"You... How many millenniums have you actually lived?" The Zu Clan Matriarch asked as she stared at Rui Wei's face waiting for a change on her face.
"Who knows? I stopped counting after 5,000." Rui Wei nonchalantly said, her eyes were also looking back to Zu Matriarch.
"..." The Zu Matriarch has seen how Rui Wei could change her tone of voice, appearance and even her very personality. So a matter of lying without blinking is completely natural for her, with this train of thought, Zu Matriarch could only sigh.
----
To understand the current situation one must first go back in 3 days time.
Rui Wei after spending her expenses on the materials for the talismans, the food that she has taken fancy on, and buying the expensive furniture that Ruzi destroyed. Her money has dramatically decreased, that even she couldn't believe it.
'I was such a spendthrift?!' After looking at the storage ring, Rui Wei couldn't help but have thoughts on the Imperial Family's Treasure.
'No, no, no. That's way too troublesome. And there is 89.9% chance of meeting those troublesome kids there!' Rui Wei erased that thought.
A/n: She's referring to the transmigrated assassin, the 9th prince and that convoy from Heavenly Palm Sect.
In the end, her last choice was the Auction House, after all, If you're in a Fantasy World this was the best way to earn a large sum of money without too much trouble, right...?
Rui Wei made her way towards the largest Auction House, the Murong Auction House. The Murong Auction House has the backing of the Imperial Family which is why their business has been smooth.
Walking down the streets Rui Wei blended with the crowds.
From time to time Rui Wei would notice blurred shadows, appearing and disappearing.
'Uwahh, the sun hasn't even set and these guys are already active?!'
Rui Wei is just walking down the streets and the things that she witnessed is already enough for the Imperial Family and Large Clans to drool over. With this kind of information at hand, Rui Wei's thoughts also drifted on going to some assassin guild and sell information. Although she would have to trouble herself to make an act, just so those crafty foxes would believe her source of information.
----
After changing her appearance she went and rented a noble carriage. The carriage she rented was quite expensive but it was necessary for her image, as she is attending a large Auction House that is backed by the Imperial Family.
Rui Wei's current appearance is a middle-aged man.
Time passed quickly as the carriage stopped at the Murong Auction House. Rui Wei left the carriage and smoothly entered the Auction House before she stepped into the Auction House her brows furrowed as her smile became stiff.
Everyone inside the Auction House was familiar with each other, as the people who could enter the Murong Auction House are the Large Power House house of the Dragonsvein Kingdom. And she as a new person would, without doubt, garner their attention.
Her steps halted as she changed her direction. She entered through the back of the Auction House and met with the person she has talked beforehand.
"Welcome Master Liu, we do hope that Master Liu enjoy the stay here in our Murong Auction House!" The servant cheerfully said, after saying that he bowed deeply and left.
Rui Wei has bought her own Private space within the Murong Auction House. The Murong Auction house is a three storey large estate, and those at the higher rooms shows their influence, the room that Rui Wei bought was only at the 2nd floor which could be considered so-so within the circles of the higher ups.
--
The Auction progressed, but no items had caught Rui Wei's eyes so far. The Items auctioned were mostly Items from another country, and there hadn't been a Jianghu Item auctioned yet.
A/n: I know that people who read a lot of Chinese novels understand the meaning of 'Jianghu' but just let me explain again. Jianghu - Is used to describe people whose lives practically revolves with Martial Arts. In this novel, it is used to categorize the people who cultivate their body, mind, and spirit. "Martial Artist" or "Magicians"
"And to our next item! I'm sure that everyone here would be thrilled to know what Item our Murong House has gotten hold of!" The man excitedly said.
The guests couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"What do you think is it?"
"Pssh! They've probably just some ancient portrait or whatever."
"Maybe they got something from the Jianghu?"
"That kind of possibility is too low! When had the Murong house last auctioned a Jianghu item?! 4 years ago?!"
All kinds of comments fleeted around, their whisper were going out of control as they debated amongst each other.
The host coughed several times, but to no avail, the guests were to be too engrossed to their debates. The host didn't wait for the guests to quiet down as he flicked his sleeves and the previous dim lights shut down.
3 paper talismans flew on the stage, the lights were all focused on it.
"A 4th-grade talisman!!" The host shouted the talisman was respectively aligned, the 'Wind Torrent' 'Scorching Bloom' and 'Wind Feather'.
Silence reigned over the whole Auction house, as the ample amount of Qi was visible in their (the Cultivators) spiritual eyes.
"A fourth grade?!"
"Are you serious?.... The Murong House got actually something interesting!"
"When had the Murong House make a connection with Taoists?!"
"Hurry up and start the bid!" Some guests got agitated and shouted towards the host, waving around their numbers, and some crafty guests have ordered their servants to leave and retrieve the additional money.
"The starting price is--20,000 gold coins each!"
"30,000 gold coins!"
"33,100 gold coins!"
"50,000!!!"
"80,000!!"
The bid got higher and higher, but no one wanted to lose at each other. It was a fourth-grade talisman, ah!
A fourth-grade talisman was extremely rare in the Dragonsvein Kingdom, especially since most cultivators here focuses on cultivating their own body. To most cultivators making talismans are just a waste of time, resources, and energy.
Putting Qi on talismans requires great concentration, some would take days just to create one, and after that, they would be too tired make another one. That's why for most low ranked cultivators such 'high-ranked' talismans are as rare a phoenix's feather!
Rui Wei on the other side was completely calm, she stretched her limbs while yawning 'til a watermelon could fit.
--
"It was our Murong House's Honor to auction esteemed Master's Items!" The old man was full of smiles as he handed several bags of gold to Rui Wei.
Rui Wei remained her cool facade as she simply waved her hands and the sack of golds disappeared.
After the ruckus she created, she calmly received her money, while the servant on the side was looking at her with eyes full of respect.
'This is a person who could casually sell three 4th grade talisman!' The old man watched as the middle ages man's figure disappered.
---
After leaving the Murong House, Rui Wei noticed that several groups of Martial Artists and Magicians were following after her. Being bored as she is, she couldn't resist playing along with them.
'Hahaha! Be grateful you lot, this lady over here just happen to have a spare time!' Rui Wei's lips curled up, as Qi gathered up on her feet. Rui Wei played with the group of people following her, making them run in circles.
After playing with them over and over again, the one following her finally realized that they were being toyed with.
'Run in different directions! We've been tricked!' The presumed leader gave out his order, as he himself went and run towards a random direction.
"What? It's finished?" Rui Wei scratched her cheeks.
"I still have three days spare~" She said as she ran after the presumed leader.
'Hmm..? That skill-- Isn't that the Zu Clans trademark? Oi, oi... Can't you be more obvious?!' Rui Wei wanted to slap the man, the situation has been reversed and he didn't even think that using the skill that he was most familiar with, would actually reveal his identity just like that!
If the spy knows that his identity has been revealed in the most simplistic manner, he would probably kill himself by banging his head on the wall!
Rui Wei shook her head as she stopped her pursuit and walked towards the direction of the Zu Clan. The Zu Clan is one of the most influential Clans within the Dragonsvein Kingdom, they have just held a tournament which emphasized showing off their might, which is why Rui Wei immediately recognize the skill used by the spy.
Strolling through the bustling streets to the Zu Clan, it seemed like she just entered some kind of danger zone, the alleyways were completely clear as no one dared to casually walk around close the Zu Clan's District.
Rui Wei looked up towards the wall which reached over 10 ft. tall. Instead of jumping over nor calling for the guards to have an audience with some important elder or even the Clan head, but Rui Wei just stood there. She raised her fist, the Qi immediately gathered on her hands, she then placed her palms on the wall.
The Qi rapidly traveled through the wall like a web, the defense mechanism reacted and the Clan Head who was having a nap jolted.
And so the two met.
--
"May I ask for esteemed Master's name?" The Zu Matriarch respectfully bowed her head towards Rui Wei.
"I'm Cheng."
"Hmm~ See, you could've just asked, why the need to follow me around like some kind of pesky mosquitoes?" Rui Wei dramatically tilted her head towards the row of Spies that had been summoned by Zu Matriarch.
"Aiyaaah~ The spies of Zu Clan are reaaaally 'capable' that this old one had to use some of my old techniques." Rui Wei teased, but the faces of those people changed into different kinds of shade, from dark, red and to white.
They were angry at Rui Wei, embarrassed at their incompetence and afraid of the punishment that shall befall them later on.
The Zu Matraiach saw how Rui Wei just toyed around with her prided disciples and couldn't help but feel offended. She couldn't see the cultivation level of this person surnamed Cheng, so his cultivation level is probably 5th rank and above, to think that such an esteemed person would lower himself and bully the weak!
"You incompetent pigs! What are you still dilly-dallying for?! Go to the training grounds and polish your deoterating skills!!" Zu Matriarch slammed the tables and fiercely shouted at the spies. Hearing this, the spies ran away faster than the wind, afraid that the Zu Matriarch change her thought and send them to the Black Manor (Punishment District).
"This one deeply apologize on behalf of this one's lowly disciples, they are still young and lacks manner, I hope esteemed Master would be magmatic and forgive the foolish ones." The Zu Matriarch slightly bowed her head, as she sincerely 'apologized' to Rui Wei.
"Of course, I'll let the matter slide~ I'm such a magnanimous Senior, after all." Rui Wei's sarcastically said.
Zu Matriarch could only nod her head obediently as she waited for the servants to bring certain 'item' as compensation for the trouble they created.
After giving that 'Item' Zu Matriarch was confident that this senior in front of her wouldn't pursue the matter any longer.