Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The occupant in the private room next door also seemed to have finished writing his note and had sent it off to be received down below. Gao Wentian did not take a look at either of the notes after receiving them. Instead, he passed them on to the attendant behind him and got another to send it over to whomever the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid was. After that, he cleared his throat. “Now, we will continue auctioning off the other items while the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid reaches a conclusion.” After that, the auction continued as usual.
“Master, what exactly do you think the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid means by all of this?!” asked the fifth princess as she harrumphed angrily.
Ling Chuxi shook her head. She, too, did not know what the owner’s intent was. Now, all they could do was wait.
As for the occupant in the private room next to Ling Chuxi’s, he was calmly and leisurely waiting. He was absolutely sure that the Thousand Pearl Orchid would belong to him. It was just that in a span of time so short that a pot of tea wouldn’t even have been able to brew yet, an attendant opened the door to his private room and entered with an apologetic expression, saying, “Dear guest, we are truly sorry, but the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid has decided to sell it to the other bidder next door.”
“What?!” The man could no longer keep calm as he stood up angrily and stared at the attendant. “Who is the person next door? Why is the owner selling it to them? Where is the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid? I want to see them, now!”
“I’m sorry, I’m afraid that request does not comply with the rules of our auction,” replied the attendant in a decisive rejection without comprise. Just as the man was about to explode in anger, the attendant immediately added on, “Of course, if you wish, we can help you pass along a message. If the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid is willing to see you, we will notify you.”
“Then, go quickly!” barked the irate man with a dark face as he waved his hand in annoyance to urge the attendant away. He could not understand why the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid decided to sell it to someone else. He was indeed not a simple character. He was a character who could make E Shulan feel that things would be difficult enough for her to actually retreat, so how could he possibly be a simple character? This man was known as Nan Xia Country’s number one sacred hand—Luo Li! Luo Li knew very clearly that the request Gao Wentian raised earlier on was merely a test that the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid wanted to give both bidding parties. It was a test to assess their medical and pill refinement skills. Since that was the case, he was ninety per cent confident of his own abilities. However, he never thought that an attendant would come to inform him that the Thousand Pearl Orchid was being sold to someone else like this. How was this possible? Who exactly was bidding against him? What made the owner of the Thousand Pearl Orchid decide that the other person’s medical and pill refinement skills were better than his? Luo Li did not believe it, nor was he content with it.
On their end, Ling Chuxi and the rest of her group had already been invited over to a guest room located in the back courtyard of the Gao Clan’s Chamber of Commerce. Ling Chuxi saw that the person who was selling off the Thousand Pearl Orchid was a scholar who looked gentle and weak. When the scholar saw Ling Chuxi and the rest of her group entering the room, he immediately rushed forward and asked, “Who wrote that pill formula just now?” He only realized in surprise that he had been a little rude to ask this straightaway after he finished speaking. One could see the embarrassment appear on his face. He immediately cupped a fist to the palm of his other hand and bowed as he apologized, “Ladies and gentlemen, please accept my apologies. I was overly anxious. I have yet to introduce myself. My name is Cao Zhibai and I am the one auctioning off the Thousand Pearl Orchid. May I ask, who it was that wrote down the pill formula just now? I have a request to make of that person. If they are able to assist me, the Thousand Pearl Orchid will be given to them without any payment being required, along with the chance to select quite a few other precious herbs of their choice to suit their purposes as well.”
“It was I who wrote down the formula. My name is Ling Chuxi. Master Cao, may I ask what your request is?” answered Ling Chuxi in a serious manner as she took a step forward.
“Indeed, one should never judge a book by its cover. Miss Ling, I really never thought that you would be so young. Your medical and pill refinement skills have already reached such a standard at your age.” Although Cao Zhibai saw how young Ling Chuxi was, he did not express the slightest bit of disappointment or doubt, but instead spoke with sincerity. After his initial comments, he continued to speak in a serious and sincere manner, “I would like to ask for Miss Ling’s help to save someone. If Miss Ling is able to save the person in question, I will definitely express my thanks greatly.”