reached over five million, but patient enough to see if he could push higher.

"Five million five hundred thousand taels going once…" He shouted while hammering. "… going twice…" Still no one raise the bid. "… going thrice!"

Before Tang Zhenghou could hit for the third time, someone from the room number nineteen interjected.

"Seven million." He said curtly.

There was a loud gasp from the bidder from the benches bellow.

When Xiao Jun heard that, a devious smirk appeared on his lips and he said calmly to Liu Wei. "Make it ten."

"Ten million master?" Liu Wei asked incredulously and Xiao Jun nodded while his eyes remained at the direction of room number nineteen, though nothing he could see.

One needed a really good fortune for having such amount of money, moreover to be spent in occasion like this.

"Ten million!" Liu Wei cried out loud. He felt thrilled to bid in that nominal.

Naturally, Tang Zhenghou was thrilled as well, behind the mask he was wearing his smile broad and wide. "Ten Million!!!" He shouted to the crowd. "Anyone would like to bid higher?!"

There was only gasping and murmuring sound that could be heard, but no one raise the amount to bid again.

"Ten million going once!" He shouted.

"Fifteen million!" The owner of the room number nineteen shouted, but before Tang Zhenghou could say something, Xiao Jun shouted his bid.

This time he didn"t conceal his ident.i.ty and told Liu Wei to bid for him. Usually, for privacy sake, the bidder would use their guards or servant to shout the nominal bid that they wanted.

However this time, Xiao Jun shouted it himself, he wanted the other person to know.

"Twenty million!!" The person in room number nineteen shouted his bid, even though it was only two words, Xiao Jun clearly heard, it was different person from the bidder before, apparently he had the same thought as Xiao Jun and no longer wanted to conceal his ident.i.ty, and Xiao Jun knew who it was.

With smirk on his lips, Xiao Jun turned around and retreated, leaving Liu Wei in puzzled.

The guard followed him inside only to find out he was about to go. "Master!" He called out and catch up with him before he left the room.

What is going on? Don"t we need to buy the "item"? That was the plan!

"Master! How about the auction? Those children…" His voice trailed off.

Xiao Jun turned around and faced his confused subordinates. "It"s alright, we will get them." He said calmly, even there was a faint smile lingering on his eyes as if he had gotten what he wanted.

Sometimes Liu Wei was simply didn"t understand what was going on in his Master mind. But all he could do was obeying his order and everything would be alright, right?

If his master said they would get those children back, then that was what they would do.

"Are we going to attack them and s.n.a.t.c.h the children?" Liu Wei followed Xiao Jun out of the room toward the dim hallway.

"No, we will do bargain." Xiao Jun said and before Liu Wei could pose another question, he added. "Call the two and bring the woman as well."

It needed a few second longer before Liu Wei understood whom the two people. "Yes Master." Liu Wei cupped his hand and disappeared.

The dim hallway was quite long and when Xiao Jun arrived at its entrance the sun had almost risen, the bustling black market had been started.

He was coming out from a small drug store. There was only an old man with hair had turned white, sitting on the bench while caressing a black cat on his lap.

"Bought something from there?" The old man pointed to the door where Xiao Jun had come.

"Mmmh." Xiao Jun mumbled. "I bought many things there." He said without slow down his pace.

"A lucky day, huh?"

"My lucky day indeed." Xiao Jun smiled at the old man before he opened the door and walked at the street like there was nothing had happened.

*** 

After the auction night, Xiao Jun directly instructed Liu Wei to prepare for their departure and not like their low- key arrival, he wanted their departure to stand out.

Therefore to fulfill his master"s order, Liu Wei bought ten big carriages. One carriage needed to be pulled by four horses.

And another fifteen horses.

Xiao Jun wanted they were leaving before afternoon, so when the sun was blazing hot their large entourage filled the street of the black market with Xiao Jun was riding his own horse at the front line, leading the ten empty carriages and his guards behind him.

Liu Wei knew that it was deliberate, but not really convinced that this method could lure their enemy out in the open.

"There was still no movement from Prince Xiao w.a.n.g Wei"s side." Liu Wei rode his horse to the front and whispered to Xiao Jun.

"No rush, they will catch up with us." Xiao Jun figure under the blazing sun was a sight to behold as many people were looking toward their direction because of their extravagant departure, many woman looked up to him because of his charm.

It took them longer time before they arrived at the barren land with nothing they could see except withered gra.s.s covered the soil.

Their large entourage kept going south, where the direction of Rockstone Kingdom.

It had been almost two weeks Xiao Jun was away from Rockstone territory. He had made up an excuse when he was away with Qianru to Mo Qian Yuan, the Emperor of Rockstone, he was too busy to prepare himself with the upcoming war between Rockstone and Zodasian.

Because this war has nothing to do with Azura, he didn"t put so much suspicious when he came to ask for permission to leave with Qianru. They were not prisoner, but delegation from Azura.

Mo Qian Yuan was hesitated at first, but to think he was in the middle of crisis and that he didn"t want to infuriate Xiao Jun at the time like that, he let him go.

To convince Mo Qian Yuan that Xiao Jun didn"t mean any harm on him, he personally gifted one hundred thousand swords and armors for the soldiers who would go to war with Zodasian.

Of course these gifts please Mo Qian Yuan very much. He no longer question and only told Xiao Jun to be safe on his way, and hinted Xiao Zi"s malicious intention toward him.

Xiao Jun said that he did understand very well about that and wouldn"t cause unnecessary trouble during his journey.

When they were about to cross a forest as a shortcut to reach the nearest village before dusk, an arrow was shot right before Xiao Jun"s horse.

Upon seeing they were being attacked, all of the guards unsheathed their sword while Liu Wei rode his horse right in front of Xiao Jun to protect his master.

"Who is there!!?" Liu Wei shouted to the dense trees around them.

But instead of an answer there was one more arrow that shot toward Xiao Jun and easily repelled by Liu Wei. "Master, you need to go from here." Liu Wei whispered to Xiao Jun as his eyes scanned their surroundings.

"There is no need for that." Xiao Jun chuckled and looked at the direction where the arrow had come. "Xiao w.a.n.g Wei, do you really enjoy this kind of game!?" His voice was clear and slightly loud what one could feel the mockery behind it.

As though the other person was really only playing a game with him earlier, he came out while chuckling.

"Prince Xiao Jun, long time no see." Xiao w.a.n.g Wei emerged from the dense trees and in the next second there was a noisy sound of the horses" hooves against the ground followed with Xiao w.a.n.g Wei appearance.

At least there were around fifty hors.e.m.e.n with bow on their hand and quiver behind their back.

This was the famous Golden Arrow Archer, the special forces trained by Xiao w.a.n.g Wei himself.

"May I know what the occasion until I am graced by your presence?" Xiao Jun asked calmly didn"t even heed the army of archer behind Xiao w.a.n.g Wei.

Xiao Jun was still sitting on his horse, tall and defiance while Xiao w.a.n.g Wei stood right in front of him by foot, no matter how tall he was, he needed to look up to be able to see Xiao Jun.

This fact alone darkened his mood.

"Get down and let"s talk, shall we?" Xiao w.a.n.g Wei clenched his jaw, but his tone of voice was still calm. "You absolutely know very well why I came to look for you."

"Pardon me, but I really didn"t know." Xiao Jun feigned his innocent, but his eyes told Xiao w.a.n.g Wei the otherwise. "If you don"t have anything else to say, move from the road, you block my way." His voice became stern when he wanted to chase him away.

In the other hand, Xiao w.a.n.g Wei couldn"t accept this humiliation, he balled his fist tightly until his nails turned white because of the pressure. "Give me the antidote." He said straightforwardly. He didn"t have time for being hypocrite with his cousin now.

Since both of them had already known each party intention, there was no point to do that.

"What kind of antidote?" Xiao w.a.n.g Wei was enjoying this little game, teasing him more. "I don"t understand."

"Cut the c.r.a.p Xiao Jun! You poisoned me!" Xiao w.a.n.g Wei lost it. He was not in the mood to dilly dally with Xiao Jun or he wanted to stay longer in the same place with him. He had something to do and Modama was waiting for him, as he didn"t have any idea about him being poisoned.

Any longer he stayed, that old vicious man would be suspicious about his absent. Xiao w.a.n.g Wei didn"t like him, especially when he knew he came to escort the "item" himself, as if he looked down on him and thought Xiao w.a.n.g Wei was not capable enough to do his job.

Moreover, the symptoms were worsening this morning after the golden auction was done. He was starting to cough blood, the physician only could manage to relieve the pain, but couldn"t cure it.

No matter what he needed the antidote. However, this Xiao Jun kept acting stupid!

"Don"t accuse me for baseless accusation, I just meet you now." Xiao Jun said from atop of his horse. "Have you not been taught a good manner by your father?" He taunted and snickered.

"I can kill you right now!" Xiao w.a.n.g Wei gave a signal to the fifty archers behind him.

Simultaneously they raised their bow and nocked the arrow, pointed the sharp point toward Xiao Jun"s direction.

Seeing this, Liu Wei once again stepped in front of Xiao Jun with unsheathed sword in his hand.

"You want to keep going?" Xiao w.a.n.g Wei looked at Xiao Jun triumphantly. "With my signal, you will be dead the next second.

Golden Arrow Archer was famous for being very accurate for every target that they were targeted, one arrow from them could cause serious damage on their victim. Not to mention there was fifty of them.

Although the entourage that Xiao Jun brought was large, but mostly it was only the empty ten carriages while the guards who were traveling with him was only fifteen.

It was a small number to start a fight with the Golden Arrow Archer and even smaller chance to survive from it alive.

"I obviously don"t want to die yet." Xiao Jun got off from his horse that caught Liu Wei out of guard, he hastily dismounted his horse as well. "Now, make them put don"t their weapon and we will talk."

"Now you are willing to talk?" Xiao w.a.n.g Wei crossed his arms in front of his chest haughtily. He didn"t want to yield, he like to be feared like this.

However there was no fear in Xiao Jun"s eyes when he approached him and stood head to head with him.

Behind Xiao Jun, Liu Wei was nervous with his master daring move.

"I prefer to live and have another encounter with you rather than die together." Xiao Jun said calmly. "Do you think you still have enough time to get the antidote except from me?" Despite his smile, his eyes darkened when he talked.

"Now, you admit that you had poisoned me. Don"t you know that it is called treason? Trying to kill the crown prince of your country, this alone could make you suffer miserable death."

"When I try to poison you? Do you have evidence? Or else, it was a libel." Xiao Jun glanced at the row of archers behind Xiao w.a.n.g Wei.

"You poisoned me in the black market. Do you think that I don"t know about that? I am not that stupid." Xiao w.a.n.g Wei glared at him, his eyes were filled with hatred as he felt the surging headache.

He didn"t have enough time!

"You are not only stupid, but very stupid." Xiao Jun taunted, from Xiao w.a.n.g Wei"s expression he knew that the poison would act up again. "Don"t you know that everything that happened in the black market is unspoken?"

It was true, everything that happened in the black market was a taboo topic to be discussed outside of it.

Normal citizen has always seen this place as the center of all evil deeds, although many royal came and went from this place, but they wouldn"t brag about it at the outside world.

If the citizen came to know that the crown prince, the next Emperor in line, has visited this kind of place, it would cause uproar.

And this wouldn"t be something that Xiao Zi expected from his son. He probably would flip up for having another trouble at his hand.

"An uproar from the citizen will be a good excuse to promote your younger brother, Xiao Wu Xie. Last time I heard, he is still vying your position." Xiao Jun said in the matter of fact tone.

Not like Xiao Jun and Xiao Tianyao, his stupid younger brother was always trying to find every way possible to bring him down, coveting his crown endlessly.

If he knew about his condition now, it was most likely he would be the one who shoved the blade under his throat to make things simple.

Xiao w.a.n.g Wei knew about this very well, gritting his teeth, he signaled the archers behind him to put down their bow and stay alert.

"Now, give me the antidote." Xiao w.a.n.g Wei said rigidly, his eyes glared at Xiao Jun. If looks could kill, Xiao Jun would be swimming in his own blood by now.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

"You don"t think that I will give you the antidote for free right?" Xiao Jun asked incredulously, bemused with his own question.

"What do you want!?" Xiao w.a.n.g Wei snarled at him, he didn"t have much time and he couldn"t kill him either.

After… after he got the antidote, he would behead him and tore Xiao Jun"s sickening smile with his own bare hand!!! He tried to coax himself inwardly, entertain the idea of seeing him dying in his mercy.

"Those children from Xinghe." Xiao Jun didn"t beat around the bush this time. He stated his condition directly.

Xiao Jun recognized Xiao w.a.n.g Wei"s voice as the owner of the room number nineteen. He was deliberately using his own voice and revealed his ident.i.ty when did the bid to provoke him.

Xiao w.a.n.g Wei was easy to provoke after all and he recognized his voice as well.

It would be some kind of pride for him to be able to beat Xiao Jun in any way without gave some thought for the long terms consequences.

For example it was exactly like now. His joy from being able outbid Xiao Jun earlier would end up here.

Xiao Jun didn"t mean to win the bid, he just wanted to know that those children would be with Xiao Jun. He didn"t need to spend million taels for something that he could get with another tricky way.

He let him win as the exchange of the antidote that he desperately needed, with that Xiao Jun had saved millions of taels of his money.