Chapter 134: The Auction
The auction was held in a venue temporarily constructed on the largest square in Yanwu. Although it would be used only for a very short time, the materials were all transported from Firecrow Empire, and their specifications were much stricter than those of regular buildings.
The construction had begun even before the trade fair started. In just seven days, a magnificent auction hall was built, which took the shape of an unfolded fan, enough to accommodate ten thousand people. Many separated rooms for distinguished guests were ready on the second floor, waiting to serve those with high status.
Before the auction, all the aristocratic families of Firecrow Empire would receive a detailed list of the auction items. Many of these families would send representatives, such as their stewards, to bid for the items they wanted. So, even though the venue was large, it would be packed when all the invited people had arrived.
At the handle of the fan-shaped auction hall was the place where the auction items were stored in the offices for all back-end works. There was a separate small room further inside, in which, a heated argument was taking place.
“Yin Zhaoyang, I don’t care what your reason is, but I will not agree with this!” The other Guardian Elder of Myriad Treasures Store, Gan Deming, looked angry as he said in a cold voice. “Our rules are iron clad, and no one can break them!”
Yin Zhaoyang gave a disdainful snort as he folded his arms over his chest and said, “As the Guardian Elder of Firecrow branch, do I not have the right to auction an item?”
“Of course, you have! But, you need to add it before the list of auction items is released,” Gan Deming said. “With the list delivered to all the aristocratic families, how will others look at us if we add some items now?”
Not convinced, Yin Zhaoyang said with a sneer, “This is not the first time. I remember once Elder Gan’s junior had brought a fifth-tier alchemy product, which was added directly to the list even after the list was sent out.”
Gan Deming flared. “A fifth-tier alchemy product is naturally qualified to be added at any time!”
“Elder Gan is right,” said Xu Zizhuo, the manager of the Firecrow branch, who was standing to the side in silence. “I will not stop Elder Yin if the item is a fifth-tier alchemy product. But, the funny thing is, Elder Yin, even you have no idea what the item is. If we allow it to be added, and it turns out to be just a first or second-tier item, we will make ourselves a laughing stock of others, and Myriad Treasures Store’s reputation will be damaged.”
There was a faint confused look in Yin Zhaoyang’s eyes, but he said firmly, “I’m sure the quality of the item will not be inferior. If anything happens, I will bear full responsibility!”
That gave Xu Zizhuo a pause. His eyes flashed with surprise at Yin Zhaoyang’s resolute look, and he fell silent while pondering.
Yin Zhaoyang’s face flickered, and his heart sunk a little. Although he and Gan Deming did not like each other and had fought for many years, their battles were limited to ordinary affairs and would never involve the higher-ups. Both of them knew that to cut others some slack was to give oneself the leeway in time of need, and none of them could afford the anger from above. But this time, Gan Deming had threatened him blatantly.
“Hmph! Suit yourself!” Yin Zhaoyang said coldly. “I will explain if Lord Xie Yuhang asks me about it. You have no right to know!” With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left. He was a little nervous at first, but when he thought of what Yuwen Bo told him, he immediately calmed down. ‘Treat him the same way you treat me’
Gan Deming’s face fell and he bellowed, “Don’t you regret it, Yin Zhaoyang!”
Paying him no more mind, Yin Zhaoyang walked straight out of the auction hall. Gan Deming, on the other hand, was fuming with rage as he said, “My lord, you’ve heard him too! He’s just too much! He has broken our rules in a row! I can’t stand it anymore this time. I will report him to Lord Xie Yuhang!”
Xu Zizhuo’s face was full of suspicion, and there was a look of uncertainty in his eyes as he watched Yin Zhaoyang walk away. “Elder Gan, what do you think of Yin Zhaoyang?”
Gan Deming froze for a moment, then sneered. “Narrow-minded and selfish. Apart from his cultivation base, his character is good for nothing!”
A wry smile brushed Xu Zizhuo’s lips. The fight between the two had been a headache for him. Although Gan Deming was a little biased, what he said was not far from the truth. “This is what puzzles me. Why does someone like him insist on doing that, even at the risk of being punished by Lord Xie Yuhang?”
“Ugh? Why?” Gan Deming felt strange as well.
Rubbing his temple with a thumb, Xu Zizhuo said in a low voice, “Do you know who the victims in the murder a few days ago were? Xingyang Jie, the only heir of the Xingyang Family, and Cheng Feiche, the direct descendant of the Cheng Family. In addition to them, two Martial Kings, five Martial Lords, and some thirty men with weaker cultivation levels also died.”
“Ah!” Gan Deming jumped to his feet, aghast. “How did that happen! Who killed them? How could Yin Zhaoyang never tell us anything? I thought the victims were just some insignificant men! Did he not then make two great enemies for the Myriad Treasures Store?”
With a confused look, Xu Zizhuo shook his head slightly and said, “It’s too early to say that he has made two great enemies for us. After all, we didn’t kill them, so they can just blame us for poor management at most, which can be settled with Primordial Stones. What puzzles me is why would Yin Zhaoyang, an egoist, be willing to take such a big risk for a mere City Lord of Yanwu?”
“The City Lord of Yanwu?” Gan Deming frowned. “You mean those people were killed by the City Lord? But, why would he want to kill Xingyang Jie and Cheng Feiche? Isn’t that a sure way of getting himself killed? What was Yin Zhaoyang even thinking?”
Xu Zizhuo’s face grew serious. “There must be some information we don’t know, and that information must have been learned by Yin Zhaoyang. And because of that, he is protecting the City Lord of Yanwu at the risk of offending both families, and even insisted on adding an item unknown even to him in the list of auction items at the risk of being punished by Lord Xie Yuhang. With his character, he would not have done so if he had not been absolutely sure!”
“You mean…the City Lord of Yanwu is the one who wants to add the item? But, how can a man of a low status like him have such an influence?” Gan Deming said incredulously. “Even their emperor cannot make Yin Zhaoyang do this. I wonder what information has he learned!”
“I’ve sent my men to investigate. Over the last few days, this mysterious City Lord is the only person Yin Zhaoyang has been in touch with. So, the item must be his. As for what information he has learned, I do not know. But, I’m sure it must be related to this City Lord.”
Xu Zizhuo stood up and paced back and forth in the room, then said, “I was angered by his decision of sending the bodies of Xingyang Jie and Cheng Feiche back in such a hasty manner, and I’ve ordered them to be seized. But, from what I can see now, he should have no fear at all. If that is the case, I will not be worried for him anymore. I will let them send the bodies back to Firecrow Empire, and I’ll let him do what he wants in this auction. I, too, want to know what the item the City Lord wishes to auction off is.”
Still, Gan Deming said with some reluctance, “But, what if it is just some ordinary item? That will make us a laughing stock!”
Xu Zizhuo chuckled. “Didn’t Yin Zhaoyang say he would take full responsibility? If he’s so confident, everything should be fine. Besides…” His eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze seemed to penetrate layers of walls and look at the City Lord Mansion in the distance. “I actually wish something can happen, so that we will know what gave him the courage to be so arrogant!”
Very soon, the Thousand Treasures Trade Fair came to an end after it was held for several days. There was one last event to take place, which was also one that everyone was concerned about the most—the auction.
True aristocratic families had deep reserves, so they were disdained to participate in ordinary auctions, but they would all flock to auctions held by Myriad Treasures Store. After all, not only could they fight for some rare items, but being able to participate in such events was itself a symbol of status. Even the imperial members of Firecrow Empire would send their representatives.
Xu Zizhuo gave a quick glance at a room for distinguished guests next to the room designated for the imperial members of Firecrow Empire on the second floor. He was shocked as he just saw Yin Zhaoyang bring a group of people into the room, and the leading fifteen-year-old youth was the City Lord of Yanwu, whom he had been investigating for days. What startled him was the fact that in Yin Zhaoyang’s heart, the status of this City Lord was equivalent to that of the Firecrow’s imperial members!
The discovery further strengthened his speculation, that was, Yin Zhaoyang must have learned something they did not know, which was related to this new City Lord, Li Yunxiao!
Looking at the packed hall, which was already fully seated, Xu Zizhuo smiled and said, “Welcome to the yearly auction hosted by Myriad Treasures Store! I, Xu Zizhuo, thank every one of you for the business over the last year. Now, I present to you the chief auctioneer of Myriad Treasures Store, Mister Mei.”
His voice was not loud, but it rang softly in every ear, as if he were talking right in front of everyone. Apart from his strength as a Great Martial Master, the reason he could do that was because of the auction hall’s structure.
Although he was just a Great Martial Master, he was also a fifth-tier alchemist, and he was a very famous figure in Firecrow. As soon as he had finished speaking, applause broke out among the crowd. Then, a hunchback old man with a head of white hair walked up to the auction stand, and the crowd fell silent instantly.