Chapter Fifty Auction

  Sun Ye participated in the auction of Tao Ranju this time, bringing only two guards. The guard at the entrance of Tao Ranju was a person from the capital city, and when he saw General Sun Ye, he naturally didn't dare to block him. One of the guards took out his token and flashed it, and respectfully welcomed him in.

  "General Sun!" Wang Lingbo burst into loud laughter, followed by four personal guards from behind. He looked at Sun Yue and laughed again, "Long time no see, General, your demeanor remains the same as ever."

  Wang Lingbo was a man in his fifties, and he and Sun Yue were both from the Weiyuan Wangye lineage. At this moment, seeing Wang Lingbo, Sun Yue's eyes also lit up, and then they walked together towards the main hall, passing through the corridor, heading to the auction hall.

  "Old Wang, how come you have time to attend the auction today?" Sun Yue sat in the easternmost chair at the back, ignoring the warriors and officials around him, beckoning Wang Lingbo to sit down and asking.

  "Hey, I heard that there's a top-grade treasure up for auction today. I've never seen one in my life, so I came to join the excitement." Wang Lingbo chuckled and said ambiguously, then turned his head to ask Sun Yue, "By the way, General Sun, since there's no war going on, you're also here at the auction house to kill some time?"

  Sun Ye shook his head, sighed and said: "Wang brother, you don't know this, my son's mother's martial arts are too weak. If I don't give him some elixirs to enhance his cultivation and let him go through a year of training in the army, with his physical condition, he won't be able to withstand it."

  "So that's how it is." Wang Lingbo nodded and said, "General Sun, rest assured, I've seen Hao Ran a few times, he's quite good, not much like you."

  Sun Ye's eyes widened in dissatisfaction: "What does this mean?"

  Wang Lingbo shook his head and said, "Look, with your temper, I haven't even finished speaking yet. What I mean is that Haoran is a talented young man who will definitely become a great general with both wisdom and bravery in the future, and can help you and your son get rid of the unpleasant title of 'Butcher General' that has been attached to the Sun family for so long."

  Sun Ye burst out laughing and warmly put his arm around Wang Lingbo, saying: "Wang old brother, listen to this, I've been in the army for so many years, but there's always a bunch of scoundrels in the imperial court who call me 'butcher', saying that I'm illiterate. Damn it, they don't even think about it, what's the use of reading those books? They're just as useless, only good at talking on paper, and when they get to the battlefield, their legs might be shaking faster than my knife swings!"

  "You're just a joke, this is a public place, if other officials hear about it, they'll impeach you again." Wang Lingbo shook his head, thinking that the butcher's reputation was indeed not false, after so many years, from Sun Gu to Sun Pei, nothing had changed.

  "General Sun, doesn't the army also have elixirs? Why go to so much trouble to come to Tao Ran's residence for an auction?" Wang Lingbo said in a low voice: "Your Highness used to be in charge of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Officials. Now, the foundation of the Ministry of Officials in the court has been destroyed, it is extremely unstable. If you were to make some more enemies for Your Highness at this time, our days would become even harder."

  "This I know, I'll just buy some elixir, who dares to say anything about me?" Sun Yue heard this and found it somewhat strange, saying with a big smile: "I'm not buying it to give to the king, if they dare to mutter again, one day I'll chop off their official hats." After a pause, Sun Yue said: "Besides, I am a great general, although there is elixir in the army, it was also given by the emperor, and the quality is uneven, how can I take it for my son to use?"

  "Ah..." Wang Lingbo knew his old friend's temperament all too well, and with a sigh, he could only give up on the idea of sitting together. Many officials and wealthy merchants who had entered the venue wanted to sit in this area, but upon seeing Sun Yue and Wang Lingbo, they involuntarily stopped in their tracks. However, several foreign merchants who didn't understand the situation tried to sit nearby, only to be met with a fierce glare from Sun Yue, causing them to quickly move two or three seats away.

  "Hiss, hiss, there are three Qi-refining stage experts, all of them are first or second-grade warriors." The auction is still five minutes away from starting, and at this moment, Sun Ye swept his gaze across the vast auction hall, which was almost full of people. He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise and admiration: "These warriors, not joining the military to defend their country, what a pity!"

  Wang Lingbo heard this and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "Those people are all pursuing the ultimate in martial arts, seeking 'truth', wanting them to go to war like you do, only you could think of that."

  Sun Yue didn't care at all and said: "A man should kill people, killing without leaving emotions, what's the point of pursuing some kind of Tao!"

  Wang Lingbo shook his head and sighed: "Fortunately, Haoran doesn't look like you."

  "Hey, don't mention it. That little brat, I'll send him to the army next year to toughen him up, make him eat some bitterness, who knows, his temper might even be more violent than mine. My own flesh and blood, I know what's good for him, so you don't have to worry about it, Old Wang." Sun Lei said, looking towards the stage, where the curtains were still closed and no auction staff had come out yet. He straightened up his posture, making himself more comfortable, then shook his head and said: "After the Lantern Festival, I'm afraid I won't be able to return until after the New Year in Cloud Heaven. Those Maya bandits have news that they're planning to make a big move after winter sets in."

  "This thing I've also heard of." Wang Lingbo nodded and said slowly: "This official position is not easy to hold, now many people want to pull me down, only hoping that Brother Sun you can win the battle and come back in spring to help your brother."

  "My father and Wang Ye are both in the capital, as long as Wang doesn't make any big mistakes, there won't be a problem." Sun Yue hummed, his eyes flashing with cold light, saying: "Wang Ye has been too quiet lately, Wang Da Ge, because of Mei Xiang's matter, I had some unpleasantness with Wang Ye, if there's an opportunity, please advise Wang Ye, as long as Wang Ye gives the order, we still have a chance!"

  "Silence!" Wang Lingbo's face changed, and he looked around before continuing with a bitter smile: "What can I say to you, Sun? This isn't your military camp where anything can be said. Walls have ears, and if the wrong people hear about it, our heads might roll, but we can't afford to harm Prince Wang during this sensitive period!"

  "Are you kidding me?" Sun Yue said discontentedly, "I've already reached the Qi Refining stage, and I've put a restriction on this area. Even if it's a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator, they shouldn't be able to hear anything. What can these officials possibly hear?"

  "Taoranju is a formidable figure, little brother you haven't been there but I'm sure you've heard the rumors, it's better to be cautious. Well, let's meet at our usual place after the auction, your cultivation is high so don't leave any trails." Wang Lingbo stroked his beard and sighed: "Let's not talk about this topic for now."

  Sun Yue seemed unconvinced, but seeing Wang Lingbo's serious expression, he nodded and remained silent.

  After a while, seeing the auction was about to begin, Wang Lingbo suddenly remembered something and said: "Right, how is Mei Xiang doing in the army now? Unconsciously, three years have passed."

  "Alas, it's hard to say. That girl still has her heart set on the young master, I said so, if she wants to marry, she should just do it! But the young master doesn't agree! If this matter hadn't made me angry, I wouldn't have had to be so distant with the king either." Sun Lei shook his head, bringing up this matter made him very unhappy.

  "You're just a junior, what are you meddling in?" Wang Lingbo scolded: "In the past, when Shizi's personality changed greatly, didn't you also disagree with this marriage? How come you've changed your mind now."

  "Hey, it's mainly because of that girl of mine. The young master refused to marry her one day, and she's been stuck in the army ever since. You say she's a daughter from a good family, spending all day with a bunch of ruffians, what kind of state will she end up in?" Sun Yue couldn't help but curse under his breath, saying: "Damn it, the young master is really not giving me any face."

  "Alright, the prince is a hidden dragon. General Sun, you can rest assured that the prince will not remain in hiding like this...". Wang Lingbo didn't know why, but he thought of what happened two nights ago and his heart skipped a beat, leaving half a sentence unspoken.

  Sun Yue wanted to say something else, but at this moment, the auction began.