Chapter 145: Response and Departure

The heavy sliding door had barely clicked shut behind Lin Laifu’s lady when an absolute, heavy silence returned to the private sitting room.

Lin Laifu remained seated at the low mahogany table, the unfolded parchment held between his fingers. The faint, bitter scent of cooling tea mixed with the soft aroma of burning sandalwood incense in the air.

His gaze moved slowly down the lines of crisp, disciplined brushwork, his expression shifting through a rapid succession of micro-expressions. First was a mild surprise, then deep contemplation, and finally the sharp, glittering ambition of a seasoned master trader.

He read the entire letter through once, paused at the final character, and then immediately brought the paper back to the top to re-read every single line.

After a long minute, Lin Laifu let out a low, deliberate breath that sounded almost like a sigh. He lowered his hands, resting the parchment gently on the polished wood before him, and looked across the tea table at Ye Chenxue.

She sat completely motionless, her posture upright and disciplined, her dark robes falling in clean, elegant folds over her knees. Her porcelain face was as smooth and unreadable as carved jade, her icy eyes resting on him with quiet, unyielding detachment.

"Lady Ye," Lin Laifu began, his voice dropping into a polite, inquisitive tone. "If I may satisfy a moment of idle curiosity... did you happen to read the contents of this letter on your way here from the estate?"

Ye Chenxue did not blink. She gave a single, smooth shake of her head. "As you saw with your own eyes when I handed it to you, Master Lin, the red thread remained tied tightly around the fold, indicating that the seal was untouched."

Lin Laifu broke into a warm, soft chuckle, waving a hand in polite self-deprecation. "Ah, of course, forgive me. A foolish question on my part. Young Master Lu’s method of securing his correspondence is quite distinct, and you are far too honorable a companion to pry into his private affairs."

He paused, his fingers tapping a slow, rhythmic beat against the edge of the tea table as his mind continued to race. He looked back down at the paper, then back up at her.

"Would you care to read it now, though?" Lin Laifu offered, gesturing toward the letter. "Truthfully, it makes little difference whether you know what is written here or not. The business arrangements between Young Master Lu and myself are hardly a secret within our inner circle, and I suspect he has already shared the broader scope of our commercial goals with you."

Ye Chenxue opened her mouth slightly, perhaps to state that it was not her place to pry into Lu Feng’s formal correspondence unless instructed, but Lin Laifu’s talkative, natural merchant instinct completely bypassed her hesitation.

The man was simply far too excited by the implications of what Lu Feng was proposing to keep the matter quiet.

"Allow me to share it with you regardless," Lin Laifu said, leaning forward slightly over the table, his sharp eyes shining with animated energy.

"Young Master Lu begins by extending his polite regards regarding my recovery, though in true fashion, he wastes little time getting straight to the point. He states that he has another batch of refined pills prepared and ready to be moved onto the market. A quantity significantly larger and potentially even higher in value than the initial batch we handled at the Treasury Pavilion."

He tapped the paper with his index finger. "However, here is where his request takes a fascinating turn. He explicitly instructs me that he does not want another small, private, invitation-only sale like the one we hosted previously. He has no desire for secluded tea-room bidding among a handpicked circle of wealthy patrons."

Lin Laifu leaned back, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "He is demanding to know the exact date of my next official, full-scale, public auction. He wants the grandest stage possible—a massive event that will draw every major faction, merchant guild, minor noble house, and possibly visiting cultivators in Crimson Vale. He even urged me not to limit the guest list, but rather to expand our publicity as wide as humanly possible. He wants absolute, undeniable visibility."

Ye Chenxue sat quietly, absorbing every detail. Her mind instantly recalled her conversation with Lu Feng back at the estate sitting room. He had told her that hiding in the shadows was no longer serving them, especially with factions like Iron Fang making aggressive moves in broad daylight. He wanted to use a massive auction to establish his financial weight, his connections, and his absolute standing in Crimson Vale so thoroughly that no enemy would dare strike at him blindly.

"A grand stage..." Lin Laifu murmured softly to himself, his mind rapidly weighing the commercial implications. "He wants to completely turn the entire city upside down this time."

Without waiting any longer, Lin Laifu shifted toward the side of his desk. He reached into a carved rosewood drawer and retrieved a single sheet of high-grade, thick white paper. He unstoppered a small porcelain bottle of refined black ink, poured a few dark drops onto a smooth slate inkstone, and picked up a fine wolf-hair writing brush.

Holding the brush with a practiced, steady hand, he dipped the tip into the deep black fluid, rested his wrist over the blank page, and began to compose his formal reply.

The faint, rhythmic sound of animal hair scratching smoothly against high-grade parchment filled the quiet room. Ye Chenxue watched in silence as Lin Laifu’s hand moved in swift, elegant fluid motions, line by line.

In his letter, Lin Laifu first expressed his deepest respect and gratitude for Lu Feng’s miraculous assistance during his recent illness, acknowledging that his life and current standing were entirely owed to Lu Feng’s timely intervention. He then directly addressed Lu Feng’s core query regarding the auction schedule.

Lin Laifu wrote honestly that, under normal circumstances under his own merchant banner, he currently had no major auctions planned for the immediate future. The absolute earliest full-scale auction he had on his private schedule was still a full two months away.

He went on to explain the practical logistics behind this delay. Organizing a grand auction required procuring hundreds of rare commodities, high-grade cultivation artifacts and pills like the one he’d provided last time, defensive talismans, and spiritual herbs to fill out a full catalog.

Because he was still in the middle of securing these rare items from distant trade routes and some people who were looking to sell their items for a commission, he simply did not have the necessary inventory on hand to speed up his own private auction without ruining the event’s prestige.

However, Lin Laifu was far too brilliant a merchant to offer a dead end.

Midway through the page, his brushwork grew slightly bolder as he laid out a brilliant alternative idea.

He wrote.

Lin Laifu explained that while his private auction was two months out, there was a massive, official grand auction scheduled to take place in Crimson Vale in exactly one week from today. This upcoming event was one of the city’s premier seasonal trade gatherings, organized jointly by the grand trade consortiums and local city authorities.

It was an enormous event that would draw potentially all—or at the very least, the vast majority—of the most wealthy, powerful, and influential figures across Crimson Vale and the surrounding territories.

Lin Laifu assured Lu Feng in writing that he possessed the industry credentials, reputation, and personal influence necessary to enlist Lu Feng’s item directly into the main catalog of this grand auction. He promised that he would personally oversee the presentation, handle the promotion behind the scenes, and ensure that Lu Feng’s goods were featured among the premier main sales of the entire evening, guaranteeing astronomical bidding prices.

Continuing down the page, Lin Laifu included a crucial request for clarification. He asked that if Lu Feng decided to send a follow-up letter or dispatch the actual consignment, he should provide an exact breakdown of the items he intended to put up for sale.

In simpler words, Lin Laifu explicitly wanted to know if the lot consisted strictly of another batch of those incredible, seventy-five percent pure medicinal pills, or if Lu Feng possessed other unique treasures, spiritual weapons, array scrolls, or rare materials he wished to liquidate.

Finally, Lin Laifu brought the reply toward its conclusion. He wrote that while written correspondence through messengers was reliable enough, it would be vastly preferable if the two of them could sit down face-to-face over tea to discuss the specific arrangements, cut splits, and security details for an event of this magnitude.

At the very bottom of the parchment, Lin Laifu added a final, subtle line, stating his growing suspicion that this sudden demand for a massive, highly public auction was likely a major, calculated piece of whatever grander long-term strategy Lu Feng was currently unfolding within Crimson Vale.

With the final character completed, Lin Laifu set the wolf-hair brush gently down onto the carved porcelain rest. He leaned back, lifting the sheet slightly by its corners, and blew a gentle stream of air across the dark text to help the thick black ink dry completely into the fibers.

Once the ink was set, he folded the thick paper into clean, tight thirds.

Reaching to the side of his desk, Lin Laifu picked up a small brass candle holder holding a flickering flame. He tipped a small stick of dark red sealing wax over the flame, watching intently as thick, gleaming drops of soft red wax dripped down onto the center seam of the folded parchment.

Before the wax could cool and harden, Lin Laifu reached for a heavy, solid brass stamp resting on his desk stand. It was the official, personal seal of Merchant Lin Laifu—a renowned emblem recognized by every major trade house, bank, and merchant guild in Crimson Vale City. He pressed the heavy brass seal firmly down into the molten red wax, holding it steady for three long seconds before lifting it cleanly away.

A crisp, flawless, raised crest remained deeply embedded in the hardened red wax.

Lin Laifu picked up the finished, sealed letter and held it out across the mahogany table with both hands, offering it to Ye Chenxue with deep respect.

"Please deliver this directly into Young Master Lu’s hands," Lin Laifu said gravely, his eyes fixing on hers. "And please, Lady Ye... be exceptionally careful with it on your journey back through the city."

Ye Chenxue extended her hand, taking the thick, folded paper. She slipped it smoothly into the secure inner pocket of her dark outer robe, right next to her chest where her spiritual sense could monitor it constantly.

"I will," she replied plainly, her voice flat and confident.

Lin Laifu rested his hands on his knees, his expression relaxing into a polite, hospitable smile. "Is there anything else you might require before you depart, Lady Ye? Fresh tea, hot food, or perhaps a private room to rest for a few hours after your journey across town?"

Ye Chenxue shook her head without a second’s hesitation. "No. All I want is to be on my way back already. Lu Feng is awaiting your reply, and we have spent enough time here."

"Understood," Lin Laifu said, immediately rising to his feet. "Then I shall not keep you a moment longer."

He personally guided her out of the meeting room, walking alongside her through the quiet, grand corridors of the estate’s inner quarters. As they walked, several house servants bowed low as they passed, though Ye Chenxue paid them little mind.

They emerged through the grand double doors of the residential building, stepping out onto the wide marble porch overlooking the front courtyard. The bright afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestones, and the crisp autumn air blew gently through the open grounds.

Out near the worker lodge at the far side of the yard, Old Ma had been leaning against a wooden fence, casually chatting and sharing low chuckles with a small group of stable hands and estate guards he knew from his years of service here.

However, despite his relaxed appearance, Old Ma’s sharp eyes were constantly keeping watch on the main steps.

The instant he caught sight of Ye Chenxue’s dark robes emerging alongside Lin Laifu, Old Ma immediately cut his conversation short.

"Duty calls, fellas," Old Ma said, offering his former coworkers a brief wave of his hand.

He trotted swiftly over to the shaded side awning where the black-and-gold carriage was parked. With practiced, effortless movement born of decades of experience, he unhitched the leather reins from the wooden post, grabbed the wooden step-frame, and swung his heavy, muscular frame fluidly up onto the high driver’s bench.

"Hyah!"

Old Ma flicked the leather reins with a sharp wrist motion. The two sleek horses let out a spirited huff, their powerful legs moving in perfect unison as they pulled the heavy vehicle out from the shade. Old Ma guided them in a wide, flawless arc across the courtyard, bringing the carriage to a smooth, precise stop directly at the base of the entrance steps, right before Ye Chenxue.

Lin Laifu stood on the top step, folding his hands into his long sleeves, and offered a deep, formal bow of farewell.

"Safe travels, Lady Ye," Lin Laifu called out warmly. "Please convey my highest personal regards to Young Master Lu, and inform him I shall await his next decision with great anticipation."

"I will," Ye Chenxue replied simply, giving him a brief, curt nod of acknowledgment.

She stepped gracefully down the stone stairs, pulled open the dark, polished wooden door of the carriage, and stepped inside. She took her seat on the comfortable leather cushion, pulling the door firmly shut behind her.

Up on the bench, Old Ma didn’t waste a single second. He snapped the reins once more. "Let’s move, boys! Back home!"

The pair of horses straightened their backs, their iron-shod hooves clattering sharply against the stone-paved floor as the heavy carriage rolled forward.

Lin Laifu stood high on the porch steps, watching with a calm, analytical gaze as the black-and-gold vehicle glided smoothly past the manicured courtyard gardens, rolled under the shadow of the grand archway, and passed through the massive iron gates of the estate.

"Stay safe and well, Old Ma!" The guards at the gate bowed low as the carriage cleared the boundary, turning out onto the open road of Crimson Vale and carrying Ye Chenxue, Old Ma, and the crucial sealed reply back toward Lu Feng’s estate.