Chapter 462 - 443: Do You Think My Auction House Has No One?
The three treasures on the stage shimmered brilliantly under the lights, but the sight stung Su Ling’er’s eyes.
Those were the items Eldest Brother had donated to Nabo Garden after believing that person’s grand speech!
’Could it be... could it be that Eldest Brother is keeping me from moving just so I would have to witness all of this?’
’Witness these mortals who, even without Cultivation, act just like Evil Cultivators in the mortal realm.’
’And what is the goal of the Demon Venerable behind all this?’
’Is it to make Eldest Brother submit to this situation?’
’Is it to make Eldest Brother face reality?’
’To make him see that these items, which should have carried the sincere heart of their donor, have now become mere conversation pieces for these powerless Evil Cultivators to toy with in this underground den of fame and fortune? Do they even want Eldest Brother to join their filth and approve of what these Evil Cultivators are doing?’
’It’s like this in the mortal realm, and it’s the same in the Cultivation Realm.’
’All those high-sounding words they said before were just empty talk!’
’Everything they do is something an Evil Cultivator would do. The only difference is that they don’t have Cultivation. If they did, wouldn’t they be completely out of control?’
Because this building was manifested by the Demon Sect, Su Ling’er had been inclined to assume the worst from the start. She was mentally prepared, but when the veil was torn away, revealing the faces that only Evil Cultivators could possess, she still felt a chill run through her entire body.
They operate under the banner of righteousness while engaging in the business of amassing wealth.
They crush good intentions, mix them with dirt, and forge them into a ladder for their own ascent.
Su Ling’er understood.
’Since this is a trial from the Demon Sect, then this stage is meant to corrupt Eldest Brother’s heart and turn him into an Evil Cultivator.’
’This is a scheme aimed at destroying Eldest Brother’s spirit.’
’The Demon Venerable behind the Guixi Sect is using this blatant method to tell Eldest Brother that in this dog-eat-dog world, kindness without strength is nothing but fish on a chopping block.’
’You want to reason with them?’
’Then first, you’d better see if the knife in your hand is sharp enough.’
’You even have to watch your hard work get trampled underfoot, and you have to smile and say they did a good job, that the sound was satisfying. Otherwise, you’re just being ignorant of the times, courting your own death.’
’They want to take Eldest Brother’s unbending spine and shatter it, inch by inch!’
Though Su Ling’er couldn’t move her body or utter a word, her eyes were already red-rimmed.
’Eldest Brother, is this the world you face every day?’
’In this endless darkness, just how much have you shouldered all by yourself?’
Compared to the grand, tumultuous drama unfolding in Su Ling’er’s mind, Lin Qingfeng’s reaction was far more direct.
Lin Qingfeng stared at the three items on the stage, so familiar he couldn’t possibly be more familiar with them, his eyelid twitching uncontrollably.
’Well, I’ll be. Are they really not going to hide it at all?’
’One moment that fat manager is putting on a sob story in the main hall, and the next he’s moving the goods over here to fence them.’
’It’s like they’ve carved the word "villain" on their foreheads.’
’"Benefitting the community," my ass! Turns out you’re just lining your own private coffers. You’re getting everything for fucking free!!!’
’It’d be one thing if you didn’t put them on display, but you turn around and sell them for money? Fine, sell them for money, but where’s my cut? Oh, wait, this shit is mine! Shouldn’t all the money from the sale go to me? What fucking cut?! Dammit, I’m so pissed off I can’t even think straight!’
’This is just too evil!’
’You get the money, you get the fame, so what do I get?!’
’So shameless! So much like an Evil Cultivator!’
’Ava!!! I want to report them! I want to request Adam’s Heavy Hammer to smash them into meat paste!’
Just then, a line of light blue system text flickered at the edge of his vision:
[Divine Thought System Friendly Reminder: This trial references a historical reenactment of the privileged classes of the old era. If you encounter a similar incident in the real world, please remain vigilant and contact Ava immediately to file a report. Once verified, Leviathan will also provide you with a generous real-world reward. Please do not worry about your personal safety. The Adam’s Heavy Hammer force is on standby to provide you with physical protection. Building a civilized home is everyone’s responsibility.]
Reading this message, Lin Qingfeng just laughed.
’What’s this? Inciting humans to fight humans? Would that make me a traitor to my own species?’
’But it’s probably for the best. He didn’t know Ava, but did he not know people?’
’If this were truly a lawless land outside of Ava’s jurisdiction, there’s no telling what other depraved things this bunch would be capable of.’
’They’d harvest your kidneys if they said they would. When it gets cold, you either pay exorbitant protection fees for gas, or you try to burn coal yourself for warmth?’
’The moment a drone’s heat sensor detects it, they’d fine you into bankruptcy. As for whether you can survive the winter warmly?’
’"Sorry, that’s a problem with your own survival skills. Nothing to do with me."’
’Ava’s system is so much better. At least the climate in the safe zones can be freely adjusted, treating everyone equally. Technology really changes destiny. Outside the safe zones? Not even a dog would go there!!!’
Before he could finish his rant, the translucent option box popped up again.
[Option 1: This is utterly intolerable! Slam the table, rise up, and expose their true colors on the spot! Let the iron fist of justice punish this pack of rats!!!]
[Option 2: (Locked) Requires a key item to be consumed.]
Lin Qingfeng stared at the grayed-out second option, the corner of his mouth twitching madly.
’Locked.’
’Missing key item.’
’Erm...’
’Is this game designer’s brain made of paste?’
’You only give me one viable option, so why even show me a pop-up box? Can’t you just play a cutscene and advance the plot? Do you have to make me click it manually just to give me a sense of participation?’
’And a Memory Stone?’
’I have a whole pile of Memory Stones right here!’
’And the result?’
’System determination: You do not have the item.’
’What’s the deal? Equipment I brought from outside doesn’t count? Do I have to use the specific product from your instance for it to register? This is like having a fully-kitted DSLR but not being allowed to use it, and instead being forced to buy your scenic area’s expensive disposable film camera!’
’Isn’t this just a blatant forced microtransaction?’
’The point is, I could live with you forcing me to pay, but where’s the top-up portal? Don’t stop me! Let me spend my money!!!’
Unwilling to give up, Lin Qingfeng poked the interface a few more times. Forget a top-up channel, there wasn’t even a "First-time purchase for $6 get X" ad.
’You won’t even give me a chance to spend money, is that it?’
𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
’If I hadn’t stupidly bought that pile of red coral and that broken pipa just now, I could have saved the money and bought that ridiculously expensive Memory Stone, and then I could have picked Option 2.’
’But I guess the first one will do!!!’
’Since you’re not going to play by the rules, don’t blame me for flipping the table.’
’Since there’s no real choice, I’m done deliberating.’
’I’ve put up with you bastards for long enough! Let me go kill, kill, kill!!!’
Lin Qingfeng directly selected the only available option.
’Do it!’
「The next moment.」
Su Ling’er felt the force controlling her body suddenly change.
’Huh?’
’What am I about to do?’
Her legs moved on their own, taking a step forward to stand in front of Lin Qingfeng.
"Stop—!!!"
Su Ling’er found her arm raised high, pointing at the auctioneer on the stage, her finger trembling slightly.
"These are clearly items my young master donated to Nabo Garden! Why are they being auctioned here?!"
The guests who had been bidding on the auction items froze, and countless pairs of eyes turned toward the two of them.
"What? Donated items?"
"The young master of the Lin Mansion? They’re here? These are their donations?"
"She threw off her mask! Isn’t that the famous maid from the Lin Family?"
"Shh... This is a huge scandal. If it’s true, how could Nabo Garden and the Business Alliance possibly save face? Wouldn’t this be a crushing blow to the donors who trust them?"
A wave of discussion arose. Some looked at the auction items on stage with suspicion, while others looked like they were ready to watch a good show. Some were even more excited, already whispering amongst themselves.
"I ask the auction house, is this matter related to the general manager of Nabo Garden? Are you stealing what you were entrusted to guard, deceiving the world for fame?!"
"You... what crime have you committed that could possibly atone for this!!!"
As she shouted these words, Su Ling’er felt every pore on her body open up as an unprecedented sense of exhilaration swept through her.
’So, Eldest Brother wanted me to speak for him! He wanted me to quell the rage in his heart!!!’
’Even in this demon’s den where one must bow their head, Eldest Brother still used my mouth to let out this deafening cry!’
’Has Eldest Brother’s Thousand Silk Puppet Skill become so miraculous! It feels even more effective than before!’
(Lin Qingfeng: I didn’t, though. I haven’t moved at all.)
The more Su Ling’er thought about it, the angrier she became. ’These shameless dogs are just a pack of Evil Cultivators without any Cultivation! They all deserve to die!!!’
After a brief clamor, the entire venue fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone stared in stunned disbelief at the little maid who had suddenly erupted, and at the young master who remained seated, his expression grim.
Some people had already started quietly shifting in their seats, trying to get farther away from the pair, afraid they would be spattered with blood later.
The smile on the auctioneer’s face froze, his hand holding the gavel suspended in mid-air.
"This..."
Just then, from the shadows behind the auction stage, came a round of applause.
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP.
An old man dressed in a dark purple python-patterned robe slowly walked out.
His hair was graying and his face was kind, but the sharp glint that flashed in his narrowed eyes was enough to make one’s blood run cold.
Seeing this man appear, the guests below who had been stirring uneasily fell silent.
"It’s Mr. Wang, known as the Purple-clothed Ghost Hand..." someone gasped in a low voice, only to have their mouth immediately clamped shut by a companion.
The crowd’s expressions changed, shifting from the amusement of watching a spectacle to apprehension and fear.
Mr. Wang walked to the front of the stage, looking down on Su Ling’er.
"Miss, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t... just say whatever you want."
The old man methodically straightened his cuffs, his tone gentle, yet it made many of the guests present feel a tightness in their chests.
"For all things, one must speak with evidence."
"Every single item here is guaranteed by the dual seals of the Business Alliance and Nabo Garden. Their origins are clean. Yet with just your baseless words, you seek to slander our good name and disturb everyone’s enjoyment..."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto Lin Qingfeng, who stood behind Su Ling’er.
The surrounding guests all rose to their feet and backed away, clearing a large, empty area around them.
"That will cost you dearly."
At this moment, a servant scurried forward from the shadows and handed a long-prepared sheet of rice paper to the old man.
The old man glanced at it, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
It was the arrogance of power, and the final mockery of the weak.
"Mr. Lin, there are some things Nabo Garden was unwilling to expose in order to preserve the Lin Mansion’s dignity. Since you insist on tearing away all pretense to demand an explanation, then this old man... shall oblige you."
Then, the old man unfolded the rice paper in his hand, displaying it for all to see.
"According to a re-evaluation by Nabo Garden’s appraisal team last year, the painting donated by the Lin Mansion, ’Autumn in the North,’ has shallow brushwork and is completely devoid of spiritual charm. It is, in fact, a shoddy forgery copied by a common street painter."
"At the time, out of consideration for the Lin Mansion’s sincere donation, the garden could not bear to pursue charges of fraud. They reluctantly filed it away as a replica and did not publicize the matter. This was an act of grace and tolerance toward the Lin Family."
"Who would have thought you would take this goodwill as an excuse to make a scene? Using a worthless piece of trash that wasn’t even fit for display to try and extort our legitimate, high-value auction..."
"Mr. Lin, one must know what’s good for them."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!
"A forgery?!"
"Ha! I knew it! Why would an institution like Nabo Garden covet something like this? So it was the Lin Mansion trying to pass off shoddy goods as the real thing!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Trying to gain fame with a fake, then causing a scene when they’re found out at an auction for real items? What a disgrace!"
The masked buyers whispered to each other, their gazes filled with a hint of contempt.
However, a few people sensed that something was fishy, but they were unwilling to offend a behemoth for the sake of the Lin Family, who were as good as dead. They could only choose to leave in silence.
The old man was very satisfied with this effect. He pressed his hand down, savoring the pleasure of controlling public opinion, and continued:
"According to industry rules, forgeries are not to be stored. However, considering the spirit of the Lin Mansion’s donation, the garden did not make it public, nor did we even pursue the Lin Family for fraud. And still you are not satisfied?"
"Mr. Lin, first you tried to pass off a forgery, and now you use that as a pretext to cause a scene at our auction and slander the organizers. One thing after another..."
"Are you assuming our auction house has no one to stand up for it, or do you think the rules of this city don’t apply to you?"
As his voice fell, dozens of black-clothed guards suddenly emerged from the surrounding shadows. Each one radiated killing intent as they surrounded Lin Qingfeng and Su Ling’er.
In this sealed underground space, reason no longer had a place.
All that remained was naked violence.