Chapter 44: Three-Hundred-Year-Old Polygonum Multiflorum

At this moment, he noticed the alluring auctioneer in red on the stage, her face already brimming with smiles. The more the bidders seemed to compete out of spite, the more thrilling the auction became for her. Zhang Pu also observed that several people, spurred by the heated bidding between the two, had developed an interest in the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum on display.

The female auctioneer seized every opportunity to exaggerate and extol the virtues of the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, hoping to incite the two bidders to raise their offers further, or perhaps draw others into the fray, allowing the auction house to earn a tidy sum from this medicinal treasure—and increasing her own commission.

Zhang Pu took note of the two who seemed locked in fierce rivalry. One was a slightly overweight, middle-aged man with a piggish build and prominent ears. No matter how he looked, Zhang Pu felt this man resembled Zheng Furong; though the distance only allowed a view of his upper body, the impression was unmistakably porcine. Of course, he was not Zheng Furong.

The other was equally unusual—a young man in his twenties, tall and handsome, with a striking physique, but a pallor to his face that contrasted sharply with his good looks. Zhang Pu, experienced in reading people, suspected it wasn’t malnutrition; rather, the young man’s ill health was the result of poor lifestyle habits.

Clearly, he intended to use the Polygonum multiflorum to concoct a remedy for his condition. Zhang Pu silently mused.

Despite the auctioneer’s attempts to stir the crowd, no one else joined the bidding, yet the two rivals quickly pushed the price up to one hundred thousand.

Fools! Zhang Pu cursed them under his breath.

He noticed at one point the pale young man cast a warning glance at the piggish middle-aged bidder, who appeared utterly indifferent.

This cannot go on! Are these two rivals by nature, purposely using this three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum as their battleground, dragging others into their quarrel?

No, I must intervene. Perhaps if I make a bid, their farce will end. Some wealthy people are only interested in burning money to feed their egos, but I have no ties to them; maybe my involvement will prompt them to abandon their pointless contest.

When the price reached just over one hundred and ten thousand, Zhang Pu suddenly called out, “One hundred and twenty thousand.”

Instantly, many heads turned in his direction, including the auctioneer on stage and both the piggish middle-aged man and the pale young man. Zhang Pu had not bid once before; he appeared out of nowhere.

The bidding paused momentarily.

Should the two rivals stop now, the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum would be Zhang Pu’s for one hundred and twenty thousand, a sum close to what he’d expected.

Would the auction end at this price? The auctioneer felt a pang of disappointment. She believed that the two rivals had been whipped into a frenzy by her provocations. If only they’d lost all reason! She inwardly hoped for such madness.

But Zhang Pu hoped the piggish middle-aged man and the pale young man would cease their spiteful bidding upon his entry. He felt it would be best for all involved.

The piggish middle-aged man seemed to settle down, but the pale young man gritted his teeth and shouted, “One hundred and twenty-five thousand!”

Again, all eyes turned to the pale young man. Zhang Pu saw the piggish middle-aged man glance at his rival, and from his expression, Zhang Pu sensed he would not bid further.

It was for the best if he withdrew. Zhang Pu then raised the price to one hundred and twenty-six thousand, not intending to engage in reckless bidding like the previous two.

The piggish middle-aged man glanced at Zhang Pu, and from the half-smile on his face, Zhang Pu was even more certain he would not continue.

Now only the pale young man remained.

Sure enough, after Zhang Pu’s bid, the young man raised the price to one hundred and thirty thousand.

Again, many looked his way.

This fellow—could he be here to concoct a remedy, like me?

However, Zhang Pu sensed no hint of cultivation in the young man. Yet, the unnatural pallor made him wonder if perhaps the youth was a demon cultivator, a sorcerer, or practiced some sinister art—those who, in their youth, often appeared odd.

Regardless, Zhang Pu thought: if this young man wasn’t practicing some dark art, then perhaps he was simply one of those who had squandered his health through excess—an empty shell.

“One hundred and thirty-two thousand,” Zhang Pu called out.

He was determined to win the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum and was unafraid of a protracted duel with the pale young man.

“Fourteen hundred thousand,” the young man shot back.

Zhang Pu noticed the anger rising in the youth’s face.

He did not care; his bottom line could stretch to over two hundred thousand without concern.

Many watched the spectacle with delight, as if it brought them a vicarious thrill.

“One hundred and forty-two thousand,” Zhang Pu continued in his steady, unhurried manner.

“Fifteen hundred thousand,” the pale young man responded, again with a reckless leap.

This reckless fool… Zhang Pu was speechless.

Damn! To be up against such a person today meant he might have to spend more than expected. Zhang Pu believed the young man might continue driving the price up, perhaps well past two hundred thousand.

What now?

But at eighteen hundred and twenty thousand, someone beside the pale young man suddenly intervened, strongly urging him to stop.

In the end, the young man listened, though he cast a venomous glare at Zhang Pu, as if promising retribution once the auction was over.

Zhang Pu simply nodded at him from afar, unconcerned: if you’re too timid to raise the bid any further, who can you blame? This three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum is rightfully mine!

Thus, Zhang Pu secured the Polygonum multiflorum. The price was within his expectations, though it might not have soared so high were it not for the young man’s mania.

The youth now harbored resentment toward him; Zhang Pu likewise felt annoyance. He had even considered, if the young man’s pallor was due to some incurable illness, helping him as he had helped Old Master Zeng Guoxing.

But now, with the youth’s hostile demeanor, Zhang Pu thought, very well! Let’s see whose fists are stronger if trouble comes.