AZI Volume 5 Prologue – “Long Hua”

"…Hmph."

Closing her eyes, Mo-laoban raises a cold snort before falling back onto the chair behind her.

With Mo-laoban having forfeited her rights to bid on the black jadeite flute, Long Hua looks to the bid caller, Dan'er, and shouts—

"3,200,001!"

Glancing towards Mo-laoban's direction, and waiting for a moment only to see the former not responding, Dan'er clears her throat, and announces—

"3,200,001 NWD! Going once, going twice… Sold!"

As soon as the podium is hammered, Long Hua also falls back into his seat, and remarks—

"…Never thought a flute would be this difficult to buy."

"Hahaha!"

Finally free to laugh, Bai Wen does so uncontrollably.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Long Hua turns to Bai Wen with evident annoyance, and says—

"Lao Bai, can you not laugh like such a slut?"

"Lao Long, can you…- Pff… Can you really blame me?"

"L-Long-xiong, ahaha…"

Wiping away the tears in her eyes, Zhen Qing Huai adds—

"Ai, you really can't blame Lao Bai. Who in their right mind would keep a fan—with those words on it, on their person at all times?"

Choosing to ignore the two, Long Hua refills his cup, and takes a sip.

...…

On the third floor—

"It's over… In more ways than one…"

Despite having his item sold for the price of 3,200,001 NWD, Chen Lan doesn't feel a hint of happiness, as he bangs his head against the wall.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Brother Chen, dinner is still on you, right?"

As those not in the know turn to Chen Lan in bewilderment, Li Zi Xiang, Shao Tianming, and Wang Yongning cast a gaze of pity towards Chen Lan.

Raising a sigh, Shao Tianming says—

"I suggest you all give up on that dinner."

"Ah, why?"

"The buyer of the flute is surnamed Long."

"Who exactly is this surnamed Long?"

The person asking this is another core member of the hall, and being only 18 years of age, he is considered to be one of the youngest individuals with this rank.

Answering the individual, who is dressed in a tanned leather jacket over a white shirt, and a pair of jeans, Shao Tianming says—

"His name is Long Hua, and he's the reason why Chen Lan lost his salary for the month."

"Long Hua?"

Blinking his eyes, Zhāng Yǒng—the one who had asked the question, can't help but glance at a young lady, who is of similar age to him.

"Long Hua…?"

Muttering the name, the young lady—who is dressed in a red hoodie over a white shirt with a pair of knee-length black pants, frowns.

The name of this young lady is Huī'er, and towards her, the nearby members of the hall says—

"It should be someone else with the same name."

"Reports said that childhood friend of yours-"

Before Zhang Yong can finish his sentence, Wang Yongning cuts him off with a glare, and says—

"Zhang Yong, that's distasteful."

"…Apologies."

...…

"…"

As the next item is being brought out, Nuo'er leaves her seat, and moves towards the other side of the floor.

Arriving on the opposite side, and approaching the area Mo-laoban is in, Nuo'er sits down on the other chair.

Due to Mo-laoban having put the hood of her jacket on, Nuo'er isn't able to see the former's face, but their expression is most likely one of extreme irritation.

"Elder sister, are you feeling alright?"

As a male worker comes over, he sets down a pot of tea, along with two cups.

Just as the worker is about to fill the cups, Nuo'er says—

"I'll do it myself."

Nodding his head, the worker leaves.

Picking up the tea pot, Nuo'er fills the two cups.

"Ai…"

Grabbing one of the cups, Mo-laoban raises a sigh, and blows on the tea to cool it off prior to taking a sip.

Similarly, Nuo'er does the same.

Setting the cup down, Mo-laoban leans back in her chair, and takes out Shui Yue.

"Uh?"

Seeing this odd behavior, Nuo'er can't help but raise an eye, whereas Long Hua, who is on the opposite side, thought—

(The hell is this? Is she just taunting me now with my dropped loot?)

Glancing between Long Hua and Mo-laoban, Bai Wen asks—

"Lao Long, that soft sword…?"

"Mine."

"You know how to refine magic treasures?"

"Something like that."

Dismissing his curiosity, Bai Wen washes his throat down with a cup of wine.

"Next item is a 100-year-old pot of cherry blossom wine!"

"Oh?"

Hearing Dan'er's announcement, both Long Hua and Bai Wen stood up from their seats, and looked down at the same time.

Displayed on the stage is a black pot that measures at a height of one and a half feet.

"Lao Long, you also like this wine?"

"I do."

"Let me buy it, I'll share half the pot with you as payback for the cigar."

"Sure."

On the other side—

"…Elder sister, why did you bring that sword out?"

"If it isn't because of the ongoing auction, I'd leap over to the other side, and cut that bastard up right now."

"…"

As Mo-laoban continues to flex Shui Yue in her hands, Long Hua thought—

(I'm not going to stand for this.)

Waving his right hand, Long Hua calls a worker over, and tells them to bring the black jadeite flute to him.

Momentarily, the flute is brought up to the fifth floor, and presented to Long Hua, who takes it off the worker's hands.

"…"

"…"

Although Long Hua is wearing sunglasses, Mo-laoban can easily tell that they are currently making eye contact with one another.

(This guest really has something against the boss, doesn't he?)

Not wanting to get caught in the crossfire, the worker leaves quickly.