Heart of Cultivation 51. Invidious Comparisons (Patreon)

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Jian and Shan trailed behind the auction house employee on their way to the live auction. The Wang family maidservant was walking next to her, exchanging small talk and probing for information about what was expected to be on offer.

Jian did his best to walk like a dignified old man. He brought his hands together in front of himself, tucking his hands into the opposite sleeves, and took slow, measured steps. As he felt the smooth skin on the back of his hands, he suddenly wondered if he had already given himself away. 

He had applied a product that created wrinkles to his face for his disguise, but he hadn't done anything to his hands, which were obviously the hands of a young man. The contrast would make them stand out all the more. An old cultivator might have a youthful appearance, but that would be consistent throughout, not affecting just the hands or just the face. For now, all Jian could do was make a mental note and resolve to keep his hands out of sight, but he would have to remember to be more thorough in the future.

The employee, as expected of somebody representing a major figure such as the Treasure Pavilion, smoothly adjusted her walk to match his pace. She never even had to look back, as far as Jian could tell, in order to match him. It was an impressive display of spatial awareness. He had a feeling that anybody who was foolish enough to try to rob the pavilion by force would not have much time to regret their decision.

They were led down one sumptuously decorated hallway after another. They passed through two different doorways that were flanked by armed guards, although their escort never even had to break stride as they were waved through. Finally they passed down a final more narrow hallway before reaching a doorway that was marked by a number and a small placard underneath with the Wang family symbol.

"Right this way," the employee said. She held the door open so that the three of them could go inside.

They stepped into a private box overlooking the auction stage. The front wall of the room was a massive window. Jian could just make out the reflections of formations worked around the edges, which ought to be designed to prevent others from seeing into the room, judging by his own inability to see into any of the other rooms across the way.

Several couches were set out to provide separate seating areas in a room that, as a whole, was about the size of Jian's bedroom back home. One wall had a small buffet table set up with a selection of snacks and a pitcher of water. Jian wouldn't be surprised if they could order wine sent to the room, though he wouldn't be doing that himself. He barely had enough money to spare for necessities, let alone luxuries.

The employee closed the door behind them, remaining outside. He and Shan settled down on one couch while the Wang family maidservant sat on the chair sitting next to it. Jian looked at her, but paused before he spoke, not wanting to risk his disguise.

"These rooms are private, young master," she said, seeing his hesitation. "You can speak freely."

"Have you been here before?" he asked. Perhaps it was only in comparison with his and Shan's gawking, but she seemed surprisingly comfortable at the auction house and unmoved by the experience of being in a private room.

"A few times," she said. "The pavilion tells us when they have something interesting to put up for bid. Today's items will be ordinary, although I suppose it's possible that something will show up that might interest the young miss."

She gave him an encouraging look. For a moment Jian found himself considering it. Meirong might be easier to approach if he came with a gift in hand. Could he even afford anything that would impress her, though? He put the thought to the back of his mind for now and settled back to watch the show.

The first item up for bid was a protective garment. A silk shirt had been fortified with an array of metal plates, cunningly linked and fortified by inlaid formation. It was the kind of work that Jian had thought would always be beyond him. Now it was something that he might be able to reproduce, albeit after months or years of study.

It would also be a useful thing for Shan to own. A protective item that could weather an attack or two from a cultivator at the same level was like having another life gifted to you on the battlefield, after all.

Unfortunately, the bidding started at twenty-five spirit stones and went up from there. Jian glanced at the maidservant. She looked unmoved. Apparently she didn't put something on this level in her eyes.

Jian gave his poor money pouch a reassuring pat. He was carrying as much money as he ever had. Truly, you didn't realize that you were poor until you started comparing yourself to other people.

The auction continued, item after item that would be useful for a cultivator in the beginning steps or Core Formation, all quickly ascending out of Jian's ability to bid. The maidservant hardly reacted at all, watching everything with the same disinterested gaze. She finally sat forward with interest when a delicate bracelet came up for auction

The bracelet had been worked over with clever formations to provide its user with a quick infusion of spiritual energy on command. Again, Jian found himself curious to take a look at how it worked. Deciphering formations functionality from the final product could be tricky, but it was significantly easier than trying to design the same formations from scratch. Unfortunately, the bidding quickly ascended above anything he could afford.

The maidservant saw the look of longing on his face. "If you wish to purchase something, I would be happy to advance you the money."

"Thank you," Jian said, shaking his head, "but I wouldn't dare to impose."

Jian had no interest in further complicating his relationship with the Wang family. He might consider borrowing money if he had a surefire business opportunity in front of him, but he wasn't going to go into debt just because a cleverly made piece of jewelry had caught his eye.

"It's no imposition," the maidservant said. "The old master well remembers that he would not have had the chance to recover his position or even protect the young miss's life if not for your family's help."

"I am moved by his gratitude," Jian said, "but I wouldn't borrow against my father's account."

From a purely mercenary point of view, Jian suspected that the only reason the old man was considering voiding the betrothal at all was because of that very same debt of gratitude. Chipping away at that gratitude in exchange for any amount of money would be extremely short-sighted, even if Jian weren't the sort to scruple over trading on his father's name.

"Even just speaking for yourself," the maidservant said, "you are betrothed to the young miss, after all."

"I suppose," Jian said. "Even so, I'd prefer to wait until I can afford to buy such things myself."

"Very well," she said, settling back to watch the auction.

He wondered what she was playing at, referring to the betrothal as if it were destined to end in marriage. Well, maybe not. Perhaps she was simply following the old man's will that the betrothal be treated with respect so long as it existed. Whether it actually turned into a marriage was a matter for the future, while respecting that the old man's word was his bond was important for the present. That approach would lead to more awkward conversations in the future, but Jian was in no position to argue.

The auction gradually progressed from items that Jian or Shan might find useful to items that might interest his father. The bids climbed accordingly, of course. It was something of a relief for Jian, as the maidservant finally stopped looking at him as if she was an instant away from thrusting money into his hands whether he wanted it or not.

Watching the auction to the end was an educational experience. Jian had always known that craftsmen could earn a good living for themselves. That was a big part of the reason he had pursued that line of work, after all. But he had always set his sights on the sort of products that he could make as an Essence Gathering cultivator.

Now he could see that the advance into Body Refining, even if it hadn't brought an immediate increase in combat power, had dramatically increased his future earning potential. The idea of making something that sold for fifty or even a hundred spirit stones was no longer an idle dream. It was something that he could actually achieve.

Of course, that assumed that he could find the time and opportunity to learn while he disentangled himself from his engagement. Taking another glance at the maidservant, Jian had to wonder if sticking around the capital was really the best course of action. He might have to press a little more for information on when Meirong was coming home.

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