I originally wanted to decline Jiang Tianyi's invitation, but when I heard him say "time is short," I couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Tian, when will this treasure competition be held?"
"Five days later."
Jiang Tian paused for a moment: "The invitation list for Fengmen Village next year is finalized a year in advance. Duan Jinyan also prepared for a year in advance to get the ticket to that family in the Northwest, and even went to the Ze Wang Tomb at the exact time, but you guys ruined it. I received the news relatively late, and it was already very difficult for me to get the ticket before the start of the Treasure Competition."
Including travel and preparation time, these five days are extremely limited. Besides you, I can't think of anyone else suitable. Shenxing, don't feel pressured. The Duan family's Ghost Eye Judge technique is top-notch even in the country. As long as you perform consistently, there shouldn't be any major problems!
Since we're partners, we should naturally trust each other. So, to put it another way, even if you lose in this treasure-hunting competition, I won't have any complaints. Although it's a good opportunity, it's not our only chance. If you're not selected, we'll think of other ways.
After Jiang Tianyi's repeated persuasion, I finally acquiesced to the arrangement: "Uncle Tian, you just said that this treasure competition will take a lot of time to travel. Where is it held?"
"In Yunnan, in a small town near the border."
Jiang Tianyi added, "The Treasure Competition has two rounds. The question for the first round has already been revealed: 'Fishing for the Moon from the Bottom of the Sea'! As for the question for the second round, only the winner of the first round will know."
Upon hearing about the method of the competition, I licked my lips and asked, "Since the topic has been revealed, how many sea areas are involved?"
Jiang Tianyi clenched his fist: "Perfect in every way."
"call!"
Upon hearing this answer, I took a deep breath.
The so-called "fishing for the moon in the sea" refers to a contest where each participant brings a corresponding number of antiques to each other for appraisal.
Of these items, only one is genuine. Whoever can select the genuine item from the other's items first is considered the winner.
In general, the "fishing for the moon at the bottom of the sea" game usually involves good things coming in pairs, like "three yangs bringing good fortune." However, the "perfect ten" game, which involves nine falsehoods and one true element, requires considerable discernment.
According to the records of the judge, my ancestor once engaged in a high-stakes gamble with someone, a gamble that was one in a hundred, and it was a life-or-death gamble.
However, the judge's record only documented the details of that gambling game and did not describe the ending.
But since it's a life-or-death situation, and this record can appear in the judge's log, the outcome doesn't seem too hard to guess.
Since Fengmen Village was able to hold a perfect preliminary test, it means that everyone participating in this treasure-hunting competition must be a master, which suddenly filled me with pressure: "Uncle Tian, are the items needed for this treasure-hunting competition ready?"
"Not yet. I only found out about this last night, but I've already had my men take care of it."
Jiang Tian smiled and said, "To ensure your safety and prevent your information from being leaked, I have arranged for you to travel to Yunnan in private vehicles. The journey will take about two days. Including the day you arrive to prepare, you will have at most two more days. Although it is a bit rushed, preparing ten items should not be a problem."
I thought for a moment and said, "Uncle Tian, if you trust me, leave this to me. The ten items we found are meant to deceive others. If the fakes are too obviously fake, we'll be digging our own grave."
Jiang Tianyi was taken aback after hearing my words: "Shenxing, as far as I know, the Duan family's ancestral precept is that we must not sell, manufacture, or traffic fakes, and we must not allow Chinese cultural artifacts to flow overseas. How did you manage to procure so many counterfeit items?"
I blushed at the question and didn't answer it directly: "I have some friends in the industry. This circle is full of all sorts of people, and these days counterfeits are rampant, so it's worth a try."
“Alright, then let’s prepare for both possibilities and have two sets of equipment ready, so that no matter which side has a problem, we’ll have a backup plan.”
Jiang Tianyi thought for a moment: "There is another matter we need to pay special attention to. Since the Black Robe Organization has already set its sights on you, there will always be unstable factors accompanying you if you show your face alone. Therefore, Tianxia Group will be responsible for your security. I will have my personal bodyguard and Xiaoman protect your safety together... Of course, this is definitely not a form of surveillance, and I hope you will not overthink it."
Although Jiang Tianyi said that, I was still not comfortable entrusting myself entirely to a stranger, so I chuckled and said, "Uncle Tian, I am, after all, a grown man. If you let Xiaoman protect me, wouldn't people laugh at us? You only need to be responsible for Xiaoman's safety. As for your own safety, I will take care of it."
When Jiang Tian saw that I refused, he did not insist: "Okay, then I will follow your arrangements. I will have my people take good care of you."
...
After agreeing to represent Tianxia Group in the Treasure Battle Tournament, I returned to my room and lay on the bed, examining the admission ticket for the tournament.
This is a high-quality Hetian jade plaque, about the size of a pack of slim cigarettes. However, its shape is not very elegant, as it has been carved into the shape of a tombstone with a blood-red character "封" (seal) written on it.
I fiddled with the jade pendant in my hand, then took out my phone and searched for Su Jialiang's number in my contacts.
That's why I told Jiang Tianyi that I wanted to bring my own fake item to the treasure appraisal event.
It's important to know that Su Gouzi is the head of one of the top counterfeit gangs in China.
No matter how influential Jiang Tianyi is in the industry, when it comes to forgery, he's no match for Su Jialiang.
Su Gouzi's phone went unanswered, but after a while, a long satellite phone number rang in my cell phone, followed by Su Jialiang's voice: "Hello, Xiao Duan?"
I sat up in bed: "Mr. Liang, I hope this late call didn't disturb your rest?"
Su Jialiang laughed heartily: "Don't be so polite, just say what you want to say!"
Su Jialiang and I are business partners, so I didn't hide anything from him: "I want a batch of goods, or rather, I need to borrow them. You need to help me prepare ten bronze artifacts, nine fake and one genuine."
Su Jialiang readily agreed: "That's easy. Where should we send it?"
I added, "Mr. Liang, this batch of stuff can't be ordinary goods. I need your most prized possessions! The kind that, once revealed, cannot have any flaws!"
Su Jialiang was speechless: "If I can't see any flaws, then I'll just send you ten genuine items."
I chuckled and said, "If I want to compete with someone in 'fishing for the moon in the sea,' and you send me the real thing, aren't you afraid I'll get my hands chopped off?"
"A perfect attempt to retrieve the moon from the bottom of the sea?"
Su Jialiang was somewhat surprised: "Who did you offend that made you set such harsh rules for verbal sparring?"
I hesitated for a moment, then told the truth: "I want to go to Fengmen Village."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this name, Su Jialiang roared, "Duan Shenxing, you little brat, have you had enough of a good life?! Are you tired of living and want to go and die?!"
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