Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: A Record-Breaking Bid
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“Wh-what did you just say...?”
“Five thousand? Did he say five thousand taels?”
“This is world-shaking. Did I really hear that right?”
No treasure had ever fetched more than a thousand taels so far.
And now five times that amount? Was such a thing even possible?
The staggering bid left everyone doubting their own ears in shock.
Even the Moonlight Host overseeing the auction gaped in astonishment, her jaw practically unhinging. One could only imagine the look of surprise behind her mask.
To be safe, she cleared her throat and asked again.
“You did say five thousand gold taels, not silver, correct?”
“That's right.”
Moonlight's face lit up with a beaming smile at Hyeok Mulin's firm confirmation, drawing fresh gasps of awe from the crowd.
“Isn't that the guy who snagged those trivial curios and that worthless ice technique earlier?”
“I didn't pay him much mind since he only took junk, but to think he had that kind of money...”
“Five thousand gold taels for a single martial arts manual—who the hell is this noble?”
The spectators marveled at Hyeok Mulin, clicking their tongues in admiration.
But unlike them, one woman stared at him with eyes wide as saucers, boring into him intently.
Her eyes bulged so much that the red veins were visible. She was the very woman who had been on the verge of winning the Blood Harmony Divine Skill for three thousand five hundred taels just moments ago.
“Five thousand gold taels! Going once! Any higher bids?”
“...Five thousand five hundred.”
Moonlight called out loudly, and the woman clenched her teeth, raising the bid by five hundred taels.
But it was short-lived. Hyeok Mulin countered immediately.
“Six thousand.”
“...!”
“...!”
“...!”
The bids climbed in fiery increments of five hundred taels each.
The absurd spectacle had everyone buzzing with excitement, wondering where this auction showdown would end.
Hyeok Mulin's matching raise felt like a brazen declaration of war, daring her to step up.
The woman trembled with rage, shooting him a venomous glare full of resentment.
Hyeok Mulin casually averted his eyes and stared straight ahead.
Serves you right for butting into the Frost White Divorce Manual.
He had a rough idea of who she was.
No individual could prepare a sum exceeding five thousand gold taels.
It had to be an organization.
An organization desperate enough to stake everything on the Blood Harmony Divine Skill.
And if he hadn't intervened, there was only one group that would have claimed it cleanly.
Definitely the Blood Heaven Divine Palace.
Hyeok Mulin had no real ties with them.
No connections, friendly or hostile—just a fleeting encounter, nothing worth harboring grudges over.
Yet this woman from the Blood Heaven Divine Palace had bid on the Frost White Divorce Manual despite no real intent to take it, so Hyeok Mulin had jumped in to pay her back in kind.
Can't let her have all the fun messing with me.
Time for her to feel what it was like.
Though unlike the manual, the stakes here were considerably higher.
What if it actually goes through?
No problem.
No matter the price, he could resell it to the Blood Heaven Divine Palace later for more than its worth.
So for Hyeok Mulin, it wasn't about winning the bid—it was about giving back more than he got.
“Six thousand five hundred taels...”
The woman's voice quivered as she upped the bid.
But what could she do?
Time to learn the world wasn't so forgiving.
“Seven thousand.”
“...Seven thousand five hundred.”
“Eight thousand.”
“...Eight thousand five hundred.”
“Nine thousand.”
The bids soared to the heavens, leaving onlookers beyond shock—verging on fainting.
How far would this battle go?
While Hyeok Mulin remained utterly calm, the woman at the center was dying inside.
As he dragged it to nine thousand, her funds hit their limit—she couldn't keep up.
Unlike before, she raised it by a mere hundred taels.
“Nine thousand one hundred.”
“Nine thousand nine hundred.”
But Hyeok Mulin fired back provocatively.
As if telling her to empty her pockets completely.
The woman looked ready to burst into tears, her voice choked and trembling as she made her final bid.
“T-ten... ten thousand...”
“Ten thousand!”
“They can wield ten thousand gold taels!”
“For one martial arts manual...!”
Her eyes pleaded desperately—part despair, part resentment, part a silent beg to stop—as they fixed on Hyeok Mulin.
What to do?
One more push, and it'd be his.
From her demeanor, ten thousand seemed her absolute limit.
He could snatch it and flip it later, but...
No need to go that far.
She hadn't chased the Frost White Divorce Manual to the end either.
Time to stop here.
Hyeok Mulin dropped out, saying nothing more.
Moonlight glanced his way before shouting.
“Ten thousand! Ten thousand! Ten thousand taels! No further bids?”
The auction house fell silent despite her fervent call. Finally, Moonlight grinned ear to ear and declared.
“Congratulations! Sold for ten thousand gold taels—the highest bid in Full Moon Underground Auction history!”
To sell a single manual for ten thousand taels.
Moonlight clapped wildly, unsure if it was a dream or reality.
The auction wrapped up amid cheers from the thrilled crowd who had watched to the end.
I'm insane! Utterly insane!
Most of the crowd had left the auction house.
Yet Yeon Jeokhwa, the young mistress of the Blood Heaven Divine Palace, remained seated, thumping her own head repeatedly.
To blow ten thousand taels in one go at an auction.
Until yesterday, it was something she couldn't even dream of.
And yet it had happened.
If not for that lunatic, I could've had it for three thousand five hundred!
Her hands and feet still shook uncontrollably.
It was nearly hers when suddenly a man barged in, jacking the price sky-high.
Why the sudden interest in that Frost Stone whatever manual...!
She could guess why he'd crashed in and sabotaged her.
Probably payback for her raising the price on the manual he wanted and then backing off.
But how was she supposed to know the guy buying junk instruments and crappy ice arts had that much cash?
Spilled milk—she couldn't take it back now.
All that remained was the fact that she'd shelled out a whopping ten thousand taels for the Blood Harmony Divine Skill.
“Young mistress, no need to be so downhearted. You still achieved your goal of recovering the Blood Harmony Divine Skill.”
Her escort tried to console her, and Yeon Jeokhwa barely nodded, forcing down her frustration.
Fine... At least I got it. Dodged the worst.
If he'd raised it by even a single coin more, she'd have lost it. Luckily, he stopped.
A pyrrhic victory, but a victory nonetheless—small mercy. Yeon Jeokhwa rose from her seat.
She stepped to the front platform and handed over ten bills stamped for a thousand gold taels each to the Full Moon Merchant House owner.
The owner meticulously checked the bills before carefully passing her the bloodstained martial arts manual.
Finally...!
So much had happened.
Through trials and tribulations, she'd secured the Blood Demon's ultimate technique.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she clutched the book tightly before tucking it safely into her bosom.
As she hurried to leave with her escort, a man caught her eye.
He was examining his auction winnings—the very face she loathed. Instinctively, she whipped her head away.
But a moment later, fury boiled up.
Why the hell was she avoiding him?
She'd only raised his obscure manual by a hundred taels, and yet she'd ended up spending thousands more.
The math didn't add up at all.
Incensed, she spun on her heel and stormed toward him.
“Hm?”
The masked man sensed her approach and turned to look.
Yeon Jeokhwa marched up, eyes blazing with fury as she glared daggers.
“Did you get everything you wanted?”
“Well, you could say that.”
Hyeok Mulin nodded indifferently at her words.
The curios for Yagul So-ha and the unexpectedly found Heavenly Pure Brush were ample gains.
And on top of that, he'd secured the Frost White Divorce Manual, his original target.
He'd exceeded his goals coming here.
“Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me—us—because of you?”
The Blood Heaven Divine Palace had given her ten thousand just in case, never expecting it'd all vanish.
Having blown way past estimates, even recovering the manual wouldn't save her from severe reprimand back home.
As a newly appointed young mistress, this was a massive burden.
“Do I need to?”
Hyeok Mulin replied nonchalantly.
Was it his business?
If she was so desperate, she should've focused on her own prize instead of eyeing his.
“You shameless bastard...!”
“Then don't butt into my bids next time. Be honest—did you really want that Frost Stone Manual?”
“Th-that's...!”
Yeon Jeokhwa clamped her mouth shut at Hyeok Mulin's words, words failing her.
Who could've predicted a moment's whim would blow up like this?
Honestly, she had nothing to say.
“I'll etch today's humiliation into my heart.”
“Do as you like.”
She shot him one last glare before whirling away and storming out.
Watching her go, Cho Sahyeon spoke from beside him.
“Shall I investigate and track her down?”
“No need.”
He'd cross paths with her again soon enough.
Hyeok Mulin smirked in the direction she'd vanished, then turned.
“Let's head back.”