19. After the Auction
The auction concluded with Young Master Xuli’s extravagant purchase of eighty thousand taels, leaving everyone satisfied.
When Gong Yiling arrived to collect her items, accompanied by an attendant, she was met with applause.
“Thank you so much, Young Master!” The red-haired host and a white-haired elder rushed forward to express their gratitude. “If it weren’t for your generous assistance, this old man wouldn’t know how to handle the situation.”
“Assistance?” Gong Yiling feigned ignorance. “What assistance?”
“The auction house promised the master alchemist that the final price for that bottle of pills would exceed four hundred thousand taels. If it weren’t for your intervention, we wouldn’t have been able to fulfill our promise.”
Miss Gong was aware of this promise.
In the novel, after Young Master Xuli’s antics, it was Yan Chuyue who drove up the price to eighty thousand.
Different ingredients, same victim.
“You’re too kind, Elder,” Gong Yiling bowed. “I truly wanted to show my sincerity, but unfortunately, I didn’t bring enough money.”
“Oh…”
The auction house’s chief steward could tell just from the ornamental sword at Gong Yiling’s waist that it was worth at least a million taels.
Not having enough money was just an excuse. They all understood.
“However, regardless of your reasons, you have offended that jinx,” the chief steward said seriously. “They demanded the registration list for the special passage, but you didn’t seem to have come through that way.”
“In any case, please be careful.”
“Thank you for the warning.”
After exchanging pleasantries with the chief steward, Gong Yiling retrieved the bottle of pills and a red feather.
As she took the feather, the host stopped her.
“Young Master, this item is likely a fake. If you wish to sell it back to the auction house, we can make an exception and buy it back at the original price.”
Clearly, the auction house was looking for a way to express their gratitude.
“No, I’m not selling.”
No way!
This was the real deal. Why would she sell it? Not even for a hundred times the price!
“Then… please wait a moment.”
The host thought for a moment, then pulled out a large box from under her seat and placed it in front of Gong Yiling.
“These are ‘blind flow’ items and some unpopular sect items we’ve collected over the years. It would be inconvenient for you to take them all, so please choose a few as a gift from the auction house.”
Wow! Such a good deal!?
Gong Yiling was stunned.
Although over eighty percent of the “blind flow” items were fakes or useless, there were bound to be some genuine items.
She couldn’t distinguish the real ones, but… as long as she found the useful items mentioned in the book, wouldn’t that be enough?
“Then I’ll… just take a few.”
Feigning reluctance, she rummaged through the box and “randomly” picked a few “blind flow” items and an unpopular, unsold martial skill manual.
Then, she bid farewell to the auction house staff, entered a side door, took a detour, and exited through the restrooms near the front entrance. She rejoined her two maids waiting outside and left openly.
As for Young Master Xuli, she wasn’t worried at all.
Even with his resources, he would only suspect the one person who didn’t use the special passage. And if he investigated the purchasers of the VIP tickets, he wouldn’t find her.
After all, she had stolen her ticket.
Even if he found out about the stolen ticket, the First Prince’s men would take the blame.
It had nothing to do with her, right?
However, after leaving the auction house, Gong Yiling didn’t leave the area with her disciples.
She first asked Chun Lian for some normal talismans, then instructed the two girls to check into another inn, promising to join them later.
Qiu Shui was naturally reluctant.
“But Young Palace Master, you alone…”
“It’s alright,” Gong Yiling tapped her head gently with her closed fan. “Qiu Shui needs to focus on cultivating so you can protect this Palace Master.”
“Then… Young Palace Master, please be careful.”
“Why are you being so naggy like Chun Lian?” Gong Yiling chuckled. “And look, Chun Lian isn’t even worried.”
Hearing her name, Chun Lian stuck out her tongue sheepishly. “That’s because Chun Lian knows the Young Palace Master is the strongest!”
“See?”
Since things had come to this, Qiu Shui didn’t say anything more and left with Chun Lian.
Now then…
Gong Yiling took out a white cloak from her sleeve and put it on, then headed towards her destination.
—A relatively busy street not far from the auction house.
In fact, the auction was just a prelude.
The cultivators’ ultimate goal was to meet the wandering alchemist. They didn’t care who bought the pills.
After all, whether the auction house delivered the money or the alchemist sent someone to collect it…
The alchemist wouldn’t simply disappear.
Therefore, the streets near the auction house, seemingly bustling and normal, were actually filled with undercurrents and hidden agendas.
After waiting for a while, Gong Yiling spotted a plainly dressed young man in a bamboo hat and followed him.
When they were close enough, Gong Yiling spoke, “Young man, you’re being followed.”
Yan Chuyue, walking ahead, was startled but kept her voice steady. “By whom?”
“There are many who want to see you, or your master, through you. You should understand this.”
“And who are you?”
“Remember who you asked for three conditions earlier?” Gong Yiling smiled. “I can help you get rid of them. This help is purely voluntary and won’t count as one of the three conditions.”
They continued walking through the crowd.
Under the cover of the crowd, no one noticed their conversation.
“Why are you offering help?”
“This is the attitude of someone asking for a favor. It depends on your choice.”
“…” Yan Chuyue was silent for a moment, then nodded. “What do you want to do?”
“It’s simple.” Gong Yiling took out two Invisibility Talismans from her sleeve and handed one to Yan Chuyue. “You know what to do next.”
And just like that, in broad daylight, the two disappeared from the crowded street.
Leave a Reply