After awakening her X-ray vision, the beautiful CEO couldn't sit still any longer.

"Honey, I'm so sorry. You exposed your skills because you were trying to help me out of this predicament."

They will definitely increase their vigilance against us from now on.

Wang Yuyan regretted her carelessness.

"It's okay, once we're on land, we don't need to be afraid of anyone."

Previously at sea, I didn't want to implicate the innocent crew members on board.

Now it's just the two of us. Who dares to cause you trouble? If one comes, I'll kill them; if two come, I'll kill them both!

Although Ye Tian said this with a smile, Wang Yuyan had no doubt that Ye Tian could do what he said.

He is a man of his word, and although she is not the only woman in his life, Ye Tian's feelings for her have always been genuine.

If anyone dares to bully her, Ye Tian will stop at nothing, even if it means killing everyone here until the blood flows like a river!

"Husband, meeting you is the happiest thing in my life."

I want to eat the crayfish my husband peeled for me.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go eat now."

"Honey, you're so good to me. I'll definitely do my best tonight and make you happy!"

Wang Yuyan gazed at Ye Tian with tender, affectionate eyes.

"Hey, I've been so good to you, how can you repay kindness with enmity?"

"Honey, you're so annoying. You always make me sound like I'm a pervert."

I was just trying to repay you...

Scorpion wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. In order to complete the mission, she had to quickly catch up from behind.

But her body had unconsciously kept a certain distance from Ye Tian.

Two hours later, the two, having eaten and drunk their fill, returned to the exhibition hall.

On the way, Wang Yuyan suddenly caught a glimpse of a mark on the wall near the corner of the corridor, close to the fire hydrant sign. It looked like a scratch left by a decorative pattern.

The shape of the mark was a simplified ancient pattern representing the Wang family's emergency contact point!

Her breath hitched slightly.

As expected, Wang's trusted confidants have set up contact points inside the auction house.

Behind her, the scorpion's footsteps followed her like a shadow.

Wang Yuyan, holding Ye Tian's arm, didn't stop or even glance at him again, and continued walking forward.

She could only memorize that location and walk back to the exhibition hall with a blank expression.

Ye Tian and his companion arrived at the key area of ​​the auction preview.

His gaze was immediately drawn to a standalone display case.

On display there was a rusty, complex sextant-shaped object with multiple graduated rings.

The description plaque reads: "Fragment of a star track mapping instrument, date unknown, material unknown alloy, some structures appear to have been repaired in later times."

Its function is speculated to be astronomical or geographic positioning, but the specific principles behind it have been lost. Starting bid: $50.

that's it!

Ye Tian's heart started racing.

He casually looked away, pretending to be more interested in the bronze wine cup next to him.

Pick up the magnifying glass provided next to him and examine the inscription on the wine cup with great seriousness.

But all attention was focused out of the corner of their eye on the surveying instrument.

At the same time, he keenly noticed two Asian men not far away whose demeanor was slightly different from the surrounding buyers.

They stood side by side, both dressed in understated dark casual suits.

He appeared to be admiring an ancient painting, but his gaze kept sweeping over him and the lynx and others behind him.

The two occasionally exchanged glances, which was far from the communication between ordinary buyers; it was more like the tacit understanding between business partners.

Competitors?

Or perhaps it's another faction that's after the items on the "Deep Blue Echo"?

A warning bell rang in Ye Tian's mind.

As the preview period drew to a close, the crowd began to move toward the main auction hall.

Ye Tian knew he couldn't wait any longer.

Just then, he saw a waiter wearing a gold badge from the Dark Abyss Pavilion and carrying a champagne tray pass by, glancing at him almost imperceptibly.

"Could it be someone who was there to meet him?"

Ye Tian was startled, but he quickly put on a perfectly timed smile and walked over.

"Waiter, please wait a moment."

Ye Tian called out to the waiter, keeping his voice so that only the two of them could hear him.

"I would like to ask, besides the information on the description plate, is there any further background information about that star track mapping instrument?"

For example, did its previous collectors leave any notes?

Or is it possible that similar parts of its missing portion have appeared elsewhere?

As he asked the question, he cleverly used his body to block the angle from which the lynx might look.

The waiter, well-trained and maintaining a professional smile, answered in a low voice:

"Sir, I'm sorry, but detailed information about the provenance and background of the auction items is usually confidential."

Unless authorized by the seller, all we know is what's on the description card.

However, if you are interested, more detailed photographs can be found on page 47 of the auction catalog.

"Really? That's great, thank you." Ye Tian said, extending his hand as if to express his gratitude.

In the brief moment his hand crossed with the waiter's hand holding the tray, his index and middle fingers came together, taking advantage of the instant of contact.

In the other person's rapidly closing palm, three short taps and one long tap were struck quickly and clearly.

This is a simplified and easily overlooked tactile code that the antique market uses to communicate with potential allies in an emergency.

The waiter's body seemed to stiffen almost imperceptibly.

But his perfect smile remained unchanged, without a single unnecessary movement.

He simply nodded slightly, then turned and left with the tray, disappearing into the flow of waiters.

As Ye Tian turned around, he happened to meet Wang Yuyan's gaze.

Their eyes met in mid-air, a knowing glance passing between them.

Inside the auction hall, the melodious chimes rang out, signaling that the auction was about to begin.

The auctioneer, dressed in a gorgeous gown, stepped onto the stage with a beaming smile. Her voice, clear and persuasive, carried through the microphone to every corner of the hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Dark Abyss Pavilion Autumn Secret Auction..."

The lights dimmed, and spotlights shone on the auction stage.

The first item to be auctioned was a huge pigeon blood ruby ​​ring, which was brought up.

Bidding was in full swing, prices soared rapidly, and the atmosphere became increasingly heated.

Ye Tian sat in his assigned seat, with the lynx and hyena sitting on either side of him.

Wang Yuyan sat in the row behind him, and Scorpion clung to her like a shadow.

Their seats, located in the middle of the hall, offered a good view but also made them easier to monitor.

The first few pieces of jewelry and antiques fetched astronomical prices, but the bidders remained calm, as if they weren't spending real gold and silver.

Each time the gavel fell, it was accompanied by a slight commotion and hushed whispers.

When the auctioneer gestured for his assistant to bring up the next item, Ye Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.

That was a fragment of a star track mapping instrument.

Under the spotlight, its rusted metal surface reflected a dim light.

Those intricate rings and peepholes cast interlaced shadows in the light and shadow, like the shell of an ancient creature that has been sleeping for a long time.

The auctioneer's captivating voice rang out:

"Next, we will be filming a mysterious ancient artifact—a fragment of a star track mapping instrument."

Starting bid: $500,000. Place your bid now.

A moment of silence fell over the hall as everyone assessed the strange, dilapidated object.