(A/N: I think i missed yesterday...i can't remember haha, soz.)
A mischievous smile appeared on Long Ren's face, "Then they'll need to go through us," He said, prompting Yun Ning to chuckle in his arms.
While they were enjoying their time together, the public crowd's murmurs turned even louder as they felt extremely surprised.
No private rooms nor VIPs had ever participated in the first few items before, as these beginning items are usually only rare for the public, but not to clans' higherups and important figures!
There are only two possible reasons for a private room to participate, either they were just having fun or they really needed the item, which is improbable.
Hence, the crowd felt pity for the remaining two bidders, as they practically had no chance if the VIP really wanted the item, and even if they won, the price would be very inflated. An unavoidable lose-lose situation.
And what better way to express those pity than to whisper loudly of their grimace right next to their ears. How fun.
The old man and young cultivator's faces twitched in annoyance. A sudden 100 gold bid increase! They were just one-upping each other with 10 golds starting from 910 golds and now this happened.
They blamed their shitty luck as they bid once more, hoping the VIP already had his/her fill of fun by bidding once.
The old man raised his hands as he bid with gritted teeth "1 diamond 40 gold!"
Yue'er pointed at him as she shouted, "Old Man Ale bidding 1 diamond 40 golds!"
The old man immediately felt proud and happy seeing Yue'er mention his name as if it was a remarkable accomplishment, thinking his bidding was the right choice, showing his manliness.
In actuality, Yue'er only found his and the young cultivator's name out right after Long Ren bid. She knew these poor folks would need some encouragement to bid even more against a VIP.
'Dumbass,' She thought, seeing the glee in old man Ale's face as others in the crowd showed a look of envy. 'Let's hope room 15 bids even more on others,'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Meanwhile, in private room number two sat two old men on two extremely stiff and straight wooden chairs. Their backs, straight as a plank, as they sipped on the complimentary tea.
One of them had a majestic flowy beard as the owner petted it gently, letting Ho Ho Ho's out as he watched the ongoing bidding war. The other had a beard as well.
"Lao, why is your student participating in this?" the shittier beard old man, clan head Xing Ping asked, a bit perplexed by the situation.
Xing Lao only shrugged, "I don't know, maybe just for fun?"
Xing Ping sighed as he said, "How'd he even get a private room…our clan's prestige will fall if this gets out,"
Xing Ping really didn't know how Long Ren and Yun Ning got a private room, as only clan heads and nobles could do so. Another option is to be an esteemed guess, but he couldn't think of a reason for them to be regarded as one.
Xing Lao laughed, "It's fine, no one who knows will spread it out, lest they want to face our wrath," He said, as pride swells up from his chest. Xing Ping nodded, agreeing with him. They reigned as the overlords for a reason.
Xing Ping then looked over at Long Ren's room once more and asked, "Since when did he get all chummy with Diona's disciple?"
Xing Lao patted his beard and answered, "Around a month ago."
Xing Ping showed an "O" expression, "He can match her?"
"Not really, but he's up to her standards at least. That's how they got this close," Xing Lao answered. Although he had only watched their match once, it was enough to provide him with an estimate.
"How'd you two find a better seed than Yu Chun…how envious," Xing Ping said, jealousy could be heard in his tone.
Zhao Yu Chun had sparred with Yun Ning before, under Diona's encouragement. With equal cultivation, Yun Ning managed to defeat him, quite easily at that.
Xing Lao snickered, "Heh, you've used all your luck taking my spot as the clan head," He said, happy he finally one-upped his rival after a long time.
"Tch, I won it fair and square," Xing Ping lashed back, and soon continued, "Just control him a little, we don't want him to incite a riot or something,"
Xing Lao rolled his eyes, "Yes, yes, clan head, I'll not let my talented disciple get more attention than yours," He said as he took a paper note out, wrote a few words, and snapped his fingers. The note soon disappeared as it made its way toward Long Ren's room.
"Furthermore, with him being here, he could buy the necklace himself," Xing Ping said, only to receive a nod from Xing Lao as they sat back in silence, watching the ongoing show.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Long Ren and Yun Ning were enjoying the show when all of sudden, Long Ren's eyes darted through the room and grabbed the air with his free hand. A note just appeared.
Long Ren and Yun Ning read the note and shared an understanding look. It simply says to not increase the price too overbearingly, just enough to have fun but not enough to make a life's enemy.
"Looks like Master is here as well, maybe the last few hidden items would be interesting," Long Ren said after reading the note and crumbling it to dust. He positioned his body, getting back to their previous comfortable position.
Yun Ning leaned on his hands back and nodded, "Mn, wanna make a bet what the last item will be?" She proposed.
"How much?"
"10?"
"Sure, I'll guess it's a weapon," Long Ren guessed.
"I'll take raw cultivation materials then," She said, then continued, "What if it's not both of them?"
"Then let's guess more, I'll take pills…"
In the end, Long Ren took weapons, pills, and cultivation manuals while Yun Ning took raw materials, artifacts and information,
As they were having their own fun, Long Ren still kept increasing the ginseng bid by 100 golds each. It finally ended with Old Man's Ale's victory bid of 2 diamonds and 10 golds.
Long Ren decided to stop there as he could already see veins popping on the old man's face. He was sure if he bid another time the old man will die on the spot, he already had his fun anyway, seeing the last two bidders fume in anger and frustration.
Yun Ning saw the old man begrudgingly leave his seat, consoling himself every step of the way as he head towards the payment spot. "I think you've made an enemy for life," She said, giggling.
Long Ren scratched his cheeks and laughed dryly, "It's my first time doing this, cut me some slack," He said. He really didn't know where the cut-off between overpriced and extortion lies, though, he will surely get better as more victims fall prey.
"Maybe one vein on the head is enough?" Yun Ning suggested. The old man had tens of them by the end, so one seems acceptable.
Long Ren nodded, "Understood, will keep that in mind for the next item," Long Ren said, giggling with Yun Ning as well. He didn't know being a dick would be this fun!