Chapter 4829 — The Morning Star Grand Auction
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Heh, Steward Jin jests. The Hong Clan Merchant Guild has never closed a single branch, and it certainly will not begin with me. Though your Gold Universe Merchant Guild does not look so rosy—five branches shuttered in recent days, was it not? I wonder how much longer Steward Jin can hold out?" Old Chai gave him a look.
"You—!" Steward Jin was choked speechless on the spot. The Gold Universe Merchant Guild was no great house; it could not begin to compare with a top-tier guild like the Hong Clan. Five branches closed of late through poor management had already cut it to the bone, and at this rate the whole guild might well collapse.
With no way out, the Gold Universe Merchant Guild had finally resolved to throw in its lot with Noble Hall and ride out the crisis on its coattails. It was precisely for this reason that Steward Jin was working so desperately to flatter Steward Hao—the man might well be his direct superior before long.
"Ha! Steward Chai, you truly are new to these parts and out of touch. With a backer as mighty as Noble Hall, the Gold Universe Merchant Guild could not fall even if it wanted to. If you have spare worry to spend, spend it on yourself." Steward Hao cast Old Chai a look of contempt and swept off with Steward Jin in tow.
"Mind your step. I won't see you out." Old Chai waved a hand, calm and unruffled, still as immovable as a mountain—which made the onlookers regard him anew.
Wei Zhao watched the scene and gave a slight nod. Old Chai had no presence to speak of and always gave the impression of a man easy to push around, but judging by that display of neither cowering nor crowing, the fellow could be propped up on the stage after all.
Of course, that too was thanks to Wei Zhao. Without the seventh-grade pills refined over these past days, Old Chai's heart would have been utterly hollow, and he could never have faced the likes of Steward Hao with such confidence.
"You have come out of seclusion!" Seeing Wei Zhao emerge, Old Chai hurried up to greet him with the utmost deference. The onlookers turned to stare again—who was this young man? Steward Chai had been so composed and proud a moment ago; why did he turn into a lapdog the instant he laid eyes on him?
"The grand auction is about to begin, is it not?" Wei Zhao asked.
"Indeed. Old Cui has already taken the lots over ahead of us. Shall we head over now?" Old Chai inquired.
"Good." Wei Zhao nodded, and the two set off for the grand auction at once. Though every Morning Star Grand Auction was convened by Morning Star Academy, the venue was not within the academy grounds but in a great building in Morning Star City known as the Morning Star First Tower.
Arriving before the gates of the Morning Star First Tower, Wei Zhao looked up and could not help exclaiming, "This building really is enormous."
For all its name, the Morning Star First Tower was not so very startling in height—nothing like the world-class skyscrapers of the mortal realm that rose hundreds of meters at a stroke. It merely stood a notch or two taller than the buildings around it. Its footprint, however, was vast, enclosed on all sides by a wall five zhang high, and Wei Zhao had the vague sense of having wandered into a magnificent bullring!