Cao Yun and Feng Yingyue were alone in their lodge. The other lodges were all empty for now as people were still gathering for the auction.
"Yingying, of course you're way more beautiful than she is."
Cao Yun really did not know how to flirt and it amused the young woman.
"Fine, fine. I'll trust your words." As her face got near Cao Yun's ear, she whispered. "For now."
Usually, Feng Yingyue was very shy, but she was beginning to show her real personality to Cao Yun. And he had to confess that he liked her even better that way.
As they kept flirting with each other, the auction hall got full of people. All the lodges were now used and no more chair could accommodate anyone. There were even some people standing in the back of the room. As everyone was settling down, the doors were closed and in a lodge above the central platform, City Lord Dun Mofan took place. At his arrival, everyone stood up and cupped their fists in silence. He waved his hand then sat down. All the people attending the auction followed suit, even the esteemed guests within the lodges.
On stage, the voluptuous woman finally spoke. Her voice turned out to be as enchanting as her looks.
"Dear customers, let the auction begin. We will only be dealing in gold today."
Two men brought a large wooden box on stage and opened it. Inside, lined with red silk, was laying a jade sword.
"Our first item. A 4-star Earth weapon. Splitting Waves Jade Blade. It belonged to a powerful 9th-grade Mortal. With this blade, he was able to behead a 1st-grade Mortal Warrior during an execution. The starting bid will be 7 taels."
"7 taels and 100 coins*."
"7 taels and 250 coins."
...
"9 taels and 430 coins."
After the last man spoke, no one else seemed to want to up the price.
"Are there any more bidders?" Some people seemed to think about it but no one moved. "9 taels and 430 coins, going once. 9 taels and 430 coins, going twice. Sold! For 9 taels and 430 coins."
The two men closed the box and took it away. Then, two other men brought a different box.
...
The auction continued for some time. Most items were not interesting for Cao Yun, they were weapons, recipes for pills, martial art manuals, demonic beast cores, rare ingredients, ... The starting bid never got over 10 taels and the most expensive purchase was done by an old woman. She had purchased a Rejuvinating Sorrowful Balm for 14 taels.
Almost thirty items were sold in that manner and the auction was soon to be over.
"Our last item is here!" As the young woman spoke, one man got on stage. He walked slowly, showing a lot of respect for this little box. It was black and stamped with a golden character.
"It's an alchemical pill." Feng Yingyue's interest got picked. "You see the symbol on the box, it's the name of the alchemist who made it. It's a little hard to see clearly but I think this is Alchemist Zhi He. He's not that famous, but his alchemy is very orthodox. He never makes any extraordinary pill, but the quality of his products is always sure."
She was so focused on the box that Feng Yingyue failed to notice the glare that the man on stage sent to her. He was Gu Ouyang and clearly he did not forget the punishments he had suffered because of these two.
As he opened the box, a sweet fragrance filled the room and everyone's fatigue just vanished.
"Our last item is a 5th-star Earth Pill. It was made by Great Master Alchemist Zhi He. His name should be enough to ensure the quality of such a pill. He said himself that this is the best Frozen Heart Pill he ever forged. Hence our starting bid will be 12 taels."
Feng Yingyue was about to up the bid when Cao Yun stopped her.
"Do not show that we are interested just yet."
"12 taels and 200 coins."
"12 taels and 250 coins."
...
"13 taels and 420 coins."
"14 taels!" A voice came from one of the lodges. This lodge was occupied by a man and two beautiful girls. Their clothes were very thin and small and the man was playing with their breasts with no regard for the public eye. He was Luo Jiang, the alchemist Huang Longwei was in business with. The two women seemed out of it, as if they were not aware of what was going on around them. As he was bidding, Luo Jiang kept playing with their forms under their so-called clothes. Many people were annoyed by this behavior, first of all the City Lord. But this man was an alchemist and there was no rule in the Myriad Hall to forbid his actions today.
He addressed a very suggestive look to the lady running the auction. Almost everyone seating before the platform got quiet. Some of them were pensive but decided to let it go. Alchemists were very respected because any cultivator could encounter a terrible backlash or an insurmountable bottleneck some time in their life. Knowing an alchemist with the right pill to help you was priceless. So no one wanted to offend an alchemist for a pill that was just useful when tempering your mind. After all, this kind of pill was mainly used by alchemists themselves, and rarely taken by other cultivators who were busy training other arts.
Seeing everyone falling silent, Luo Jiang chuckled a little and sent another sign to the lady on stage.
She was very annoyed by the guy but stayed professional. "14 taels, going once. 14 taels, going twice."
"14 taels and 200 coins." As soon as these words were uttered, everyone's face turned toward the man who spoke them. The first one to find the man responsible was Luo Jiang. He immediately recognized Feng Yingyue whom Huang Longwei had described in details to him. For a fleeting moment his anger decreased by seeing her, but he was not foolish enough to mess with a girl under the protection of the City Lord. His eyes then stopped on the boy.
"Oh, is this young friend trying to impress a lady?" Luo Jiang obviously thought that the boy wanted to buy the pill for Feng Yingyue. The effects of the pill were perfect for alchemists, so it was only natural to come to such a conclusion. Luo Jiang also knew about the Alchemy Master who was coming to town. Huang Longwei had specifically chosen him to beat Feng Yingyue and be recognized by this master instead of her, thwarting the plans of the City Lord.
"I suggest that this little friend consider who he should or should not offend. There are better ways to use one's money than making enemies."
The City Lord stood up.
"Luo Jiang!" Being the overseer of this auction, he obviously knew the names and backgrounds of the important bidders. "Threats are forbidden during an auction! Are you trying to insult the Myriad Cherry Blossom Hall?"
Luo Jiang cupped his fists in his direction. "No, City Lord Dun Mofan. I would never dare do such a thing. I'm just reminding that little friend that one has never too many friends and always too many enemies. Losing a pill in order to gain an alchemist as a friend is not a bad deal at all. No threat, no threat!" Luo Jiang turned back toward Cao Yun. "What do you say? Stop wasting your money and I will owe you a favor."
"Whether I spend or waste my money is none of your business!" Cao Yun would not spare any face to such an obscene character. Playing with women was fine, but doing so in such a blatant manner in public was not to his taste at all. Also, he felt that there was something strange with these two girls. Moreover, Luo Jiang even tried to use his status to pressure him into stopping the auction. Definitely, he did not like this guy one bit.
Luo Jiang was not expecting that he would be answered in such a way. "Be careful, little friend. Do not seek grudges where there is none."
"What grudges?! I'm only bidding on an item I want. Who told you to want it as well?"
"Fine, fine. 15 taels."
"16 taels." Cao Yun had spoken with Feng Yingyue beforehand about the way they would split the money they got from their hunt. Despite being insistent that she keeps half of it, Cao Yun had accepted to get 25 taels for himself.
"17 taels!"
"18 taels!"
"20 taels!" Luo Jiang was enraged. He kept his calm demeanor for the public eye but his fingers were heavier in their fondling. He had to use more money than he had wished. Huang Longwei had given him enough gold to buy the pill, but he had hoped to keep some of it.
"25 taels!" Cao Yun did not care for money at all. He came from a family for which it was not a problem and right now he only considered it as a form of resource. He could spend all of it as long as the investment was useful. This Frozen Heart Pill could help calm the Drop of Wrath and safeguard his sanity. There was no better investment, for he needed to keep his mind intact to accomplish his goal.
"Little friend, do you even have the money to pay such a sum?!"
Cao Yun laughed loudly and took out twenty-five ingots of gold.
"Fine, fine." Luo Jiang was so annoyed that he stopped playing with his two women. A Frozen Heart Pill was worth around 10 taels of gold. Considering the man who forged the pill, maybe it could go up to fifteen or sixteen taels. He had just bid 20 taels and it was still not enough! If he really wanted this pill, he would have to use his personal money. He had not taken a lot of money with him, but he could not accept a defeat against a young boy who was trying to impress a girl. Right now, he was ready to use up all the money he had.
"Little friend, I will remember this day. 26 taels!"
Cao Yun was astonished. There really was such a fool. Buying a pill more than twice its usual price.
"26 taels, going once."
Feng Yingyue whispered something to Cao Yun. "I still have the 5 taels from the sale and my shop could afford to give you 6 more taels." She saw Cao Yun's face twitch. He clearly did not want to take advantage of her. "Without you, I would not have this money, because I would be dead in the woods, take it! If you don't, I'll stop talking with you!"
"26 taels, going twice."
"27 taels!" Cao Yun finally caved in and accepted the offer of his friend. Right now, he could use up to 36 taels of gold. Turning toward the other bidder, he tried to stay as calm as possible. He realized that the man was adamant on outbidding him, and maybe it was to save some face. "This lowly pill is not worth that much money. I don't think it would be beneficial for you to continue bidding on it. Let this foolish one ruin himself for it."
Under normal circumstances, Luo Jiang would have taken the loss, but it turned out that he really needed this pill. He was arrogant but not stupid. When he ascertained his victory to Huang Longwei, he exaggerated a bit. As a matter of fact, his carnal desires were becoming a hindrance to his alchemy. But he just could not stop himself ; that was why he really wanted this pill, to calm his desires and appease his heart during alchemy.
"27 taels, going once."
He gritted his teeth and took a decision. "30 taels!"
Everyone in the audience was flabbergasted. 1.5 kilograms of gold for such a small Earth rank pill.
Cao Yun understood that he was against a steel wall. He really did not want to use Feng Yingyue's money but he would have to try it. "31 taels."
Once again, the audience gasped. But before they could finish. "40 taels!" Luo Jiang had lost his mind. He just wanted this auction to end and take out his anger on the two women by his side. "Do you dare go on?!" His eyes were full of rage when he looked at Cao Yun.
"This lowly one has been outdone today, it seems."
"Fine, fine! This pill is mine then!"
The woman on stage did not even try to ask for another bid. "The last item, a Frozen Heart Pill, goes to Mister Luo Jiang for 40 taels of gold. Our Auction Hall thanks everyone present. This was an exciting night! I am sure you all enjoyed the show. Please, come again for the next auction."
The woman was still talking when Luo Jiang darted out, dragging his two women behind him.
-
"Guo, I'm sorry."
"Yingying, it's my fault. Maybe I antagonized him a little too much earlier. But he just annoyed me."
"For sure he did. He was so vulgar!" Feng Yingyue was absolutely mad at the guy "Still I think he really wanted this pill. I mean, 40 taels of gold for a Frozen Heart Pill... He was not just trying to keep his face by outbidding you."
"You're right... It seems like I had no chance from the beginning." Cao Yun took a deep breath. "Anyway, what's done is done."
-
After getting rid of his anger in the sensual embrace of his two beauties, Luo Jiang dressed up. He had gathered information on the little guy who made him waste all his money. Chen Guo, a vagrant hunter, a nobody.
"You want to impress your girl?! Well, let's see how she likes you dead..."
Luo Jiang went into a room furnished with a huge bronze cauldron and many alchemical tools and ingredients everywhere.
Gu Ouyang was also in the room. Earlier, he was the one to whom Luo Jiang had paid the price of the pill. After some talking, they got an understanding as they both had a grudge to settle with Chen Guo.
Luo Jiang took the Frozen Heart Pill and consumed it in one go. Without even trying to correctly absorb the medicinal energy of the pill, he immediately began to work. During his alchemy, he sent the soothing properties of the pill infusing in his body and mind along with his work. After more than an hour of labor, the cauldron opened and a green smoke got out. Putting a small vial on the table nearby, Luo Jiang filled it with the content of the cauldron.
"Thousand Torments Jade Soup."
* Approximately, 1 tael of gold = 50g of gold
* 1 tael = 1000 coins
* 1 coin would be equivalent to 2$