Chapter 16: The Calm Before the Auction
In the cultivation world, a sword could settle a dispute in an instant.
But a single contract could determine the fortunes of a family for generations.
The morning began with rain.
A thin curtain of water descended over Lanyue City, washing dust from the tiled rooftops and filling the narrow gutters along the streets.
Merchants hurried to cover their goods.
Cultivators walked beneath umbrellas woven from spirit-resistant silk.
At the western gate, a caravan of twenty-seven wagons waited patiently while imperial guards inspected its cargo.
The wagons belonged to the Qin family.
Their arrival should have been routine.
Instead, the caravan had been detained for nearly two hours.
"What's the problem this time?"
Qin Zhaoming stood beside the leading wagon, his expression increasingly impatient.
He was the second son of the Qin family's main branch, a twenty-four-year-old Foundation Establishment cultivator responsible for overseeing several western trade routes.
A guard captain examined the documents in his hand.
"Young Master Qin, your shipment contains seventy-three crates of refined iron."
"Correct."
"But your declaration lists seventy-two."
Qin Zhaoming frowned.
"That's impossible."
The captain handed him the document.
"See for yourself."
Qin Zhaoming examined it.
The number was indeed wrong.
He turned toward his steward.
"Old Chen."
The steward hurried forward.
"Young Master?"
"Explain."
Old Chen looked at the declaration.
His expression changed.
"That... I personally checked the shipment."
"Then why is the number wrong?"
"I don't know."
The guard captain crossed his arms.
"Until the discrepancy is resolved, the caravan cannot enter."
Qin Zhaoming took a slow breath.
He could force the issue.
The Qin family possessed considerable influence in Lanyue.
But causing trouble at the imperial gate would create unnecessary complications.
Instead, he handed the document back.
"Then we'll recount the cargo."
The captain nodded.
"A sensible decision."
Qin Zhaoming turned toward his men.
"Open every crate."
Old Chen looked distressed.
"Young Master, that will take hours!"
"Then we'd better begin."
As the workers hurried to obey, Qin Zhaoming looked toward the city walls.
He had a feeling the discrepancy was not accidental.
But a feeling was not evidence.
And he had learned long ago that accusations without evidence were often more dangerous than the schemes themselves.
At Moonfall Pavilion, Lin Qingyue was attempting to construct a miniature defensive formation.
Six small flags stood upon her table.
Between them lay a circular jade plate.
She had spent the previous evening refining the arrangement she used during the Formation Association examination.
Now she wanted to improve it.
Ye Wuchen sat nearby, reading a book purchased from a street vendor.
The book was titled A Brief History of the Great Yan Empire.
It contained several factual errors.
He found it surprisingly entertaining.
Lin Qingyue adjusted the final flag.
A pale blue barrier appeared above the table.
For a moment, it remained perfectly stable.
Then—
Pop.
The barrier vanished.
Lin Qingyue stared at the jade plate.
"Again?"
Ye Wuchen turned a page.
"Again."
She looked toward him.
"Could you at least pretend to be surprised?"
"Would that help?"
"No."
"Then I won't."
Lin Qingyue sighed.
She examined the formation.
The outer channels were functioning correctly.
The central junction was stable.
The spirit stones contained sufficient energy.
So why did the barrier collapse?
She frowned.
Then noticed a faint discoloration along one of the flags.
Her expression changed.
"The material."
Ye Wuchen continued reading.
Lin Qingyue picked up the flag.
"The inscription isn't damaged. The flag itself can't withstand the circulation."
She looked toward him.
"That's it, isn't it?"
"Possibly."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You knew."
"Yes."
"How long?"
"Since the first attempt."
Lin Qingyue stared at him.
Then slowly placed the flag down.
"You're enjoying this."
Ye Wuchen considered the accusation.
"A little."
She threw a folded piece of paper at him.
Without looking up, he caught it between two fingers.
Lin Qingyue groaned.
"Of course you did."
Elsewhere in the city, Bai Ruyan stood inside the Bai family's medicinal garden.
The damaged spiritual herb she had been tending had begun recovering.
Its leaves were no longer yellow.
The roots had stabilized.
And the soil's spiritual energy had returned to a balanced level.
The elderly gardener smiled.
"Young Miss, it survived."
Bai Ruyan nodded with satisfaction.
"I told you it could."
The gardener chuckled.
"Then perhaps you should rest."
"Not yet."
She examined the herb carefully.
"Recovery isn't the same as complete health."
A servant approached.
"Young Miss."
Bai Ruyan looked up.
"What is it?"
"The family elders request your presence."
Her expression immediately changed.
"Why?"
"They wish to discuss the upcoming auction."
Bai Ruyan sighed.
"Of course they do."
The servant hesitated.
"Should I tell them you're busy?"
She looked toward the medicinal herb.
For a moment, she seemed tempted.
Then shook her head.
"No. I'll go."
She removed her gardening gloves.
"Someone has to make sure they don't spend all our spirit stones on another useless trade contract."
The Bai family's council hall was filled with the scent of sandalwood.
Several elders sat around a long table.
At its head sat Bai Wenhe, the family patriarch.
He was a late Golden Core cultivator with a scholarly appearance and a reputation for cautious decision-making.
When Bai Ruyan entered, he looked up.
"Ruyan."
She bowed.
"Patriarch."
"Sit."
She obeyed.
An elder immediately began speaking.
"The auction house has released its preliminary catalog."
He placed a jade slip upon the table.
"Several items are of interest."
Bai Ruyan examined the list.
Spiritual herbs.
Rare minerals.
Formation materials.
Cultivation manuals.
Then her eyes stopped.
"Seven-Leaf Moon Orchid?"
The elder nodded.
"A rare medicinal plant."
Bai Ruyan leaned forward.
"Is it alive?"
The elders exchanged glances.
One replied.
"The catalog says it's a preserved specimen."
Her enthusiasm faded slightly.
"Preserved?"
"Yes."
"Then its medicinal properties may already be declining."
The elder frowned.
"The auction house guarantees its authenticity."
"Authenticity isn't the issue."
She looked toward the patriarch.
"If the orchid was harvested incorrectly, much of its value may have been lost."
Bai Wenhe nodded thoughtfully.
"Can you determine its condition?"
"Only by examining it."
"Then perhaps you should attend the auction."
Several elders frowned.
"Patriarch, Young Miss Ruyan has little experience in commercial negotiations."
Bai Ruyan looked at him.
"I know the difference between a healthy medicinal herb and an overpriced corpse."
The council fell silent.
Bai Wenhe coughed.
A faint smile appeared beneath his beard.
"An important distinction."
Bai Ruyan folded her arms.
"If we're spending the family's resources, someone should understand what we're buying."
The patriarch nodded.
"Agreed."
He looked toward the elders.
"Ruyan will accompany our delegation."
She smiled.
"Thank you, Patriarch."
"But remember," he added, "we are attending for more than medicinal herbs."
Her smile faded.
"I assumed as much."
At the Qin family's main compound, Qin Zhaoming stood before his father.
Qin Yanshan examined the shipping declaration.
"One missing crate?"
"One extra crate," Qin Zhaoming corrected.
The patriarch looked up.
"Explain."
"The declaration listed seventy-two crates. We found seventy-three."
"Was the additional crate part of our shipment?"
"Yes."
"Then why wasn't it recorded?"
Qin Zhaoming shook his head.
"We don't know."
Qin Yanshan frowned.
"What was inside?"
"Refined iron. Same quality as the others."
The patriarch tapped the table.
"Could it have been a clerical error?"
"Possibly."
"Then why bring it to me?"
Qin Zhaoming placed another document on the table.
"Because this is the third discrepancy in two months."
Qin Yanshan's expression changed.
"Three?"
"Yes."
He pointed toward the records.
"Each incident delayed our shipments. None involved missing goods or stolen resources."
The patriarch studied the documents.
"Someone wants to disrupt our deliveries."
"That's my suspicion."
"Evidence?"
"Not enough."
Qin Yanshan leaned back.
"Then continue investigating."
Qin Zhaoming nodded.
"Understood."
The patriarch looked toward the window.
"There's something else."
His son waited.
"The Luo family has agreed to a private meeting."
Qin Zhaoming raised an eyebrow.
"Luo Xinyi?"
"Yes."
"She's clever."
"Indeed."
Qin Yanshan folded his hands.
"Which means we'll need to be careful."
The meeting took place that afternoon in a private chamber overlooking the central marketplace.
Luo Xinyi arrived accompanied by a single attendant.
Qin Zhaoming was already waiting.
He rose politely.
"Young Mistress Luo."
"Young Master Qin."
They exchanged formal greetings.
Tea was served.
For several minutes, they discussed the weather, the condition of the roads, and the upcoming auction.
Neither mentioned the real purpose of the meeting.
Finally, Luo Xinyi placed her teacup down.
"Young Master Qin, shall we discuss business?"
Qin Zhaoming smiled.
"I was wondering when you'd ask."
He produced a document.
"Our family wishes to negotiate a transportation agreement."
Luo Xinyi examined it.
The proposal concerned several warehouses near the western gate.
The Qin family would provide transportation.
The Luo family would provide storage and distribution.
Profits would be divided according to the volume of goods handled.
On the surface, it was reasonable.
But Luo Xinyi noticed something.
"The contract requires exclusive access to our western warehouses."
Qin Zhaoming nodded.
"Correct."
"For five years."
"Yes."
She looked up.
"That's a considerable commitment."
"One that would benefit both families."
"Perhaps."
She continued reading.
Then smiled faintly.
"But it would also prevent us from providing storage services to the Bai family."
Qin Zhaoming did not deny it.
"Competition is unavoidable."
"Certainly."
She placed the document down.
"However, I doubt my family would agree to surrender that much flexibility."
Qin Zhaoming nodded.
"I expected that."
Luo Xinyi raised an eyebrow.
"Then why propose it?"
"Because I wanted to know which terms you considered unacceptable."
She laughed softly.
"An expensive way to begin negotiations."
"Only if the negotiations fail."
Luo Xinyi considered him.
The Qin family's second young master was more thoughtful than his reputation suggested.
She had expected a straightforward attempt to pressure the Luo family.
Instead, he had opened with an extreme proposal to establish the boundaries of the discussion.
"Very well," she said.
"Let's negotiate properly."
Two hours later, the attendants outside the chamber were beginning to grow restless.
Inside, the negotiations continued.
Luo Xinyi rejected the exclusive warehouse arrangement.
Qin Zhaoming proposed priority access instead.
She countered with guaranteed storage capacity.
He requested reduced fees.
She demanded compensation for delayed shipments.
Neither side raised their voice.
Neither threatened the other.
Yet every sentence concerned thousands of spirit stones.
Finally, Qin Zhaoming leaned back.
"Young Mistress Luo, you're difficult to negotiate with."
Luo Xinyi smiled.
"I consider that a compliment."
"It was intended as one."
They examined the revised agreement.
It was not final.
But both sides had made progress.
Luo Xinyi looked toward him.
"There's something I want to ask."
"Go ahead."
"Why is the Qin family suddenly so concerned about western transportation?"
Qin Zhaoming hesitated.
Then answered.
"Our shipments have been delayed repeatedly."
"By whom?"
"We don't know."
Luo Xinyi frowned.
"Bandits?"
"No."
"Damaged roads?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"Administrative discrepancies."
She looked surprised.
"That sounds rather ordinary."
"Once, perhaps."
He placed several documents before her.
"But three times in two months?"
Luo Xinyi examined them.
Her expression became serious.
"Have you informed the city administration?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"They believe the incidents are unrelated."
She studied the records.
Then noticed something.
All three delays had occurred shortly before major shipments from the Bai family entered the city.
She looked toward Qin Zhaoming.
"Interesting."
He nodded.
"Exactly."
Luo Xinyi folded the documents.
"That doesn't prove the Bai family is responsible."
"I know."
"Then don't accuse them."
"I wasn't planning to."
She looked at him.
For the first time that afternoon, her expression softened.
"Good."
Qin Zhaoming smiled.
"Perhaps we can work together to discover what's happening."
Luo Xinyi considered the proposal.
Then nodded.
"Perhaps."
Meanwhile, Ye Wuchen and Lin Qingyue had left Moonfall Pavilion.
Lin Qingyue wanted to purchase better formation materials.
They entered a small workshop near the southern marketplace.
The owner was a middle-aged woman named Madam He.
She examined Lin Qingyue's formation diagram.
"You're trying to construct a defensive array?"
Lin Qingyue nodded.
"Yes."
Madam He studied the arrangement.
"Your design is decent."
"Thank you."
"But your materials are poor."
"I noticed."
Madam He smiled.
"At least you're honest."
She retrieved several formation flags from a cabinet.
"These are made from treated ironwood. They'll withstand repeated circulation better than ordinary cloth flags."
Lin Qingyue examined them.
The craftsmanship was excellent.
Then she saw the price.
Her expression changed.
"Forty spirit stones?"
"For the set."
"That's expensive."
"Quality isn't cheap."
Lin Qingyue hesitated.
She had enough spirit stones.
But spending so much on a single set of materials felt wasteful.
Ye Wuchen examined the flags.
"They're suitable."
She looked toward him.
"Should I buy them?"
"Do you need them?"
"Yes."
"Can you afford them?"
"Yes."
"Then what's the problem?"
Lin Qingyue sighed.
"When you say it like that..."
Madam He laughed.
"Your companion has a point."
Lin Qingyue purchased the flags.
As Madam He wrapped them, she glanced toward Ye Wuchen.
"Are you a formation master?"
"No."
"Then you must have a good eye."
"Perhaps."
Madam He smiled.
"Well, if the young lady needs more materials, she's welcome to return."
Lin Qingyue bowed.
"Thank you."
They left the shop.
Outside, the rain had finally stopped.
Lin Qingyue looked at her new formation flags.
"I hope these are worth it."
Ye Wuchen glanced at them.
"They will be if you use them well."
She nodded.
"I intend to."
As evening approached, the streets grew busier.
The auction had attracted merchants from neighboring cities.
Caravans arrived carrying rare materials.
Cultivators gathered outside inns.
Prices began rising.
At the central auction house, workers hurried to prepare private chambers for wealthy guests.
The event was still two days away.
But the competition had already begun.
Inside the auction house's private office, an elderly appraiser examined a sealed wooden case.
His assistant stood nearby.
"Master, is the item genuine?"
The appraiser nodded.
"Yes."
"Then how much should we value it?"
The old man considered the question.
"That depends on who wants it."
The assistant frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The appraiser opened the case.
Inside lay a palm-sized piece of dark metal.
Its surface was smooth.
No spiritual energy radiated from it.
Yet the metal was extraordinarily dense.
The assistant leaned forward.
"Is it a rare ore?"
"Possibly."
"Then why is it valuable?"
"Because no one has been able to identify it."
The assistant looked disappointed.
"That's all?"
The appraiser smiled.
"Young man, in the cultivation world, uncertainty can be worth more than certainty."
He closed the case.
"Place it among the miscellaneous treasures."
The assistant bowed.
"Understood."
The appraiser watched him leave.
Then looked toward the sealed case.
He had examined countless materials throughout his career.
But this one troubled him.
Not because it was dangerous.
Not because it possessed extraordinary power.
Simply because none of his instruments could determine its composition.
He sighed.
"Perhaps someone at the auction will recognize you."
That night, Lin Qingyue successfully completed her improved defensive formation.
A pale blue barrier appeared above the table.
She tested it repeatedly.
The structure remained stable.
The new flags showed no signs of damage.
Her face lit up.
"It works!"
Ye Wuchen looked up from his book.
"Congratulations."
She smiled.
"This time, I didn't need you to point out the mistake."
"Indeed."
She sat opposite him.
"Do you think I could become a third-grade formation master someday?"
Ye Wuchen considered the question.
"Yes."
She looked surprised.
"Really?"
"Why not?"
"Third-grade formation masters are respected throughout the Great Yan Empire."
"And?"
"And it's difficult!"
"Most worthwhile things are."
Lin Qingyue fell silent.
Then smiled.
"I suppose you're right."
She carefully stored her formation flags.
Outside, the city lanterns glowed beneath the night sky.
Ye Wuchen returned to his book.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Lin Qingyue asked quietly:
"Fellow Daoist Ye."
"Hm?"
"Have you ever wanted something so badly that you were willing to spend your entire life pursuing it?"
Ye Wuchen stopped turning the page.
For a moment, he remembered an ordinary young man from another world.
A young man who had awakened in an unfamiliar cultivation realm.
Who had discovered that immortality was possible.
Who had decided that reaching the absolute summit was the only goal worth pursuing.
Centuries had passed.
Then millennia.
Then eras beyond counting.
He had continued cultivating.
Until eventually, there was nowhere higher to climb.
Ye Wuchen looked toward the window.
"Yes."
Lin Qingyue smiled.
"Did you achieve it?"
He remained silent for a moment.
Then answered.
"I did."
She looked at him.
"Was it worth it?"
Ye Wuchen considered the question.
It was surprisingly difficult to answer.
He had never regretted pursuing cultivation.
But the world he had awakened to was no longer the world he remembered.
Countless people had vanished.
Civilizations had disappeared.
Even the heavens themselves seemed unfamiliar.
Finally, he closed the book.
"Ask me again when you've achieved your own goal."
Lin Qingyue blinked.
"Why?"
"Because your answer may be different from mine."
She thought about his words.
Then nodded.
"All right."
Ye Wuchen looked toward the distant city.
Somewhere beyond its walls, ancient mysteries remained unresolved.
But for now, there was no need to chase them.
Tomorrow would bring new experiences.
And the day after, the auction.
For the first time since awakening, Ye Wuchen was beginning to appreciate the simple act of allowing events to unfold.
Without forcing them.
Without rushing.
Without needing to know everything immediately.
He opened his book again.
Outside, the rain began falling once more.
End of Chapter 16