Lin Da Niao said, “I heard that Rong Bao Pavilion will hold an auction at Wang Chun Tower tomorrow night, and even the saintess of the Yin Yang Sect has arrived.”
Ye Qiu asked, “What sort of organisation is Rong Bao Pavilion?”
“No way, you do not even know about Rong Bao Pavilion?” Lin Da Niao was utterly astonished; seeing the bewildered expressions on Ye Qiu and the long-browed immortal’s faces, he explained, “Rong Bao Pavilion is an auction organisation.”
“Their auction houses are spread throughout the entire cultivation world, whether in the Eastern Wastelands, Southern Ridge, Western Desert, Northern Domain, Central Continent, Rong Bao Pavilion has a presence.”
“Gentlemen, would you like to go and see?”
“If you are interested, I can take you there to broaden your horizons.”
Ye Qiu and the long-browed immortal exchanged a glance, then said, “Very well, we shall go and see tomorrow.”
“Then rest early; I am off to bed.” Lin Da Niao finished speaking and turned to leave.
As he exited the room, Lin Da Niao turned back and asked Ye Qiu, “Brother, I still do not know your name.”
“I am called Ye Chang Sheng.” Ye Qiu said.
“Brother Chang Sheng, rest well; I shall not disturb you gentlemen any longer.” Lin Da Niao left the room.
As soon as he was gone, the long-browed immortal asked, “You little brat, I see it is not the auction that interests you, but Rong Bao Pavilion itself, is it not?”
Ye Qiu said, “This Rong Bao Pavilion is no simple affair; with business on such a grand scale, there must be peerless powerhouses backing it.”
“Lin Da Niao just mentioned that auction houses of Rong Bao Pavilion are everywhere in the cultivation world, which shows how well-informed their intelligence network must be.”
“I wish to enlist their help in searching for my father’s whereabouts.”
The long-browed immortal’s eyes lit up and he said, “That is a fine idea; we could also ask them to search for Hu Zi’s whereabouts.”
“No.” Ye Qiu said, “Hu Zi is highly likely to be connected to the demon race, and since we are not yet familiar with the people of Rong Bao Pavilion, for now, it is best not to mention Hu Zi, lest we invite unnecessary complications.”
The long-browed immortal said, “You little brat, I notice you are becoming ever more thorough in your considerations; poor Daoist is impressed.”
“Spare me the flattery and get to sleep.” Ye Qiu finished speaking and lay down to rest.
The night passed.
The next day, Ye Qiu spent the entire day in the room reading a book on elixirs, studying methods of pill refinement.
The long-browed immortal, meanwhile, found he and Lin Da Niao were kindred spirits; the two chatted idly about all manner of things, eating meat and drinking wine, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Evening came.
As dusk fell.
Lin Da Niao led Ye Qiu and the long-browed immortal out of the inn and towards Wang Chun Tower.
Wang Chun Tower was built with extravagant splendour, resembling a palace; at this moment, it was lit up with lanterns and garlands, filled with song and dance.
Before Ye Qiu and the others could enter, they were stopped by the guards at the door.
“Gentlemen, please present your invitation.”
Lin Da Niao declared righteously, “I do not have one.”
The guard said sternly, “The Rong Bao Pavilion is holding an auction here tonight; since you gentlemen lack invitations, please leave promptly.”
Without another word, Lin Da Niao reached into his pocket, pulled out a jade token, and tossed it to the guard.
The guard caught the jade token and examined it; his attitude changed at once, he held it reverently with both hands and returned it to Lin Da Niao, smiling as he said, “It turns out you are a distinguished guest from the veterinarian clan; this one has eyes but failed to recognise Mount Tai; I beg the young master’s forgiveness.”
“May I enter now?” Lin Da Niao asked.
“Of course, young master, please.” The guard made a welcoming gesture.
“Brother Chang Sheng, Daoist, let us go.” Lin Da Niao finished speaking and led Ye Qiu and the long-browed immortal into Wang Chun Tower.
The interior of Wang Chun Tower was not only lavishly decorated but also vast in scale; the first floor was a spacious hall, already set up with the auction platform, while the second and third floors consisted of private boxes.
When Lin Da Niao and the others arrived on the second floor, only the largest private box remained empty.
Moreover, the box offered an excellent view, overlooking the hall from above, allowing a clear sight of everything on the auction platform below.
Not only that, but the broad tea table in the box was laden with tea and an assortment of pastries.
“We shall sit here!”
Lin Da Niao had just sat down when a cold snort rang out: “Blind fool, get up and scram at once.”
“Who the bloody hell has eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard to curse young master?” Lin Da Niao flew into a rage and turned his head, only to see a group of people approaching.
At least twenty of them.
Leading them was a gaunt-faced elder in a grey robe, with a yin-yang pattern embroidered in gold thread on his chest.
Beside the elder walked a young woman of marriageable age.
The woman wore a white dress, her features were exquisite, her figure tall and slender, her skin like ice and jade, akin to an orchid in a secluded valley; she was exceedingly beautiful.
Behind the woman followed more than twenty maids.
Likewise, their skirts bore yin-yang patterns.
There was no doubt; this group hailed from the Yin Yang Sect.
Ye Qiu glanced over and sensed that the elder and the woman were both at the peak of the Cavern Heaven realm, while the twenty-odd maids were all at the Golden Core stage.
The one who had spoken earlier was the elder; he glared coldly at Lin Da Niao and barked, “You dead fatty, daring to occupy our seats; do you court death?”
Lin Da Niao had evidently recognised their origins and quickly begged for mercy: “A gentleman uses words, not fists; let us talk this out; do not kill me.”
“Too late for fear now!” As the elder’s words fell, a chilling killing intent spread out; in an instant, Lin Da Niao was so frightened that he plopped down onto the floor.
Clink.
The jade token of the veterinarian clan slipped out from his sleeve.
The woman caught sight of the token, a flicker of something unusual passing through her eyes; she hurriedly stopped the elder.
“Uncle Tian, do not harm him.”
The woman’s voice was like melting first snow, exceptionally pleasant to the ear.
“Miss, this fatty occupied our seats and spoke insolently; he deserves death.” The elder said.
“Uncle Tian need not be angry; it is merely a seat, nothing more; as for the insolence, I think he did not mean it.”
The white-clad woman took two steps forward, smiled at Lin Da Niao, and said, “My apologies for startling you; are you alright?”
“N-No, I am fine.” Lin Da Niao was utterly captivated by the woman’s beauty; his eyes stared fixedly at her, and even his speech grew stammering.
The elder barked, “You dead fatty, keep staring at the miss and I shall gouge out your eyeballs.”
Lin Da Niao shrank back in fright, picked up the jade token from the floor, and said hastily, “My apologies, I did not know this box was yours; I shall leave at once.”
Lin Da Niao clambered to his feet, bowed to the woman, then gave Ye Qiu and the long-browed immortal a meaningful look, and hurriedly ascended to the third floor.
The woman gazed at Lin Da Niao’s retreating figure, her eyes deep and inscrutable, lost in thought.
The elder said, “Miss, you are too kind-hearted; if it were up to me, for such a minor figure, why waste words; let this old servant kill him and be done.”
The woman said, “He is no minor figure.”
The elder was full of bewilderment: “Miss, could that fatty be…”
The woman did not wait for the elder to finish and smiled faintly, saying, “Sit down!”
