Chapter 6731
Returning a Favor
"Where are we going?" Xiao Chen asked with interest.
Qin Fang smiled and said, "We'll have to wait and see at the underground auction at the Qinren Club in three days. The items up for auction there are all genuine artifacts unearthed from ancient tombs and secret realms, each carrying the weight of history and mystery. However, that place isn't for just anyone; there are many rules inside."
Xiao Chen gently stroked the cracks on the teacup with his fingertips. The cracks seemed like scars left by time, or perhaps they concealed some secret.
He pondered for a moment, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.
Although he could use his aura-gazing technique to distinguish the authenticity of artifacts, in this day and age, even tomb raiders use high-tech imitations. The waters of the antique street are probably blacker than ink, and one could easily fall into a trap if one is not careful.
In contrast, while underground auctions carry the risk of being targeted by powerful families, they offer the advantage of being able to bid openly and legitimately, and the quality of the items auctioned is guaranteed.
Thinking of this, he raised his head and looked at Qin Fang with a firm gaze: "I, Xiao, will definitely keep the details of the auction in mind."
A glint flashed in Qin Fang's eyes, a light as dazzling and eye-catching as a shooting star streaking across the night sky.
His gold-rimmed glasses slid slowly down the bridge of his nose to the tip, but he didn't bother to push them up; he seemed to be seized by an invisible surge of excitement.
"What a coincidence! Our Qin family is one of the initiating families of this auction, and we have quite a bit of say in it."
His voice unconsciously rose, tinged with a hint of smugness, as he slammed his thick palm heavily on the armrest, the force so great that the bronze incense burner on the table clanged, as if cheering on his words.
When he deliberately emphasized "private helicopter," his expression was full of ostentation, as if it were the most luxurious treatment in the world.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you like this." Xiao Chen clasped his hands slightly, his movements graceful and natural, his words of thanks simple yet sincere.
His gaze inadvertently fell upon the Wudang swordplay manual hanging on the wall. The sword moves on the manual flowed smoothly, as if carrying a sharp sword aura.
His gaze swept over the training ground in the backyard, which was always bustling with activity. His granddaughter, Qin Lingling, often practiced her sword there, her sword flashing and her posture heroic.
But today it was unusually quiet, and that lively figure was nowhere to be seen.
"I used to often see your granddaughter practicing swordsmanship here, but it's quiet today. I wonder why?" Xiao Chen asked casually, his tone tinged with curiosity.
This question made Qin Fang's smile freeze, as if something was stuck in his throat.
He subconsciously adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses scrutinizing Xiao Chen as if trying to see through his thoughts.
He had initially thought this kid was only obsessed with antiques, but he hadn't expected him to know so much about the inner workings of the Qin family. This made him more wary.
"To be honest, Mr. Xiao, Lingling went to Zhongnan Mountain for seclusion today with her martial uncle. Her martial uncle said that Zhongnan Mountain is rich in spiritual energy and is a good place for cultivation, so he took her there to cultivate intensively for a period of time."
As he spoke, he stroked the jade thumb ring, which was warm and smooth, and slowly rotated at his fingertips.
He tentatively suggested, "If you are not in a hurry to travel, the Qin family has recently acquired Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao tea, which is a rare and precious tea. Why don't you stay and taste it? We can then discuss antiques and martial arts further."
Just as Xiao Chen was about to politely decline, he suddenly noticed many people's writings on the wall next to the antique shop.
The calligraphy styles were diverse, some bold and unrestrained, others elegant and refined, as if telling different stories. "What's going on? Why are there so many people leaving their marks on the wall?" Xiao Chen asked curiously, his eyes full of inquiry.
Qin Fang smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out with a hint of pride: "Some celebrities come to buy things, and I see that they are cultured and distinguished people, so I ask them to leave their calligraphy, which adds a touch of culture to this shop. In the future, when others come to the shop and see these calligraphic works, they will know that Qin Renxuan is a place with profound cultural heritage."
Xiao Chen nodded slightly, a surge of urge to leave something behind welled up inside him, and he asked, "May I write something?"
Qin Fang was taken aback for a moment, thinking to himself: You're not exactly a celebrity, nor a high-ranking official, so what value could your calligraphy possibly have? However, he naturally wouldn't say this aloud.
He had already been planning to befriend Xiao Chen, so he was more than happy to do something like this that could bring them closer, and he certainly wouldn't refuse. Since Xiao Chen was interested in writing, he saw it as a perfect opportunity.
"Mr. Xiao, if you want to write, of course there's no problem. Please!" Qin Fang smiled broadly, leaned forward slightly, and made a respectful invitation gesture, as if Xiao Chen were his most honored guest.
"Lend me a calligraphy brush," Xiao Chen said calmly.
Qin Fang quickly responded and hurried to the desk, carefully taking out a wolf-hair brush from the exquisite sandalwood pen holder.
This wolf-hair brush is no ordinary item; the two characters "Imperial Gift" on the handle gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the window, clearly indicating that it was not a common product.
He held the brush in both hands as if it were a rare treasure, and quickly walked up to Xiao Chen, handing it to him with both hands: "Mr. Xiao, do you like this brush?"
Xiao Chen extended his slender fingers and took the calligraphy brush with elegant and composed movements.
He lightly dipped the brush into the inkstone, and the tip of the brush instantly became full of thick ink, which slowly dripped down the tip.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sketched a pattern on the wall with just a few strokes.
Each stroke carries a unique rhythm, as if it were not the pen moving, but a mysterious force guiding it.
The lines are smooth and natural, sometimes strong and powerful, sometimes graceful and winding, as if they contain some unfathomable mystery.
After finishing writing, he gently handed the brush to Qin Fang and said with a deep gaze, "You are also a martial artist, so consider this a gift from me to you and your grandfather. Study it carefully. If you can understand what is hidden in this pattern, it will be a blessing for you and your grandfather."
After Xiao Chen left, Qin Fang felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and he slumped into the armchair.
His eyes were fixed on the pattern on the wall, his gaze filled with doubt and curiosity.
Those twisted runes, like living earthworms, kept moving across the paper, as if telling him something, yet he couldn't quite figure it out.
He searched through his family's heirloom "Illustrated Catalogue of Ancient Books," a thick catalogue that he had almost worn out, but he still couldn't find a single clue.
As a seasoned veteran of the antique world for forty years, he has seen countless lost martial arts manuals, and he can make out the general idea of the words and patterns on those manuals at a glance.
But the picture before him was so strange that he couldn't figure it out at all.
Left with no other choice, he got up and walked to the wall, picked up a piece of paper from the table beside him, and carefully covered up the drawing Xiao Chen had made. (End of Chapter)