“So, do I need to be interrogated just to buy a blade?”
The young man lifted his eyelids slightly and asked indifferently.
“That is not it. I am a rough man and speak directly.”
Young Master Qi cupped his fists towards the young man. “Five thousand liang is no small sum. Brother, please do not joke.”
Such a question was highly impolite and easily offensive.
Yet Luolan did not stop Young Master Qi. Instead, she looked at him gratefully.
Normally, before an auction, a deposit and bidding qualification were required to prevent casual bids without payment ability.
That would make the auction a farce.
But today’s attendees were all young noblemen. If Luolan demanded deposits, it would slap their faces. So she never mentioned it.
Young noblemen valued face. Bidding publicly before so many, they would borrow if needed but never default, or lose massive face.
But a stranger suddenly bidding five thousand liang made Luolan cautious.
“So you worry I cannot pay!”
The young man smiled casually, pulled a stack of banknotes from his pocket, tossed them to the maid behind him, and had her deliver them to the stage. “Here are ten thousand liang in notes. Keep them for now, Miss. Refund the excess or cover the shortfall later. Does this work?”
“Yes, yes!”
Luolan bowed to the young man. “Thank you for your support, Young Master!”
He waved his hand and asked, “Is the blade mine now?”
“Please wait a moment, Young Master,” Luolan explained. “Per my master’s rules, I must ask three times. If no one raises, the blade is yours.”
“Interesting.”
The young man nodded, signalling her to proceed.
“This young master bids five thousand liang. Does anyone raise?”
Luolan asked.
The young noblemen were stunned by his lavishness.
Ten thousand liang in notes, tossed casually to a maid.
This showed he cared nothing for ten thousand liang.
Even in the capital, ten thousand was a fortune.
How rich must he be for such confidence?
Suddenly, the young man grew more mysterious in their eyes.
Luolan ignored their thoughts and continued calmly. “Five thousand liang, first call!”
“Five thousand liang, second call!”
She paused briefly, hoping for more bids.
Sadly, five thousand exceeded their limits. They showed regret.
Luolan could not wait long. After about two seconds, seeing no bids, she called, “Five thousand liang, third call!”
She struck the nearby gong. “Congratulations, Young Master. You win the first Star Cutter of this auction!”
Iron Hammer leaped off the stage, presented the black blade with both hands. “Young Master, please inspect.”
The young man opened the box without ceremony, checked, nodded to Iron Hammer.
After Iron Hammer left, the young man drew the blade, stared at the engraving, lost in thought, unsure what stirred him.
On stage, Iron Hammer brought a new tray.
Luolan skipped box and sheath details this time. “This Star Cutter is engraved, ‘Turning to battle across three thousand li with one body, one blade once withstood a million troops.’
Starting bid remains one thousand liang. Young Masters, begin bidding.”
The first blade’s frenzy stemmed from novelty and the line “one blade’s cold light across sixteen provinces,” carrying generals’ emotions.
This blade’s words sounded domineering, fitting young noblemen, but not enough for madness.
As a sample, few bid. It sold for one thousand three hundred fifty liang.
Luolan was disappointed but hid it, smiling as Iron Hammer fetched the third blade.
“This Star Cutter is engraved, ‘Ten paces to kill one man, a thousand li without lingering.
When the deed is done, brush off clothes and depart, hiding deep both body and name.’
Bidding may begin!”
Another sample, Luolan expected a modest price like the second.
Indeed, only four young noblemen bid, with small increases. At one thousand four hundred liang, no more.
As Luolan prepared to count, a timid voice from the corner called, “One thousand five hundred liang!”
Clearly a girl’s voice.
“Who bid?”
Young noblemen looked around curiously.
Luolan was surprised too. “Who bids? Please raise your hand.”
“It… it is me!”
A girl in a blue long dress emerged from the corner, shrinking her neck.
Her attire and hairstyle marked her a maid.
“Which house’s maid are you? How dare you fool around?”
Young Master Qi snapped coldly.
“I… I am not fooling. I am buying this black blade for my you… my young master. I have money!”
Stared at by so many young noblemen, the maid nearly cried but finished.
She fumbled banknotes from her pocket.
The young noblemen burst into laughter.
Too nervous, the maid slipped, quickly correcting, but they understood.
She was a maid from a great house. Her miss admired Jin Feng or his poetry, wanted the blade, but could not appear publicly, so sent the maid.
Unexpectedly, the maid was too timid and gave herself away immediately.
“This maid is too cute. Brother Liu, know which house?”
“Great houses’ misses rarely go out, nor their maids. How would I know? Brother Zhang, fancy the maid?”
“No, just curious who her miss is.”
“Storytellers hype Baron Qingshui more each day. Master Jin truly has poetic talent. Many young ladies admire him. But sending a maid to bid directly? Probably just this one.”
“Likely the miss truly loves this poem. Yes, it blends dominance and freedom. Girls love that most.”
…
Romantic matters always spark gossip.
The young noblemen were no exception, smiling as they guessed the maid and her miss’s identities.
