Beside her stood four tall, muscular bodyguards, each one radiating dangerous energy. They blocked Gu Jin’s path completely.
Gu Jin’s gaze swept over them, her eyes cold and sharp.
Trouble.
"I see you’re quite determined," the woman said softly, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "But do you really think you can leave with that ring?"
Gu Jin didn’t respond.
She didn’t need to.
The woman took a graceful step forward, her pink dress trailing behind her.
"Why don’t you hand the ring over to ?" she said sweetly, but her tone was anything but kind. "I’ll pay you 1 billion and spare your life."
Jasmine’s eyes widened. "Spare her life? Lady, do you think you’re in so kind of drama?"
She had ca out when she realised that Gu Jin was gone for a long ti.
Gu Jin, however, remained calm. She glanced at the woman in pink, her expression unreadable.
Then, she let out a soft chuckle.
The woman’s face darkened. "What’s so funny?"
Gu Jin tilted her head slightly, her eyes cold and sharp. "It’s funny how you think my life is sothing you can decide."
The woman’s smile twitched.
"1 billion is more than enough for a re eting," the woman said, her voice turning colder. "Be smart and hand over the ring."
Gu Jin’s fingers tightened around the small box in her hand.
She stepped forward slightly, her aura pressing down on the space between them.
The bodyguards stiffened.
"I don’t need your money," Gu Jin said, her voice calm but firm. "And I definitely don’t need your permission to leave."
The woman in pink let out a low laugh. "You really think you can walk out of here?"
She lifted a delicate hand, and instantly, the bodyguards moved.
The mont the bodyguards moved, Gu Jin’s eyes flashed coldly.
One of them, a man with blazing red eyes, raised his hand—WHOOSH! A wall of fire roared toward her.
At the sa ti, another bodyguard’s eyes glowed purple. The air around Gu Jin trembled—he was using psychic force to lock her movents!
A sharp BOOM! rang out as the third bodyguard clapped his hands together, sending a shockwave of sound blasting toward her.
Jasmine gasped. "Jin—!"
But Gu Jin didn’t panic.
Her fingers flicked, and vines burst from the ground, glowing with a faint, poisonous light.
They weaved through the fire, absorbing its heat before snapping toward the psychic user. CRACK!
The vines wrapped around his arms, tightening until he let out a strangled gasp.
THUD! The sound wave bodyguard was forced to dodge as a sharp bolt of thunder shot from Gu Jin’s fingers, disrupting his attack.
Then, the ground trembled.
A massive figure erged from the shadows—Gu Jin’s skeleton warrior.
Its greenish skin made it look like an undead, and as it raised its hands, dark energy swirled.
A wave of eerie, black flas shot toward the fire user, forcing him to retreat.
The woman in pink’s face paled.
She pointed at Gu Jin, her voice shaking. "Y-You— You are at Emperor Rank too?"
"Good realization, princess." Gu Jin mocked.
The woman in pink’s face twisted with anger.
Her delicate fingers clenched into fists, and she took a sharp step forward. "Do you have any idea who I am?" she hissed.
"My family is one of the strongest in the world! If you offend , I will make sure you never live well again!"
Jasmine rolled her eyes.
"Ugh, another spoiled young lady who thinks the world revolves around her."
Gu Jin, however, only chuckled.
She tilted her head slightly, her cold eyes eting the woman’s furious gaze. "Oh?" she said, amusent dancing in her voice.
"That sounds interesting. I’ll be waiting, then."
The woman’s lips twitched. "You—!"
Gu Jin’s expression remained calm, her stance relaxed, as if she wasn’t even slightly worried.
"I suggest you save your threats," she said lightly. "Because once you co for ... I won’t be so kind next ti."
A shiver ran down the spines of the bodyguards.
They had fought many strong people before, but Gu Jin... she was different.
She was calm, confident—like a predator who had already decided its prey wasn’t worth chasing.
The woman in pink gritted her teeth. "You’ll regret this."
Gu Jin simply smiled. "We’ll see."
The woman in pink glared at Gu Jin one last ti before flicking her sleeve and turning away.
"Hmph! Just you wait," she snapped, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she stord off.
Her bodyguards hesitated for a mont, their eyes flickering to Gu Jin, but when she rely raised an eyebrow, they quickly followed after their mistress.
Jasmine let out a low whistle. "Whew. That was dramatic."
Gu Jin didn’t say anything.
Soon, the velvet box glowed, and Gu Jin took out the ring. A voice ca from the ring,
"Please co outside. One of my subordinate will contact you and lead you to ."
Gu Jin walked out of the building.
The cool night air greeted her as she stepped onto the quiet street, the buzz of the auction house fading behind her.
She didn’t have to wait long before a shadowy figure appeared from a nearby alley.
The man was dressed in black from head to toe, his face half-hidden beneath a hood. He stopped a few feet away and bowed slightly.
"Miss Gu," he said in a smooth, respectful tone. "Are you free right now?"
Gu Jin studied him for a mont before nodding.
"Then please follow ," the man said.
The man was surprisingly gentle and polite contrary to what Gu Jin had known.
Without another word, Gu Jin followed him through the darkened streets.
They walked in silence, moving swiftly through winding alleys and hidden paths.
Finally, they arrived at a small, secluded building. The man opened the door and gestured for her to enter.
Gu Jin stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, with a large wooden desk at the center.
Behind it, a high-backed rolling chair faced away from her, its occupant hidden from view.
"Sit," a deep, smooth voice commanded.
Gu Jin’s eyes flickered slightly, but she didn’t hesitate.
She walked over and took the seat across from the desk, her posture straight and composed.
The chair slowly turned, revealing Ma Bence. He was wearing a black mask.
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk as he studied her with an unreadable expression.
"You paid a great price for this eting," Ma Bence said. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of amusent in it.
"Tell , what do you want?"
Gu Jin didn’t waste ti.
"I want your protection," she said, her tone firm.
Ma Bence’s fingers paused. His eyes sharpened. "For what?"
"For my brand—Unique," Gu Jin continued.
"It’s a well-known na in the alchemy world, but it has the potential to grow. I need soone strong to back it up."
Silence filled the room for a mont. Then, Ma Bence leaned back in his chair.
"Interesting," he mused. "And why should I help you?"
Gu Jin t his gaze without flinching. "Because it will benefit you."
Ma Bence raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Gu Jin nodded.
"Unique will rise, and with it, its allies. If you support now, you will gain sothing even greater in the future."
Ma Bence leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the desk. His masked face revealed nothing, but Gu Jin could tell he was thinking.
"And what," he said slowly, "makes you so sure Unique will rise?"
Gu Jin’s lips curled into a small smile. "Because I’m the one behind it."
Silence filled the room.
Then, Ma Bence chuckled. It was a low, amused sound, like he had just heard sothing interesting.
"You’re confident," he said. "I like that."
He sat up straight and rested his arms on the desk.
"But confidence alone isn’t enough. Do you have any proof that Unique will succeed?"
Gu Jin pulled a small bottle from her space ring and placed it on the desk. The liquid inside shimred with a faint glow.
"This is Unique’s latest product," she said.
"A pill that boosts energy recovery by 80%—with no side effects. This kind of product doesn’t even exist at international level."
Ma Bence’s fingers hovered over the bottle before he picked it up. He examined the liquid inside, swirling it slightly.
His eyes darkened.
"This..." He looked up at Gu Jin. "You made this?"
Gu Jin nodded. "Yes. And it’s just the beginning."
Ma Bence was silent for a long mont. Then, he let out another chuckle.
"Alright," he said. "I’m interested."
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. "Does that an you’ll agree?"
Ma Bence placed the bottle down. "I can provide protection for Unique, but I don’t do charity," he said.
"I will take 1% profit."
Gu Jin: "..."
She felt as if her ears were ringing.
Such a low profit percentage?
"You an per pill?"
"No annually." Ma Bence explained patiently.
Gu Jin’s eyes narrowed.
"Why...do you seem so familiar?"
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