Direct sale, shopping list

"You're too kind, Manager. May I ask when the appraisal can begin?"

Faced with Ya Fei's pleasantries, Zhou Changqing rose without servility or arrogance and addressed the enchantress before him.

His composure surprised Ya Fei, but she answered without hesitation. "If you wish, we can begin immediately."

"Good. Sorry for the trouble."

Ya Fei nodded and gave the middle-aged Appraiser beside her a meaningful glance.

The man took the hint, picked up the three weapons, and respectfully withdrew to test them.

"Please wait a moment. The appraisal will take a little time. Do sit down and have some tea."

It had been a long time since she had encountered a young man at such a hot-blooded age who could remain so calm after meeting her.

At the same time, the more Ya Fei looked at the youth before her, the more pleasing she found him.

There was no special reason. Just as men enjoyed looking at beautiful women, women found handsome men a feast for the eyes, and their spirits lifted without them realizing it.

Zhou Changqing had no objection and returned to the guest chair at Ya Fei's invitation.

Ya Fei, meanwhile, sat beside him with a slight sway of her water-snake waist.

Her every movement was elegant and alluring.

"May I ask your surname?"

"My surname is Zhou."

"So, Young Master Zhou..."

As they waited, the two began chatting.

Most of the time, however, Ya Fei asked the questions, while Zhou Changqing either nodded or offered a brief reply.

His manner was neither warm nor cold, appearing neither arrogant nor immature.

Ya Fei also knew where to draw the line and asked nothing about the Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapons.

Soon, the middle-aged Appraiser returned with the three weapons.

After he murmured a few words beside Ya Fei, her beautiful eyes brightened, and her smile became a little more genuine.

"Hehe, Young Master Zhou, the Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapons you brought have been appraised. There are no problems whatsoever."

With a soft laugh, Ya Fei looked at Zhou Changqing with a little more delight in her eyes.

After all, this was no small transaction.

She had heard the name "Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapon" quite a few times lately.

No one understood the value of such weapons better than she did as the auction house's Chief Auctioneer. Handled properly, the returns would certainly rival those of Second-Rank Pills.

Zhou Changqing nodded and said evenly, "Since you've confirmed their quality, are you willing to buy them?"

"Of course. You must know how sought-after Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapons are in Wutan City right now, Young Master Zhou. Mittel would never pass up this opportunity."

"There are two ways you can sell them. First, you can sell them directly to the auction house at the market price of nine thousand Gold Coins each. Second, we can arrange an auction for you. If handled properly, each weapon should fetch at least twelve thousand, though the auction house will take one percent of the proceeds as a handling fee."

"Which would you prefer, Young Master Zhou? If you're not pressed for time, I would suggest the second option. It would give you the greatest return."

When the conversation turned to business, Ya Fei grew unusually serious as she explained Mittel's rules to Zhou Changqing.

Zhou Changqing frowned slightly. After a moment's thought, he said decisively, "An auction would be too much trouble. I'll sell them directly."

He did not want to wait. A difference of a few thousand Gold Coins was not worth wasting his time over.

In the past, he had possessed no lucrative skill and could only scrape by on his meager earnings from smithing. Naturally, he would not have wasted even a single gold coin then.

But things were different now. Though his Weapon Refining Technique was not yet mature, his ability to refine and nurture Iron-Cleaving Mortal Weapons alone could provide a steady stream of substantial income.

He was no longer the beast of burden he had been in his previous life. His transmigration had broadened his horizons immeasurably.

He had already wasted six years. Now, he wished he could split every minute into two and use both.

Still, the fact that this woman had actually recommended the second option improved Zhou Changqing's already favorable impression of Mittel.

Ya Fei's gaze shifted slightly. She had not expected that answer. Most people who came to Mittel chose an auction; very few opted for a direct sale.

Of course, a direct sale meant greater profits for the auction house, so Ya Fei would certainly not refuse.

After all, anything that caught the auction house's eye would be considered precious outside its doors.

The difference between the two options could easily amount to thousands or even tens of thousands of Gold Coins.

No one ever complained about having too much money.

As her thoughts turned, Ya Fei considered a possibility.

If this youth could disregard a price difference of several thousand Gold Coins without the slightest regret, he surely didn't place much importance on these so-called Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapons!

And that meant he might have something even better!

What could be worth more than Iron-Cleaving Treasure Weapons, weapons whose value rivaled Second-Rank Pills?

At that thought, a trace of eagerness appeared in Ya Fei's gaze as she looked at Zhou Changqing.

She had come to Wutan City with a task. Only by generating greater profits for Mittel could she escape the fate originally laid out for her!

Drawing a gentle breath, Ya Fei suppressed the stirring in her heart and nodded with a smile. "Since you've made your decision, Young Master Zhou, I won't say any more. I'll make the arrangements now. Please wait a moment."

With that, Ya Fei rose to settle his payment.

"Wait."

Just then, Zhou Changqing spoke.

Ya Fei stopped and turned toward him with a soft smile. "Is there anything else you need, Young Master Zhou?"

"Sorry for the trouble, Manager Ya Fei, but there's no need to pay me in cash. I still need to buy some things. Deducting their cost from the sale proceeds would save us some trouble."

Zhou Changqing explained.

"Of course. I'll have paper and a brush brought over. Make a list, Young Master Zhou, and the auction house will do its best to gather everything for you." Ya Fei nodded with a smile.

Soon afterward, a maid brought paper and a brush.

Zhou Changqing began writing.

First came Iron.

Zhou Changqing was no longer satisfied with forging weapons from ordinary Iron. He needed better metals.

In Wutan City, aside from Che'erluo, only the Mittel Auction House could provide him with quality materials.

Next were some books on Formation Crafting and the crafting of Medicine Cauldrons.

Although he had created a method of Weapon Refining, he had to admit that his foundation was still far too shallow.

To further perfect the path of Weapon Refining, he needed more knowledge. These books would offer better references for the direction his Weapon Refining would take next.

As for Dou Techniques, Zhou Changqing was in no hurry.

He had already looked into the price of Yellow Tier Mid-Grade Dou Techniques. The proceeds from these three Iron-Cleaving Mortal Weapons would, at most, buy him a single ordinary one.

There was no need to waste that money now.

He would be better off using it to develop his Weapon Refining Technique. Once his skills became more polished, would he still have to worry about lacking the money to buy Dou Techniques?

After writing down everything he needed, Zhou Changqing handed the list to Ya Fei.

"Please give this your attention, Manager Ya Fei, and gather the items on the list as soon as possible. If the money isn't enough, I'll make up the difference on my next visit."

Ya Fei took the list and glanced over it. At his words, she nodded with a radiant smile. "Rest assured, Young Master Zhou. These things won't be difficult to find."

"Thank you. I'll take my leave."

(End of chapter)