Chapter 293: A Lucky Man
~~~
Of Imperial Cloud City’s many districts, those closest to the palace are, almost uniformly, residential areas. It is there where one can find the luxurious estates of the most important sects of the Empire, including those of the Four Great Sects. Though not as grand as the palace by design, these branches fulfill a critical role. They make it easy for the Emperor to discuss, negotiate, and, more often than not, mediate any issue that might arise between the various powers in the Crimson Cloud Empire.
The tenth district is the lone exception to this. There are no grand mansions there. The smallest of all districts is exclusively dedicated to commerce. However, that does not mean it is a place of booming markets and busy streets. All the shops there are exclusively for the use of the elite, and only those with the right level of prestige and power are even allowed to enter.
Among those establishments, the Five Blessings Auction House is arguably the greatest. Due to the capital’s centric location and heavy trade, there is very little one cannot obtain there. Every month, there will be a special auction that is accessible only through invitation. The imagination of the common man is not enough to conceive what occurs during these, but rumors do get out.
Cui Tian of the Seven Leaves School is neither rich nor overly influential. Yet, that morning, like so many other mornings, he rides towards the Five Blessings Auction House at the head of a caravan. It is his job to protect the merchandise of the Five Blessings Group from bandits, Spirit Beasts, and other threats.
He excels at it.
Tall and powerfully built, Cui Tian makes the horse he is riding look like a pony. His head is shaved bald, and he has started to let his beard grow. Though initially not pleased about it, his wife seems to have grown to like it, a good thing since having a prodigious beard makes his job much easier. Most would-be bandits take in his appearance before noticing his cultivation level.
“Brother Cui Tian,” one of the guards at the back entrance of the Five Blessings Auction House greets him. “I trust you had a good journey.”
“It was pleasant enough,” Cui Tian replies as his horse comes to a stop and the rest of the caravan with him. At once, everyone starts working on unloading all the merchandise. “A few attacks, but those ended as usual.”