Chapter 74 – The Times

Amidst bustling markets and the clamor of carriages, they proceeded with composure, led by Ji Sinong and his household guards into a vast estate. After a short ride on a carriage, Sheng Changtian explained to Xu Chun about the master of the Sand Seagull Island within the carriage: “He lives in seclusion here, rarely showing his true face. He runs the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, which specializes in appraising and auctioning treasures. It’s speculated that he’s from an aristocratic family, known for his exquisite taste and expertise in identifying paintings and treasures. He keeps many experts under his employ.”

“Every auction at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion involves transactions worth millions,” Sheng Changtian continued. “The entrance fees for the private rooms alone are exorbitant, and the seating arrangements are determined by the goods provided or the deposit placed.”

Xu Chun asked curiously, “If he’s so famous, why haven’t my brothers come here before? Wouldn’t it be easy to unload goods?”

Sheng Changtian shook his head and whispered, “There are rumors that the Sand Seagull Island master has ties to pirates, or perhaps he himself is a pirate. This place could be a den for pirates to fence their stolen goods. Pirates often prey on each other. If you come here to bid on goods, you might accidentally cross a powerful rival. Although auctions are conducted anonymously, if some unknown individual buys something and leaves on a ship, there’s no issue. But our Sheng family is in the business of trade, with a large operation. We can’t afford to offend people.”

“Moreover, most items sold here are precious jewels, antiques, calligraphy, and paintings. Our family has never been interested in such things, nor do we understand them. We’ve been tricked into overpaying for items at auctions before. There’s no need to pretend to be cultured.”

Xu Chun chuckled. Despite the wealth accumulated by his maternal grandfather’s family, the Sheng family was pragmatic. Their goods were practical, never taking shortcuts or indulging in luxury. His cousins shared this trait, evaluating items solely based on profit potential rather than seeking pleasure or enjoyment.

Soon, the carriage arrived, and they switched to a small boat to navigate toward the island in the middle of the lake. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. The lush greenery along the shore consisted of thick-leaved plants unique to the South China Sea, glossy and succulent, brimming with moisture, interspersed with wildflowers. Standing on the boat, Xu Chun observed the crystal-clear lake water and the distant sky. Even though the sun was setting, approaching the afternoon hour, the sunlight remained intense.

As they neared the shore, Xu Chun murmured, “I’m reminded of something similar to today’s situation.”

“What happened?” Sheng Changtian asked.

Xu Chun replied, “Once, a friend hosted a banquet at his suburban residence. It took hours to get there by carriage, quite inconvenient. Once we arrived and had a drink, he announced plans to establish a charity school and needed donations… We couldn’t back out and ended up contributing. Today, this island in the lake seems eerily similar. If we buy something we don’t want, we might find ourselves unable to leave.”

Sheng Changtian burst into laughter, joined by Ji Sinong and others nearby. Someone on the shore exclaimed, “The Sheng family’s prodigal son truly lives up to his reputation. Such wit! I like him.”

Everyone on the boat looked ashore. A man with phoenix-like eyebrows and refined eyes greeted them. Appearing to be in his thirties, he wore a tall hat and a crane-feather cloak, his long sleeves flowing. He exuded an air of antiquity as he approached with a smile and bowed, to which everyone on the boat returned the gesture.

Ji Sinong stepped forward and introduced, “Allow me to introduce my friend, the master of Sand Seagull Island. He lives in seclusion yet has extensive social connections and impeccable taste. These two gentlemen are the third and fourth sons of the Sheng family. When I was pursued by enemies at sea, they nobly came to my aid.”

The Sand Seagull Island master approached with a warm smile and bowed deeply. “Your noble deeds are commendable. Your distinguished appearance suggests great potential for future achievements.”

He led them inside. They passed through a corridor adorned with a sign reading “A Sage’s Tranquility,” which was the name of the Tranquil Abode. Flowers bloomed on both sides of the corridor, their fragrance permeating the air. They entered a hall where they immediately felt a refreshing coolness. In the center stood a massive ice block. The Sand Seagull Island master invited them to take their seats and offered tea. “The auction begins in half an hour. Please enjoy your tea in the meantime.”

Curious, Xu Chun approached the ice block and whispered to Sheng Changtian, “Isn’t it said that the weather in the South China Sea is warm and snowless? Where did this ice come from?”

Hearing their conversation, the Sand Seagull Island master admired Xu Chun’s innocence and replied with a smile, “In winter, we travel to the far north and extract pure ice from the heart of frozen lakes. We transport it from unfrozen ports and store it here.”

Xu Chun marveled, “Island master, you’re truly capable! What a tremendous effort!”

The Sand Seagull Island master laughed. “The ice-selling business is highly profitable, especially in the South China Sea. I even sell ice to the capital city.” He gave Xu Chun a subtle smile, causing Xu Chun to wonder if he recognized his accent from the capital.

Xu Chun didn’t comment further, watching as the servants brought in robes. He removed his outer cloak that shielded him from the sun and sat beside Sheng Changtian, circling the ice block. He listened to the Sand Seagull Island master discussing the treasures to be auctioned that day with Sheng Changtian and Ji Sinong, as well as which goods were profitable in the South China Sea and which businesses were too risky. Not knowledgeable in these areas, he held a banana in his hand, peeling it slowly.

Suddenly, the Sand Seagull Island master asked him with a smile, “Among the items to be auctioned today, there are several renowned swords. If the fourth young master is interested, you should pay attention. Many guests are familiar with me; if I show interest, they usually yield. I noticed the ancient sword at the fourth young master’s waist. It doesn’t seem ordinary. Would you mind letting us have a look?”

Xu Chun hesitated, looking down at the Dragon Scale at his waist. His eyes slightly curved. “The Sand Seagull Island master has a keen eye. This is Dragon Scale, crafted by the legendary master Ou Yezi.” He unfastened the short sword from his waist and handed it to a nearby servant, who presented it to the island master for inspection.

The island master drew the sword and observed the blade, which featured a dragon scale pattern akin to ice fracturing. He casually wiped it with a silk handkerchief, which slipped off and was cleanly sliced in two, demonstrating its unparalleled sharpness. Even Ji Sinong exclaimed, “What a fine sword!”

The Sand Seagull Island master smiled and passed the sword to him. They all admired it before returning it to Xu Chun via a servant. Then, the island master summoned someone to bring over two weapons, a longbow and a light crossbow. He said with a smile, “These two young heroes have hearts of gold. It’s rare to meet such heroes today. These weapons aren’t ancient masterpieces, but they’re innovative in design and have a long range. I noticed that Third Master Sheng has strong arms and a tiger-like build; using this longbow would likely prove effective.”

“The light crossbow is for Fourth Young Master. As a scholar, you carry yourself with grace and already possess a fine sword for protection. I won’t attempt to show off my skills. This light crossbow is small, about the size of a palm, and can be hidden in a sleeve for self-defense.”

A servant brought the weapons over. Sheng Changtian’s eyes gleamed upon seeing them. “These are good tools! Firearms have limitations, but this longbow is useful on ships.”

Seeing his cousin’s enthusiasm, Xu Chun accepted the light crossbow gracefully and thanked him.

The Sand Seagull Island master then ordered another servant to bring over a tray. “Here are the latest timepieces, crafted using new technology. I recently commissioned four of them, each featuring a different zodiac animal: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird. I’m gifting these to the four Sheng brothers. Please don’t refuse.” He added with a smile, “Seasoned General Ji paid for them. He’s wealthy and should properly thank you. Don’t hesitate to accept his gratitude.”

The tray arrived. Xu Chun examined the four pocket watches, intricately designed and encased in gold chains. About the size of goose eggs, they displayed the time using the twelve Earthly Branches. The hands were pure gold, and the surfaces were covered in exquisite glass, shimmering with iridescent colors. The watch cases were delicately inlaid with white jade, carved with totems of the four mythical beasts, making them exquisitely expensive. Sheng Changtian also admired them, thanked the island master, and took one, passing the Vermilion Bird watch to Xu Chun while choosing the White Tiger for himself.

Xu Chun casually hung the watch around his neck, glancing at the Sand Seagull Island master, who watched him silently with a meaningful smile.

The Sand Seagull Island master checked the time and invited them to the auction room, reminding them, “Avoid bidding on large quantities of salt and minerals. They’re often black-market goods, and buying them can lead to suspicion. However, feel free to bid on ancient books, famous paintings, tripod cauldrons, and antiques. I’ve had experts verify their authenticity. Purchasing here is cheaper, and prices skyrocket once you return home. It wouldn’t be cost-effective then.”

Xu Chun found the Sand Seagull Island master’s thoughtfulness quite touching. The four of them arrived at the auction room, where they were pleasantly surprised to find separate private rooms arranged for the two brothers. The island master and Ji Sinong stayed in an adjacent room. Ji Sinong remarked, “Dinner will be served in the private rooms. I intended to host a banquet, but since the island master is hosting an auction, it’s more comfortable to dine here. I’ll host a proper banquet another day. Whatever catches your fancy during the auction, feel free to bid on it.”

Xu Chun and Sheng Changtian, accompanied by their guards and attendants, entered the private room. On one side, curtains could be drawn to reveal the auction platform below. On the other side was a balcony offering a panoramic view of the coastline. Looking out the window, the moon had risen, bathing the lush flowers and trees in silver moonlight. A gentle sea breeze blew in, and next to the window was a large ice block for cooling, keeping the room pleasantly cool.

Xu Chun let out a deep breath, kicked off his shoes, and reclined on the soft couch. Sheng Changtian chuckled. “What’s wrong? Are you tired? Why don’t you rest for a bit? I’ll wake you when something good comes up.”

Xu Chun shook his head. “It’s strange. In front of the Sand Seagull Island master, I felt threatened. The pressure was intense, and I didn’t dare speak much. Despite his smiling demeanor, I sensed he’s a killer. When he looks at you, it feels like he can see right through you.”

Sheng Changtian agreed. “Yes, I also felt that he must have seen battle. Though he appears pale and weak like a frail scholar, his palms are calloused. Moreover, despite wearing wide robes and wooden clogs like a scholar, he walks with agility, stability, and ease, with a straight posture. That’s typical of someone from the military. And since he’s friendly with General Ji, he might be associated with King Guangyuan. His accent is from South Guangdong, and King Guangyuan is originally from the Nanyue region. The dialects in Guangdong and Guangxi are similar.”

Xu Chun wasn’t concerned. “It doesn’t matter. As long as we receive our payment, we’ll have no further obligations.” He picked a longan fruit from the fruit platter, peeled it, and savored the translucent flesh. “Third Brother, try some. The longan meat is abundant and sweet.”

As the brothers conversed, Ji Sinong and the Sand Seagull Island master were also talking. “What do you think, sir? Can you recruit the Sheng brothers? Originally, I thought that although they’re wealthy, they might lack close connections in high places. If they could help me, I’d be willing to bestow them with titles and honors in the future.”

The Sand Seagull Island master smiled faintly, slowly fanning himself with a folding fan. “Before meeting them, I thought you had a fifty-fifty chance. Now, after meeting them, you have no hope.”

Ji Sinong was taken aback. “What do you mean, sir?”

The Sand Seagull Island master sighed. “The Sheng brothers are already committed to another. You won’t be able to recruit them.”

Ji Sinong asked, “Committed to another? How did you deduce that?”

The Sand Seagull Island master shook his head. “Fourth Young Master Sheng Yulin, right? Behind him, there’s always a guard, tall and burly, silent, but his gaze is fixed on you and me. Upon entering the room, he remains in a state of high alert, his body tense, one hand constantly resting on his waist.”

Ji Sinong nodded. “Indeed, the Sheng family’s guards are well-trained. That’s what attracted me. The crew members, gunners, archers, and others on their ship are also well-trained.”

The Sand Seagull Island master laughed. “No, those aren’t civilian guards trained by the Sheng family. They’re imperial guards.”

Ji Sinong was shocked. “How do you know, sir?”

The Sand Seagull Island master smiled enigmatically. “I have my methods of identification. Just forget about it. This fourth young master has had imperial guards serving him since he was young. He must come from a prestigious family. Find out for yourself. The Sheng family actually only has three brothers, but they have an aunt married into a high-ranking family in the capital. This fourth young master is likely her nephew. Within a few years, the Sheng family will undoubtedly gain influence in the court. You can’t compete with the emperor, who is decisive and strategic. If you touch his people, you won’t need your brother to plot against you; you’ll be dealt with first.”

Ji Sinong was disheartened. “Such talent, no wonder. Unfortunately. As you know, my younger brother is relentless. He even dared to scheme against his own family on the battlefield, tampering with the commander’s flagship. I don’t know what lies they’ve spread about me to ensure my safe return. I plan to visit the Lu family tomorrow to collect the previously ordered ships and gather my subordinates before returning. My future path is uncertain.”

The Sand Seagull Island master said, “I’ll point out a clear path for you. The way forward is right in front of you.”

Ji Sinong said, “Please enlighten me, sir.”

The Sand Seagull Island master sighed and pointed eastward. “Show your loyalty and seek support from the emperor.”

Ji Sinong responded, “You know that our ancestors tried to pledge allegiance to the imperial court multiple times but were rejected, which is why we were expelled to the seas by the Jiaozhi and Song people. The Han imperial court has always looked down on us barbarians. Furthermore, my father dislikes…”

The Sand Seagull Island master remained silent with a smile.

Ji Sinong, observing the island master’s gaze, suddenly felt a jolt.

The Sand Seagull Island master said, “The emperor in the Central Plains desires military glory and the submission of the Four Barbarians. Haven’t you figured out why I said he wants to make use of the Sheng family? The emperor intends to open maritime routes and pacify the coastal regions. Whether you recognize the situation or not is up to you. The times shape heroes. Your father may dislike it, but he favors your younger brother. Will you let him take everything away from you?”