"The person below is quite good, very good at stirring up the crowd. Is he one of yours?" Lin Yan inquired. With his capabilities, he didn't seem like an ordinary storyteller.
"As expected, nothing can be hidden from you, Yan'er! We have to make sure people control public opinion in the direction we've set," Qin Cong said with a smile. "But Yan'er, when can I go to Lishan to propose? The betrothal gifts and ceremonies alone will take over a year!"
"With our great cause unfinished, how can we start a family? Brother Qin seems too preoccupied with romance!" Lin Yan looked at Qin Cong with a half-smile, forcing him to avert his gaze.
"Ahem! It's not that I'm preoccupied with romance, but I want to be able to take care of you legitimately as soon as possible."
"That sounds nice, but now is truly not the time. After all, we can't shift everyone's attention back to us. If people know that the daughter of the Lishan Sword Sect's sect leader is marrying into the royal family, Lishan will undoubtedly become a target." So, don't even think about wedding preparations so soon. In this world, seventeen or eighteen years old might be considered old for marriage in official families, but not in the martial world. In modern times, they would still be in school! How could they possibly get married so early!
"Alright then!" Qin Cong said with a hint of grievance. He wasn't particularly impatient, but his imperial brother and mother were constantly urging him to hasten the engagement and marriage. Of course, he also wanted to marry soon. However, he knew that Lin Yan would not agree so quickly.
Invitations to the auction were sent out one by one. At the same time, these invitations also appeared in the black market, and each time one surfaced, it was bought at a high price. No one knew how many invitations there were in total, nor how many rivals they would have.
Thus, the commotion surrounding the invitations continued for several days. The profits reaped by Ting Feng Lou were all funneled into the Emperor's private treasury. The Emperor had been in a very good mood during this period, as anyone would be happy to suddenly acquire a large sum of money. He could finally repair and expand some of his palaces. His father had left him a mess, and after seven or eight years on the throne, he still hadn't managed to fill the national treasury. If not for Lin Yan's ideas in the past couple of years, he wouldn't have even had funds for disaster relief. But now, the national treasury was full, and his private treasury was also replenished. He no longer had to cut back on palace expenses. These martial artists were truly wealthy! If their income were truly incorporated into taxation, as Lin Yan suggested, then agricultural taxes could be reduced further!
The auction was held in a small town. However, the town's residents had all been relocated, and now all the inhabitants were subordinates of Ting Feng Lou. All the civilian residences were open to the martial world participants. This also served as accommodation, though food here had to be paid for, but the cost was minimal, only covering the cost of materials. Efforts were made to provide convenience for these martial artists. However, some individuals were also under close scrutiny, such as the flower-picking bandit who had committed countless crimes, and the poison girl who casually poisoned people. But this was on Ting Feng Lou's territory, so they could only let them be for now. Still, they wouldn't be able to act so brazenly for much longer.
Two days before the auction, the town, which had been somewhat deserted, began to liven up. Streams of martial artists filled the small town. By the day before the auction, even more influential figures in the martial world arrived. However, they didn't stay in the town but set up camp outside.
Lin Yan and Qin Cong did not attend this auction; instead, Qin Cong's deputy presided over it. When the auction began, the entire town fell silent. Countless rare treasures were announced as if they were worthless, but in the end, they were all acquired by some of the major sects. After all, no individual, no matter how wealthy, could contend with an entire sect. Consequently, the three map fragments possessed by Ting Feng Lou fell into the hands of the largest sects in the martial world. However, the sect leaders didn't seem to think it was a problem that other fragments were not in their possession. They seemed to have already discussed the ownership of these map fragments. This way, with each possessing fragments, they could jointly seek out Meng Zhang's tomb and share the treasure. Although they all had their own agendas, they understood that none of them could secure the treasure alone.
"Next, we have information regarding the remaining two map fragments, which will also be auctioned. The highest bidder wins. Ting Feng Lou guarantees the accuracy of the information!" As soon as the person on stage finished speaking, the crowd below erupted in excitement again. After all, even if they couldn't buy the map, they could still try to obtain the information. "These two pieces of information will be sold by Ting Feng Lou in ten installments, and Ting Feng Lou can guarantee the safety of those who purchase the information!" Hearing this, people below showed eager expressions. The host on stage couldn't help but smile. These people were all money! They were trading some not particularly valuable glazed pottery and some good-looking but useless elixirs for so much gold and silver. This business was truly profitable!
After the auction concluded and the numerous martial artists departed, the members of Ting Feng Lou began to tally their gains, and smiles appeared on everyone's faces. After all, the boss had said that twenty percent would be directly distributed to them as hard work fees. The remaining money would be transported to the border as military expenses. They hoped for more such easily acquired wealth!
The five map fragments were successfully pieced together as Lin Yan had anticipated. However, the process was incredibly difficult, as the remaining two map fragments were in the hands of two notorious villains who had been famous for a long time. Lin Yan and his group had to put in considerable effort to deliver these two fragments to them. But it was all worth it. Those two individuals were no longer alive. Lin Yan no longer paid attention to news about the tomb, as it had become a grand event for the major sects, unrelated to the other minor figures in the martial world. Furthermore, Lin Yan had placed this tomb on an island overseas. Once they all sailed out to sea, more could be done in the martial world. Ting Feng Lou's hidden branches were all mobilized, and they began to apprehend martial artists who were wanted. However, all of this was done in secret. While everyone was still discussing the auction and Meng Zhang's tomb, these villains had their martial arts crippled and were thrown into special prisons.
"Yan'er, do we really have to publicly execute them?" Qin Cong worried that this would provoke resentment from the martial world and ignite their rebellious spirit.
"These individuals must be dealt with in front of everyone, so as to deter other petty criminals. Don't be afraid that they will band together. These people are just a pile of loose sand. Those who can truly unite have gone to the island, or are currently watching the island. If these people could truly unite, they wouldn't have been captured!" Lin Yan scoffed. It wasn't that she looked down on them, but how strong could those who preyed on the weak truly be!