The two bodyguards collapsed to the floor, groaning in pain. A chill ran through Xu Peng—if he kept resisting, he might end up crippled.
Lowering his head in humiliation, he bit off a piece of the painting and forced himself to chew. Tears and snot streamed down his face.
From the side, someone began to applaud.
But the paper was dry and bitter. Xu Peng raised his head and pleaded, "If I eat the whole thing, I'll need to be hospitalized. Can't I eat just a little?"
Jiang Chen chuckled coldly. "Sure, but I have a little quirk."
"What quirk?"
"I enjoy seeing people kneel and beg."
"To kneel before a poor bumpkin like you?" Xu Peng's shame briefly gave way to anger again.
Jiang Chen didn't push. "No kneeling, then eat the whole thing."
Xu Peng struggled for a while, then dropped to one knee. "Old classmate, let me off just this once. I was wrong."
Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. "Both knees. That's the only way it counts."
Grinding his teeth, Xu Peng fell to both knees. "Please forgive me."
Jiang Chen felt a surge of satisfaction. Finally, he had avenged the humiliation.
"Alright, Xu Peng, stand up. That posture doesn't suit you," he said, reaching out and lifting him effortlessly to his feet. "Take the painting home and chew on it slowly. It's a real masterpiece!"
Xu Peng sneered, "The Xu family is filthy rich. You're broke. This piece of trash? Keep it. Maybe you'll make a few bucks selling it on the street."
But Jiang Chen's eyes lit up. He had wanted that painting all along.
"I can't take it for free, Xu Peng. Let me buy it. Name your price."
Xu Peng snorted, "Ten million."
Jiang Chen countered, "Five hundred."
"Five hundred? Do you even hear yourself, pauper?" Xu Peng snapped.
"Then forget it," Jiang Chen replied, turning away.
"You won't buy it? I wouldn't sell it to you anyway," Xu Peng muttered.
Jiang Chen turned to Zhao Shu. "Uncle Zhao, lend me five hundred."
Zhao frowned. "It's not worth five hundred. It's a fake, and it's damaged."
"But if I back down today," Jiang Chen said, "he'll just keep looking down on me."
Zhao Shu sighed, pulled out five hundred yuan, and handed it to Xu Peng.
Jiang Chen smiled. "Deal's done. The painting is mine!"
He laid it on the table and swept his gaze across the room. "Let me show you the real value of this painting."
Everyone was stunned. A fake painting? What value?
Suddenly, Jiang Chen ripped it in half.
Gasps erupted around the room. "Didn't you say it was priceless?!"
Jiang Chen replied calmly, "The painting is fake—but the scroll is a genuine antique."
As he shook the scroll, it rustled softly. Then, with a twist and a snap, the core cracked open. He gave it a firm tap, and seven bronze beads rolled onto the table.
The crowd surged forward. The bronze beads gleamed, each carved with round markings on all six sides.
Master Qi's face changed instantly, his voice trembling. "I never imagined… The Legendary Qian-Kun Beads of Guiguzi have resurfaced!"
"The what?!" gasps echoed around the room.
"These were created by Guiguzi," Master Qi explained, "divination treasures passed down to his twelve disciples—including Su Qin and Zhang Yi. They reveal yin and yang, predict fate. Ancient mystical relics!"
Jiang Chen picked up the beads, feeling a strange energy flow through his palm, merging with the qi in the beads.
Eyes wide, he tossed the beads onto the table, then slammed his palm down.
Smack!
The beads jumped and landed in a perfect Big Dipper formation.
A chorus of astonishment: "Incredible!"
Another slam—this time, the beads arranged themselves into a Bagua pattern.
Qi Lao's eyes burned with desire. He stepped forward and tried a strike of his own. Nothing happened.
Zhao Shu and other onlookers took turns. The beads didn't move an inch.
Whispers filled the air: "These divine artifacts… they only respond to Mr. Jiang!"
"He must have a destined fate with the immortal arts!"
Just moments ago, many in the room had looked down on Jiang Chen. Now, their eyes were filled with envy and awe.
Xu Peng was on the verge of vomiting blood. That ancient treasure… he had basically handed it over for 500 yuan!
Furious and humiliated, he lunged toward the table, reaching to grab the beads.
But Jiang Chen calmly seized his wrist. "Don't touch. People like you are filthy. Might ruin the power of the artifact."
Then, he picked up the beads one by one and tucked them into his chest pocket.
Xu Peng ground his teeth. "Jiang Chen, this isn't over!"
He shouted and stormed out of the VIP room, defeated and humiliated.