Proud Sword Soaring Clouds-Chapter 48 - 47: The Auction

「Two days later.」

The pair walked out of the primeval forest, bringing their trip to Vendia Snow Mountain to a close. Before them, the world suddenly opened up, with sunlight scattering freely into every corner. The sight lifted much of the gloom from Ye Wen Ni’s heart. The feeling of killing for the first time was certainly not a pleasant one.

Gazing at Vendia Town in the distance, Ye Wen Ni asked softly, "Ling Xiao, people from the Madman Mercenary Corps might still be waiting for us there. Even though we’ve changed our outfits, a pair like us is too conspicuous. I think we should just go around it."

Ling Xiao nodded. He didn’t want any extra complications right now. Although his injuries were mostly healed, it still wasn’t a good idea for him to fight. Similarly, while Ye Wen Ni now possessed the power of a Tier Six Great Sword Master, her mental fortitude hadn’t caught up. Coupled with the unease from her first kill, she was in no condition to face enemies.

The two chose to bypass Vendia Town, which indeed saved them a lot of trouble. The Madman Mercenary Corps had dispatched many of its members to stand guard there, stopping and questioning any suspicious-looking man and woman they found. This had been going on for over a month, to the point that even the members of the Madman Mercenary Corps themselves were about to give up. Ordinary Adventurers were furious but dared not speak out. However, mercenaries from stronger corps didn’t give them any face, and conflicts had nearly broken out on several occasions.

This move by the Madman Mercenary Corps offended many people, and it made every Mercenary in their ranks hate the black-clad female thief and the mysterious man to the bone, wishing they could flay them alive.

Once past Vendia Town, they rarely encountered any mercenaries from the Madman Mercenary Corps. The pair arrived at the slightly larger Qingshui Town, which had returned to its usual tranquility. Ling Xiao and Ye Wen Ni were revisiting the place, but they had no time for nostalgia. They hired an ordinary-looking horse carriage and sped toward Wutan Town.

There, they would have to change carriages again. Although their trail hadn’t been discovered, it was always better to be cautious.

In their disguises, the two now looked more like an ordinary couple of Adventurers. Male-female pairs like them were not uncommon, so by the time they reached Wutan Town, they hardly stood out at all.

By the time they returned to the Imperial Capital, it was already evening. With over a hundred thousand Gold Coins in his ring, Ling Xiao found a sizable restaurant and treated Ye Wen Ni to a fine meal. The lavish spread cost over ten Gold Coins, more than enough for the two of them to gorge on all kinds of delicacies.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Ling Xiao waved a waiter over. He gave the man a one-Gold-Coin tip and said he had a few questions to ask.

The waiter’s face lit up. "Esteemed sir, you’ve come to the right person! When it comes to the various places in the Imperial Capital, nobody knows them better than I do!"

Ye Wen Ni subtly pursed her lips. ’All the waiters in the world say that,’ she thought. ’I don’t see how one from the Imperial Capital is any different.’

Ling Xiao, however, paid it no mind. He chuckled and asked, "Alright. Do you know which is the largest auction house in the Imperial Capital?"

The waiter immediately perked up. ’These two are dressed like Adventurers,’ he thought. ’You can’t afford to offend people like them. Who knows what treasures they might have? Anyone who can afford to eat in a place like this is a big shot; I’d better serve them well.’ The waiter said with a beaming smile, "You two must be from out of town, right? The biggest auction house in the Imperial Capital is, of course, the one run by the Huangpu Clan! Now, speaking of this Huangpu Clan..."

"Just tell me where it is!" Another Gold Coin appeared in Ling Xiao’s hand as if by magic, dazzling the waiter. While customers often gave tips, those who tipped directly with Gold Coins were a rarity. If General Ling Tianxiao ever found out his son was such a spendthrift, he would surely be furious.

The waiter, however, couldn’t have been happier. His already wide mouth stretched nearly from ear to ear. "Sir, it’s at number thirty-five Vermilion Bird Avenue! That’s the biggest auction house in the entire Imperial Capital!"

Ling Xiao flicked the Gold Coin straight into the waiter’s pocket. Then he stood up and, with Ye Wen Ni in tow, strode away.

After the pair had left, a smile appeared on the waiter’s face. ’I’m brilliant,’ he thought. ’I not only earned a two-Gold-Coin tip, but I also brought potential business to the family.’ As it turned out, this famous restaurant in the Imperial Capital was also one of the Huangpu Clan’s properties!

As soon as they were outside, Ye Wen Ni complained, "Ling Xiao, you’re too generous! Two Gold Coins! You just gave them away like that! From now on, just tip with Silver Coins!" But in her heart, she was thinking, ’Two Gold Coins... that’s enough to improve my younger siblings’ meals for a long time. This guy is such a spendthrift.’

Ling Xiao had little concept of money. ’I have a huge pile of it in my ring anyway,’ he thought. ’What’s the point of not spending it?’ Still, he nodded. It was always good to accept sound advice.

Ling Xiao still retained some memory of the Imperial Capital’s layout. He found Vermilion Bird Avenue and made his way to number thirty-five. Sure enough, a tall building was visible from a distance, standing out prominently among the surrounding shops. A large plaque hung above it, inscribed with the two large words: "Auction House"! To the side was a signature—Huangpu!

Ye Wen Ni carefully observed the surrounding buildings, marveling at the prosperity of the Imperial Capital. ’I’ve wasted so many years of my life,’ she thought. ’A place like this is a thief’s paradise! But that’s a thought I can only entertain. I’m Ye Wen Ni the Adventurer now!’

All auction houses had their own designated auction days, though they occasionally held impromptu ones. The pair had arrived at just the right time—there was an auction scheduled for that very evening!

Neither of them looked like high-level Adventurers, so the one who received them was just a plain-looking female receptionist. Fortunately, she wasn’t the type to look down her nose at people, and her tone of voice was quite gentle.

Ling Xiao knew he wouldn’t get their proper attention without showing them something substantial. So, inside the simple reception room, he took a Tier Two Crystal Core from a Snow Mountain Brown Bear out of his Space Ring. The surging Earth Energy immediately filled the room with a heavy presence.

The female receptionist was startled. It wasn’t that she had never seen a Tier Two Crystal Core before, but these two didn’t look like high-level Adventurers in the slightest. Her attitude, however, immediately became more respectful. She stood, bowed, and said apologetically, "Valued guests, please forgive our poor hospitality." As she spoke, she opened the door and had someone bring in refreshments. Her gaze then settled on Ling Xiao’s chest, where a Space Ring hung around his neck.

Ling Xiao extended his hand, and another Crystal Core appeared in his palm—this one from a Tier Four Lightning Mad Leopard!

The female receptionist gasped, her eyes wide. She covered her mouth, trying to stifle her cry of surprise. Her face flushed slightly as she said, "I’m sorry, I... I lost my composure. Excuse me, is that... a Tier Three Crystal Core?"

The Tier Four Crystal Core in Ling Xiao’s hand, in both color and size, was clearly vastly different from the other Tier Two Crystal Core. They weren’t in the same league at all.

The receptionist, realizing she had lost her composure, quickly regained her calm. With a professional smile, she said, "You are both honored guests. Please come to our VIP room to discuss this further. A high-level Steward will be assigned to assist you!"

Ye Wen Ni’s lips twitched, and she rolled her eyes behind Ling Xiao’s back. ’This auction house is so snobbish!’ she thought. ’If you don’t have anything valuable, you get ordinary treatment, but the moment you show something good, you’re suddenly a VIP! The difference is just so blatant!’

Ling Xiao, however, found it perfectly normal. ’Strength commands respect,’ he thought. ’That was never just an empty saying.’