"Alright," Nan Gong Huan thought for a moment and agreed. After all, she had come here to earn credits.

  They only had a day and a half since classes would resume the day after tomorrow. If they were lucky, they might actually be able to earn the full hundred credits.

  Under the guidance of the seniors, Nan Gong Huan and Dong Yan Cuo took out their student crystal tablets and registered for the mission.

  On the other side of the mission area, there was a teleportation array. The eight of them chatted and laughed as they stepped onto it, arriving at Sasuo City, near the Sasuo Forest.

  As soon as they teleported, Nan Gong Huan saw the five large characters in front of her—Glory Auction House.

  "Are we inside the auction house?" Nan Gong Huan's expression was微妙 as she looked around and realized they were in the back garden of the Glory Auction House.

  One of the seniors eagerly explained, "Junior, you might not know this, but most of the teleportation arrays in the academy were built by the talisman masters of the Glory Auction House. They have a close partnership with the academy, and we can also use credits to exchange for items at the auction house, though the required credits are usually quite high."

  He was about to move closer to Nan Gong Huan when Dong Yan Cuo glared at him, forcing him to step back.

  Dong Yan Cuo took Nan Gong Huan's hand, silently declaring his claim. The two of them engaged in a silent tug-of-war, but after struggling for a while, Nan Gong Huan gave up.

  She felt it was necessary to have a proper talk with this foodie at some point.

  Jiang Huairou couldn't help but take a few more glances at Dong Yan Cuo, her eyes filled with admiration. In fact, she had noticed him yesterday because of his striking hair color. She hadn't expected him to have such a relationship with Nan Gong Huan.

  Her gaze drifted down to their intertwined hands, and a hint of thoughtfulness flashed in her eyes.

  "Let's go find the manager to borrow a few wind birds. The journey to the Sasuo Forest is quite far," said Gao Luo, the most composed senior in the group. He was dressed in white, handsome, and always wore a friendly smile.

  They quickly found Manager Li of the auction house. Coincidentally, Third Princess Song Qingcheng was also there with her team, having taken on the same mission!

  Her team consisted of summoning department disciples, and since missions in the mission area could be taken by disciples from any department, it was natural for overlaps to occur.

  "Well, well, if it isn't you!" Song Qingcheng was about to leave when she saw Nan Gong Huan and suddenly stopped in her tracks.

  She remembered Nan Gong Huan—the one who was with that little bitch Ye Sang. Hating the house along with the crow, she disliked Nan Gong Huan by association. Moreover, her failed attempt to invite the Black Lotus Alchemist had made her lose face, and since Nan Gong Huan was said to be the Black Lotus's junior sister, Song Qingcheng's dislike for her doubled.

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  "Princess," Gao Luo stepped forward with tact, greeting her. Several disciples in the team from noble families recognized the Third Princess.

  "Hmm," Song Qingcheng raised her eyebrows arrogantly, stroking the wind bird beside her. She turned to Manager Li and said, "Manager Li, I believe this is the last wind bird you have here, right?"

  Manager Li, ever the shrewd one, knew that Song Qingcheng didn't want to give the wind bird to anyone else. He put on a flattering smile and said, "Of course, Your Highness. You've come at just the right time. The other wind birds have been sent out to transport goods, leaving only this one here for you."

  This statement made Gao Luo and the others' expressions turn sour.

  "Such a pity. The wind birds have limited carrying capacity, otherwise, I would have loved to bring you all along," Song Qingcheng spread her hands, feigning regret.

  Behind her were three female disciples and four male disciples, all wearing mocking and disdainful expressions, silently ridiculing them.

  Anyone with eyes could see that Song Qingcheng was deliberately making things difficult for Gao Luo and the others.

  "How about this, Nan Gong Huan? Come over and kneel before me, and I'll let you have this wind bird," Song Qingcheng said with a proud smile, beckoning Nan Gong Huan with her finger.

  It was clear to everyone that these two had some unresolved issues.

  "What's the big deal about a commoner kneeling before a princess? It's only proper," a female disciple behind her chimed in. Judging by her accessories, it was clear she came from a powerful family.

  All eyes turned to Nan Gong Huan. Gao Luo and the others didn't dare to speak up, as their families held lesser positions, and the other party was a princess—someone they couldn't afford to offend.

  "Cuo Cuo," Nan Gong Huan called out softly, and in a flash, Dong Yan Cuo stepped forward and slapped Song Qingcheng hard!

  She was sent flying dozens of meters, crashing into a wall with a loud bang!

  Blood splattered along the way, likely from her vomiting.

  Everyone's eyes widened in shock, their jaws nearly hitting the ground!

  She was way too bold!

  "Well done," Nan Gong Huan smiled as usual, taking out a candy, unwrapping it, and popping it into Dong Yan Cuo's mouth.

  He savored the sweetness of the candy, but his fiery gaze remained fixed on her lips.

  "Nan... Nan Gong, you..." Jiang Huairou felt her blood freeze. How could she hit the Third Princess like that? Wasn't she afraid of retaliation?

  She was a princess of the kingdom!

  "Princess!" Manager Li and Song Qingcheng's teammates immediately rushed over to help her up.

  Song Qingcheng was still dazed, her cheek swollen like a pig's head, two teeth missing, and blood continuously dripping from her mouth. She was barely conscious.

  "How dare you hit the Princess!" the female disciple who had spoken earlier pointed at Nan Gong Huan furiously. "Come over here and kneel to apologize!"

  Nan Gong Huan raised her hand to shield her eyes, pretending to look around. "Where? Where's the princess? I don't see her."

  The female disciple was momentarily speechless, then pointed at Song Qingcheng and shouted at Nan Gong Huan, "She is the Third Princess! You, a lowly commoner, have the audacity! Wait for the Princess to sentence you to death!"

  Song Qingcheng finally came to her senses at this moment, feeling the intense pain on her cheek. She trembled as she touched her swollen face and was immediately filled with murderous rage!

  "Nan Gong Huan!" she screamed hysterically, charging at Nan Gong Huan without regard for her image, wanting to teach her a lesson.

  But her movements were too reckless. Nan Gong Huan simply sidestepped and tripped her, causing her to fall face-first onto the ground. Her swollen cheek was now covered in scratches, and when she lifted her head, her face was a bloody mess, more terrifying than a freshly slaughtered pig's head.

  Nan Gong Huan's smile faded, and she stepped forward expressionlessly, squatting down and placing her hand on the back of Song Qingcheng's neck. She whispered in her ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Princess, if I wanted to, I could snap your neck at any moment. So next time, think carefully before you speak, lest you ruin the harmony between us."

  Her fingers were warm, but Song Qingcheng felt as if she had been plunged into an icy abyss, as if a demon was gripping her neck, smiling evilly and asking her how she wanted to die.