First, the fingerbone necklace inlaid with gold. This was the terrifying device that turned a person into a puddle in just a few seconds. Sage wanted nothing more to do with it. It might have something special or powerful, but it was also guaranteed to kill people. He did not want to be the one messing with it. He told the appraiser what happened to the person who tried to activate it. The appraiser stayed back and gave a nod to him, seemingly agreeing with his choice. They’d let some other idiot try their luck.

Second, the massive Storage Ring. A set of four full cubes was rarely seen. The appraiser wanted him to delay it for the yearly auction, but Sage didn’t want to wait.

Lastly, the Treasure Map he’d found sewn into Hei Bai’s clothing. The little piece of metallic paper with a butterfly symbol in the center and poetic phrases on the corners was definitely eye-catching.

“This map is definitely the real deal. Nobody sews such a thing into the lining of their clothing without being interested in its contents. I don’t know anything about it, other than it being valuable.”

“I see. The issue is that something like this can’t really be verified and it will be hard to get the auction goers interested. For this sort of good we can’t guarantee a sale, so we require an additional fee to put it up for auction. We can’t just waste our time. Please understand.”

“I understand. I’ll pay the fee. Maybe someone will recognize the symbols and be interested. Thank you for your assistance.”

Sage paid a thousand Spirit Stones to have the Treasure Map appear in the auction. The fee would be part of the percentage that Thousand Treasures gets from an end sale, or they would keep it all if the map doesn’t sell or is sold for too little. Thousand Treasures has the best appraisers around, and if they don’t recognize an item, then the auction house wouldn’t spend much more time on it. Of course, Sage wasn’t going to depend on them to do all the work. He was pretty sure the Treasure Map led to something valuable, but he had no idea what. Given that Hei Bai was still carrying the map around it was likely that she hadn’t figured out the secret yet either. Instead of wasting his time following the map, he would auction it. Next, Sage left Thousand Treasures and headed towards Lotus Valley.

Lotus Valley was another one of the Four Major Businesses of Dou Kingdom. Just like Thousand Treasures and Black Dog Company, they were a giant organization that had a location in nearly every city of the whole Kingdom. Black Dog Company is a mercenary guild, Thousand Treasures is an auction house, and Lotus Valley caters to entertainment. If you like food, drinks, music, dancing, drugs, women, or gambling; Lotus Valley will serve you.

The main floor was usually always a large restaurant with a bar area. The second floor was actually a large theater for musical performances, plays, or dances. It also quite often had a balcony or mezzanine style tea house. Behind the theater, or on the third floor was also where they had private rooms. The theater also served as a place to show off the women of Lotus Valley and the private rooms were where they could take them, for a price. As for the real shady enterprises, like gambling and the drug trade, they all took place in the basement of Lotus Valley. They kept their darkside well hidden from those who didn’t wish to see it.

Sage’s goal here was two-fold. Recruit for the Jade Horde, and also start some rumors! He went up to the second floor and a beautiful woman walked up to him, “How can I help you, Great Sir?”

“I would like a private room and a list of your storytellers.”

He was escorted to a room on a balcony, one where he could open the heavy soundproofing curtains to watch the show on the stage, or close them to have privacy. A few moments later, another beautiful woman, a server, brought in a tray with wine and a scroll with the list he’d asked for. Sage gave it a look over, before picking out the most expensive storyteller, “...also, whoever is the most popular storyteller. I’d like to hear the most famous tales.”

The server said a name and Sage nodded, then she left the room. After a few minutes the pair of women arrived. They were also quite lovely, but didn’t dress as extravagantly as the other women he’d seen in the theater. On the other hand, their voices were smooth and compelling. As those who made a living telling stories, their voices were exceptional. Sage placed a few Spirit Stones onto the table.

“I’d like to make a confidential deal with you two. Are you willing?”

The most expensive Storyteller crossed her arms, giving Sage a disgusted look, “I’m outside of your price range,” while the other woman glanced at the Spirit Stones and then smiled, “Depends on how much you can offer me.”

In his disguise as a wealthy merchant with a big nose and jowls, it was no wonder he got such an odd answer. Sage shook his head to them, “It’s not what you think. These stones here are only for your confidentiality. If you swear an oath of secrecy, you can take these stones. Later, the task and its rewards will be discussed in detail, but only if you can make the oath.”

Sage brought out his Oathstone and set it upon the table. He also took out a small bottle of pills. He wasn’t sure if they were mortals, but without Qi to infuse into an Oathstone a mortal had to take one of these Qi pills to activate it. They both looked at him a bit oddly, and he clarified, “The task will be related to your usual jobs, not your bodies!”

It certainly wasn’t an easy life being fat and ugly. Or at least, it wasn’t when trying to talk to beautiful women. After a few minutes both women reluctantly picked up the Oathstone and swore not to speak of what was said in their conversation later. He nodded and put away the Oathstone and pills. Surprisingly, both of them were already lower ranked cultivators, but they mentioned that they had to learn voice related Qi techniques in order to be a Storyteller in Lotus Valley.

“The task is actually quite simple. I merely wish the two of you to start telling stories about ‘Immortal Butterfly Fairy’. In the past she was a True Immortal, beautiful as a fairy. She also had an Immortal Butterfly as a pet that she raised in her secret valley. She was a famous poet pursued by many, but her secret valley was impossible to find. As to the rest, feel free to make up whatever you like. You’re both exquisite Storytellers, you can work out the details or even have them contradict each other.”

The most popular Storyteller, Zhong Delan, tilted her head, “You just want us to tell stories about this Immortal Butterfly Fairy? I’ve never heard of her. Who is she?”

“She’s whoever you like. You’ve made up stories before, haven’t you? You take someone famous and make up flowery stories about them, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but those are real people! We just make them more impressive.”

“Right, so just treat the Immortal Butterfly Fairy as a famous person from the past. An easy task, right?”

The highest priced Storyteller, Yao Xinyue, smiled at him, “I accept, but how many times I tell this story is up to how much you offer.”

Zhong Delan didn’t want to be left out so she quickly nodded, “Right, how much are you paying?”

Even as the most expensive Storyteller in Lotus Valley, she still only charged 10 Spirit Stones per hour. They were both cultivators, but it was just a story after all. Rich cultivators could buy magical devices to listen to pre-recorded stories or music, but some still paid a premium to hear them directly from the mouth of a beautiful woman sitting next to them. Zhong Delan only charged 1 Spirit Stone or a thousand gold per hour, so she was far more popular.

“I need you to keep telling stories about the Immortal Butterfly Fairy for this whole month, and I’m offering one thousand Spirit Stones each. The other Storytellers can also tell the stories, but don’t tell anyone where you learned of her. Mysteries are more exciting.”

After that Sage put a pair of Storage Bags onto the table in front of the two women and smiled. If they kept the bags they would of course be agreeing to the terms. They looked at each other and then smiled, picking up the bags and checking inside. Both of them were surprised to see the full amount inside and not some sort of installment instead.

“Nice doing business with you, Ladies.”

After the Storytellers left, Sage had another drink before inviting up a pair of musicians. He repeated the process, though he lost a few Spirit Stones when one of them declined his offer and he had to call another musician up to fill in. Four thousand Spirit Stones lighter, he left the second floor of Lotus Valley and went down to the bar on the first floor. Then he spent a few hundred gold coins buying drinks and telling stories to drunks about the woman of his dreams, ‘Immortal Butterfly Fairy’. It was just too bad she was already dead and gone! The heavens are unkind!

After that he left Lotus Valley and had the boy and his grandpa take his coach to an Inn. He left the grandpa to tend to the horses and return in the morning, while he took the kid aside, “What’s your name?”

“Dou Deng, Sir.”

“Ah, what a good name. Would you like to earn more money, Dou Deng? Do you know other kids like you that work and can spread news?”