A sudden figure leaped onto the platform, pointing his fingers towards the sky, and declared loudly, "I'll double the price and buy this garment."

As soon as this statement came out, the crowd booed.

Hu Li looked from afar, and he already had an idea just by looking at the outline of that figure.

This person was indeed extraordinary, spending thirty thousand taels of silver to buy a piece of clothing.

These people were truly willing to do anything for the treasure.

After hearing the price, Blind Xu lowered his head and then raised it, shouting, "After three drumbeats, if no one bids higher, then this year's garment belongs to this brave man."

The first drumbeat.

There was still commotion under the platform, pushing and shoving.

The second drumbeat.

Some were eager to try, but most were encouraging others.

The third drumbeat rang out.

Silence fell.

Blind Xu presented a long wooden box and asked, "May I ask the brave man's surname and where he is from?"

"Surname Liu. Inside the four seas, I stop wherever I please, and anywhere is home."

"Very well, this garment belongs to Mr. Liu," Blind Xu said, arching his hand. "Blind Xu also thanks everyone for their patronage. If you need anything, please come early next year."

With that, the curtain fell.

Apart from this Mr. Liu who just bought the garment, Hu Li didn't see anyone else bidding, furrowing his brows.

However, the old man suddenly smiled. "Blind Xu made a fortune this year. In previous years, the highest bid was two thousand five hundred taels, at most three thousand two hundred, but this year, it doubled."

"Except for that Mr. Liu just now, I didn't hear anyone else bidding. Why is that?" Hu Li asked, puzzled.

The old man glanced at Hu Li and said, "Five days ago, Blind Xu was already preparing for this. Someone had already given him a note with the price. The Gansan Festival in May is just a show for people. Today, this man jumped on the stage and shouted a sky-high price. With no one bidding higher after three drumbeats, it fell into his hands."

Hu Li took a distant look. The crowd under the platform had dispersed.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

And Mr. Liu and his followers were nowhere to be seen.

"So that's how it is," Hu Li pondered for a moment. "What's so special about this garment that it's worth five thousand taels? I've heard that Blind Xu is a tailor who specifically makes clothes for the Prince of Liang, but it's still hard to believe a single garment could sell for such an exorbitant price."

"The garment is naturally not worth that price. Blind Xu isn't selling the garment," the old man said cryptically.

Hu Li found it all rather baffling, but when he turned to ask, the old man had already quietly left.

With no mood for further wandering, Hu Li returned to the inn.

There were no other guests in the inn. A lantern hung at the door, guiding those returning at night.

A waiter emerged from the small kitchen and seeing Hu Li return, he approached, asking, "How was your night, sir? Today is the busiest day in Shangyong City. You're quite lucky to arrive today."

"Well," Hu Li smiled and continued, "I saw the one selling clothes you mentioned. Have you ever seen the kind of clothes Blind Xu makes?"

The waiter chuckled and waved his hand, "I'm just a commoner, where would I have seen such expensive clothes?"

Hu Li nodded in agreement, "Indeed. That garment worth five thousand taels, I should take a look at it if I get the chance."

The waiter, hearing this, quickly gestured for Hu Li to lower his voice. Hu Li, puzzled, saw the waiter check outside to ensure nobody was around, then stomped his foot, saying, "Sir, you shouldn't speak of this anymore, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."

Hu Li was utterly confused.

The waiter lowered his voice and said, "If you keep mentioning it, people will think you have ulterior motives, and that could cost you your life."

Hu Li, taking the opportunity, teased the waiter further, "What's the big deal? It's just a piece of clothing."

The waiter shook his head, thinking, Who is this young master? He doesn't even understand the most basic survival skills in the Jianghu.

"Are the people coming to Shangyong City just for sightseeing? They're all here for the Prince of Liang's treasure. There's a secret in Blind Xu's garments about the Prince of Liang's treasure. Can you blame them for being eager? Any garment, no matter how much it sells for, is worth it!" The waiter spilled all this out, then seeing Hu Li's puzzled look, earnestly advised, "Sir, leave in a few days. This is a quagmire; once you're in, it's hard to get out."

"Alright, thanks," Hu Li thanked the waiter and started calculating in his mind.

There's a secret in Blind Xu's garments about the Prince of Liang's treasure.

Hu Li narrowed his eyes. If that's the case, what about the half-map on his chest?

There seemed to be numerous breakthroughs leading to the Prince of Liang's treasure, yet no one had found the whereabouts of the underground palace for a century.

Could the treasure be in the sky? Hence, these commoners couldn't see the shadow of the underground palace.

Moreover, that person who acquired the garment today.

He seemed arrogant and confident. Who exactly was he?

Hu Li glanced outside and took a sip of tea.

They might return to the inn tonight. Investigating them might yield some clues.

Since it's rumored that Blind Xu's garments hold the secret of the underground palace, he should take a good look at what makes that five thousand-tael garment so precious.

Hu Li returned to his room upstairs and pushed the door open.

A person was sitting at the round table, facing away from him, eating quietly.

Hu Li closed the door, not surprised to find someone suddenly in the room, and asked, "Lord Jiang, when did you arrive?"

Jiang Yu didn't respond but instead asked, "How's it outside?"

"Blind Xu hides a secret about the treasure in the garments he sells every year. Almost everyone coming to Shangyong City is here for this garment," Hu Li sat down next to Jiang Yu, poured himself a cup of tea, but didn't feel like drinking it. He just placed it aside and stared at it. "Just now, a fool spent five thousand taels to buy a garment."

Seeing Jiang Yu remained silent, his brows furrowed in thought again.

He had just thought of investigating that Mr. Liu, the foolish spender, and now he had someone to help. Why not take advantage of it?

Midnight.

Hu Li lowered himself, pressing his ear against the door.

Most of the guests had already put out their lights, but only the room of this foolish spender was still lit.

Jiang Yu frowned, guarding the other side of the door, his face filled with bitterness.

Being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to eavesdrop, Jiang Yu wasn't in a good mood either.

The candlelight stretched Mr. Liu's shadow onto the lattice door. Hu Li leaned closer to take a look. Although there was only one shadow, he could still discern what the person inside was doing.

Mr. Liu shook the garment in his hand, then draped it over his body and carefully fastened the belt. Once dressed, he blew out the candle and lay down on the bed.

Hu Li glanced at Jiang Yu.

This person was going to sleep in a garment worth five thousand taels.

His plan to inspect the garment up close flew out the window.

The two of them waited for a while until they saw someone actually put on the garment.

Ignoring Jiang Yu's nearly raised eyebrows, Hu Li gestured to him, indicating that he was going back to sleep first.

The next morning, Hu Li was awakened by a scream.

Hu Li grabbed the long knife by the bed and quickly opened the door.

At the end of the corridor, the door to the room was open, the waiter sat dumbfounded on the floor. At the same time, Jiang Yu paid no attention to the startled waiter; he kicked open the half-closed lattice door and strode into the room.

Other guests of the inn crowded around, making the room nearly impassable.

Hu Li asked them to give some space, and it took him a while to find a gap and enter the room.