Pain spread through Zhao Feipeng's heart. At this moment, he had only one thought: to die quickly. He knew very well that he held no value in Lin Xiaotian's eyes, and Lin Xiaotian disdained the skills he had displayed.
Perhaps his greatest value now was the information he possessed. He was on the verge of tears, his voice trembling as he tried to speak, but only managed to force out some sounds from his throat.
Lin Xiaotian patted his shoulder with a smile.
"Don't rush. I'll talk to you slowly after I've finished counting those chests. I believe you'll give me a satisfactory answer then. For now, compose yourself. Don't worry, I won't let that worm keep squirming. I'll at least make it fall into a brief slumber."
With that, he flicked his finger at Zhao Feipeng's temple.
At that moment, Zhao Feipeng felt the worm in his head completely still, lodged within his mind.
Lin Xiaotian smiled and said, "Do you feel it now? Let's go. Straighten your expression and come out with me, acting like the boss you are. Don't put on a stern face and act like a big shot."
Zhao Feipeng tried his best to calm his expression, but his smile looked incredibly stiff.
When the two arrived outside, they saw a box truck parked there, laden with various wooden chests.
The largest chest occupied a third of the truck's space.
As Lin Xiaotian approached, he immediately felt a rich, ancient aura emanating from the chests. The closer he got, the more his internal spiritual energy stirred noticeably.
"I didn't expect you to have collected so many good things. But that's great. These are all gifts you're offering me now. I'll reluctantly accept them."
Zhao Feipeng nodded like a pecking chicken. He had thoroughly understood his position. Surviving Lin Xiaotian was already a stroke of luck.
His face was covered in fawning smiles. "That's right, these are all for you. As long as you're happy, even if you pushed me into a fiery pit, I would jump in without hesitation."
Lin Xiaotian glanced at him with a half-smile, too lazy to say more. He didn't even look at the other items, heading directly to the large wooden chest at the back.
The stall owner casually removed a few willow branches from the nailed-shut wooden chest.
Upon seeing the contents, his pupils contracted slightly. He never expected it to be this treasure.
Zhao Feipeng's voice carried a hint of flattery. "Mr. Lin, I learned about this item by chance. To this day, I haven't been able to ascertain the origin of this large cauldron.
"However, I know this cauldron is an absolute treasure, at least a thousand years old.
"The carvings on it, I even suspect it to be the Yuzhou Ding. However, the legendary Yuzhou Ding has some differences in its depiction of mountains and rivers compared to this. I suspect it's an imitation by ancient people. But even such a replica holds significant historical value. I even dared not imitate this antique.
"I was afraid of becoming too famous and attracting attention. But this item is perfectly fine for you to have, as your company is a legitimate antique dealer.
"If you were to display this item, it might bring you great fame. This can be considered my small contribution. In the future, I can continuously help you acquire antiques.
"This item was brought out from a tomb. We don't even know whose tomb it was. There was only this cauldron inside, and the person's remains were also there. However, we have already buried their bones, giving them a proper burial.
Lin Xiaotian didn't believe a single word of this. A faint smile remained on his face.
However, he had already determined what the item was. He just needed to conduct a final experiment, which was clearly not suitable here.
He gave Zhao Feipeng a look and said in a low voice.
"You know what kind of disguise is needed. I believe you understand. It's best not to let those people get any information, otherwise, that worm will slowly eat away at your brain. I won't give you any antidote."
Zhao Feipeng was actually a truly intelligent person. After meeting Lin Xiaotian, he hadn't uttered a single defiant word, only pleading. But Lin Xiaotian was not someone easily fooled.
At this point, he could only stand by Lin Xiaotian's side. Although the people behind him possessed a lot of evidence against him, at most, they would only send him to prison, not kill him. However, Lin Xiaotian could easily kill him.
He had already made a clear choice. He turned and shouted at the onlookers below the truck, "What are you all staring at? Don't you have work to do?
"These are antiques that I painstakingly collected for Mr. Lin. Now, these antiques are to be given to Mr. Lin. He has already provided me with a large sum of capital to operate with. Go back to your posts, honestly."
The employees immediately returned upon hearing this. However, some onlookers remained, watching the items on the truck from a distance.
The bottles and jars looked quite elegant.
Zhao Feipeng didn't bother with them, deliberately saying loudly, "Mr. Lin, the price I'm giving you for this batch of antiques is absolutely the cheapest. You definitely won't find a cheaper price anywhere else.
"Now, I'll personally deliver them to you. Once we arrive at your place, you only need to pay me seventy percent of the amount. You can pay the remaining money slowly. After all, as you said, this is our first collaboration, and there's a lack of trust between us."
Lin Xiaotian smiled and nodded. "Alright, your suggestion is very good. After all, I'm not sure if these antiques are real or fake. Seventy percent of the price is my limit."
Someone in the crowd lowered their head and sent a text message on their phone. Their vigilance relaxed.
Previously, they thought Zhao Feipeng had been caught in a bind. Now, they realized Zhao Feipeng had directly tricked Lin Xiaotian, which brought a smile to their face.