novelraw Chapter 793 is so expensive, it hurts like hell.
Chapter 793 is so expensive, it hurts like hell.
Though she didn’t want Nanyan Commerce to be scammed into disgrace, Lady Mu still felt reluctant about paying a hefty sum of silver for a bunch of fakes. So when someone offered to take them off her hands, it would have been odd not to dispose of them quickly.Seeing this scene below the stage, Che Xiang was momentarily taken aback, but having followed Mu Hanyan for so long, Che Xiang more or less understood her methods. Noticing the hint of amusement in Mu Hanyan’s eyes, he quickly realized what was happening," Young Master is setting someone up again."
Although he couldn’t compare with Hua Yuezi and the other Gold Medal Thugs in terms of power, when it came to eye power, Che Xiang was in no way inferior. If Young Master was setting a trap, he was of course ready to cooperate fully.
"600,000 for the first time, 600,000 for the second, 600,000 for the third - sold," Che Xiang declared at rapid speed before smashing down the auction hammer with a bang.
"Uh..." Mo Yanhong looked stunned, and then his face turned as green as if he were constipated.
The crowd below was similarly astonished. Wasn’t that Mu Hanyan just recently displaying an air of determination, eager to bid before even waiting for Master Ji to verify the authenticity? Why did she give up so quickly?
And there was Eldest Young Master Mo Yanhong, looking so unsightly. Although paying 600,000 for a Heavenly Star Blue Spirit Grass was a bit steep, 200,000 more than the average price, if he really needed it urgently, or was just being stubborn, it wouldn’t make him this distressed. The face of a scion of a great family isn’t something a mere 200,000 taels could buy.
No one knew what was distressing Mo Yanhong, but he himself was only too aware. 600,000 taels for a worthless weed, and what’s more, it was a fake that he’d crafted himself. It would be strange if he weren’t frustrated.
Mo Yanhong felt like he had been trapped by Mu Hanyan, or rather, by himself.
Soon, a guard brought that "Heavenly Star Blue Spirit Grass" before Mo Yanhong, eagerly awaiting his reaction.
"What are you looking at? It’s just 600,000 taels. Are you afraid this young master will renege on the deal?" Mo Yanhong glared at him fiercely and painfully threw out a few silver notes.
According to the rules of the major Chambers of Commerce in the Holy Court Continent, not every auction item required verification. As long as the buyer was willing, they could bid without verification, and if there were any mistakes, it was none of the Chamber of Commerce’s concern. However, once committed, no reneging was allowed, otherwise it would mean making enemies with all Chambers of Commerce.
Mo Yanhong wasn’t a complete fool and wouldn’t dare to do such a thing; he was just a bit pained. Even though the Heavenly Star Blue Spirit Grass was originally his, faking it cost money, hiring people cost money, and even auction house commissions cost money. All these expenses added up to at least 100,000 to 200,000 taels; in other words, he had spent a hefty sum on a worthless weed, and not feeling the pinch would have been weird.
Although everyone was puzzled by Mu Hanyan’s actions, one had to admit that thanks to the "support" of Big Playboy Mu, the selling prices for both the Taiyi Sword Origin Pill and the Heavenly Star Blue Spirit Grass were quite good, so the atmosphere in the auction house was livelier again.
"Chairman Che, I have a Gold Spot Orchid that I would also like to entrust to your esteemed Chamber for auction," an old man stood up, presenting a medicinal herb protected within a brocade box.
"Real or fake?" Mu Hanyan queried mentally.
Star Illusion Thousand Machine did not respond, and Mu Hanyan felt relieved. Knowing that creature’s prideful nature, if it were a fake, it probably would have been quick to protest.
"150,000."
"200,000."
"300,000."
...
Although Mu Hanyan did not speak up this time, the atmosphere in the auction house was good. As soon as Ji Gaoxian verified the item without error, the crowd below burst into competitive bidding.
In the end, the Gold Spot Orchid sold for the price of five hundred thousand taels. The old man accepted the silver note with a beaming smile, and from his expression, it was not hard to see that he was very satisfied with such a price.
Following that, Nanyan Commerce continued to auction off several Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Since Mu Hanyan had not spoken up, Star Illusion Thousand Machine naturally would not interrupt, and the various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were successfully auctioned off at quite impressive prices. Since Nanyan Commerce was celebrating its grand opening, the commission they charged was significantly lower than other chambers of commerce, so the sellers of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were very satisfied too.
The air within the auction house grew even more fervent.
"I have a True Profound Meridian Transformation Pill here that I would like to ask your esteemed chamber to auction off," a middle-aged man stood up and said.
"Counterfeit." Before Mu Hanyan could even ask, Star Illusion Thousand Machine’s voice sounded in her mind.
Indeed, even if it hadn’t reminded her, Mu Hanyan had already noticed the secretive glance Tributor Qiu directed towards the crowd below.
"One million." Mu Hanyan stood up without thinking and said decisively.
Based on the previous performance of that old god-man Ji Gaoxian, he was mostly bluffing. If it wasn’t for Mu Hanyan having Star Illusion Thousand Machine, the mystical ancestor, as her support, Nanyan Commerce would have been swindled to death by now. Mu Hanyan dared not place her hopes on him.
Mu Hanyan also didn’t want to directly point out the falsehood of the True Profound Meridian Transformation Pill, as that would be undoubtedly slapping the face of Ji Shen Gun, who had been invited by Nanyan Commerce. Insulting him was tantamount to insulting Nanyan Commerce itself, akin to smashing her own signboard—totally not worth it.
Mu Hanyan figured it out; even if Ji Gaoxian’s eye for appraisal was somewhat lacking, he still possessed some genuine knowledge and skill, and not everyone among the many people in the hall was incapable of recognizing quality. Since Mo Yanhong had someone fabricate a counterfeit, he couldn’t dare to make it too blatant, so this trick wouldn’t work too many times. Might as well spend the money to avoid disaster.
Of course, she couldn’t let herself be wronged for nothing. First, she had to get past the current predicament, then she would find a way to recover the loss from Mo Yanhong. The person who could swindle Mu, the Big Playboy, hadn’t been born yet!
Everyone quieted down, their gazes filled with confusion as they looked towards Mu Hanyan.
Manager Zhou was sweating bullets. What was this Big Playboy Mu up to, always interrupting like this?
Ji Gaoxian’s expression also turned unsightly. Having auctioned off several Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, he had earned a decent commission, so he had ignored Mu Hanyan. Who would have thought that not long after he had started feeling pleased with himself, this guy would stand up again?
Mo Yanhong also looked at Mu Hanyan with confusion. Why was it that when others carried out their auctions, everything was fine, but as soon as they made a move, Mu Hanyan jumped out?
"Could it be that Tributor Qiu leaked the information?" Mo Yanhong asked in a low voice, puzzled.
"It shouldn’t be possible. But again, it’s hard to say. The Mu Family has deep roots and is well-informed; maybe someone let something slip accidentally," Tributor Qiu replied with a frown, speculating.
Che Xiang looked towards Mu Hanyan, also a bit perplexed. However, he quickly turned his gaze to Mo Yanhong, a trace of a smile in his eyes. Among so many people in the hall, apart from Huayue Zirong and a few others, probably only he had a vague idea of what was going on.
"One million, is there anyone else who would like to bid higher?" Chairman Che asked symbolically.
The crowd was disheartened. While the notorious reputation of Mu, the Big Playboy, might not have spread throughout the Capital yet, at least in this auction hall, there was no one who did not know of him. Who would be willing to challenge him? Besides, the True Profound Meridian Transformation Pill had not yet been appraised; no one knew whether it was good or bad or what quality it held. Spending one million was simply a gamble, and who would be interested in betting against Mu, the Big Playboy, or Mu Baijia?