CHAPTER 14 – DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY MOST ‘INVALUABLE TREASURE’?

Ever since the Linlang Guild became famous, many businesses also

copied its methods, creating auctioning events. However, when

compared, the Linlang Guild was still the grandest. Every year, the

Linlang Guild only needed to issue invitations, it would be received

as something even more invaluable than gold. Many people would

view the invitation as an identity significance, and take it to attend

the auction with pride.

If Feng Xiao wanted an invitation, he didn't need to flaunt his title to

get one. However, it was not so easy for the others.

"Today is the last day of the auction. We thank everyone who took

the time to attend; it is the pride and honour of the Linlang Guild to

receive you. Let us not waste time bantering; we know that everyone

is both eager and excited to begin. Let us bring the first item forward,

everyone please be patient."

The middle-aged man did not care to suppress his words, shouting

in a deep rumbling voice that resonated across the place. This man

was certainly a martial artist with high capabilities. However, at a

glance, the Linlang Guild was a dominant business; naturally, it

would attract a lot of envious people. To invite a few highly skilled

martial artists here to sit around as bodyguards was not strange at

all.

Just as the orders were given, a beautiful waitress brought a tray

forward with two young waiters on her left and right. Once the golden

cloth was pulled away, a jade green copper wine vessel was

revealed before the audience's eyes. "This is the very same vessel used by the Duke Han of Qi during the

Spring-Autumn period. On the vessel, there are inscriptions that

prove its authenticity. This item is brought to us by our Lanling

Guild's Master Dong Yang. The beginning price is ten guan. The

auction ends if there is no higher bidder after three calls. Please

begin."

The waitress moved promptly, ringing the bell, and immediately

someone said, "Eleven guan!"

"Twelve guan!"

"Thirteen guan!"

Once the auction had begun, the entire hall became rowdy. Not long

after, someone called for thirty guan.

These people may not be too interested in the wine vessel itself, but

as long as the item was from the Linlang Guild, it was almost

certainly valuable. Even if they did not want it for themselves, they

could use it to give to others. They merely needed to say that it was

from the Linlang Guild's Master Dong Yang, it was enough to

impress anyone.

"Who was the one who offered thirty guan?" Feng Xiao asked Cui

Buqu with deep interest.

He did not shout for a price. Compared to the wine vessel, Feng

Xiao was more interested in its bidders. He knew that Cui Buqu

would know this.

As he expected, Cui Buqu answered, "The man's name is called

Leng Dou. He is the adopted son of the Group Leader of the Nine

Groups of Caoyun1. As of late, the leader, Ning Shewo, gifted a

beautiful woman to the Emperor of the Southern Dynasty, Chen

Shubao. The woman obtained the love and attention of Chen Shubao and became an important person by his side. Because of

this, Shubao was willing to allow Ning Shewo to conduct the

business of all the canal transports in the south. The reason Leng

Dou bid for the item, is most likely because he wants to give it as a

tribute. Except that Chen Shubao is an Emperor, he would not be

interested in something like this. So this tribute is simply for

someone close to him, a servant or attendant. If not mistaken, he is

determined to get the item. Others would not place such a heavy bid

on merely the first item."

The Nine Groups of Caoyun was not only just a group; it formed from

the merging of nine different groups. They did business on water and

were one of the vital forces in the Southern Wulin that could not be

underestimated. Among the Nine Groups, the Jinhuan Ganghad the

highest power; thus, the Jinhuan Gang's leader, Ning Shewo,

became the leader of all nine groups.

It was not a difficult task for the Jiejian Bureau to investigate

whoever they wanted to, but it was not as convenient as having Cui

Buqu by their side who knew the entire worldly matters of Wulin and

Jianghu in his heart. With a few words, he would recite the other

person's origins and background. This was an ability that Pei

Jingzhe would not even be able to manage. Only the Zuoyue Bureau

could produce such a talent.

After Cui Buqu finished talking, the exchange was done. The wine

vessel was bought by Leng Dou, completely aligning with Cui Buqu's

prediction.

This person looked pale on the surface; he also looked sickly with a

large robe over him that practically covered half his face. People who

sat near him could feel the tiredness radiating from him, but when he

opened his mouth to speak, there was optimism in his voice. It made

one not help but to admire it. Feng Xiao clapped his hand and complimented, "A-Cui, you are truly

brilliant! From all the guests before my eyes, you're the only one who

got distinguished by thirty percent!"

Cui Buqu kept his mouth shut, refusing to respond to him.

But Feng Xiao refused to let it go, "Will you not ask where the other

seventy percent went?"

Cui Buqu replied coldly, "There is no need to ask for me to know."

Feng Xiao laughed, "It seems you also think the same way. Of all the

heroism in the world, they are the same. I have taken seventy

percent, so the remaining thirty percent is offered to you!"

Cui Buqu rolled his eyes in reply.

Pei Jingzhe asked in curiousity, "Does Ning Shewo have any sons?"

Cui Buqu shook his head, "Ning Shewo and his wife were married for

nineteen years, but they were blessed with no children except for an

adopted son, Leng Dou. They treat him like one of their own. Ning

Shewo already spread the word that he would be retiring next year, if

not mistaken, the position of the leader would be succeeded by Leng

Dou. However, Leng Dou is still young; he cannot even dominate the

Jinhuan group yet. All has yet to be set in stone; there are still things

left to be observed."

Pei Jingzhe only knew a little of it from the rumours, but he had

smiled and dismissed them. The reason being that he felt like those

related to the Jianghu province were matters concerning the South

and had nothing to do with the Sui Empire2 whatsoever.

It was as if Cui Buqu understood what he was thinking, saying

blandly, "If the Emperor wants to cut down the Chens, he would have

to head down the Southern river. The Nine Groups of Caoyun is indispensable in the South; therefore, if things can be done within to

avoid conflicts when the time comes, the situation would not have

been worse than watching the Nine Groups of Caoyun allying with

the Southern Dynasty to go against the Sui Empire."

Feng Xiao only smiled and remained silent. He had already long

thought of this matter.

But Pei Jingzhe had not. Listening to this, he was shocked and

immediately clasped his hands together, "I understand."

At first, when Cui Buqu had started coughing before he could even

speak two sentences, although Pei Jingzhe had never said it on the

lips, he could not help but look down on Cui Buqu. After all, the

Jiejian Bureau and the Zuoyue Bureau were different from the Three

Departments and Six Ministries. The two often traveled across lands.

The knowledge of martial arts was not a must, but if they did not

know how to defend themselves and were ambushed by skilled

martial artists, it would hinder their tasks. Cui Buqu was a unique

case. This person came from the Glass Palace and knew the world

of Jianghu like the back of his hand, yet he did not even have a

single ounce of martial arts on him. Although right now he was under

the control of Feng Xiao, the way he spoke did not show a hint of

cowardice or intention of giving in, he neither begged for his life.

Pei Jingzhe felt that this person, even if he did not know any martial

arts, it was not a weakness. If his lord could make this man work

beneath him, the Jiejian Bureau' power will have increased

dramatically.

The next one was two ancient instruments. One was a zither called

Green Dragonfly, the other a famous sword called White Rainbow.

Both were exemplary weapons. Therefore, it was natural that many

people went out of their way to fight for them. Even Feng Xiao

seemed to be interested in the Green Dragonfly, participating in the auction as well. However, in the end, someone bought it for three

thousand silver taels and acquired the zither. Feng Xiao did not

seem like he absolutely needed to own it, so he gave up midway.

Cui Buqu could tell that the other had no doubt really wanted the

zither, but had given up half-way; he could not help but glare at him a

few times.

Feng Xiao, realizing, curled up the corners of his lips, "I do not want

the Green Dragonfly because I have something that is even more

invaluable. Do you want to see my most 'invaluable treasure'?"

Cui Buqu, "..."

Cui Buqu was not someone who fought with words. If he so desired,

he could argue with the other and make his face cease all form of

light. Previously, when he was faced with someone despicable like

Feng Xiao, there was no need for him to open his mouth; someone

else would clean up these sorts of people for him. However, as of

now, trapped under the banner of the other, he needed to make his

move personally. He fixed his eyes on the other and spoke.

But since Cui Buqu was not a shy lady, there was no expectation for

him to blush madly after hearing something so suggestive. He

merely replied flatly and calmly, "Please bring it out and enlighten

me."

Feng Xiao sniffed, "A-Qu, how could you be so frivolous? A 'holy'

item like this, can you not use the word 'bring it out'? It should be

'presented'."

Cui Buqu, "I am afraid that when you bring out your 'invaluable

treasure'; in less than a minute it would shrink to the size of a finger,

then I will be very disappointed." Feng Xiao was shocked, "I am speaking of a zither, were you not

speaking of one?"

Cui Buqu laughed coldly, "I am also speaking of a zither, how do you

not know I am speaking of one?"

Pei Jingzhe, "..."

He could no longer tolerate listening to these two talk; his only option

being to raise a cup to his lips to hide his twitching mouth.

Feng Xiao used a 'keep talking' look and glared at Cui Buqu, "In that

case, QuQu, what zither in this world can expand and shrink as it

pleases?"

Cui Buqu replied, "Tiangong Pavillion's Li Xuanji just made a fold-up

zither. When folded up, it is as big as a palm, when expanded; it is

as big as a lute. Lord Feng, you are a member of the Jiejian Bureau,

yet you did not know of this?"

Feng Xiao smiled, "Li Xuanji possesses god-given haves, but my

skills with the zither are definitely better than his, and better than the

Green Dragonfly. Except the Green Dragonfly is a famous zither, it is

difficult to come across. If I can have it for a few days, it would be

excellent."

Cui Buqu spoke, "The one who bought the Green Dragonfly is called

Cui Hao. He is the eldest son of the second wife of the leader of

Boling Cui Clan. Next month on the eighth day, it will be his father,

Cui Yong's birthday. Cui Yong loves the zither like life itself, and he

also loves Cui Hao."

Judging by his meaning, this zither was bought as a gift for his

father.

The rest of the auctioned items were all purchased as well. Those who are able to attend the Linlang Guild's auctioning event

were naturally people who had no money problems. When they

bought something, it could alleviate their position and significance,

creating an illusion of someone at a higher place. So no matter how

expensive the items were, there was bound to be someone who

bought it. However, some of the participants were people that not

even Feng Xiao or Pei Jingzhe knew, yet Cui Buqu could recite their

background one by one. From his introduction of them, Feng Xiao

vaguely knew that they had nothing to do with the case.

When the day drifted towards the afternoon, half the auction was

already over with. The Linlang Guild served its customers with a

variety of desserts, so they could fill their stomachs with something.

The people were not too hungry; instead, they were excited for the

next half of the auctioning event.

Pei Jingzhe could no longer sit for another moment. He suspected

that the Jade of Heaven's Lake might not even appear here,

however, Feng Xiao seemed as though he intended to go with his

decision in the end, so Pei Jingzhe could only sit properly back.

After a while, he heard a young man say, "The next item is a jade

stone, it has no name or origin. It only arrived here yesterday, given

to Linlang Guild. It has not gone through Master Dong Yang's

approval, so it is impossible to determine whether it is a genuine or

bogus item. This sort of thing, if bought by the customer and

regretted, the Linlang Guild will not take any form of responsibility.

Just as a heads up."

This rule was already spoken once, but was repeated again. People,

who originally were not too interested, looked discouraged.

The waiter brought a chest with cravings and took out the item

inside. From outside the window, sunlight shone through. Everyone

gasped in wonderment. Pei Jingzhe practically could not sit still. He immediately straightened

his body and glared at the item in the waitress' hands.

It was the Jade of Heaven's Lake!

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[1] Nine Groups of Caoyun: 漕运九帮 the name scheme of this group

is strange, but it seems like they're in charge of transporting

merchandise through the canals. It's called the Caoyun system.

[2] Sui Empire: The Sui Dynasty will now be called the Sui Empire to

avoid confusion with the Northern and Southern Dynasties.