Moonlight flowed like water, spilling over the stone table and chairs in the courtyard.
A pot of freshly brewed Sobering Tea sat on the table, its fragrance curling through the air.
Shen Xiuyong leaned comfortably against his chair, watching Qiao Hongyun opposite him, who was still stewing in irritation. A faint, elusive smile touched his lips.
Qiao Hongyun shot him an annoyed glare before finally speaking first. "You old fox never visit a temple without a purpose. Did you really come this time for Treasure Gathering Workshop's auction?"
"What else would I be here for?"
Shen Xiuyong picked up his teacup and blew on the steam. "Naturally, I'm here to buy some fine Black Iron Essence. Then I'll head to the Weapon Forging Hall and recast myself a suitable weapon. Now that I've reached Gang Jin, I ought to have a little style, shouldn't I?"
His usual teasing note remained in his voice, but when he mentioned the new blade, a glimmer of anticipation shone in his eyes.
Qiao Hongyun snorted. "That was my guess. Quite a few unfamiliar faces have arrived in Lin'an Prefecture City lately. Looks like they all came for the gimmick of 'the biggest auction in five years.'"
"Oh?"
Shen Xiuyong took a sip of tea, looking mildly surprised. "Treasure Gathering Workshop uses the same pitch every year. It's just a trick to catch the eye. I saw the Illustrated Catalog they released. There are indeed more items than usual, and the selection is more varied, but there doesn't seem to be any treasure particularly capable of shaking one's soul. How many people could that possibly attract?"
He had roamed the martial world for many years and knew every promotional trick used by the various merchant guilds.
"Your news is behind the times, isn't it?"
Qiao