Chapter 20: A Painting Within a Painting in the Interlayer

"Eighty million for such a piece of junk?"

Xu Yi was stunned by the old man's words. The bronze Buddha statue before him looked rather dilapidated; had it not been for the distinct spiritual energy emanating from it, Xu Yi would have certainly dismissed it as a mere pile of scrap metal. His first instinct was that the old man was playing a trick on him.

He had long heard that those in the antique trade were a proud, insular circle, known for being dismissive and exclusionary toward outsiders. Back in college, a classmate of his had been swindled into paying 200,000 for a fake porcelain piece. Even after involving the police, his classmate was helpless; according to the shopkeeper, antique dealing was a matter of mutual consent, and no one could guarantee authenticity. Since he couldn't provide definitive proof of fraud, his classmate had to swallow the bitter pill of his own ignorance. Xu Yi still remembered the shopkeeper’s mocking gaze, which clearly showed the man had intended to deceive from the start.

If not for his own "X-Ray" and "Mind-Reading" abilities, Xu Yi would never have considered coming to the antique market to hunt for treasures. The waters here were far too deep.

Quietly, Xu Yi activated his "Mind-Reading" ability. The old man’s inner thoughts immediately surfaced in his mind: "Where did this young man come from? So ignorant of the rules. Do you think the shop's centerpiece is for sale? A centerpiece is a centerpiece precisely because it is not for sale."

Xu Yi sensed the old man’s disdain and dissatisfaction. He felt a bit embarrassed—it turned out he had broken the rules of the house. Even without knowing the trade, he realized that fixating on the shop’s most prized possession the moment he walked in was essentially an act of aggression.

After a moment's thought, Xu Yi spoke honestly, "I apologize, sir. I am unfamiliar with the rules of the antique world. I was simply captivated by this piece at first sight. If I have been presumptuous, please forgive me."

The old man looked up at him. His internal monologue shifted: "His attitude isn't bad. Clearly a novice, but I'll let it slide. Besides, for this kid to spot the Tang Dynasty glazed gold Buddha statue at a glance shows he has some eye for quality."

The old man’s demeanor softened, and Xu Yi let out a sigh of relief. Yet, he remained troubled. Did only such "centerpiece" items contain spiritual energy? Eighty million! He had originally thought that with his remaining three million and his "X-Ray" ability, he could find a bargain. Now it seemed that when one actually encountered a genuine treasure, he couldn't even afford a fraction of the cost.

Finding a bargain wasn't as easy as he thought. Xu Yi set aside his arrogance. A sense of self-awareness dawned on him; ever since gaining his "X-Ray" power, even with the pressure of his vendetta, he had gradually become prideful. Dealing with the likes of Wu Zhiyong, Huang Dabao, and Scar had been so effortless that he had begun to drift. *There is always someone better, and there is always a heaven beyond the heavens.*

Xu Yi’s heart calmed, and he deactivated his "Mind-Reading."

"Oh?" The old man noticed the change, clearly sensing that the aggressive aura surrounding the young man had diminished significantly.

Xu Yi cupped his hands in a polite gesture and asked calmly, "Sir, may I ask why the market is so quiet today? Has something happened?"

The old man shook his head slightly. "I told you that you were an outsider, and you truly are! But even an outsider should know the saying: 'Three years without a sale, one sale sustains you for three years.' Most of the business here is conducted between regulars. Since transactions are so rare, why would one need to sit in the shop every day?"

Xu Yi smiled in response. "I disagree. Even if that is the nature of the industry, today is particularly strange. Along the way, I noticed that in ten days, there seems to be an anniversary celebration here. For all the shops to be closed in such synchronized fashion for a festival—it is far too abnormal."

The old man looked at Xu Yi with some surprise, then shook his head. "You are not part of this circle, and I have no obligation to tell you the reason. But a guest is a guest; if you buy something in my shop, I might just tell you why."

Xu Yi was taken aback. *Well played, he's got me there.* If he hadn't used "Mind-Reading" earlier to know the old man was an honest person, he would have taken him for a cunning merchant. He pondered for a moment, guessing the old man had his reasons. Besides, he wanted to test if he could successfully find a bargain using his "X-Ray" ability; after all, the efficiency of earning money through scratch-offs was far too low.

Xu Yi nodded at the old man, his left eye clouded with a faint mist, and began to scan the shop. It had to be said that the old man’s collection was vast—porcelain, bronzes, ancient books, calligraphy, paintings, and jade were all on display. The sheer variety was one thing, but the haphazard way they were arranged was another. As for price tags, those didn't exist; everything here was up for negotiation.

Xu Yi focused his mental energy, not rushing, but examining each piece one by one. Seeing his meticulous approach, the old man did not stop him, but instead displayed a look of satisfaction.

An hour passed, and Xu Yi’s gaze finally settled on a piece of calligraphy.

He didn't understand antiques, but he had heard that ancient painters sometimes hid a masterpiece beneath a common work to conceal a treasure. If it weren't a treasure, there would be no need for such measures. Therefore, hidden layers were highly likely to contain genuine artifacts.

The piece Xu Yi was looking at was exactly such a work. No, not just one—there were four paintings hidden within. The technique was incredibly sophisticated; by utilizing the relationships between the works, the four layers were stacked in a way that left no flaws. Without his "X-Ray" vision, even an expert wouldn't have discovered it.

Xu Yi picked up the scroll and walked toward the owner. "Sir, I have made my choice. How do you price this?"

The old man looked at the scroll and nodded faintly. "You have a decent eye. This piece was painted by an obscure artist from the end of the Qing Dynasty. Though not famous, his brushwork is exquisite, especially the lotus flowers. Two hundred thousand. That is my final price."

The old man finished speaking and picked up his teacup. Though he found Xu Yi remarkable, he assumed the young man wouldn't pay. A novice is a novice; few understand the charm of collecting, and most just want to hunt for bargains. It was a pity, but there were no bargains to be found in his shop.

However, the old man didn't expect that before the cup even reached his lips, he would hear Xu Yi say:

"Two hundred thousand? No problem. Let's exchange money for goods. Do you take a scan or card?"

Xu Yi set down the painting and took out his phone.

The old man was stunned, unable to believe the youth was so decisive. He couldn't help but warn him, "Are you certain? Two hundred thousand is no small sum. You are young, so I will give you a friendly reminder: I only acquired this piece for fifty thousand originally."

Xu Yi replied calmly, "I admire your honesty, sir. But I am very satisfied with this piece, and it is well worth the two hundred thousand."

"In that case, pay up." The old man didn't say more and produced a QR code.

After the payment was completed, Xu Yi didn't reach for the painting. Instead, he asked, "Sir, do you happen to buy ancient calligraphy and paintings as well?"

The old man looked at him strangely. "What are you getting at? Don't tell me you want to sell back the painting you just bought from me? Are you making a fool of an old man?"

Xu Yi smiled faintly. "Don't worry, sir. I am not selling this painting, but what is hidden inside it."

The old man jolted, stood up abruptly, and shouted, "You mean to say... this is a painting within a painting?"