111: Chapter 109: Bizarre Pattern (Chapter Four, Seeking Recommendation Votes!) 111: Chapter 109: Bizarre Pattern (Chapter Four, Seeking Recommendation Votes!) Inner dimensions within?
Gu Liuushui’s face showed deep surprise and disbelief.
He shook his head and said, “Young man, you’re not joking with an old man, are you?
In my decades of appraisal career, apart from one careless oversight, I have never made a mistake.”
Hearing this, the others in the shop nodded in agreement.
In Bin City’s antique world, the name Gu Liuushui represented authority.
Countless prestigious families and the rich and powerful sought his appraisal, and almost never was he wrong.
This teenager before them was surely spouting nonsense, seeking attention provocatively.
“Hmph, Master Gu himself has spoken, and you, boy, still want to fabricate a story to inflate the painting’s price?”
At this time, Guo Fu, who had taken a big loss, spoke with dissatisfaction: “I must have been blind, to sell it to you for a few hundred thousand.
But even if this painting scroll is from the Qin State era, it’s worth at most a few million!”
Many people agreed with Guo Fu’s words, nodding their heads in assent.
Meanwhile, Mo Tianyun, who had been slapped by Lin Tian, had made a phone call and now looked up with a dark expression, saying coldly, “You poor bastard, even in front of Master Gu, you still continue to defraud; just wait, today you’ll definitely get a lesson!”
“That’s right, lad, this painting is indeed quite old, and the landscapes on it are worth collecting, but it is not some famous historical painting!”
Gu Liuushui slightly nodded, adding, “If you want a fair price from me, that would be five million!”
Lin Tian shook his head, smiling without a word.
“Kid, this painting, three million, I’m taking it!”
Mo Tianyun glared with malevolent intent, directly barking out his demand.
Lin Tian felt Mo Tianyun’s vicious gaze but didn’t care, replying with a sneer, “Three million?
Why don’t you go eat shit!”
Not selling for three million?
In a while, young master will ensure you can’t even buy back your hands and feet for three million!”
Mo Tianyun’s face twisted slightly with a ferocious look as he nodded, stepping aside to stand with a sneer on his face.
Lin Tian cast a deep glance at Mo Tianyun, and the corner of his mouth lifted; he wasn’t in a hurry to leave.
“Young man, let’s do this, for this painting, I, Old Man Gu Liuushui, will offer ten million, and that’s the highest bid!”
Once again, Gu Liuushui opened his mouth, evidently quite fond of the painting.
He said, “Ten million, shall we count it as a favor from Elder Cheng to you?”
Paying no more attention to Mo Tianyun, Lin Tian turned and said to Gu Liuushui, “Sorry, sir, if it’s not two billion, it’s not for sale!”
“This idiot is obviously trying to go against Master Gu!”
“Hmph, if he offends Master Gu, just wait for those great clans and the powerful who need the master’s favor to trouble him!
Then he’ll lose not only the chance to get money but maybe even can’t keep the painting!”
The store started filling up with more and more onlookers, most of them were there for the spectacle.
Many shook their heads at Lin Tian, sending him looks of derision or pity.
“Tianyun, who is this blind fool causing trouble in the antique street, even daring to argue with Master Gu!”
An angry voice rang out, followed by the sound of noisy footsteps.
A group of people entered the store, led by a tall, handsome young man who had obviously been the one speaking.
This poor jerk got lucky and found an ancient scroll painting, and now he’s trying to extort us for two billion, goddamn, how can we swallow this!”
Seeing the tall young man arrive, Mo Tianyun’s face lit up with joy as he hurried forward, speaking with slightly respectful tone.
The girl with the shoulder-length hair also nodded, coming forward and saying, “Master Gu has already appraised it, it’s worth at most three to five million, but he still wants two billion!”
Gu Liuushui also looked up at the tall young man and said, “Your father just asked me to come over for an appraisal last time; his collection is indeed quite impressive!
Let’s all keep things friendly today, let’s not go too far and hurt the good mood!”
Clearly, Gu Liuushui was a well-meaning old man, suggesting through his words that Mo Tianyun and the others shouldn’t overdo it.
Lin Tian seemed to catch the implication and felt somewhat well-disposed towards the old man, “Sir, the painting is indeed worth two billion, it’s just that you can’t see it!
How about I show you later, and you’ll understand…”
Hearing this, Gu Liuushui frowned; he felt the young man before him was too ungrateful, and he couldn’t help feeling somewhat displeased.
“Kid, come over and apologize!
Then hand over the painting, I’ll give you some money and you better scram quickly!”
The tall young man’s gaze shifted toward Lin Tian, but since Lin Tian had his back to him, he didn’t recognize him, “This antique street is my territory, Bai Xiaoshuai’s.
The reason the business here is so good is largely thanks to the students from the University City!
Don’t be ungrateful!”
“Oh, I’d actually like to see what you mean by being ‘ungrateful’.”
Lin Tian turned around, looking toward Bai Xiaoshuai with a smirk, and chuckled.
Once Bai Xiaoshuai saw Lin Tian’s face, his own face changed dramatically to one of shock and fear.
This was the man who wouldn’t even spare Huang Juun face—truly a ruthless figure.
“Mo Tianyun, did you grow eyes on your head just for show!”
Bai Xiaoshuai slapped Mo Tianyun across the face, and then quickly approached Lin Tian, saying cautiously, “Lin…
Tian, my apologies, we didn’t know…”
“Heh, Bai Xiaoshuai, you still have quite the presence…”
Lin Tian said with a cold laugh.
of course not, I was just joking, Mr.
Bai Xiaoshuai’s forehead broke out in a sweat as he quickly lowered his head.
Damn it, that Vice Mayor Yang’s son and the even more terrifying Hong Ziyi had both been beaten to a pulp and still got off scot-free.
If this man were to take action against him, crying wouldn’t even begin to cover it.
“Forget it, you’re also Qianqian’s classmate.
There’s no need to make this so stiff!”
Lin Tian waved his hand dismissively and finally looked at Mo Tianyun, saying, “In the future, keep your eyes wide open!”
Mo Tianyun clenched his teeth and could only bow his head in shameful anger, knowing that if even Bai Xiaoshuai had to submit, he definitely couldn’t afford to provoke Lin Tian.
At this time, the customers in the shop also realized that Lin Tian was not an ordinary person and promptly shut their mouths.
“Elder, since you don’t believe it, let us demonstrate for you!”
Lin Tian once again looked at Gu Liuushui and, as he spoke, retrieved a basin of water, a lighter, and a candle from Guo Fu.
After lighting the candle, Lin Tian used the flame to heat the ancient scroll painting until its surface turned completely black, to everyone’s surprise, the painting did not catch fire.
Once the scroll was thoroughly blackened, Lin Tian soaked it in the water, and after half a minute, he lifted it out.
Lin Tian grasped a corner of the scroll and gave it a gentle twist, peeling away two layers from the edge and revealing the pattern inside.
“Sss, there’s actually a painting within the painting!”
Gu Liuushui gasped, astounded.
Others present also gaped in amazement.
However, the lines on this painting were a chaotic mess—what was it supposed to be?
It seemed incomplete too!
Many looked at the web-like pattern on the scroll and were puzzled.
Frowns also formed on Gu Liuushui’s face.
But when Lin Tian saw the pattern, his eyes narrowed, and he hurriedly rolled up the scroll.
Glancing around, he noticed that the girl wearing a duckbill cap had vanished.
Lin Tian didn’t pay attention to the others and quickly walked out of the shop.
“Hey, young man, wait a moment.
For that painting, I offer two billion—could you give me a few days to gather the funds?”
Seeing Lin Tian leaving, Gu Liuushui became anxious and called out quickly.
“Sorry, I wouldn’t sell it even for twenty billion!”
Lin Tian looked back and said, continuing his brisk walk along the street, searching for the girl.
But despite combing the entire antique street, Lin Tian couldn’t find her.
“What a pity, that girl’s body contained True Qi, which can only be cultivated with a genuine Cultivation Method.
I hope I can meet her again…”
Sighing, Lin Tian’s gaze fell on the scroll, and his expression grew serious, “The pattern on this painting is somewhat similar to the patterns surrounding the Illusion Beads of the Nine-Turned Chaotic Pearl in my mind.
I need to go back and check on this!”