Somewhere in Celestial Treasure Pavilion, a big lavish room, two figures continuously discussing something. One of them sat on a silk-coated chair, sipping tea, swaying his light black beard with left hand.
And the other figure stood beside him in blackish robes in a disciplined posture like a swallowed sword.
"Master," the standing man spoke in a calm voice. "About that strange Green Jade, we have investigated it. I think it's just a useless strange torch, there is nothing special about it. It could be barely priced near five-six hundred Gold coins."
"Don't worry about it, just put it up for auction, there are plenty of fools who will throw their wealth at it!" the sitting man replied with indifferent expression.
This man was called Zhao Fengyin, the owner of Celestial Treasure Pavilion and patriarch of Zhao Family. The man standing beside him was called Liang Bo, the head steward of Zhao Family.
They were discussing the important matters about today's Auction, when suddenly, a strange voice wormed its way in Fengyin's ear,
"Madam! What's the meaning of this? Why are you suddenly!"
"I think I made myself clear already, Sir..."
Upon hearing it, Zhao Fengyin gave a side glance to Liang Bo. "What's all this commotion?"
"Master… its… Du Family's steward, a few days ago they booked the fifth VIP Room. But…" Liang Bo replied, with slight hesitation.
"Du Family, huh? they definitely don't deserve it!"
"They, uh… were paying double of original pric—"
"Oh? What's the problem then?"
"That's… Master, Yesterday Second Miss insisted on giving it to… Xu Family. So—"
"THAT STUPID GIRL!" Zhao Fengyin clenched his hand on the tea cup, eyes twitching an annoyed expression on his face. "Xu Family?! You could've just…"
And then he sighed, immediately regretting his own words. "Haih~ Forget it, I know how stubborn she is. Even I can't win against her tantrums. She argues just like her mother."
"Shall I—"
"Just make sure Du Family don't create much commotion, Today we have lots of important people to take care of. All VIP Rooms are highly reputed and powerful people in the empire."
"Yes, Maste—"
"Liang Bo," Zhao Fengyin spoke again, cutting off Liang Bo, slightly swirling the tea leaves in his tea cup. "You must be thinking, 'Why did Master let Ying'er become a disciple in the Xu Family, when he clearly hates them?'"
Liang Bo blinked and spoke hastily. "Actually, I wasn't think—"
"Aiye~! Let me tell you anyway!" Zhao Fengyin sighed, taking a sip of tea, muttering. "It all started that day, When for the first time, she saw Mr. Gao refining…"
He leaned back, already lost in memory. "That day, at Sacred Pill Hall, we happened to visit while he was refining. And my little Ying'er, she insisted on watching pill making once.
But as you know, how these alchemists always act, they think the universe will collapse even if someone breathes too loudly near the furnace.
However, against my relentless charm, how could he even stand a chance, he ended up losing. And so let us watch from the corner."
Liang Bo tried not to let his eyes twitch and kept his composure while listening to him.
"And from that day," Fengyin continued, "Ying'er's eyes sparkled like she'd just found the meaning of life.
From that day on, she wanted to be an alchemist.
The next morning she demanded an alchemy furnace. So I bought her a furnace, thinking she'd play a bit."
Zhao Fengying paused a bit before speaking. "But she exploded it!
Smoke everywhere, maids screaming, some even fainted. And she came out covered in soot, shouting,
'I WANT TO TRY AGAIN!'
How coud… I…"
Meanwhile Liang Bo's mind flashed with thought when Zhao Fengying paused. "I already knew it, Second Miss definitely has some mental issues."
"Seeing such spirit," Fengyin continued, "How could I just let it go? And so I went to Mr. Gao himself. I told him how my little girl was passionate.
At first he was thrilled by her enthusiasm. Three days later, he returned her and said she had no talent."
"That bastard said— 'A ROCK HAS A BETTER ALCHEMY SENSE'," Fengyin clenched his fists, eyes twitching. "I wanted to throw him into his own furnace."
Then his tone softened slightly. "She lost all energy, stopped eating, stopped smiling, barely scolded any maidservant...
So, I kept searching for teachers. But everyone said the same thing…
Then one day, due to some false rumors spread. A new second-tier alchemist, Xu Yuhong, offered to take her in as a disciple.
And I can't tell how happy Ying'er was…
So, I thought, 'Why not? The Xu Family might not be great, but they have decent influence and also the potential' So I agreed."
"But now…" Fengyin paused, sighing deeply. "Alas… they have fallen into such a state…"
"I think it's time to call Ying'er back to Zhao Family, with Xu Family's situation it could only bring harm to our reputation."
Liang Bo stood silently aside him, his eyes half-open half-close, he was just half-regretting some of his life choices. Why was he doing the same work as his father? He should've chosen another profession to break this chain of poverty.
Then his lips parted to say something "Maste…"
"Liang Bo, Will you ever finish a sentence properly? You always stop mid-word! Are you allergic to full speech?" Zhao Fengyin said annoyingly, his brows knitting together. "Looks like we need to hire a speech teacher for you…"
But Liang Bo remained silent.
"....."
...
…
On the other side
Inside a private VIP room, Yuan lounged lazily on a silk coated couch like he owned the place.
Ying'er sat gracefully beside him, while Sun Tao, Hong Ziye, and Gui Sheng occupied the side seats.
Then, leaving a half-eaten fruit on the table, Yuan sighed dramatically. "Haih~ Such a Grand auction… surely, there must be many rich people coming here."
He tilted his head and added pitifully, "So many rare treasures too... I bet they'll be sold for thousands of spirit stones…"
As every eye in room followed him, he turned his head upward and made a fake sob, "Ahh!, but Poor me! Just destined to admire these treasures…"
"Heaven knows why I am too poor..."
Hong Ziye nearly spat out mouthful blood. "What the fuck with this bastard?! He's poor? with such shit acting?"
Meanwhile, Ying'er sighed softly with an indifferent expression. "Stop your tantrums, I will pay."
She raised her delicate hand, and between her fingers a purple card. "And if you did that again, I will throw you out of that window."
Yuan nodded, with a smile on face but inside his thoughts were pure chaos. "Hehehe… that's the Celestial Treasure Pavilion's highest-grade card! The one only given to direct family members! Fuck, I saved some more money!"
And Hong Ziye just sat frozen, eyes twitching. "What the fuck?! That trash acting actually worked?!"
But Sun Tao and Gui Sheng just sighed, knowing it wouldn't be a big deal. "No surprise…"
...
A few moments later, Yuan was still lying on the couch with his eyes closed, waiting for the auction to begin.
And suddenly, a clear voice rose from the stage, drawing everyone's attention.
"Esteemed Guest! We welcome you to the Grand Auction of Celestial Treasure Pavilion.
Today's auction will feature many treasures, each one chosen from countless spiritual artifacts and rare herbs across the continent!
And you may rest assured every item has been personally appraised by our Pavilion. I assure you, each item of this auction will be worth your precious time." The auctioneer, from the stage, announced.
But wait—!
Yuan left baffled upon hearing these words. Why does this voice sound so soft and sweet? He clearly saw an old man on stage before.
Yuan's eyes instantly darted towards the mirror artifact, eyes widened,
"NO! This is…"
"that's…"
"So Pretty~!"
On the stage stood a stunning lady in a black attire, the fabric hugging each curve, her long black hair flowing down her back, skin smooth as polished snow, her eyes soft slightly squinched with a smile like honey melting on warm tea.
Yuan's face flushed with a faint blush, her beauty just like those fairies from his dreams, almost otherworldly. But he kept his composure and spoke clearing his throat. "Ahem… Sister Ying'er, who is that Young lady?"
"That's my big sister," Ying'er replied with a side glance, her attention completely on the auction stage. "Her appraisal skills are truly extraordinary."
"Mhm… she truly looks extra—" Yuan almost closed his eyes, admiring her but broke his word.
"Wait—! Where she is going?"
Ying'er leisurely grasped a fruit from the table, her eyes on the young lady walking away from stage. "Even though she has a good appraisal talent, she doesn't like to waste energy on stage."
"That old man is from Wan Family," Hong Yize muttered, his gaze slightly lifted toward Yuan. "I've heard the Wan Family keeps very low-key across the whole mainland.
Rumor has it they possess incredibly high appraisal abilities. And so they are very respected even among great families. Still, no one truly knows how powerful they are."
Meanwhile, Yuan was swimming in his own thoughts. "I've met her once before… but why don't I remember her? She is just like...
Ah—Forget it, let's focus on the auction for now. But… what was that bastard saying again?"