235: I must take these things with me today!

"What?!"

As soon as Lin Wei's words fell, the entire auction hall of Tianque Pavilion exploded into an uproar, as if a block of ice had been thrown into a pot of boiling oil!

"The consignor is backing out? Tenfold penalty?"

"Three billion! For a tattered piece of Warring States cloth?!"

"My God! This... this isn't just having too much money to burn, this clearly means there's a huge secret behind this remnant scroll!"

"Earlier, Miss Yan and Young Master Chu teamed up to secure the bid, and now the consignor would rather pay three billion to take it back... just what is the origin of this thing?!"

"Do you even need to ask? It must be an extraordinary treasure! It might even involve some secret!"

"This is a fishing expedition! To see who recognizes its value, who understands this remnant scroll!"

"Holy mother... tonight's auction is truly one wave after another, more thrilling than watching a blockbuster!"

...

Exclamations!

Discussions!

Speculations!

They surged like a tide within the hall, every face etched with shock! Astonishment! Curiosity!

Countless gazes converged in unison on the Sky Box Number One behind the one-way glass on the second floor!

Everyone wanted to know...

What secret did Chu Niubi know about this remnant of the xuanyin silk scroll?

That it could make the consignor willing to pay the astronomical penalty of three billion, just to ask him face to face!

...

Inside the Sky Box Number One.

Chu Niubi's face instantly darkened.

Are you kidding me?

That's something my Master wants. How can someone just take it back because they say so?

"Damn his grandmother!"

"Does he think I, Chu Niubi, am made of mud? Backing out just because he says so? Paying a penalty just because he says so?"

"Do I lack those three billion?"

"This tattered piece of cloth... pah! This Warring States treasure was bought with my real gold and silver! That makes it mine!"

"Dare to play this kind of reneging game with me?"

Chu Niubi pointed towards the auction stage, spittle flying, his voice amplified by the box's sound system, booming throughout the hall.

"Lin Wei! And that damn consignor!"

"Listen up!"

"That item, I'm taking it! The money, I can pay!"

"Today, this deal will happen whether you like it or not, and if not..."

He gave a sinister laugh, his voice full of arrogance, "I'll make your Tianque Pavilion, and that consignor hiding in the shadows, learn what the rules of an auction really are!"

Overbearing!

Arrogant!

Utterly unreasonable!

This was Chu Niubi!

The true nature of the Capital's troublemaking demon king!

The hall fell silent again, everyone stunned by Chu Niubi's blatant threat.

Reason with Chu Niubi?

Talk law with the Chu Family?

In this small patch of land that is the Capital, the Chu Family's "rules" are sometimes the greatest law of all!

Moreover...

This time, Chu Niubi wasn't in the wrong!

It was the consignor who reneged first!

On the auction stage, Lin Wei looked utterly vexed.

She was just an auctioneer. When had she ever experienced this kind of situation?

On one side was the background-rich, unreasonable Young Master of the Chu Family.

On the other side was the mysterious consignor, willing to pay an astronomical penalty, clearly also of significant background.

Caught in the middle, she was torn, sweat beading on her forehead.

"Young... Young Master Chu, please calm down. This is the consignor's decision. We at Tianque Pavilion are merely conveying it according to the rules."

"Rules? I am the rules!"

Chu Niubi didn't listen at all. He strode out of the private box and waved his hand grandly.

"Enough nonsense! Bring that thing to me, now!"

"Keep stalling, and believe me, I'll go down there right now and take it myself!"

He wasn't just bluffing.

Given Chu Niubi's temperament, he was truly capable of leading people to storm the auction stage and snatch the item!

And the Chu Family definitely had the power to cover it up!

Just as the tension was at its peak, the atmosphere on the verge of explosion—

*Tap, tap, tap...*

A series of footsteps suddenly sounded from the entrance of the auction hall.

Everyone instinctively turned to look.

Under the light at the entrance, a Middle-aged Man, looking around fifty years old, walked in unhurriedly.

The moment the man appeared, it was as if he carried his own aura. The originally noisy and chaotic hall involuntarily quieted down.

Many representatives of the Capital's old, established families, upon seeing this Middle-aged Man, had their pupils contract sharply, disbelief and shock flashing across their faces!

"He is..."

"Sima Nong! The head butler of the Capital's Sima Family!"

"My God! Someone from the Sima Family is here too? Tonight is going to turn the world upside down!"

"The Sima Family, one of the Five Great Families of the Capital! Could it be... he is the consignor?"

...

Exclamations spread through the crowd like a plague!

The Five Great Families of the Capital!

They were entities that stood above the Capital's three major families, truly at the pinnacle of the pyramid of power and wealth in the Dragon Country!

The Sima Family was an especially ancient lineage among them, with profound heritage!

And Sima Nong, as the head butler of the Sima Family, represented the family's face outside!

His appearance undoubtedly elevated tonight's sudden turmoil to another level entirely!

Chu Niubi, standing on the balcony outside the private box, saw Sima Nong and his arrogant demeanor faltered slightly, his brows furrowing tightly.

"Sima Nong?"

Although the Chu Family was strong, compared to the Five Great Families of the Capital, they still fell slightly short.

Especially this Sima Family, with its long heritage and intricate connections. Even his grandfather, Chu Wangba, spoke of them with a hint of wariness.

On the auction stage, Lin Wei hurriedly bowed. "Mr. Sima!"

Sima Nong gave a slight nod, his steps never pausing as he walked directly to the front of the auction stage.

He stopped, looked up, and gazed calmly towards the balcony of the heaven character number one private box on the second floor.

"Young Master Chu."

"What Auctioneer Lin said just now is precisely our Sima Family's intention."

"That remnant scroll of the xuanyin silk scroll is an object our Sima Family has guarded for generations. Entrusting it for auction this time was due to unavoidable difficulties."

He paused, adjusting the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Now, the family patriarch has ordered its retrieval and hopes to have a meeting with the honored guest who won the bid."

"The three billion penalty is our Sima Family's sincere expression of apology."

"I wonder if Young Master Chu agrees to this compensation arrangement?"

Sima Nong's tone was very polite, even carrying a hint of negotiation.

But anyone could hear...

This wasn't a negotiation. It was a notification, a solution offered by the Sima Family based on their own strength and status.

Agree, take the money and leave.

Disagree...

Then you become an enemy of the Sima Family.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, their gazes shifting back and forth between Sima Nong and the heaven character number one private box.

Chu Niubi's expression shifted rapidly.

Agree?

Wouldn't that mean bowing to the Sima Family in front of the entire Capital social circle?

Where would the face of him, Chu Niubi, and the Chu Family be then?

What about the item his Master wanted?

Disagree?

But that was the Sima Family!

One of the Five Great Families of the Capital!

If they truly tore up all pretense, could the Chu Family withstand it?

Just as Chu Niubi was locked in an internal struggle, gritting his teeth and preparing to stubbornly resist...

A hand gently rested on his shoulder.

Chu Niubi stiffened, turning to look.

Ye Chen walked out.

His face showed little expression as he looked towards Sima Nong below.

"And if I disagree?"

The people around were stunned.

Good heavens!

Someone actually dared to refuse Sima Nong?

This young man looks unfamiliar...

Who could he be?

Sima Nong adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses appraising as he looked at Ye Chen.

"And you are, sir?"

Chu Niubi was about to speak when Ye Chen calmly replied, "That item is what I want."

"Oh?" Sima Nong raised an eyebrow slightly. "So, it is you who disagrees?"

"Correct." Ye Chen nodded, his tone calm yet leaving no room for doubt. "I have already won the bid for the item. According to the rules, it is mine. I don't need the penalty. The item, I will not return."

"Heh..."

Sima Nong suddenly gave a light laugh. His gaze lingered on Ye Chen's face for a moment, as if remembering something. "Could it be that you are the Ye Chen, Mr. Ye, who has recently risen to fame in the Capital?"

"That's me." Ye Chen acknowledged frankly.

"I see." Sima Nong nodded. "Mr. Ye, young and promising, with exceptional strength. Even Old Master Xuanyuan holds you in high regard. I, Sima, have heard of you."

He paused, but his tone abruptly shifted, carrying a hint of chill.

"But surely Mr. Ye doesn't think..."

"that having earned some favor from Old Master Xuanyuan means you can disregard our Sima Family?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but smile.

"You are the ones who reneged, backing out after the hammer fell, and now you say it's us who disregard you..."

"Is this the magnanimity befitting the Sima Family, to like turning things upside down?"

"Paying the penalty is a remedial measure allowed by the rules." Sima Nong didn't yield an inch. "Our Sima Family is willing to compensate at the highest standard, which is already great sincerity. If Mr. Ye insists on refusing, I'm afraid you will bring unnecessary trouble upon yourself, and upon the Chu Family as well."

"Trouble?"

Chu Niubi's temper flared up again at these words. "Sima Nong! Don't you dare use the Sima Family to pressure people! I..."

"Chu Niubi."

Ye Chen raised a hand, stopping his outburst.

Chu Niubi immediately fell silent, though his eyes still burned with indignation.

Ye Chen looked at Sima Nong, the smile gradually fading from his face.

"Butler Sima, let me make myself clear as well."

"This silk scroll is of great importance to me. I am determined to have it."

"Whatever difficulties your Sima Family has, that is none of my concern."

"Once an item is on the auction block, the highest bidder wins. That is only right and proper."

"The auction house's remedy is their business. My refusal is my business. It has nothing to do with the Chu Family."

"As for the three billion, you can keep it."

"That item, I must take it today."