Director Ouyang suddenly raised the bid by one million, and seeing this, the others chose not to follow.
The auctioneer began the three calls, “Two million, first call—”
Seeing that Yan Jing really didn’t intend to bid, Shi Pengpeng thought for a moment and reluctantly said:
“Brother, how about this? I’ll give you a discount in the future, charge you less. Don’t be so frugal; you should still buy what you need.”
Yan Jing was both amused and annoyed, “Being so nice to me? Not even making money?”
“We’ve known each other for so long, there’s still some affection between us,” Shi Pengpeng said seriously, then started rubbing his hands together like a fly, “Besides, as long as the green hills remain, there’s no fear of running out of firewood. As long as you’re alive, I can always make money…”
Yan Jing took a deep breath, “Alright, stop talking.”
Not a single word was pleasant to hear.
Shi Pengpeng wrinkled his nose and pressed, “So, are you going to bid or not?”
Yan Jing, “No.”
On the stage, the auctioneer completed the final call, “Two million, third call-sold!”
“Tsk, it’s really gone now,” Shi Pengpeng lamented, emphasizing seriously, “Brother, I’ve made it clear, if you regret it later, don’t blame me.”
Yan Jing sneered, “What if I do blame you?”
“That’s too much,” Shi Pengpeng was outraged, showing an even more shameless face, “Then I’ll raise the prices sharply, making you regret it even more!”
Yan Jing: “…..”
She really knows how to annoy people.
Shi Pengpeng giggled twice, tilting her head closer, and whispered, “Alright, tell me the real reason.”
Yan Jing lowered his gaze, looking at the strand of her hair that had fallen onto his arm, “How do you know there must be another reason?”
Shi Pengpeng spoke in a self-aware tone, “It couldn’t really be for me, could it?”
Yan Jing pressed his temples, calming his emotions before speaking, “I just noticed it too. Don’t you think it’s a bit odd for the Zigan Sword to appear at an auction?”
Shi Pengpeng, reminded by him, pondered for a moment and also sensed something strange.
The Zigan Sword is a top-tier Yin-Yang artifact in the Xuanmen, but as an antique, it’s not very famous.
This can be seen from the bidding situation; after Director Ouyang’s bid, no one else followed up.
According to the auction house, the original owner of the Zigan Sword sold it due to financial issues.
The most appropriate action would have been to seek buyers within the Xuanmen.
The Xuanmen is not short of wealthy and powerful figures; if they had intervened, the price of the Zigan Sword could have doubled or more.
Shi Pengpeng initially didn’t think much of it, assuming the owner was an overseas Chinese who didn’t understand the sword’s value.
But when the auctioneer introduced it, they accurately described the forging details and the sword’s function as a magical tool, indicating they were well aware of the Zigan Sword’s significance.
In fact, it seemed like they knew too much about the Zigan Sword.
“Didn’t that introduction sound like it was specifically for those in the know?” Yan Jing said.
As an auction item, especially with mostly ordinary buyers present, the focus should normally be on its historical craftsmanship and collectible value, not its properties as a magical tool.
This auction house has been in business for so many years; they wouldn’t be unaware of this.
It must have been the sword’s owner who instructed them to present it this way.
Shi Pengpeng finally caught on and said:
“Was this sword prepared for a specific person from the very beginning?”
Yan Jing’s eyes darkened slightly: “It’s possible.”
As for who that specific person might be, naturally, it would be someone urgently in need of such a magical artifact.
Now that she thought about it carefully, Xiluo had the Qinglian Temple overseeing it, and countless practitioners of the mystical arts passed through.
So why was it only her and Director Ouyang who received the news?
“If that’s the case…” Shi Pengpeng pondered, “Director Ouyang is also a bit strange.”
Director Ouyang claimed he came specifically for the Zigan Sword, but as soon as they met, he deliberately revealed his intentions to Yan Jing.
At first glance, it seemed like he was warning Yan Jing not to compete with him.
But the problem was, after dealing with Yan Jing so many times, he should have known full well that Yan Jing, given his temperament, wouldn’t give him face if he truly wanted something.
So the most likely scenario was that Director Ouyang wasn’t trying to warn Yan Jing but… was confirming Yan Jing’s intentions?
“Hmm.” Yan Jing agreed deeply, “That man is not someone to be underestimated.”
“Alright, it’s always good to be cautious.” Shi Pengpeng stopped overthinking it and patted his forearm and said:
“Anyway, you’ve got me. As long as you’re willing, I can stay by your side until you find a suitable artifact.”
Yan Jing, who had been tense for a while, finally relaxed a little, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips, “That’s more like it.”
There was one thing he still hadn’t mentioned.
In the past, even if he had doubts about the origins of the Zigan Sword, he would have bid on it first and investigated later.
After all, he had been waiting for such an artifact for far too long.
It was only because of Shi Pengpeng’s infuriating words that he truly decided to give up on the Zigan Sword.
Yet this annoying little witch remained completely oblivious.
Just a few days ago, she had agreed to spend more time together, but now she was saying that once she had the sword, she wouldn’t follow him around anymore.
What exactly did she mean by that?
Yan Jing glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, recalling the moment their noses had brushed against each other earlier.
That feather- like touch had lightly swept from his nose to his heart, stirring up an uncontrollable restlessness in his entire being.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he finally spoke up: “Witch, I want to ask you…”
But before he could finish, he was interrupted.
Shi Pengpeng suddenly sat up straight, her gaze fixed on the stage: “That thing…”
“Hmm?” Yan Jing paused, confused, and followed her line of sight to see a new item being presented on the auction block.
It was a set of pure black ceramic tea utensils.
According to the auctioneer, it was the work of a master from the Republic of China era, and due to its rarity, it was highly sought after by collectors.
The set was simple and rustic, consisting of a tea tray, a tea bowl, a teapot, and six cups.
What made it special was the tea pet sitting on the tea tray.
A tea pet, as the name suggests, is a small figurine that tea enthusiasts play with while drinking tea.
Usually made of purple clay or refined clay, they are often shaped like animals, such as pixius, toads, golden pigs, or ruyi feet.
Many tea drinkers place their tea pets on the tea tray, pouring hot tea over them during brewing or using a tea brush to coat their surfaces with tea, making them more lustrous and smooth over time.
The tea pet accompanying this set was the most common three-legged golden toad.
In ancient legends, the three-legged golden toad was considered a spiritual creature capable of bringing wealth.
As the old saying goes, “The phoenix will only perch on the paulownia tree, and the golden toad will only reside in places of wealth.”
The place where the three-legged golden toad resides is always a treasure trove of wealth.
Moreover, since toads are naturally associated with water, they have always been a popular image for tea pets.
This three-legged golden toad imitates the appearance of the golden toad under the seat of the Taoist immortal Liu.
It has the Taiji symbol on its head and the Big Dipper constellation on its back, crafted with lifelike precision. \
Especially its pair of bean-like eyes, nurtured by previous tea drinkers, are glossy and radiant, as if they truly possess a divine aura.
Shi Pengpeng wasn’t particularly interested in tea utensils, but when she saw this tea pet, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
This tea pet was clearly the toad spirit that had just escaped from her grasp.
It turned out she had been misled from the start.
It wasn’t a toad spirit at all, but a tea pet spirit that had gained sentience, merely shaped like a toad.
Earlier, she had found it strange.
The toad was not only pitch black all over, but the wrinkles on its head and the bumps on its back were also quite unique, as if they had grown according to a mythical image.
Now that she looked at it, it was indeed modeled after a mythical creature… or rather, sculpted.
No wonder, when she used the essence of yang fire to boil the pond water, the toad remained motionless in the water.
Tea pets are made of pottery, tempered by fire, and are often doused with scalding tea by tea drinkers.
Boiling water was no challenge for it; it was its comfort zone.
At this moment, the tea pet spirit on the stage also noticed Shi Pengpeng sitting in the audience.
The luster in its bean-like eyes flickered, revealing a hint of fear.
It never expected that after barely escaping from this mage, it would run into her again in the blink of an eye.
And now, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, it didn’t dare to transform into a live toad and flee again.
It could only brace itself and continue to squat motionless, pretending to be a piece of pottery.
Yan Jing, unaware of the situation, saw Shi Pengpeng staring intently at the tea set and tentatively asked,
“What, do you like this one?”
“Sort of.”
Shi Pengpeng gave a sly smile and said meaningfully, “I won’t let it get away.”
She was about to explain the situation with the tea pet to Yan Jing when the auctioneer announced the starting price for the tea set, “Starting bid, one hundred thousand.”
Without hesitation, Yan Jing raised his paddle, “Two hundred thousand.”
“?” Shi Pengpeng slowly turned to look at him, confused, “Why are you bidding?”
“Don’t you want it?” Yan Jing tilted his head to meet her gaze, his eyes as calm as water.
Shi Pengpeng: “…”
No, when she said she wouldn’t let it get away, she didn’t mean it like that.
Shi Pengpeng wiped her face and calmly said, “Bro, that’s a monster.”
Yan Jing: ?
Yan Jing’s expression instantly froze, and he said with a blank face, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Shi Pengpeng scoffed, “You were just too quick.”
But she still kindly comforted him, “But it’s not a big deal. Just wait for someone else to bid.”
Yan Jing, however, wasn’t as optimistic.
With a dark expression, he said, “I’m afraid no one will bid anymore.”
Shi Pengpeng: “Why?”
“The value of this tea set tops out at two hundred thousand,” Yan Jing pressed his forehead, “Real experts won’t bid higher.”
Shi Pengpeng paused for a moment, then gave a thumbs up, “That’s professionalism, bro.”
Yan Jing: “…”
Sure enough, no one else bid after that.
“Two hundred thousand for the third time-sold!”
Shi Pengpeng coughed lightly, trying hard to suppress her laughter, “Bro, congratulations.”
“Congratulations to yourself,” Yan Jing said with a detached calmness, as if he had seen through the vanity of the world.
“It’s yours.”
“Isn’t this a bit too much?” Shi Pengpeng gasped, “It’s two hundred thousand!”
“Just a mere two hundred thousand,” Yan Jing replied nonchalantly, his tone firm and resolute.
“I won’t allow you to refuse.”
If his initial bid was a misunderstanding, thinking Shi Pengpeng wanted it, now he was determined to give it to her no matter what.
In any case, he absolutely would not take that tea set back with him.
Shi Pengpeng thought to herself, “The CEO is being domineering in such a strange place again.”
Yan Jing had come specifically for the Zigan Sword and had no interest in the other auction items.
Seeing that it was almost time, he decided to leave early with Shi Pengpeng.
As soon as they stepped outside, they were called back by Director Ouyang, who had followed them out.
“Mr. Yan, please wait a moment.”
Yan Jing stopped and turned around and replied:
“Is there something else?”
Director Ouyang smiled.
“Didn’t you say earlier that you wanted to bid on the Zigan Sword? Why didn’t you make an offer?”
Yan Jing looked puzzled as he said: “Didn’t you ask me to let you have it?”
Director Ouyang was momentarily speechless, but his smile didn’t waver.
“I was just joking with you.”
Yan Jing replied, “I took it seriously.”
Director Ouyang: “…”
Being a seasoned player, he quickly regained his composure and said, “Mr. Yan, you must be joking. To be honest, compared to the Zigan Sword, I value you more. If you really want that sword, just let me know, and I’ll give it to you for free. Consider it a gesture of friendship.”
“You’re too kind,” Yan Jing said indifferently.
“I have no interest in that sword.”
“Is that so?” Director Ouyang chuckled, teasingly.
“It’s rare to see you here. I thought you had your eye on something.”
Yan Jing: “Actually, I did.”
Director Ouyang: “What was it?”
Yan Jing replied without changing his expression, “That tea set that was just auctioned.”
Director Ouyang: “…”
Shi Pengpeng: “…”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.