Chapter 2718

Changsheng Bo felt like someone who had dreamed of winning the lottery for a hundred years without ever winning, yet suddenly, within this morning alone, he had won two first prizes.

Put more directly, it was like buying lottery tickets his whole life and never even winning the lowest five-yuan prize, only to win the Shuangseqiu jackpot this morning and then the Daletou jackpot.

At this moment, his 156 years of life experience had not made him doubt whether this might be a trap.

The reason he had no doubt was simple: because magical artifacts like this, even the Yingzhu had only a few.

He had served the Yingzhu faithfully for so many years, and the Yingzhu had only given him one magical artifact for self-defense, and that artifact was not even given to him by the Yingzhu—once he returned, he would have to return it to the Yingzhu for safekeeping.

So, if the Yingzhu was unwilling to give him even one such item, who would produce two to deceive him?

Deep in his soul, he felt he was utterly unworthy.

Because no doubt had arisen, Changsheng Bo's heart was filled only with ecstatic joy.

He walked over to Zhang Ermao's stall without changing his expression and asked: "Boss, are you Zhang Ermao?"

Zhang Ermao nodded and said casually: "It's me. What's up?"

Changsheng Bo smiled slightly and said: "Hello, I just met your younger brother at the airport, took a liking to the ring on his hand, so I specially came to inquire about him and now I've come to talk to you."

Zhang Ermao looked at Changsheng Bo warily and said: "Oh, you're the one willing to spend three million on that ring?"

"Yes," Changsheng Bo nodded and smiled: "I offer three million, no haggling."

Zhang Ermao curiously asked: "Do you really like antiques and cultural relics?"

Changsheng Bo instinctively replied: "Yes, I do."

Zhang Ermao frowned and asked: "If you really like them, you should know better—this ring isn't worth three million. My brother asked you for three million and you just agreed? I think you're a Lei Zi sent by Lei Zi to mess with me."

"Um…" Changsheng Bo was momentarily stunned.

These years he had been in seclusion cultivating, so he knew nothing about the market prices of antiques.

Moreover, having not been in Huaxia for twenty years, he didn't understand Huaxia's prices either.

Still, speaking honestly, a Qing Dynasty jade ring of ordinary quality priced at three million made him vaguely feel it was somewhat absurd.

But fortunately, he wasn't short on money, and he truly wanted that magical artifact, eager to get it quickly, so he didn't dwell on it.

Now, hearing Zhang Ermao's counter-question, he found himself at a loss for words.

What he hadn't expected was that while he hadn't doubted Zhang Ermao, Zhang Ermao had begun to doubt him.

After a moment's thought, Changsheng Bo said somewhat awkwardly: "Boss, you've misunderstood—I'm just an overseas Chinese returning home for travel and visiting relatives, not a Lei Zi, and I genuinely like that jade ring; even if the price is high, it doesn't matter to me."

Zhang Ermao snorted derisively and chuckled: "I see you're not young—how can you open your mouth and just lie? Nobody would believe what you're saying. Put that ring in an antique market, thirty thousand yuan would be about right. If you really liked it, fifty thousand would still be too little. Three million? Only you Lei Zi types who don't understand antiques could blurt out and agree to that!"

Upon hearing this, Changsheng Bo was completely dazed.

He didn't know this was the latest script arranged by Ye Chen for Zhang Ermao, so he could only explain weakly and innocently: "Boss, I really am not a Lei Zi…"

"Don't say more," Zhang Ermao waved his hand, impatiently saying: "To be honest, I had him quote three million just to specifically test for Lei Zi with this price. Anyone who truly understands antiques would curse upon hearing this quote—only undercover Lei Zi trying to dig up clues would readily agree, then use the chance to investigate further."

Saying this, Zhang Ermao added: "But I'll tell you, this trick of yours won't work here."

Changsheng Bo felt for a moment that he truly had a hundred mouths and still couldn't explain himself.

He had never imagined that the other party's opening quote of three million was actually meant this way.

Combined with Changsheng Bo's earlier speculation that this group was a tomb-robbing and stolen-antiquities-selling gang, he now believed Zhang Ermao's words without doubt.

Because he felt such criminal gangs could survive only by being extremely cautious and cunning, with countless counter-surveillance methods—they even feared picking up Hong Kong merchants at the airport in case undercover agents seized the opportunity to steal something, so using small tactics to distinguish truth from falsehood was absolutely necessary.

Combined with the Qing Dynasty Restoration Society's overall tighter and more cautious organizational structure, Changsheng Bo almost believed Zhang Ermao's performance without doubt.

The more this was so, the more he feared Zhang Ermao misunderstanding him, so he quickly apologized with a smile: "Boss, you really have misunderstood me—I'm not a Lei Zi, I truly just want to buy something I like…"

"Whatever, whatever," Zhang Ermao said dismissively: "Say whatever you want—like good things, right? If you like them, just browse the antique street casually, buy a bit more, don't delay my business."

Seeing Zhang Ermao not listen to his explanation and even try to drive him away, Changsheng Bo felt furious beyond measure, wishing he could slap Zhang Ermao dead right there with one palm.

If worse came to worst, just grabbing that Lei-struck wood and taking it would do!

But he almost instantly dismissed those two thoughts.

Because he clearly remembered his mission in coming to Jin Ling this time.

To exterminate the An family, and when Ye Changying's son appears, is the death order given by the Yingzhu.

Having come to Jin Ling, he should have immediately set to work on how to complete the task, but instead, after getting off the plane, he went straight to the antique street—this was already defying the sacred command, a great rebellion.

If he then caused any trouble, and if it reached the Yingzhu's ears, he would have no way to defend himself.

So, Changsheng Bo could only suppress his inner anger and say to Zhang Ermao in a nearly pleading tone: "Old brother, you really have misunderstood me—if you don't believe me, just give me your bank account number, and I'll transfer three million directly to you! The Lei Zi you mentioned wouldn't really spend three million to buy your antiques, would they?"

"Who knows?" Zhang Ermao said with a pout: "I've encountered entrapment before—what use is it if you transfer money to me? If you're really a Lei Zi, this money is mission funds, so you don't need to pay it yourself, and once I take the money, I'm confirmed guilty of illegally selling antiques—then when your police badge flashes and handcuffs click, you'll drag me away directly, and the money you transferred to me will be fully recoverable, leaving me with nothing but a few years in prison eating iron-bar tears—what's the point for me?"

"You… you're so unreasonable!" Changsheng Bo stamped his feet in frustration.

He never imagined Zhang Ermao would be this cautious—even overly cautious.

Moreover, no matter what he said, Zhang Ermao wouldn't believe him; even his offer to transfer money was distrusted—this gave him no room to maneuver at all!

He angrily cursed in his heart: "Damn it, if the law didn't interfere, I'd have already dragged your brat's head down by now!"