The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened
CHAPTER 11: When Enemies Meet
“Two honored guests, the exhibition is about to begin. Please follow me to the private hall.”
The tense air between Jiang Shuo and Si Yao didn’t last long. Before it could settle, the server who brought them earlier knocked on the door and politely invited them to attend the exhibition.
Exhibition?
Si Yao had no idea what kind of event he meant. She glanced at Jiang Shuo in confusion.
Jiang Shuo ignored her puzzled look and stood up without a word, heading outside.
“Please.”
Once Jiang Shuo stepped out, the server bowed respectfully and motioned for Si Yao to follow first.
She walked past him and followed behind Jiang Shuo, while the server hurried ahead to lead the way.
The tavern’s interior was lavish and dazzling. Guests passing by were finely dressed, their manner and spending habits clearly extravagant.
The server led them upstairs.
To Si Yao’s surprise, the second floor wasn’t made of private rooms. Instead, it was a vast open hall, large enough to host several hundred people.
The walls were decorated in brilliant shades of red and gold, and even the ornaments placed around the hall were rare treasures. The entire place was stunningly opulent.
What a bold display of wealth.
Si Yao couldn’t help quietly marveling at it.
The guests here were also different from those on the first floor. They weren’t just wealthy families; most of them clearly had high cultivation levels, and an air of danger lingered around them.
Jiang Shuo walked as if he didn’t notice any of it, as if this scene was something he had long grown accustomed to.
Seeing this, Si Yao understood that he had come here with a purpose.
Once they reached the second floor, the server became even more respectful. Whenever he passed other guests while leading the way, he bowed repeatedly.
These were people far beyond what he could afford to offend.
Finally, the server brought Jiang Shuo and Si Yao to a beautifully carved sandalwood table.
He stepped forward, pulled out the finely crafted chairs, and invited them to sit.
“Is there anything different about this place compared to the first floor? And what is that exhibition you mentioned?” Si Yao finally asked the question in her heart.
The waiter blinked in surprise. He truly didn’t expect anyone in this world to be unaware of Xiaoyao Tower’s exhibitions.
Even so, he explained respectfully, “Our Xiaoyao Tower is the largest establishment in the entire Canglan Continent. We have countless branches spread across the land, and we are also known as the Number One Tower Under Heaven.”
He spoke with obvious pride.
“The exhibition refers to an auction hosted by Xiaoyao Tower. When it begins, heroes and elites from all over can entrust their treasures to be auctioned. They can also participate in the bidding themselves.”
So it was just an auction. Si Yao nodded as understanding settled in. Classic overpower-protagonist novel setting.
“Wishing you both an enjoyable exhibition.” With that, the waiter flashed a grin, bowed, and backed away.
The hall was filled with dozens of tables. The people seated at them were either cold-faced or overflowing with arrogance.
“What exactly are you here for?” Si Yao asked Jiang Shuo, who sat calmly at the table.
Most of the items Jiang Shuo gave to the Yun clan were already rare treasures. She honestly had no idea what else he could be after.
And according to the system, Jiang Shuo’s blackening level had reached 80%. He was basically full villain mode, yet instead of stealing whatever he wanted, he actually chose to participate in an auction. Si Yao couldn’t help feeling surprised.
Jiang Shuo ignored her. He simply picked up the porcelain teacup, poured himself a cup, and took a small sip.
His movements were smooth and natural, carrying an effortless elegance. If Si Yao hadn’t known him, she would have easily mistaken him for the young master of some prestigious clan.
“I heard the young master and young lady of the Xiao clan from Qing City traveled thousands of miles to Feng City just for this exhibition. There might be a treasure of shocking value appearing today.”
The conversation came from a nearby table, the guests speaking in hushed voices.
The crowd suddenly stirred.
“Xiao clan actually came to Feng City? Everyone knows the Xiao and Yun families have never gotten along. Now that the Xiaos have stepped right onto the Yuns’ territory, things are about to get interesting.”
“Put this young master’s seat in the very center.”
Before Si Yao could even figure out what kind of power the Xiao clan held, a loud, punchable voice rang out from the other end of the hall.
She followed the sound and saw a server bowing repeatedly while leading a man in a blue robe toward the most prestigious seat in the middle of the hall.
“Please, Young Master Xiao.”
Every table here was enormous, big enough to seat dozens without feeling cramped. The man they called Young Master Xiao sat down confidently, surrounded by his followers who clustered around him like he was the sun and they were tiny planets.
His expression was arrogant to the point of being unbearable, and despite the fine clothes, there was something cheap about him that made Si Yao instinctively dislike him.
“Brother, that thing must be ours today.”
Beside the man, a ponytailed girl leaned back with her arms crossed. Her figure was bold, her aura even bolder, and when she slapped the table, the impact echoed through the entire hall.
Their dramatic entrance drew every eye in the room. Someone nearby whispered, “That’s the Xiao siblings from Qing City, Xiao Cheng and Xiao Wu.”
“No wonder they’re so fearless. They’re one of the two great families. Even on the Yun clan’s turf, they walk around like they own the place. Their backing must be terrifying.”
Once their identities were revealed, the other guests who had been visibly annoyed by their behavior went silent. No one dared to object anymore.
Xiao Cheng. Xiao Wu.
Hearing those names, Si Yao’s eyes lit up as the related plot pieces clicked into place in her mind.
In the original storyline, both the Yun and Xiao families were after a rare treasure being auctioned by Xiaoyao Tower. The two families had a long-standing grudge, and meeting here only intensified it, turning the exhibition into a battlefield of egos and ambition.
Back then, Yun Xiangxiang had never been saved and had already died. The Yun clan used her death to pressure Jiang Shuo, claiming she died for him, forcing him to help them seize that treasure.
Jiang Shuo felt a pang of guilt. He had no choice but to help the Yun clan seize the rare treasure. From then on, rumors spread across the continent that the Yun clan held leverage over Jiang Shuo, and the Xiao clan became hostile toward him.
The Xiao clan and the Yun clan—neither were good people.
Si Yao thought it over and came to her own conclusion.
【Daily task issued: Gain Jiang Shuo's favorability +20, task reward 20 points.】
The system’s voice sounded again unexpectedly. Si Yao blinked, feeling like daily tasks were popping up even more frequently since the last update.
But that was fine. More tasks meant more points.
Just as Si Yao was considering how to raise Jiang Shuo’s favorability next, a sudden commotion broke out nearby, followed by a series of exclamations.
“Miss Yun! Miss Yun has arrived!”
Si Yao looked towards the source of the noise and saw Yun Xiangxiang, dressed in snow-white robes, gracefully approaching. Behind her, numerous Yun clan experts moved closely, ensuring her safety.
Yun Xiangxiang’s arrival instantly stirred a wave of excitement. The title of the continent’s most beautiful woman was not undeserved.
Seeing everyone’s attention drawn to Yun Xiangxiang, Xiao Wu snorted coldly, her brows arching in annoyance.
The Yun and Xiao families had never gotten along. Xiao Wu had long resented Yun Xiangxiang’s reputation as the continent’s number one beauty. Hot-tempered as ever, she stood up the moment Yun Xiangxiang became the center of attention, ready to make a scene.
“Honored guests, please take your seats. The Xiaoyao Tower’s exhibition is about to begin.”
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