"You dare strike my man!" Ma Lian stood up and roared.
His face was as dark as water.
In Chang'an, he, Ma Zhiyong, was a prominent figure in the antique circle.
Of course, not for his eyesight, but for his superb craftsmanship.
No matter the genuine article, within a few days in his hands, it could be flawlessly replicated.
Originally, this skill was enough to support his large family.
But human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Why bother replicating for others when it's more profitable and faster to pass off fakes as genuine yourself?
One year without business, but one opening to last a year.
Today, with money about to change hands, Li Chonglou, a reckless youngster, not only ruined things but also had the oaf pushing his wheelchair dare to knock down his subordinates.
It was an outrage!
Of course, Ma Zhiyong was just putting on a show of bravado. He didn't dare to actually go toe-to-toe with Xu Lie. His subordinates, all hardened men who had fought since childhood, couldn't even touch the opponent before collapsing.
Clearly, he was a trained fighter.
But what if he was a trained fighter?
In this day and age, it's a society governed by law. Hitting people is illegal.
Furthermore, possessing martial strength without power is like a toothless tiger, useless!
This was his territory; he could easily summon a hundred or eighty men. No matter how powerful this tall fellow was, he couldn't fight forty hands with two fists, could he?
Just as he was about to demand compensation from Xu Lie.
He saw Xu Lie glare with tiger eyes and snort, "So what if I hit them? Get lost immediately, or you'll be next."
Xu Lie, who came from underground boxing rings, exuded an aura of deadly intent.
Now, having cultivated the sheepskin scroll mental technique to the point of Qi circulation, he was like a blazing pillar of fire, impossible to look at directly.
A single glance terrified Ma Zhiyong, turning his face ashen.
Fiercely threatening, "Kid, you wait and see. If you cross me, Ma Zhiyong, I'll make sure you can't get by in Chang'an!"
With that, he completely ignored his wailing subordinates and fled as if his pants were on fire.
Seeing their boss leave, none of the others dared to feign injury any longer.
Scrambling with hands and feet, they vanished.
This scene left Lu Xuan stunned.
"That easy?"
She had expected a fierce battle but witnessed Ma Lian being utterly crushed.
And that upright young man even called her Sister Xuan.
What was going on?
"Sister Xuan, I didn't expect to run into you here." Li Chonglou, seeing the changing expressions in her eyes, advanced his wheelchair and introduced himself, "My name is Li Chonglou, and this is my brother, Xu Lie. We met at Panjiayuan's Wanbao Lou."
"You have a forgetful nature, perhaps you don't remember me."
In his previous life, he had met Lu Xuan at Wanbao Lou and knew she frequented that antique shop.
Before encountering him, she had been fleeced countless times.
So, he decided to transpose his past life's experiences to the present.
After all, everyone encounters countless people passing by in life, and it's fine to blend in.
"Is... is that so?" Lu Xuan looked suspicious.
She was confident in her memory. While not photographic, she should remember anyone she'd met.
But even racking her brain, she couldn't recall when she had met Li Chonglou.
Could it really be that she was too preoccupied to remember?
Never mind, he could call her Sister Xuan so clearly and knew about Wanbao Lou; he must be someone she had carelessly forgotten.
With this resolved, a gentle smile appeared on her face, and she thanked him, "May I call you Chonglou? I'm truly grateful to you both for what happened today."
"If not for you, I probably would have been cheated."
"To think I'd be targeted by swindlers in this ancient capital, it truly makes a fool of me..."
It must be said, Lu Xuan, as an entrepreneur, was absolutely poised in her interactions.
In three sentences, she diffused the previous awkwardness.
She neither belittled herself nor flattered Li Chonglou.
Nor did she act overly grateful, but her words were comforting to hear.
This was wisdom.
Something many people never learn in a lifetime.
"It was nothing, I recall you run a business in the capital. What brings you to Chang'an?" Li Chonglou asked with a slight smile.
He had known Lu Xuan for half his life, and in his memory, she rarely left Beijing.
After all, with her company's busy affairs, she had to be personally involved in many aspects.
At this time, the national economy was generally sluggish. Yet she had time to travel to Chang'an?
His intuition told him that Lu Xuan was likely not here for leisure.
"I'm here in Chang'an for something important," Lu Xuan replied frankly. "During a process, I happened to see that fellow, Ma Zhiyong, playing with a sachet in the hotel."
"I took a liking to it and stopped him."
"Turns out it was a replica. Your eyesight is truly remarkable. How could you tell from so far away?"
She still couldn't quite believe that she had been mistaken.
But with the facts laid out, she had to admit it.
"All antiques have a unique aura. Although this is seen with the eyes, it's difficult to grasp without accumulating a vast amount of experience," Li Chonglou explained. "Especially antiques from before the Yuan and Ming dynasties, many are national treasures. Genuine items are prohibited from sale. If someone wants to sell them, they are either breaking the law or trying to trick you."
Li Chonglou was using the conversation to subtly guide her.
He knew she loved antiques but didn't have much time to study them, and her personality often made her susceptible to scams.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't bother with such a trivial matter.
But Lu Xuan owed him a great debt of gratitude, and he couldn't bear to see her get cheated again.
"Oh..." Lu Xuan seemed to understand but also not, and curiously asked, "You look around twenty-five years old."
"How do you have so much experience?"
Her implication was that she didn't fully believe Li Chonglou's words.
Li Chonglou knew Lu Xuan's pride; she wouldn't easily believe others in this regard. Without long-term subtle influence, a few words would be useless.
So, he stopped following her train of thought.
He changed the subject: "I have some special opportunities."
"Sister Xuan, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to my room."
With that, he was about to have Xu Lie push him back.
He couldn't go to Beijing now. Even though his feelings for Lu Xuan were deep, he didn't want to be too forward.
The past and present lives were already different.
If they were truly fated, they would meet again in the future; there was no need to force it.
Seeing him about to leave, Lu Xuan immediately stood up and said, "Please, stay. Could you leave me your contact information?"
"Also, I have an unconventional request."
"I came to Chang'an to attend a cultural and museum exchange conference. Would you be amenable to joining me?"
She had met too many varied people. For someone Li Chonglou's age to possess such a calm and unruffled demeanor and extraordinary eyesight meant he was no ordinary person.
Since he called her Sister Xuan instead of Miss Lu, it implied a natural sense of familiarity.
This matter was extremely important.
It concerned the survival of the company, and there could be no room for error.
Although she was confident in her own discernment, having an expert like Li Chonglou assist would ensure success.
"When is it?" Li Chonglou asked after two seconds of thought.
"Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock."
"Alright, I can go with you." Li Chonglou finally nodded in agreement.
If it were anyone else, he would have refused without hesitation.
After all, he was in Chang'an to find his father. Although he didn't know how long the communication with his master would take, he had to be prepared at all times.
But Lu Xuan's request was something he couldn't refuse.
He always conducted himself in a manner that sought no external validation but a clear conscience.
Repaying kindness with kindness and vengeance with vengeance were his principles.
He immediately left his number. His senior sister had already bought him a new phone, making communication convenient.
Seeing his agreement, Lu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.
As she watched Li Chonglou leave, a hint of bewilderment appeared in her beautiful eyes.
She murmured, "It's so strange, why do I feel like I've known you for a long time?"
Back in the room, Xu Lie asked not a single question.
He knew Li Chonglou's character; he was clear in his actions, seemingly rational but fundamentally emotional.
However, every decision had its reasons.
His job was to protect Li Chonglou and ensure no further accidents occurred while his true Qi was not yet restored.
In the afternoon, Lin Zhendong returned to the hotel with Lin Ying, his expression somewhat serious.
"Master, are there obstacles to entering the tomb?" Li Chonglou, seeing his master's expression for the first time, felt that things were not as simple as they seemed.
"The Kunling is now under state protection, and it seems someone has noticed the anomalies within. My old friends at the Bureau of Cultural Heritage are powerless to help," Lin Zhendong replied truthfully. "Moreover, it is now guarded by the military, with no gaps. It's impossible to sneak in. If caught, it would be very troublesome."
He had visited an old classmate today.
Upon hearing that it was for investigating Kunling, his classmate immediately shook his head like a rattle drum.
He claimed he couldn't help, otherwise, he would lose his job and even face imprisonment.
This made Lin Zhendong realize the seriousness of the situation.
But why Kunling, which was kept so secret, suddenly received such attention? This didn't make sense.
Unable to figure this out and without being able to get any further information, he could only return to think of another plan.
"Military? I'll try making a call." Li Chonglou's eyes lit up.
He immediately took out his phone and dialed Fan Lei's number.
He explained the basic situation without any concealment, only stating that he needed to enter the tomb to search for clues about his missing father.
Fan Lei remained noncommittal, simply telling him to wait for a call.
Twenty minutes later, the call returned.
"Kid, this is the last time I'll privately help you. The day after tomorrow, find the person in charge of the local garrison, He Li, and tell him I sent you to execute a mission," Fan Lei's tone was solemn. "But remember this clearly: you can only bring one assistant down with you."
"And no matter what you see inside, you are not allowed to disclose it. Do you understand?"
"Yes!" Li Chonglou replied crisply.
Fan Lei truly had extensive connections, managing to obtain a pass for him.
Although he could only bring one person, it was enough.
With his master accompanying him into the tomb, the chances of finding clues about his father would greatly increase.
As for what was so mysterious inside, could it be that the stone mentioned by the monk Shen Xiu, upon which a formation was laid, had its secrets discovered by the authorities?
For a moment, Li Chonglou's mind raced with possibilities.
Regarding his father, he could not remain as calm as a mountain no matter what.
Lin Zhendong, upon hearing this news, furrowed his brow, clearly sensing an unusual aura.
Why was the Kunling being so heavily guarded by the authorities?
Even the Qianling, Wu Zetian's shadow tomb, wasn't protected like this.
Could it truly be related to that colossal stone?
Everything could only be revealed after entering the day after tomorrow.