Chapter 45: Another Grudge

The auction naturally continued afterward.

During this time, there were plenty of medicinal herbs even more precious than the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, but none of them held any attraction for Zhang Pu. At his current stage of cultivation, only those herbs that were three hundred years old, and the snow lotus, were truly crucial for him. Anything else, even if useful in the future, could wait until later. His funds were limited now—he couldn’t afford to waste his “silver,” especially with the risk that, when the centuries-old snow lotus finally came up for bidding, another one or two people like that pale-faced young man might show up and force him to spend more unnecessary money.

Previously, the pocket money he’d received as tribute from Wang Gang, Zhou Yu, and even from Zheng Furen, Gao Lixia, and Wu Yu, had made him feel he was on the verge of becoming the wealthiest student in modern high school. Yet now, spending it at the auction, he found himself somewhat strapped for cash.

No matter what medicinal herb came up next, Zhang Pu played dead—he didn’t raise the price on a single item, nor did he even pay attention after the auctioneer announced the bids.

Still, he noticed that the pale-faced young man did bid on a few other herbs. Secretly, Zhang Pu’s impression was that the youth was collecting ingredients for some prescription, either to treat his own illness or to practice some sinister skill.

But such matters were none of Zhang Pu’s concern. It wasn’t that he, like most people, simply minded his own business—he just didn’t have the time or energy to get involved in everything that went on in the world. If he happened to be in a position to help, he would, but to go out of his way to investigate someone else’s affairs? Impossible.

At one point, Zhang Pu also sensed the pale-faced youth was secretly wondering about him.

Unable to resist, Zhang Pu glanced at the young man, just as the latter’s eyes swept over to him. For a moment, his expression seemed to say: “You’re a strange one! You haven’t bid on anything else, so why did you go all out with me for that three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum?”

Zhang Pu met his gaze for only an instant before dismissing him entirely. What rotten luck—he’d come to bid on some herbs and ended up making an enemy.

And his bad luck tonight seemed far from over. He began to worry that there might not be any centuries-old snow lotus at all. Far more expensive herbs had already been auctioned, and yet, no sign of the snow lotus.

Still, Zhang Pu wasn’t about to leave. Auctions didn’t always present items in order of price—there were lulls, climaxes, and the grand finale.

It was as if the auction itself didn’t want to disappoint him. As Zhang Pu waited, half in anticipation and half resting with his eyes closed, he suddenly heard the name of the five-hundred-year-old snow lotus.

Why the snow lotus was only now being auctioned, Zhang Pu hadn’t paid attention to the auctioneer’s explanation, but it didn’t matter—his target had appeared.

Should he bid right away or wait for the right moment?

As Zhang Pu pondered, the female auctioneer had already started the bidding.

This five-hundred-year-old snow lotus was two centuries older than the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, so its starting price was higher—fifty thousand.

Yet, for most others present, it wasn’t indispensable. The auction was nearly over, and the remaining herbs were no less valuable than the snow lotus.

Zhang Pu noticed the response in the hall was rather lukewarm.

But after a few people raised the price, Zhang Pu frowned, for he saw that the pale-faced young man was bidding again.

He’d just been about to bid himself, yet the youth beat him to it. If he bid now, it would seem like a repeat of before, making the young man think he was deliberately antagonizing him.

Zhang Pu felt a wave of helplessness.

Still, when the price reached seventy thousand, he raised his bid.

Most people didn’t pay it much attention—after all, it had been some time since the auction for the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, with plenty of lively bidding on other items in between, and Zhang Pu hadn’t participated at all. Who would remember him now?

But there was one who hadn’t forgotten.

As soon as Zhang Pu bid, the pale-faced young man’s gaze shot toward him.

“Hundred thousand!” the youth called out, sharply raising the price.

Damn! Zhang Pu was taken aback. Was this guy born to be his nemesis in bidding for herbs?

Many others were surprised as well. When someone recognized Zhang Pu as the one who had previously competed with the pale-faced youth for the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, their faces lit up, anticipating another good show—especially that fat, big-eared, middle-aged man who had also vied for the earlier herb; his expression was even more animated.

“One hundred and ten thousand,” Zhang Pu replied, his face calm.

He could tell the pale-faced youth was serious this time, and so was he. After this, there would likely be no avoiding enmity between them.

“One hundred and twenty thousand!”

Zhang Pu had half-expected the youth to jump straight to one hundred and fifty thousand out of spite, but just then, someone beside the youth tried to stop him again.

This time, however, the youth seemed to ignore the advice, continuing to bid against Zhang Pu out of sheer stubbornness.

But when the price reached two hundred thousand, Zhang Pu noticed the man beside the pale-faced youth—an older uncle—lean over and whisper something into his ear.

Unexpectedly, the youth halted his bidding.

Damn it! Zhang Pu cursed inwardly, feeling as though this group was deliberately trying to make him spend more money.

He was annoyed, little knowing that the pale-faced youth had already decided to deal with him tonight.

After winning the five-hundred-year-old snow lotus, Zhang Pu glanced over at the youth, only to see an eerie smile on his lips—none of the anger one might expect after a failed bid.

What’s he smiling about? Does he really think he’s happy just because he made me spend more?

He has no idea how easily I can make money. If he ever finds out, would he die of jealousy?

There was still some time before the grand finale, but Zhang Pu was already thinking of leaving.

What was so interesting about the climax of a small-town, minor auction? In the star realms of the cultivation world, he’d witnessed countless auctions far beyond anything here.

He left his seat and made his way to the designated collection area to pay and collect the two items he’d won: the three-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum and the five-hundred-year-old snow lotus.