Chapter 499: Auction House
Lin Yun alighted from his carriage right at the Bai Family’s gate. Without being seen off by Patriarch He, he took He Yuntian and Bai Zhicheng with him and walked straight into the Bai Family compound.
Only after Lin Yun’s figure had disappeared did Patriarch He instruct the driver to return to the He Family. In the carriage, the old family steward, who had been silent until then, spoke to Patriarch He. "Patriarch, has Young Master Lin grown suspicious of us?"
"Sigh..." Hearing the old steward’s words, Patriarch He heaved a deep sigh and said nothing.
Seeing this, the old steward spoke tentatively, "Patriarch, since Young Master Lin no longer trusts us, why should the He Family continue to submit to him? Perhaps we should..."
Before the old steward could finish his sentence, Patriarch He cut him off angrily. "Enough! Young Master Lin is the master of the He Family, and we will not betray him. I don’t want to hear words like that ever again."
Rebuked by Patriarch He, the old steward immediately fell silent, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Lin Yun had returned to his small courtyard. The moment he stepped through the gate, he saw Li Tian playing with Little Ape. Lin Yun hadn’t brought the ape along today because he was going to Chunfeng Tower.
Seeing Lin Yun return, Li Tian immediately asked, "Young Master Lin, why didn’t you let me go to Chunfeng Tower today?"
Hearing Li Tian’s question, Lin Yun first patted Little Ape on the head and sent it to its room to sleep. Only then did he join Li Tian in the pavilion.
The two sat facing each other as Lin Yun slowly recounted the day’s events at Chunfeng Tower. After Lin Yun finished, Li Tian suddenly burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Lin Yun asked, not understanding Li Tian’s sudden reaction. ’What’s so funny about what happened today?’
Hearing Lin Yun’s question, Li Tian quickly stifled his laughter. He looked at Lin Yun and said, "Young Master Lin, you’ve really outsmarted yourself this time..."
Li Tian then leaned in and whispered something in Lin Yun’s ear. As he listened, a look of sudden realization dawned on Lin Yun’s face.
Laughing heartily, Lin Yun was genuinely impressed. Just by listening to his story, Li Tian had hit the nail on the head and seen through the entire affair. A single sentence from him was enough to clear up all the things Lin Yun couldn’t figure out.
Lin Yun sent for He Yuntian. The three of them sat and conferred until late into the night, at which point He Yuntian finally left the small courtyard.
"Hah. If you want to play, I’ll be more than happy to play along." With a faint smile, Lin Yun returned to his room and began to cultivate.
The next morning, He Yuntian returned to the He Family. As for Lin Yun, today was the day of the Celestial Spirit Auction. An Elemental Power Stone was on the block, and he was determined to get it. At the appointed time, Lin Yun, Li Tian, and Little Ape left the Bai Family compound.
The Celestial Spirit Auction House had its own dedicated auction hall in Wind City. It covered a vast area and was perfectly situated in the city’s central district.
Arriving in a Bai Family carriage, Lin Yun and his companions came to a stop before the Celestial Spirit Auction House. The moment he stepped out, Lin Yun was taken aback by the sheer size of the crowd.
People and carriages flowed like a river, creating a bustling scene. The entrance to the Celestial Spirit Auction House was almost completely gridlocked. There were families from Wind City, others who had traveled from out of town, and Lin Yun even spotted the Mo Family from Jincheng.
For some unknown reason, the Mo Family had actually sent a young girl like Mo Qingliu to Wind City, escorted, of course, by Shi Wu.
Lin Yun saw them, and they saw him as well. After the battle in Jincheng, the young Mo Qingliu had taken quite a liking to Lin Yun. On more than one occasion, she had publicly declared that Lin Yun was much better than the likes of Song Tianyang.
Skipping happily over to Lin Yun, Mo Qingliu acted like a miniature adult. She first gave him a formal bow, then said in a mock-serious tone, "Brother Lin Yun."
Amused by Mo Qingliu, Lin Yun played along. He mimicked her formal bow and replied, "Miss Qingliu."
At that, both Lin Yun and Shi Wu burst into hearty laughter. The little girl, Mo Qingliu, was truly endearing.
Lin Yun and Shi Wu were already acquainted, so meeting again in Wind City, they naturally exchanged some pleasantries. After introducing Li Tian, Lin Yun asked Shi Wu, "Did you come to Wind City for the auction?"
"You could say that," Shi Wu said with a resigned sigh. "But it’s mainly because the Second Young Miss missed the Eldest Young Miss so much. She kept clamoring to come to Wind City, raising a ruckus at home all day. In the end, the Patriarch had no choice but to let me bring her here."
From his expression, Lin Yun could tell that Mo Qingliu must have turned the entire Mo Family upside down. Otherwise, knowing the Mo Family Head’s disposition, he would have never allowed Mo Qingliu to come to Wind City to see Mo Qingshui.
"Hmph! Father is the worst! My sister is his own daughter, how can he be so heartless? I just had to come to Wind City to find her, and I’m never going back!" Mo Qingliu grumbled resentfully upon hearing them mention her father.
For someone as naive and sheltered as Mo Qingliu, her angry pouting wasn’t the least bit intimidating; in fact, it was utterly adorable.
Smiling at the girl, Lin Yun turned back to Shi Wu. "Shi Wu, you must have just arrived in Wind City today. Have you found a place to stay yet?"
"Haha, no need to worry, Lin Yun. The Eldest Miss already arranged a place for us. As it happens, we’re staying with you at the Bai Family estate in Wind City!" Shi Wu laughed heartily.
’They’re staying at the Bai Family estate?’ Lin Yun thought for a moment, but it quickly made sense. Mo Qingliu was Mo Qingshui’s only sister; of course Mo Qingshui wouldn’t let her stay in an inn while visiting Wind City. The Bai Family was indeed the best choice.
The group chatted for a while longer, and seeing that the auction was about to begin, Lin Yun invited Shi Wu and Mo Qingliu to head into the auction hall.
Upon entering the auction hall, everyone had to purchase a seat. In the main hall alone, the cheapest seats cost ten Middle Grade Primordial Stones, while the best went for as much as a thousand.
Since Mo Qingliu and Shi Wu were his guests, Lin Yun didn’t let them pay. He generously requested a private room, spending a total of ten thousand Middle Grade Primordial Stones.
After readily handing ten thousand Middle Grade Primordial Stones to the maid, she smiled and led Lin Yun’s group to the second floor.
’I have to hand it to them,’ Lin Yun thought, ’this Celestial Spirit Auction House really knows how to make money. Ten Middle Grade Primordial Stones for the cheapest seat, a thousand for the best, and ten thousand for a private room.’
’There are at least ten thousand seats in the main hall, and no fewer than a thousand private rooms. The revenue from admission alone would be enough to make many powerful factions salivate.’
And even then, many people who arrived late were unable to get a seat.
The maid respectfully led them into the private room. Though not large, the room was exquisitely furnished. Four chairs covered in beast hide were arranged for them, and next to each chair was a small table set with fruit and tea.
Nodding in satisfaction, Lin Yun tipped the maid ten Middle Grade Primordial Stones and dismissed her. He then gestured for Shi Wu and Mo Qingliu to take a seat.