It was no longer early spring; the weather had already turned warm, and the Treasure Mirage Pavilion was stiflingly crowded. Under such circumstances, anyone willing to wear a priceless white fox-fur coat was likely not truly afraid of the cold, but rather intended to use the garment to flaunt their status. The veiled hat, which clashed with the rest of the outfit, felt like a clumsy attempt at concealment—it practically shouted to everyone: *I am a person of considerable importance and truly do not wish to attract attention.*
To those who savored the nuances of such behavior, it seemed somewhat foolish. Indeed, the owner of the fur coat was far from being "clever."
Whether a cooked duck could fly was debatable, but this "silly goose" certainly moved fast.
After a hurried pursuit, Qin Jiuye finally caught up. She stopped abruptly and stood with her back to the approaching man, right in his path. She grabbed the youth behind her, pulling him close to whisper in his ear.
"Don't move. Don't look around."
Li Qiao remained still, his voice very soft. "What are you doing?"
Timing it perfectly, Qin Jiuye turned her head to steal a quick glance at the approaching man in white fur, then whispered again, "Putting on a show for him."
The youth understood.
In truth, as long as he was willing, grasping such matters was no trouble for him at all.
Qin Jiuye didn't have time to overthink it; she only felt that "Assistant Li," who had previously seemed somewhat dull, had suddenly become a natural at this. They exchanged a few hushed words with remarkable chemistry. From a distance, the guards behind the man in white fur noticed something and began whispering into their master's ear.
In such a situation, anyone else would have simply muttered a prayer for caution and avoided them.
But the man they encountered today was someone who couldn't stand even a grain of sand in his eye. How could he allow two impoverished-looking thieves to whisper about him with ill intent?
"You two! What are you muttering about over there? Don't go plotting anything wicked, or you'll find yourselves in more trouble than you can handle."
Qin Jiuye turned around, feigning surprise. Her eyes held three parts innocence and seven parts confusion. "Why would you say such a thing, brother?"
The man in the white fur lifted half of his veil, revealing a face that was no longer young and wore a deliberate expression of arrogance.
"You've been caught red-handed, so don't play dumb. Admit your fault here and now, and stay far away from me in the future."
Qin Jiuye stared at his face to confirm her suspicions, then quickly adopted an expression of fear and trepidation.
"It’s all a misunderstanding! My friend and I only thought you looked familiar as you passed by, so we discussed it for a moment." Her tone was deeply respectful. She cupped her hands in a martial arts salute. "This humble one is surnamed Yang, given name Yuanzhi. My ancestors were in the river trade. Might I ask how to address you, brother?"
*Yuanzhi* was a medicinal herb, also known by the alias "Small Grass." By hiding her true identity within a pseudonym, it was only a half-lie; if Qin Sanyou ever came looking for her, she wouldn't technically have been deceptive.
As Qin Jiuye justified this to herself, the man in white fur sneered inwardly.
*To reveal one's family background in the Treasure Mirage Pavilion... this person must be a fool.*
Stroking his beard, he looked her up and down, noting her shabby attire, and gave an unkind huff.
"How I am addressed is none of your business."
"I meant no offense. I simply felt you looked kind and familiar, as if we had met once before." Qin Jiuye summoned the full strength of her thick skin, acting as if she couldn't see the disdain in his eyes. "I have heard that the Bai family of Jiugao are the Tea Kings of Longshu, and that the Second Master, Bai Xun, is a man of lofty aspirations. Seeing your broad vision and extraordinary aura today, I mistook you for him. If I have offended you, please do not hold it against me."
As soon as she said this, the man's expression changed instantly.
"You recognize me?"
The fish had taken the bait. Qin Jiuye beamed. "Could it truly be Brother Bai?"
The man could not hide his pride, though he still maintained an air of being bothered. "You have some modicum of insight. I came here in secret today; even if you recognized me, do not make a scene."
Qin Jiuye immediately adopted a furtive expression and nodded nervously.
This "Brother Bai" naturally had no idea that Qin Jiuye had recognized him the moment he entered the venue.
This Second Master of the Bai family claimed to hold no power, but behind the scenes, he had squandered a significant portion of the mountain of gold and silver the family had amassed. Ultimately, it was a bad habit enabled by his own kin. The eldest Bai brother was shrewd and capable, a natural businessman who had been raised at the old master's side. This Second Master, however, had fallen into a well due to a servant's negligence as a child, leaving him with a lingering illness. Consequently, he was kept by his grandmother's side to live as a pampered young master.
Logically, it was clear who would lead the Bai family in the future, and there was no need for a so-called "Second Master." However, all logic failed before the old matriarch's doting heart. She felt she owed the child she had raised, granting his every whim. When he said he wanted to manage the household alongside his brother, she agreed. She would have plucked the stars and moon for him if she could. Whenever he caused trouble, she personally stepped in to smooth things over. No one in the Bai family dared oppose the old matriarch, so they simply turned a blind eye.
Though Bai Xun was now in his thirties or forties, his conduct was no different from that of a mischievous child. While such a person was easy to approach, they were also the hardest to escape if they truly turned hostile.
In the past, Qin Jiuye would have stayed far away from someone like him. But today, she had watched a precious medicinal herb she had long coveted fall into the hands of a blockhead who knew nothing of pharmacology. She truly couldn't get over it. The mere thought of him stewing those priceless Wild Fragrance Seeds into a pot of virility-boosting soup made her heart bleed.
No matter what, she had to try for this opportunity.
"My friend and I truly didn't mean to gossip behind your back. I saw Brother Bai's generous bidding and assumed you were determined to obtain that item. It's just... there are some things I don't know if I should say..."
Seeing her play hard to get, the man became displeased. "You seemed quite adept at social climbing just now. Why are you suddenly hesitating?"
Qin Jiuye immediately looked as if she had a grievance she couldn't voice. She lowered her voice and said, "It's not that I'm unwilling to speak, but the rules of the underworld are what they are. While we're still within the bounds of the Treasure Mirage Pavilion, I cannot undermine their business."
Second Master Bai squinted at her, his tone suspicious. "What exactly do you know? Speak up. If you speak well, I'll reward you with silver."
Qin Jiuye quickly agreed, perfectly capturing the expression of someone blinded by greed. She then whispered, "Has Brother Bai heard of the decline and disappearance of the legendary Qu clan?"
Bai Xun nodded, acting as if he had "of course" heard of them. Qin Jiuye ignored the confusion in his eyes and continued.
"To be honest, my ancestors had some connection to the Qu clan. My great-grandfather once told me that the Qu family was proficient in pharmacology, skilled at researching secret formulas and refining miraculous medicines. Eventually, they even reached a level where they could communicate with ghosts and gods through their elixirs. Yet, such a gifted clan was ultimately ruined by those very formulas and medicines. Ancient records state that the Qu clan began to vanish after discovering a mysterious medicinal catalyst. Guess what it was?"
Second Master Bai was listening intently, his voice involuntarily dropping. "What was it?"
"That catalyst was the Wild Fragrance Seeds! After the Qu family came into contact with that medicine, their lineage was severed. Not only did they have no more children, but every member of the younger generation failed to live past thirty. They either died of incurable strange diseases or met with violent ends in foreign lands. Rumor has it some were haunted by unclean things and suffered so much that they eventually took their own lives to end the torment..."
Before she could finish the story, Bai Xun's face had already turned ghastly.
"Is... is this true?"
"Absolutely!" Qin Jiuye looked as if she were swearing to the heavens.
She wasn't entirely making it up; she was just adding some "flavor." The Wild Fragrance Seeds were indeed somewhat eerie. They were poisonous, but the nature of the toxin was unclear, and their origins were subject to many rumors, leaving plenty of room for speculation.
However, anyone who had worked in a pharmacy for a few years would know that the world is full of strange things. Mortal intellect is limited, and it takes time to understand and study them; one cannot know everything from the start. Moreover, eighty to ninety percent of things used in medicine possess some level of toxicity. Toxicity must be judged by dosage, urgency, and elemental interactions—one cannot simply label something "poison" and be done with it.
But Second Master Bai, of course, knew none of this.
He only knew that he might have been swindled—not only had he spent too much silver, but he had also bought a literal "hot potato."
After a frantic search, he tremblingly pulled the item he had just collected from the stone island out of his sleeve.
"Then what should be done? I've been carrying it all this way. Could I have already been tainted?"
Qin Jiuye stared at the unremarkable brocade pouch, struggling to control her emotions.
"If Brother Bai is willing, I can handle these Wild Fragrance Seeds for you. This was also my great-grandfather's deathbed wish—for my family to continue the righteous spirit of exorcising evil. Though I am a thousand times unwilling, I cannot disobey. Look at what I've turned into over the years because of this duty. *Sigh*, in the end, I'm paying for it with my life."
Bai Xun looked the woman up and down again. He felt that she was indeed sallow and thin, looking very much like someone who had suffered greatly.
"But didn't you say your ancestors were in the river trade?"
Qin Jiuye didn't blink. She waved her hand dismissively. "That was just a means to hide our identity. After all, in this day and age, how can one easily reveal their family's true foundation?"
In the current lands of Xiangliang, the landscape of the martial world was subtly tense, and the influence of Taoists and shamans was waning. In such an environment, being cautious was understandable.
Bai Xun nodded half-comprehendingly. Before he could say anything else, she pulled a coin purse from her person.
"It's just that I left in a hurry today and only have this much silver on me..." As she spoke, she awkwardly opened the dirty coin purse, revealing a few measly pieces of silver. "Of course, if Brother Bai is unwilling, I understand. It's just that this thing is quite sinister. Brother Bai, you must be very careful..."
She trailed off, leaving a void for his imagination to fill. When she looked up again, Bai Xun was indeed looking restless and irritable.
"It's not a matter of money. It's just that my father was angry with me recently, so I thought to buy something rare to appease him. If I give this to you, I won't be able to fulfill my task."
Qin Jiuye looked horrified and waved her hands repeatedly. "Then you definitely mustn't! Think about it carefully—if the old gentleman finds out these Wild Fragrance Seeds carry so many ill omens, wouldn't that be counterproductive? It might even ruin everything!"
The man was finally completely convinced. He nodded sincerely. "You have a point."
Qin Jiuye struck while the iron was hot. "Exactly. And this isn't the final round yet. There might be an even bigger highlight coming. You should save your bet for the end."
Sweating in his white fur coat, Second Master Bai slowly held out the brocade pouch.
"Fine. Let's do it that way."
Silver for goods—a simple process.
Yet, the goods in Bai Xun's hand just wouldn't drop.
Qin Jiuye stared at his slowly descending hand, wishing she could slap it to make him let go, but she could only watch with wide eyes.
Just as the pouch was about to touch her palm, the firelight in the center of the stone platform behind them flared up. Candles covered in wax beads were lit inside a giant clam shell, casting a pearl-like glow in the gloom. A commotion rippled through the crowd.
The final auction of the day at the Treasure Mirage Pavilion was about to begin.
A new set of torches burned brightly. Several servants carried an object the size of a tea table, covered with a thick cloth, onto the stone platform.
Bai Xun's gaze was naturally drawn toward it. In fact, everyone in the room was likely looking toward the platform now.
Except for Qin Jiuye.
Her gaze remained fixed on Bai Xun's hand, sweat nearly breaking out on her forehead. "Brother Bai, about this item..."
The brocade pouch jerked as his hand suddenly pulled it back. Second Master Bai's annoying voice rang out unhurriedly.
"Let me wait and see. If this last item doesn't catch my eye and I've already given the Wild Fragrance Seeds to you, wouldn't I be going back empty-handed?"
Qin Jiuye hadn't expected this. She didn't know if he truly intended this or if he was deliberately stalling.
She wanted to "remind" him again, but he already knew what she was going to say.
"As for what you said just now..." He leaned in close, speaking without reservation as if he already considered her one of his own. "I don't actually care if my old man or my brother lives or dies. You just need to ensure I stay safe. You have a way, don't you? Let's hear it."
Qin Jiuye stared at that face, which revealed a hint of malice beneath its naivety. She felt a wave of nausea and a shiver run through her.
This was truly like pulling a tooth from a tiger's mouth. Now that the tiger's paw was pressed down, she could neither advance nor retreat.
Her instinct was to flee from the man before her, but her reason told her she couldn't make it too obvious, or all her previous efforts would be in vain. As her mind raced with calculations, someone suddenly grabbed her basket from behind and pulled her backward.
"Careful."
Finding her footing, Qin Jiuye turned around and met Li Qiao's young, clean face.
The latter let go almost immediately and whispered in her ear, "There is demonic qi."
Qin Jiuye froze, momentarily unable to tell if he was still playing along with their act.
But her hesitation was unnecessary. Bai Xun didn't seem to have heard the remark at all; his interest had shifted entirely to the stone platform.
In the short time it took to burn half a stick of incense, the servants on the platform had positioned the object. The heavy velvet cloth was whipped away, revealing a square copper box beneath.
The vast Treasure Mirage Pavilion suddenly fell silent.
Belatedly, Qin Jiuye turned around. She saw the auctioneer submerge the clam shell containing the burning incense and candles into an ink pool. Then, with a voice full of vigor, he announced:
"A relic of Yuan Shuqing, Master of the Fangwai Abbey—a copper box engraved with cranes and rosetta patterns!"
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 杨远志 | Yang Yuanzhi | Qin Jiuye's pseudonym; Yuanzhi is the herb *Polygala tenuifolia*. |
| 九皋 | Jiugao | A place name. |
| 龙枢 | Longshu | A place name. |
| 白浔 | Bai Xun | Second Master of the Bai family. |
| 襄梁 | Xiangliang | The name of the land/region. |
| 方外观 | Fangwai Abbey | Lit. "Abbey of the External World" or "Beyond the World." |
| 元漱清 | Yuan Shuqing | The late Master of Fangwai Abbey. |
| 宝相花 | Rosetta pattern | A traditional Chinese decorative floral motif (Baoxiang flower). |
| 妖气 | Demonic qi | A supernatural aura or presence associated with demons or monsters. |
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