The Beautiful CEO’s Close Bodyguard
Chapter 458 - 0460: A Wooden Fish

Even though there were no longer any people below on the first floor, the auctioneer still hosted the event with high enthusiasm. The ninth auction item was an unremarkable wooden fish.

Its brown appearance always reminded people of the wooden fish struck by monks in temples.

The auctioneer glanced at the few people remaining below and smiled, then swept his gaze over the second floor from left to right, explaining as he did: "This is not just any wooden fish. It has been blessed by Master Guangde himself, containing many years of his research and efforts."

Everyone was familiar with wooden fish, but Master Guangde’s name was unheard of by those present, including the individuals on the second floor, so no one was particularly interested.

Huo Tianqian scratched his head, puzzled, and asked, "Who is this Master Guangde that he can be featured at the end?"

Although it wasn’t the last item, the status of the ninth item already signified its extreme importance, at least more important than the previous eight.

Yet no one had ever heard of Master Guangde.

Chu Ge narrowed his eyes slightly, the cold glint of his gaze fixed on the wooden fish. His sharp intuition told him that things were not so simple.

Zhao Wuji, equally curious, looked at Chu Ge. He was well aware of Chu Ge’s extensive knowledge and suspected that Chu Ge might actually recognize Master Guangde.

Both turned their attention to Chu Ge, but he was looking intently at the stage, unaware of their gazes.

Zhao Wuji asked with puzzled curiosity, "Mr. Chu, do you recognize this wooden fish? Do you know its origins?"

Chu Ge redirected his gaze and nodded slightly, "Master Guangde has been in seclusion for decades. It’s normal that you haven’t heard of him. Elder Jian knows him, and he even thrice requested to study under Master Guangde, only to be rejected each time."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji understood that if even someone like Jian Chunqiu had once sought to become a disciple, then this Master Guangde must be an extraordinary figure. Would the item he offered at the auction be of immense value?

Zhao Wuji looked again at Chu Ge, whose gaze had returned to the wooden fish, and after hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Since he has retreated to the mountains and secluded himself for so many years, why suddenly bring out his wooden fish to the mundane world for auction?"

Chu Ge shook his head, equally curious.

From what he knew of Master Guangde, it was impossible that he would put his wooden fish up for auction as it was as crucial to a monk as his two hands.

While pondering, the auctioneer below announced, "The starting bid for this wooden fish is two hundred thousand."

As the auctioneer finished, people below shook their heads. In their eyes, it was just a wooden fish struck by monks with no collectible value because they didn’t even know who Master Guangde was.

In their minds, they had relegated Master Guangde to the status of an unknown, insignificance monk.

Consequently, there was a brief silence in the air after the auctioneer spoke, and the atmosphere froze.

The auctioneer hadn’t expected a lull and awkwardly cleared her throat, "You may now start the bidding."

Still, no one made an offer.

People were just curiously looking around, wondering who would be foolhardy enough to bid on a wooden fish.

The auctioneer had never faced such a situation and was somewhat panicked; she turned to look at the chief organizer backstage, uncertain about how to proceed.

If no one bid for the wooden fish, it would become a stagnating item and lose all value.

With other items, it wouldn’t be much of an issue, but this wooden fish was under their leadership’s provision. If no one placed a bid, would it not embarrass their leadership?

The backstage organizer shook his head slightly, instructing her to remain calm. He guessed that those in the first-floor hall would not bid for the wooden fish, but those in the private rooms on the second floor might show interest upon hearing Master Guangde’s name.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated. Among those representing their groups in these second-floor rooms, none were over fifty years old, while Master Guangde’s prominence had echoed throughout the world of martial arts over eighty years ago for a moment, but after that year, something happened, and Master Guangde retreated into the mountains. Even such a famous figure couldn’t withstand so many years of seclusion; among the worldly, only people like Jian Chunqiu’s generation remembered the name of Master Guangde.

After waiting for a moment, with no one willing to bid, the auctioneer sighed in resignation, picked up the microphone, and was just about to say something when suddenly, from one of the rooms on the second floor, the auction bell was rung.

Three times, three hundred thousand!

The auctioneer was ecstatic. Finally, someone with discernment!

Unable to hide her excitement, the auctioneer announced, "Room number four on the second floor bids three hundred thousand, is there anyone else who wants to bid?"

Room number four on the second floor?

Everyone on the first floor turned their eyes to room number four; due to special design, those below couldn’t see what the people above looked like.

But in their minds, they had already labeled the bidder as a fool.

Meanwhile, the occupants of all rooms on the second floor were stunned by the sudden bid from room number four.

They had already inquired about the identity of each other and knew who was in which room; this information was all transparent to them, so they were aware from the start that Chu Ge was in room number four.

In room number one, two individuals sat; they were the financial manager and an elder from the Tang Sect. The financial manager, puzzled, asked, "Is this Chu Ge crazy? This kind of wooden fish can be found anywhere. I’ve also sensed it just now; there’s no Spirit Jade inside, it’s just an ordinary wooden fish, and even if it’s an antique, it’s not worth three hundred thousand."

The Tang Sect elder stroked his beard, his gaze filled with contemplation as he looked towards Chu Ge’s room. Honestly, he couldn’t fathom what Chu Ge was ultimately after.

Who didn’t know that everyone on the second floor had come for the final secret manual? Yet, he still had the interest and financial means to bid for these impractical items?

Here, it was known that the Tang Sect had the most interactions with Chu Ge, so based on their understanding of him, things must not be as simple as they seemed.

Meanwhile, in the Tang Sect’s neighboring room, Hua Liuyue was deep in thought. She had specifically investigated Chu Ge before, and he never engaged in such fruitless efforts. Yet now, for a wooden fish, he had taken the trouble to participate in the bidding. Could it be that he came for the wooden fish rather than the secret manual? That wouldn’t make sense.