Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Auction (Part One)

First, let me mention two things. One: Tomorrow there will be a major overhaul of our electricity lines. Due to the blackout a couple of days ago, there’s a chance the power will be out all day tomorrow. So tonight, I’ll be posting a few extra chapters for you.
Two: I humbly ask for your support—please bookmark and recommend this story. Writing so many words is no easy task; I hope you’ll lend me your encouragement.

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Lu Zhe and the old physician hurried along the street. After stopping a couple of passersby to ask some brief questions, the old physician led Lu Zhe straight toward a towering, imposing building.

Raising his eyes to the structure ahead, Lu Zhe was struck by its grandeur. It stood out from the surrounding buildings like a crane among chickens, exuding an aura of dominance that seemed to make all neighboring houses bow before it. An oppressive majesty filled the air.

The old physician strode quickly toward the edifice, his urgency evident. Lu Zhe had to jog to keep up with his pace.

They turned down a few alleys and walked a little farther before finally arriving at the foot of the building.

From a distance, the hall had appeared grand and immense, but standing beneath it now, Lu Zhe saw the glazed tiles, vermilion eaves, and intricately carved balustrades—it was a masterpiece of architecture. The entire hall was circular, its width immeasurable at a glance, and its height soared thirty to forty yards into the sky, as if piercing the clouds. A broad flight of steps, each three yards wide, led upward, splitting to both sides before converging again and continuing their ascent.

“Let’s go,” the old physician said calmly.

He mounted the white-marble steps, and Lu Zhe, exhaling softly, followed close behind.

The staircase was neither long nor short; with the old physician’s brisk pace, they reached the top in moments. Lu Zhe counted—there were exactly one hundred and thirty-three steps, each of identical height, carved with uncanny craftsmanship.

Standing before the colossal hall, Lu Zhe felt dwarfed by the vastness of the structure, its roof like a sword stabbing into the heavens. An involuntary sense of smallness welled up within him.

“What are you staring at? Let’s go,” the old physician’s voice snapped Lu Zhe from his reverie. Blinking, Lu Zhe steadied his mind and followed him inside.

They entered a spacious, resplendent hall, its decorations gleaming with gold and jade. Many people milled about, and at the center of the hall stood a circular counter, surrounded by a sizable crowd.

The old physician surveyed the room, then walked toward the counter. Lu Zhe hurried after him.

The old physician knocked on the table, and soon a provocatively dressed woman approached. She offered a slight curtsy and asked, “Sir, how may I assist you?”

The old physician replied, “I’m here to attend the auction.”

She nodded. “Are you here to sell or to buy?”

“To buy,” he answered.

She made a note behind the counter, then produced two numbered paddles and handed them to the old physician and Lu Zhe. “These are your bidding numbers. If you wish to make an offer, simply raise your paddle.”

The old physician examined the paddles and handed one to Lu Zhe, who saw the number: 165.

The hostess stepped out from behind the counter, gestured politely, and said, “This way, gentlemen.”

The old physician nodded, glanced at Lu Zhe, and said, “Let’s go,” following her lead.

She escorted them to a large set of doors. “Gentlemen, this is the auction hall.”

The old physician nodded, took out a gold coin, and handed it to her. She accepted it with effusive gratitude and departed.

The old physician smiled at Lu Zhe. “Didn’t you always want to see what a black market auction is like?”

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Lu Zhe’s eyes sparkled as he gazed at the doors, so much so that the old physician could hear him swallowing in anticipation.

The old physician chuckled and pushed open the doors.

A vast, bowl-shaped arena spread before Lu Zhe’s eyes. The seats rose in tiers like steps, and at the bottom lay a broad stage. Private boxes lined the upper levels. Harsh lights shone down on the center of the stage, where a woman was speaking animatedly.

So this is an auction? Lu Zhe thought in awe.

The old physician glanced at him. “This is an underground auction. They sell not only goods, but also people abducted by traffickers. Anything not fit for open trade can be sold here.”

Lu Zhe drew in a sharp breath.

The old physician scanned the room, then led Lu Zhe to a seat near the stage.

“High-grade attack technique, ‘Rending Kick,’ starting at thirty thousand gold coins!” the woman on stage called, holding a crimson scroll in her hand, her voice coy.

“Thirty-five thousand!” a man shouted, paddle raised.

“Forty thousand!” another joined.

“Forty-five thousand!”

“Fifty thousand!”

“Fifty-five thousand!”...

The bidding continued fiercely, and soon the technique was sold to a middle-aged man for seventy-five thousand.

After the scroll was auctioned, the woman smiled, and a middle-aged man whispered in her ear. She turned to the crowd and announced, “Next is a highlight of tonight’s auction—human trafficking.”

“Human trafficking?!” Lu Zhe shuddered, his shock escaping in a cry.

“Quiet!” The old physician shot him a sharp look. “This sort of thing is commonplace here. Don’t be surprised,” he said, sitting up straighter.

Lu Zhe took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. His brow furrowed, and a grave look flashed in his eyes as he fixed them on the stage.

The woman bowed and left, replaced by the middle-aged man, who strode onstage with practiced ease. He bowed to the audience and announced loudly, “Thank you all for coming. Now, a highlight of tonight’s auction—human trafficking. The first lot is...”

He gestured, and a burly man dragged a strikingly beautiful woman onto the stage. She resisted, her face contorted with misery, but the man’s strength was overwhelming. He prodded and kicked her forward.

Lu Zhe’s sharp eyes noticed the woman wore a collar, secured by a thick chain gripped tightly by the burly man.

“Look how beautiful this woman is,” the auctioneer smiled, gesturing at her. “She could serve as a maid, a concubine, a child bride for your son, or a reward for your servants.”

“Starting at ten thousand gold coins!” he shouted.

“Fifteen thousand!” a man in his forties called out.

“Eighteen thousand!” another bid.

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“Twenty-five thousand!”

“Twenty-seven thousand!”

“Thirty thousand!”

“Forty thousand!”...

The bidding climbed rapidly. From the initial price, the woman’s value soared to ninety thousand—more than the high-grade attack technique from before.

“One hundred fifty thousand!!”

A booming voice abruptly silenced the bidding, and the hall erupted in astonishment. All eyes turned to the bidder. Lu Zhe looked back, but the voice did not come from the main floor. He looked up and saw the bidder seated in a private box above.

Lu Zhe stared intently, recognizing the bidder as a man so obese he could be rendered for oil to feed a dozen people. The man’s eyes gleamed hungrily at the woman on stage, his mouth watering, hands twitching with anticipation.

Lu Zhe looked back at the woman; her face had drained of all color, as white as paper.

“Master,” Lu Zhe turned to the old physician, urgency written on his face.

“What?” The old physician frowned at Lu Zhe’s anxious expression.

“I...” Lu Zhe started, but the old physician cut him off with a wave. “Remember—never play the saint in a place like this. Saints don’t live long.”

Lu Zhe bit his lip, his fist slamming the armrest in frustration.

The old physician glanced at Lu Zhe, sighed softly, and murmured, “Ignorant child, clueless about the ways of the world.”

Then, he raised his paddle and called out, “Three hundred thousand!”

A hush descended. The hall was silent as the grave.

Lu Zhe stared at the old physician in disbelief. The old physician turned, a faint smile on his lips. “Just this once, I’ll play the saint.” He glanced at the woman onstage. “She really is quite a beauty—not a loss at all.”

“The gentleman has bid three hundred thousand! Three hundred thousand, any advance?” the auctioneer cried, elated.

The woman, who had hung her head in despair, looked up. When she saw the old physician with his paddle raised, a faint smile blossomed on her pale face, making her even more beautiful.

Lu Zhe looked to the private box above. The obese man was stunned by the high bid, sitting there, bewildered.

“Three hundred thousand once, three hundred thousand twice, three hundred thousand three times—sold!” the auctioneer declared.

The old physician lowered his hand, turned to Lu Zhe, and said, “You owe me three hundred thousand.”

Lu Zhe was left speechless.