Siu Ji blushed as she stood by the side and watched the two people on the couch pretend like nothing happened. Wun Fan took off his black robes and awkwardly started talking, “What’s the schedule for the auction today?”
Chan Chi Yuet also pretended to be smoothing out her dress and fixing her hair, but her red cheeks betrayed her. She smiled as she said, “Naturally, the four Pills of Meridian Fortification are saved for the finale.”
“However, some of the other items on auction are of pretty good quality. You can keep an eye out for them,” Chan Chi Yuet passed a thick book over to him. She showed a gentle side to her that she hadn’t shown before, “This is your first time at an auction house, isn’t it? You might not be too familiar with some of the items on sale. This book contains the names of the items and their detailed descriptions. The fair market price is written below, so you can bid even if you aren’t familiar with the product.”
Wun Fan skimmed the book. It had at least fifty to sixty pages and had illustrations alongside the text. The pictures were very intricate. They were not masterpieces of art, but they were most certainly drawn by someone with skill. They looked realistic and it was easy to tell what items they were at a glance. The penmanship that accompanied the pictures was dainty and neat. Just reading the words was enjoyable.
The descriptions in the book were light, simple, and easy to understand, probably intentionally so. The author explained the items as simply as possible, allowing the reader to understand the origin, purpose and fair market price of every item on auction.
Wun Fan closed the book and stared at Chan Chi Yuet. He asked, “This book…you wrote it and drew the pictures yourself, didn’t you?”
“Haha, it didn’t take me a lot of time anyway,” Chan Chi Yuet brushed her hair as she said nonchalantly.
However, she didn’t expect Siu Ji to speak up exasperatedly, “What do you mean not a lot of time? You’ve been working on it since dinner last night, all the way until sunrise…mmm…”
Chan Chi Yuet ignored the fact that she was wearing a dress and high heels. She leaped at Siu Ji and covered her mouth. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Wun Fan, “That was nothing. I was just doing a little bit of revision and wanted to study the auction items for today.”
Chan Chi Yuet was a beauty with bright eyes and dimples when she smiled. Even with just a little makeup on, she was absolutely stunning. However, there was no hiding the trace of lethargy in her face. If someone were to pay attention, they could see the red in her eyes. She was obviously quite tired. Wun Fan didn’t tease her. Instead, he said gently, “Thank you, it must have been hard.”
Even though Wun Fan knew that Chan Chi Yuet was nice to him partially because of Old Lei’s alchemy skills, he couldn’t stop himself from being friendly towards someone who was nice to him.
“No, not at all,” Chan Chi Yuet and Wun Fan locked eyes, staring gently at each other. Suddenly, both of them felt like the other person was not that annoying. A sweet, romantic atmosphere filled the room. It was a strange situation indeed. An eighteen-year-old girl was staring at an eleven-year-old boy so intimately. Was she crazy?
Siu Ji blushed when she saw this. She could tell the atmosphere was a little unusual and quickly coughed lightly to break the awkwardness.
“I- I should get going to help arrange the auction procedures. Siu Ji will stay here to attend to you. Call me if you need anything,” Chan Chi Yuet was like a rabbit whose burrow had just been unearthed. She wanted nothing more than to find a hole and hide. She quickly pushed the door opened and walked away before Wun Fan could reply.
Wun Fan saw Siu Ji walk over to pour him tea. He couldn’t do anything but laugh awkwardly to hide his unnatural expression.285Please respect copyright.PENANAZypOdhQxXk
It was one in the afternoon already. The auction house opened its doors. The martial artists were a rowdy crowd that would typically scoff at the idea of waiting in line, but they had no choice but to play nice in the face of the Chan Clan’s reputation and the Thousand Relics Auction’s power. Reluctant as they were, they entered the auction house in an orderly fashion.
Otherwise, it might not be beautiful maids greeting them anymore. Instead, their reception would be a bunch of muscular armed guards.
Heh, they might just ‘accidentally’ cripple you and you will have absolutely no means of recourse. Go ask Mayor Hung Yun Zak for justice? Good joke. No one would care about a measly martial artist with neither influence nor power.
The road was much more empty once the martial artists entered the auction house. A carriage arrived, the flag of the Wun Clan draped over it. The chauffeur opened the carriage door and a middle-aged man in dark robes emerged. It was Wun Ching Yeung.
When he arrived at the entrance, the reception lady who had greeted Wun Fan the other day immediately walked over. She waved a hand and motioned for the maids to step back. She would receive this guest personally. She said respectfully, “Welcome to Thousand Relics Auction, Clan Master Wun. Please follow me to the first floor.”
“Thank you,” Wun Ching Yeung replied gently. His every word and every action demonstrated his magnanimous character. He looked around him and couldn’t help but marvel at how extravagant the place was every time he came here. He hadn’t had the luck to visit the palace and had no idea what it looked like, but he couldn’t help but ask himself: how would the palace in the capital compare to Thousand Relics Auction?
Many guests had already entered Auction Hall Mortal on the first floor. Only a scarce few people were still exchanging pleasantries outside the doors. A woman in a formal black dress walked forward when Wun Ching Yeung approached. She smiled enchantingly as she shook his hand, “We are honored to have you as a guest here at Thousand Relics Auction, Clan Master Wun. I hope you forgive me for not receiving you personally at the gates.”
“Haha, you must be joking, Miss Chan. I’m the one who is lucky enough to have the opportunity to be present at this auction and see something new,” Wun Ching Yeung shook her hand politely. He put his hands behind his back and peered into the doors. The sections in the middle and the back were already full, but there were still a few empty seats in the front. They seemed to be reserved for someone.
“The second elder of the Wun Clan is sitting inside already. Should I bring you there, sir?” Chan Chi Yuet asked considerately. She knew there was some friction between Wun Ching Yeung and the second elder, which was why she arranged a seat in the front for the second elder. That way, she could make other arrangements for Wun Ching Yeung if he didn’t want to sit with him.
Chan Chi Yuet might only be eighteen, but she was as meticulous as any other adult.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll sit beside him, then,” Wun Ching Yeung was an upright gentleman. Naturally, he didn’t mind sitting beside the second elder. It was a different matter whether the second elder would mind. He grabbed the paddle that a maid had passed to him. It would be used for bidding later on.
“Please allow me to show you to your seat, Clan Master Wun,” Chan Chi Yuet said courteously, waving her hand and motioning for Wun Ching Yeung to enter. Suddenly, a voice from the distance stopped the two of them in their tracks.
“Mm, Ching Yeung?” A figure drifted in from the distance, a silhouette clad in bright reds and purples. It was Mayor Hung Yun Zak. He quickly walked over and wrapped an arm over Wun Ching Yeung’s shoulder, “You’re here as well! You must be here to buy the Pill of Meridian Fortification!”
“Haha, you truly are sharp, mayor. I can’t hide anything from you at all,” Wun Ching Yeung admitted honestly. There was nothing to hide anyway. The Chan Clan had told everyone that Grade Six pills were on for auction in the invitation letter. Most people had probably been drawn to this auction for those pills.
“Mr. Mayor, greetings from Chi Yuet,” Chan Chi Yuet smiled, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she spoke. Hung Yun Zak was dazed for a short moment when he looked upon her.
“Ah, you must be the Chan Clan girl. It’s been two years since we met. You’re even more pretty now. Don’t call me mayor. I even held you in my arms when you were a baby back in the capital. Just call me brother,” Hung Yun Zak clicked his tongue and shook his head. He even pouted like a girl.
Chan Chi Yuet put on a shy expression when she heard this, “You are my elder by seniority. It would be inappropriate for me to call you brother. The clan might fault me for being disrespectful towards you. I think it is better if I call you uncle instead.” Chan Chi Yuet wasn’t being completely sincere. It was true that Hung Yun Zak was her elder and that calling him brother was a little inappropriate, but it wasn’t exactly an offence that would get her scolded.
Her actual intention might be to annoy Hung Yun Zak a little bit.
“Hmph! That makes me sound old, but whatever,” Hung Yun Zak grabbed Wun Ching Yeung by the hand and pulled him into the auction hall. Chan Chi Yuet couldn’t do anything. She knew Hung Yun Zak liked to do as he liked and wasn’t bothered by it. She quickly walked forward and led the way for the two of them.
“Ching Muk.” The second elder only realized Wun Ching Yeung had arrived when he spoke his name.
“Clan master,” However, he wasn’t surprised. Many people knew that Thousand Relics Auction was selling Grade Six pills today. Moreover, they were Pills of Meridian Fortification. Wun Ching Yeung would never be absent for this, since Wun Fan was suffering injuries from the meridian. However, the second elder didn’t say anything unnecessary. After all, his precious sun Wun Ping was partially responsible for Wun Fan’s injuries.
“You’re here as well.”
“Mm,” the second elder replied without any expression of interest. Naturally, Wun Ching Yeung didn’t push the issue and just sat down quietly.
Hung Yun Zak saw all of this happen, but it was not his place to say anything.285Please respect copyright.PENANAnUyARVtheK