713: Treasure Auction

Treasure Auction

After listening to him, Ming Yue looked over the paper in her hands, reading through the contents before. Xiao Yin and Hei Yue looked up at her curiously.2

She narrowed her eyes before looking at the steward. 

"This is called a Treasure Auction?" she asked.

Steward Qu nodded. 

"Yes, these particular auctions focus more on exchanging one treasure with another. But anything that isn't gold can be used. Those who take part or host a Treasure Auction have so much wealth that getting more is meaningless to them."

"Then for the one hosting, it says that it is someone called 'Splendid Mongoose'? Who is this person?" 

The young cultivator was intrigued by this person, partially due to the unique name but also because they are personally holding this auction. Whoever they were, they had to have quite an influence. 

The steward then took out another piece of paper handing it over to her. 

"I knew that you would ask so I prepared this as well. It will tell you everything you know about the Splendid Mongoose. But to summarize, he is someone of great riches as he is also a very powerful cultivator. He spent much of his time, treasure hunting and amassed quite a hoard. Frankly, I just found this out just hours ago and when I did, I knew I had to let you know. Among all of the treasures he is auctioning off, the Dragon Eye Berries is one of them." 

Taking that other document, she opened it, reading a list of every item being auctioned.

"He's auctioning off all of this?" she muttered incredulously, "Some of these items seem much too valuable to just auction off."

Steward Qu merely chuckled. 

"That's just what someone of his caliber is like. After all, it's not as if he is doing this for free. It is a treasure for a treasure. So long as it piques his interest. he will consider it and perhaps accept it for another treasure."

"I see. But do I have a treasure that he'd want?" she wondered to herself, "But at least money is not a concern anymore."

She thought carefully, trying to draw up a quick plan first. 

"The Treasure Auction won't be for another week. Until then, I could figure out what treasures I have that might entice the Splendid Mongoose."

The young cultivator then looked at Steward Qu. 

"Are there any treasures that the Splendid Mongoose prefers?" she asked him. 

Scratching his head, he took a moment to think carefully before answering her. 

"Eh, he's quite an eccentric and to be honest, he is eccentric among other eccentrics. His collection of treasures changes quite frequently, the moment it no longer captures his interest it's gone. It could be life-changing treasures or highly coveted by many but if he stopped caring then he stopped."

Steward Qu spoke with quite a helpless tone, almost as if he experienced something like this.

"Have you... have you met him before?" Ming Yue questioned curiously. 

His expression changed the moment he was met with that question. It turned to a mixture of stunned and defeat. 

"I... Well, I haven't met him personally but you could say I had quite a lot of work to do because of him", he told her. 

The steward then turned, looking at the Chamber of Gold. 

"With the Financiers standing at the top, the ones directly below them are the Stewards, like me. We are nothing more than their assistants, reporting to them and doing whatever they ask us to do. One of those things was dealing with the Splendid Goose. As he was practically one of the wealthiest people in the city, some of the financiers felt that he had too much. Aside from that, there were many people who grew envious of the treasures he obtained as he did not hide any secrets. And well, there were many times when we would have to step in when a fight would ensue."

He sighed, showing her a tired look on his face. 

"Those times were one of the most stressful times of my life. Imagine being sandwiched between wealthy figures who shouted absurd offers or threatened one another for treasure."

Sucking in a cold breath, the Steward seemed quite fearful, remembering those moments. 

"I wasn't sure if I was going to survive and well... I expect that things will be similar in this Treasure Auction. Threats will be thrown and enemies will be made. While I don't have any doubts about your strength, making an enemy of any of these people could cause you quite a bit of trouble. At the same time, some may try to negotiate with you to stand down. So do exercise caution when you're there."

Ming Yue looked at him with a confused look. 

"What do you mean? I'll need someone to guide me, no?" 

He stared at her with an open mouth not really knowing what to say. 

"Wha- I- Do I really have t- Haah, yes, I will come with you to the Treasure Auction but please, take my words into account when you are about to do something." 

The young woman chuckled. 

"Don't worry, I'll try my best to do so." 

Steward Qu took a deep breath and regained his composure, bowing to Ming Yue. 

"In that case, I will take my leave and make some preparations for the Treasure Auction. I'll see what I can dig up about the other guests but I'd suggest that you make your own preparations as well. But, I'll be seeing you at the auction, meet me here at this spot the day of."

He then turned to leave, going back into the Chamber of Gold. Ming Yue watched him walk away before looking back at the two documents given to her. 

"The Splendid Goose, huh? I should go back and see what sort of treasures I have that will entice him."

She then turned, leaving the grounds of the Auction Halls and going back to the Sunlight Palace.

Although she had gone through all the trouble of auctioning a lot of those treasures. All of that extra gold would surely come in handy at some point. Not to mention, her spatial ring now had quite a bit of free space.

In any case, news of the Treasure Auction spread like wildfire, it was even quicker as the one doing it was the Splendid Goose. Many were excited and planned to watch the event rather than participate. After all, how many of them had treasures that could catch his eye?

On the day of the Auction, the kingdom seemed to be busier than usual. 

Standing in front of the Chamber of Gold, Ming Yue saw Steward Qu waiting for her by the doors. When their eyes met, he quickly walked up to her. 

"Alright, let's go quickly! I've already gotten a private viewing room for you!"

"Lead the way."

He nodded before entering the Chamber of Gold, leading her and the two beasts towards the back of this auction house where there was a private lift waiting for them. 

"Get on."

Letting them in first, the Steward then closed the gates and pulled the lever down. Rather than ascend, the lift went down, going beneath the Auction House. Ming Yue stood there, waiting as their descent continued. 

"Treasure Auctions, especially ones of this caliber are done underground. They tend to be more of a show than anything as only the wealthiest can show off here", he explained. 

Soon enough, it stopped before another set of doors. 

"Here we are."

Opening the liftgate, he pushed another set of doors open, leading them into a massive hallway. Walking past dozens of doors, he finally stopped at the one numbered "19". 

"Please."

Placing a palm on those doors, they rumbled before opening, allowing everyone inside. 

The first thing she noticed was the view as the viewing rooms were placed above everything. 

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