"You remember me?" Yi asked, surprised.
"Of course. How could I forget someone that bought a baseball bat from thugs, thinking it was an artifact?" Madam Zhishi said with a smile, yet didn't laugh.
She herself wasn't quite sure what to think of this guy.
"I go by Yi, and this is my... assistant Xiao Lao. Please put this item into your next auction," Yi introduced himself.
"So Yi is your name? Did you regain your memories then?"
"Well, I guess to some extent."
Madam Zhishi wanted to ask more but decided to not pry too much and focus on the artifact instead.
After about 30 minutes of using different instruments to determine the use and value of the item, she turned back to Yi. "Where did you get this thing, and how do you know it is an artifact?"
She was truly puzzled. She was sure that this was an artifact, but no matter what she tried, she couldn't determine the use of said artifact as she twirled it around in her hands.
"Madam Zhishi, I might tell you, but first of all I have to ask you to keep my and my assistants identities a secret. If you are able to fulfill this, I can tell you about it." Yi said seriously.
"Of course. That is the bare minimum for every successful auction. The secrecy of the seller is one of the top priorities. I can swear that neither I nor any of the men that saw you will tell a soul," she answered seriously.
Oh, right, there were other people. Yi, not quite used to this sort of negotiation, completely forgot about the guards that saw the stone. He hadn't even thought of a method to keep Madam Zhishi silent; if she said she wouldn't tell, he would just believe her.
"Alright, that is enough. Since you helped me out, I will not hide the use of the artifact or some of our power. Xiao Lao."
"Yes, Master Yi?"
"Hit her without destroying anything else," he simply said.
"What?" Madam Zhishi was shocked but not afraid.
She herself knew how to defend herself, even if the opposition had some powers. She readied herself to receive the attack before striking back while alarming her guards, but suddenly, as Xiao Lao's hand extended to punch her, all she could feel was helplessness.
It was like a monster had awakened next to her, and something unstoppable would tear through her in the next moment. At this point Madam Zhishi knew there was no chance of evasion.
The punch landed, but surprisingly nothing happened as the rock emitted a light golden glow.
"What?" Madam Zhishi's knees fell to the ground as her whole body was wet with the sweat her body produced at this moment. Her heart was beating fast, and her mind couldn't process what happened.
"Well, that's the power of the artifact. It can stop any life-threatening situation for the wearer while at the same time offering increased health for everyone close to it," Yi explained before looking at Xiao Lao.
"Xiao Lao, why did you use so little power, by the way?"
"I'm sorry, master. I didn't want to show too much strength," she bowed.
"It's fine; this was ok too. As long as there is nothing wrong with your cultivation, it's ok," Yi said before turning back to Madam Zhishi, who stared at Yi as if she had seen a monster.
"So Madam Zhishi, what do you think of this artifact?"
"This..." Madam Zhishi needed some time before calming down and standing up on her own.
"I need to speak to my superior; this item is too valuable for my tiny auction. But I know someone who is trustworthy and leads the largest monthly auction in the country. I think your item should be the top item even there," she said.
She had never seen something like it, but she knew that this was something too large for her to handle. In the past, while trying to become powerful within the world of auctioning, she had already caught a glimpse of these families. The families that held true power, not just those that played around with some martial arts.
If she sold this artifact at her auction, these powerful families would do everything to get to Yi. It was nothing she could bear.
"Alright, then contact your friend, and we will be back," Yi said and turned around.
"Wait, wait, the artifact," Madam Zhishi shouted in panic while waving the artifact around.
"Oh, just keep it for now," Yi said. "Show it to your friend and call this number afterwards while asking for me." Yi swiftly took out a pen and paper and wrote down Yan Yuiling's number before leaving behind the dumbstruck Madam Zhishi.
Yi and Xiao Lao headed out of the building while receiving some stares from the guards.
"Madam Zhishi, are you alright?" A guard arrived at Madam Zhishi's room, where she just lay flat on the ground. "Did these bastards hurt you? Should we get them back and let them pay?" he asked, but as soon as Madam Zhishi realized what this stupid guard was saying, she hit him hard.
The guard stumbled back in shock, not sure why he was hit. "Everyone that saw him! Get everyone that saw him, the woman with him, or the rock in this room!" Madam Zhishi commanded.
After everyone arrived, the message was simple: "Do not tell anyone about Yi, Xiao Lao, or the rock. Ever!"
...
Xiao Li, the esteemed leader of the Xiao clan. The last defender of the holy mountain of the mountain lord prided himself on his management and leadership, yet at this moment he was overwhelmed by the simple task of getting his papers ready and becoming the founder of a company.
Yan Yuiling, knowing at least something about the world of cultivation from some of her friends that read these kinds of nonsensical novels, told him that a company was somewhat similar to a sect within the cultivation world.
Since founding and leading a clan with sect-like structures, Xiao Li was understandably excited by the thought of founding a company in this unknown world, but this was just too much.
He had to apply for his ID, sign what felt like 1,000 papers, and register this company at various departments. And this was just the work Yan Yuiling assigned to him. She herself did a lot more unknown work.
Xiao Li was greatly impressed by Yan Yuiling, but at the same time, criticized these complicated procedures of this world.
In the end he was excited to go back to either his clan or teaching some cultivation skills to beginners. He wanted to have nothing to do with actually leading the company.
After being skeptical of Yan Yuiling in the beginning, she had thoroughly won him over.