You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 94

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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94

 

 

Only the clatter of chopsticks filled the silence.

 

I picked up a stir-fried dish of bamboo shoots, chicken, and vegetables and put it in my mouth.

For something Zhang Qingye made, it was surprisingly delicious.

 

Just as I was about to move my chopsticks to the next side dish,

Zhang Qingye, unable to hold back any longer, spoke up.

 

“…What are you doing here?”

 

Unexpectedly, what came from his mouth was English.

 

I slowly put down my chopsticks.

 

“That’s what I want to ask more. Why are you here?”

 

As natural Chinese flowed from my mouth,

his gaze turned to the Translation Artifact hanging around my neck.

Only then did his tense shoulders relax.

 

I had been focused on eating because I was hungry.

From when I met Zhang Qingye in front of the Martial Arts School until sitting at the dinner table,

there was only one question in my mind.

 

Why was Zhang Qingye, who had been an S-rank Hunter, running a crumbling Martial Arts School with just one Disciple in a Small City I’d never even heard of?

 

“Since I retired, returning to my Hometown is the natural course, isn’t it?”

 

Right. Retiring and returning Home.

That could certainly happen.

But that wasn’t what I was curious about.

 

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

 

“…”

 

Zhang Qingye closed his eyes for a moment to catch his breath, then slowly let out a sigh.

 

“Rui, if you’ve finished eating, go inside first.”

 

The Boy called Rui gathered the empty bowls and stood up from his seat.

 

The Boy bowed and quietly closed the door as he disappeared.

 

With the door closed, only Zhang Qingye and I remained in this room.

 

“…So,”

 

I asked as I put down my chopsticks.

 

“Where did all the money you earned while working as a Hunter go that you’re living like this?”

 

An S-rank Hunter’s annual salary alone would be in the tens of billions.

Plus, the S-rank title itself was a brand.

 

You know how it is, don’t you?

The fantasy about products used by heroes who saved the world.

 

The image of S-ranks, of which there were only a few Worldwide, was enough to fulfill that fantasy.

 

Even that Noh Hyun-seong couldn’t compete in this advertising field.

 

Not just advertisements? Various broadcasts and events too.

It was a position that could slap any celebrity back and forth several times.

 

So how could I not have questions?

 

This guy had been in the S-rank Hunter position for over ten years.

Where did all the wealth he accumulated during that time go, that he can’t even fix one side of the Martial Arts School gate and leaves it creaking?

 

“Did you forget which country I’m from?”

 

I know, one of the few remaining socialist states in the world.

That country with the special system called Chinese socialism.

 

“In my motherland, individual possessions don’t exist.”

 

But such conventional wisdom couldn’t resolve my doubts.

 

“Don’t you have any emergency funds hidden Overseas or something?”

 

You know those things that are openly known, don’t you?

The capital of Chinese high-ranking officials hidden around the world.

 

“I do.”

 

He answered nonchalantly.

 

“Hey, then at least fix the door…”

 

“I’d have to be able to go Overseas for that to matter.”

 

“…”

 

What I had thought was fortunate suddenly became solemn.

 

“After being forced to retire, I haven’t been able to leave the ‘Designated Area.'”

 

A bitter smile crossed his lips.

 

“Until just a few years ago, I was under 24-hour surveillance. It seems to have lessened a bit since I retired to the countryside, but…”

 

“…Even now?”

 

“Who knows. You saw how the Village People treat Rui, didn’t you?”

 

I couldn’t say anything.

The reason for the inexplicable coldness the Village People had shown toward the Boy came from Zhang Qingye’s mouth.

 

Being with a Hunter shunned by the State.

 

“Only Rui is pitiful. If he wasn’t an orphan, I wouldn’t have let him come anywhere near this place.”

 

Zhang Qingye smiled bitterly.

 

“Why didn’t you just run away instead?”

 

Just because he retired didn’t mean an S-rank Hunter’s power had disappeared.

 

“If you just left, there would be a line of countries ready to welcome you with open arms.”

 

“This country has 2 more S-rank Hunters besides me.”

 

Zhang Qingye’s words made me understand the general situation.

 

“One Junior Brother and my Senior Brother.”

 

“Is it okay to tell me such things?”

 

I knew that China had 3 S-rank Hunters, but that was as far as it went.

The Chinese Government had classified the facts about their personal information as top secret.

 

“Well, what’s the big deal about that.”

 

Zhang Qingye shrugged his shoulders.

 

“In any case, I might manage against my Junior Brother alone, but if my Senior Brother steps in too, I have no way to escape.”

 

Zhang Qingye downed his Wine Cup.

 

His appearance as he drank was pitiful.

 

I wondered if an S-rank Hunter could really fall this far.

 

Whatever actions he had taken, as an S-rank Hunter, he had shouldered duties befitting that name.

 

A moment of silence passed.

It was Zhang Qingye who broke that silence.

 

“Let’s stop the depressing talk here. So, why did you come here?”

 

“Me?”

 

I shrugged my shoulders.

 

“Tourism.”

 

“…What?”

 

Zhang Qingye made an incredulous expression.

 

“The Supreme Commander told me to go sightseeing. So I’m diligently going around sightseeing.”

 

“Are you serious?”

 

“After eating my fill of sushi, I was craving malatang.”

 

“…”

 

Well, even if I put myself in his shoes, it doesn’t make sense.

 

Where would you find an S-rank Hunter who would specifically come to this backwater Village for tourism when there’s nothing to see, not even a single Hotel?

 

Fortunately, perhaps because the internet connection isn’t good here, Zhang Qingye probably doesn’t know that I’m currently on a luxury tour.

 

Actually, even if he knew, it wouldn’t matter much.

What could Zhang Qingye do about it anyway?

I’m the one who saved his life and even extended his Hunter career.

Moreover, I’m a benefactor who even helped Zhang Qingye’s beloved Disciple (?) Rui,

so surely I wouldn’t be kicked out.

 

Zhang Qingye stared at me intently for a long while, then sighed and stood up from his seat.

 

“Haah… I don’t know what you’re thinking, but please don’t get Rui and me involved.”

 

“Of course.”

 

I also stood up from my seat.

Then I smiled broadly and patted Zhang Qingye’s shoulder.

 

Somehow it seems I’ve managed to get food and lodging provided, plus a reliable bodyguard all at once.

 

***

 

The cool dawn air penetrated deep into my lungs.

 

It was air with a strong scent of trees, different from Seoul Downtown.

 

I came out in front of the room, sat cross-legged, and closed my eyes.

 

Since I woke up early in this unfamiliar sleeping place, I thought I’d draw some circuits.

 

Before I knew it, the brush pen in my mind was spraying ink-like ghostly energy, drawing intricate circuits.

 

‘The air is nice too. Today I should try connecting them as I draw.’

 

How much time had passed like that?

 

When I slightly opened my eyes, I saw Rui and Zhang Qingye training in the distance.

 

Rui was swinging a sword with his small body, while Zhang Qingye watched silently with his arms crossed.

 

At first I was worried he might give his disciple a bandit sword like his own, but surprisingly it was ordinary training.

 

Then suddenly, I thought that Rui’s mana might be because of Zhang Qingye.

 

I rested my chin on my hand and activated Fire Eyes with an interested gaze.

 

‘Can you really do something like awakening by learning martial arts?’

 

Every time Rui continued his martial forms, the mana in his body responded accordingly.

 

And Zhang Qingye’s intervention confirmed my suspicions.

 

Whenever Rui’s movements became sloppy or his mana operation went awry, Zhang Qingye intervened.

 

Every time Zhang Qingye said a brief word from the side, the flow of mana changed.

Breathing, gaze, center— with each word from him, Rui’s movements were corrected and his mana flow stabilized.

 

That sight came as quite a shock to me.

 

Though it was weak mana, if that developed further, it meant he could train martial artists approaching Hunter level without awakening.

 

‘Zhang Qingye… should I just take him?’

 

After all, isn’t he just an abandoned orphan with nowhere to go, discarded by the state?

 

Then how about recruiting him to Ashin so we can have a win-win situation?

 

‘His personality seems much more subdued than before too…’

 

Well, that’s probably all thanks to Rui.

 

Beneath Zhang Qingye’s stern expression as he taught Rui lay a sense of pride he seemed to be feeling for the first time.

 

Of course, it wasn’t simple sympathy.

 

Bringing Zhang Qingye to Ashin would have considerable benefits.

 

First of all, Zhang Qingye is an S-rank Hunter.

That alone is beneficial.

And the martial arts Zhang Qingye is teaching Rui.

 

Though that isn’t in completed form yet, and might not have much meaning for already awakened Hunters.

 

But let’s think about Ashin’s guild members.

 

Aren’t they ordinary people or F-rank Hunters no different from ordinary people?

 

Zhang Qingye’s martial arts could have meaningful effects for them.

 

And most importantly…

 

‘I can’t let a child stay in a place like this.’

 

If I took them, I planned to take Zhang Qingye and Rui as a set.

 

‘I’ll have to ask Yamyeong to look into ways to bring them when I meet him later.’

 

I’ll give him an appropriately high position.

Something like Chief Education Officer.

Rui has the reliable older sister Lee Seo-do too, so he shouldn’t have problems adapting.

 

Just as I was about to get up, I discovered a message placed on my knee.

 

It was sent by Yamyeong and the content wasn’t much.

 

His arrival time was delayed by a few days,

and something about being ‘fortunate to have secured excellent lodging and a reliable bodyguard.’

 

That worked out well actually.

 

I could use the remaining time to devise a strategy for recruiting those two to Ashin.

 

While I had already recruited Zhang Qingye in my head, he finished training and walked over slowly.

 

“You’re more diligent than you look.”

 

Zhang Qingye made an expression of surprise.

 

“I’m originally diligent.”

 

“Is that so… You’re quite different from the Korean Hunters I’ve seen.”

 

You should compare me to the right people…

Of all people to compare, are you comparing Noh Hyun-seong and me?

 

“Oh, and let me impose on you for just a few more days.”

 

I didn’t forget to request a contract extension.

 

“…”

 

At those words, Zhang Qingye’s face crumpled even more.

 

“You’re quite good at cooking. So I’ll leave it to you.”

 

Zhang Qingye glared at me with her eyes for a moment, then sighed and headed to the kitchen.

 

‘That’s right, did you think your life was worth so little?’

 

***

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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