Upstairs, Jun Wu Yi glanced at his nephew, an amused smile tugging at his lips.
"Won't you go down?" He asked quietly.
Jun Mo Xie's eyes narrowed as he gazed toward the crowd below. "I feel that something isn't right."
"Oh?"
"That man has arrived," Jun Mo Xie said softly, his tone turning serious. "And he's brought someone with him. It's better if I don't invite unnecessary trouble. I'll move when it's necessary."
Jun Wu Yi's body tensed slightly, but his gaze remained calm.
Jun Mo Xie, however, chuckled. "Don't worry, Uncle. I trust Tang Yuan and Yang Mo can handle this. I'll only appear at the crucial moment."
Jun Wu Yi's lips curved in a knowing smile, though a crease formed on his forehead. "I fear that the knowledge of your strength will spread sooner or later. When it does... they'll all come to know."
Jun Mo Xie exhaled softly, nodding. "Which is why we must strengthen our Jun Family quickly to a point where no one dares provoke us, even if they know. In this world, true power isn't always the sword or the fist..."
His eyes glinted with a calculating light. "It's the kind that doesn't diminish — money."
Down below, the hall had turned lively once more.
Song Shang, the 'Wine God', had just finished extolling the wine's exceptional qualities before stepping aside, his tone full of reverence. Though his words couldn't match Jun Mo Xie's poetic charm, they were enough to stir the hearts of every guest.
No one wanted to leave now.
The air was thick with excitement, and the crowd seemed to pulse with anticipation.
Then, with a confident swagger, Tang Yuan stepped forward, his round figure practically radiating energy.
"The auction for the 'Heavenly Wine' formally begins!" He announced, his voice booming across the hall. "The base price for each bottle is ten thousand silver taels. The price can increase freely as there's no upper limit! But, as there's only a limited supply, each table may purchase no more than fifty bottles!"
He leaned closer to the crowd with a grin. "Of course, that means... some of you might not even get a single bottle!"
His teasing tone immediately set the room ablaze.
"May I ask what this auctioneer Tang meant by that?" Someone shouted impatiently.
Tang Yuan spread his arms wide, putting on an exaggerated sigh. "Ah... nothing mysterious! It's just that Mr. Song has spent his entire life traveling the mainland, collecting the finest ingredients, and brewing this masterpiece. He's poured his heart and soul, and all his materials into this single batch!"
He paused dramatically. "There won't be another."
For a moment, silence blanketed the hall.
And then, the room erupted into chaos.
"Only this one time!?"
The eyes of everyone in the hall widened, and their mouths fell open. Even those seated in the upper balconies leaned forward in shock.
That excellent wine would be gone forever after tonight?
It felt as though they were witnessing the extinction of a legend.
And every man present, noble or merchant, suddenly realized that they had to have it.
Everyone in the hall murmured in agreement.
"It must've been difficult to find the raw materials to ferment such a high-quality wine, right?" Someone whispered.
"Yes," Another nodded solemnly, "it's fair that there's only this one batch."
The air buzzed with excitement and regret.
The realization that this wine might never be brewed again added a heavy weight to every breath they took.
"Since it will only be this one batch... how many bottles are there in total?"
The clear, feminine voice rang out amidst the chatter. It belonged to Princess Ling Meng, her tone curious yet composed. She had never even tasted wine before, but even she couldn't resist asking.
Fatty Tang blinked at her for a moment, stunned that such a question came from her, before clearing his throat and replying, "The total number of wine bottles on auction is... three thousand."
He let the number hang dramatically in the air before continuing, "And no matter the price, my friends... wine such as this 'Heavenly Wine' appears only briefly in one's lifetime. Therefore, my humble suggestion—" his voice grew animated, "—just drink it! Even if it means it's gone forever!"
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
"Three thousand bottles...!" Someone exclaimed aloud, unable to contain their astonishment.
It was a grand number, almost absurdly large for something so rare. And yet, when one considered the sea of noble families, merchants, and royal guests present, that number suddenly felt pitifully small.
There were hundreds of attendees, and even at the fairest distribution, each could only hope for about thirty bottles at most.
But that was wishful thinking.
The front rows were dominated by the royal family and the Kingdom's most powerful houses.
None of them would be content with such a meager share. Each would surely fight tooth and nail to secure their fill, and they had the wealth to ensure it.
Even worse, behind them sat over a dozen great clans, their pride no less fierce. If each of them decided to bid aggressively, the top eight hundred bottles would vanish in an instant.
That would leave the remaining eighty or so families to claw over just twenty-two hundred bottles.
It didn't take a genius to see how brutal the bidding would be.
Those unable to secure even a single bottle would be doomed to a lifetime of regret.
The atmosphere shifted subtly, and the casual conversation faded, replaced by a silent tension that thickened the air.
Eyes gleamed with quiet determination, and some already reached for their fans, purses, and signets, ready to raise the stakes at the drop of a word.
'No matter the cost,' Many thought fiercely, 'I'll have a taste of that Heaven.'
Tang Yuan looked around the room, his round face glistening slightly under the bright chandeliers. Then, with a grin wide enough to split his cheeks, he lifted the gavel.
"Now we formally begin the auction!" He announced grandly. "The first batch consists of fifty bottles! And only one person can claim them all!"
His fat stomach wobbled as he spoke, his voice carrying the full weight of authority. This was his moment to shine. The hammer in his hand felt like the scepter of a king.
For a heartbeat, the room was silent.
"I bid one million taels for these fifty bottles!"
Suddenly, a voice cut through the air like thunder.
Dozens of heads snapped toward the source, and several people immediately groaned in disbelief.
"One million!?"
The first bid had doubled the base price!
A series of murmurs and curses followed in hushed tones.
"Arrogant fool," Some muttered under their breath.
"Does he want to ruin the bidding for the rest of us? The price will soar to the heavens at this rate!"
The man who had shouted slowly rose from his seat in the third row. He was dressed in a flowing blue gown that shimmered under the lights, the fabric rippling like the endless ocean itself.
For a moment, it felt as though a tide had swept through the hall.
The man smiled faintly, every movement deliberate and graceful.
"I am Hai Chen Feng," He said, his voice calm yet resonant, "leader of Tian Xiang City's Jin Yang Gang. I have always loved wine. Therefore, I wish to covet the 'Heavenly Wine'. In fact, I don't think one million silver taels is too large an amount for this wine. I ask anyone I might have offended... to forgive me."
A murmur of recognition and surprise spread instantly.
The name 'Hai Chen Feng' carried weight in the city.
Not long ago, the Jin Yang Gang, Tian Xiang's largest underworld faction, had been in turmoil after its former leader's disappearance. Rumors of a new leader had circulated, but few had seen him in person.
And now, here he was.
Hai Chen Feng's calm, commanding aura wasn't something an ordinary man could muster. His presence filled the space effortlessly, and with a single bid, he had achieved more than just purchasing wine; he had made a statement.
Jun Mo Xie, watching from above, allowed himself a faint smile.
This was all part of the plan.
Hai Chen Feng wasn't just here to bid. He was here as a shield, a distraction, a reliable ally to draw the eyes and heat of the crowd.
And true to form, he had taken the first volley of criticism without flinching.
But beyond that, Hai Chen Feng had his own motives. By standing up in such a public, high-class event, he was announcing that the Jin Yang Gang had officially stepped out from the shadows and into the light of Tian Xiang's elite.
That the underworld's king was no longer hiding beneath the streets.
The ripples were immediate.
The three princes exchanged looks, and the representatives of every great family leaned forward. Even the nobles upstairs whispered to each other in surprise.
Everyone in Tian Xiang had heard that the Jin Yang Gang had changed leadership.
But none had expected the mysterious new leader to be a Sky Xuan expert.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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