The Bidding War

The Jade Lotus House hummed with tension, the air thick with the scent of jasmine and the buzz of whispered gossip. Han Jin leaned back in his cushioned seat on the private balcony, a goblet of wine dangling lazily from his fingers.

Below, Lian Xue had just finished her dance, her silken veil catching the lantern light as she bowed to the roaring crowd. Her announcement—that she'd join Han Jin after her performance—still lingered, a spark that had ignited the room into a frenzy of awe and resentment.

Gao Shun stood at his table on the lower floor, his green robes taut across his clenched fists. His bid of 30,000 taels had been effortlessly crushed by Han Jin's 50,000, plus the spirit artifact hairpin worth another 20,000. The crowd's murmurs grew louder, a mix of admiration for Han Jin's audacity and scorn for Gao Shun's failure.

"Brother Han, you've done it now," Luo Ping whispered, his voice trembling as he clutched his own goblet. "Gao Shun's father runs the Gao Trading Guild. They're not the kind to let this slide."

Prince Chen smirked, his sharp eyes flicking between Han Jin and the fuming noble below. "Let them stew. It's more fun that way. Though I wonder what your warlord bride will think of this spectacle."

Han Jin's grin widened at the mention of Mu Qing. *She's probably sharpening her sword somewhere,* he thought. *Good. Let her rage fuel me.* The system had already pinged him with 200 Resonance Value points from her distant irritation—rumors of his antics had clearly spread fast. But he wasn't done yet.

Before he could respond, Gao Shun's voice cut through the din, sharp and furious. "Han Jin!" he bellowed, storming toward the balcony's edge. "You think you can humiliate me like this? I'll raise the bid—100,000 taels for Lian Xue's time tonight!"

The crowd gasped, heads swiveling between Gao Shun and Han Jin. 100,000 taels was a fortune, enough to buy a small estate. Even Prince Chen raised an eyebrow, his smirk faltering for a moment.

Luo Ping nearly dropped his goblet. "He's mad! 100,000? Han Jin, you can't—"

"Quiet," Han Jin said, his tone calm but laced with steel. He stood, leaning over the balcony to meet Gao Shun's glare. "100,000, you say? Impressive." He paused, letting the tension build, then flashed a mocking smile. "But I'm afraid I'll have to raise you. 300,000 taels—and the hairpin stays on the table."

A collective gasp swept through the Jade Lotus House, followed by a roar of excitement. Patrons stood, craning their necks to see Gao Shun's reaction. The young heir's face twisted, his eyes blazing with fury as he realized he'd been outplayed—again.

[Resonance System Notification: Emotional fluctuation detected. Gao Shun's rage: +400. Mass reaction: +3,000 (15 points each, 200 affected). Total: 11,565.]

Lian Xue, still on the stage, tilted her head toward Han Jin, her veiled expression unreadable. But her voice, when she spoke, carried a hint of amusement. "Young Master Han's offer is… unprecedented. I'll honor it."

Gao Shun slammed his fist on the table, his voice a low growl. "This isn't over, Han Jin. You'll regret this."

Han Jin waved a hand dismissively, settling back into his seat. "I'll take my chances. Enjoy the show, Gao Shun."

As the crowd erupted into cheers and jeers, Prince Chen let out a low whistle. "300,000 taels. Even my father would hesitate at that. You've got guts, I'll give you that."

Luo Ping was practically shaking. "You've bankrupted us! My father will have my head for this!"

"Relax," Han Jin said, sipping his wine. "It's an investment. Gao Shun's tantrum alone was worth it." He glanced at the system notification in his mind, the numbers ticking higher as whispers of his bid spread beyond the Jade Lotus House.

[Resonance System Notification: Emotional fluctuation detected. Rumors spreading in the capital: +1,500 (5 points each, 300 affected). Mu Qing's growing anger: +300. Total: 13,365.]

'Mu Qing's really not taking this well,' Han Jin mused, a spark of mischief in his eyes. 'I'll have to meet her again—see how much more I can get out of her.'

Before he could savor the moment further, a servant approached the balcony, bowing deeply. "Young Master Han, Young Master Gao requests a private word. He… insists."

Prince Chen's smirk returned. "Sounds like he wants to negotiate. Or stab you. Either way, this should be entertaining."

Han Jin set down his goblet, rising with a lazy stretch. "Let's see what he's got to say. I'm in a generous mood."

The servant led him to a small side room, its walls draped in crimson silk. Gao Shun stood inside, his arms crossed, his expression a storm of barely contained rage. As the door closed behind Han Jin, Gao Shun spoke, his voice tight.

"You've made a mistake, Han Jin. But I'm a reasonable man. Withdraw your bid, and I'll let this go. I'll even throw in a trade deal with my guild—10,000 taels' worth. What do you say?"

Han Jin tilted his head, pretending to consider the offer. Then he laughed, a sharp, cutting sound that made Gao Shun flinch.

"Withdraw? After I've already won? You must think I'm as stupid as you look." He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I don't negotiate with losers, Gao Shun. If you want to play, you'll have to do better than that."

Gao Shun's face flushed crimson, his hands trembling. "You'll pay for this," he hissed. "My father will hear of it. The Gao Trading Guild doesn't forget."

"Good," Han Jin said, turning to leave. "I'd hate for this to be forgettable."

[Resonance System Notification: Emotional fluctuation detected. Gao Shun's fury: +500. Total: 13,865.]

As Han Jin returned to the balcony, the system's chime echoed in his mind:

[Resonance System: 13,865 Resonance Value. Current Level: 3. Techniques: Iron Palm Strike (LV4), Gale Step (LV5). Upgrade Costs: Iron Palm Strike to LV5 (1,200 points), Gale Step to LV6 (4,000 points). Next lottery draw at LV4 (1,000 points spent).]

'Enough for a big upgrade,*'Han Jin thought, eyeing the options. 'But that lottery draw is tempting. Let's see how far I can push this night.'

Lian Xue approached the balcony, her veil shimmering as she bowed slightly. "Young Master Han," she said, her voice soft but clear. "Shall we?"

Han Jin grinned, offering her a seat. "Let's make it a night to remember."