Horror Camgirl - Ch. 30: Treasure Appraisal Conference
Previously, when faced with such situations, I could only endure silently. But now, things are different. I have some money, have learned a bit of martial arts, and can even catch and exorcize ghosts. Although I'm just a novice, I'm still better off than ordinary people. With someone backing me, I finally had a chance to hold my head high.
Constantly enduring can lead to illness.
Wei Ran spoke kindly, "This child has been spoiled by her parents, Madam Yuan, please understand. I will guide her properly." He then changed the subject, "Has the revered teacher not arrived?"
I maintained a faint smile and replied, "He said he’s used to being alone and doesn't like crowded places. He asked me to have a look around and tell him about what I see and experience later."
He had not really expected my master to come, so he said, "Madam Yuan, come, let me show you around."
As we walked side by side toward the Treasure Hall, the onlookers were incredulous.
"What's her background?" someone whispered, "To be able to chat so freely with the Wei Family Head, you know, the Wei Family is a top-tier family in Shan City."
"Yes, last time the Li Family from Rong City wanted to expand in Shan City, they came with generous gifts to seek an audience, but the Wei Family Head didn't even meet them in person, just had his trusted aides handle it. Could this woman be more influential than the Li Family?"
Si Xiu and Chen Dongnan looked very upset, standing frozen for a long while before coming to their senses.
"Did I hear wrong just now?" Si Xiu asked, "Is Yuan Lai actually friends with Mr. Wei Ran? What has she done to deserve this?"
Chen Dongnan's hands trembled as he held his wine glass. He had barely managed to get an invitation to this event, hoping to please Wei Na and somehow forge a connection with the Wei Family, but he didn’t expect such an incident.
If Wei Ran got angry, it would only take a finger flick from him to doom the Chen family.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and couldn’t stay any longer, turning to leave. Si Xiu hurriedly asked, "Where are you going?"
"Should I stay here and embarrass myself further?" Chen Dongnan glared at her fiercely, if it weren’t for their parents wanting to unite their families through marriage, he wouldn’t care for such a foolish woman.
He grabbed Si Xiu and quickly left the venue.
My hearing has improved, and I naturally heard these conversations. I thought to myself, Wei Ran's status is so high, I must keep a good relationship with him, it will definitely be useful in the future.
The décor inside the Treasure Hall was very elegant, like a museum, with many displays featuring various treasures. Some had descriptions, others didn’t, relying entirely on the observer’s judgment.
Wei Ran smiled and asked, "Madam Yuan, see anything you like? I could buy it for you as a token of my appreciation."
I smiled in thanks. I hadn't planned on buying anything today; my money probably couldn't even afford a fragment of these antiques.
And Wei Ran’s items were not so easily taken.
I looked at each item, and True Lord Zhengyang sighed in my earpiece, "They call this a Treasure Appraisal Conference, but these aren’t treasures, just trinkets."
These antiques were worth hundreds of millions, some even billions, but to him, they were just trinkets.
Wei Ran noticed my earpiece. Although I wore an implanted earphone, his keen vision saw through it and he quietly ordered his subordinates to investigate.
Soon after, his subordinate reported that I was indeed talking to someone, but they couldn't trace the other party's information. The signal disappeared after transmission, not passing through any satellite or base station.
Wei Ran was startled. Was this some high technology?
Or was it not technology at all, but magic?
His gaze towards me grew more serious.
I noticed his attitude towards me became even more respectful and enthusiastic.
After a tour of the Treasure Hall, True Lord Zhengyang didn't fancy anything. Wei Ran approached and asked, "Didn't Madam Yuan like anything?"
I shook my head, and he quickly said, "No matter, there’s still the treasure duel, and after that a trade meeting, you’re bound to find something good."
At that moment, people started gathering in pairs and groups at the treasure duel venue, taking their seats. Wei Ran arranged a front-row seat for me. Just as I was about to sit down, someone called out, "Jun Yao."
"Mr. Tang." I greeted him, "You’re here? Come, sit here."
Wei Ran frowned slightly, sweeping his gaze over Tang Mingli’s face, then smiled, "Madam Yuan and Tang Shao are good friends?"
I nodded.
Wei Ran stepped forward and shook hands with Tang Mingli, "Tang Shao, welcome."
Tang Mingli nodded slightly, "Thank you, Wei Family Head, for looking after Jun Yao."
Wei Ran looked at us curiously, "Are the two of you...a couple?"
"No," I quickly interjected.
Tang Mingli’s face flashed with displeasure, all observed by Wei Ran. After a pause, he smiled, "I won’t disturb you two then, please feel free to enjoy."
After he left, Tang Mingli asked, "How do you know Wei Ran?"
I didn't elaborate, just saying, "Met during martial arts training."
Tang Mingli frowned more deeply, "Wei Ran is not a simple character, be very careful in your dealings with him."
I nodded, settled down, and then heard someone behind whisper, "Is that Tang Shao?"
"Who is Tang Shao?"
"I'm not sure either, but his uncle is a side branch of the Guo Family, and it’s a highly valued branch."
"The Guo Family? Isn’t that the family that’s been gaining prominence recently, potentially overtaking the Wei Family?"
"Yes. It’s said that the Wei Family has a big backer in the capital."
"Hmph, even so, to just be an outsider, does he really deserve the title 'Shao'?"
"This Tang Shao is very respected by the Wei Family; keep your words to yourself, offending him is akin to offending the Wei Family."
"What's there to fear? It's just a burden depending on others."
"Keep your voice down."
I sneaked a glance at Tang Mingli; he obviously heard the remarks but remained completely unfazed, which was truly admirable.
Of course, I don't believe he's any burden. He's quite influential, and his background is definitely not simple.
At that moment, I suddenly saw someone.
Yin Shengyao!
I quickly lowered my head, and as I reached the door, Wei Ran followed by his side, utterly respectful and not daring to slack off. But with a small gesture from his hand, Wei Ran immediately stepped back.
He strode in, unnoticed by anyone, and unrecognized too.
Strange, given Yin Shengyao's status, why does no one recognize him?
Ah, listening to his accent, he doesn't seem to be from Mountain City. He must have just arrived in Shan City not long ago; it's normal that no one knows him yet.
He seemed to have noticed me too, turning his head to look my way, but I quickly looked down again. He frowned slightly and then ignored me.
He sat in a corner of the room. Despite its unassuming appearance, he had a perfect view of everything.
I was inwardly shocked; this man was profoundly cunning, with a strong desire for control and ambitious to the core.
Such a person is a true hero in their own right.
My hands clenched into fists. When will I be able to take my revenge?
Suddenly a hand reached out and grasped my fist; I looked up and it was Tang Mingli.
"Calm down," he said kindly. "Don’t worry, I’m here for you."
I forced a smile and said, "Thank you."
At that moment, Wei Ran personally escorted three older men in, one of whom I had seen on TV, a master appraiser.
Tang Mingli said, "These three are Tang Zulai, Han Yun, and Hua Youwei, all respected figures in the appraisal world with keen eyes. It’s quite a feat for the Wei Family to have them here."
Soon, the appraisal conference began. Ten selected treasures were presented on stage, each introduced by their owner.
The three judges looked unfazed; what haven't they seen before? Even national treasures couldn't stir their emotions.
Suddenly, True Lord Zhengyang exclaimed, "Ah, there’s actually something good here."
I looked up to see a young girl in a cheongsam holding a red wooden box walking up to the stage. The host announced, "This item is a rare medicinal herb. It was brought here by a ginseng digger who spends his years roaming Changbai Mountain."
Everyone perked up at this. Ginseng is very rare, and while common ginseng on the market might be three to five years old, decades-old ginseng is expensive, and centuries-old can fetch millions at auction.
The host opened the box, and inside was a leaf.
The leaf was lush and beautiful, as large as an adult's palm, with patterns glowing a faint red like human veins.
Everyone was a bit disappointed; it turned out not to be ginseng.
Yet, I faintly sensed that the leaf contained a form of spiritual energy.
The host, a bit embarrassed, said, "The ginseng digger told us this is a mystical herb lost for over a hundred years—the Yanming Leaf, said to extend one's life by a month."
"Nonsense!" Before he could finish, appraiser Hua Youwei stood up and shouted, "I come from a family of traditional Chinese medicine experts and have never heard of this herb! This is just a common sycamore leaf. How could you let such a fraud participate?"
A shabbily dressed middle-aged man stood up from the crowd and retorted, "Our village has passed down this knowledge for generations; how could it be false? This is a life-extending mystical herb, and you should not speak without understanding."
Hua Youwei sneered, "Ignorance! These kinds of folk tales are numerous, and yet people actually believe them."
The surrounding audience began to whisper and scoff. A life-extending mystical herb? Who would believe that?
True Lord Zhengyang said, "This is indeed a mystical herb, but it's not called Life-Extending Grass. It's called Guilanzhi. The medicinal effect of the leaves is low, only capable of extending life by about a month even if made into a pill. What's truly valuable is its root, which can be made into a Life-Extending Pill, capable of extending life by a year."
He sighed softly, "A year, for ordinary people, is so precious."
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