"Ahem." An old man stood on the auction platform and coughed loudly. The crowd below immediately fell silent and looked up at him. Today's main character had appeared, so what was there left to gossip about? The man on the platform was the chief steward of the Capital City Auction House, fully responsible for all its affairs. As for who owned the Capital City Auction House? That was an extraordinary figure—the reigning Emperor.
"Everyone, the Capital City Auction House's grand annual auction is about to begin. Today, you will surely be happier and more excited than in previous years, because there are five mysterious treasures worth more than five hundred thousand taels of silver each. Beyond that, His Majesty has specially decreed that three lucky guests will be selected from among you. They may each choose any one treasure with a starting price below one hundred thousand taels, while the original owner of the chosen treasure will receive one hundred thousand taels of silver, as well as an imperial Yellow Jacket bestowed by His Majesty." The chief steward loudly announced the current Emperor's favor to the attendees below.
"A Yellow Jacket! Wearing a Yellow Jacket, you won't have to fear those officials anymore. If Yellow Jackets could be sold, I'd buy one even for a hundred thousand taels!" A fat man who was clearly a newly rich upstart said to his friend beside him.
"Only a hundred thousand taels? I'd give up all the money I earned for three years just to get that Yellow Jacket. This is a matter of bringing glory to one's ancestors!"
The chief steward's face was also wreathed in smiles. When he had first learned of the Emperor's decision, he had been deeply shocked as well. A Yellow Jacket was not something money could buy!
Watching the people outside grow wildly excited over the reigning Emperor's move, I began to feel that this Emperor was quite formidable. Giving away a few Yellow Jackets had no real impact on him, yet it made everyone feel deeply grateful to him. And in the future, the auction house's reputation would grow even greater.
"Everyone, I will now announce the names of the three people." The chief steward spoke loudly, his voice echoing throughout the entire venue. It seemed this chief steward was also a martial arts expert!
After looking at the attendees below, who had already become completely quiet, the chief steward continued, "The three are Li Tianxiang, eldest young master of the Li Family, who spent the most at the auction house this year; the heroic Wang Shan, who provided the Buddhist supreme treasure—the Jade Guanyin; and the provider of today's grand venue, the Capital City's richest man—Brother Wan San."
The crowd below was thoroughly annoyed. Giving this opportunity to those people was not merely adding flowers to brocade? Did they even lack treasures worth one hundred thousand taels? But everyone also knew the auction house's choices were beyond reproach. One had spent the most money, one had provided a Buddhist supreme treasure, and the other had provided today's grand venue. What use was getting angry?
"Good. The true theme of today—the annual auction—now begins! Let us invite the renowned appraiser, Old Mr. Wang, to preside over today's event!" The chief steward's voice was full of vigor and blanketed the entire venue. By the time everyone looked toward the platform, an elderly man in magnificent robes was already standing there.
"Greetings, everyone. This old man will not waste words. Today's auction items are all fine goods, each worth more than ten thousand taels of silver. First, we present today's first auction item—the Fish Slaying Sword, a work from Senior Ouyang's youth. The Fish Slaying Sword is rather short. Though it is not a top-class sword for killing men, when used in the kitchen, it is absolutely number one under heaven. The opening bid is fifteen thousand taels of silver. Bidding begins now!" Old Mr. Wang was truly decisive. The moment he stepped onstage, he began the auction.
"I bid twenty thousand taels." A lean fellow looked rather pleased with himself. He had raised the bid by five thousand taels in one go; surely no one would compete with him now. Next year's culinary competition was as good as his.
"I bid twenty-one thousand taels." A man standing not far from him immediately increased the price, staring at the skinny man. Next year's culinary competition is still mine for the taking.
Everyone watched the two men. They all knew them; these two were the most famous chefs around. It seemed this item would be contested between them.
"Twenty-two thousand taels!" "Twenty-three thousand taels!"...
"I'll take this. When I get home, my wife can use it to cook for me!" A middle-aged man walked onto the platform.
"Oh, so it is the heroic Wang Shan. Since Hero Wang has chosen this supreme kitchen treasure, we must certainly give this Fish Slaying Sword to Hero Wang. This old man wishes Hero Wang and his wife a long life together until their hair turns white. Madam Wang truly is blessed to have such a fine husband as Hero Wang!" Old Mr. Wang had been so brisk at first, but now he poured out a whole heap of flattering words. A true person did not reveal himself!
Hero Wang smiled, appearing greatly satisfied. After accepting the Fish Slaying Sword, he called out brightly to the crowd below, "The fourth day of the third month next year will mark twenty years since my wife and I were married. At that time, I will hold a grand feast in my hometown of Yangzhou. I hope everyone will honor Wang by attending. I shall take my leave now and let the event continue." Hero Wang descended from the platform with great poise. The crowd below continued praising his character among themselves.
"Brother Wang, who is that Hero Wang? He seems to carry a great deal of weight!" I, a rookie who knew almost nothing about the outside world, asked Brother Wang, who knew the past and present as thoroughly as the back of his hand.
"That Hero Wang Shan is no ordinary man. In Yangzhou, he is a man whose word is law. His household was already extremely wealthy, and Hero Wang himself is a third-rank expert—one of the Fusion Stage experts mentioned in Young Master's manual. He is accomplished in both letters and martial arts, and he loves his wife dearly. For a time, their story became a fine tale throughout the martial world. He is also extremely generous and often aids martial artists who have fallen on hard times, so he is very well liked." Brother Wang carefully explained Hero Wang Shan's background to me.
I nodded. Wang Shan seemed like a fairly decent person, but I had no idea what he was like inside. I turned my gaze back toward the auction platform.
"Honored seniors, I, Li Tianxiang, first thank the Capital City Auction House for its reward. There is one more matter I wish to announce. This year, I will enter the National Martial Academy, and the Li Family will donate two million taels of silver to the National Martial Academy. I shall step down now and allow Grandpa Wang to preside over the auction." A boy of around ten stood on the platform, utterly composed.
"Wow, worthy indeed of the foremost of the Four Great Families! Two million taels with a single gesture! Look at how the Li Family's eldest young master speaks and conducts himself—he is even more impressive than an adult. No wonder the Li Family has remained the most powerful Aristocratic Clan for centuries!" An elderly man in brocade said from a private room.
"Yes. I expect the Li Family will become even stronger in that boy's hands." Another old man seated beside him strongly agreed.
I looked at the youth below—the next head of the Li Family, Li Tianxiang—and for no reason at all, a surge of hostility rose in my heart.
"Good, all of today's ordinary items have been auctioned off. Let the original owners of the auction items taken by the three lucky guests come onstage. We invite the chief steward himself to bestow the Yellow Jackets." Old Mr. Wang finally spoke. Who were today's three lucky fellows?
"Ah! How can this be? Other than the chief steward, why are there only two people?"
"Who is the other one? If he doesn't want this opportunity, give it to me! I'll pay a hundred thousand taels of silver to buy it."
"Everyone, my apologies. I am Li Tianchang of Taiyuan. Two of the three chosen items are mine. Hehe." The taller of the two men onstage stepped forward and explained the situation to everyone.
"No way. Such good luck—what kind of dog-shit luck did he step in? I have two auction items today too!"
"Enough. Comparing yourself to others only makes you die of anger. Sigh!"
"Chief Steward, may I sell one of these Yellow Jackets to someone else?" Li Tianchang quietly asked the chief steward.
"You may sell it, but the sold Yellow Jacket will, first, be useless, as no one will acknowledge it; and second, be careful that His Majesty does not charge you with deceiving the Emperor." The chief steward was both annoyed and amused. He had never seen anyone like this before—someone actually wanted to sell something bestowed by the Emperor. He truly wanted money but not his life.
"Oh, thank you for the reminder, Chief Steward. Thank you, Chief Steward!" Li Tianchang was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. His whole face went somewhat pale, and even his lips seemed dry as he desperately licked them with his tongue.
After reaching the Golden Core Stage, both my hearing and vision had greatly improved. I knew that myself, but I had not expected that besides hearing Li Tianchang's conversation, I could also hear him swallowing saliva frantically. Seeing his ugly state, even the bad feelings I had developed upon seeing Li Tianxiang faded quite a bit.
When it came time to receive the Yellow Jackets, the other man was jubilant, while Li Tianchang wore no smile at all. This left the people below deeply depressed. This fellow had received two Yellow Jackets and could not even smile, while they could not get one even if they wanted to. Comparing yourself to others only made you die of anger!
Li Tianchang looked at one Yellow Jacket on his body and another in his hand, yet he felt somewhat afraid inside. He worried that the chief steward would tell the Emperor about his attempt to sell a Yellow Jacket today. If the Emperor became enraged, then... As he thought about it, another wave of cold sweat broke out all over his body.
At last, he could leave the stage. While on the platform, Li Tianchang had begged the chief steward over and over. Only after the chief steward guaranteed countless times that he would never tell the Emperor about the matter did he agree to step down.
Old Mr. Wang stepped forward. Seeing that everyone below had fixed their eyes upon him, he smiled in satisfaction and shouted excitedly, "Everyone, the true main event is about to begin! The five mysterious treasures are about to emerge into the world! Are you ready? Let us present the first treasure—