The next day, Chu Xuan headed to the Golden House bright and early.
The auction house spanned several thousand square meters, its soaring dome hung with a crystal chandelier that resembled a fallen river of stars. Persian carpets covered the floor, so soft that boot heels sank right into them.
At that moment, a fierce bidding war was underway.
A gilded tray held an inlaid gold and bronze ding from the Han Dynasty, casting a faint gleam. The coiling dragon patterns on its body looked so lifelike they seemed ready to leap right off the vessel.
Amid the rising bids, the wealthy magnates in their rosewood seats were flushed with excitement.
In the VIP section, a young woman's skin was as smooth as congealed fat, her slender frame enveloped in an ivory-white qipao. Her delicate, pale fingertips rested gently against her lower abdomen, while a faint trace of pain gathered between her brows.
Beside her, a maid held her hand and gently soothed, "Miss, since you're feeling unwell, why bother making this trip? Our Shui Family in Lingzhou is a prominent household; we only need to give the Golden House a word, and the Nine-Leaf Dragon Blood Ginseng will be delivered straight to our doorstep."
The young woman addressed as Miss was named Shui Yue. She shook her head gently, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable firmness. "We mustn't be overconfident. The Dragon Country is full of powerful figures, and the Golden House belongs to the Treasure Auction House—its backing forces are unfathomably deep."
"Even though our Shui Family is prominent in the Southern Territory, on a national scale, we are merely a drop in the ocean. We still need to participate in the auction honestly to avoid stirring up trouble."
The maid, Xinger, bit her lip, her face full of reluctance. "If not for this Nine-Leaf Dragon Blood Ginseng, which can cure your reversed blood qi, why would we suffer this indignity? Fortunately, Doctor King Zhu said that once you take this medicine, Miss, you'll be completely rid of this affliction of reversed blood qi. Just hang in there a little longer, Miss!"
Just as her voice trailed off, Chu Xuan strode in with his hands clasped behind his back.
The onlookers felt a blur before their eyes as he suddenly stood before the auction stage. His starry, cold eyes swept across the crowd, and he declared in an arrogant tone, "The auction ends here. I want everything in the warehouse of the Golden House!"
Hearing this, the entire hall fell dead silent, followed by an outbreak of roaring laughter.
"Where did this fellow come from, running his mouth like that?"
"The Golden House's warehouse holds billions in treasures! You think you can afford it? Keep dreaming!"
Faced with the tide of mockery and ridicule surging from all directions, Chu Xuan merely gave a light stomp.
In an instant, an invisible gale burst forth, surging forward like an unstoppable hurricane.
This force carried an undeniable might, relentlessly knocking the babbling, constantly provoking fellows head over heels and scattering them across the floor in utter disarray.
With just a single kick, he let everyone know that the newcomer was not to be trifled with.
Before everyone's eyes, Chu Xuan's gaze remained fixed on the direction of the warehouse.
Too many treasures lost by the Chu Family were displayed in there. He didn't have time to take inventory one by one; the best choice was to seal the warehouse and settle accounts slowly afterward.
"Who's in charge? Bring out whatever is inside the warehouse!"
Hearing this, the manager of the Golden House arched her willow eyebrows, her fingers clenched into fists inside her black professional skirt suit. She was about to call the guards to drag this uninvited guest out, but catching the cold glint in Chu Xuan's eyes, she suppressed her anger as if guided by some unseen force.
She stepped forward in ten-centimeter high heels, her professional smile masking a threefold warning as she spoke, "Sir, this is the Golden House, not just anywhere. Furthermore, the treasures currently in the warehouse are valued at over three billion. Please..."
"Swipe the card."
Before she could finish, Chu Xuan flicked his finger. A black-gold-trimmed card flew through the air and embedded itself precisely into the sandalwood surface of the auction stage, kicking up tiny wood splinters.
"If three billion isn't enough, ten billion will do."
The card sliding from his sleeve shimmered with mysterious patterns, casting a faint glow under the crystal chandelier. At a glance, it looked extraordinary.
The manager's pupils constricted.
In her twenty years in the industry, she had seen countless black cards belonging to the ultra-wealthy, but the unfamiliar totem on this card sent a ripple of unease through her heart.
The manager inserted the card into the transaction machine and tentatively entered an amount of three billion. The crisp "beep" that followed shook the entire hall.
"Clack!"
The rosewood chairs creaked. Xinger stood dumbfounded, knocking over her whiskey glass and letting the amber liquid stain the Persian carpet with an eye-sighting streak.
The three billion payment went through! What on earth kind of divine being was this?
The manager's face flushed with excitement.
She stared fixedly at the transaction record on the screen, terrified that this might be an absurd dream.
After all, even the top financial conglomerates in the Southern Territory needed to prepare a day in advance to mobilize three billion in cash.
Yet this plainly dressed young man had tossed it out as easily as if it were worthless paper?
The auction hall fell into a pin-drop silence.
Chu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the shocked faces of the crowd as though surveying ants.
"Take inventory of the warehouse."
Just four short words, yet they carried an unquestionable oppressive weight.
The manager snapped back to reality and hurriedly waved her hand to signal the auctioneer.
"Suspend the auction! Inventory all collections immediately, and make sure to provide this gentleman with the most attentive service!"
The tycoons who had been mocking him just moments before now swarmed forward like sharks smelling blood.
Some held high gold-stamped business cards, their ingratiating smiles distorting their features.
Others tried to strike up a conversation and cozy up to him, only to be driven back by the chilling aura radiating from Chu Xuan.
Supported by Xinger, Shui Yue walked forward slowly, deliberately maintaining a three-step distance. She bowed gracefully and offered a salute, her voice gentle yet carrying a trace of sincerity. "Pardon the intrusion, Sir. Might you be willing to resell the upcoming Nine-Leaf Dragon Blood Ginseng to me? To me, this medicine is truly a life-saving remedy!"
Chu Xuan crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Why should I yield it to you?"
Shui Yue bowed deeply once more, her tone humble. "I have suffered from reversed blood qi since childhood, and visits to countless renowned physicians have yielded nothing. Only Doctor King Zhu asserted that the Nine-Leaf Dragon Blood Ginseng is the sole cure. If Sir is willing to grant this favor, the Shui Family is willing to buy it back at double the market price and offer a generous gift of gratitude."
With that, she respectfully retrieved a gold-stamped name card from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Seeing that Chu Xuan remained unmoved, Xinger added, "My mistress is Shui Yue, the eldest miss of the Shui Family!"
As soon as those words fell, the entire hall was shocked.
One had only to remember that the Shui Family was a presence that could make the Southern Territory's business world tremble with a mere stamp of their foot.
"Miss Shui Yue, I'm willing to bid one billion for the medicine for you!"
"I'll mortgage every jewelry store under my name—I only ask for Miss Shui Yue's well-being!"
Shui Yue's suitors raised their paddles frantically, and some even pulled out indentures of servitude just to win her favor. The madness was plain to see.
Seeing this, Xinger gloated to Chu Xuan, "Did you hear that? This is the prestige of our Shui Family! Even though you have a bit of money, you're still far behind compared to us."
She cast a smug glance at Chu Xuan, intending to continue showing off, but saw Shui Yue's expression darken as she sharply scolded, "Xinger, be quiet and show some respect!"
Immediately afterward, Shui Yue turned back to Chu Xuan and apologized, "Sir, my maid doesn't know her manners; please forgive her. If you are willing to part with it, the Shui Family will certainly remember this kindness."
"For your sake, I'll spare this foul-mouthed creature for now."
Seeing that Shui Yue was still maintaining a bowing, apologetic posture, Chu Xuan said indifferently, "Since you want it so badly, I'll sell it to you. It's useless to me anyway."
Shui Yue jerked her head up, her eyes filled with surprise. Just as she was about to thank him, she saw Chu Xuan give a look of surprise and take two steps closer. His sharp gaze scanned her from top to bottom—from her towering chest down to her flat abdomen—making her cheeks burn and causing her to instinctively shrink back.
"Pardon my bluntness, but you can no longer use this medicinal material."
Chu Xuan withdrew his gaze and stood with his hands behind his back.
"You aren't suffering from reversed blood qi at all. You are afflicted with the Frost-Ghost Silkworm Parasite."
"While the Nine-Leaf Dragon Blood Ginseng is a potent tonic beneficial for blood qi, if someone in your condition takes it, not only will it be of no help, but it will actually nourish the parasite and accelerate your death. When that time comes, don't blame me for selling you a death warrant."
His tone was calm, yet every single word carried weight and resonated clearly.
After hearing these words, light rippled across Shui Yue's eyes, and doubt was written all over her face.
Talk of parasites was too mystical and far exceeded the scope of her understanding, making it hard to believe.
"You dare curse our mistress? How utterly audacious!"
Xinger hopped up and down, shouting, "Hey, do you know how reckless your words are? The one treating my mistress is the renowned Doctor King Zhu! If you know what's good for you, hurry up and hand over the medicinal herbs to apologize. Otherwise, once I spread your words outside..."
"Noisy!"
While Xinger was still ranting incessantly, Chu Xuan had long since lost patience. His gaze turned cold, and with a wave of his hand, a gust of wind whistled through the air and struck Xinger directly.
"Ah!"
Xinger let out a miserable scream as she was sent flying instantly, crashing heavily to the ground.
Her cheek swelled up high on the spot, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth...