Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

The young member of the royal family who had been humiliated by the Jade Tiger was the first to raise his voice, and his first words were to offer a high price.

He didn't care at all about the seven swords that had previously fallen into the hands of Jade Tiger. But this was because of Bai Qi's "Heavenly Wrath Sword," which he was determined to obtain.

As a member of the royal family, he was different from those decadent parasites who indulged in wine and women. He possessed a grand vision and aspired to accomplish great things. If he could obtain this sword, he might become a pillar of the state and a renowned general, leading the nation to prosperity, or even... replacing Ji Wuye.

Ji Wuye, hailed as the strongest warrior in Korea for a century, was ultimately an outsider, while he was a member of the royal family, one of their own.

The royal youth was filled with excitement, as if his great achievements were already within his grasp.

However, he overlooked one thing.

When Bai Qi's sword was revealed, he was not the only one who coveted it.

Two thousand taels of gold is a huge sum of money in a regular auction.

This moment? Not enough!

"Two thousand five hundred gold!" The bidding resumed, rising steadily.

The young man suddenly turned his head and saw that the person raising the price was just a wealthy merchant in the city.

Sensing his anger, the other party whispered a reminder: "This is an auction."

The rules of the auction dictate that the highest bidder wins. Just now, the wealthy and powerful Jade Tiger used this principle to seize the seven swords.

These words were like oil poured on fire, fueling the young man's anger even more. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Three thousand gold pieces!"

"Three thousand five hundred gold!"

Before the young man's words had even faded, other bidders were already following closely behind, showing no mercy.

Previously, all seven swords had been won by Jade Tiger, and the wallets of the people below the stage were still bulging. Now, facing this final treasure, Bai Qi's sword, who wouldn't want to fight for it? In the blink of an eye, the bidding was like a raging wave, already earth-shattering.

Until that familiar, slow voice rang out again.

"Five thousand gold pieces!"

The jade tiger opened its mouth, but its voice was not particularly loud.

But it was like a heavy iron weight, silencing everyone's discussion.

All eyes immediately turned to him.

"Jade Tiger, with the Seven Swords in hand, do you still have cash?" someone sneered mockingly.

The portly merchant smirked, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "I dare not boast of anything else, but when it comes to money... I have plenty."

As for his cash reserves, perhaps due to business needs or the need to pay tribute to the General, they might not be piled up like mountains. However, his businesses are widespread and deeply rooted, making it easy for him to amass wealth through maneuvering and manipulation. Besides, this sword of Bai Qi... if presented to the General, the General would surely be delighted.

Even though the general uses a sword, it is still an unparalleled honor to treasure such a divine weapon.

……

The auction has ended.

Xu Qing stepped into the Hidden Dragon Hall once again.

Situ Wanli was all smiles, his joy almost overflowing.

"Brother Xu's sword is truly magnificent, attracting countless wealthy people to compete for it. In particular, this final sword was auctioned off for a sky-high price of ten thousand gold coins, making it the most expensive item ever auctioned by our Qianlong Hall."

Over this period of time, Situ Wanli and Xu Qing have grown very close, and have even started to address each other as brothers. Of course, being Situ Wanli's brother is not necessarily a good thing, as there is a concern that the other party might betray him for personal gain.

He had agreed to a very generous share with Xu Qing. Based on this calculation, he could receive a huge sum of two thousand gold coins from this one sword alone. Adding the proceeds from the previous seven swords... today's auction has made Situ Wanli a fortune!

"Ten thousand taels of gold..." Xu Qing heard Situ Wanli's joyful words, but her brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of regret was tinged with her whisper, "I thought it could sell for even more..."

That terrifying aura, that fearsome reputation of the God of War Bai Qi... was only worth ten thousand gold pieces?

It seems that even Bai Qi isn't all that great!

The main reason is that Xu Qing was influenced by the films and television dramas of later generations.

They often spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold.

So some people look down on Wan Jin.

But in reality, 10,000 gold coins is already a lot.

It should be noted that the military pay of the South Korean border troops was only 100,000 gold coins.

In the original story, after losing a bet with Jade Tiger, the only cash found in Jade Tiger's mansion was five thousand gold coins.

Of course, Jade Tiger's net worth is definitely more than that.

A large portion of them are with Ji Wuye. In addition, there are many fields, properties, and servant contracts.

But the amount of cash is already quite large, which shows that five thousand gold coins is a lot, let alone ten thousand gold coins.

"So, who ultimately won the bid for that sword?"

Xu Qing then asked Situ Wanli.

"He's a grain merchant from Xinzheng!"

"It's not Jade Tiger?" Xu Qing was somewhat surprised. He had thought that all these swords would fall into Jade Tiger's possession.

"Although Jade Tiger is wealthy, it doesn't mean there aren't other rich businessmen in Korea. Besides, he paid a considerable price for each of the seven swords to complete the set..."

Xu Qing understood.

Later, Jade Tiger no longer had enough money to participate in the auction.

Therefore, he had no choice but to give that sword to someone else.

However, upon closer examination of the Jade Tiger's background...

Even if I have to give in this time, it doesn't matter.

"This grain merchant is in a very dangerous situation!"

Xu Qing sighed.

Emerald Tiger is one of the Four Fiends of Nightfall, a killer organization.

If the Emerald Tiger wants something, it won't follow the rules.

But what does this have to do with Xu Qing?

He looked at Situ Wanli and said, "Just convert my portion of the money into various sword-forging materials, as previously agreed."

"Yes, I've already had people collecting them!" Situ Wanli said hurriedly, then asked Xu Qing, "When will Brother Xu be able to start the furnace again?"

Although I know that the sword-making process will not be short.

But Xu Qing's swords were just too popular.

Many people felt they hadn't had enough of the experience.

"It won't take long."

Xu Qing responded that he already had an idea about the new sword.

The Big Dipper already has seven stars, so naturally, the Southern Dipper's six stars cannot be overlooked either.

Of course, in this era, there is another theory that it is the Big Dipper with nine stars, after all, there are two hidden stars, and perhaps two more swords can be added later.

Chapter 66 Greed Under the Cover of Night

The night was as dark as ink, heavily enveloping the city of Xinzheng.

In this gloomy place, there is a vast manor with carved beams and painted rafters, brightly lit as daytime. It is the residence of General Ji Wuye.

Ji Wuye rarely left the manor to seek pleasure.

For him, the general's mansion was an inexhaustible den of extravagance and a paradise of pleasure. Amidst the magnificent palaces and pavilions, the singing and dancing never ceased, and the revelry never ended.

As long as he is in that world, he is the king who can take whatever he wants.

However, in the past few days, the spirits poured into the bronze wine vessel have become noticeably thicker.

A surge of malevolent fire, like a venomous snake, coiled in his chest, gnawing at his reason.

Han Fei, that silver-tongued young master, together with that old scoundrel Zhang Kaidi, used a cunning scheme to snatch away the 100,000 taels of gold that he considered his prize.

What's most infuriating is that he can't lash out, or even show the slightest dissatisfaction.

If anything unusual were to be revealed, wouldn't that be telling the world that the farce of "ghost soldiers borrowing money" and "vengeful spirits demanding lives" that shook the court and the public was his carefully orchestrated masterpiece?

Even if someone is aware of it, as long as it's not brought up in the open, it remains an unspoken secret.

Tonight, a guest has come to the General's Mansion.

It was Emerald Tiger, one of the Four Fierce Generals, and also Ji Wuye's most frequently seen and capable subordinate.

The four ruthless generals helped him influence the entire South Korea through military, political, financial, and espionage means.

While the Blood-Clad Marquis was away on campaign, the Tide Maiden Demon was hiding in the palace, and the Straw-Clad Guest was inconspicuous, it wasn't just the Emerald Tiger who frequently appeared before him and brought him money!

Jade Tiger came here tonight to bring him a gift.

"Yesterday, the Hidden Dragon Hall outside the city held an auction. Hey, guess what? A set of seven rare and famous swords was auctioned off! The swords are dazzlingly beautiful, truly masterpieces. What's rare is that each of the seven swords is uniquely crafted, yet they form a complete set. I really went all out to win this set..." Emerald Tiger stood in front of Ji Wuye, his eyebrows dancing with excitement, his voice deliberately lowered, carrying the allure of presenting a secret treasure. "And here I am, having just received them at the manor, I've rushed over to offer them to you for your perusal!"

Ji Wuye raised an eyebrow, took a big step forward, and walked to the sword box that the Jade Tiger had ordered someone to bring.

His rough, large hand casually flicked open the latch of the first sword case; the spring clicked softly, and the case lid opened.

In an instant, a cold light like autumn water came into view. The sword's blade flowed with an unusual, cool glow, and the gorgeous gems and intricate patterns adorning it shone brightly under the lamplight, captivating the eye.

He then opened the remaining boxes one after another, and just as Jade Tiger had said, each sword had its own unique charm, some were ancient and solemn, some were graceful and light, and some were sharp and menacing... all of them were exquisitely crafted and priceless.

"Hmph..." A genuine smile finally appeared on Ji Wuye's lips as his heavy hand slid over the cold blade, feeling its chill. "Tiger, you've got some heart."

His voice carried a hint of satisfaction. Even though he usually wielded a bronze longsword, a sword was a gentleman's weapon and also symbolized power and status.

Such magnificent treasures, kept in one's residence for enjoyment, are the best decorations to showcase one's status.

Jade Tiger's smile widened, but he quickly feigned regret, slapping his thigh with his fat hand: "Alas! What a pity! Just a little bit short! The grand finale, supposedly the sword of Qin's Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi, was the real highlight. The gold and silver I brought were only enough to bid on this set of seven swords, and I missed out on that final divine weapon..."

Ji Wuye paused, slowly withdrew his hand, turned around, and his deep gaze fell on the plump face of the Emerald Tiger.

"That sword..." Seeing that it had piqued Ji Wuye's interest, Emerald Tiger quickly took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with greed, and lowered his voice even further, "According to the people of the Hidden Dragon Hall, it is rumored to contain unimaginable power. Bai Qi was invincible because of that sword..."

White up!

The name was like a boulder thrown into an icy lake, stirring up waves in Ji Wuye's heart.