Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Auction House (2)
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Inner disciple of the Radiant Moon Sect, Jang Yeong-ok, was in a good mood for the first time in ages.
It wasn't because of the disciples fawning over him nearby, nor because he'd bought a plaything to lure in a female disciple.
He simply felt great leisurely strolling out through the sect gate.
The inner and outer disciples trailing behind him chattered away, reading his expression like sycophants.
"Senior Brother Jang, you look like you're in high spirits. Coming out here really hits different, doesn't it? The sect feels so stuffy."
"The sect's way too cramped. Thanks to you, Senior Brother Jang, we get to head out. This is great."
"Senior Brother Jang! Senior Brother Jang! Check this out! It's only one copper coin!"
Yeong-ok averted his gaze from his pathetic followers.
Guys who wouldn't get much respect in the Radiant Moon Sect without him. Still, he enjoyed their attention and adoration, so he kept them around. They'd gained plenty of benefits thanks to him, too.
As for the real reason he felt so good now that they were out...
It was because he hated rubbing shoulders with that detestable guy back in the sect.
That guy being Jang I-bo, the Single Spiritual Root bearer from the Jang family. An inner disciple of the Radiant Moon Sect and Yeong-ok's cousin.
Both were in the Gathering Qi Realm at around the same age. One was the main family's heir, the patriarch's son; the other a lowborn from a secular branch family.
Their conditions were similar enough to invite easy comparisons, beyond their status.
Normally, Yeong-ok—the patriarch's son—would have been highly praised, overshadowing the branch family's lowly spawn, drawing all the attention and growing strong under the spotlight.
But the problem was that this branch family lowborn had been born with the exceptional talent of a Single Spiritual Root.
He trained better, advanced realms faster, and had a brighter future ahead. Yeong-ok, who had nothing but his status, suffered all the more by comparison.
Thus, Yeong-ok had always lived suppressed by I-bo.
Even though Yeong-ok was the patriarch's son and I-bo just a branch family kid, the clan valued I-bo more.
Yeong-ok always yearned to catch his father's eye.
He struggled desperately for it.
Each breakthrough in the Response Qi Realm, he hoped for a single word of praise from his father. But his father's gaze was always fixed on I-bo, who was always a step ahead.
Whenever Yeong-ok advanced one stage, I-bo leaped one and a half.
'That branch family lowborn brat. Stealing all the attention that should be mine?'
But he couldn't show it.
"You branch family lowborn brat. This is the main house—you've got no business strutting around here. Get lost back to the secular world where you belong."
Just calmly saying that had gotten him beaten black and blue by his father until he thought he'd die—a memory still vivid as ever.
Thwack! Thwack!
"You,"
Thud!
"dare,"
Thwack! Thwack!
"to,"
Thwack!
"block,"
Thwack!
"the clan's future?"
Thwack!
"Hmph. Consider yourself lucky it ended here. Never treat that child like that again."
His father, the Jang family patriarch, had said that while beating Yeong-ok mercilessly.
Yeong-ok had to recuperate for a full month after that thrashing. His father had struck so viciously that even a month later, he could barely walk properly.
His mother wasn't particularly affectionate toward him either.
She'd chat idly when he paid formal respects, but she never protested his father's harsh punishments. As if discipline wasn't her concern.
Still, Yeong-ok grew up resilient.
The prestige of the Jang name and his status as the patriarch's son were incredibly useful. They made befriending people and operating in the sect far easier.
So Yeong-ok loved his clan—as much as it benefited him.
'That branch family lowborn has decent talent anyway, and he's useful to the clan, so best not touch him.'
With that mindset, the grown Yeong-ok kept a distant, indifferent relationship with the Single Spiritual Root bearer I-bo.
I-bo treated Yeong-ok like the patriarch's son should be treated, and Yeong-ok treated I-bo like any other clansman. In other words, neither gave a damn about the other.
And that had continued to this day.
Until they both became inner disciples of the Radiant Moon Sect.
I-bo became the last direct disciple of Jeolji Peak's Peak Lord and lived large, while Yeong-ok remained a nominal disciple under a Jeolji Peak elder, continuing his cultivation.
When they occasionally crossed paths from afar, they regarded each other with indifferent eyes.
I-bo might have thought whatever of him, but inside, Yeong-ok burned with jealous flames.
'If only I'd become a direct disciple under Gold Elder in late Core Formation... Would I have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with that branch family lowborn?'
All pointless what-ifs.
Soon enough, Yeong-ok himself would become a direct disciple under an elder, inheriting all duties.
"Senior Brother Jang, what do you plan to bid on at this auction?"
"The elders want Warm Yang Herb, so we'll snag that. And if there's a decent dharma tool, we could pick one up too."
"As expected of Senior Brother—straight to the point. With the Jang family's funds, you can easily afford the Warm Yang Herb."
His followers clapped and cheered over nothing. Yeong-ok found it pathetic but couldn't hide his inner satisfaction.
The reason for Yeong-ok's outing this time was the auction hosted by the Ten Lakes Merchant Guild.
Even if it was run by ruffians without proper permits, dodging taxes to the three great sects, if the items were exceptional, people flocked there.
Yeong-ok had no qualms.
His reputation was already that of someone who did whatever he pleased. Visiting a shady underground auction wouldn't tarnish it further.
The handsome inner disciple who did as he liked—that was Jang Yeong-ok.
That was the image he'd built in the Radiant Moon Sect.
And it was awfully convenient.
"Heard about it? Senior Brother Jang toyed with another female disciple, but she apparently loved it."
"That's just Senior Brother Jang for you. How many scandals has he had?"
No matter the scandal, it was excused as "that's just Senior Brother Jang."
So Yeong-ok had no intention of hiding his face at the underground auction.
Even if he showed himself and people saw Jang Yeong-ok there, no one would point fingers.
Thus, he entered the auction hall boldly.
Showing off the handsome face he was so proud of.
Yeong-ok figured no one there would be as unique as him.
Showing his face openly at an underground auction, and a handsome one at that.
He awaited the stares headed his way...
But who the hell is that guy?
Wearing such a bizarre jade mask?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The jade-masked Jade Face Young Noble,
Yuk-gyeong found the auction house unfamiliar.
Even in his previous life, he'd lived far removed from auctions.
Fancy art auctions? He was an unemployed bum scraping by on instant ramen.
Fish or meat markets? A country bumpkin from Seoul who could barely handle live fish barehanded.
So Yuk-gyeong glanced around inconspicuously from under his mask and sat in an empty seat.
What first caught his eye was the platform right in view from the seats—clearly where items would appear and bidding commence.
And in front of it... wooden chairs like the one he sat in.
The auction hall, divided like a stage and audience, held nothing particularly special.
Yuk-gyeong then observed the incoming crowd.
Most wore veils, silk scarves over their faces, or crude masks to hide their features.
They all concealed their looks similarly, but none had a full-on disguise like his jade mask. Theirs seemed half-hearted.
Thus, Yuk-gyeong—with his intricately carved jade mask and cloth wrapping everything else—stood out unavoidably.
"Why go that far? What's with the jade mask?"
"Right? It's tacitly allowed in Ten Lakes—could've just thrown on something basic."
"Maybe a truly vicious fiend. Can't show his face."
He ignored the surrounding murmurs.
I'm the Jade Face Young Noble, a ruthless demonic cultivator. I don't care about stares.
Jade Face Young Noble Yi Yuk-gyeong fixed his gaze on the platform, trying to act unfazed.
Is the jade mask too flashy? Should've grabbed any old mask. All because I wanted to switch up my identity for fun.
Still, outwardly, Yuk-gyeong perfectly embodied the ruthless demonic cultivator Jade Face Young Noble.
'I was gonna be a demonic cultivator anyway. A ruthless fiend! At least while masked, why not play the part?'
Playing a Radiant Moon Sect disciple was convenient in many ways but required minding his manners.
A demonic cultivator had no such constraints.
In that sense, the Jade Face Young Noble persona was incredibly handy.
Free to attend places like this underground auction, too.
Yuk-gyeong settled comfortably, awaiting the start.
Then, a man in dark robes and a half-mask appeared on the platform.
He stood adeptly before the crowd and spoke.
"The auction will now begin."