Free Web NovelChapter 93: Chapter 93: Invitations From the City
The invitations began arriving on the fourth day.
First came small ones.
Merchant associations offering discounts on equipment repair.
Guild representatives inviting Qin Yuheng’s team to "friendly resource exchanges."
Minor families asking whether the Qin younger generation wished to join joint training events.
Then came larger ones.
The Wei family sent a formal congratulatory letter, polite and direct. It praised the team’s First Gate Perfect Clear and expressed willingness to cooperate in future academy missions.
The Lin family sent a more elegant letter, wrapped in silver thread, inviting Qin Yuheng to a private auction of early-to-mid floor resources.
The Zhao family sent nothing.
That silence was more meaningful than any letter.
Qin Wanshan reviewed each invitation personally.
"Most are harmless on the surface," he said. "None are harmless completely."
Qin Feng, who had been invited to listen because he would soon attempt higher floors himself, grinned.
"So we reject all?"
Qin Wanshan glanced at him.
"That is how fools become isolated."
Qin Feng coughed.
"Then accept all?"
"That is how fools become trapped."
Qin Mo whispered, "I like the third option where we sleep."
Qin Wanshan ignored him.
Qin Yuheng studied the invitations.
The Wei family’s offer was useful. Wei Chen had proven reliable. Cooperation with them could give the Qin team a public ally who was not politically slippery.
The Lin family auction was tempting. Auctions could provide rare fragments, class materials, seal resources, or cleansing items. But it was also a place where information moved like hidden knives.
Merchant guild invitations were useful for market access but dangerous for resource exposure.
They chose carefully.
First, send a polite reply to the Wei family expressing openness to academy mission cooperation.
Second, accept the Lin private auction invitation, but attend with caution.
Third, refuse direct guild recruitment offers.
Fourth, ignore vague family training invitations.
Qin Wanshan nodded.
"Good. You are learning to choose doors."
Lin Xian’er personally delivered the auction details the next day.
"This auction will not be large," she said. "But it will include First Gate class materials, early-floor rare resources, and a few sealed items from real-world ruins."
Qin Yuheng looked at her.
"Broken Seal items?"
"Possibly."
"Blood Sun bait?"
"Also possibly."
"You are honest."
"I prefer repeat customers alive."
Qin Mo, sitting nearby, muttered, "That is still merchant morality."
Lin Xian’er smiled. "Reliable merchant morality."
The auction was scheduled in three days.
Before that, Qin Yuheng had another matter to handle: his siblings.
Qin Yuchen had already become part of the team, but Qin Yuze and Qin Xue’er were still too young for academy entry. Qin Yuze, at fifteen, was growing restless. He watched his elder brothers and cousins improve rapidly and felt left behind. Qin Xue’er, at thirteen, showed curiosity but not impatience.
Qin Zhengyuan had warned Qin Yuheng not to protect the younger generation from every storm.
So Qin Yuheng began training with Qin Yuze.
Not giving him treasures.
Not yet.
Training.
Qin Yuze used a spear. freewēbnoveℓ.com
That surprised Qin Yuheng at first, though perhaps it should not have. The Qin bloodline remembered spears, and Qin Yuze’s temperament suited direct combat.
He was aggressive, fast, and stubborn.
Too stubborn.
During practice, he overextended three times in ten moves.
Qin Yuheng knocked him down each time with the wooden sword.
Qin Yuze gritted his teeth.
"Again."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
"Why did you fall?"
"Because you are stronger."
"That is not the answer."
Qin Yuze frowned.
"Because I attacked too far?"
"Yes. Your spear moves before your feet are ready. Power without base becomes a gift to your opponent."
Qin Yuze stood and adjusted.
Again.
This time, he lasted four more moves.
Qin Zhengyuan watched from the side, eyes soft but serious.
After training, Qin Yuze looked at Qin Yuheng.
"When I enter the academy, can I join your team?"
"No."
The answer was immediate.
Qin Yuze froze.
"Why?"
"Because you need your own foundation first. If you join my team too early, you will follow instead of grow."
Qin Yuze looked dissatisfied.
Qin Yuheng continued, "But I will help you prepare."
That softened him slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Qin Xue’er appeared from behind a pillar.
"What about me?"
Qin Yuheng smiled.
"You are thirteen."
"I can still prepare."
Qin Zhengyuan laughed softly.
Qin Yuheng looked at her bright eyes and nodded.
"Basic body training and perception games. No combat pressure yet."
Qin Xue’er cheered.
Qin Yuze muttered, "Perception games sound easy."
Qin Xue’er looked at him.
"I will beat you."
"You will not."
She did.
The perception game involved identifying hidden bells under cups. Qin Xue’er’s intuition was unusually sharp. She found the correct bell seven out of ten times. Qin Yuze found four.
Qin Zhengyuan and Qin Yuheng exchanged a glance.
Qin Xue’er had not awakened yet.
But her future would not be ordinary.
That night, Qin Yuheng added another note to his hidden plan.
When their awakening time came, he would prepare SSS Talent Fruits.
Not to replace their natural awakening.
To build upon it.
Family foundation was not only healing the old.
It was preparing the young.
Three days later, the Lin private auction opened.
Qin Yuheng attended with Qin Mo and Qin Lian.
Qin Yuchen remained at the estate for training.
The auction hall was hidden behind a tea house in the inner city. Lin Xian’er greeted them personally.
"Welcome," she said. "Tonight, please assume every smile has a price."
Qin Mo looked around.
"I dislike places where that needs to be said."
Qin Yuheng’s gaze moved across the masked guests.
Merchants.
Family agents.
Academy seniors. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Perhaps Blood Sun observers.
Then the first auction item appeared.
A Class Token Fragment.
The next stage had begun.
