Chapter 18: The Auction Begins
Spirit stones could buy pills, weapons, techniques, and even the loyalty of powerful cultivators.
Unfortunately, they couldn't buy common sense.
That didn't stop people from trying.
The morning of the auction was absolute chaos.
Lanyue City's central district was packed.
Cultivators from neighboring provinces had arrived overnight, merchants were shouting themselves hoarse, and every inn within walking distance of the auction house had raised its prices.
Some had doubled them.
A few particularly shameless establishments had tripled them.
Naturally, they were all fully booked.
"Five hundred spirit stones for a room?"
A young cultivator stood outside an inn, staring at the wooden price board.
The innkeeper smiled.
"Only five hundred."
"Only?"
"Young Master, the auction happens once every few months. Rooms are in high demand."
"For five hundred spirit stones, I could buy a decent spiritual weapon!"
"Then perhaps you should sleep inside the weapon."
The young cultivator opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then walked away.
The innkeeper returned to polishing his counter.
Business was excellent.
Inside Moonfall Pavilion, Lin Qingyue was having trouble deciding what to wear.
Not because she cared particularly much about appearances.
She simply didn't know whether attending a major auction required formal clothing.
She stood before a mirror, examining her usual pale blue robes.
"These should be fine, right?"
From the other side of the room, Ye Wuchen answered without looking up.
"They're clothes."
Lin Qingyue turned around.
"That's not what I asked."
"They appear functional."
"Fellow Daoist Ye."
"Hm?"
"Have you ever attended an auction?"
"Yes."
"Then you should know whether people dress formally."
"Some do."
"And the others?"
"Don't."
Lin Qingyue stared at him.
He continued reading.
She took a slow breath.
"You're doing this on purpose."
"Doing what?"
"Being completely unhelpful."
Ye Wuchen finally looked up.
"Your robes are fine."
She blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you just say that?"
"You didn't ask whether they were fine until now."
Lin Qingyue considered throwing something at him.
Unfortunately, the nearest object was her formation certificate.
She wasn't willing to sacrifice that.
"Fine. Let's go."
Ye Wuchen closed his book.
"Good."
He stood, straightened his black robes, and headed for the door.
Lin Qingyue followed.
After a moment, she glanced at him.
"Wait."
"Hm?"
"Are you wearing the same clothes as yesterday?"
"Yes."
"And the day before?"
"Yes."
She stared.
"Do you even own another set?"
Ye Wuchen looked at her.
"Several."
"Then why—"
"They're identical."
Lin Qingyue gave up.
The Lanyue Grand Auction House stood near the center of the city.
It was a massive circular building surrounded by tall white walls. Its roof was covered in dark blue tiles, and several defensive formations shimmered faintly around the entrances.
The auction house was operated by the Lanyue Merchant Guild, an organization supported by several independent merchant families.
That independence was important.
If one of the three great clans controlled the auction house outright, the other two would spend every auction complaining about favoritism.
And probably plotting something unpleasant.
Instead, the guild handled the sales, collected its commission, and tried its best to keep everyone from causing trouble.
A difficult job, considering its customers.
At the main entrance, a long line of cultivators waited to enter.
Lin Qingyue looked at the crowd.
"Are we supposed to join that?"
Ye Wuchen glanced at the line.
"Probably not."
"Why?"
He pointed toward a smaller entrance on the right.
A wooden sign read:
PRIVATE GUESTS
Lin Qingyue remembered the invitations Luo Xinyi had arranged.
"Oh."
She retrieved two jade tokens from her storage pouch.
A guard inspected them.
His expression immediately became respectful.
"Honored guests of the Luo family. Please follow me."
They entered through a quiet corridor.
Lin Qingyue looked around.
The walls were decorated with landscape paintings, and small spirit-gathering formations kept the air pleasantly cool.
"Having connections is convenient," she muttered.
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Usually."
The guard led them upstairs.
Their private chamber overlooked the entire auction hall.
Inside were comfortable seats, a tea table, and a large crystal screen displaying information about upcoming items.
Lin Qingyue approached the railing.
Below them, hundreds of cultivators were taking their seats.
"Wow."
Ye Wuchen examined the room.
"Not bad."
Lin Qingyue turned.
"Not bad? This place is incredible!"
He glanced at the tea set.
"The cups are decent."
She stared at him.
"Of course that's what you notice."
Across the auction house, Bai Ruyan was arguing with her uncle.
Again.
"Three thousand spirit stones."
Her uncle, Bai Shoulin, looked at her.
"What?"
"That's my budget for the medicinal furnace."
"Three thousand?"
"Yes."
"Ruyan, the furnace is damaged."
"I know."
"It might not even work."
"I know."
"Then why would you spend three thousand spirit stones on it?"
Bai Ruyan folded her arms.
"Because I know how to repair medicinal furnaces."
Bai Shoulin rubbed his forehead.
"You know how to repair ordinary furnaces."
"And how do you think people learn to repair unusual ones?"
"By not spending three thousand spirit stones on broken equipment."
She looked offended.
"That's a terrible attitude toward learning."
"It's an excellent attitude toward money."
Their attendant stood silently in the corner, pretending not to hear.
Bai Shoulin sighed.
"Fine. Three thousand. Not one stone more."
Bai Ruyan smiled.
"Thank you, Uncle."
"And the Seven-Leaf Moon Orchid?"
"Separate budget."
He froze.
"Separate?"
"Obviously."
"Ruyan!"
She had already turned toward the auction catalog.
In another private chamber, Qin Zhaoming was examining a message delivered that morning.
The letter came from Luo Xinyi.
It was short.
Our family has encountered similar irregularities in transportation documents.
I suggest we compare records after the auction.
Until then, avoid making accusations.
Qin Zhaoming read it twice.
Then handed it to Old Chen.
The steward frowned.
"So the Luo family was affected too."
"Apparently."
"Young Master, could this be an attempt to weaken both families?"
"Maybe."
"By the Bai family?"
Qin Zhaoming shook his head.
"Don't jump to conclusions."
Old Chen hesitated.
"But the Bai family benefits from our delays."
"That doesn't mean they caused them."
He folded the letter.
"Besides, there's something bothering me."
"What?"
"The delays haven't actually cost us very much."
Old Chen looked confused.
"Young Master?"
"Think about it. Whoever is doing this could have caused far more serious problems."
He tapped the table.
"Instead, they're making small changes to documents."
"Perhaps they're testing us?"
"Perhaps."
Qin Zhaoming looked toward the auction hall.
"Or perhaps we're not the real target."
Old Chen fell silent.
That possibility was considerably less comforting.
A bell rang.
The auction hall gradually quieted.
An elderly man in dark red robes stepped onto the central stage.
His hair was white, but his posture was straight, and his eyes were sharp.
He was Elder Song, the auction house's chief auctioneer.
A cultivator at the middle Golden Core Realm.
He smiled at the audience.
"Fellow Daoists, welcome to the Lanyue Grand Auction!"
Applause filled the hall.
Elder Song raised a hand.
"I see many familiar faces today. Some of you have traveled quite far to attend."
He paused.
"Others live five streets away and still managed to arrive late."
A few people laughed.
Near the back, a merchant who had just taken his seat looked deeply offended.
Elder Song continued.
"As always, all transactions will be conducted using spirit stones. Anyone attempting to cause trouble will be escorted out."
His smile widened.
"And anyone who believes they can defeat our security formation is welcome to test that theory."
The hall went quiet for a moment.
Then several experienced cultivators chuckled.
The auction house had been operating for centuries.
There was a reason nobody tried robbing it anymore.
"Now then."
Elder Song clapped.
"Let's begin."
The first item was a second-grade spiritual sword.
Its blade was silver, with pale blue inscriptions running along the metal.
A young attendant carried it onto the stage.
Elder Song lifted the weapon.
"A fine sword forged by Master Lu of the Eastern Province. Its edge is sharp, its spiritual channels are stable, and its inscriptions enhance the circulation of water-attribute spiritual energy."
He paused.
"Starting price: eight hundred low-grade spirit stones."
Immediately, someone shouted.
"Nine hundred!"
"One thousand!"
"One thousand two hundred!"
Lin Qingyue leaned forward.
"That's fast."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"People like swords."
She glanced at him.
"Do you?"
"Sometimes."
"What kind of sword do you use?"
"Whatever is suitable."
She frowned.
"That's a strange answer."
"It's a practical one."
Below them, the bidding continued.
"One thousand eight hundred!"
"Two thousand!"
"Two thousand two hundred!"
Finally, the sword sold for two thousand four hundred spirit stones.
Lin Qingyue whistled softly.
"That's more than I expected."
Ye Wuchen looked toward the stage.
"The buyer paid for the craftsmanship as much as the materials."
"You can tell?"
"Yes."
"Was it worth the price?"
"For that buyer, apparently."
She sighed.
"I should've known you'd say that."
The next several items passed without incident.
A bottle of Foundation Establishment pills sold for a surprisingly high price.
A defensive talisman attracted fierce competition between several wandering cultivators.
A set of spirit-gathering flags was purchased by a small sect elder.
Lin Qingyue paid particular attention to the formation materials.
She asked Ye Wuchen several questions.
He answered most of them.
A few times, he simply told her to examine the item's spiritual channels more carefully.
She was beginning to suspect that this was his favorite teaching method.
Eventually, Elder Song announced a new item.
"Next, we have something for our friends interested in alchemy."
Bai Ruyan immediately sat upright.
Two attendants carried a large wooden case onto the stage.
Inside was a dark bronze medicinal furnace.
Its surface was covered in old inscriptions, and a visible crack ran along one side.
Elder Song smiled.
"This furnace was recovered from an abandoned workshop in the western mountains."
He gestured toward the damage.
"As you can see, it isn't in perfect condition."
Someone in the audience laughed.
"That's putting it nicely!"
Elder Song chuckled.
"Indeed."
He continued.
"However, our appraisers believe the furnace was originally designed for specialized low-temperature refinement."
Bai Ruyan's eyes brightened.
"I knew it."
Bai Shoulin sighed.
"Here we go."
Elder Song raised his hand.
"Starting price: five hundred spirit stones."
"Six hundred!"
"Seven hundred!"
"Eight hundred!"
Bai Ruyan waited.
Her uncle looked at her.
"You're not bidding?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Let them finish wasting their enthusiasm."
Bai Shoulin stared.
Then slowly smiled.
"At least you've learned something about business."
The bidding reached twelve hundred.
Then slowed.
Several cultivators lost interest.
A damaged furnace was still a damaged furnace.
Repairing it could cost more than purchasing a new one.
Elder Song glanced around.
"One thousand two hundred. Any higher?"
Bai Ruyan raised her token.
"One thousand three hundred."
Another bidder responded.
"One thousand four hundred."
"One thousand five hundred."
"One thousand six hundred."
Bai Ruyan frowned.
She looked toward the bidder.
A middle-aged alchemist sat near the front.
He appeared genuinely interested.
That was unfortunate.
She raised her token again.
"One thousand eight hundred."
The man hesitated.
Then bid.
"Two thousand."
Bai Shoulin leaned toward her.
"Remember your budget."
"I remember."
She raised her token.
"Two thousand two hundred."
The alchemist frowned.
For a moment, he seemed ready to continue.
Then he shook his head.
"Forget it."
Elder Song smiled.
"Two thousand two hundred! Going once!"
Bai Ruyan held her breath.
Silence.
"Sold!"
She leaned back.
Then grinned.
"Mine."
Bai Shoulin looked at her.
"You seem pleased."
"I am."
"You just spent two thousand two hundred spirit stones on a broken furnace."
She nodded.
"Exactly."
He sighed.
"I'll never understand alchemists."
In Ye Wuchen's chamber, Lin Qingyue was studying the auction catalog.
"That furnace looked interesting."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"It was."
She looked up.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Was it worth two thousand two hundred spirit stones?"
"Depends on whether the buyer can repair it."
Lin Qingyue considered the furnace's unusual inscriptions.
"Could it be repaired?"
"Probably."
"How difficult would it be?"
"That depends on the damage inside."
She looked at him.
"Do you know how to repair medicinal furnaces?"
"Yes."
She sighed.
"Of course you do."
Ye Wuchen poured himself another cup of tea.
Lin Qingyue stared at him for a moment.
"Is there anything you don't know?"
"Plenty."
"Like what?"
He considered the question.
Then looked at her.
"Why you keep asking questions when you already know what answer I'll give."
Lin Qingyue threw a cushion at him.
He caught it.
Again.
As the auction continued, the atmosphere gradually grew more intense.
The earlier items had been useful, but relatively ordinary.
Now the more valuable treasures were beginning to appear.
A third-grade defensive artifact sold for twelve thousand spirit stones.
A rare spirit herb attracted bids from several major alchemy families.
A cultivation manual suitable for Golden Core cultivators caused a brief bidding war between two sect representatives.
Then Elder Song announced a short break.
The auction would resume after half an hour.
Lin Qingyue stood and stretched.
"That was more exciting than I expected."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Auctions usually are."
She glanced toward him.
"Have you ever bought anything expensive at one?"
"Yes."
"How expensive?"
He considered the question.
"Very."
She waited.
He said nothing else.
Lin Qingyue sighed.
"You're impossible."
A knock came from the door.
An attendant entered.
"Honored guests, Young Mistress Luo would like to know whether you're enjoying the auction."
Lin Qingyue smiled.
"Very much."
The attendant bowed.
"Excellent. She also asked me to inform you that the next portion includes several formation-related items."
Lin Qingyue's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Thank you!"
The attendant departed.
Lin Qingyue immediately returned to the catalog.
Ye Wuchen watched her.
"Planning to buy something?"
"Maybe."
"How many spirit stones do you have left?"
She hesitated.
"Enough."
"That's not a number."
She looked at him.
"Since when do you care about numbers?"
"Since you started looking at things you can't afford."
Lin Qingyue stared.
Then reluctantly checked her storage pouch.
Her expression became slightly less enthusiastic.
Ye Wuchen returned to his tea.
During the break, Qin Zhaoming left his chamber to meet an acquaintance from the merchant guild.
He had barely reached the corridor when someone called his name.
"Young Master Qin."
He turned.
A young man in gray robes approached.
Qin Zhaoming recognized him as one of the clerks employed by the Western Transport Office.
"Clerk Sun?"
The man bowed.
"May I speak with you?"
Qin Zhaoming glanced around.
"Here?"
"Somewhere private, if possible."
His expression was nervous.
Qin Zhaoming studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Follow me."
They entered an empty reception room.
Once the door closed, Clerk Sun immediately spoke.
"Young Master Qin, I believe someone has been altering transportation records."
Qin Zhaoming's expression remained calm.
"Why do you believe that?"
"Because I found something."
The clerk removed a folded document from his sleeve.
He placed it on the table.
"This is a copy of the authorization ledger."
Qin Zhaoming examined it.
Several entries had been marked with red ink.
He recognized the dates.
They corresponded to the delayed Qin family shipments.
But there were additional entries.
Luo family shipments.
Independent merchant caravans.
And several shipments belonging to the Bai family.
Qin Zhaoming frowned.
"The Bai family too?"
Clerk Sun nodded.
"Yes."
That complicated matters.
If all three families were being affected, the situation was different from what Qin Zhaoming had initially suspected.
He examined the ledger more carefully.
Then noticed something.
Every altered entry had originally been approved by the same official.
"Who is this?"
He pointed toward a name.
Clerk Sun hesitated.
"Deputy Registrar Meng."
"Where is he?"
"At the Western Transport Office."
"Have you confronted him?"
"No."
"Good."
Qin Zhaoming folded the document.
"Why bring this to me?"
The clerk looked uncomfortable.
"Because I don't know who else to trust."
Qin Zhaoming studied him.
That was a dangerous statement.
Especially from someone who worked in an imperial administrative office.
"Listen carefully," he said.
"Don't mention this to anyone else for now."
Clerk Sun nodded.
"I understand."
"And don't take any more documents without authorization."
The clerk froze.
"But—"
"You've already taken a risk. Don't make it worse."
Qin Zhaoming placed the copy back on the table.
"I'll arrange for this information to reach someone who can investigate it properly."
Clerk Sun looked relieved.
"Thank you, Young Master Qin."
Qin Zhaoming nodded.
"Go back to work. Act normally."
The clerk bowed and departed.
Once alone, Qin Zhaoming examined the ledger again.
The Bai family had been affected too.
Which meant someone might be trying to create distrust between the city's major trading powers.
But why?
He had no answer.
Not yet.
The auction resumed with a clear ringing of the bell.
Elder Song returned to the stage.
"Thank you for your patience, fellow Daoists."
He smiled.
"Now, let's move on to the next collection."
An attendant carried a long wooden case onto the platform.
Inside lay a set of twelve silver formation needles.
Their surfaces were covered in delicate inscriptions.
Lin Qingyue immediately leaned forward.
"Those are beautiful."
Elder Song lifted one.
"A complete set of second-grade formation needles, crafted by Master Qian of the Northern Province."
He paused.
"These needles are particularly suitable for precise inscription work and the construction of compact formations."
Lin Qingyue's eyes shone.
Ye Wuchen glanced at her.
"Interested?"
She nodded.
"Very."
"Then bid."
She hesitated.
"I don't know if I can afford them."
"Wait for the starting price."
Elder Song raised his hand.
"Starting price: one thousand spirit stones."
Lin Qingyue's expression collapsed.
Ye Wuchen looked at her.
"Too much?"
She nodded miserably.
"Way too much."
The bidding began.
"One thousand two hundred!"
"One thousand five hundred!"
"Two thousand!"
Lin Qingyue watched the price rise.
Then sighed.
"Forget it."
Ye Wuchen glanced toward the needles.
Their craftsmanship was decent.
The inscriptions were precise.
But they weren't particularly rare.
He looked back at Lin Qingyue.
"Do you need them?"
She shook her head.
"Not really."
"Then save your spirit stones."
She nodded.
"You're right."
A moment later, she smiled.
"Besides, I can always make something similar someday."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"That's a better goal."
The needles eventually sold for three thousand six hundred spirit stones.
Lin Qingyue watched them disappear from the stage.
She was disappointed.
But only a little.
The next item was a rare mineral used in weapon refinement.
Then came a defensive jade pendant.
Then a collection of spiritual herbs.
The auction proceeded smoothly.
Until Elder Song announced an item that immediately attracted the attention of several major families.
"Next, we have a batch of Western Cloudsteel."
A large chest was carried onto the stage.
Inside lay several neatly stacked bars of pale gray metal.
Elder Song smiled.
"Western Cloudsteel is an excellent material for refining second-grade and certain third-grade spiritual weapons."
Qin Zhaoming sat upright.
In another chamber, Luo Xinyi leaned forward.
Several merchants began whispering.
The material itself was not especially mysterious.
But the amount was substantial.
Enough to supply a medium-sized weapon workshop for months.
Elder Song continued.
"Starting price: fifteen thousand spirit stones."
The bidding began immediately.
"Sixteen thousand!"
"Seventeen thousand!"
"Eighteen thousand!"
Qin Zhaoming raised his token.
"Twenty thousand."
The hall quieted slightly.
A merchant from the eastern provinces responded.
"Twenty-one thousand!"
"Twenty-two thousand."
"Twenty-three thousand!"
The price continued rising.
Luo Xinyi watched without bidding.
The Luo family had little direct use for such a large quantity of Cloudsteel.
The Qin family, however, operated several weapon workshops.
For them, the material was valuable.
At twenty-seven thousand spirit stones, the eastern merchant hesitated.
Qin Zhaoming raised his token again.
"Twenty-eight thousand."
Silence.
Elder Song smiled.
"Twenty-eight thousand! Any higher?"
No one responded.
"Going once!"
The eastern merchant frowned.
"Going twice!"
He lowered his head.
"Sold!"
Qin Zhaoming leaned back.
Old Chen smiled.
"Congratulations, Young Master."
Qin Zhaoming nodded.
"Arrange payment after the auction."
"Yes."
The purchase was expensive.
But worthwhile.
His family's workshops had been struggling with inconsistent mineral supplies.
This batch would help stabilize production.
For the first time that day, he felt things were going according to plan.
In the Bai family's chamber, Bai Ruyan was examining her newly purchased furnace.
The auction house had delivered it during the previous break.
She ran her fingers along the cracked exterior.
Bai Shoulin watched nervously.
"Be careful."
"I am."
"What if it breaks?"
"Then we'll know it's broken."
"It already is broken!"
She ignored him.
After several minutes, she discovered a small inscription hidden beneath the furnace's base.
Her expression changed.
"Huh."
Bai Shoulin leaned forward.
"What?"
"This isn't a low-temperature furnace."
He frowned.
"But the auctioneer said—"
"He said the appraisers believed it was designed for low-temperature refinement."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"No."
She examined the inscription.
"It's a dual-chamber furnace."
Bai Shoulin blinked.
"A what?"
"A furnace that can maintain two different temperatures at once."
She looked delighted.
"Uncle, do you understand what this means?"
He stared at her.
"That you spent two thousand two hundred spirit stones on a furnace that's even more complicated to repair?"
Bai Ruyan sighed.
"You're hopeless."
"Ruyan!"
She grinned.
"If I can restore the second chamber, this thing could be worth far more than we paid."
Bai Shoulin froze.
"Really?"
"Possibly."
His expression changed.
"How much more?"
She stared at him.
"That's your first question?"
"Of course!"
She shook her head.
"Merchants."
As the afternoon continued, the auction approached its final collection.
Elder Song returned to the stage with a satisfied expression.
The hall grew attentive.
"The remaining items are rather unusual."
Lin Qingyue leaned forward.
"Finally."
Ye Wuchen glanced at her.
"Getting impatient?"
"A little."
Elder Song gestured toward the attendants.
A small wooden case was carried onto the stage.
He opened it.
Inside lay a palm-sized piece of dark metal.
It looked completely ordinary.
No inscriptions.
No visible spiritual energy.
No obvious signs of refinement.
Several cultivators frowned.
Elder Song smiled.
"An unusual item, isn't it?"
Someone called from the audience.
"It's a piece of metal!"
A few people laughed.
Elder Song nodded.
"An excellent observation."
More laughter.
He continued.
"Our appraisers have been unable to identify its composition."
The laughter faded.
"The material is extraordinarily dense, resistant to heat, and unaffected by conventional spiritual energy."
A merchant raised his hand.
"Can it be refined?"
"We haven't found a method."
"Can it be used in formations?"
"Not that we know of."
"Then what's it good for?"
Elder Song smiled.
"That's what makes it interesting."
The merchant looked thoroughly unimpressed.
Elder Song raised his hand.
"Starting price: three hundred spirit stones."
Silence.
Nobody bid.
Lin Qingyue examined the metal through the crystal screen.
"That's strange."
Ye Wuchen glanced toward the stage.
For a moment, his gaze rested on the dark fragment.
Then he looked away.
Lin Qingyue noticed.
"Do you recognize it?"
"No."
She blinked.
That was unusual.
Normally, Ye Wuchen seemed to know something about everything.
"Really?"
"Really."
She looked toward the metal again.
"Then it must be pretty rare."
"Or simply obscure."
Below them, Elder Song waited patiently.
"Three hundred spirit stones. Any interest?"
A few cultivators whispered.
No one raised a token.
Finally, a young merchant near the back called out.
"Three hundred!"
Elder Song smiled.
"Thank you! Three hundred spirit stones!"
Another bidder raised his token.
"Three hundred and fifty."
The first merchant frowned.
"Four hundred!"
"Four hundred and fifty."
Lin Qingyue watched.
"People are actually bidding."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Curiosity is expensive."
She laughed.
"That's true."
The price reached six hundred.
Then seven hundred.
At eight hundred, the second bidder withdrew.
Elder Song raised his hand.
"Eight hundred spirit stones! Going once!"
The young merchant smiled.
"Going twice!"
Silence.
"Sold!"
The merchant looked pleased.
Whether he had purchased a rare treasure or an expensive paperweight remained to be seen.
Ye Wuchen took another sip of tea.
He had no particular interest in finding out.
The final item was a sealed jade box containing a rare third-grade medicinal pill.
Its appearance immediately caused a commotion.
Several Golden Core cultivators began bidding.
The price rose rapidly.
Twenty thousand.
Thirty thousand.
Forty thousand.
Lin Qingyue watched in disbelief.
"People are spending fortunes."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Cultivation is expensive."
"Isn't there a cheaper way?"
"Usually."
She turned toward him.
"Really?"
"Time."
Lin Qingyue paused.
Ye Wuchen continued.
"Resources can speed up cultivation, but they don't replace understanding."
She thought about that.
Then looked toward the stage.
"So people are paying to save time?"
"Among other things."
She nodded slowly.
That made sense.
For cultivators approaching the end of their lifespans, time was often more valuable than spirit stones.
The pill eventually sold for fifty-eight thousand spirit stones.
Elder Song announced the conclusion of the auction.
Applause filled the hall.
As the guests began departing, Lin Qingyue stretched.
"That was fun."
Ye Wuchen stood.
"Glad you enjoyed it."
She glanced toward her storage pouch.
"I didn't buy anything."
"You bought spiritual ink this morning."
"That doesn't count."
"Why not?"
"Because it wasn't from the auction!"
Ye Wuchen considered the distinction.
"Fair enough."
They left the private chamber.
In the corridor, they encountered Luo Xinyi.
She smiled.
"Did you enjoy yourselves?"
Lin Qingyue nodded enthusiastically.
"Very much."
"Excellent."
Luo Xinyi looked toward Ye Wuchen.
"And you, Fellow Daoist Ye?"
"It was interesting."
She laughed.
"High praise, coming from you."
Ye Wuchen said nothing.
Luo Xinyi turned toward Lin Qingyue.
"I heard you were interested in the formation needles."
Lin Qingyue looked embarrassed.
"They were beautiful, but too expensive."
Luo Xinyi nodded.
"Master Duan has a collection of older formation tools. Perhaps he'd be willing to let you examine them."
Lin Qingyue's eyes brightened.
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Thank you!"
Luo Xinyi smiled.
"Think nothing of it."
As they spoke, an attendant approached.
"Young Mistress."
Luo Xinyi turned.
"What is it?"
"Young Master Qin requests a meeting."
Her expression became thoughtful.
"Now?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Tell him I'll be there shortly."
The attendant bowed and departed.
Luo Xinyi looked back toward her guests.
"Forgive me. Business calls."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Go ahead."
She smiled.
"Enjoy your evening."
Then she departed.
Lin Qingyue watched her go.
"She really is busy."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Very."
By the time they returned to Moonfall Pavilion, the sun was setting.
Mu Cang, Han Zhen, and Shen Yulan were already waiting in the dining hall.
Han Zhen looked up.
"How was the auction?"
Lin Qingyue immediately began describing the items.
The spiritual sword.
The medicinal furnace.
The formation needles.
The expensive pill.
Han Zhen listened with growing disbelief.
"Fifty-eight thousand spirit stones?"
Lin Qingyue nodded.
"For one pill?"
"Yes."
Han Zhen shook his head.
"Ridiculous."
Mu Cang chuckled.
"You've been away from the world for forty-three years."
"That doesn't mean people should lose their minds!"
Shen Yulan smiled.
"Some things haven't changed."
Han Zhen looked offended.
"What do you mean?"
"You've always complained about prices."
"Because prices have always been unreasonable!"
Mu Cang laughed.
For a while, the dining hall was filled with ordinary conversation.
Lin Qingyue talked about formations.
Shen Yulan discussed a manuscript she'd been translating.
Han Zhen complained about the cost of paper.
Mu Cang reminded him that he'd already complained about that yesterday.
Ye Wuchen listened quietly.
Occasionally, he answered a question.
Mostly, he drank tea.
It was a pleasant evening.
Elsewhere in Lanyue City, Qin Zhaoming sat across from Luo Xinyi in a private study.
Between them lay several transportation records.
Luo Xinyi examined the copied ledger brought by Clerk Sun.
Her expression grew serious.
"The Bai family was affected too."
Qin Zhaoming nodded.
"Apparently."
"Then someone may be trying to create conflict between us."
"That's my suspicion."
She studied the documents.
"Have you identified the person responsible?"
"Not yet."
He pointed toward a name.
"But every altered record was originally approved by Deputy Registrar Meng."
Luo Xinyi frowned.
"Do you know him?"
"Only by reputation."
"Which is?"
"Quiet. Careful. Has worked at the Transport Office for over twenty years."
She considered that.
"Not exactly the type you'd expect."
"Perhaps that's why no one noticed."
Luo Xinyi leaned back.
"What do you intend to do?"
"Bring the evidence to the city administration."
"Directly?"
"Yes."
She nodded slowly.
"That's probably best."
Qin Zhaoming looked at her.
"Will the Luo family support the investigation?"
"Of course."
He smiled.
"Then perhaps our families can cooperate after all."
Luo Xinyi returned the smile.
"On this matter, certainly."
She tapped the transportation agreement beside her.
"As for your proposed warehouse fees..."
Qin Zhaoming groaned.
"You're still thinking about that?"
"Naturally."
He sighed.
"You're relentless."
Luo Xinyi smiled.
"That's why my family trusts me with its business."
At the Western Transport Office, Deputy Registrar Meng sat alone.
The old seal lay on his desk.
Beside it was a letter.
He had read the letter so many times that the paper had begun wearing thin along the folds.
Its contents were simple.
A demand.
A deadline.
And a warning.
Meng stared at the words.
His hands trembled slightly.
He had never wanted any of this.
He had spent more than twenty years processing transportation records.
A quiet job.
An ordinary life.
Then someone had approached him with information he desperately wished they didn't possess.
At first, the requests had been small.
Change a date.
Delay an authorization.
Use an outdated seal.
Nothing that seemed particularly serious.
But the requests had continued.
And now the consequences were growing.
Meng closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, he would have to make another alteration.
This time, the shipment belonged to an imperial supplier.
He knew what that meant.
Tampering with merchant records was one thing.
Interfering with imperial supplies was another.
He stared at the letter.
Then slowly reached for his brush.
For several moments, he hesitated.
Finally, he set it down.
"No."
His voice was barely audible.
He folded the letter.
Placed the old seal inside its box.
And stood.
He didn't know whether the people threatening him would keep their promises.
He didn't know whether the authorities would believe him.
But he knew one thing.
If he continued, the situation would only become worse.
He extinguished the lamp.
Then left the office.
For the first time in weeks, he had made a decision of his own.
Back at Moonfall Pavilion, Ye Wuchen stood beside his window.
Below, the city was settling into its usual evening rhythm.
The auction was over.
Merchants were counting their profits.
Cultivators were examining their purchases.
And somewhere, a young alchemist was probably taking apart a broken furnace with far too much enthusiasm.
Ye Wuchen looked toward the distant streets.
He had spent ages pursuing power.
He had seen empires rise and fall.
He had watched cultivators sacrifice everything for a chance at immortality.
Yet the world was still filled with people whose greatest concerns were far simpler.
A successful trade.
A repaired formation.
An honest day's work.
A chance to correct a mistake.
He turned away from the window.
On the table lay the history book he'd been reading.
He picked it up.
Then paused.
A thought occurred to him.
The book contained an entire chapter about the founding of Lanyue City.
He had skipped it.
Perhaps it was worth reading.
Ye Wuchen sat down.
Opened the book.
And began.
Outside, the city bells rang.
Another ordinary day had come to an end.
End of Chapter 18