Chapter 160 - 154: Hundred Flowers Assembly

Chapter 160: Chapter 154: Hundred Flowers Assembly

The woman in the red gauze dress within the Illusory Mountain Stone spoke at the opportune moment, "The starting bid for Yun Han is 6 million Soul Crystal Coins. I hope all our distinguished guests will take a liking to this sword!"

After the woman in the red gauze dress finished speaking, Hongyu and Mo Ya paused. Despite having just heard Li Heng’s declaration of being "not short on money," they still curtsied to him and asked, "Distinguished guest, shall we place a bid?"

"Of course! Go all out!" Li Heng declared with a grand wave of his hand, putting on an air of immense wealth.

After receiving Li Heng’s confirmation, Hongyu walked to the window with a smile, saying nothing.

Mo Ya, on the other hand, remained by Li Heng’s side and whispered softly, "8 million."

The moment Mo Ya spoke, Hongyu nodded from the window. The woman in the red gauze dress within the Illusory Mountain Stone then announced in a soft voice, "A distinguished guest has offered 8 million!"

Li Heng noted the seamless coordination between Hongyu and Mo Ya with a slight nod, marveling internally.

’Mo Ya is whispering the price in my ear so I know whether I’m the current highest bidder.’

’The two of them didn’t spell it out, but I get it. Not that it matters.’

He’d only had a small amount of Soul Crystal Coins on him to begin with, which he’d gotten from slaying Silver Thread Flying Fish. He had just given all of it away as a tip to the two women.

The reason he was letting Hongyu and Mo Ya bid as they pleased was that he had no intention of paying. In fact, depending on how things went, he might even bid on another item.

While it was a bit unethical to take the goods and run without paying, Li Heng was keenly aware that this was a Dungeon!

Inside a Dungeon, you could even throw away your life. Everything would just reset once you left anyway. Li Heng had thought it over these past few days; getting his hands on good items was all that mattered.

After Mo Ya opened the bidding at 8 million, the price for Yun Han suddenly skyrocketed.

It instantly shot up to 21 million!

The bidding stalled there, and the price stopped climbing. The woman in the red gauze dress spoke again at the opportune moment.

"The Young Master of Cold Mountain Palace has three great loves: treasured swords, fine wine, and beautiful women! If a distinguished guest acquires Yun Han, three jars of century-old fine wine and a flask of Cold Mountain Palace’s Snowflake Brew will be included as a gift!"

After the woman’s announcement, the stall at 21 million broke, and the price jumped by another 5 million.

At this point, both Hongyu and Mo Ya stopped, looking silently at Li Heng and awaiting his instructions. It wasn’t that they were afraid to act on their own.

But a price of 26 million Soul Crystal Coins was truly staggering. Even for the distinguished guests attending the Hundred Flowers Assembly, this was no small sum.

"What are you waiting for? We’re not short on money! As long as we win the bid, the price is no issue!" Li Heng said, still acting unconcerned.

Hearing Li Heng’s magnanimous tone, Hongyu and Mo Ya mistook it for displeasure. They quickly curtsied in apology and re-entered the bidding.

"Our apologies, we have been neglectful, distinguished guest! 27 million!"

When Mo Ya subsequently raised the bid to 30 million, no one else in Snow Feather Tower made a counteroffer. At this price, the woman in the red gauze dress congratulated the winning bidder.

"Congratulations to our distinguished guest for winning their desired treasure!" Mo Ya and Hongyu also bowed to Li Heng in congratulations.

Snow Feather Tower operated with high efficiency. Just as the auction for Yun Han concluded and the bidding for the next treasure began, the valiant beauty who had been presented inside the Illusory Mountain Stone appeared at the door to Li Heng’s room. Beside her stood a middle-aged man.

Li Heng glanced over. The middle-aged man was one of Snow Feather Tower’s Stewards, at the Soul King Realm.

The valiant beauty was named Han Mu’Er, and she was a Soul Energy Grandmaster. Though she was quite beautiful with a graceful figure, the system information indicated that this Han Mu’Er was not a Courtesan, but a "palace maid" from Cold Mountain Palace.

Li Heng saw that the names of both arrivals were displayed in yellow. He simply nodded, saying nothing, and waited for them to speak first.

"Distinguished guest! Here is the Cloud Cold Treasure Sword! This is Mu’Er, the Courtesan from Cold Frost Tower in Min Cang City! And here are the three jars of century-old fine wine, as well as the Snowflake Brew. Please, inspect them."

Li Heng was merely a Soul Warrior, a Realm that could be seen through at a glance. Yet, the man showed not the slightest hint of contempt, his words filled with respect.

Han Mu’Er also kept her head lowered, bowing to Li Heng.

Since neither of the newcomers’ names was red, Li Heng was temporarily at ease. He was trying to think of a way to stall for time.

He’d already decided not to pay. His plan was to grab the items while "inspecting" them and immediately exit the Dungeon. Since he was already acting unethically, he might as well be completely shameless.

’If I’m taking one treasure, I might as well take two.’ So Li Heng decided to go for broke. He chanted silently to himself, trying to relax. ’They’re just NPCs! No pressure.’

Since he had decided to put on an act, he might as well make it a grand one. The "Courtesan’s" identity was the perfect place to start making an issue of things.

"I don’t know much about fine wine! My Swordsmanship is nothing to speak of, either. But as for this beauty... I seem to recall that all the women auctioned at the Hundred Flowers Assembly are supposed to be Courtesans, are they not?"

Hearing Li Heng’s words, the middle-aged man’s heart sank, but he maintained his smiling expression and respectful tone. "Distinguished guest, what you mean is..."

"Miss Mu’Er, is it?" Li Heng said, walking up to Han Mu’Er.

"I am indeed Mu’Er. What are your instructions, distinguished guest?"

"I hear that everyone auctioned at the Hundred Flowers Assembly is a Courtesan. A valiant beauty like Miss Mu’Er must be a true treasure among them. If Cold Mountain Palace had a palace maid like you, Miss Mu’Er, it would truly be a great fortune!"

Li Heng reached out and stroked the hair at Han Mu’Er’s left temple. Though his tone was playful, he kept a close watch on the name displays for both Han Mu’Er and the middle-aged man.

Han Mu’Er didn’t have the same floral scent as Hongyu and Mo Ya. She had a fragrance, but Li Heng couldn’t identify it. All he knew was that it was very pleasant.

Li Heng caressed Han Mu’Er’s hair for a moment before gently letting it fall, making no mention of the wine or the Cloud Cold Treasure Sword.

After hearing what Li Heng said, the middle-aged man froze. He knew Han Mu’Er’s true identity, so he understood the implication of Li Heng’s words.

’This distinguished guest is dissatisfied with the Courtesan!’

’It couldn’t be helped... we didn’t have enough Courtesans, so we had to find a solution!’

’I just don’t know how this guest discovered that Mu’Er isn’t a Courtesan and even pointed out her true identity as a palace maid from Cold Mountain Palace.’

"In this matter, we at Snow Feather Tower have been in the wrong! We have been neglectful of you, distinguished guest! By rights, you would be justified even if you chose to tear down our Snow Feather Tower. But... since we have already spoiled your refined mood, I wonder what we can do to help you find it again."

The middle-aged man deliberated for a moment before deciding to hand the initiative over to Li Heng.

After all, anyone who could attend the Hundred Flowers Assembly, command the wealth of 30 million Soul Crystal Coins, and possess the insight to see through Han Mu’Er’s identity was not someone to be trifled with.

Even if his Realm was only that of a Soul Warrior, the middle-aged man dared not show any disrespect.

"I’ll pay the thirty million Soul Crystal Coins in full! This Courtesan Mu’Er will also stay, and of course, I’ll be taking the fine wine! However, if this Hundred Flowers Assembly only allows me to ’pluck’ a single flower... now *that* would be what truly spoils my mood!" Li Heng said with an air of casual indifference.

After Li Heng spoke, the middle-aged man’s eyebrows shot up. He then asked respectfully, "Distinguished guest, you mean to say..."

"Don’t be in such a hurry with the sword. Leave the wine here as well. I’m not in the mood to inspect them right now. Wait until I’ve plucked a few more flowers. When I’m surrounded by more beautiful Courtesans, my ’refined mood’ will naturally return."