The maid knew she had made a mistake. She felt both ashamed and anxious. Her small face turned bright red, almost dripping with blood.
Luo Lan could not help feeling a trace of pity. She asked loudly, “This young lady has bid one thousand five hundred taels. Does anyone wish to raise the price?”
Originally, one or two young masters had thoughts of bidding, but now they felt embarrassed to compete with a girl. They all simply gave up.
Seeing no one respond, Luo Lan called out, “One thousand five hundred taels, first time!”
“…Second time!”
“…Third time!”
“Sold!”
Luo Lan lightly struck the gong, indicating the deal was complete.
Before Iron Hammer could step down to deliver it, the maid ran over herself. She hurriedly spread the banknotes on the wooden table.
“Please wait a moment, everyone.”
Luo Lan smiled, crouched down, sorted the banknotes one by one, counted out one thousand five hundred taels, then returned the remaining few to the maid.
“Goodness, who would have thought this maid’s young lady is so wealthy? The leftover notes must be at least another thousand taels, right?”
“Brother Zhao, why don’t we send someone to follow and see which family’s young lady she is?”
Two young masters not far away joked with smiles.
The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart. Upon hearing this, Luo Lan softly said to Iron Hammer, “Brother Iron Hammer, arrange two men to escort this young lady home. Be careful on the way, make sure no one follows her.”
“Alright.”
Iron Hammer made a gesture, and a veteran nearby immediately ran over.
“Thank you, Sister Luo Lan!”
While Iron Hammer instructed the veteran, the little maid kept thanking Luo Lan.
She had just been worrying about what to do if someone followed her.
If someone tracked them to the mansion gate, her young lady’s reputation would be ruined.
She would be beaten to death by the madam.
“It’s fine. Protecting a guest’s privacy is part of our duty.”
Luo Lan said softly, “Follow this big brother. He will arrange everything.”
“Yes.”
The little maid hugged the knife box tightly and left with the veteran.
Luo Lan stood up again, her smile blooming once more.
“There was a small incident just now, keeping everyone waiting. The auction continues.”
Now the quality of the black knives had been fully proven. The young masters attended the auction not only for the knives’ toughness and sharpness, but mainly out of curiosity about the inscriptions on the remaining six blades.
Some came purely for the inscriptions.
For example, several young masters from non-military families had no interest in the knives themselves.
Seeing Iron Hammer bring up the tray, the young masters all focused their attention.
Even the mysterious young man who had been lost in thought earlier looked up at the stage again.
“Next is the fourth blade!”
Luo Lan also seemed excited, her tone rising a few notes without meaning to.
The second and third blades were samples, so she had not expected much. The next seven were the main event of today’s auction.
The fourth blade was especially key.
Luo Lan slowly drew the black knife, squinting at the blade.
Just as the young masters were about to urge her, Luo Lan took a breath and announced loudly, “The inscription on this Star-Cutting blade is: Back in the day, with spear and steed, devouring a thousand miles like a tiger!
The rules are the same as before. Starting bid is one thousand taels. Young masters, you may begin bidding!”
The young man who had been calm all along suddenly brightened. He grabbed the armrest of his chair.
Even so, his fingers trembled slightly.
“This line is well written. My father will definitely like it.”
“Not just your father, mine too. He always talks about ‘back in the day’, telling me at every meal how things were back then.”
The young masters complained one after another.
In the corner, Liu Xiuyuan’s eyes lit up.
He had embarrassed Luo Lan earlier and been harshly humiliated by Young Master Qi, yet he stayed to buy a black knife for his uncle.
This blade seemed tailor-made for him.
“No matter the cost, I must have this knife!”
Liu Xiuyuan made up his mind.
Unaware that several other young masters felt the same.
This was why Luo Lan placed this blade fourth.
Before the auction began, she guessed the second and third sample knives might cool the atmosphere, while this one would likely be popular.
So she scheduled it for the crucial fourth slot.
This ensured fierce competition for the fourth blade.
The price quickly rose from one thousand taels to three thousand three hundred taels before stopping.
The final bidder was Liu Xiuyuan.
“No one else bid! No one else bid!”
Liu Xiuyuan’s palms sweated with nerves. He prayed silently.
He had brought only three thousand five hundred taels, scraped together from everywhere.
If anyone raised again, he could not keep up.
Jinfeng priced black knives at eight hundred taels each. Though the new models were more refined, Luo Lan knew the cost was similar.
Selling for three thousand three hundred taels already surprised her. She prepared to confirm the sale, but then the mysterious young man spoke again.
“Five thousand taels!”
At these words, all the young masters turned in unison, looking at him like a fool.
Anyone could see that at three thousand three hundred taels, bidding had stalled. Even if someone wanted it, adding one or two hundred taels would likely secure it.
Yet the young man jumped by over a thousand taels. Was he not just giving money to Jinchuan Chamber?
Liu Xiuyuan slapped the armrest, nearly cursing aloud.
But seeing Young Master Qi still there, and the young man’s noble bearing and lavish spending, he clearly was no ordinary person. In the end, Liu Xiuyuan swallowed the swear words.
“Is this guy a shill hired by Jinchuan Chamber?”
The young masters whispered among themselves.
Even Young Master Qi looked at Luo Lan suspiciously.
Luo Lan was stunned, unable to fathom the young man’s game.
The young man offered no explanation, his expression calm, as if the discussion was not about him.
Since he was willing to pay high, Luo Lan naturally welcomed it. Recovering, she smiled and asked, “Anyone wish to raise the bid?”
The young masters shook their heads unwillingly.
They wanted the knife, but their means did not allow it.
When Iron Hammer delivered the black knife to the young man, he immediately drew it, squinting at the blade.
“Back in the day, with spear and steed, devouring a thousand miles like a tiger!”
The young man said softly, “Worthy of the Clearwater Baron who captured Li Jikui alive. Beautifully written! Prince Qinghuai is truly fortunate to have such a talent in his domain!”
With that, he sheathed the knife, not handing it to his maid, but placing it on his lap.
Clearly, he valued this blade even more than the first.
On stage, the auction continued. The fifth round began.
