Tomb Raider: The man is in the Nine Gates, but the system insists it's the Primordial Era.

How much money does the Nine Gates, a folk force located in the ancient southern city of Changsha, actually have?

no one knows.

But after years of operation, each of them could easily amass a fortune by simply flicking their sleeves—a fact known to everyone in Changsha.

Located at the foot of the Forbidden City, Beiping was a place teeming with wealthy merchants and powerful figures; even a dog that happened to pass by might have come from the imperial palace.

They are indeed very wealthy, but no one would actually risk their life by emptying their pockets for medicines that are not even enough to save a life.

Beiping.

Crescent Hotel.

The auctions for Deer Antler Grass and Dragon Blood Grass are still in full swing.

"Look! Someone has lit a sky lantern!"

"Was a number raised for that private room?"

"We haven't seen any movement yet."

"Wow, people are already lighting sky lanterns this early?"

"Of course! It's already dark outside, are you going to get burned if we don't turn on a lamp?"

"Do you know what lighting that lamp here means?"

"Not for lighting? Isn't there someone with an eye condition in that private room?"

"Shine my shoes."

"You'll tell me after you wiped it?"

"Once the sky lantern is lit, anyone in that private room who raises their paddle is essentially bidding against all the other bidders! No matter how much you bid, they'll always go all the way!"

"Huh!? This..."

On the first and second floors of the Crescent Moon Hotel, upon hearing the murmurs, everyone instinctively looked towards the private room where Su Mu and the others were.

Because at the entrance of this private room, staff from the Crescent Moon Hotel were leisurely hanging up a striking red lantern that stood out from the surrounding white light.

"Miss Yi, would it be possible to send some items for appraisal and auction now?"

"There is such a rule, but the item needs to be appraised at an extremely high price in order to be included in the current auction."

"That's good. You can take these pills for appraisal. All proceeds from their sale will be used to cover the expenses I need for lighting the sky lanterns this time."

"it is good."

Yi Xinyue also sensed that the atmosphere in the private room was starting to become strange. She seriously took the pills and quickly walked downstairs.

"Eight hundred thousand silver dollars per time!"

"Excuse me, sir, the customer next to you has already bid 85. Is there anyone willing to bid higher?"

"eighty……"

After the red lanterns were hung up.

As everyone bid, they couldn't help but glance at the mysterious private room that hadn't yet raised its bidding paddle.

Because of their current rivalry, the people in that private room could easily overwhelm them and turn them into a laughing stock.

"Has no one upstairs raised their sign yet?"

"I didn't see it!"

"So, does he want these medicines or not?"

"I don't know!"

"So, are you going to raise the price again?"

"I don't know!"

"I'm so angry..."

The people bidding against each other inexplicably began to feel anxious and apprehensive.

They were afraid that what they wanted would be bought by the person who lit the sky lantern.

at the same time.

A desert area where a storm whips up sandstorms.

A caravan of horses was speeding along the official road, braving the sandstorm as they headed towards Beiping.

The leader was none other than Peng Sanbian, a notorious bandit who had been waiting all day without seeing the train!

"Hurry up! All of you, hurry up!"

"Damn it, the auction starts tonight! If I'm late, my fiancé's identity won't be revealed to those guys up north!"

"Why does it have to be tonight, Third Master?"

"I don't know either, but the master said that the people at the Crescent Hotel are full of bad intentions, and tonight he wants me to stand in front of all the bidders at the auction as the future owner of the Crescent Hotel."

"So hurry up, everyone!"

"That's fast enough, Third Master. We've exhausted so many horses on this journey..."

"..."

Let's return our attention to the Crescent Hotel.

"make a deal!"

"Since no one else has made a bid, and the three rounds of bidding have passed, these two medicinal herbs belong to this bidder. Please wait a moment while the goods are packed and served to the customer before he/she leaves."

In the private room where the auction for Deer Antler Grass and Qilin Blood was taking place, a man with a mustache, a sallow complexion, and features and physique that differed somewhat from those of Chinese descent looked at the private room where Su Mu and the others were with a puzzled expression.

The news that Deer Antler Grass and Qilin Blood could cure the poison that the girl had been poisoned was released by the Oriental Chamber of Commerce they established in Changsha.

Their purpose was to use this as an excuse to stir up trouble within the Nine Gates and to get Zhang Qishan the help of Er Yuehong, so that they could open the mysterious ancient tomb buried deep underground.

As the man pondered, his subordinate, who had just entered, reminded him, "Sir, we didn't bring enough money this time. Should we go and get more?"

The man's expression changed as he realized that during his competition with the photographers in the audience, he had inadvertently bought back the item they had put up for auction at the Crescent Hotel.

Moreover, it was an extremely high price of 950,000 silver dollars.

The man's original intention was to force Zhang Qishan to take action and empty the Nine Gates' coffers.

In fact, Zhang Qishan's private room was lit with sky lanterns, but there was no sign of anyone raising a paddle to participate in the auction.

The man was absolutely certain that Zhang Qishan, who wanted Er Yuehong to come out of seclusion, would definitely participate when the price was at its highest.

This drove the price of the auction items up dramatically.

But as the competition intensifies, those competing in the audience no longer have the financial resources to continue their rivalry.

then……

"Hello, guests. These are the items you have ordered. Please take a look. Also, please send someone to pay the outstanding amount."

Staff from the Crescent Moon Hotel carried two exquisite wooden boxes to the door of the man's private room.

The man's gaze remained fixed on the direction of Zhang Qishan's private room, and the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.

When he saw the two wooden boxes that they had originally sent to the Crescent Hotel for the auction, he felt even more distressed.

"Your Excellency." The subordinate was also waiting for the man to make a decision.

"Zhang! Qi! Shan!"

"ah!!!"

"I'm not done with you yet!!!"

The man roared in a low voice, slamming his fist on the wooden table beside him, his nails digging into his palm, and crimson blood flowing from his hand.

He spent money to buy back his auctioned items.

If this gets out, how can he save face and stay in the organization?

Moreover, they hadn't anticipated Zhang Qishan's actions and ended up spending so much money because of it.

Once he gets back, I'm afraid his superiors won't let him off easily.

Finished!

puff--

The more the man thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, his face pale.

"Uh, what happened to this little devil? He suddenly fell ill. Don't try to renege on your debt. I suppose you know the rules here."

"Sir! Sir! Do we still want to withdraw the money?"

"puff--"

Upon hearing this, the man who had fallen to the ground coughed up another mouthful of blood.

In front of the private room where Su Mu was located.

The team carrying the medical stretcher ran quickly past and then carried away the strange man who was still facing their private room even after he died, with his bulging eyes wide open.

"Huh~"

Qi Tiezui shivered and felt inexplicably nauseous.

"How could this person die with their eyes wide open? How did they die? Was it really a sudden, serious illness?"

"He committed suicide by overdose. Didn't you see him foaming at the mouth, clearly poisoned?"

"Didn't we let him get the deer antler lees and the dragon's blood? Why was he so angry that he tried to commit suicide?"

"..."

Several people were discussing it inside the private room.

Su Mu, with his excellent hearing, had already discovered the existence of this Japanese man and the content of his words about framing Zhang Qishan and the Nine Gates.

That's why he hesitated to bid on the Qilin Blood, which he also somewhat desired.

But a price of 950,000 is just too damn expensive!

No wonder, after failing to get rid of Zhang Qishan, the Japanese soldier was so angry that he bit off the deadly poison hidden in his gums and committed suicide by poisoning himself.

"The second item for auction is about to be brought to the stage. Please be patient, have some tea and dessert, and wait a moment."

"..."