Chapter 130: Brother Qin's Coming-of-Age Ceremony

They say a heartbroken man gets a free pass, but if you shout two million, Dad and Mom will beat the crap out of you, little brother. They will literally beat the crap out of you.

“One million! One million! Does anyone want to bid higher? This is the hilt of a divine sword! Once the guard, blade, and scabbard are gathered together, it will become a legendary divine sword renowned throughout the Profound Moon Continent! Surely none of you wants to own it?”

Damn, you need money first. You make it sound as though you are practically giving it away.

The Silver Man frowned. It seemed one million was the highest anyone was willing to pay. Still, that was fine... Who knew whether this thing was genuine or not?

If it was fake, he would make a fortune. But if it was real... he would lose so badly he would bleed crap.

“One million! Sold! Congratulations to this gentleman from the Treasure Pavilion on acquiring the divine sword!”

The entire hall broke into sighs and groans.

Please, stop hyping it up. We cannot take any more.

The man let out a long breath. That had been a narrow escape.

But when he turned his gaze toward the Night brothers, his teeth began to chatter with rage—especially when he saw Night Qin actually holding the courtesan in his arms.

How infuriating!

Night Kun also relaxed a little. This auction house really did have a certain charm.

“Brother, that is the hilt of a divine sword. Why didn’t you bid for it?” Night Qin asked in confusion. If they had won it, Father and Mother would have been overjoyed. They would have said, “Our Qin Qin has really grown up!”

He knew how to go to a pleasure house, hold a girl in his arms, and bid on a sword hilt now. How impressive.

Wu Chi sighed softly in regret. “Your brother is simply too cautious. There is nothing wrong with young people being a little more impulsive.”

Hearing his teacher’s words, Night Kun fell into deep thought. He was indeed too cautious at times, so cautious that he could hardly move freely.

But then another question arose. What would happen if he did let go? Would he dominate Tai Capital, or Eastern Netherland, or even the entire Profound Moon Continent?

No, no, no.

His brother Kun only wanted to live a peaceful life—to admire the flowers and watch the grass. Why exhaust himself with grand ambitions?

Still, his teacher was right. When it was time to be impulsive, one ought to be impulsive.

Tonight, he still had to teach Ba Wanqing a lesson.

The items auctioned afterward were not nearly as outrageous, consisting mostly of rare medicinal herbs and materials.

Night Qin had no interest in them, and neither did Night Kun. Wu Chi, on the other hand, was extremely interested, but unfortunately his means did not match his enthusiasm.

“Ladies and gentlemen! We now come to the final item of the auction! Whoever obtains this item will possess an honor beyond compare.” After speaking, the Silver Man raised his hand.

A young woman stepped forward, carrying an exquisite brocade box. Inside lay a bronze key.

When everyone saw the key, they began to wonder whether it might unlock some sort of treasure. Since it was the final item of the auction, the treasure could hardly be ordinary.

“Silver Man, what exactly does this key unlock?”

“Could it be the key to Miss Ziyan’s bedchamber?”

Whose bedchamber would have such a massive lock?

At the man’s remark, all the men in the hall burst out laughing.

Beside Night Qin, Ziyan stamped her foot and nestled against him, speaking in a sweet, delicate voice. “They are so mean~”

The aftereffects of the Huadiao wine had already turned Night Qin’s face bright red. Hearing Ziyan speak so weakly and coquettishly, he nearly charged down there to sweep through the entire hall. Then he would have cried out for Mother to save him, before adding, “Mother, isn’t Qin Qin amazing? I beat so many people all by myself!”

Night Kun was beginning to feel the wine as well. Huadiao wine truly lived up to its reputation. It felt like nothing when he first drank it, but after a while, his head became pleasantly dizzy.

“Everyone, I would like to ask you a question.” The Silver Man paused after speaking and swept his gaze across the crowd.

Everyone looked at him in confusion.

“Does everyone know how An Jing Academy was founded in the first place?”

With that explanation, everyone understood.

“That’s right! Back then, An Jing Academy was merely a small school in An Kang Prefecture. But its founder, Dean Pei, was an ambitious young man. He used his life savings to purchase the key to what is now An Jing Academy. From its humble beginnings, the academy rose to fame throughout Tai Capital—and eventually throughout all of Eastern Netherland!”

“And this key”—the Silver Man continued, his voice brimming with heroic conviction—“is likewise the key to the entrance of an academy!”

His speech stirred such passion that it almost made people want to devote themselves to a great cause.

Someone immediately called out, “Silver Man! Where in An Kang Prefecture is this academy located? East Ward? South Ward? Or North Ward?”

“West Ward,” the Silver Man replied softly.

Everyone froze when they heard that.

“Which neighborhood in the West Ward?”

The Silver Man coughed lightly. “No matter which neighborhood it is in, as long as you possess the right conviction, success is certain!”

“Don’t tell me it’s in Pingkang Ward?”

“I nearly fell for that.”

“As expected of a master. You managed to make a bronze key sound like a golden one.”

The entire hall erupted in derisive muttering. The Silver Man was thoroughly embarrassed. He had originally intended to raise the price by presenting the item as the grand finale, but his plan had gone terribly wrong.

“All right, all right. The opening bid is one hundred gold coins!”

The moment the price was announced, the entire hall fell silent. Disdain filled every face.

Spending one hundred gold coins on that broken-down place would be nothing but throwing money away.

When An Kang Prefecture was first established, academies had been built in various locations. Yet those buildings could only be used for operating academies.

Ownership was represented by the key to the academy gates, but establishing an academy was far from simple. The daily expenses alone were enough to make anyone suffer. If one failed to attract students, the academy could only wait to close its doors. And that was merely one of the many difficulties involved.

Besides, competition among the academies of An Kang Prefecture was fierce.

The greatest problem was that this academy was located in Pingkang Ward, a gathering place for the poor.

There was no way to avoid taking a crushing loss. It would even be embarrassing to mention it.

“One hundred!” Night Kun called out while everyone else remained silent.

Wu Chi looked at him in confusion and said softly, “You might as well spend it on a jug of Huadiao wine.”

“Teacher, in this student’s opinion, this key is more important.”

“Young people really are reckless.”

Night Kun merely smiled without replying. Perhaps the key would prove useful someday. In any case, it cost only one hundred gold coins.

“One hundred gold coins! One hundred gold coins! Is anyone else bidding higher?”

Silence.

The Silver Man was utterly devastated. He had paid one thousand gold coins to acquire the key, only to suffer a catastrophic loss.

“Congratulations to the young master from Drunken Jade Pavilion on acquiring the key. May your future be as splendid as brocade!” the Silver Man shouted through the pain in his chest.

At the same time, he wondered inwardly which idiot would choose such a name.

Night Kun had suddenly imagined what it would be like to appear before the Silver Man under the same identity and confront him face-to-face. The scene would probably be quite amusing.

Unfortunately, the silver armor he had once worn had already been burned to ashes. He had only just arrived in An Kang Prefecture and had not yet had time to make another suit.

“Brother,” Night Qin called groggily.

“What is it?” Night Kun was in slightly better shape than Night Qin. At Ziyan’s urging, Night Qin had drunk considerably more wine.

“I’ll be right back.”

Night Kun and Wu Chi both froze.

Surely not!

“Rest assured, young masters. Ziyan will naturally take good care of the young master,” the courtesan said.

Wu Chi nearly dropped his jaw.

That was actually allowed?

Could it be that she thought he was still young and wanted to sample something fresh?

Night Kun had no idea how to make a decision anymore. His head was beginning to ache.