Chapter 706: Chapter 703 Master Is Also Impressed

Huo Sining chuckled lightly, “It didn’t cost much, just for a bit of fun.”

Yet in her heart, she sneered to herself. This time, Master, you’ve really missed the mark. Wait till we get back, and I’ll show you whether this thing is indeed worthless.

It seemed Zhou Shitao noticed the cunning and craftiness in Huo Sining’s eyes, pausing slightly, his heart filled with some expectation.

Having spent a lot of time with Huo Sining, he had come to understand his little apprentice’s temperament quite well; she definitely wouldn’t do anything where she’d be at a loss.

Seeing the self-assurance on Huo Sining’s face, Zhou Shitao also felt a spark of curiosity. Could there be something else to this booklet?

“Is there a problem with this thing?” Zhou Shitao couldn’t help asking.

A gleam of triumph flashed in Huo Sining’s eyes, “Master, are you admitting you’ve made a mistake?”

Seeing Huo Sining smile more brilliantly, Zhou Shitao began to feel a bit embarrassed. He tossed the album into Huo Sining’s bag, and gruffly said, “You’re the smart one, outsmarting even your master, right? We’ll talk when we get back.”

Huo Sining pursed her lips in a smile, her eyes inadvertently sweeping over to the seats nearby. To her surprise, she saw that just three seats away from her group were none other than Liang Jinhong, Watanabe Yasu, and that one other person!

Clearly, Huo Sining’s recent conversation with Zhou Shitao had also drawn the attention of the others. Liang Jinhong, upon noticing Zhou Shitao, first showed surprise, then, as if he had guessed something, gave Huo Sining a meaningful glance.

Just as Liang Jinhong seemed poised to stand up and come over, Huo Sining’s heart sank. However, just at that moment, the lights on the stage suddenly dimmed.

Someone said, “It’s starting.”

Instantly, the entire venue quieted down. While Liang Jinhong was reluctant, he had no choice but to sit back down, yet his eyes couldn’t help but steal several glances towards Zhou Shitao and Huo Sining’s seats.

Wei Yanli gave up his special seat to Huo Sining and sat in the extra seat added by the attendant. Ji Kun was sitting next to Huo Sining, probably in the seat reserved for Wu Qingshan.

Although Zhou Shitao was not enthusiastic about Wei Yanli, Wei Yanli showed no sign of dissatisfaction and remained in high spirits.

Seeing how easygoing the guy was, Huo Sining chuckled inwardly, thinking that if he took a fancy to something later, she’d reluctantly help him out.

Realizing it was Huo Sining’s first time at the Imperial Capital Ghost Market, and afraid that she was not familiar with the auction’s proceedings, he didn’t forget to remind her:

“The Ghost Market auction is not like regular auctions. When the items are presented later, there won’t be an emcee to explain them. You can go up to view the items directly and after examining them, write down your highest bid on a piece of paper and hand it to the staff. Whoever writes the highest price gets the item.”

Huo Sining was taken aback. This was clearly an auction, yet they didn’t allow open bidding; the rules certainly were strange.

But then it dawned on her, most items at this auction probably had dubious origins. If people started calling out bids, it would be clearly obvious who got what in the end, and once outside, no one would be able to account for it.

The person who set up these rules was truly ingenious, allowing only secret bidding without shouting out prices, so that in the end, except for the bidders, no one else likely knew who had purchased the item. Those who found a bargain could quietly make a fortune, while those who miscalculated could only silently swallow their loss.

Of course, there was a drawback to these rules: there was no commentary at the auction, so it didn’t tell you which items were genuine and which were fake. Not even the provenance of the items was clear, leaving everyone in the dark, relying solely on their judgment to distinguish the real from the fake.

Soon, the curtain was drawn, and although the stage was dim at this time, Huo Sining could still see several staff members carrying a long wooden table onto the stage. Quickly, the stage lights converged sharply, all focused on that table.

The entire hall fell silent, without an emcee or even an opening statement–the first auction item was unceremoniously placed on the display table.

Since the exhibition hall had a sloping trapezoidal design, no matter where one sat, they could see the objects on the table without being blocked by the people in front.

However, since Huo Sining and the others were seated in the front row, no matter where people were sitting, they could clearly see what was placed on the long table without any extra obstacles obstructing their view. Huo Sining and the others had front-row seats, so their view of the items was naturally even clearer.

The first item placed on the table was a bronze beast statue. Its natural rust color and shape, along with its manufacturing technique, suggested that it belonged to the Bronze Artifacts of the Han Dynasty.

Bronze artifacts are considered first-class cultural relics and are famous worldwide for their long history. They are adored by a large number of collection enthusiasts, and consequently, their prices are quite expensive.

Unexpectedly, the first item to come up was a big-ticket item. Just by looking at the shape of the beast statue, one could tell that it was likely used for royal religious rituals exclusive to the royal noble class. Its craftsmanship was extraordinarily exquisite, unmatched in age and historical significance by ordinary antiques.

Huo Sining estimated preliminarily that the starting price of the item was at least above a million.

With that thought, Huo Sining’s eyes involuntarily glanced at the starting price sign on the table, and indeed, the price was marked with vivid red digits, no more no less, exactly one million. Just seeing that price immediately made her recoil.

Since it was a secret bid, there was no chance to bargain. Although a base price was provided for these auction items, the bidding price could only be higher than what was marked. As for how much higher, it entirely depended on the mood of the bidders.

Perhaps due to a misjudged value or fear of the item being snatched away by others, the price offered could be far higher than the value of the item, a judgment and balance left up to the buyer.

Therefore, the bidding rules of this auction were quite tricky. Huo Sining guessed that the Bronze Artifact wouldn’t go for less than three million.

As soon as the Bronze Artifact came out, it garnered the attention of the entire crowd. At this moment, from behind the curtain, it seemed someone tapped something lightly twice. The clear sound had just rung out when people began heading towards the stage.

Huo Sining was stunned for a moment before she realized that the sound was a bidding signal, indicating that the auction had started.

Zhou Shitao had been here several times and had the advantage of his location. Hearing that signal, he was instantly invigorated, his eyes and hands fast, and he darted to the stage in a few strides, briskly picking up the Bronze Artifact. His swift actions left Huo Sining staring in astonishment.

Where was this a man over the age of sixty, not looking any less agile than a young man in his twenties?

With a full head of exasperation, Huo Sining saw Zhou Shitao winking at her and Ji Kun. She immediately felt embarrassed and, unable to help herself, touched her nose and quickly followed him onto the stage.