Chapter 926: Measures and countermeasures

Since at the time of Wu Long’s meeting with the Ember Palm Pavilion, a week passed after the auction at the Soaring Feather Trading Company was announced, the amount of people arriving from the Iron Claw City’s World Stone began gradually increasing.

“So it starts…”, Liang Yuhan puffed a cloud of herbal smoke, standing on the balcony of the Thousand Eyes Palace branch in the Silver Wing City, looking down at the large street intersection below, seeing a lot more people with powerful auras mixed into the crowd.

“Mm, indeed”, two hands gently landed on her waist from behind, and then slid forward to lock her in embrace, and a kiss landed on the back of her neck.

She smiled, closing her eyes and leaning her head a bit to the side, while Wu Long took a deep breath, taking in her scent.

She leaned back just a little, to completely give herself into the embrace of her beloved.

A soft, gentle kiss, followed right after, and when it ended, her deep emerald green eyes opened to look into his.

“Sweet”, he said, as there was a sweet, refreshing taste on her lips.

“New recipe that Sister Huan made for me, you like it?”, Madam Liang smiled, since kissing him was the only reason she asked Yu Huan if it was possible to improve the taste. The previous improvement was improving the smell, so that she did not inconvenience her Dao Sisters.

“I do, though I like kissing you regardless”, he softly whispered the last part into her ear.

The corners of her mouth lifted, “You seem to be in a good mood”

“I am”, Wu Long smiled back, “Why wouldn’t I be with you in my arms?”

“Sweet talker”, she chuckled. Her expression, and the look in her eyes, containing a bit of playfulness, were full of warmth and joy.

“Just being honest”, he let out a chuckle as well, letting go of her and stepping to stand next to her.

He turned to lean his back on the pillar supporting the balcony’s roof, interlocking his hands over his chest, facing her, and leaving the crowd below to the side.

“It seems you wrapped up earlier”, she noted, causing him to nod.

“Mm, Old Yen and Nie Guanting are taking care of something I was planning to do after meeting with the Ember Palm Pavilion, so I freed up earlier than expected”, Wu Long nodded.

“How great that you have such capable people as followers”, she smiled, happy to be able to spend more time with him as a result.

“Haha, I do agree”, he chuckled, also very much in favor of spending more time with her, “What about you? I thought I would find you here with Luxiao”

“We were supposed to meet here”, Liang Yuhan nodded, “She sent a talisman message that she will be running late though”

Wu Long nodded, as he could feel Sui Luxiao’s location within the Soaring Feather Trading Company’s branch, “So, who do you think arrived already?”

“My business is proven information, or at the very least, rumors, not guesses”, Liang Yuhan’s smile widened, as she proudly puffed out her impressive chest, which did not fail to attract his gaze of appreciation.

A glint of satisfaction appeared in her eyes as she saw that reaction. She drew on her smoking pipe and continued after letting out a cloud of herbal smoke, “The Thousand Treasures Hall’s people have arrived for certain. There’s still no sign of Pill Tower or the Alchemy Association, but there are a few mercenaries who often work for the Wei Dynasty’s Pill Tower”

“Hmm, as I thought, pretty sluggish response… it seems the Alchemy Association really is paralyzed with internal issues”, Wu Long’s gaze went up to her face again.

“Mm, but there is a worrisome bit of news I just received an hour ago about the other one, we are in the process of verifying it”, Liang Yuhan said, her expression and tone turning more serious, “The Iron Claw City is full of gossip, likely spread by the Iron Claw Group itself, that the Silverleaf Trade Hall is ready to announce their own auction, on the same day as ours”

Wu Long raised his eyebrows in surprise, and then smirked, “Hmm, so that’s their answer… interesting…”

And at that moment, he felt Fen Baihu’s mist opening up a passage behind the door to the balcony.

“Just in time”, he muttered with a smile, turning to the opening door from where Sui Luxiao appeared in the company of Nie Xiwang and Gong Cui.

“Wu Long!”, the latter exclaimed with both surprise and joy, and ran to hug him.

He made a wide smile, receiving the beauty into his arms, and giving her a kiss.

Nie Xiwang and Sui Luxiao were also surprised to see Wu Long here, as it was not certain when he would return from the meeting with the Ember Palm Pavilion.

“Sorry again for being late Sister Yuhan, I was just asking Sister Xiwang to help look into some of the goods that some of the guests brought in to sell, that our appraisers were uncertain about, and we took more time than I originally anticipated”, Sui Luxiao spoke with an apologetic expression, to which Liang Yuhan smiled to show it was all right.

“So~ many people brought things to sell at the auction!”, Gong Cui spoke excitedly after the kiss, looking up into Wu Long’s eyes in his embrace.

“Mm, a good main treasure attracts a lot of wealthy customers, those customers attract people with things to sell, which in turn attracts customers for valuable items aside from the main item”, Wu Long nodded to her, “Did you also appraise something?”

“Hehe, no, I was just tagging along with Sister Xiwang”, Gong Cui chuckled, shaking her head, “There was one Zither that was brought in, but I didn’t like it, I don’t know if it’s good though”

At this point, Nie Xiwang and Sui Luxiao came closer, and Gong Cui gave way for them, as Wu Long greeted them one by one.

They moved to a table on the balcony, a few of Liang Yuhan’s subordinates appearing to set some tea and snacks, and quickly disappearing, leaving them in privacy.

“As you heard from Cui’er, there’s a lot of those wishing to sell, but the overall quality for now is a bit lacking”, Sui Luxiao stated, looking at Nie Xiwang.

“There are a few that seem promising, but the majority of those items are too ordinary to put up for a big auction”, the latter added.

“Though I think we can still use them”, Sui Luxiao continued, “We can’t put it up for the main auction of course, but we can announce three secondary auctions, once a week, in the lead-up to the main one”

“Hmm, it’ll warm up the crowd for the main auction, and there might be some profit”, Liang Yuhan nodded, seeing the logic of this move.

“Great idea”, Wu Long agreed, and then added after a moment of thought, “…though since your people need to focus on the main auction, how about letting Qian handle those smaller auctions?”

Smiles appeared on the faces of the four beauties, as Sui Luxiao easily agreed, “That’ll be a big help”

“Then it’s decided”, Wu Long smiled, taking out a communication talisman.

Meanwhile, Sui Luxiao shifted the topic, “However, the issue remains with the main auction…”

“About that…”, Madam Liang added, and then paused, understanding that she interjected into Sui Luxiao’s speech, mistaking a small pause for a full stop.

Both beauties smiled at the awkward moment, and then both tried to say “Go ahead” at the same time, stopping again.

And then another attempt.

“Hehehe… hehahahaha!”, Gong Cui first began giggling, and then outright laughing, a laughter which was contagious, soon getting both Sui Luxiao and Liang Yuhan, who were already grinning, to start laughing as well. Nie Xiwang let out a small laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.

Wu Long chuckled as well, looking at the beauties laughing with a tender gaze, happy to see them having fun and sharing this moment with them.

Sui Luxiao was the first to somewhat calm down, though her shoulders still were shaking from time to time, and made a gesture with open palm, giving way, since there was urgency in Liang Yuhan’s voice when she spoke earlier, “Please… haha… go ahead”

Liang Yuhan’s made a loud exhale, trying to calm down, and gave Sui Luxiao a grateful look, as she mouthed “sorry” and “thank you” with her lips, and then relayed the news about the other auction that she told Wu Long earlier.

“I see… there were already likely people holding valuable items, who hesitated, not sure if the auction is trustworthy… but with this development, it’s likely to increase doubt and confusion among the public, as there is now another choice, especially since the Silverleaf Trade Hall is a lot older and has more reputation… after all, for a long time, it was the only Trading Company on the continent”, Nie Xiwang slightly frowned, understanding the implications, and subtly explaining for Gong Cui sitting beside her.

“Of course, it depends if they manage to bring in a main treasure comparable to ours on such a short notice…”, Madam Liang spoke, since it wasn’t exactly easy to match a 3rd-tier Profound Grade Heaven Turning Pill, “But it still will do some damage to our auction even if they can’t… and the timing is aimed right when we are gathering items to sell…”

Sui Luxiao smiled, playfully looking at Wu Long, and seeing the questioning eyes of the others, began explaining, “Wu Long thought that there could be doubt about how trustworthy our auction is, or whether it truly will be able to gather a good audience… after all, a big part about trying to sell at an auction, is that there are enough people with money for things other than the main item…, which is why we came up with a plan”

Wu Long smiled, seeing that she was urging him to continue, “Earlier, Kai Huoshi cooperated with Senior Ci Han to create am exceptional high-level 3rd-tier Profound Grade sword from Scarlet Veined Steel, made from Scarlet Vein Iron that I found in the Sun Shadow Secret Realm”

Nie Xiwang leaned to Gong Cui’s ear, whispering to her while the latter nodded along, as Sui Luxiao finished, “We decided not to announce it from the beginning in case we need a boost in credibility after… of course, we didn’t know or predict the Silverleaf Trade Hall’s move, or rather the Thousand Treasures Hall behind them, but it should work regardless”

Madam Liang shook her head with a wry smile, “Heh, to even prepare this little theater play… this is why Sister Baihu says it’s almost never simple with you, Wu Long. There’s always a scheme”

“Me?! I only expressed concern this might happen, Luxiao is the one who came up with this method!”, Wu Long protested against this unjust accusation, since he was, for once, innocent, causing the beauties to start laughing again.

Hehe, the talking at the same time happened to me recently, so I just felt like including it lol ^^

Thank you for reading and your incredible support everyone!!!