Chapter 85: The Pavilion of Heavenly Artifacts

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In the world of Blue Ice, it seemed there was never a true night. Unnamed stars hung in the sky, large and small, shining together; below, the land was blanketed in snow, the icy surface reflecting like a mirror. Fuyang City was forever shrouded in this serene, snowy brilliance—quiet, deep, mysterious.

Yet tonight, peace was not destined to last.

At the Fuyang Inn, after Lin Zhan had left for the evening, the innkeeper did not attempt to stop him—indeed, he could not have. Yet his heart fluttered in anxiety, like a bucket suspended and swaying, filled with unease. The Wei family was the overlord of Fuyang City; its ancestors had once served as stewards in Blue Ice’s royal capital. The innkeeper knew, judging by the Wei family’s habits, that Lin Zhan’s recent conflict would surely bring trouble to his doorstep sooner or later.

Now, with the man himself out wandering, should the Wei family burst in, his own life would surely be forfeit. With this in mind, the innkeeper steeled himself, persuaded the current guests to check out, temporarily dismissed several staff members, packed up his valuables, and slipped away without a trace, leaving behind an empty Fuyang Inn. Only the two red lanterns at the entrance continued swaying gently, casting their neon glow.

“Master Lin, Benefactor Lin, my master requests your presence! Please, come to the Chamber of Deliberation at the Celestial Goods Pavilion,” Liu, the steward of the Celestial Goods Pavilion, called out from afar.

This time, Lin Zhan was more than a minor magnate with spirit stones—he had become the benefactor of the entire Celestial Goods Pavilion. Liu’s gratitude was evident, his demeanor overflowing with respect.

“Please, lead the way,” Lin Zhan replied, barely able to return the courtesy, as Nightingale tugged him along.

Liu remained behind, eyes wide in surprise—when had Nightingale become so proactive?

The Chamber of Deliberation was situated outside the circular auction hall, right next to the room where Golden Lion had stayed.

Soon enough, Lin Zhan was seated in the Chamber, with Uncle Lian at his side and several stewards of the Celestial Goods Pavilion gathered around. Even Golden Lion was present, supported by Lian Fengying, and Nightingale and Cui Cui were there as well.

Since tonight’s events concerned Uncle Lian’s family, the martial masters who earlier had clamored to avenge the young lady were persuaded to leave by Uncle Lian himself. The vengeance had already been taken by Lin Zhan; now Uncle Lian’s greatest headache was how to properly thank him—and what to do about Golden Lion, the young man who lingered beside his wife.

“Ah, daughters cannot be kept at home forever,” Uncle Lian sighed. His spouse had passed away early, and over these days, watching his daughter grow day by day, the sense of impending loss grew ever stronger. There would come a day, he knew, when his daughter would belong to another family, and in private moments, he could not help but feel melancholy.

As for an ideal son-in-law, sitting beside Lin Zhan, Uncle Lian found himself more and more impressed; compared to Golden Lion, who accompanied his daughter, the difference was stark—one was handsome and noble, the other listless and crippled.

“Well, it must be fate, destiny. As long as my daughter’s heart is content, I’ll let her choose,” he sighed again and again, leaving Lin Zhan bewildered. What was wrong with this old man? His daughter was safe, he had gained a suitor, and Golden Lion, after all, was the young lord of a renowned Jiangnan family. With the passing of the patriarch, Golden Lion was now the rightful master, young and capable, with vast holdings throughout Blue Ice.

“I must return to the inn—this concerns my trustworthiness. I cannot linger here,” Lin Zhan declared. Before rescuing Lian Fengying and Golden Lion, he had felt awkward, as if he were stealing someone’s beloved; now he was brimming with confidence. It wasn’t about buying a daughter—Nightingale following him was her best path for growth, for the Nine-Star Map was no ordinary thing.

Thus, Lin Zhan was not worried at all; in fact, he was full of assurance. He was no saint—on this premise, if the Celestial Goods Pavilion could offer some treasures, it would be even better.

He was just about to speak and remind Uncle Lian, when Lian Fengying interjected, “Father, why are you in a daze? Master Lin is a busy man, shouldn’t you say something?”

Uncle Lian stroked his white beard and chuckled dryly, “Master Lin, your great kindness leaves me at a loss for repayment, for anything I could give pales in comparison to my daughter’s life.”

Lian Fengying’s eyes reddened at these words; she knew well how much she meant to her father. She glared at Golden Lion, as if to say, if you fail to treat me well, it will be wasted.

Golden Lion, shrewd as ever, met her gaze with a resolute look, and it worked—Lian Fengying’s expression softened.

“Master Lian, you need not be so formal. It was merely a coincidence, and I acted on impulse. Fortunately, I had a Bone Tower artifact; facing their mid-tier Yellow Rank elder, I had to destroy several treasures, extract their essences, and channel them into the Bone Tower, breaking its seal just in time to block his fatal strike. It was a narrow, costly victory—were there another such encounter, I doubt…” Lin Zhan spoke with gravity, conjuring images of the brutal scene and the noble sacrifice of his treasures.

His daughter was saved, yet the benefactor had lost precious items—there was no way to argue against that.

With this in mind, Uncle Lian addressed Liu, “Please have the inventory list of the Celestial Goods Pavilion brought here.”

When the list arrived, Uncle Lian handed it to Lin Zhan. “Master Lin, please review this. These are the holdings of the Fuyang branch. If anything catches your eye, you are welcome to take it.”

Lin Zhan was surprised—weren’t these pavilion items public property? Was Uncle Lian overstepping his authority?

“Master Lin, do not be concerned. Each branch of the Celestial Goods Pavilion manages its own profits and losses. Save for some rare items, I have full authority; these are essentially my own holdings. The stewards here and the staff of the Fuyang branch are all family,” Uncle Lian explained, noting Lin Zhan’s hesitation. His decades in the auction world had given him keen insight, and he knew how to address concerns.

By offering the inventory so openly, he was also testing Lin Zhan—repaying a life debt was essential, but if Lin Zhan demanded too much, their relationship would end here.

Lin Zhan glanced over the inventory and smiled, handing it back. “These are the foundation of your pavilion, Uncle Lian. I cannot accept them.”

Uncle Lian was a wily old fox, but Lin Zhan’s sole aim was to bring Nightingale with him. The ordinary treasures listed held little allure, and as for repayment, if Uncle Lian chose to bestow something, Lin Zhan would accept graciously—but to be asked to pick for himself, he would rather decline.