Chapter 105: Why Must One Be Angry

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"Qin Feng, come over here. Let me introduce you to someone."

Old Master Bai greeted him warmly, paying no mind to the fact that Qin Feng's casual attire was completely out of place at an auction.

"This is Master Ma. In the world of antiques, he's a figure of the highest standing."

Master Ma pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, a sharp glint flashing across the lenses. He gave a slight nod, which served as his greeting to Qin Feng. His demeanor carried an air of otherworldly elegance, though within that ethereal bearing lurked a trace of barely perceptible arrogance.

"So Master Ma also believes this famille-rose bowl is a fake?"

Bai Ruoxi asked with a hostile tone. She refused to believe that Old Master Bai had summoned an expert for no reason. Wasn't this plainly an attempt to put Qin Feng in his place?

Before Master Ma could speak, Qin Feng let out a light chuckle, though the smile never reached his eyes.

Master Ma cleared his throat and said slowly, "This famille-rose bowl has a fine, delicate body, a warm and lustrous glaze, and exquisite brushwork. Every detail exudes the opulent spirit of a Qianlong imperial vessel. It is absolutely a rare treasure!"

"Master Ma is truly an expert. Those eyes of yours are sharper than a magnifying glass."

Qin Feng's tone was laced with sarcasm and thinly veiled mockery.

"What do you mean by that?"

Master Ma's face darkened. Was this young man questioning his professional expertise?

Qin Feng ignored Master Ma's indignation and walked straight to the display case, pointing at the famille-rose bowl.

"Master Ma, look at the reign mark on the bottom. Although it's an impeccable imitation, if you look closely, you'll see that the final stroke of the character 'Qian' is noticeably shorter than on the genuine article."

Master Ma followed Qin Feng's gaze and his expression immediately turned sour. He knew this all too well—he had simply chosen to overlook it.

"Furthermore, look at the floral decoration on the body. The colors are vibrant, but the lines are stiff and lack vitality. It's clearly the product of modern craftsmanship."

Qin Feng continued, his tone calm, yet every word struck like a needle, leaving the surrounding onlookers dumbfounded.

"Well..." Master Ma was left speechless, wanting to refute but finding no grounds to do so.

Bai Ruoxi watched from the sidelines, and a surge of admiration for Qin Feng welled up within her. She had thought he was merely someone with a bit of cleverness, never expecting he possessed such skill.

"Master Ma, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

Qin Feng looked at Master Ma with a half-smile, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

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Cold sweat beaded on Master Ma's forehead. He no longer dared to say a word and could only slink away to the side in disgrace.

"Qin Feng, you're amazing!"

Bai Ruoxi grabbed Qin Feng's arm excitedly, her voice brimming with admiration.

Qin Feng gave a faint smile, gently patted the back of her hand, then turned to Old Master Bai and said meaningfully, "Old Master, the play you've put on today was quite a performance!"

Old Master Bai's face flushed slightly, though he didn't take offense. He simply let out a hearty laugh and said, "Young man, truly a hero emerges from the young! Come, let's sit over there and have a proper chat."

Bai Ruoxi linked her arm through Qin Feng's and followed Old Master Bai toward the seating area. Along the way, her gaze never left him, a strange light sparkling in her eyes.

Feeling her stare, a playful curve tugged at the corner of Qin Feng's mouth. This girl—could she actually be falling for him?

The group followed Old Master Bai to the lounge, where antique shelves were lined with all manner of treasures, each worth a fortune. Qin Feng casually scanned the collection and immediately spotted a Qing dynasty blue-and-white porcelain vase with a lustrous glaze and exquisite decoration—a rare piece by any measure.

"Young friend Qin, you have a keen eye!"

Old Master Bai followed Qin Feng's gaze, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "This is a treasure I've collected for many years. Most people can't appreciate its finer points."

Qin Feng smiled faintly without replying, instead picking up his teacup and taking a gentle sip.

"Young friend Qin, I invited you here today because I'd like to ask for your help."

Old Master Bai didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

"Oh? If Old Master has something to ask of me, please do tell. I'll oblige if it's within my power."

Qin Feng set down his teacup and regarded Old Master Bai with keen interest.

"It's like this," Old Master Bai paused, as if searching for the right words. "Recently, the Bai family has run into some trouble. I suspect someone is pulling strings behind the scenes, but I haven't been able to find any evidence."

"Oh?" Qin Feng raised an eyebrow. "What kind of trouble, if I may ask?"

"It's a long story," Old Master Bai sighed. "Several things have gone wrong at the company in quick succession. First, the bid documents for a new project were leaked. Then a client who'd worked with us for years suddenly terminated the partnership. And now there's been an internal funding issue..."

Old Master Bai's expression darkened as he spoke.

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Qin Feng listened quietly, without interruption.

"I suspect all of this is the work of my competitor—the Wang family!" Old Master Bai said through gritted teeth. "Over the years, the Bai family and the Wang family have been locked in constant struggle, each trying to trample the other underfoot. I'm certain this time it's connected to them!"

"Old Master, the business world is a battlefield, full of scheming and betrayal. That's hardly surprising. Why let it anger you?"

Qin Feng said flatly.

"That's true, but..." Old Master Bai hesitated, as if holding something back.

"Does Old Master have some difficulty he finds hard to speak of?" Qin Feng asked.

"Alas," Old Master Bai sighed deeply. "I suspect the Wang family has gone all out this time, even resorting to certain dirty methods!"

"Dirty methods?" Qin Feng frowned slightly.

"Exactly!" Old Master Bai nodded. "I've heard that the Wang family has been keeping close company with an organization called the 'Black Dragon Society'..."

"The Black Dragon Society?" Qin Feng's heart stirred. He had heard of this organization—it was one of the largest underground powers in Southeast Asia, said to be utterly ruthless and vicious in its methods.

"That's right, the Black Dragon Society!" Old Master Bai said gravely. "If they're truly behind this, then the situation is serious!"

"What is it you'd like me to do?" Qin Feng asked.

"I want you to help me investigate the truth of this matter, and..." Old Master Bai paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "If the Wang family and the Black Dragon Society really are working together, I want them to pay the price!"

Qin Feng was silent for a moment. He was no savior, and he had no desire to be dragged into the feuds of wealthy families. But he found it hard to refuse Old Master Bai's request.

"I can accept," Qin Feng said slowly. "But I have one condition."

"What condition? Name it!" Old Master Bai said hastily.

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