The bidding exploded at first but quickly slowed around the thirty qi coin mark.

"Thirty-one!" said one booth.

"Thirty-two!" said another.

"Thirty-three!" Pan Zhanshi said. He wrung his hands and took short, nervous breaths.

"Thirty-four!" said the booth Jie remembered as the Chen family's.

Pan Zhanshi let out a slow breath and pressed his hand to the orb. "Thirty-five," he said.

"Wow," Pan Tian said, "you have been saving."

Pan Zhanshi gave her a pained smile.

"Thirty-seven," said the Chen family booth.

"Thirty-eight," Pan Zhanshi said, but he looked strained.

"Forty," said the Chen family booth with smug ease.

Pan Zhanshi shook his head and sank back into the cushions. "That's it. I can't go higher. Well, at least I made them pay more," he said.

"Could you really have afforded thirty-eight qi coins? For a sword?" Jie asked.

"Well... yeah... but not more than that," Pan Zhanshi said, "I should've gone for one of the lower-end swords that fit my cultivation. Getting greedy was stupid. But there's always next time."

"Going once," Jiang Feng said.

"Well, you know I could give you up to fifty qi coins toward it," Jie said.

"It'd take me ages to pay you back," Pan Zhanshi said.

"Don't be stupid," Jie said, "you can have it as a gift. So, spend whatever you can afford plus fifty qi coins."

"Going twice," Jiang Feng said.

"Are you sure?" Pan Zhanshi said.

"Yes, now hurry up or you'll lose it," Jie said.

Pan Zhanshi nodded. "Thanks, Jie," he said. He pressed his hand against the orb. "forty-five," he said.

"We have forty-five qi coins for the rare dark moon blade! Do I hear more?" Jiang Feng asked.

"Fifty," said the Chen family booth.

Pan Zhanshi looked nervous.

"Don't worry," Jie said, "I don't mind if you spend all fifty coins. Now stop delaying and raise the bid by more. This obsession with face is stupid, but the Chen family seems to care about it a lot so... slap them."

Pan Zhanshi smiled and looked relieved though still a bit conflicted. It made Jie feel good. He didn't seem like he wanted to take advantage of her generosity.

He pressed his hand against the orb. "fifty-five," he said.

"Fifty-five qi coins! I have fifty-five qi coins. Do I hear sixty?" Jiang Feng asked.

"Ninety," said the Chen family booth.

Exclaimed murmurs rippled through the crowd at the massively higher bid.

"How can they be so stubborn?! Who pays ninety qi coins for a lower dantian weapon?!" Pan Zhanshi said.

"Hey... I could use the money I was going to spend for the claws to help you," Pan Tian said, "Make it a spirit coin and fifteen qi coins... I can just barely do twenty-seven if I stretch a bit."

Pan Zhanshi pressed his hand against the orb. "One spirit coin and fifteen qi coins," he said smoothly. He looked a bit embarrassed but also excited and kind of... happy?

Jie wasn't sure. Reading emotions wasn't always easy.

"How high do you suppose they'll go?" Jie asked.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Pan Zhanshi chuckled. "No idea. If they go higher though... I think we should just let them have it. I want it, but if it gets much higher it'll be so expensive that it'll strain even their finances," he said, "After all... it's still a lower dantian treasure and I bet they'll be spending much more tonight."

Jie nodded. "Makes sense, I guess. Is the Chen family richer?" she asked.

"I'm not sure... maybe? It's not like they'd ever tell us the truth. They've been spending a lot more recently though..." Pan Zhanshi said.

"The dark moon blade for the lower dantian going once at one fifteen qi coins! Do I hear one twenty? One twenty?" Jiang Feng asked, "Going twice! Going three times! And sold! The dark moon blade for one spirit coin and fifteen qi coins!"

Pan Zhanshi let out a long sigh. "Wow... I almost can't believe it. Thanks, Jie. That was extremely kind of you. And, sis? Since when did you get so generous?" he said.

Pan Tian scoffed. "As though I'd allow those Chen family slugs to get their way," she said. Though her eyes sparkled when she looked at her brother.

Several more weapons were brought on stage but none of them stirred the interest of any of the three. Until a pair of beautiful women wheeled on a display of a double-sided spear with a golden shaft and blades that gleamed in the light.

"I have yet another treat for those of the lower dantian," Jiang Feng said, "this is a remorseless stinger spear. Crafted by the artisans of the renowned Serpent's Fang order of assassins. Note the remarkable quality and attention to detail. This weapon is designed to work with a wide variety of qi types but is best suited to poison and venom qi types and highly aggressive fighting styles that mirror those of the Serpent's Fang order. Crafted by those who truly understand the art of murder, this weapon is utterly devastating in the right hands. Bidding starts at ten qi coins," Jiang Feng said.

"Ten qi coins!" someone yelled but they were immediately drowned out by others as the price rapidly skyrocketed.

"Hmm..." Jie said, "Do you think that would be useful for Ithilix?"

"It would likely fit her qi quite well and the reach and versatility of it would suit her fighting style," Pan Zhanshi said.

The price had already reached twenty qi coins and was still climbing.

"Ithilix?" Pan Keai asked, "That sounds like a hive name. Don't tell me you're thinking of gifting a weapon to a hive creature?"

Her tone and words grated on Jie though she tried her best not to show any visible reaction. Before Jie could say something she knew she probably shouldn't, Pan Tian spoke up.

"I've spoken with Ithilix, Auntie. Their hive has excellent craftsmen and gathering abilities. A trade agreement with them would greatly benefit our family at very little cost. Others in the region allow their personal feelings to get in the way of such a lucrative opportunity," Pan Tian said.

Pan Keai nodded as she considered this. "An interesting perspective... I'd wondered why you three had treated that hive girl at the tournament so well... I presume that is this... Ithilix you speak of? Most cunning to win her friendship and create ties.

"I should've expected no less from my niece and nephew. And of course, with your illustrious background, I should've known right away, Jie of the Liu family... I will take this proposal to the family head. Provided of course that the Liu family is willing to share such a valuable contact?" she asked.

Jie nodded, keeping her face as blank a mask as she could. "I can't claim to speak for my family," Jie said, "but I'm sure they would approve of being generous with you in this instance."

The words sounded insane coming out of her mouth but Pan Keai nodded seriously.

"Very well. Then it's my suggestion we each bid together and make this weapon a gift from both our respective families," Pan Keai said.

Jie nodded. The rapid switch from scornful to scheming had left Jie's head spinning though she did her best to hide that fact.

The price rapidly climbed up to seventy qi coins as the Chen family once again competed to push the price up the instant the Pan family started bidding.

But, with Jie and Pan Keai each willing to pay half, the strain was acceptable and they won the bid for eighty-five qi coins. Far more than it was worth, but it seemed the Pan and Chen families were in a constant state of rivalry over every item. Jie was glad to see the Pan family force the Chen family to pay more for their items in turn.

She hoped that Ithilix would like the gift and found herself wishing the hive girl were here... although with the way people reacted to anything to do with the hive that was likely a terrible idea...

The auction continued, but it wasn't long before there was a knock at the door and a woman in black robes stepped inside. Three others came in after her, carrying the weapons for Pan Tian, Pan Zhanshi, and Ithilix on opulent pillows.

The one with the claws of light on a dark pillow approached Jie, but she pointed to Pan Tian. "You can give it to Pan Tian," Jie said.

The woman bowed. "As you wish, milady," she said.

She handed the claws of light, pillow and all, to Pan Tian. Pan Tian's eyes lit up and she squealed with delight. She immediately slipped the gleaming gauntlets onto her hands and extended the glistening claws. Pan Tian cycled a martial skill and the claws lit up with a resplendent, silvery-white glow.

Jie had to admit, they suited her.

Pan Zhanshi was given his sword, which he held reverently and studied with care, while another attendant handed Jie Ithilix's spear.

I guess the device checks who's placing the bid and they assume the item belongs to that person? Jie wondered.

"Milady Jie is free to pay whenever she wishes," the woman leading the group said smoothly. Whether they expected her to pay in addition to the amount she'd already handed over for the secret bidding or if they were just going out of their way to hide that fact, Jie wasn't sure.

"Esteemed of the Pan family, we do require payment from you now, however," the woman said.

"Of course," Pan Zhanshi said. He waved his hand and neat stacks of qi coins appeared on the table. Jie smiled softly, this world was so cool.

Pan Tian and Pan Keai did the same, and Jie followed suit.

The woman waved her hand and the coins vanished into her ring. "Thank you," she said with a smooth bow, "please, enjoy your items and the rest of the auction."

The auction continued, but Jie spent most of her time just chatting with her friends and only half-paying attention to the actual auction.