The Nascent Soul ancestor buried his nose against the female cultivator’s snowy neck and inhaled deeply. His normally stern expression softened with satisfaction. ‘Not bad. You may come back with me as a maid.’
Joy flashed in her eyes. She softened in his arms, laid a delicate hand against his chest, and caressed him slowly. With an alluring glance, she murmured, ‘Thank you for your favor, Ancestor…’
Most of the cultivators present possessed formidable strength of will, but strength of will did not mean disinterest in beautiful women. Seeing her seductive behavior, many others revealed covetous gazes.
The remaining beauties saw how easily she had succeeded and approached in their turn. The Foundation Establishment women stepped forward first. Whenever an ancestor looked their way, they obediently approached, nestling at his side or sitting directly in his lap. They used every charm at their disposal, showing themselves exceptionally gentle and eager to please.
Most of the ancestors accepted them readily. With fragrant, soft beauties in their arms, even a tedious wait became rather pleasant. At their exalted status, servants were offered to them wherever they went, and taking one or two home was nothing unusual.
Before long, each Nascent Soul ancestor had a beautiful maid in his arms.
Then the Qi Refining women approached, allowing the Golden Core Perfected Ones to draw them close. Their beauty was in no way inferior to that of the Foundation Establishment women, but their cauldron physiques or cultivation were somewhat weaker, making them slightly less desirable.
Even Xuan Ze, accustomed to seeing every kind of beauty, drew a woman over to massage his legs. But three people reacted quite differently.
A beautiful female cultivator approached Xi Lin, only to find a spirit sword held across her path. ‘I have no need of anyone to serve me,’ he said. ‘Go elsewhere.’
Tears immediately welled up in her eyes, but Xi Lin was unmoved. To him beautiful women were no more than painted skeletons. His life-bound spirit sword was his true confidante and beloved. Having spoken, he ignored her completely.
The woman could only withdraw, but she noticed that two others had also met with no success.
Looking up, she saw two male cultivators seated off to one side. One was at Golden Core, with an extraordinarily powerful but forbiddingly cold aura that made others afraid to approach. The other was weaker, only at Essence Transformation, but radiated gentleness and had a warm, amiable face.
Yet when the cold cultivator looked toward them, it felt as though his gaze froze all seven emotions, while a strand of killing intent filled their hearts with fear. The gentle one merely smiled faintly and said nothing, but his eyes expressed a courteous refusal. Both had rejected them.
Since these men were guests, they could not be forced to accept service. The three remaining female cultivators had no choice but to return empty-handed, lamenting their poor luck.
The manager was secretly puzzled. Could these men truly have no interest in women?
After a moment’s thought, she produced a silver bell and shook it gently.
Soon several young men entered. Some were handsome and refined, others alluring or delicately beautiful, each with his own distinctive charm.
Xu Ziqing was surprised to see them.
They did not look like ordinary servants or pages. Why had they been summoned? After some thought, he supposed they might be guides who would explain the auction’s proceedings and introduce the items. He felt Dragonflight Trading House was indeed thoughtful and meticulous in its arrangements.
Poor Xu Ziqing had been young in both his lifetimes. Although his senior brother had helped him learn of some of the world’s sordid affairs, he could not always recognize them when they appeared. His innocent speculation came nowhere near the real purpose for which these young men had been trained.
The manager, unaware of his thoughts, smiled. ‘I wasn’t quite thorough enough earlier. We also have several fine young male attendants, raised on spirit dew and possessing cauldron physiques. None has been with anyone before. They’re difficult to train, so we have only a few. Since certain honored guests don’t favor women, perhaps you will let these boys serve instead.’
Having risen to her present position through extensive experience, she knew that some powerful cultivators preferred men to women. Of course, others were genuinely ascetic and had no interest in intimacy at all. Yet these were third-floor guests. She would rather do more than necessary than neglect their wishes and offend them.
At her signal, the young men approached the three cultivators who had no female companions.
Xu Ziqing was thoroughly startled this time.
Although he loved his senior brother, he was not generally attracted to men. He had not even confessed his feelings to Yun Lie, so how could he become involved with another? He was also astonished that Dragonflight Trading House trained young male cauldrons for such purposes. It was far beyond anything he had imagined.
Before his thoughts settled, two young men approached, only to be stopped by an invisible barrier. Xu Ziqing immediately recognized that his senior brother’s sword intent was keeping them away.
He sighed with relief and smiled at Yun Lie.
Yun Lie nodded slightly and transmitted, ‘This is commonplace. There’s no need to find it strange.’
Xu Ziqing nodded quickly. He had merely been caught off guard. Having seen it once, he would know what to expect.
Now that both martial brothers had declined male attendants as well, the manager concluded they were probably devoted ascetics. She tried no further devices and prepared to call the two young men back.
Just then, however, a Nascent Soul ancestor waved his sleeve and pulled the more alluring youth into his arms. ‘This one interests me. Why not give him to me as well?’
Another Nascent Soul man, a burly fellow, drew the delicate-looking youth to his side and accepted him too.
The manager had no objection. These youths were gifts in any event, and giving one or two extra to Nascent Soul ancestors would only earn goodwill.
Then she looked toward the refined-looking young man. He was perhaps slightly less striking than the others, and was standing in front of Xi Lin, who had seized his wrist and did not appear inclined to let go.
The manager felt satisfied. Young men naturally admire beauty, she thought. The two ascetics were one thing, but at least this powerful young sword cultivator could be properly accommodated.
She instructed the youth, ‘Since this Perfected One has chosen you, go with him. Serve him diligently and do not neglect your duties.’
The refined youth nodded. Perhaps young men were less adept than women at putting on a charming manner; he displayed little coquetry and simply let Xi Lin hold his wrist.
When Xi Lin released him, he stood respectfully behind the sword cultivator, looking very obedient.
Having made the arrangements, the manager took her leave to welcome other guests. She closed the door behind her; henceforth, without the occupants’ permission, outsiders would not be able to enter easily.
Once she was gone, the guests made themselves comfortable. Those of similar cultivation chatted with one another.
Yin Chenghao, an adviser to Xuan Ze, had always been friendly with Xi Lin. Having seen that the only thing on Xi Lin’s mind was the sword, he was exceedingly curious to see him claiming a young man today. He teased, ‘So you aren’t as pure and free of desire as you pretend. You’ve opened my eyes.’
Xi Lin cast him an icy glance. ‘Don’t talk nonsense. I see that he has a Yang Water constitution and a Water spiritual root. Though his other attributes are mixed, he is well suited to practicing my sword technique. He can serve as my sword attendant. How could this be like the…’ Filthy thing you’re suggesting.
He swallowed the last two words because all those present were valued associates of Prince Tiancheng, and he could not insult them recklessly.
Yin Chenghao was speechless for a moment, then shook his head and laughed. ‘How dull! I expect you’ll spend your entire life with nothing but your life-bound spirit sword. You can forget about a dual-cultivation partner and tender affection.’
Xi Lin snorted. ‘My heart is devoted to the Sword Dao. I need nothing else!’
Their conversation reached the ears of those nearby.
When the refined youth heard the words ‘sword attendant,’ he was startled, then joy appeared in his eyes.
Xu Ziqing noticed and sent Yun Lie a transmission. ‘Senior Brother, what is a sword attendant?’
Surely it was nothing bad. Otherwise, the youth would not look so delighted.
After a moment’s consideration, Yun Lie answered, ‘A sword attendant is someone who serves a sword.’
In the mortal world, such a person would simply be a page carrying the sword. In the cultivation world, however, he also bore the responsibility of nurturing it.
Sword cultivators commonly possessed life-bound spirit swords, which they polished and tempered daily so that sword and mind could communicate seamlessly. With a single thought, the sword would move precisely and naturally, reaching the subtlest heights of mastery.
Yet all spirit swords suffered wear. If a sword cultivator was injured, his spirit sword was likely to be harmed as well. A sword attendant could nurture it at such times, restoring its spiritual nature.
A suitable sword attendant had to possess a constitution compatible with the sword master, a principal spiritual root matching the master’s, and a cultivation technique suited to his. He also had to remain pure in body and mind without dissipating his primordial yang essence.
Given all these conditions, finding a useful sword attendant was far from easy.
But the refined youth brought in by the manager satisfied every requirement. Naturally, Xi Lin had recognized his suitability and intended to take him home, train him properly, and eventually have him nurture his sword.
For the young man, this offered an opportunity to practice a superior cultivation art without having to serve someone sexually. It was a far better fate than he could have hoped for, and he accepted it gladly.
Only after hearing Yun Lie’s explanation did Xu Ziqing understand.
He sighed inwardly. These young men and women were victims of their cauldron constitutions. Had they merely possessed multiple spiritual roots, they might not have entered a great sect, but could have become disciples of smaller schools. Through diligence and luck, they might still have encountered good fortune.
Instead, everything depended on whom they ended up serving. A kind master might give them a worthwhile future. A cruel one… their fate could only be left to heaven.
Having considered this, Xu Ziqing stopped looking at the beautiful maids and young attendants. Such matters were beyond his power to change. Besides, what he regarded as degrading might not be considered so by those involved. Regardless of the frivolity, intimacy, and soft moans around him, he paid them no attention and did not let them trouble his heart.
Soon a bell sounded outside. The auction had begun.