Chapter 16: The Midday Break

Ao Kuiba was sat alone on his platform, a steaming cup of tea in his hands.

The auction hall was emptying rapidly after the announcement by Madam Jiang. Cultivators were walking up to the exits, talking loudly amongst themselves about the items up for auction, the outrageously high prices, and the surprising results of the morning’s auction. Meanwhile, servants were taking the debris away and preparing for the afternoon’s auction.

Ao Kuiba had remained seated, simply enjoying the warm beverage in his hands.

It was a good cup of tea, fragrant and slightly sweetened, with a touch of spiritual energy that made him feel warm from the inside. He had asked for it from one of the servants passing by, simply to have something to do with his hands and to keep his mind off the events of the morning. Besides, the empty hall was a welcome relief to the noisy and boisterous auction hall.

Ao Kuiba heard her footsteps long before he saw her.

Light, unhurried steps, the swish of deep violet robes against the stone floor.

Ling Xue arrived on his platform unbidden, her face carrying the same knowing smile as before. She sat across from him, reclining on the cushion with an ease that suggested she had done this many times before.

"May I join you?"

"You already have,"

She replied with a small laugh,

"it’s true, but I’m trying to be polite."

Ao Kuiba took a sip from his tea and said nothing. Ling Xue regarded him for a long moment, her dark eyes analysing his every movement. She had no intention of speaking, simply waiting for him to say something.

He set his tea cup down.

"You have questions."

"Many, actually,"

Ling Xue said as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees,

"but I’ll start with the most obvious one. You didn’t bid for a single item this morning, not a single one. From beginning to end, you sat and watched everyone spend their resources."

"I was observing."

"Observing what?"

"The players, the patterns, the hierarchies,"

Ao Kuiba picked up his tea once more,

"I learned more in one morning than I ever thought I would from strolling around Azure Cloud City."

Ling Xue raised an eyebrow, surprised by his answer. She said nothing, simply observing him closely. After a long pause, Ao Kuiba looked up at her.

"What did you see?"

Ao Kuiba’s gaze travelled down to the empty auction hall below. "The Verdant Lotus Clan is rich, but they are also arrogant. They have no self-discipline, no order. They will waste their resources buying up everything in sight. That won’t happen again, not until the main event." He paused to take a sip of his tea. "The Celestial Frost Sect’s representative is elegant and calculating. She only bought what she wanted and she always won. She will be a worthy opponent, though not as powerful as she appears. She is vain, like all beauties."

Ling Xue nodded slowly, "and the old man, Elder Xu?"

"He is the most dangerous man in this room,"

Ao Kuiba said flatly,

"He placed a single bid and everyone else fell silent. Not because of his resources, but because of his power. He has no need to prove himself, because he already is proven."

"What about the hooded figure?"

Ao Kuiba’s lips tightened into a thin line. "Unknown. His cultivation is concealed and, so is his purpose. He appears to be watching everyone, but in truth, he is only watching us. He is either very patient or very stupid, either way, he is dangerous."

Ling Xue smiled, "you’re not bidding on anything from this morning, are you?"

"No,"

Ao Kuiba replied simply,

"I’m bidding on the dragon bone."

Ling Xue’s eyes narrowed. "You don’t even know what it is!"

"I don’t need to,"

he replied,

"the Chamber would not bring it to an auction of this calibre if it was worthless. Besides," He set his tea aside, "I would not have travelled three days just to bid on a pile of trash."

"Trash?" Ling Xue raised an eyebrow, "you call an ancient blade of unknown origin and a three thousand year old ginseng root, trash?"

"I do,"

Ao Kuiba replied simply.

Ling Xue looked at him for a long moment before bursting into a fit of giggles. "Who are you, Ao Kuiba?" She laughed, "a man who calls the treasures of the Violet Cloud Summit trash and a dragon who stalks his prey like a wolf."

Ao Kuiba said nothing. Ling Xue leaned back, regarding him with new found interest. "The dragon bone. Why do you want it so badly?"

Ao Kuiba thought about his answer. He could lie, he always did, but something about Ling Xue’s frank manner interested him. "My cultivation requires resources," he said slowly, "resources that I do not currently possess. The dragon bone might have the answers I need."

"Answers to what?"

"To how I rebuild,"

Ao Kuiba met her gaze,

"I am not as strong as I used to be. I need to be stronger. The bone might help."

Ling Xue was silent for a long moment. "That’s the most honest answer you’ve given me," she finally said.

"I have my moments,"

Ao Kuiba replied with a small smile.

"They’re rare,"

Ling Xue said with a grin,

"I’m going to ask you something now and I want you to think long and hard about your answer."

Ao Kuiba waited for her to continue.

"The other bidders for that bone of yours,"

Ling Xue began,

"they won’t be easy to beat. Bai Yue of the Celestial Frost Sect will stop at nothing to buy that bone. The Verdant Lotus Clan might be foolish, but they have resources and they will spend them. As for Elder Xu..." She paused, "he is the most dangerous man in this room."

"You forgot the hooded figure,"

Ao Kuiba pointed out.

"I’m not forgetting him,"

Ling Xue said,

"I’m simply ignoring him, because I don’t know what he wants. But, I do know that he has been watching you. Specifically you."

Ao Kuiba said nothing. "Your competition is strong," Ling Xue continued, "very strong. And you are in Foundation Establishment, surrounded by Nascent Soul and Soul Formation cultivators. If any of them decide to take the bone from you by force..."

"They won’t,"

Ao Kuiba said simply,

"I’ve been in worse situations than this and I’ve survived."

Ling Xue regarded him for a long moment before smiling. "You’re fascinating, Ao Kuiba. I hope you know that." Ao Kuiba frowned, "fascinating?" Ling Xue laughed, "infuriating, but mostly fascinating." She stood up, "I should leave you to your tea. The auction will be resuming soon and you have a dragon bone to claim." With a small smile, she turned to leave. "One last thing," she said over her shoulder. Ao Kuiba waited for her to continue. "The hooded figure," she said, "I’ve heard some interesting things about him. Rumours, nothing more. But, some say he is from the Upper Realm." Ling Xue paused, "if that’s true, he isn’t an easy man to cross."

Ao Kuiba sat alone on his platform as she disappeared down the steps. The Upper Realm. He picked up his tea, which had gone cold. He drank it regardless.

The hall began filling up once more as the midday break came to an end. Cultivators filed back to their seats, emboldened by the food and drink provided. The auction hall was filled with chatter as old friends and new found companions caught up on old news and made plans for the afternoon’s auction. Ao Kuiba watched them, seeing the familiar faces of the morning’s auction. The Verdant Lotus Clan was louder than ever, his disciples fawning over him and listening to the story he was telling. Bai Yue of the Celestial Frost Sect entered the hall with her disciples, chatting amongst themselves as they took their seats. Elder Xu walked slowly to his platform, taking his time as always, before settling down on his cushion. The hooded figure was stood at the far end of the hall, back to the wall, watching Ao Kuiba.

Their eyes never met but Ao Kuiba allowed himself a small smile.

Then, he turned his attention to the stage, where Madam Jiang was preparing to begin the afternoon’s auction.

The auction was about to resume.