"I, Liu Yuanliang, from this moment forth, pledge allegiance to Li Chonglou as my master!" Liu Yuanliang's voice echoed with each word as he knelt.
His tone was laced with extreme reluctance, yet he had ultimately conceded.
A ripple of murmurs spread through the entire Xingzhi Group, creating an immediate uproar.
Many people immediately pulled out their phones, capturing the shocking and unprecedented scene unfolding on their screens. However, departmental heads promptly received calls from Secretary Kong Mo, enforcing a strict gag order. Security personnel were dispatched to every floor, deleting all videos and related photographs from everyone's phones. Of course, this was all to happen later.
At this very moment, Li Chonglou gazed at Liu Yuanliang, who knelt before him, performing a ritual in the ancient style, and felt a surge of emotion. This titan of Zhonghai's cultural and antique circles, a pillar of the community, possessed truly exceptional eyesight and skill, despite his selfish nature.
Of course, he still had a way to go. Times had changed, and so had the information available. It was much like Go; a top player from millennia ago, if transported to the present without learning new techniques, might struggle against an amateur. Antiques and cultural relics were precisely the same.
With the explosion of information in later eras, transparency meant that anyone willing to dedicate themselves could learn what was once accessible only to a select few. The widespread application of virtual reality technology, in particular, allowed one to tour national museums from the comfort of their home, witnessing the world's finest treasures. This advantage was something neither Liu Yuanliang nor anyone else could compete with.
Therefore, in terms of eyesight and skill, Li Chonglou was more than qualified to be Liu Yuanliang's master. Liu Yuanliang, unaware of his good fortune, had indeed encountered a blessing in disguise. Naturally, there was no need for explanation; the humiliation he now faced was self-inflicted. Had it not been for his mission, Li Chonglou would have had no interest in taking him as a disciple.
With a lift of his hand toward Liu Yuanliang's elbow, Li Chonglou stated calmly, "Rise. Since you have taken me as your master, there are three conditions."
Instantly, an irresistible force lifted Liu Yuanliang. He was internally shocked, though outwardly he revealed nothing. While still reeling from the astonishment, he heard Li Chonglou continue, "First, you are not to reveal our master-disciple relationship to the public. Second, you are not to violate established practices or engage in self-serving actions that harm others. Third, you must visit me at the Xingzhi Group once a week; I will have matters to assign. Can you agree to these terms?"
Li Chonglou's expression was solemn, his demeanor commanding, imposing an unprecedented pressure on Liu Yuanliang, making his heart pound. Why did this man, so young, possess such a mountain-like aura? He had only encountered such presence in three people, one of whom was his deceased master, a descendant of royalty, a formidable figure forged in the crucible of battle. Yet, how old was Li Chonglou? What had instilled in him such an aura that made Liu Yuanliang feel inferior?
Lost in thought, he involuntarily nodded, "I can." Immediately afterward, he regretted it. He had intended to subtly oppose Li Chonglou and regain his lost dignity. He hadn't expected his words to slip out so carelessly.
"Very well. If there is nothing else, you may go," Li Chonglou said, standing with his hands behind his back, radiating authority. Kong Mo's eyelids twitched, his heart churning with anger, wishing he could slap Li Chonglou. But he ultimately suppressed the urge. While he could contend with Li Chonglou in secret, he dared not do so openly. He could not defy that person's orders. As long as Li Chonglou's status as Vice President was legitimate, he would be of great use to that person. After all, the name Li Shi, even in death, held a certain deterrence for many.
"Then I will visit again next week," Liu Yuanliang sighed and turned to leave. Despite his anger, he could sense that Li Chonglou was trying to save him face. Coupled with the gag order from Kong Mo, today's events had resulted only in public embarrassment within the Xingzhi Group, which was still somewhat bearable. He could only accept the reality as it was.
"Old Liu, Old Liu…" Kong Mo hurried after him as Liu Yuanliang departed. The company's live broadcast concluded, leaving countless employees with much to ponder. The happiest among them was Xu Bin. He had expected Li Chonglou to be ousted, but instead, Li Chonglou had not only defeated Liu Yuanliang but also taken him as a disciple. Even President Kong Mo had suffered a significant setback. Wouldn't this mean he, Xu Bin, could wield absolute power within the Xingzhi Group from now on? By clinging to Li Chonglou, wouldn't his own future be immensely bright? Without hesitation, Xu Bin immediately retrieved a prized aged white tea, preserved for decades, from his cabinet and rushed towards Li Chonglou's office.
Meanwhile, Wu Tao from the Appraisal Department let out a sigh of helplessness. He had anticipated an end to his difficult days, only for this outcome to occur. Glancing at Lin Ying, who had entered through connections, Wu Tao dared not utter a word.
"Well done, junior brother. You truly do not shame my father's reputation," Lin Ying said with a satisfied smile.
Not long after, Tong Zhaolin's call came through: "Brother, I heard something significant happened today?"
"Didn't Kong Mo order everyone to keep quiet? How did you find out?" Li Chonglou asked with a smile. Tong Zhaolin had been supportive of him since joining the Xingzhi Group, transitioning from suspicion to faith, and truly considering him one of their own. However, Tong Zhaolin had his own businesses and rarely visited the group, yet his information network was surprisingly efficient.
"Never mind that. I heard you dealt with both Old Liu and President Kong. Impressive," Tong Zhaolin chuckled, praising him. "I'm genuinely impressed, brother. How old are you, and you've already managed to toy with these shrewd old foxes? Honestly, I'm a bit apprehensive."
"Apprehensive about what?"
"That you might treat me the same way you treated them…" Tong Zhaolin said with lingering fear. His words were half in jest, half in earnest; Li Chonglou's methods were beyond his imagination. Being friends with such a person was comfortable, but being an enemy would be a nightmare. This call was also an attempt to gauge Li Chonglou's intentions.
"Don't worry. You brought me here, and as long as you don't overstep, we will always be friends," Li Chonglou stated, but without making a definitive commitment. Tong Zhaolin and others were key figures in the smuggling of cultural relics, and eventually, they would be apprehended and face legal consequences. His relationship with Tong Zhaolin was purely for mutual benefit. Li Chonglou was not a fool; he would not compromise his principles for trivial gains. Hearing this, Tong Zhaolin felt somewhat relieved, chatted with Li Chonglou for a while longer, and then hung up.
As he left work that evening, he saw Fan Meng waiting by the company entrance. Seeing him emerge with Lin Ying, she immediately greeted them with a smile, "Brother Li, would you do me the honor of joining me for a meal?"
Li Chonglou frowned slightly, about to refuse, but Lin Ying gave him a meaningful glance. "Junior brother, I'm quite hungry. Agree to it." He did not wish to defy his senior sister, nor did he understand her intentions. Thus, he could only nod.
The three of them got into Fan Meng's car and headed straight for a high-end private estate called Xiangyue Bay in the heart of Zhonghai city. Li Chonglou had visited this place a few times in his previous life, and Fan Meng had brought him then as well. Xiangyue Bay was not open to the public, catering only to Zhonghai's renowned chaebols and prominent figures. Dining here required advance reservations and membership. The membership fee alone amounted to over three million yuan annually. Ordinary people could not even get through the door; it was extremely private, making it a significant venue for government officials and tycoons to gather and discuss matters.
Fan Meng had reserved a private room. As the three entered, they were greeted by well-dressed and articulate staff. The main building of Xiangyue Bay was situated by Moon Lake, its grandeur resembling ancient imperial palaces. Upon entering the hall, they found the interior decorated in a resplendent, opulent, yet elegant manner. Besides a piano, there was a 2.4-meter-long rosewood calligraphy table.
As his gaze fell upon it, Li Chonglou blinked slightly. Standing before the large table was a beautiful woman in a qipao, her makeup classically done, diligently painting a landscape of a phoenix's cry. This woman was Qi Yu, whom he had met privately at Jiutian Zhongya. After Fan Liang had caused trouble last time, she had left Jiutian Zhongya to seek new opportunities and had surprisingly ended up working here. The painting was more than half finished, and Qi Yu, completely engrossed, had a fine sheen of sweat on her brow, completely oblivious to their arrival.
Li Chonglou changed direction and walked towards Qi Yu. Lin Ying followed, a hint of surprise in her eyes. Junior brother was usually not one to meddle, nor was he lustful. Why was he now captivated by a woman painting? Fan Meng quickly followed the two.
Li Chonglou reached the table and carefully examined Qi Yu's painting, a look of admiration in his eyes. He had noticed before that this girl came from a traditional Chinese painting background, and he had heard her story, which he had initially taken with a grain of salt. Now, it seemed true. Her brushwork was vigorous, her ink strokes masterful. Like flowing clouds and streams around a blank canvas, the vast mountains and seas retained their ancient appearance. The phoenix soared through the sky, drawing the homage of a hundred birds, exuding a magnificent aura. It was hard to imagine this was the work of a young girl. However, being young, there were still areas for improvement.
"If this painting continues in this direction, it will merely be a commodity, not a masterpiece," Li Chonglou stated calmly after observing for a while. "Because there is a flaw."
This remark immediately broke Qi Yu's concentration. She looked up sharply at Li Chonglou, surprise flooding her eyes. "It's you!"
"I didn't realize you were also knowledgeable in traditional Chinese painting. What is this flaw you speak of?" As she finished speaking, she noticed the two women following Li Chonglou, and her eyes dimmed slightly. She had initially had a good impression of Li Chonglou, but now it seemed he was also a lecher. It made sense; why else would he go to a place like Jiutian Zhongya and order so many beautiful women? She shouldn't have held any expectations of such a person. However, Li Chonglou's comment about her painting having a flaw made her curious to hear his reasoning. Her life had been dedicated to traditional Chinese painting, and now she had to use her passion to earn money to repay her father's debts. Her mood was often terrible, and only when immersed in the world of painting could she find some peace. Now, Li Chonglou had shattered that peace, which annoyed her. If he spoke incorrectly, she would not hesitate to retort.
"In my opinion, traditional Chinese painting has endured for so long due to three aspects: momentum, earthiness, and..." Li Chonglou paused. "The first two points, I believe you have already grasped. However, you have yet to comprehend the most crucial point, which precisely hinders your growth." Li Chonglou's words caused Qi Yu's eyes to widen with astonishment, and her curiosity grew even stronger.