Heaven's Laws - Lifestone - Chapter 10

Chao wasn’t angry to the point of losing all patience. He waited until something came up that could at least be useful. The man had bid for almost every resource that could be used for cultivation. There were many sets of qi crystals that were up for bid, but there were some other helpful natural treasures that were even rarer.

“Next up, we have a sky realm dire beast core that’s rich in lightning qi.” The auctioneer Ou Hop said with a touch of awe in her voice. “It’s one of the rarest dire beast elements on the continent and was taken from a celestial leopard in a mountain range far to the west. The bidding starts at one thousand golden taels.”

“That’s an element we haven’t had much chance to use for qi balancing. What do you think?” He asked.

“As long as you don’t pay more than four thousand, it should be worth it,” Huifen replied.

“And here I thought you did have much knowledge of the things being sold.”

“There’s much I remember from before joining the Ice Phoenix Sect, and remember, I was hunting an ice core when we met. It’s one segment of the market I’ve done much research on even recently.”

“Mmm. Then I’ll take your advice.”

The price had already risen to fifteen hundred, when Chao raised his hand and called out, “Eighteen hundred.”

“Nineteen,” came a voice from below.

“Two thousand,” he bid again.

Just as he expected, Li Bowen proclaimed, “Three thousand.”

As before, all movement seemed to stop in the room. The great Young Master Li had spoken so most wouldn’t dare bid.

Chao quickly scanned the catalog and found the lightning jade. Its original price had been four thousand two hundred, so even though it seemed this Bowen brat was greatly outbidding everyone, he was really paying under market value.

He then glanced at the auctioneer. She didn’t betray her smile, but was looking around the room, delaying what she believed was inevitable in hope.

Everything was prepared, so Chao broke the young lord’s spell. “Three thousand one hundred.”

It was like everyone present sucked in a sharp breath at once.

The long haired, overly shiny Li Bowen’s head snapped in his direction. His grimace was illustrious.

Chao smiled back at the man as if he’d just received a friendly greeting.

Before the young master could spew whatever, he was concocting in that head of his, a female’s voice rose up from the far side of the back row. “Three thousand five hundred.”

The man’s head jerked in the other way, but his reaction became measured.

“Sorry, Senior Brother Li, but there are so few lightning cores as it is. I can’t pass this up,” a young woman said, surrounded by servant cultivators. Instead of the gaudy gold, she wore a gown of blue and white. He immediately thought of the Elder Holwell and Senior Brother Ju-long from the Lightning Celestial Sect. The only issue was that this girl still had her hair. Both of the sages he knew were bald.

“This will be of great help to Lady Tao Liling’s cultivation. I wouldn’t dare compete against you,” Li Bowen said as if he were doing her a favor.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Seeing this, Chao was disappointed. He had everything prepare, but the girl had caused him to lose the opportunity. With a shrug, he bid again. “Three thousand six hundred.”

Now only did Li Bowen’s scowl return, but the girl he was bidding against was anxiously sitting straight up in her seat.

“Three thousand seven hundred,” she said.

A sky realm cultivator in gold and silver appeared next to Chao. “Sir, I’d recommend letting the lady win. Master Li has stopped bidding against her as a favor to her.”

Seeing his wife lean forward in her chair, he carefully chose his words. If she acted it would be decisive and likely give away her cultivation. In addition, the fun would be over. He hadn’t even gotten to do as he planned.

“Thank you so much for the recommendation,” he replied, raising his hand, and blurting out, “Three thousand eight hundred.”

In response to Chao ignoring his words, the man drew closer. Chao had already placed a wall of space between them. It was only half drawn from the floor to the man’s waist, so it was out of view. If the man moved, his hand would slam into an immoveable space bend.

“Master Li is not known for his patience. It would be best if you leave,” the man said in hushed tones.

Chao captured the sound just in case he needed it for evidence later. “Leave?” he responded. “Sorry, friend. Why would I do that? This is a great opportunity for someone with little knowledge like myself. I’ll just bid on everything your Master Li does since he has such good taste.”

“You’ve been warned.”

The man appeared at Li Bowen’s side a moment later and relayed what had happened. Chao, of course, heard every word.

Lady Ou Hop, the auctioneer, had held off on announcing a winner. She’d seen the conversation and like knew all too well what was going on. If she’d announced him as the winner, at least by all appearances, it could’ve forced him into a very bad position. Unknown to her, it was a position of which he held no fear of.

“Young Master,” Lady Tao Liling called out from across the room. “After this next bid, I’ve reached the end of my funds. If this lightning core is not of great importance to you, I shamelessly ask that you’d let me win. It will be of great help to me. I would consider it a favor to my Tao family.”

Huifen had sat back and let Chao do as he wished, but she chose that moment lean up to his ear and speak. “The Tao family is a large one. The Celestial Lightning Sect isn’t technically on this continent, but the Tao family is one of our major northern families that has close ties to them. They are one of the reasons we are on such friendly terms.”

She didn’t have to say more. Chao turned back to the woman asking a favor of him. “Lady Tao Liling, my wife has informed of your family’s ties with the Lightning Celestial Sect. We have some friendship with them, so there’s no need for favors between us.”

He addressed the auctioneer. “Lady Ou Hop, I’d like to withdraw my last bid. I believe Lady Tao Liling’s last bid was three thousand seven hundred. If you would give it to her for that price, I’d happily pay the difference.”

“No need,” Lady Ou Hop replied. With a clap of her hands, she announced Tao Liling as the winner. She didn’t even open it up for more bids.

It made him wonder what she’d been told about their identities. She was obviously trying to keep the piece between them and Young Master Li. Maybe he was thinking too much into it. It could be that it was just good business.

“Thank you, Young Master,” Lady Tao Liling said, standing to her feet an issuing a martial salute. “Might I ask your name?”

“Just call me Brother Chao, and this here is my Huifen. No need for family names. As I said, this is a matter between friends. There will be no favors owed.”

“Then this one thanks you, Master Chao. Mistress Huifen.” The girl bowed deeply.

He saw his wife smile at her, so he did the same.

As the auctioneer was asking them to bring out the next item, Li Bowen sneered. “You. Friendship with the Lightning Celestial Sect? Look at you. Did you even have enough taels to pay? Are you from an ascetic cult, or are those robes considered opulent where you’re from? Even the jewelry your wife is wearing is low end, formationless trash.”

Chao was about to rise from his seat when he felt some of his wife’s aura slip from her control. He was angry enough he could pounce on the guy but seeing Huifen’s reaction forced him to calm himself.

As she’d done to him earlier, he patted her hand, which diverted enough of her attention for him to speak first. “I was praising Master Li’s good taste just a few minutes ago, but it seems I spoke too soon.”

The girl sitting next to Li Bowen watching him, shaking her head where only he could see. It seemed she really had meant no offense by what she’d said.

He didn’t back down. “The pendant my wife is wearing is worth more than everything the Li family owns.”

It wasn’t just Li Bowen, but many cultivators in the seats below them laughed at his assessment. The senses of people at their realm were much sharper than mortal men. They could tell at a glance.

“Even a mortal would consider it flawed. What nonsense.”

Chao just laughed at the man. He saw his wife fingering the pendant out of the corner of his eye. He responded. “Since you obviously have no experience with women, let this Senior Brother teach you a thing or two.”

It was like a cloud of darkness filled the room at his words. It seemed like everyone was trying to scoot away from him even though they wouldn’t dare to move.

“A piece of jewelry doesn’t gain worth from its quality, rarity, function, or even its market value. What makes it valuable is the woman that holds it dear. My Huifen likes this little turquoise pendant with all its flaws. That makes it priceless.”

A few gushing comments sounded from the crowd, but everyone controlled their volume.

They really didn’t matter to him. He saw color rise up in his Huifen’s cheeks, so he pulled her into a side hug and kissed her on the head. “You have to admit, that was a good one,” he said where only she could hear.

She rolled her eyes but the look she gave him told him she was pleased.

“Well said, Brother Choa,” Lady Tao Liling replied. “Sister Huifen looks lovely.”

Even if she said it out of a sense of desire to pay him back, he was grateful.

Li Bowen was at a lose for words. His insult had been thrown back in his face, which obviously didn’t happen very often.

The lady auctioneer chose that moment to announce the next item, cutting off any follow up reply. A few items were sold without any more taunting, but then an item they’d been waiting for came up for bid.

“It looks like a high rank qi crystal that’s quite pure,” Huifen said. “It could be a great help to you in breaking into the next small realm.”

The starting bid was five thousand. Chao waited, knowing their neighbor would do as he always did when there was something he wanted.

It reached eight thousand and Li Bowen finally made his move. “Ten thousand,” he cried. Chao had been waiting. The man’s words came out in a high-pitched squeal.

The entire room tried to hold back its laughter.

Li Bowen had a look of horror.

“Don’t worry, Brother Li,” Chao said. “There comes a time in every boy’s life when their voice starts to change.” He then bid. “Eleven thousand.”

Lady Ou Hop asked for more bids, but Li Bowen had yet to recover and no one else dared to bid against him.

“Sold, to Brother Chao.”

Huifen excitedly brought her hands together and leaned closer. “You just paid half price of a qi crystal of that quality.”

When the next opportunity came for them to bid against each other, Chao didn’t manipulate the man’s pitch on the first bid. It was only after he bid a second time and the man tried to counter bid that his voice broke again, and he squeaked out the amount.

“All jokes aside, Brother Li. I have a bit of knowledge of herbalism. There’s a Minow Sage coming up later that would be helpful for a strained voice.”

He didn’t seem happy to hear Chao’s recommendation, but neither did he respond. Lady Hien sitting next to the man caught his eye. She was trying to subtly get his attention. From her eye movement it seemed like she was trying to encourage him to leave while he still could.

Of course, the man had insulted his Huifen so there was no way he was going to leave now. As the auction continued, Chao was crafty in the way he applied his sound laws to the man’s bids. He even let the man win a few that they had no interest in. As for the rest of the qi crystals and a few rare ingredients, he and his wife won everything they bid on as long as the price was right.

When it was time to pay, the same man who had led them to their seats joined them with a spatial ring filled with their purchases. They’d stayed away from most of the big items since they would do them little good, but thirty-seven thousand golden taels passed between them.

The man bowed to them and thanked them for their patronage, but as he did, he left them with a warning. “Is there any place we can escort you? You will be targeted when you leave our pagoda. We cannot oppose the Li family directly, but they should show us face. With your earth realm cultivations, I fear if you leave alone something might happen.”

“Let’s take care of a few other purchases, first,” Chao replied.

Huifen had spent much time studying the catalog during the auction. She mentioned there were several seeds she wanted to purchase in bulk. They didn’t have much value based on their rarity. She wanted them for experimenting with her nature laws. They also worked out a deal to buy the rest of the qi crystals Emperor’s had in stock. There were a few intermediate level ones and another high level. The only truly rare thing they purchased though wasn’t up for bid at all.

“The Cloud of Eternity?” The man said with a jolt. “You understand that it’s a peculiar treasure without much practical use? Its main purpose is to instruct overlords of the water element in the laws.”

“We’re quite certain,” Huifen replied, hanging on the mans every word as if nervous he’d admit to something being wrong with it.

“Then this one will be pleased to fetch it for you.”

When the man left, Lady Tao Liling flew past Li Bowen and his men with a party of their own.

“Master Chao. Mistress Huifen,” she said warmly. “You have helped me greatly. Would you allow me to escort you from the auction house?” She leaned forward. “Li Bowen is not known for being merciful.”

“Thank you, Lady Tao Liling,” Chao replied. “But no. I’m looking forward to our chat with him.”

“Sister Tao Liling,” Huifen said, stepping forward. “Things have already been taken too far. There’s no need to worry.”

“I must insist,” the woman said, lowering her voice. “The Li family is one of the only remaining families in the Aureate Empire that have an overlord backing them. I’m afraid Li Bowen might not consider your own backing and take the opportunity to kill you, assuming he can beg forgiveness later. If you had a few sky realm cultivators with you, it might not be that simple. He knows my family, though, and will have to give us face.”

Huifen turned to Chao. “Perhaps, we’ve let this go on long enough.”

He shook his head. “If the Li family is so haughty that they would continue backing this Bowen brat’s bullying, then I’m of the mind to humble them. That’s why we came to the capital, isn’t it?”

“Husband, you’re taking this too far. The Li family’s overlord is one of the few sages that didn’t follow the emperor to the joint sect.”

“What are you thinking I’m intending to do?” He asked, tilting his head to the side. “I’m not going to hurt them.”

He then noticed Lady Tao Liling was given them a particular look.

Huifen gave him an insistent look, motioning toward the friendly woman before them.

“Okay, but just her.”

His wife took a step forward and whispered, “Our family name is Long.”

Tao Liling took a moment to consider it before her eyes went wide.

Chao held his finger up to his lips.

She nodded briskly. A moment later, she bowed deeply. “This one is honored to meet you both. We will take our leave.”

The rest of the people with her looked at one another confused.

“Cultivate well, sister,” Huifen called as the woman left.

“If you ever have the chance to travel north, come and visit my Tao family. We’ll give you a warm welcome.”

They waved as she left, and Li Bowen approached with two sky realm cultivators at his back. He was one of the lowest realm cultivators in the room, but he acted so arrogant because of his family name.

“Hello, Brother Li,” Chao greeted. “I checked for you. The Emperor’s Auction House has some more Minow Sage in stock since you missed the chance to bid for it.”

“You,” the man growled. “I know you’re responsible for what happened with my voice. After studying your core, we’ve concluded you must be a sound cultivator. No one else has a core like that.”

“Oh? I’m just a lowly musician traveling the world with his beautiful wife at his side.”

Huifen nudged him with her elbow.

“So you admit it,” the man almost screamed.

“Admit what?”

As he started to explain again, Chao manipulated the pitch of his voice, and it came out like an angry screech.

“Enough,” one of the sky realm cultivators stepped forward. “You bullied my young master, cheating him out of many items in today’s auction. Hand them over and I’ll let you leave.”

“Calling me a bully and trying to rob us in the same breath? You’re as shameless as your young brat.”

When the man moved to step forward, a familiar woman’s voice rung, “Gentleman.” Lady Ou Hop was standing there with the man who’d gone to fetch their purchases. “Master Li, must I warn you that fighting is forbidden here?”

“Forgive me Lady Ou Hop,” he replied, saluting her. “We will take it outside if this one dares.” As he said the last word, it came out as a squeak.

Ou Hop put her hand to her mouth to hide her grin. Huifen, however, had enough of keeping up appearances and laughed in his face.

“We’ll be waiting,” the young master said and flew toward the exit.

Lady Ou Hop looked like she was going to speak when Chao spoke first. “How much do we owe you?”

“One hundred and twenty thousand taels. We’ve thrown in the seeds you requested as our gift.”

***

“Are you sure you won’t let us escort you?” Lady Ou Hop pressed them.

“No need,” Chao said one last time before jumping off the ledge. Huifen was right there with him.

There was already a clearing below with a crowd gathering around the edges. Li Bowen was there with his two sky realm bodyguards.

They didn’t hesitate to fly right for them.

“Do you want to handle them, or should I?” He asked his wife.

“You’ve created this mess, so you deal with it.”

He snickered.

Touching down, Chao was feeling more eager than he had facing off with the Aureate Empire’s overlords. Of course, this lacked the same danger of life and death.

As soon as Li Bowen tried to taunt them, his words came out high pitched.

The crowd that had gathered laughed heartily. Not everyone present was familiar enough with the Young Master to know any better.

“Fine,” the man shrieked. “Cousin. Kill them.”

One of the sky realm cultivators behind the Young Master flashed forward. Chao readied to deflect the man’s attack upward with a space bend so that it wouldn’t harm anyone present. Then something unexpected happened.

The sky realm cultivator appeared next to Li Bowen an placed a forceful palm to the top of his head. The young master immediately fainted. Before he fell, the cultivator grabbed him with one arm around the waist, then bowed to Chao and Huifen.

“This one begs your forgiveness. You’ve unwittingly participated in the Li family’s practical instruction of this Li Bowen. For this, I thank you. If you would kindly follow us, our Li family would like to reward you.”

Chao was completely lost as to what was happening. “No reward is necessary,” he said.

“I can offer you Icy Deep Tea.”

Huifen’s hand gripped his arm. “We’ll follow you.”

The man nodded, then took off with Li Bowen in tow.

They flew after them, leaving the confused crowd behind.

“What’s going on?” He asked.

“Icy Deep Tea isn’t only rare, but a great delicacy to ice fairies,” she replied.

“It will help your cultivation?”

“Uh. Not especially. It just… tastes good.”

The Li family sage that wasn’t carrying their young master slowed so that they could catch up with them.

“Li Delun, the one carrying Bowen, said that you shouldn’t have any problems flying for a distance. Is this assumption correct?” The man asked.

Chao smiled meekly, knowing they’d been caught. “Yeah. I won’t be a problem.”

“Very good. My name is Li Manchu. I know you might be confused, so let me explain. When the young masters of the Li family reach a certain age, a large sum of resources are handed over to their care. Even though they are raised with the knowledge of how to handle such large sums, few things corrupt as easily as great riches. Unknown to Bowen, we were assigned to him to make sure he didn’t do anything too foolish, or hurt anyone, during this trial. Your resistance today was exactly what we were waiting for.”

Chao and Huifen’s eyes met.

“So you where just waiting for him to fail?” Huifen asked.

“More or less. Not all young master and mistresses give themselves over or handle the temptation the same. Bowen’s actions were fairly typical. The family is good at tempering such arrogance.”

“So it was all a test?” Chao was still getting his mind around the practicality of it.

“A necessary one. Our family has an old saying. ‘The surest way to destroy a man is to lavish him with unearned riches.’ The opposite is also true. ‘A man who’s worked to earn a pile of treasure is careful to part from each and every coin.’ Just a few minutes now. We’re almost there.”