Chapter 24: Tang Wanhong

Duan Rong put down the knife in his hand and tightened his grip on the scroll tucked under his arm. He took a glance; the painting was an ink wash drawing of fish playing in water. With just a few sparse strokes, the strange rocks, swimming fish, and water weeds were vivid and lifelike. Although no water was painted, it felt as if the entire image were permeated by clear water. Although Duan Rong did not understand painting, he could tell it was good.

Moreover, the painting paper had already turned yellow, with several wormholes and tears.

Duan Rong walked a few steps closer and gently rested his hand on the scroll at the edge of the painting. Suddenly, he cursed in his heart: "What kind of Unranked piece of trash are you using to try and fool your grandfather?"

"No wonder even I could tell it was good? It seems a person must know their own weight. If something can be seen as good even by a layman like me, can it really be a good thing?"

Although Duan Rong was cursing in his heart, his face remained calm. He simply waved his hand and said, "Are there any others? Change it for one."

Guan Kui was stunned for a moment. He gave Duan Rong a strange look, silently took back the scroll on the counter, and replaced it with a Mountain and Water Painting.

Duan Rong touched the edge of the scroll with one hand, took a glance, and shook his head.

Guan Kui was already somewhat startled. The two paintings he had brought out were actually quite intimidating; whether it was the brushwork, the painting skill, or the effort put into making them look aged, they were all presentable.

Even though he had been an Apprentice for nearly twenty years, it was impossible to tell the authenticity with just a glance; at the very least, there should be a process of examining it back and forth and verifying it repeatedly.

This customer was so straightforward—could he have really encountered an expert?

Guan Kui was suspicious in his heart, so he took another one and spread it out on the counter.

This time it was an Ink Chrysanthemum Painting. The brushwork was sparse and quite expressive, but with only a single chrysanthemum blooming among weeds, it looked somewhat monotonous and simple.

Duan Rong leaned in and touched it, and his expression changed instantly!

Artifact: Ink Chrysanthemum Painting.

Spirit Artifact Tier: Level 5.

Devour Requirement: Host Mental Power Level 5 (Not Met).

Devour Effect: Masterful Brushwork Primary Level, Force Through Paper Level 2, Influential Style Primary Level.

As soon as Guan Kui saw Duan Rong's expression change, his own expression changed too. "This kid really knows his stuff!"

Three paintings, two fakes and one real, all identified with just a glance—this was no ordinary expert!

To have such attainments at such a young age, it was either a deep family heritage or a gift from the ancestors!

"This painting, name a price?" Duan Rong raised his head and asked, looking at Guan Kui.

"Ah..." Guan Kui stammered. At this moment, the contempt he had felt for Duan Rong in his heart had been swept away, and instead, he felt great admiration for the other party.

He himself was an Apprentice in an antique shop and knew too well the difficulty of this trade—it required deep knowledge, a sharp eye, and experience. Even if someone taught you hand-in-hand, you still had to be the right material for it.

The person before him looked young, but when it came to attainments, he was probably not inferior to Manager Tang!

Guan Kui, feeling admiration, immediately quoted the real price. "Three hundred taels!"

As soon as the words left Guan Kui's mouth, the blue cloth curtain was lifted, and a chubby, short-statured middle-aged man walked out with a smile, saying, "Guan Kui, why haven't you served the guest tea yet!"

Guan Kui's face flushed. He immediately realized he had committed a taboo and quickly agreed, left the counter, and went to brew tea.

How could one reveal the bottom price the moment they were asked!

"This child has never seen the world and doesn't understand the slightest bit of etiquette!"

After Tang Wanhong finished speaking, he walked to the counter, rolled up the Ink Chrysanthemum Painting, and set it aside.

Duan Rong's eyes rolled, and he understood the meaning behind Tang Wanhong's words. He was complaining that the previous price was too low!

However, he didn't care at all; what he was calculating in his mind was the painting in his hand.

A Level 5 Spirit Tool—the era shouldn't be short; it was a real antique, after all.

Three hundred taels, while not low, was not a high price compared to the prices of antiques in his past life!

Duan Rong pondered for a moment and understood the reason.

The prices of antiques in his past life were like housing prices—artificially high.

After the prosperity of industrial and commercial civilization, currency became flooded, and antiques became investment products; the prices were all hyped up!

This world had not developed a powerful industrial and commercial civilization, and it was a place where martial arts were held in high esteem. Even among the wealthy, how many were truly willing to pretend to be cultured and play with antiques?

It was normal that the prices couldn't rise!

However, for him, three hundred taels was not low.

Guan Kui brought the tea over. Duan Rong took only a small sip, put it down, then moved the tea aside and spread the scroll from under his arm onto the tea table. He got straight to the point: "Manager, please take a look at this Lady Painting. If you like it, I will let it go to your Precious Treasure House. It was left by my ancestors; if I weren't in urgent need of money, I really wouldn't be willing to part with it!"

Tang Wanhong was stunned by Duan Rong's words.

So, wanting to buy a painting was fake, and having something to sell was the truth.

Asking for so long just now was to test the market!

Tang Wanhong understood Duan Rong's intention and couldn't help but glare at Guan Kui. Seeing someone walk in with an item and still not being the least bit guarded—all his training had been in vain!

Tang Wanhong lowered his head to look at the painting spread on the tea table: it was a Lady Painting, with a graceful figure, red clothes like blood, and a skin tone that formed a sharp and intense contrast with the blood-red color. The brushwork was simple and returned to the basics, not complicated at all, outlined into lines.

Although this painting depicted a person, Tang Wanhong could see a certain natural rhythm in the lines.

"This brushwork..."

Tang Wanhong had been immersed in antiques for decades and had long since become an expert; one look told him this painting was no ordinary item.

Tang Wanhong moved his gaze to the signature, only to see the seal of the signature was the four crooked characters "Wanweidaoren" in seal script.

Tang Wanhong suddenly felt a chill from the back of his head to his heels, and his heart jumped wildly: Wanweidaoren? This is... the handiwork of Fan Yunlin?

Impossible!

Tang Wanhong looked carefully at the lady in the painting again, his big round face almost pressed against the lady...

Duan Rong's eyelid twitched. "This fat man, could he be a pervert... losing control just like this?"

Tang Wanhong finally raised his head, and a strange light shot from his eyes.

He could conclude that this was indeed an authentic work by Fan Yunlin!

Take it, no matter the cost, it must be taken!

Although Tang Wanhong was ecstatic inside, his fat face remained expressionless. He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

When he first picked up the teacup, his hand was still trembling slightly, but after a mouthful of tea, his hands were as steady as Mount Tai.

Tang Wanhong put down the teacup, looked at Duan Rong carefully again, and said, "The item is fine, but I don't know if the origin is legitimate?"

Duan Rong snorted coldly upon hearing this, rolled up the scroll on the tea table, and was about to leave, but Tang Wanhong immediately grabbed him and said, "In business, how can you turn hostile just like that?"

"Young people are just hot-headed; come, come, sit down, let's discuss this slowly." Tang Wanhong pushed Duan Rong into a grandmaster chair and smiled, "Little friend just said, this painting was passed down from your ancestors?"

"What, doesn't it look like it?" Duan Rong asked back impolitely.

Duan Rong was clear that the other party was afraid the item's origin was improper and would lead to trouble later; at this moment, if he showed even a little weakness, it would instead suggest the item's origin really was problematic, whereas the more he acted like a big shot, the more at ease the other party would be.

(End of chapter)