Soft Mist Inn, third floor suite.

Feng Yan found the lord to be… odder than usual.

On the last day before the auction he had sequestered himself within his room, appearing only to ask if there was any news on the auction. If it didn’t involve him, he’d brush it away and retreat back to his room.

Discarding his actions as another quirk of the lord, he and Liu Wong focused on helping the sect elders prepare for the auction, who were going about it with greater energy than usual.

Word had come via messenger of a great item set to appear in the auctions. Though yet unknown to them, it was known that the powers in Dragon Border Gate Prefecture were scrambling to purchase this thing. The sect had given instructions and a large influx of funds to the elders in an attempt to buy it.

As for Aryon? He didn’t seem care about that. On the day of the auction, when the elders were scrambling to finalise their funds, Feng Yan saw the lord cast his disguising mystic art and quietly leave, then quietly returned just as they were about to leave.

He also noticed him carrying a large, wrapped bundle when he left. But now, it was nowhere to be found when he came back.

Not opting a disguise this time, Aryon and company traveled down the stairs only to run into a familiar face.

“Lord Aryon!”

The chatty young master Bai Shun greeted them at the lobby, parting from his retinue. “Please come and meet my sister! Her name is Bai Hua, and she is the pretties-”

“You can stop now, idiot brother. I don’t need your introductions.” said the woman in question. Aryon was impressed with what he saw: a dark-haired beauty with shoulder-length hair, young, well proportioned and at the prime of her age.

She approached the Green Blade Forest party and gave the local bow to him, “Pardon my crudeness and my brother’s antics lord. I am indeed Bai Hua, eldest daughter and heir of the Bai Clan.”

She held a respectful tone towards him, and moved with poise and grace befitting nobility. Aryon couldn’t help but reciprocate, bowing in his own usual style. “It is of no matter. And your brother has made amends. Pray tell, are you going to the auction as well?”

“Why yes.” she said. “Does Lord want to accompany us? It will be better to have company on the road.”

‘It is indeed hard to refuse a woman.’ “We can, can we?” he turned towards the sect elders, who could only nod at his request.

The type of transport for nobility in this world was crude: a litter carried by four men each. Yet with the strength of these cultivators, their litters were quite big and luxurious.

Several of these fancy litters were rented by both parties. One set carried the sect elders and his ‘aides’, another carried the Bai Clan members. He, himself, shared a litter with the Bai siblings, and one sect elder.

“So” began the sister. “What brings lord to the auction? I heard it was for the Great Spirit Core Crystal.”

“Precisely so.”

“Is there anything else that might catch your eye? Perhaps this lady can purchase it for you, provided it isn’t too expensive.” she said with a hint of amusement.

“I have no other aims save for the crystal, madam. But I thank you for your offer.”

“Oh, truly? What of your friends? Have they any aim?”

Aryon’s ‘eyes’ glanced sideways at the sect elder next to him. “Why not ask them yourself?”

Ignoring the stare of the elder, she replied. “Hoho. Lord Aryon is new here, I assume. My Bai Clan has… small troubles with communicating with the sect.”

“So that’s it. I am but a guest in their home, madam, and have no right to pry in their matters myself. So you will forgive me for my lack of knowledge.” he said. The sect elder beside him gave a sigh of relief.

The conversation continued on with the sister trying to pry what she could from Aryon’s person, but he held his ground and only gave her choice tidbits of no consequence to him. ‘The less people know of me, the better I can work on getting home.’

___

Not long after they came to their destination: a palace built right next to a waterfall.

“Cloud Mist Treasure Palace, headquarters of the famous Zhao Clan auctioneers.” said Bai Hua as she exited the litter.

“Zhao Clan?”

“A powerful clan, lord, based in the imperial capital. They control many such auction houses and wield a great deal of power in the whole empire.”

‘Impressive. I see money is still the greatest magic of all.’

“Shall we, lord?”

Liu Wong looked at the palace with wonder.

He originally thought that the Bright Sun Weapon Pavillion was the best place in the world with its impressive weapon displays. But this place was many, many times better.

“Look! An eight-rank Mortal grade spear!”

“Is that bone armour made from a giant skull? What spirit beast did it come from?”

“Look at these high-grade Fire Energy Rubies! Master’s been looking for some for a while!”

For all his talents and genius, Liu Wong was still a child at heart. He dragged the older Feng Yan around as he gawked at the items and displays in the palace, going here, then there, then around this corner…

“Oof!”

“Watch it!”

Liu Wong collided with a red-armoured guard, falling to the ground. “It’s a Green Forest Sect brat.” said the guard with disdain. “Who the hell let this brat in here?”

“We’re here for the auction too!” yelled Liu Wong out of impulse.

A thin, athletic man stepped beside the guard. “You, here for the auction? Don’t make me laugh, sect brat. Run back to your backwoods sect and leave this place to those with actual power.”

Liu Wong glared and stood up quickly, but Feng Yan held him before he did anything rash. Putting on a cool air befitting a senior, Feng Yan said. “Forgive my… junior martial brother. We’ll be on our way.”

‘I’m a core disciple, you inner disciple! You’re the junior brother!’ But Liu Wong bit his tongue and gave a bow. He couldn’t make a scene with the elders and lord here…

“That’s right.” said the thin man. “I swear, these forest-loving apes have no subtlety-”

“Why, lord Ye Shao, how wonderful to meet you.” said the pretty voice of the Bai Clan young mistress. Together with her brother and the imposing figure of lord Aryon that towered over everyone, they were quite the eye-catching group. Seeing them here gave Liu Wong some comfort as he looked at the his insulter.

“Why, if it isn’t the Bai Clan siblings. Come to see me win it all?” said he with a sneer. “And who’s this? The foreigner the sect dragged in?”

“I am... not part of this.” said lord Aryon. “I must join my hosts. Excuse me, madam, but I do not want to catch what he has. I will see you later” with that, he turned to join the other sect elders, motioning for him and Feng Yan to join him.

He gave one last look to the confused man before turning to follow. “Who was that guy?” he asked.

“From his colours, I think he’s from the Ye Clan.” replied Feng Yan.

“He is the Ye Clan, if I’m right. ‘Acting’ patriarch Ye Shao.” said lord Aryon. “I can see why relations between you and the Ye Clan are deteriorating. He seems to have all the bad traits of- well, your people.”

Liu Wong and Feng Yan shrugged at that and returned to their fellow sect members.