Into the Auction

The faint sound of horses trotting in the distance stirred Hin Yue from his slumber. His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the morning light seeping through the cracks in the bamboo walls. He lay still for a moment, taking in the silence before shifting into a seated position. It was another day—no, not just another day. Today was important.

He crossed his legs on the woven mat that served as his bed and closed his eyes, slipping into light meditation. It was a habit from his past life—one that steadied his thoughts and prepared his mind. He didn't need deep focus today. Just clarity.

Today, he had two tasks: prepare his item for auction and explain the business plan to Hua Lio.

He rose, stretched, and left the small hut. Before he could head into town, there was one problem to fix—his appearance. He looked like a mess. With mud-streaked pants, worn sandals, and a shirt so faded it looked gray regardless of its original color, he wouldn't get through the doors of a professional auction house. Not in this world.

People wouldn't care about his status. But if he looked like a beggar or thief, they'd assume he was one. Better to avoid trouble before it started.

He made his way toward the river, weaving through familiar trails until he reached the same place where he'd first awoken in this world. He crouched beside the water, stripping off his shirt, and began cleaning himself thoroughly. The cold water was refreshing, shocking his skin awake. He washed his face, arms, and neck, scrubbing away dirt with a handful of smooth stones. His clothes followed—soaked and beaten against rocks before being hung to dry on a low-hanging branch.

After half an hour under the sun, they were dry enough. Not perfect, but better than before. He gave himself a quick look. No longer just a stray. Now, at least, he looked like a servant doing an errand for a family.

That would do.

Hin Yue walked toward the auction pavilion.

The building stood on the eastern side of the village, far more refined than most other structures. It had a stone foundation and polished wooden beams, with red cloth banners fluttering above the gate—stamped with the insignia of the Golden Chain Auction House. Even in a remote village like this one, the influence of such a powerful organization was felt.

Two guards stood at the entrance. They were not cultivators, just muscle—tall men in chainmail with short spears and the weary look of people who'd seen too much for their pay.

As Hin Yue approached, one of them frowned.

"Hey," the guard barked. "What's with those rags? You here to beg?"

Hin Yue didn't flinch. "I'm here to submit an item for auction."

The guard looked him up and down, then smirked. "For who? You look like a farm rat."

"Does it matter?" Hin Yue replied calmly. "The item speaks for itself."

The second guard gave a lazy shrug. "Let him in. Probably some servant running errands. Happens all the time."

They stepped aside, and Hin Yue entered.

Inside, the atmosphere shifted. The air was cooler, scented faintly with herbs and incense. Richly dressed attendants moved between customers with professional smiles. Display cases lined the walls—some with weapons, others with ornaments, books, or glowing stones. It wasn't a massive facility, but clearly an official branch, albeit a small one.

A young receptionist looked up from her desk. "Do you have an item for evaluation?"

"Yes," Hin Yue said. He reached into his pocket and drew out a small cloth-wrapped bundle.

Inside was a wooden pendant. No intricate carving, no runes, no gems. Just simple, polished wood tied with a thin silver string. It looked unimpressive.

The receptionist raised an eyebrow. "This is the item?"

"Yes."

She accepted it wordlessly and gestured for a runner, who took it through a door marked "Appraisal Room."

"You understand," she began, "if the item is counterfeit or worthless, you will bear the consequences."

Hin Yue nodded. "Understood."

He didn't care for the pendant's history. It wasn't a family heirloom he was emotionally attached to. It was a tool. His only leverage right now. His parents—whoever they were—had abandoned him. The item meant as little to him as they did.

She noted his information and told him to return later in the evening, just before the auction began. If the item was accepted, he'd be given a token number and could observe from the side platform.

With that done, Hin Yue turned and exited.

The sun hung high by the time he returned to the slums. He found Hua Lio in the same place as before, inside a cracked mud hut beside two other orphans. The boy was sorting a small pile of herbs—none of which looked edible or useful. Just green things he'd foraged earlier.

"You really do live like a ghost," Hin Yue muttered as he stepped in.

Hua Lio looked up, startled. "You're back already?"

"Of course. I said we'd talk."

The boy nodded and scooted aside, making room.

Hin Yue sat cross-legged and gestured. "Let's talk business."

Hua Lio blinked. "Business?"

"Yes. You said yesterday that you wanted a better life. Well, this is the price of it—thinking, working, risking things."

"I'm listening," Hua Lio said, unsure.

Hin Yue reached into his shirt and pulled out a thin piece of paper. On it were messy scribbles—diagrams, a few words, and a drawing of what looked like a long stick.

"This," he said, tapping the drawing, "is a toothbrush."

Hua Lio tilted his head. "A what?"

Hin Yue grinned. "Something no one here uses. Something that could save them from mouth rot, bad breath, and weak gums. It's a tool used to clean your teeth."

Hua Lio hesitated. "I've never… thought about cleaning my teeth."

"No one here has. That's why it's perfect. We sell something they don't know they need. Something cheap to make. Something useful."

"How will we sell it?"

"That's where you come in," Hin Yue said. "You'll be the face of the business."

"Me?"

"You. Not me. I can't do it. People know me as a beggar and a weirdo. They'll never buy from me. But you… we can dress you up. Make you look sharp. Teach you the script. You'll be the merchant, and I'll handle the planning."

"But I…" Hua Lio looked down at his hands. "I don't know how to talk to people. I've only ever read to children."

"That's good enough," Hin Yue said. "You can read. You have discipline. You're not like the rest of the trash out there. You've got something they don't."

Hua Lio went quiet.

"Besides," Hin Yue added, "if this works, you'll have your own silver by next month. Maybe even gold."

That finally got his attention.

"Alright," Hua Lio said softly. "I'll try."

Hin Yue nodded, satisfied. "We'll need investment money for the first batch—wood, brushes, herbal ingredients. That's why I submitted the pendant. If it sells tonight, we'll have enough to start small."

"What if it doesn't sell?"

"Then we figure something else out. But it will. That pendant wasn't fancy, but it's old, and old things hold value here."

The conversation went on for a while. Hin Yue explained how they'd sell the brushes in the plaza, how they'd need a stall, how to approach customers, and how to answer questions. Hua Lio was overwhelmed, but he listened carefully, asking shy but thoughtful questions.

Hin Yue noticed how sharp the boy was. Despite his meekness, his memory was precise. His mind worked fast. A rare combination.

Eventually, they finished talking, and Hin Yue leaned against the wall to rest for a moment.

Then sleep took him.

By the time he awoke, the light was dim.

He bolted upright.

"The auction!"

He scrambled to his feet and dashed out of the hut, leaving Hua Lio behind in confusion. The stars were already beginning to show in the sky.

When he arrived at the auction house, the guards recognized him and let him pass with a grunt. Inside, the receptionist handed him a small bronze token.

"Your item was accepted. Lot number 17."

She said it flatly, without ceremony.

Hin Yue accepted the token, hiding the small sigh of relief.

Tonight would decide whether his plan would begin with profit—or stay just a dream.