Tang Wanhong contemplated as such, turning to look at Guan Kui as if he were looking at a block of wood.
Tang Wanhong glanced at the Lady Painting on the coffee table and said coldly, "Put the painting away on the desk inside, do not disturb me without reason! I want to take a good look at this painting."
"Yes... Yes..." Guan Kui timidly rolled up the painting and went inside.
Tang Wanhong looked disdainfully at Guan Kui's back.
Not only had he acquired the painting for 800 silver, but he also confirmed through this that Duan Rong had a deep understanding not only of ancient paintings but also of artifacts.
This led to his plan for a deeper connection in the next steps.
The creator of the Lady Painting brought by Duan Rong is named Fan Yunlin, an extraordinary young genius whose surviving works are rare, and this Lady Painting is among the finest.
For painters of equal status, the rarer their works, the higher the price they fetch. This Lady Painting, once sold, could easily be worth at least a thousand silver.
Duan Rong walked out of Ancient Moon Studio, in high spirits, humming a tune from his past life.
With this amount of money, he wouldn't need to worry about resources for cultivation for a while.
As long as he uses this ability to devour Artifact Spirits wisely, this Antique Street could become his treasury.
Duan Rong was dreaming of becoming a wealthy man when he was suddenly bumped on the shoulder.
This Antique Street is narrow, so the accidental bumping was nothing unusual.
But the person who bumped into him was not only strong and bulky, but the collision wasn't light. If Duan Rong hadn't had some foundation in Pile Skill, he might have been knocked down.
Duan Rong immediately grabbed the lapel of his shirt, as there were 800 silver notes in the inner pocket. How could he know if the person who bumped into him was a thief?
Duan Rong rubbed over the fabric and confirmed that the silver notes were still there, feeling slightly relieved.
Duan Rong looked at the person, who paused to look him up and down as well.
The man had a square face, a broad nose, robust and bulky stature, a head taller than Duan Rong, wearing a fitted outfit with pants wrapped at the ankles but no weapons visible.
Although he carried no weapons, Duan Rong could tell at a glance that he was a practitioner.
The man glanced at Duan Rong's waist badge, laughed, showing a set of yellow teeth, and said, "Sorry, young man! Was in a bit of a hurry!"
Duan Rong glanced at the man but said nothing and turned to leave.
The man stood there looking at Duan Rong's back with cold eyes and said thoughtfully, "Has some foundation down there. At this age, it seems like a lot of effort has been put into standing practice."
Duan Rong walked along the street and suddenly noticed a stall selling miscellaneous books. He immediately approached it and began flipping through the books.
The original owner grew up poor and was taciturn by nature. Although Duan Rong inherited his memories, his understanding of this world was not very thorough.
He had long wanted to read some miscellaneous books to broaden his horizons, but since transmigrating, he hadn't had the time nor the spare money.
But now, buying books seemed like a trivial expense to him.
Duan Rong squatted by the bookstall, selecting seven or eight books of interest, haggled the price down, paid the money, and the stall owner stacked the books together, tying them up with twine for Duan Rong to carry.
With one hand holding several yellowed miscellaneous books and the other gripping a sheathed Cow Tail Saber, Duan Rong was ready to head to the herbal shop to get some deer antler before returning to the Escort Agency.
As Duan Rong walked, a shadow suddenly darted past him, and his hand holding the books suddenly felt light.
Duan Rong looked closely and saw only half a piece of twine in his hand. The twine had been sliced by someone.
Furious, Duan Rong looked up and saw a small silhouette clutching his bundle of books; judging from the body, it seemed to be a child, darting rapidly through the crowd like a loach, soon disappearing into an alley beside Antique Street.
"Damn it! Where's this little rascal from!"
Duan Rong cursed and immediately gave chase.
But the crowd here was a bit dense, hindering his movements.
Duan Rong dashed into the alley and found the child was already quite a distance ahead.
Duan Rong saw from a distance that the child wore tattered clothes.
"Could it be a little beggar?"
Duan Rong thought and shouted, "Little beggar, stop! I'll give you money if you return my books!"
But the little beggar paid no heed, dashing into another alleyway.
Afraid he might lose track, Duan Rong hastened his pace and turned into the alley!
As soon as Duan Rong entered the alley, he sensed something amiss. It was bordered by high walls without windows, and the passage was narrow.
Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat. "Catching the dragon in the trap!"
Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he saw a tall and burly figure blocking the alley entrance. It was the same person who had bumped into him on Antique Street, but now the man was holding a Broad-faced Ghost Head Saber, his gaze coldly fixed on him...
Duan Rong turned to look at the other end of the alley and saw two people standing behind the child holding his bundle of books.
The two were holding worn-out shields and a fork!
And as he looked closer, he realized that the one who stole his books was not a child at all.
Although the child was only waist high, he already had a beard; he was actually a dwarf!
Behind the dwarf was a person whom Duan Rong had seen at the Ancient Moon Studio, the skinny tall man who brought in the Copper Furnace.
"It's like I've stepped into a bandit's lair!"
The skinny tall man was holding a fork with one hand, while using the shield in the other hand to protect the dwarf who ran behind him, shouting, "Brother Ming, it's this guy who messed up our deal at Ancient Moon Studio!"
Duan Rong's heart sank.
Earlier, when he agreed to Tang Wanhong's request to look at the Copper Furnace, he didn't know there was a problem with it. He wanted to seal the eight-hundred silver notes deal, so he took it and examined it, but it turned out the Incense Burner indeed had issues.
Though he hadn't spoken, he still ended up getting involved in trouble.
It really was a moment of carelessness that led to a lot of problems!
Looking at the menacing Broad-faced Ghost Head Saber, Duan Rong quickly calmed his frantically anxious heart, cupped his fists and said loudly, "I am an Escort Master from Yuan Shun Escort Agency. Which path are you brothers on? Can you give me your names?"
The burly man with the broad nose sneered, "Who are you trying to scare with Yuan Shun Escort Agency? With your Pile Skill, not even mastering the First Level? At most, you're an Intern Escort Master. And if I kill you and flee, will Yuan Shun Escort Agency pursue me for an Intern Escort Master?"
Duan Rong's heart jumped; this person seemed to know some internal matters of Yuan Shun Escort Agency.
"You better hand over the silver in your pocket! Our item is fake, yours is real, isn't it?" The broad-nosed man sneered, "You ruined our business, compensate us for it. This deal is very reasonable!"
"If you hand over the silver, I'll spare your life! If not, I can take it myself, but the outcome will be different." The broad-nosed man twirled the saber in his hand, his gaze suddenly sharpened.
It seemed claiming he disrupted their business was merely an excuse. They were waiting there, seeing him go in with the painting and come out empty-handed, obviously having completed a deal, and had long planned to rob him. Even if he hadn't gotten involved, he would still be cornered.
Duan Rong was already so furious he laughed, saying, "Hand it over to your mother! Do you think I'm scared so easily?"
Duan Rong knew very well that even if he handed over the silver, they would not spare him. After all, he was from Yuan Shun Escort Agency; robbing him of such a large sum would surely invite trouble later.
From the moment he entered the alley, it was already a life-and-death situation with no retreat.
Besides killing, he had no other choice.
Duan Rong drew the Cow Tail Saber and struck with a side slash, aiming at the broad-nosed man!
The broad-nosed man's eyelid twitched, angrily saying, "Since you don't take my kindness, then I'll send you to your death!"
The broad-nosed man flicked his wrist, slashing down at the saber blade coming at him from Duan Rong.
With a crisp clang, Duan Rong's tiger's mouth was shocked, his weapon almost flew from his hand.
Duan Rong's eyelid twitched, his heart slightly sinking; this man's Inner Breath was deeper than his, probably close to mastering the First Level.
While his Inner Power Heart Method had only been practiced for a day or two, it merely had basic combat effectiveness!
That broad-nosed man's move forced Duan Rong back, then he struck with wide and fierce slashes, ruthlessly attacking Duan Rong.
Duan Rong's heart was calm as water. He skillfully evaded the successive attacks from the broad-nosed man.
Though his Inner Strength was indeed inferior to the broad-nosed man, his Martial Arts techniques had already reached the Mastery Realm!
As long as he didn't engage in a direct clash, in terms of technique subtlety, he far surpassed the broad-nosed man.
This time he would use finesse to break strength!
The broad-nosed man slashed down, the saber wind tearing through the air, but Duan Rong's saber tip suddenly drilled up from the back of his blade, stabbing straight at his face, sending the broad-nosed man's soul flying, forcing him to withdraw his move and retreat.
Duan Rong's gaze was icy, a cold beast-like gleam flickered deep in his eyes.
He countered each move cleverly!
All the broad-nosed man's attacks seemed to be found flawed by Duan Rong and were skillfully dissolved.
Duan Rong often acted second but targeted vulnerable points!
The broad-nosed man grew increasingly suffocated in the fight, his Broad-faced Ghost Head Saber's blade occasionally striking the high walls on both sides, shaving off bricks and debris flying.
But couldn't even touch the hem of Duan Rong's clothes...