Chapter 13: The Ye Family's Treasure Must Not Be Defiled!

“Laughing at me?”
“What’s so funny about me?”
Lin Zixuan was baffled. Had he said something wrong?
“It’s nothing. Let’s eat.”
At that moment, Zhang Baiwei, the head chef, led a group of cooks over, presenting one signature dish after another, then together they all bowed to Ye Tian.
“Please enjoy your meal.” With that, Zhang Baiwei led his team away.
Damn, this is some kind of reception! The level of this treatment is exhilarating!
He wondered if his name, Lin Zixuan, would appear in tomorrow’s Capital Youth Daily!
Lin Zixuan felt as if his very soul was ascending; in that instant, he was bathed in glory. He pulled Li Muqing and Ye Tian into his boasting once again.
The meal lasted two hours, finally drawing to a close with Lin Zixuan’s hearty laughter.
“Hahaha, the food at Tianhe never gets old, I’ll definitely come again next time!” Lin Zixuan declared with great gusto, reaching out to grab Li Muqing’s hand, only to be stopped by her sharp glare.
“Lin Zixuan, keep your hands to yourself. I’m not one of those foot massage girls.”
Ye Tian, who had been engrossed in his meal, looked up at Li Muqing with new respect after hearing her sharp retort.
He hadn’t expected her to be a weak woman; on the contrary, she had her own opinions, unafraid to love or hate.
Rejected and embarrassed, Lin Zixuan’s face turned red.
“Qingqing, I didn’t mean anything, really. I just wanted to invite you to tonight’s auction together.”
“Auction?”
“Yes, the Sima family in the north is holding an auction of antiques. There are some truly exceptional items there.”
“We’re young, even if we don’t buy anything, it’s good to go in and broaden our horizons.” As he spoke, he pulled out a flyer and handed it to Li Muqing.
“Ye Tian, are you interested?” Li Muqing passed the flyer to Ye Tian.
This woman!
Seeing his warm gesture met with indifference, and his goddess turning to butter up a country bumpkin right in front of him, Lin Zixuan could barely contain his irritation.
He knew that invitations to the Sima family’s auction were hard to come by. He’d pleaded with his grandfather for a long time before finally getting a ticket, but this woman didn’t appreciate it at all. Instead, she was giving away his favor to someone else right in front of him.
Li Muqing, don’t think just because you’re beautiful, I won’t get angry!
Lin Zixuan vowed silently that if he ever managed to win her over, he’d make sure to play with her every night—every day, a new challenge!
“I don’t…” Ye Tian took the flyer, about to decline, when his eyes unexpectedly caught sight of a familiar object.
An ancient, simple horizontal saber was displayed in the center of the auction poster.
At the sight of the blade, Ye Tian’s fist clenched involuntarily.
The Ye family’s saber!
It was said that his ancestor was a general who resisted foreign invaders, wielding this very saber to slay countless enemies. For years, the blade had been nourished by his spirit, eventually developing its own soul.
Only the most outstanding hero of each generation in the Ye family was worthy to draw this saber.
Outsiders and the weak could never unsheath it.
This saber had always been displayed in the ancestral hall, worshiped alongside the forefathers. After the Ye family’s destruction, its whereabouts became unknown.
Who would have thought that today, he would see it on an auction flyer.
Disgrace. Utter humiliation!
A cold laugh escaped him.
“Of course I’ll go.” Ye Tian’s voice was icy, an invisible pressure radiating from him, sending a chill down Lin Zixuan’s spine.
“Uh… haha, I see the treasures on the poster have caught your eye!” Lin Zixuan laughed, his sarcasm undiminished. “Ye, you folks from the mountains probably haven’t seen anything like this before…”
“Shut up!” Li Muqing snapped, cutting him off.
“We’re going now!”
Ye Tian lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot.

…

The Sima family auction house.
“Please proceed in an orderly fashion; the auction is about to begin!”
The current master of the Sima family, Sima Lin, stood at the podium in a crisp black suit, slicked-back hair, directing the proceedings.
In the past five years, under his leadership, the Sima family had risen to dominance in the antique trade, forcefully seizing market share and becoming one of the top families in the capital.
Today, with several important items going under the hammer, Sima Lin had decided to personally host the event.
“Hmm, well organized.”
Seated below the stage was a portly elder in a four-clawed python robe—the former head of the Sima family, Sima Chun. His very presence underscored the gravity of the auction.
Before the event began, Sima Chun reclined in a grand armchair, eyes closed as he asked, “I’ve heard rumors lately that the Ye family boy has returned to the capital alive. Is that true?”
A black-clad guard standing behind him replied, “There’s no confirmation yet. I’ve already sent people to keep watch. If it’s true, I’ll personally handle it.”
The old man nodded with satisfaction.
“Hmm, any remnants of the Ye family must be eliminated. His appearance would seriously threaten the Sima family’s future!”
“Understood!”
The auction was set to begin.
With stirring entrance music, Sima Lin began introducing the first item.
“This Splendid Rivers and Mountains painting is a masterpiece by Mr. Wu of the previous dynasty. Even among all of Mr. Wu’s works, this ranks near the top.”
“As for the value of Mr. Wu’s calligraphy, I trust there’s no need for me to elaborate.”
“Starting bid, 1.2 million!”
At his words, hundreds in the auction hall immediately brandished their paddles, the bidding soaring!
Many young heirs urged their attendants to call home, requesting funds from their families.
Meanwhile, Lin Zixuan and his companions sat quietly in a corner, simply observing.
“It’s not that I’m uninterested in bidding, Qingqing, you know I don’t care for flashy things. I’m just here to broaden my horizons,” Lin Zixuan said, feigning nonchalance. In truth, his grandfather had cut off his allowance for being idle; he didn’t even have a million in his pocket, let alone enough to bid—he simply couldn’t afford to show off.
He pointed to the old man in the python robe at the center of the hall. “Qingqing, look—that’s the former head of the Sima family. Quite a character.”
“It’s said his life has been legendary, a true mastermind. Look how calm he is—if we could just have a conversation with him, who knows how much we’d learn!”
Li Muqing merely sneered and ignored him.
This time, the Sima family had brought out only the highest-quality lots, drawing countless bidders, including many remote participants, resulting in a frenzy.
Just the opening painting fetched a sky-high price of 6.6 million!
And that was only the appetizer.
Several antique porcelains followed, each going for over ten million!

…

Lin Zixuan described each artifact with relish, as if he’d handled them himself, earning only a cold laugh from Li Muqing.
Ye Tian, meanwhile, sat silently, saying nothing.
“At last, we come to the highlight of our evening!”
After seven or eight items had been auctioned off, Sima Lin’s excitement was evident. He brought out a sword stand from backstage and lifted the red cloth covering it.
“This, ladies and gentlemen, is an ancient treasured saber, once wielded by a great general who slew thousands of foreign invaders!”
“Anyone with expertise will recognize this blade at a glance.” He smiled mysteriously, letting the implication speak for itself.
In the audience, many aristocrats and collectors also broke into knowing grins.
“The Sima family is finally letting it go.”
“They’ve been hiding it for five years—at last they have the courage to bring it out.”