"Brother Li, what's wrong?" Zeng Wang asked, calmly blocking Li Chonglou from view.
Li Chonglou had disguised himself and changed his name to meet Li Hanlong, so they must be old acquaintances.
He was a businessman, more cunning than a ghost.
Li Chonglou had helped him, so he couldn't let him be exposed.
"It's nothing. This Brother Qin Fen looks very familiar. I must have misremembered," Li Hanlong said with a smile, his cold glint receding.
Li Chonglou sneered inwardly.
Not only familiar, but even with a disguise, a person's eyes are hard to change.
His own eyes had almost given him away.
However, Li Hanlong would never have imagined that the sheepskin scroll cultivation method, besides strengthening the body and unleashing potential, could also alter one's aura.
Before, he was like a sword sleeping in its scabbard, its sharpness deeply hidden.
Low-key and steady.
Now, he intentionally let his sharpness show, like a treasure sword unsheathed, his gaze sharp and arrogant.
It was normal for Li Hanlong not to recognize him.
"Where do you work, Brother Li? I've never heard of you before," Ning Lang steered the conversation, leading Li Chonglou to a seat and striking up a conversation.
A'yuoqubi stood respectfully to Li Hanlong's right.
Li Duo'er sat to his left.
The status of these two in Li Hanlong's heart was evident from this.
A'yuoqubi was clearly more useful, hence his position on the right, but in terms of closeness, Li Duo'er held the superior position.
One was a tool, the other a relative.
This showed Li Hanlong's methods.
Upon hearing Ning Lang's question, Li Hanlong chuckled, "I make a living all over the country, only returning to Yong'an occasionally."
"It's normal that you haven't heard of a small fry like me. However, your reputation, Wolf Lord, has reached my ears like thunder."
"Seeing you today, you truly have an extraordinary presence, a dragon among men!"
These flattering words, coming from his mouth, were incredibly pleasing to hear.
Even Ning Lang, knowing Li Hanlong's true character, couldn't help but feel a grudging admiration.
Setting aside other skills, just this tongue alone was enough to traverse the martial world and remain unassailable.
It was a pity he was a relic trafficker.
For someone like him, who was passionate about antiques, he most despised and hated people like Li Hanlong who would stop at nothing for profit.
"I've already given the word not to serve dishes yet. How about we appraise it first?" Zeng Wang's gaze fell on the bag in A'yuoqubi's hand, his greed undisguised.
This time, the relic was no ordinary item.
It was said to be a treasure left by the royal family of the Western Xia.
Priceless, and if he could obtain this item, his private museum would have its centerpiece complete.
His heart crawled with impatience.
"Brother Zeng, why the rush? Good dishes should be served slowly, and good things savored," Li Hanlong said with an even wider smile. "Haste makes waste."
"Since I've brought it, I will naturally show it to you."
"But for safety's sake, it's better to be cautious!"
"Go and check."
A'yuoqubi nodded at the words, handed the bag to Li Hanlong, and his gaze, like an eagle's, scanned the entire private room.
He searched every corner, leaving no inch unchecked.
"Brother Li, you don't trust me?" Zeng Wang's displeasure was evident as his face fell.
Li Hanlong asking his subordinate to check for surveillance clearly indicated he suspected Zeng Wang had made arrangements beforehand.
Business was built on mutual trust, and it was as if he had been suppressed from the moment he arrived.
Never happy when he couldn't control the initiative, how could he be pleased?
"Don't misunderstand, I'm just being careful. Please hand over your mobile phones, Duo'er..." Li Hanlong continued his instructions.
Li Duo'er rose from her seat and extended her jade-like hand towards Li Chonglou.
This was not a request, but a command.
It had to be said that Li Hanlong was too cautious, completely thwarting Li Chonglou's plan to secretly record the transaction with his phone.
To avoid arousing Li Hanlong's suspicion, he could only hand over his phone first.
He thought about what Xiao Yun had said before they came, that everything was arranged, but he didn't know what she meant.
He prayed they hadn't installed surveillance in the room, because if A'yuoqubi found it, today's efforts would be in vain.
Ning Lang and Zeng Wang also took out their phones.
About ten minutes later, A'yuoqubi returned to his original position and shook his head at Li Hanlong.
This made Li Chonglou heave a sigh of relief.
Since it wasn't surveillance, then Sister Yun must have other arrangements.
"Can we see it now?" Zeng Wang was already impatient.
*Thump!*
Li Hanlong placed the bag directly on the table, making a dull thud.
*Scratch...*
The zipper was pulled open, and a glittering golden Buddha head appeared before everyone.
Li Chonglou's pupils contracted sharply, and his hand, hidden under the table, clenched.
The moment he saw A'yuoqubi, he realized that the relic being traded today might be related to the golden Buddha head.
He never expected it to be true.
Truly, a case of "beating down the iron shoes with no result, and finding it effortlessly."
If his senior sister knew the whereabouts of the golden Buddha, she would surely be happy.
Today's trip had not been in vain.
"Good stuff... Good stuff indeed!" Zeng Wang's eyes widened, and he reached out to touch the Buddha head, his possessiveness exploding.
But Li Hanlong slapped his hand away.
"Brother Zeng, it's the rule to exchange money for goods. What if this rare national treasure is damaged by touching it?" Li Hanlong said, his expression mixed with sincerity and falsehood.
Zeng Wang's expression turned awkward as he realized he had lost his composure.
Ning Lang smoothed things over, "Brother Li is joking. How can something made of gold be damaged by touching it?"
"If it's convenient, could you explain the origin of this golden Buddha head to us?"
"Antiques are about orderly succession. Gold, while valuable, is not something CEO Zeng truly values."
The implication was that he had already examined it, and this golden Buddha head was indeed pure gold.
Zeng Wang's discernment was far inferior to Ning Lang's, and his heart settled upon hearing this.
Li Hanlong slowly began to introduce the golden Buddha head.
Of course, he said nothing about the events that transpired in Yancheng.
He only mentioned that he acquired it from a farmer in Yancheng and had it appraised by experts.
Li Chonglou listened with a cold sneer, thinking that none of the people present were normal; they were all harboring ulterior motives, himself included.
Deception was the norm.
Zeng Wang, however, seemed to believe him and immediately took out a card from his person, pushing it towards Li Hanlong. "Brother Li, please log in to your online banking and transfer the funds. This card contains 180 million."
"That's the price we agreed upon beforehand."
Li Hanlong smiled and did not take the card, saying indifferently, "Things have changed. I did say 180 million a few days ago."
"But now there are two more buyers, so the price has increased a bit."
"Now it's this much!"
As he spoke, he held up three fingers.
Zeng Wang's face contorted, and he stood there stunned, regretting, "Why aren't you sticking to the rules? Raising the price at the last minute?"
"Heh... What rules should I follow with a National Treasure Gang that openly sells fakes?" Li Hanlong clasped his hands behind his back, speaking without any further politeness, his words filled with sarcasm.
In a matter of moments, the situation had drastically changed.
The two, who had been outwardly amicable, now stood in sharp opposition.
Zeng Wang's face turned green with anger, his teeth clenched, but he dared not act out.
After all, he was determined to obtain this golden Buddha.
He could afford 300 million; it was the last-minute price increase that made him extremely displeased.
"Brother Li, those words are excessive," Ning Lang's expression also changed, and he snorted coldly.
No matter how incompetent Zeng Wang was, he was still his friend.
Li Hanlong's character was evident; by seeing through Zeng Wang's possessiveness and denigrating him, he was merely trying to provoke Zeng Wang and seize the opportunity to raise the price.
Despicable!
Just then, Li Chonglou, who had been observing the golden Buddha, felt a hint of doubt.
He deliberately controlled his voice to alter its pitch and said, "Brother Ning, CEO Zeng, this golden Buddha head doesn't seem quite right."
Upon hearing this, Li Hanlong's brow twitched, his eyes narrowed, a hint of undetectable coldness flashing within them.
"What do you mean?" Zeng Wang was also taken aback.
Ning Lang, however, frowned. He felt his own discernment was far inferior to Li Chonglou's; he could only tell that the Buddha was indeed gold.
But he couldn't ascertain its origin or era with such certainty.
Moreover, he harbored doubts about the origin story Li Hanlong had told.
How could such a large lump of gold, not like cement, remain undiscovered in an old farmer's house for so many years?
"This golden Buddha head, on the surface, the material is fine, undoubtedly pure gold," Li Chonglou said calmly. "The patina and oxidation also appear consistent with the period from Western Xia to the present."
"Even the craftsmanship is full of Western Xia style, incredibly lifelike."
"I must admire the skill of the person who created this golden Buddha head. They managed to replicate an ancient artifact so convincingly!"
This statement caused a stir throughout the room.
A hint of disdain appeared on A'yuoqubi's handsome face.
He had personally snatched this golden Buddha head from a Western Xia tomb in Yancheng.
Except for a few days it spent in his adoptive father's safe, it had never left his possession.
How could it possibly be fake!
"What do you mean? How can you say this golden Buddha head is fake?" Li Duo'er was the first to lose her composure, accusing him coldly.
But Li Hanlong immediately stopped her.
He asked in a disingenuous tone, "Brother Qin Fen, is that right? Are you saying this golden Buddha head is a modern replica and not a true national treasure?"
Zeng Wang and Ning Lang also looked at Li Chonglou in shock.
Waiting for him to elaborate.
"That's right," Li Chonglou replied expressionlessly, nodding.
"Hahaha..."
Li Hanlong burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Everything requires evidence, especially when authenticating antiques. You need to provide a rationale for declaring my item fake."
"You can't just rely on your own feelings and call my item fake without any proof, can you?"
Although he was laughing on the surface, his eyes were sinister and filled with malice.
His eyes narrowed into slits, staring intently at Li Chonglou, as if trying to see through him.
Besides the three of them, he could see through Zeng Wang at a glance.
This CEO of Yinzuo was well-known in the circle, the leader of the National Treasure Gang.
Apart from having money, he was not worth his attention.
Ning Lang was deeper. He appeared carefree and unrestrained on the surface, but in reality, he was extremely persistent and righteous.
Such a person would surely be dedicated to studying antiques. He didn't know how Ning Lang became friends with someone like Zeng Wang, the leader of the National Treasure Gang, but he couldn't be underestimated.
At the very least, in terms of the underground forces in Yong'an, Old Ghost was dead, and Ning Lang was now the undisputed number one.
Perhaps he would have a use for him in the future.
The only person he couldn't fathom was this Qin Fen, whom Li Chonglou was impersonating.
In his memory, he had never heard of this name, yet he felt a sense of familiarity.
But he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.
And now, Qin Fen had seen through his fake golden Buddha. Although he appeared calm on the surface, his heart was in turmoil like a raging storm.
Infinite curiosity arose within him.
How did Qin Fen see through it?