The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened

CHAPTER 12: A Stone

　　Just as Xiao Wu was about to make a move against Yun Xiangxiang, a deep, commanding male voice suddenly echoed through the exhibition hall.

　　The voice carried a surge of spiritual energy that rippled through the entire hall, reaching every person present.

　　Xiao Wu, who had been ready to lash out, was pulled back by someone from the Xiao clan. They shook their head at her, warning her not to act recklessly and cause trouble at such a crucial moment.

　　Though proud and hot-headed, Xiao Wu bit back her anger and sat down obediently. It was clear that the rare treasure about to be auctioned at the exhibition was of immense importance to the Xiao clan.

　　After the announcement that the exhibition was about to begin, the previously noisy hall fell silent. The crowd around the continent’s number one beauty, Yun Xiangxiang, also dispersed. Everyone returned to their seats, waiting for the auction to start.

　　Soon, a middle-aged man with a kind face emerged from one of Xiaoyao Tower’s private rooms. He wore a gray robe and carried a gentle smile, but his eyes shone with a shrewd glint. He walked steadily toward the central display stage in the hall.

　　There was something extraordinary about him. He could not be underestimated.

　　Si Yao sensed a profound and unfathomable strength radiating from him.

　　“That’s Manager Tu Ming! Is he personally hosting today’s exhibition?” someone exclaimed.

　　“Looks like today’s item must be an extraordinary treasure. It not only drew the attention of the two great clans, but even Manager Tu himself came,” another voice said.

　　His arrival stirred the hall once again. Si Yao searched her memory for information about Tu Ming.

　　Tu Ming was one of the managers of Xiaoyao Tower. In earlier years, he had helped oversee auctions at the tower. He was clever and kind, with profound cultivation and a strength that was impossible to gauge.

　　A few years ago, when Tu Ming oversaw the Xiaoyao Tower’s exhibitions, someone had once relied on their strong cultivation to cause trouble at the auction. Tu Ming crippled that person's cultivation with a single move. Afterward, anyone sent by that person’s backers to seek revenge was also killed within Xiaoyao Tower.

　　After that incident, no one dared to stir up trouble in Xiaoyao Tower again.

　　However, in the original novel, this character did not appear here. Si Yao remembered the system’s warning: the storyline had deviated by 70%. It seemed that the plot of this novel had completely gone off track, and while completing her tasks, Si Yao might encounter many events she did not expect.

　　“Today’s Xiaoyao Tower’s exhibition will be hosted by me,” Tu Ming announced from the central stage of the hall, his voice loud and clear. “The auction items will be placed in the center. Distinguished guests, if you are interested in an item, please place your bids. The highest bidder shall claim it.”

　　He raised his voice and infused it with spiritual energy, ensuring that everyone present could hear him.

　　Si Yao listened quietly, her gaze occasionally flicking toward Jiang Shuo.

　　In the novel’s original plot, Jiang Shuo had disrupted today’s exhibition, but now that Yun Xiangxiang was alive, he would not be coerced by the Yun clan. The storyline would likely play out differently.

　　Jiang Shuo was the male lead, and any extraordinary opportunity would naturally end up in his hands. Si Yao was not worried about that at all; she only needed to watch quietly.

　　“Bang!” A Xiaoyao Tower attendant struck a golden bronze drum carved with intricate patterns and shouted, “The Xiaoyao Tower’s Exhibition begins!”

　　At that signal, a handsome young boy in white emerged from the inner chamber, carrying a tray. He placed it carefully on the central display stage. A young girl behind Tu Ming stepped forward and lifted the red cloth covering the tray, revealing a pill.

　　The girl was strikingly beautiful, a perfectly measured smile on her face, and she began to introduce the first auction item. “The first item is the Peiyuan Pill. Its uses are countless; it can solidify and nourish the vital energy, allowing cultivation to progress by leaps and bounds…”

　　Her voice was pleasant, and as she spoke fluently, bidding began immediately. The first item was soon sold.

　　Si Yao continued to watch quietly. When the seventh item was announced as sold, she could no longer contain her curiosity. She turned to Jiang Shuo and asked patiently, “Which treasure are you planning to go for?”

　　Jiang Shuo only smiled faintly, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. His voice was low and calm. “Anything that catches my eye is priceless.”

　　“Now, let us present the eighth item of the day,” the attendant announced. Si Yao heard Jiang Shuo murmur softly, “Here it comes.”

　　She looked up and saw the white-clad boy carefully placing the eighth item on the display stand. It was still covered by a red cloth, so she could only make out that it was oval-shaped.

　　The female auctioneer lifted the cloth, and Si Yao finally saw it clearly. It was an egg.

　　The egg was entirely red, shimmering with golden light, and about the size of a water basin. It was extraordinary.

　　Three dark lines slid down Si Yao’s forehead. She had thought Jiang Shuo had his eye on some treasure, but it turned out to be the egg of the divine bird, ¹Vermilion Bird.

　　In the original story, the Yun and Xiao clans had fought over this very egg at the exhibition. But in the original plot, Jiang Shuo had no interest in it. Si Yao wondered why he seemed so intent on acquiring it today, coming all the way to Xiaoyao Tower just for this egg.

　　“One million spirit stones.” Even before the girl could start introducing the newly presented item, someone in the hall had already called out a bid impatiently.

　　The first to speak was Xiao Wu from the Xiao clan of Qing City.

　　“I’ll offer two million.”

　　“Three million.”

　　The egg of the Vermilion Bird was no ordinary treasure. If it were obtained, hatched, and carefully raised, it would become an incredibly powerful battle companion.

　　The crowd’s excitement ignited instantly, bidding cries echoing one after another. The exhibition had reached its peak intensity.

　　It wasn’t until the bids reached ten million spirit stones that the shouting finally paused.

　　Si Yao poured herself a cup of tea, taking small sips as she waited for Jiang Shuo to place his bid.

　　As the male lead, Jiang Shuo always stumbled upon great opportunities and rare treasures, so he was undoubtedly very wealthy.

　　“Fifteen million.” A clear, melodious voice rang out, capturing everyone’s attention. It was Yun Xiangxiang, the woman known as the most beautiful in the land. This was her first time bidding, and she immediately threw in a massive sum of over fifteen million spirit stones.

　　“The Yun clan really is loaded,” someone sighed, stepping back from competing against them.

　　Once a prestigious clan like the Yun clan joined an auction, the outcome rarely allowed for any exceptions.

　　“Twenty million spirit stones!”

　　A sharp, forceful voice followed. It was Xiao Cheng from the Xiao clan, slamming his hand onto the table with a commanding presence.

　　Onlookers realized exactly what was happening. The two great clans had predictably clashed. The Vermilion Bird egg, a treasure that appeared only once in a millennium, was too valuable for either side to yield.

　　“Thirty million spirit stones.” Yun Xiangxiang narrowed her brows slightly and raised her bid.

　　“Forty million spirit stones.” The Xiao clan had come prepared and refused to back down.

　　……

　　Yun Xiangxiang and the Xiao siblings kept raising the price higher and higher. Just as the bid was about to break fifty million spirit stones, Jiang Shuo still looked completely unhurried and at ease.

　　Because the plot had shifted, Si Yao had no idea what he was holding back.

　　“You’re not going to bid?”

　　Jiang Shuo smiled faintly, still watching the spectacle as if it were a play. “No rush.”

　　“Bang!” Xiao Cheng slammed his hand on the table, the sharp thud echoing through the hall. Gritting his teeth in pain, he forced out a number. “Eighty million spirit stones.”

　　Eighty million spirit stones could equal ten years of the Xiao clan’s income. They could afford it, but the blow to their wealth still stung badly.

　　The Yun clan hesitated as well. Their resources were not much deeper than the Xiaos’, but now that the bidding had reached this point, there was no turning back. They had to grit their teeth and raise their offer.

　　“Ninety million spirit stones.”

　　The Yun clan cautiously countered with a higher bid.

　　By now, the Xiao clan could no longer contain their frustration. Xiao Wu’s brows shot up in anger, her sharp voice roaring at Yun Xiangxiang. “Is your Yun clan trying to deliberately go against us!”

　　Compared to Xiao Wu’s furious outburst, Yun Xiangxiang remained calm. “According to the rules of Xiaoyao Tower, the highest bid wins.”

　　Xiao Wu’s temper flared, her spiritual energy spilling out as she prepared to attack Yun Xiangxiang. But a voice, clear and crisp like it came from the heavens themselves, interrupted her.

　　“One stone.”

　　The male voice rang out from an inconspicuous corner.

　　In the middle of this heated battle between the two great clans, someone actually dared to interrupt? Who could be so bold?

　　Everyone in the hall craned their necks to see the source of the voice.

　　Two figures came into view, one in blue and one in white.

　　The young man wore flowing white robes, speaking casually, his features sharp and perfectly sculpted, so striking he seemed like a celestial being descended to the mortal world.

　　Beside him, a girl in pale ocean blue robes sat with quiet elegance. Her delicate features were like a painting, her red lips curved in a faint smile. At a glance, she was even more stunning than Yun Xiangxiang herself. Simply sitting there, she drew every eye in the room.

　　Truly a pair of unparalleled beauties.

　　After the brief shock passed, everyone remembered the white-robed young man’s words and leaned in, eager for a show. He actually dared to provoke the two great clans.

　　“One stone?”

　　Xiao Cheng had been dead set on getting the Vermilion Bird egg. Now, not only did the Yun clan barge in, but some random newcomer also dared to interfere. One stone? He thought he could snatch it for just a stone?

　　“Where did this pauper come from? If you can’t afford it, keep your mouth shut. Stop reeking of poverty and take your worthless rock out of here!”

　　The Xiao siblings had always been arrogant. Already frustrated by the Yun clan’s competition, Xiao Cheng had no outlet for his anger, and now Jiang Shuo had jumped in. Fuming, he started cursing Jiang Shuo at the top of his lungs.

　　Si Yao heard Xiao Cheng’s rant and quietly offered a silent condolence in her mind.

　　Daring to provoke the male lead? He was dead.

　　Jiang Shuo’s eyes grew even colder. He slowly stood, produced a small stone from somewhere, pinched it between his long fingers, and with a flick of hidden force, sent it flying. The stone zipped through the air and landed squarely in front of Tu Ming, who was standing on the central stage.

　　The stone was about the size of a thumb, charred black, but looking closer, tiny lightning sparks swirled across its surface.

　　“You’re asking for death!” Seeing that Jiang Shuo not only ignored him but actually threw a stone in challenge, Xiao Cheng’s veins bulged with rage. He wished he could settle this right then and there.

　　But Tu Ming of Xiaoyao Tower did not give him the chance to show off his wrath. His eyes lit up as he examined the stone Jiang Shuo had thrown, lifting it carefully into his palm and studying it closely.

　　Soon, as if afraid Jiang Shuo might change his mind, he announced the auction result loudly: “One stone, sold.”

________________

Glossary:

¹Vermilion Bird “朱雀” (Zhuque): A mythical creature from Chinese legends. People often mix it up with the phoenix because both are giant, fiery, and dramatic… but they’re actually totally different.

Quick breakdown:

Vermilion Bird (朱雀)

• One of the Four Symbols (mythical guardian beasts)

• Represents the South, summer, and the fire element

• Elegant, divine, very “I’m hot and I know it” energy

• Does not reincarnate or rise from ashes

Phoenix (凤凰 / 凤 / 凰)

• Symbolizes royalty, peace, and auspicious fortune

• Often appears as a male–female pair (feng = female, huang = male)

• The rebirth-from-ashes concept mainly comes from Western lore, not the original Chinese phoenix

• More of an imperial bird than a fire-element guardian

Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter