Chapter 13: Qin Ya
In the Weapon Market, there was also a Qingxuan Pavilion, built magnificently and ornately, standing as a landmark structure of the market.
The simpleton pulled a palm-sized token from his pocket and showed it to the guards at the entrance of Qingxuan Pavilion, then led Zhang Ruochen toward the inner courtyard.
Inside the inner courtyard, a maidservant entered a pavilion draped entirely in white curtains, bowed, and said, "Hall Master, Mo Hanlin has introduced a buyer. He hopes you can meet him in person."
A woman dressed in a large red embroidered phoenix long dress sat in the center of the pavilion. Her hair was styled high, adorned with three golden hairpins. She had bright, beautiful eyes, crimson lips, and skin so delicate it seemed it would break at the slightest touch. Her chest bore a pair of full, rounded peaks, and though covered by a thin veil, their proud outline was still visible.
She appeared to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, exuding an irresistible charm from every part of her being.
She was the proprietress of Qingxuan Pavilion, Qin Ya.
Qin Ya's eyes curved slightly upward as she smiled. "A buyer introduced by Mo Hanlin? Could it be an elder from some sect? Or perhaps the head of some family? Forget it. I'm a bit tired today. I won't see him."
The maidservant shook her head. "Neither. It's just a young man who looks about sixteen or seventeen."
"Hmm?"
Qin Ya showed a hint of surprise. "Mo Hanlin usually handles things reliably. Why has he made such a foolish move today?"
The maidservant said, "Mo Hanlin never does foolish things. The person he introduced must be no ordinary individual."
Qin Ya nodded, her eyes narrowing into slits as she smiled. "It does seem like quite an interesting matter! Suddenly, I'm not tired anymore. Let's go see what kind of background this young man has. Heh heh!"
Zhang Ruochen sat in the VIP room, holding a carved liuli tea cup, appearing very calm as he waited patiently.
The simpleton also sat carelessly on a chair below, drinking tea in large gulps, even swallowing the tea leaves, constantly praising how good the tea was.
After a moment, footsteps sounded from outside.
Then, Qin Ya and two maidservants entered from outside.
The simpleton immediately put down his teacup and jumped up from his chair, like a mouse seeing a cat. He respectfully bowed to Qin Ya and said in a low voice, "Greetings, Proprietress."
Qin Ya walked past the simpleton and glanced at Zhang Ruochen. She saw that the young man remained calm and composed, sitting there with a maturity and steadiness uncommon for someone his age.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen also glanced at Qin Ya, sizing her up. A hint of admiration arose in his heart—she was indeed a captivatingly beautiful woman. If she set out to seduce men, probably nine out of ten would fall into her trap.
Fortunately, Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power was strong, so the allure of her beauty didn't affect him much. He got straight to the point: "Proprietress, I believe you know I'm here to purchase a weapon. Take me to your weapon vault."
Qin Ya walked toward Zhang Ruochen. With each step, her full, rounded chest heaved, creating a turbulent, alluring sight.
Her bright eyes and white teeth formed a smile. "Young Master Zhang, what kind of weapon are you planning to buy? I need to have some idea in my mind first, don't I?"
"A sword. Preferably one at the 'True Martial Treasure' level," Zhang Ruochen said, catching a faint, intoxicating fragrance—Qin Ya's natural body scent, which was especially mesmerizing.
That scent was extremely alluring, filling one with fantasies, yet it wasn't vulgar.
What a seductive enchantress!
Qin Ya had never seen a man who could remain so calm in her presence, especially a young man. Wasn't a young man's willpower at its weakest? Most susceptible to temptation?
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was clear, without a trace of lust.
"No wonder Mo Hanlin wanted me to meet him in person. Truly impressive. What ordinary young man would have such firm spiritual will?"
Qin Ya nodded, finding Zhang Ruochen even more interesting. She smiled and said, "My weapon vault does indeed have many swords at the 'True Martial Treasure' level. Since Young Master Zhang is a distinguished guest of Qingxuan Pavilion, I'll personally take you to the weapon vault."
The chubby simpleton standing behind Qin Ya vigorously shook his head at Zhang Ruochen, his eyes seeming to say, "Brother, whatever you do, don't go to the weapon vault alone with the proprietress. She'll eat you up and leave not even a bone."
Zhang Ruochen naturally saw the simpleton's expression and thought for a moment. "Alright. Thank you for leading the way, Proprietress. Please!"
Qin Ya's chest and hips were full, her slender waist as supple as a willow branch. Walking ahead of Zhang Ruochen, she outlined a graceful curve, her hips swaying, her long hair cascading like a black waterfall down her back. With each step, her plump buttocks gently bounced.
Even just her back view was enough to make it hard to look away.
No wonder the simpleton was so afraid of her.
Such a woman, if she were gentle, would surely make men adore her. But if she weren't gentle, she would certainly make many men fear her.
A woman who had outlived seven husbands and controlled immense wealth in the Martial Market—how could she possibly be gentle?
Zhang Ruochen forced himself to control his gaze, trying not to let it fall on Qin Ya.
"Greetings, Proprietress!"
The two rows of guards stationed outside the weapon vault immediately knelt on one knee, their eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to glance sideways or look at Qin Ya.
They were all filled with fear and trepidation, as if standing before them was not a stunning beauty but a soul-reaping envoy.
Only Qin Ya and Zhang Ruochen entered the weapon vault; everyone else remained outside.
Watching Zhang Ruochen follow Qin Ya through the deep doorway, the simpleton shook his head and sighed, already foreseeing Zhang Ruochen's fate.
No male buyer who entered the weapon vault alone with the proprietress had ever come out intact.
Some had their hands severed, some were turned into eunuchs, some had their eyes gouged out, and some even lost their heads.
It wasn't that the proprietress deliberately harmed them, but those men couldn't control their hands or their lower bodies and tried to assault her.
In fact, each time, the proprietress was the victim, forced to fight back and teach them a lesson.
For this reason, those who had their hands severed, eyes gouged out, or were turned into eunuchs didn't dare to spread the word.
For people of their status, having such a thing publicized would be too disgraceful!
Qingxuan Pavilion's weapon vault was enormous, divided into separate chambers: a sword chamber, a blade chamber, a spear chamber, a hammer chamber, an axe chamber... Among them, the sword chamber was the largest.
In the Yunwu Commandery, the vast majority of martial artists preferred using swords as their weapons.
Weapons were divided into "mortal weapons" and "True Martial Treasures."
Mortal weapons were used by ordinary people.
True Martial Treasures were used by martial artists. Only martial artists could unleash the true power of a True Martial Treasure.
Based on the grade of the forging materials and the number of inscriptions within the True Martial Treasure, they could be divided into nine ranks.
First-rank True Martial Treasures were the lowest grade.
Ninth-rank True Martial Treasures were the highest grade.
As soon as Zhang Ruochen entered the sword chamber, he felt a peculiar fluctuation emanating from a broken sword in the corner.
The blade of that broken sword was a full palm-width wide. Although the tip was broken, the blade still measured four feet in length.
The sword body appeared plain and unadorned, even covered in spots of rust.
"Abyssal... Abyss..."
Seeing that broken sword, Zhang Ruochen was stunned for a moment, then immediately strode over quickly.
Qin Ya smiled. "Young Master Zhang has excellent eyesight. That is an ancient sword nearly a thousand years old, extremely heavy and exceptionally sharp. The material used to forge it is also very special; no appraiser has yet been able to identify what metal it was made from."
"If it hadn't been damaged, it would be at least a seventh-rank True Martial Treasure, perhaps even higher."
"What a pity. Such a fine sword was broken, and even the inscriptions within the blade are all severed. This sword, aside from being sharp, has no other value. If Young Master Zhang wants to buy it, I'll sell it to you at the price of a first-rank True Martial Treasure."
"How much?"
Zhang Ruochen slowly lifted the extremely heavy broken sword, holding it in his hands. He gently wiped away a layer of rust from the hilt, revealing two ancient characters beneath: "Abyssal Abyss."
The Abyssal Ancient Sword.
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen seemed to really like that broken sword, Qin Ya felt a twinge of regret. Even at its most expensive, a first-rank True Martial Treasure could only sell for five hundred silver coins, less than the value of a single Qi-Gathering Pill.
"One thousand silver coins."
She raised the price considerably.
"Deal!" Zhang Ruochen said decisively.
Even if it were a million silver coins, Zhang Ruochen would still buy the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
Because this ancient sword was his personal sword from eight hundred years ago.
The sword given to him by Princess Chi Yao, now Empress Chi Yao.
"Man dies, sword dies. Since I have been reborn, the sword should also be reborn. Abyssal Abyss, I will wash away your tarnish and restore your radiance." Zhang Ruochen caressed the Abyssal Ancient Sword as if stroking his lover, his gaze distant and dreamy.
This was the bond between sword and man!
Qin Ya, however, was speechless. Was this man even a man? Here was a living, breathing beauty standing before him, alone with him in the weapon vault, yet he was clutching a broken sword as if his life depended on it.
Was a broken sword more beautiful than her?
She had to admit, other men who entered the weapon vault alone with her would have already pounced on her.
Although Qin Ya detested those men and would directly cripple their hands, gouge out their eyes, or sever their lifelines, that didn't mean she didn't enjoy men going crazy for her, turning into lust-crazed beasts.
She relished the process of teasing men until they were burning with desire, then ruthlessly striking to sober them up and leave them in tears.
But now, Zhang Ruochen didn't even spare her a glance.
For any beautiful woman, that would be deeply unsatisfying!