The Auctioneer responded to it rather scornfully, "Ohh! Then shall I thank you for picking it up?!!".
Xialin fake a smile at it.
"Anyway, I will keep this! You may go now!!", she soon released her.
She ignored Xialin's existence and kept her focus on the hairpin observing every detail of it. Just as the guards were about to release Xialin, a group of the Eagle bandit's guards came marching in. One of the guards then spoke up in haste, "Madame, this is the girl that runs away from the treasure room! She was held captive to be auction as a Bride Slave today. We shall take her"
The Auctioneer can't believe his words. She became furious at it that she immediately slaps Xialin's face and spoke up nastily, "You brat! Dares to lie to me?!"
"Quick take her and tie her down. Make sure she is unable to escape again!", she instructed them fiercely.
Frightened by it, Xialin struggles hard to free herself from the guard's grip, "Let me go!! You rogue!! My brother will not spare you guys!"
No one paid attention to the cries of Xialin instead she was taken to a small extension room near the banquet hall where she was kept locked inside a big cage with her lips tied down tightly, making sure that she is unable to speak and run away again.
Xialin feeling hopeless by it sat down and rest her head on the cage feeling miserable.
She was left troubled, 'I'm so done! Will my brothers ever come to save me??!!'
**************************************
On the other side of the story
Xulan sneezes suddenly, "Aaaa aaaaa choo!"
Yutao upon seeing him declared amusingly, "Looks like your sister is remembering you. Ha..ha..."
Xulan replied to it with a stern face, "I hope she is fine"
The two of them soon gallop their horses at the fastest speed to reach the Auction hall.
Shortly after a while, they arrive there. They immediately gets down from the horses and tie it to a nearby tree. After tying it down, Xulan gets on moving in haste.
Yutao noticing his conduct stops him troubledly, "Xulan wait..! Wipe your face first!".
Yutao gave him a scarf to wipes out his face.
Xulan in daze turned to look at Yutao and took the scarf. He wiped his face with it.
Shortly, he noticed the blood in the scarf.
"This...is..... bloodstain!", he exclaimed in shocked.
Xulan stared alarmingly at Yutao and pats him on his shoulder, "Thanks Yutao. I might have been exposed if not for you".
Yutao warned him in concerned, "Don't do anything reckless inside. We must see the situation first and don't forget to act like we are here for the bidding"
Xulan replied to it pleasantly, "Don't worry Yutao. I'll not do anything reckless".
They then head towards the cave.
The cave guard upon seeing them inquired, "Show me your invitation card?!"
Yutao handed him the invitation card which he took from one of his close men.
The guard looks closely at it. They then stare at Xulan expecting his invitation card.
Yutao upon seeing the situation spoke up cautiously, "Ah...! He's with me"
The guard quickly returned the invitation card to Yutao and responded, "You may proceed"
The two of them soon went inside the cave. They went passed through the narrow path and found themselves at the Auction hall. By the time they reached there, a huge crowd had already assembled there, waiting for the Auction to begin.
Seeing the crowd Xulan spoke up in stressed, "Looks like it's about to start"
Yutao replied to it in caution, "Let's wait and observe. Look around the hall. The hall is surrounded by Eagle bandit from all sides. We can't act rashly"
Xulan looked up and turned around, there were quite a number of Eagle bandit guarding the hall.
Shortly a while later, the stunning Auctioneer came out and made her announcement, "Hello ladies and gentlemen get ready to give your bids. Your waiting is now over. The Auction will begin shortly"
Everyone at the hall applauds with excitement.
All eyes were on the Auctioneer, eagerly waiting for the auction to start.
The Auctioneer then starts the auction, "The first item to be Auction is the Cauldron". The giant Cauldron was being brought to the stage by the four guards. Upon seeing the Cauldron the crowd started to whisper, "Isn't that a simple cauldron?! Why are they auctioning it?!"
The Auctioneer glanced at the audience and proclaimed, "Silent everyone. This is not a simple cauldron. It is used for refining elixirs. The elixirs made in this cauldron has great potential. It can increase one spiritual power to a great extent. The bidding is now open. Our price is thousands of gold taels. You may start your bidding"
While staring at the cauldron Xulan curiously asked Yutao, "What do you say? Can it really make elixirs?!"
Yutao nods his head and replied steadily, "If it falls upon a great Alchemist, it's usage will be magnificent!"
While they were occupied discussing on it, a tall man instantly started to bid, "Two thousands of gold taels!"
Another bidder added on it, "Three thousand gold taels!"
There was a moment of silence. Seems like no one can bid more than that. When The Auctioneer was about to announce 'sold'. The man who bid for two thousand gold taels raises the bids abruptly, "Four thousand gold taels!".
There was a long pause of silence. Seems like no one can bid more than that. Accordingly, the Auctioneer makes her conclusive speech, "Four thousands of gold taels. The cauldron is sold!!".
The Auctioneer then looked at her list and gave a hint to one of her staffs. The staff upon acknowledging the hint came out bringing the beautiful headgear on a wooden tray. The Auctioneer then resumed, "The next item to be Auction is the headgear worn by the Previous Empress of the Kingdom Yu. Our price is five hundred gold taels. You may start your bid".
People were left awestruck upon seeing the glamorous headgear.
A man amongst the crowd started the bidding, "Thousand gold taels!"
A big fat man raises the price, "Two thousand gold taels!"
Everyone were left shocked by the bidders, "Two thousand gold taels?! That's too much for a headgear?! Is he mad?!"
Another man insisted on it, "Two thousand five hundred gold taels!"
The big fat man not giving in the headgear raised the bid, "Three thousand gold taels!".
He then giggled and conversed with the people nearby, "I want to buy it for my wife"
There was a long pause of silence after that bid. No one ever dare to raise more than three thousand. Finally, the Auctioneer raises her eyebrows and spoke up smilingly, "Three thousand of gold taels! The headgear is sold!".
The big fat man raises his hand, feeling thrilled at his big win. Everyone nearby congratulates him.
The Auctioneer then announced amusingly, "The next item is for the gentlemen out there. You may have the chance to bring a wife back home. A beautiful virgin Bride Slave!".
Xulan and Yutao got stunned upon hearing it! Their keen eyes were on the stage.
Everyone in the Auction hall too gets excited over it. They were ready to win it.