When the morning light spilled across the jade rooftops of Auction City, the city came alive once more.
The distant beat of drums echoed through the streets.
Flying banners swayed in the air, and the scent of gold—old, heavy, irresistible—seemed to cling to the wind itself.
Today was no ordinary day.
A thousand-year-old Ginseng was about to appear at auction.
---
Auction Hall — A Theatre of Power
The Auction Hall resembled a grand colosseum.
Circular tiers of seating surrounded a raised central platform, while beams of light poured down from above, illuminating the stage like a divine altar.
Ma Choasung sat beside Wu Xinyue.
Wu Xinyue wore a simple yet elegant sect robe. Her aura was restrained, carefully controlled, betraying the discipline of a true cultivator.
Ma Choasung, on the other hand, appeared utterly calm.
"Everything here will be more expensive than you expect," Wu Xinyue whispered softly.
"Don't overbid."
Ma Choasung only nodded.
---
Item After Item
Spirit herbs.
Fragments of ancient weapons.
Beast cores infused with violent energy.
Gold coins flew like copper—casually, recklessly.
For Wu Xinyue, this was normal.
But then…
---
Announcement — The Black Box
The auctioneer raised his voice.
"The next item—
Millennium Ginseng.
Age confirmed: one thousand years."
The temperature in the hall seemed to drop.
The black box opened.
Roots as white as snow.
Veins shimmering with gold.
A wave of pure life energy washed through the hall, making even seasoned cultivators tense.
Wu Xinyue held her breath.
"Starting bid: 50 Gold Coins."
---
The Bidding War
"Sixty!"
"Seventy!"
"Eighty-five!"
"One hundred!"
Elite sects and noble families joined without hesitation.
Wu Xinyue glanced at Ma Choasung.
"Not yet," she whispered.
Ma Choasung remained silent.
---
The Moment — A Calm Voice
"One hundred and twenty gold."
The hall quieted slightly.
Eyes turned toward the source.
"One thirty!"
"One forty!"
Wu Xinyue's fingers clenched unconsciously.
"This is beyond the limit," she said tensely.
Ma Choasung did not look away from the platform.
"One hundred and fifty gold coins."
---
Shockwave
Silence.
No one raised another bid.
One hundred and fifty gold—
for a single herb?
The auctioneer slammed the gavel.
"Sold."
---
Aftermath — Wu Xinyue's Reaction
Wu Xinyue stared at Ma Choasung as if seeing him for the first time.
"You do realize," she said quietly,
"that with 150 gold, you could buy a small sect?"
Ma Choasung lifted the sealed box.
"I'm not buying a sect," he replied calmly.
"I'm buying my life."
Wu Xinyue fell silent.
---
A Quiet Walk
After the auction, they walked together through the outer corridor. Wind chimes rang softly in the distance.
"You're a merchant," Wu Xinyue said,
"but today, you acted like a cultivator."
Ma Choasung smiled faintly.
"A true merchant," he said,
"is someone who knows what the most expensive thing really is."
---
End Scene
The sealed ginseng box rested in Ma Choasung's hand.
Wu Xinyue walked beside him, her eyes filled with new questions.
Caption:
Some deals are made for profit…
and some deals are made for breath itself.