Though Stone Snake Town was small, it sat at the crossroads of several neighboring towns. With roads leading in every direction, the whole place was bustling.
It wasn't even dark yet, but a good number of people had already gathered in town.
A large portion of them were martial wanderers.
The auction was set to begin at exactly the Xu hour, in the reception hall on the third floor of the Spirit Snake Pavilion, in the town center.
Shen Han took a turn around town.
He found that almost everyone was talking about the auction. It was obvious the Stone Snake Chamber of Commerce took the event very seriously and meant to use it to make a name for itself.
Night gradually fell.
"Let's have dinner first..."
Shen Han entered a tavern, took a seat by the window, called over the waiter, and ordered several hearty dishes.
After a few bites, he heard the conversation at the next table.
"What do you think the Stone Snake Chamber of Commerce has prepared?"
"How would I know?"
"I did hear that the grand finale is supposed to be a superior lightness skill manual."
"Haha, then we'll see who can win the bidding."
"I reckon it'll go for at least a thousand taels. As for the other things, anything worth putting up for auction should cost at least a few hundred taels."
"None of that has anything to do with us anyway."
"True. Besides, who knows what kind of demons and monsters will show up at the Spirit Snake Pavilion at the Xu hour?"
Shen Han ate in silence.
He had a hundred and fifty taels on him. From what they were saying, that probably wouldn't be enough to buy a martial arts manual.
He'd have to think of a way.
After dinner, he walked into a pawnshop.
"Shopkeeper, could you tell me what this jade pendant is worth?"
He took the bright orange Double Fish Jade Pendant from his robe and handed it to the pawnshop owner. He had looted it from the monk Lin Tanzhi had killed that night.
The shopkeeper took the pendant and turned it over in his hands a few times. "It's lustrous and translucent, and the design is quite rare. How about fifty taels?"
"That's too little."
Shen Han shook his head and said calmly.
The shopkeeper replied, "If you're in a hurry for money, young master, I can add another ten taels. I can't go any higher."
"Hahaha!"
A deep, hearty laugh suddenly rang out.
A bearded man stood there.
"Little brother, I'll take that jade pendant. How about a hundred taels?"
The burly man strode inside and smiled boldly at Shen Han. Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled out a banknote worth a hundred taels.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper had no choice but to return the pendant to Shen Han.
"May I ask your name, brother?"
After leaving the pawnshop, Shen Han cupped his hands toward the bearded man.
"Certainly. I'm Wen Tai."
"So it's Brother Wen," Shen Han said. "Since you like the pendant, let's exchange the money and goods."
Wen Tai readily agreed. "Just as it should be!"
Once he had the pendant, Wen Tai could barely contain his excitement. "To tell you the truth, I bought it for the woman I love. She likes orange jade and the double-fish design. I've been searching for a long time, and at last I've found a pendant that suits her."
"Then I wish you and sister-in-law a lifetime of happiness."
"Thank you. Until we meet again."
Wen Tai tucked the pendant into his robe and turned to leave.
Now he had two hundred and fifty taels. That ought to give him a chance to try his luck... Shen Han mused.
The pendant had brought him a hundred taels, giving him a little more confidence.
The sky grew darker.
At last, the Xu hour was almost upon them.
Shen Han spent one copper coin on a hat, pulled it down to cover half his face, and headed to the main entrance of the Spirit Snake Pavilion.
"Young master, are you here for the auction?"
The attendant at the door stopped him.
Shen Han nodded. "Yes. I've long heard of the Stone Snake Chamber of Commerce, so I've come to attend."
The attendant's expression remained blank as he held out his hand. "Please show me your invitation."
An invitation?
He needed an invitation?
Shen Han was stunned. He hadn't known anything about this.
But it made sense that the Stone Snake Chamber of Commerce would require an invitation for entry. An auction wasn't something ordinary people could attend; there had to be restrictions. The Chamber of Commerce had sent invitations in advance to people with status and influence.
Of course, invitations could be transferred.
In other words, they only checked the invitation, not the person holding it.
"What am I supposed to do now..."
After hitting a wall, Shen Han returned to the main street.
He'd hurried all the way here, and now, before he could even worry about whether he could buy a martial arts manual, he couldn't get into the auction at all!
"Little brother?"
Wen Tai suddenly appeared in front of him.
Seeing Shen Han's troubled expression, Wen Tai smiled. "Couldn't get into the Spirit Snake Pavilion?"
Shen Han was startled. "How did you know, Brother Wen?"
Wen Tai chuckled. "You came to Stone Snake Town tonight, and now you're wearing a hat. What else could you be here for but the auction?"
"I really had no idea they'd ask for an invitation at the door."
"Here."
Wen Tai took out an invitation.
Shen Han looked closely. On its red background, the black writing clearly marked it as an invitation to the auction!
"Brother Wen, you mean..."
"I was planning to attend the auction tonight and see if I could find a suitable jade pendant."
Wen Tai brought out the Double Fish Jade Pendant. "Now that I've bought one from you, there's no need for me to go. Keeping the invitation would be a waste, so I'll give it to you."
Shen Han was overjoyed. "Thank you, Brother Wen!"
Wen Tai was in an excellent mood. He took his leave, saying, "I hope you find something you like, little brother!"
What a stroke of luck!
Holding the invitation, Shen Han returned to the Spirit Snake Pavilion.
The attendant saw him come back with an invitation. Though puzzled, he said nothing and let Shen Han inside.
Shen Han climbed the wooden stairs and entered the third floor.
It was a spacious hall, with a wooden platform at the front and over a hundred wicker chairs arranged below. Each seat bore a numbered marker.
Around twenty people were already seated.
Some of them, like Shen Han, wore hats. A few even wore masks.
"Young master, here's your number."
A steward handed Shen Han a wooden plaque.
It was number thirty-two.
Shen Han found the matching seat and waited patiently.
Before long, more and more people filed in.
In less than a quarter of an hour, only a few seats remained. It seemed that most of the people invited by the Chamber of Commerce had arrived.
"Hmm, why is he here too?"
Just then, Shen Han spotted a man seated in the front row, wearing a dark yellow Daoist robe.
It was Daoist Xuanyang, whom he had seen earlier at the County Yamen.
Who exactly was he?
Shen Han wondered. He can openly carry weapons into the County Yamen and have a private talk with the county magistrate, and now he's come to town for the auction too...
Clap! Clap!
Before Shen Han could think any further, two crisp claps rang out.
A refined-looking young man stepped onto the platform, a folding fan in his hand. He carried himself with effortless grace. "Welcome, everyone, to the Spirit Snake Pavilion. I'm Zhao Yu, vice president of the Stone Snake Chamber of Commerce, and I'll be hosting tonight's auction."
After a pause, Zhao Yu smiled. "I know you're all important people with busy schedules, so I won't waste your time with an opening speech.
"Let's get straight to the point.
"Tonight's auction has a total of twenty-nine treasures.
"Bring out the first item!"
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