Intricacies of the Qu Clan (I)

The Liu Wu Festival auction was the biggest auction of the year for the Beast God Sanctum. It was bound to have many good things. The clans and cultivators of the city had all been saving up for many months for this event. Others knew this and submitted the most precious items at this time to get the best price.

Auctions were a curious phenomenon. They were able to make people who were ordinarily very disciplined with money go crazy. Whether it was to impress their peers or impress someone of interest, it always led to people stupidly overspending. Sure, some of the items were supposedly rare or one of a kind. But more likely than not, the same or equivalent could still be found through various means.

Zhou Ziyun wondered if she should establish an auction house in Thousand Flower City. Up until now, she hadn't felt that it was very necessary. But it could be a big money maker if she took a cut of the transactions and few things interested her more than money.

Of course, the sect didn't need an auction as the disciples hardly needed to compete with each other for cultivation resources. Anything they wanted; their master would get for them. The auction house was more intended for the mortal cultivators of the various branch sects and affiliated sects.

"Sister Ziyun, what do you think of the auction?" Qu Rong asked.

The other three had noticed Zhou Ziyun's silent contemplation.

"Oh, I was thinking about these unique rules. I haven't seen them before in other places." Zhou Ziyun said.

She was referring to the fact that the auction was split into two sessions. The morning session was open to a wide audience, thus the crowded auction hall. The afternoon session was a private affair with people allowed according to a set of rules.

Six people who sold the most expensive single item, six people who sold the most by cumulative price, six people who bought the most expensive single item, and six people who bought the most by cumulative prices; these twenty-four people were allowed to participate. These rules were for the mortals and naturally did not apply to the immortal lords and kings.

Qu Rong nodded knowingly, "These rules have been popular for many years. The afternoon session is intended for immortals and those treading the immortal paths. However, money is still money and the rules allow people with the resources to obtain unique opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have had."

"I see, you are referring to the items at the lesser realms. Other auction houses across the subcontinent will not easily offer them to mortals, even their own people. Beast God Sanctum is quite generous in this regard." Zhou Ziyun said.

Qu Rong smiled pleasantly, "That's right. Our Beast God Sanctum has always been an alliance between Spirit Kings and not a singular entity. We would not have gotten where we are today without cooperation and the Liu Wu Festival is a symbol of that."

"Sister Qu, if I may be a little rude," Li Yuechan spoke up, "If there is such emphasis and celebration of the past and of the spirit of cooperation, why does it seem like the eagle and lion factions are about to start fighting each other."

Qu Rong shifted in her seat and appeared uncomfortable at the question. She turned to Qu Jing for help.

"Miss Li, I am sure you have heard of the recent fall of the snake lord and his faction?" He asked.

Li Yuechan nodded her head lightly.

He sighed, "It was a tragic loss of life but what was more tragic was that it broke hundreds of years of tradition and the balance of power. The eagle lord and the lion lord always had issues with each other from the beginning. However, the snake lord was the eldest of the three and acted as the peacekeeper, able to soothe the other two after fights."

"But by some miracle, the eagle lord and lion lord cooperated to bring down the snake lord. Many thought that the Beast God Sanctum would finally be truly united after this event. But alas, the two victorious lords resumed their squabbles immediately after, making the city even more divided than before."

"Senior brother…" Qu Rong said with a worried tone.

Qu Jing was revealing far too much for what was supposed to be a simple explanation. However, for Chen Wentian who had already examined all of Qu Jing's memories after taking over the soul, he wasn't doing this without reason.

"Junior sister…" Qu Jing continued, "I don't know if you know about it. Maybe not but I think you must have heard some things in the past few months, a rumor going around the city."

"Senior brother." Qu Rong said seriously, her voice carrying a sense of warning.

She had indeed heard of the rumor. However, she didn't want to reveal it to a pair of outsiders with unclear intentions.

Qu Jing waved her off, "It's not some kind of big secret. I am sure with Miss Zhou's intelligence and Miss Li's instincts; they would have found out pretty soon."

He turned to Zhou Ziyun and Li Yuechan, "The matter is simple. Many people in the city are having second thoughts about the incident. Many people yearn to return to the past where there was peace, when our only enemies were the endless monster hordes to the east and the jealous people of the metropolis. We don't want to keep fighting our brothers and sisters. We fear that if we go on like this, the Beast God Sanctum will be completely wiped out."

Zhou Ziyun tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Sir Qu, I also have a question. Are these words of someone who thinks of this matter as a mere rumor or someone with far deeper considerations?"

Qu Jing smiled. Zhou Ziyun responded with one as well. The only one that was getting more and more uncomfortable by the second was Qu Rong. She didn't know it but she was the only outsider of the group. All of these matters, Chen Wentian had already discussed with his disciples beforehand.

"Miss Zhou, I can't answer that question just yet." He finally replied, "I just wanted to let you and your master know that things are not what they seem."

"Senior brother!" Qu Rong said sharply.

She finally had enough and pulled on his arm. Even though he was stronger, she forcibly pulled him out of the private box and into a secluded corner in the hallway.

"Senior brother! What are you doing?" She hissed.

"Don't worry, Rong'er. I know what I should and shouldn't say." Qu Jing said smoothly.

She nodded, momentarily appeased by his tone and their proximity. From a distance, they looked like a pair of lovers sharing an intimate moment in a dark corner. For her, that assumption would have been her greatest joy. For him, it was merely a convenience and something he had taken advantage of for a long time.

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