Chapter 339: Commander!
"Young friend Zhao, please wait!"
"What is it?" Zhao Dong turned around, his tone neither cold nor warm.
Su Tian explained with a smile, "It's like this. A friend just called to say he wants to introduce me to a very important person. I was thinking that if you have time, young friend Zhao, perhaps we could go together."
A very important person?
Zhao Dong said dismissively, "Not interested. I'm leaving."
Su Tian was taken aback for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh as he hurried to block Zhao Dong's path. "Young friend Zhao, this person's status is extraordinary. Meeting them would definitely be to your benefit."
Zhao Dong frowned. Why is Su Tian so keen on introducing someone to me? Could it really be some high-profile individual? I might as well go and take a look, since I don't have anything better to do. If it really is an important person, making their acquaintance could be helpful for my affairs in the Provincial City.
With this in mind, Zhao Dong's eyes narrowed, and he finally said nonchalantly, "Fine, I'll go with you and see."
Hearing Zhao Dong agree, Su Tian was overjoyed. He knew he had acted wrongly before, but after Zhao Dong had saved his family members several times, he had come to genuinely want to befriend the young man. This call from his friend was the perfect opportunity. Without any further small talk, Su Tian immediately called for a car and left the Su family villa with Zhao Dong.
「Before long」
The car stopped outside a clubhouse.
"Old Zhang, long time no see." Su Tian was the first to get out, greeting a middle-aged man in a black Tang suit who was waiting by the entrance.
The middle-aged man strode forward, beaming. "Old Su, you're a hard man to get a hold of! If I hadn't mentioned introducing you to an important figure, I bet you wouldn't have made the time, would you?"
"Ah, not at all. I've just been busy with trivial things."
After exchanging pleasantries, Su Tian turned to introduce Zhao Dong. "Young friend Zhao, this is President Zhang Wen. His family is also in business, and we've been good friends for many years."
"A pleasure to meet you, President Zhang," Zhao Dong said politely, extending his hand without any pretense.
Zhang Wen also reached out, still smiling. "Such a distinguished young man. Could he be your son-in-law, Old Su?"
"No, no," Su Tian said awkwardly. "Young friend Zhao is our Su family's benefactor. He just saved my life a moment ago. I'd love for him to be my son-in-law, but he already has a girlfriend."
"Is that so? What a shame," Zhang Wen said amicably, turning to thank Zhao Dong. "Thank you for saving Old Su. If he had died, I'd have no one to play chess with anymore."
"You're too kind, President Zhang. It was nothing," Zhao Dong replied.
Since Zhang Wen was so friendly, Zhao Dong naturally responded with the respect a junior should show an elder. His demeanor only earned him more of Zhang Wen's admiration.
"Enough of that," Su Tian said, growing impatient. "You said you were introducing me to an important figure. Who is it? Why be so secretive that you'd only tell me once I arrived?"
He had brought Zhao Dong along specifically to use this opportunity to build a better relationship. If Zhang Wen couldn't produce an impressive enough person, wouldn't the whole effort be wasted?
Zhang Wen chuckled. "This person has a serious background. You'll know once we go inside."
With that, Zhang Wen led Su Tian and Zhao Dong into the building.
「In a private room on the second floor.」
As they pushed the door open, they saw a middle-aged man with a square face and a full beard standing by a table, intently examining a bronze sword. The man possessed a natural air of authority; even with a look of joy on his face, he was still somewhat intimidating. A faint fluctuation of cultivation power emanated from him, giving Zhao Dong a sense of threat.
This man... is no simple character!
Surrounding him was a group of impressive-looking, upper-class individuals, all wearing various fawning expressions.
"Commander Xiang!?" Su Tian gasped upon seeing the man.
"Patriarch Su, I've heard much about you," the man said, setting down the bronze sword and greeting Su Tian with a smile.
Su Tian was overcome with flattery and hurried forward. "Old Zhang told me he was introducing me to an important figure, but I never imagined it would be you, Commander Xiang!"
"No need for such formality. Once we've met, we're friends."
"Yes, of course. To be friends with Commander Xiang is an honor for me," Su Tian replied courteously, then turned to Zhao Dong. "Young friend Zhao, this is Xiang Yuanshan, the Commander of our Provincial City's Dragon Binding Division."
The Commander of the Provincial City's Dragon Binding Division!? No wonder even a man of Su Tian's status is so respectful to him!
"A pleasure, Commander Xiang," Zhao Dong said, taking the initiative to greet him.
Commander Xiang, however, just frowned. He glanced at Zhao Dong and said coolly, "Zhao Dong? I've never heard of any prominent young master with the surname Zhao in the Provincial City. Are you from out of town?"
"Yes, I'm from East Sea City," Zhao Dong answered truthfully.
"East Sea City?" Commander Xiang's brow furrowed, and a flicker of disdain crossed his eyes. He gave a smile that didn't reach them. "So, a young man from a small place. But as I recall, there are no prominent Zhao families in East Sea City either, are there?"
"I'm not from any prominent family. I'm just an ordinary person," Zhao Dong replied.
At his words, Commander Xiang's expression instantly changed. He turned to Su Tian, his displeasure clear. "Patriarch Su, I agreed to befriend you, yet you bring a nobody along. Are you suggesting that he and I are on the same level?"
Su Tian's face fell, and he quickly tried to explain. "No, no, Commander Xiang, you misunderstand! Young friend Zhao is no ordinary person. He—"
"Enough!" Commander Xiang cut him off coldly. "Let's drop the subject. I had Zhang Wen invite you today because I heard you have some expertise in appraising antiques."
"Yes, I have indeed studied appraisal," Su Tian said, his face flush with embarrassment as he cast an apologetic look at Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong merely shrugged. Making friends with Xiang Yuanshan would have been good, but if the man wasn't interested, he certainly wasn't going to kiss up to someone who'd already given him the cold shoulder.
At this point, Zhang Wen stepped in to smooth things over. "Old Su, don't worry about young friend Zhao for now. Commander Xiang is a very busy man, and it wasn't easy for him to make time today. You should hurry and help him take a look at his treasure."
"Yes..." Su Tian nodded awkwardly.
Without another word, Commander Xiang handed the bronze sword to Su Tian. "Patriarch Su, I acquired this item by chance. It's said to be a bronze sword from the Warring States period. Please take a look and tell me if it's real."
A bronze sword from the Warring States period? That's a priceless treasure!
Su Tian's passion was antiques, which was why he had devoted himself to the art of appraisal. Hearing of such a significant treasure, his earlier displeasure vanished. He took the bronze sword eagerly, but after just five minutes of examination, his brow quietly knit together.
"Commander Xiang... do you want to hear the truth?"
Hearing this, Commander Xiang's heart skipped a beat! Su Tian's expression practically confirmed that the sword was a fake!
Commander Xiang sighed. "Speak plainly. Before I invited you, I already had several experts look at it. Their opinions were divided—some said it was real, others said it was fake. So you can speak freely. I'm prepared."
Su Tian shook his head helplessly and pointed to the end of the bronze sword. "Commander Xiang, please look. The relief carving on this sword is correct. Both the craftsmanship and the degree of weathering check out. At a glance, it certainly looks like a genuine bronze sword from the Warring States period!"
He continued, "However, this type of sword was clearly a weapon for the nobility of that era, yet it's engraved with an image of a Qilin!"
"Is there a problem with the Qilin image?" Commander Xiang asked anxiously. None of the other experts had mentioned that detail.
Su Tian nodded. "During the Warring States period, the Qilin was not considered an auspicious beast—at least, not a common one. At that time, people revered the Nine-Tailed Fox as the supreme auspicious creature. It was only after its vilification in certain novels from the Ming and Qing dynasties that its image suffered. Therefore, if this item truly belonged to a king or a noble, it would absolutely not be decorated with a Qilin relief. The craftsman who made this was highly skilled, but unfortunately, his historical research was not thorough enough!"
After this explanation, Commander Xiang looked ashen. He slammed his hand on the table in frustration. "I spent a full ten million on this bronze sword and have cherished it ever since, only to find out it's a fake? How could I have been so foolish!"
With several experts already questioning the sword's authenticity, Su Tian's thorough explanation left Xiang Yuanshan with no choice but to accept it was a forgery.
Seeing his anger, Su Tian offered some consolation. "However, Commander Xiang, you need not be too upset. Although this item is not from the Warring States period, it isn't a modern creation either. Judging by its patina, it should be over a hundred years old. While not worth ten million, it is definitely still an antique."
Hearing this, Commander Xiang felt slightly better. After all, anyone who collects antiques knows you can't profit on every purchase. At least it's still an antique. That's more comforting than buying a modern forgery, right?
The surrounding crowd murmured in sympathy.
Just then, Zhao Dong, who had been standing to the side, pursed his lips and said coolly, "There's nothing wrong with this antique. It is indeed a product of the Warring States period. You are all simply mistaken."
The group froze, their gazes snapping to Zhao Dong as their expressions instantly changed.