Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

The State of Chu moved its capital to Shouchun, and within just a few short years, the city had already been under construction by the powerful Lord Chunshen before the relocation. Its unique location at the confluence of waterways and land routes far surpassed that of the old capital, Chenying, making Shouchun a rapidly becoming the commercial hub of the southern state.

The city was not yet bustling with activity, but the atmosphere of merchants gathering there was already quite impressive.

The State of Chu had a vast territory and abundant resources, attracting wealthy merchants from all over the country.

When news of Song Yu's "Ode to the Sword" and the Qianlongtang auction spread almost simultaneously, astute businessmen naturally sensed the connection and concluded that the two must have a common origin.

Even so, how could such a grand event be missed? People flocked to Shouchun, hoping to try their luck at the auction.

Merchants who had spent many years in the State of Chu knew the city's top figures inside and out.

The Qu, Jing, and Zhao families all originated from the Mi clan, which were the most powerful and deeply rooted families in the state of Chu, and had controlled the military and political affairs for generations.

Although the Xiang clan was not of royal blood and belonged to foreigners who had submitted to the state, they had long been rooted in the state of Chu and served as generals for generations. Especially in the generation of Xiang Yan, their military achievements were outstanding and their position was secure, making them second only to the three clans.

"I can't believe they've all come!"

"That precious sword that Song Yu mentioned is likely to fetch an astronomical price today!"

The merchants who knew each other were talking about it, their eyes filled with a mixture of envy and jealousy.

What is the purpose of doing business? Isn't it to make money? Although they came here today just to join in the fun, seeing all the top nobles of Chu appear, they knew very well that the price of that sword would inevitably skyrocket.

Regardless of who ultimately wins the sword, the generous commission for Qianlong Hall, who acted as the matchmaker, is a foregone conclusion!

However, it was Li Garden, which followed closely behind, that truly stirred up the pond.

In the hearts of merchants across the world, there are always a few idols who can help them reach the top.

Lu Buwei of Qin was a mountain, while in Chu, the legend of Li Yuan was known to all.

A merchant from the State of Zhao first curried favor with Lord Chunshen, and then his sister was offered to the Chu palace, where she gained favor and was made queen, transforming him into the powerful brother-in-law of the emperor.

His relationship with Lord Chunshen was even more subtle and profound.

Nowadays, even the three great clans of Qu, Jing, and Zhao, or the newly noble Xiang family with outstanding military achievements, must bow down before Lord Chunshen, the Prime Minister.

Could Li Yuan's presence at such an occasion be an indication that Lord Chunshen, the man behind him, has also taken an interest in this sword?

"It seems that it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven for us to get our hands on that sword today!" A merchant sighed and shook his head, having already decided to only bid on some items that caught his eye, just to console himself.

But there are also those who refuse to give up.

"Hmph! They may be of high status, but that doesn't necessarily mean they can afford to spend real money! This is an auction house after all, the highest bidder wins! I'm going to fight for it!"

This undercurrent of unwillingness to admit defeat not only flowed in the hearts of the merchants, but also surged in the chests of the other nobles present.

With the Qu, Jing, Zhao, and Xiang families all present, how could other nobles, both large and small, be absent?

The State of Chu was originally a country dominated by nobles, whose powerful clans had deep roots and wielded far greater influence than those in other countries.

Looking back, Wu Qi had the support of King Dao of Chu and intended to reform and strengthen the state. He wanted to abolish hereditary titles and stipends, strip the nobles of their titles, stipends, and even fiefdoms for three generations or more, and even expel them to remote wastelands... Although his ideas were grand, he greatly underestimated the depth of these hereditary nobles' infiltration into the state of Chu.

Even King Dao of Chu was unable to forcefully implement the reforms, so the reforms lasted for a very short time.

Even more fatally, King Dao died suddenly, and Wu Qi lost his only protector.

The nobles launched a coup just three days after the king's death.

Wu Qi died tragically at the mourning hall of King Dao of Chu, his body riddled with arrows, and his remains were torn apart by chariots and displayed to the public. The scene was like a bloody declaration and complete crushing of the ancient aristocratic power of Chu against the royal authority and the reformists.

Although the succeeding ruler executed dozens of noble families involved in the matter in order to uphold the dignity of the royal power, the path of reform was thus interrupted, and the State of Chu remained a noble state.

Many of the nobles present were born with privileges, were extremely wealthy, and considered themselves superior.

Although Qu, Jing, and Zhao were powerful, they were not necessarily willing to bow down and back down.

The outcome of today's competition remains to be seen!

Beneath the turbulent undercurrents, the auction at Qianlong Hall proceeded as planned.

Some people were unwilling to reveal their true faces and wore exquisite masks, while many more nobles openly showed their true faces, exuding an aura of confidence.

The guests took their seats in order.

The clear and melodious sound of the chime bells signaled the official start of the auction.

Situ Wanli, dressed in a magnificent gown, took to the stage and, just as he had done in the Qianlong Hall in Korea years ago, concisely explained the rules of the auction.

Seeing that everyone's attention had already been drawn to the grand finale, he dared not linger and quickly got to the point.

"The first item up for auction is a rare Korean treasure – the Cold Mist Jadeite Disc!"

He introduced it loudly. This item, along with many other treasures that followed, originated from the treasury of the wealthy Korean merchant, Jade Tiger, which was seized by a farmer.

The Zhu family took care of handling those land deeds and land contracts, while these flashy but impractical treasures changed hands the fastest and eventually ended up in the hands of the Hidden Dragon Hall, which Situ Wanli used to sell them to merchants in various countries through farmers.

After all, for farmers, gold is always more practical than something flashy and only good for decoration.

Jade Tiger, once South Korea's richest man, amassed countless treasures by relying on Ji Wuye's power.

Sure enough, the appearance of this jade disc immediately attracted the interest of several guests.

"Five hundred gold coins!"

"Six hundred gold coins!"

Prices have been rising steadily since the bottom price.

"One thousand two hundred gold!"

The deal was finalized.

Situ Wanli listened to the rising and falling bids and was secretly delighted.

South Korea was ultimately too small; Ji Wuye held absolute power, and no one dared to provoke the Emerald Tiger, who was subordinate to him. The State of Chu was different. Qu, Jing, Zhao, the Xiang clan, and Lord Chunshen hidden behind the scenes… when had these people ever truly been of one mind?

Even though Lord Chunshen held immense power, he did not reach the level of openly assassinating his enemies like Ji Wuye of Han, and there was no terrifying atmosphere of "night" running rampant here.

It is precisely because of the complexities of human nature and the infighting among nobles that the price of treasures can be driven up infinitely.

The first item sold for a considerable price, and Situ Wanli suppressed his joy, then immediately presented the second treasure.

This auction is a crucial battle for Qianlong Hall to establish its reputation in the Chu Kingdom. Apart from the grand finale, the Xuanpu Sword, all the other items are exquisite pieces that Jade Tiger has treasured for many years.

"Crimson Coral Tree..."

"Eight hundred gold pieces!"

Nine hundred!

"Thirteen hundred gold!"

After several rounds of bidding, the hammer fell again.

In the blink of an eye, the dozen or so treasures were returned to their rightful owners.

Time has quietly slipped past noon.

The guests showed no signs of fatigue; on the contrary, their expressions became even more focused and expectant, their eyes burning as they awaited the grand finale.

at last!

Two strong servants respectfully carried an ancient and profound sword box and placed it in the center of the display stand.

Situ Wanli's expression turned solemn, and he spoke in a loud voice.

"...I'm sure you distinguished guests have all heard recently that the master of prose and poetry, Mr. Song Yu, has published a new work, 'Ode to the Sword.' In this ode, he exquisitely describes five divine weapons that embody the spirit of heaven and earth!"

He looked around the room, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"By a stroke of luck and thanks to the heavens, our humble abode has taken the lead in finding one of the Five Swords—Xuanpu!"

"After repeated examination by our hall, this sword indeed contains immense vitality! Even those who are not skilled in martial arts can feel refreshed and invigorated by carrying it with them year-round, and it can even prolong life!"

"Its mysteries go far beyond this..."

As he spoke, Situ Wanli carefully opened the sword box and solemnly took out a long, ancient sword.

The sword has a warm, emerald-green color, as if it were a condensed version of a jade pool in the sky, and there are peach patterns on the hilt.

The moment it appeared, it attracted almost everyone's attention. Just gazing at it from afar felt as if an invisible vitality was emanating from it, invigorating everyone's spirits. In a daze, Song Yu's line, "In a moment, I have seen all the spring in the world," once again rippled across the hearts of everyone present.

"I must possess this sword!" a young, ambitious nobleman whispered at the banquet.

The representatives of Qu, Jing, and Zhao remained silent, as did the Xiang clan's men, but their gazes were fixed on the green sword as if frozen, their eyes burning with an unwavering determination.

Situ Wanli felt countless sharp gazes, his heartstrings tightened slightly, but he was experienced and quickly suppressed the tension, and said in a deep voice.

"To allow you distinguished guests to truly appreciate the extraordinary nature of this sword, I will personally demonstrate it for you!"

He made a gesture. A robust servant who was waiting nearby stepped forward and stood at attention.

Having already received instructions, the man drew a dagger from his waist without saying a word.

Under the slightly astonished gazes of the crowd, he raised his bare left arm and, without hesitation, slashed it with the dagger in his right hand!

"laugh--"

The flesh split open with a gash more than an inch long, and blood gushed out instantly, dripping down his arm. The intense pain contorted the servant's face, but he gritted his teeth and endured it without uttering a sound.

Upon seeing this, Situ Wanli did not hesitate to grip the hilt of the Xuanpu sword with both hands and lightly touch the wound on the servant's arm with the tip of the sword.

hum!

An invisible yet powerful life force flowed from the sword's edge, its verdant glow gently enveloping the wound. The servant's pain seemed to vanish instantly, and his furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

The miracle happened!

The edges of the torn flesh were gently caressed as if by an invisible hand, and the bright red blood quickly contracted, adhered, and congealed... In just a few breaths, the hideous gash had stopped bleeding and closed.

Situ Wanli took a clean cloth that had been prepared and wiped away the blood around the wound.

The servants obediently raised their arms high, displaying the newly healed wound to all the guests.

Where all eyes were focused, the wound that had been bleeding profusely just moments before now only left a long, narrow, bright red scar, as if it had healed several days ago.

The wound's miraculous contraction and closure is astonishing, but the presence of the scar proves its authenticity.

"Whoa!!"

An uncontrollable gasp and discussion erupted from the audience.

If one had previously harbored some doubts about the description in "The Sword Ode," then witnessing this miraculous healing scene firsthand has completely dispelled all doubts. The sword's extraordinary nature is beyond imagination.

Such a horrific wound can be healed in an instant by the immense vitality it contains. Wouldn't the so-called "longevity" effect be a natural outcome?

When Situ Wanli took a deep breath, he announced that the auction had officially begun.