He Lingchuan turned to look at who had just spoken.

It was a man with an impressive bearing and a fine face, though what came out of his mouth was less agreeable. His companion had a broad face, large ears, and bright eyes. At once, that companion tugged at his sleeve. “Hey.” What are you blurting out such blunt truths for?

The attendant, to his credit, was clearly used to larger scenes than this. His smile never shifted as he said, “It really does come down to both discernment and luck. With this display case, one truly is panning for gold in the sand.”

He Lingchuan continued along the row of cases one by one. Suddenly, the divine bone amulet gave him a sharp burn.

So it’s in this case?

He was just about to stop when the Soul-Stealing Mirror in his robes abruptly warned him, “Someone’s been watching you the whole time.”

He Lingchuan was startled, but he kept walking without pause and lowered his voice. “Who?”

“Standing behind you by the display case. The one with the green sash around his waist.”

He Lingchuan was not foolish enough to turn around immediately.

“And the other one is the attendant,” the mirror added. “The one standing by that display case. Ever since you came near these unknown curiosities, he’s been watching you.”

He Lingchuan made a wide circuit and slowly strolled back as though still browsing.

With the eyesight he had now, a single sweep of his gaze was all it took to identify both men that the mirror had.

The one with the green sash clearly had some cultivation. The instant he noticed He Lingchuan’s glance sliding over him, he immediately turned away and avoided eye contact.

As for the attendant by the case, he kept smiling and did not shy away from He Lingchuan’s gaze at all. At that moment, another guest stepped up with a question, and the attendant began explaining the items to them in a highly practiced manner.

“This whole case comes from a long-time seller of Dun Garden who recently cleared out a batch of things. The prices are quite reasonable. Consider it a little extra fun added to the auction, and a chance for everyone to try their luck.”

The moment he spoke, He Lingchuan stopped naturally to listen.

The gesture was not conspicuous because many other onlookers had done the same.

The gentleman who had complained earlier about the low odds of finding anything good also drifted over and pointed to one item in the case.

“Take that one out for me to see.”

It was something like a horn, over half a meter long, tapering to a very sharp point, sharp enough to be used as a weapon. The instant the attendant lifted it out, the divine bone amulet burned He Lingchuan twice.

Twice? Is that the item it wants?

He Lingchuan studied it carefully. Its surface had a sheen like turtle shell, while the broken end was rough and uneven, as if it had been forcibly snapped off.

Is it the horn of some creature? He could not tell for certain.

But it gleamed with a rich oily gold, obviously very well maintained, utterly unlike the dusty and weathered appearance of the other objects in the case.

The complaining guest was asked to put on gloves before handling it.

He turned it over a couple of times and murmured, “Not bad. I could use this.”

His companion asked curiously, “What would you do with it?”

“I happen to need a horn.” The complaining guest glanced at the opening price. “And look, it doesn’t start that high. Only three taels of silver. When’s it being auctioned?”

The attendant smiled. “In a quarter of an hour, at the Heavenly Rain Tower. It’s item number 1,111.”

As he said it, he flicked He Lingchuan the briefest glance.

Why does it feel like he said that specifically for me to hear? He Lingchuan rubbed his nose.

The companion shook his head. “You could buy an ox horn outside for less than three-tenths of a tael, couldn’t you?”

“But this is an unknown curiosity.” The complaining guest chuckled. “What if I strike it rich?”

He Lingchuan left as soon as he heard that.

Now that he knew people were watching him, no matter what the divine bone amulet wanted, he could not linger.

A few times on the way, he turned casually, and the Soul-Stealing Mirror told him, “Those two are still standing by the display case. They didn’t follow you.”

Could it be that they’re there to simply keep an eye on the case rather than specifically keeping an eye on me?

He Lingchuan shook his head. He could not make sense of it.

For now, he needed to take care of Li Qingge’s request first.

Passing an open terrace, he discovered that Dun Garden had thoughtfully prepared a selection of finely made masks for its guests. Some covered half the face, some the entire face, and anyone was free to take one.

Some distinguished guests might bid successfully on an item without wanting others to know they had done so. A mask solved that concern neatly enough.

He Lingchuan casually picked up a half-mask woven with gold thread for later use, then entered the Western Second Side Chamber.

The items displayed there were all arms and armor. Some shimmered with treasure light, and their quality did not seem inferior to his Rising Dragon spear in the slightest.

Among the exhibits were also more than a dozen sabers and swords with flood-dragon-head fittings, each labeled with its provenance. They had clearly all come from famous craftsmen or artisans. Some were inlaid with gold and set with jade, far more exquisite than his Fleeting Life.

Seeing them, He Lingchuan finally understood why Fushan Yue had not grown suspicious of the saber he had after witnessing the second scene at the Qianxing City ruins.

Dragon-heads and yazi-heads were among the most common decorative motifs for blades.

The most outrageous item in the room was a full suit of gold mountain-patterned armor. Every golden plate had been shaped to resemble the character “山 (mountain)” and polished until it shone brilliantly, dazzling the eye from a distance. He Lingchuan had read the description accompanying the armor: the plates were linked with merfolk silk and set with pearls, giant clam shells, jade beads, and other materials forming an array that granted lightness, cleanliness, exceptional durability, and resistance to water and fire.

In other words, it had an automatic self-cleaning function. Even after wearing it a few times, there would be no need to wash it.

An armor set this extravagant was obviously not meant for battle. If it could dazzle He Lingchuan from this far away, then on a battlefield it would serve perfectly well to blind the enemy too. Whoever wore it would become a shining target.

In other words, it was ceremonial armor, something to be worn at court rituals, military reviews, and grand ceremonies to magnify the wearer’s authority and splendor.

Its ostentatious glitter at once reminded He Lingchuan of the Night-Illuminating Spirit Deer that Bai Ziqi rode.

The more a place gathered the rich and powerful, the more it pursued extravagance and beauty in every aspect of living. He Lingchuan glanced at the listed price and, well, yes—just as expected, he could not afford it.

Then he turned his head and spotted the task Li Qingge had assigned him.

She had already warned him it would be an acquaintance, so He Lingchuan did not let the surprise show on his face, but he was inwardly genuinely shaken.

Yes, this was an acquaintance. An acquaintance from the battlefield—

Nian Zanli!

He Lingchuan had never imagined that he would run into the one who was once the Grand General of the Northern Campaign of Yuan, now Provincial Governor of Xun Province, in a place like this.

After more than half a year, Nian Zanli looked even gaunter than before, his cheekbones sharper, his eyes more shadowed. He was examining the auction items alone, with only a single guard following behind him.

He Lingchuan remembered the unexpected outcome of the Battle of Han River and thought that it must have dealt Nian Zanli a heavy blow.

At that moment, several aristocrats passed through the side chamber, all attended in grand style. Nian Zanli forced a smile and greeted them, but they merely nodded in return, not even sparing him an extra glance.

He seemed accustomed to it by now. He showed neither anger nor resentment, but simply turned back to continue looking over the items.

Just from his back alone, He Lingchuan could sense how out of place he was.

So the former Grand General of the Northern Campaign isn’t faring particularly well in Lingxu City, eh?

Back then, when he sent his son Nian Songyu to Heishui City with Sun Fuping, he had put on all the airs he pleased and lorded it over He Chunhua and his sons. Yet now, in a foreign place, he looked so desolate.

Times truly had changed. What a thing to sigh over.

Then again, he had defected to Beijia of his own accord; Lingxu City had not actively recruited him. Though he eventually reported military merit, most of his elite troops had been devastated in the Battle of Han River.

He was nothing but a surrendered general without elite soldiers under his command. Why would talented men in abundance, like those of Beijia, hold him in high regard?

Li Qingge actually wants me to approach him?

He Lingchuan thought for a moment, saw that Nian Zanli appeared to be studying a matched pair of sabers, or perhaps simply lost in thought, and went straight up to him. “These blades pursue beauty of form too much. The thickness is poorly distributed. They wouldn’t actually be much use.”

The blade had been polished until it gleamed like autumn water. The hilt was gilded and set with three turquoise stones. At first glance, the shape looked perfect, but in the eyes of a seasoned hand like He Lingchuan’s, at least three places were too thin. The edge would be prone to snapping when striking hard bone.

As execution blades, they were unsuitable.

Nian Zanli glanced at him and nodded.

“Fine to look at, but useless in practice. On a battlefield, they’re nothing but a joke.”

He Lingchuan smiled and said, “If Dun Garden’s auction is all like this, I’ll be deeply disappointed.”

He placed particular emphasis on the word “I,” and sure enough, Nian Zanli followed the lead. “And who might you be, sir?”

“My name is He Xiao. I serve as an adviser to the Crown Prince of Chiyan.”

Nian Zanli responded at once, “Impressive accomplishments at such a young age.”

He had not yet heard the name “He Xiao,” but he did know that Chiyan had only recently established its crown prince. The young man before him looked no older than seventeen or eighteen, yet he was already an adviser in the household of a vassal monster state’s crown prince. His prospects were excellent.

He Lingchuan returned the courtesy with a question of his own, “And may I ask who you are, sir?”

“My surname is Nian. I am the Provincial Governor of Xun Province.” Nian Zanli studied him for another moment, then suddenly said, “You look somewhat familiar. Have we met somewhere before?”

Of course they had.

During the rainstorm on the Han River, they had been mortal enemies.

However, He Lingchuan did not flinch in the least. He merely smiled and said, “This is my first time meeting the General.”

Even counting this time, he and Nian Zanli had met only twice.

The first time had been on a night darker than most others, under torrential rain, amid the chaos of battle on a field of tens of thousands. His own face at the time had been caked with mud and blood. Under those conditions, how could Nian Zanli possibly have seen his features clearly?

The fact that he could say only, “You look a bit familiar,” already spoke well of his eyesight.

Sure enough, Nian Zanli nodded and addressed the man who had killed his son with perfect courtesy, “Then I must have been mistaken.”

At that moment, Fushan Yue happened to come in from the back hall. The instant he saw He Lingchuan, he called out, “How’d you end up over here?”

He Lingchuan at once introduced Nian Zanli. “This is the Provincial Governor of Xun Province, General Nian.”

Xun Province had only recently surrendered, and Fushan Yue had not immediately recalled who this Provincial Governor of Xun Province was supposed to be. So he merely inclined his head politely.

He Lingchuan then introduced Fushan Yue in turn.

Once Nian Zanli heard that the man before him was the Crown Prince of Chiyan, his own manner grew more serious as well.

Only then did He Lingchuan answer the question Fushan Yue had asked earlier. “I was looking for a suitable inner armor. The one I had before was ruined fighting Fan Sheng and Fan Bao.”

“Found anything?”

He Lingchuan shook his head. “I’ve seen a few sets, but they’re too extravagant.”

He did not mind extravagance in appearance. It was the extravagance of the price that posed the real problem.

Fushan Yue laughed. “That’s always Dun Garden’s style.”

Nian Zanli’s expression shifted slightly. “This Fan Sheng you mentioned, is he the deputy commander of the Tongxin Guard?”

“He is. Does General Nian know him?”

Nian Zanli nodded. “I happened to run into him two days ago.”

Fushan Yue could not help laughing. “Have the scabs on his face fallen off yet?”

“Uh... more or less healed, I suppose.” It was just that his complexion now had red patches and pale patches, and the color was rather uneven.

Pointing at He Lingchuan, Fushan Yue said, “Fan Sheng and Fan Bao tried to ambush him once and failed. Then Fan Sheng went after him a second time, only to end up forced face-down in the water. The marks all over his face were wounds from flesh-eating fish gnawing on him.”

Nian Zanli was visibly moved. When he looked at He Lingchuan again, there was clear surprise in his eyes.

“So, Brother He isn’t merely an adviser, but actually capable of defeating Deputy Commander Fan? Truly, the younger generation is to be feared.”