Chapter 129: Mr. Dragon

A burly middle-aged man with a stern face sat in a rosewood grandmaster’s chair, holding a glass of red wine. His sharp gaze was fixed intently on Qin Feng. Behind him stood two tall bodyguards dressed in black, their cold eyes radiating an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.

The moment Qin Feng stepped inside, an overwhelming pressure hit him, making it almost hard to breathe. The air in the room seemed to freeze as Qin Feng and the middle-aged man locked eyes, neither speaking first.

The man’s gaze was as deep as a pool, seemingly able to see through everything. Qin Feng’s eyes, however, were calm and composed, a faint, inscrutable smile playing at the corners of his lips.

After a long silence, the man finally broke it, gently setting down his wine glass with a crisp clink that echoed clearly in the quiet room.

“You’re impressive, young man. To dare come alone to see me—that kind of courage isn’t common.”

Qin Feng smiled ambiguously without replying, then calmly asked, “You’re Mr. Long, the boss of Black Widow?”

“Heh, it seems that girl, Hong Yu, thinks highly of you,” Mr. Long chuckled heartily, a hint of admiration in his tone.

“That’s right. I am the master here. You can call me Mr. Long.”

He gestured to the chair beside him, inviting Qin Feng to sit. “Come, try some of my tea—pre-rain Longjing. Not something you find just anywhere.”

Qin Feng accepted without hesitation, sitting down openly across from Mr. Long. He lifted the cup and took a delicate sip, a refreshing fragrance spreading through his mouth—indeed, a fine tea.

Seeing Qin Feng’s composed demeanor, Mr. Long nodded inwardly. This young man was no ordinary person.

“Qin Feng, right? I’ve heard you have a sharp eye. Hong Yu said you immediately recognized the origin of that batch of goods?”

Qin Feng set down his cup, smiling faintly. “Mr. Long flatters me—I only know the basics. But I’m curious, since you agreed to meet me, you must have a reason?”

He didn’t answer Mr. Long’s question directly, instead steering the conversation toward his own interest.

“Hahaha, straightforward young man!” Mr. Long laughed heartily, openly admitting, “Yes, I do want your help, but...”

He paused, locking eyes with Qin Feng, “What interests me more is talent like you.”

Qin Feng sneered inwardly. Of course, this old fox had his own agenda.

He kept his expression calm, asking lightly, “Oh? What exactly do you mean, Mr. Long?”

Mr. Long didn’t answer directly. Instead, he stood and walked to the window, folding his hands behind his back as he gazed out at the night view. He spoke slowly.

“To be honest, I have a passion for antiques and calligraphy. Unfortunately, over the years I’ve never found someone truly knowledgeable to appraise them for me.”

Turning back, his eyes sharp, he said, “Would you be willing to help me?”

Mr. Long was patient, quietly waiting with a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

The room fell silent again, the atmosphere heavier than before.

At last, Qin Feng seemed to reach a decision. He spoke slowly, a hint of amusement in his tone: “Mr. Long, why should I trust you?”

Mr. Long laughed loudly, as if hearing a good joke. Approaching Qin Feng, he patted his shoulder with an unmistakable air of authority. “Because I am Long!”

He clapped his hands, and a bodyguard dressed in black swiftly emerged from the shadows, bowing respectfully.

“Bring out that stone Buddha,” Mr. Long ordered in a low voice filled with unchallengeable command.

The bodyguard nodded and left the room.

Qin Feng observed everything silently, guessing at Mr. Long’s intentions. He didn’t believe the old fox would be so courteous without reason, especially bringing out that stone Buddha.

Shortly, the bodyguard returned, carefully placing a brocade box on the tea table before Qin Feng.

“Mr. Qin, please take a look,” Mr. Long gestured politely, a subtle gleam in his eyes.

Qin Feng made no refusal. He opened the box.

Inside, on bright yellow silk, lay a palm-sized stone Buddha. The carving was lifelike, its face compassionate, hands folded in prayer as if blessing all sentient beings.

Qin Feng immediately recognized it—the very stone Buddha he had lost.

“How about it, Mr. Qin? This can be yours, if you wish,” Mr. Long’s voice sounded by his ear, tinged with playful meaning.

Qin Feng’s gaze fixed on the stone Buddha, his feelings a complex mix of emotions.

He slowly closed the box and looked up at Mr. Long, his eyes steady but wary. “Mr. Long, I appreciate your sincerity. But I, Qin Feng, have my own principles. Of course, I want this Buddha, but more than that, I value whether our cooperation can be based on honesty and fairness.”

Mr. Long smiled slightly, admiration flashing in his eyes. “Mr. Qin, you are indeed a wise man. I, Long, have always been a man of my word. If you help me, this stone Buddha and the payment for that batch of antiques Hong Yu mentioned will be yours. But first, I need you to do something.”

“Please, go ahead,” Qin Feng replied calmly, already prepared.

“Recently, I received news that a batch of mysterious antiques surfaced on the market, said to be linked to an ancient site soon to be excavated. Among them is a crucial treasure of great significance to me. I want you to find it and ensure it returns safely to me.”

Mr. Long’s tone was resolute and unquestionable.

Qin Feng frowned slightly. This sounded like a complex power struggle.

“Mr. Long, this is no simple matter. How can you be sure these antiques are connected to that ancient site? And why are you so certain one of them is so important to you?”

Mr. Long smiled lightly, pulling a yellowed ancient jade from his pocket and laying it on the tea table.

“This is a clue from an old friend, a historian with expertise in ancient civilizations. This jade was found near the site by chance. He says the totem carved on it closely resembles a treasure recorded in ancient texts.”

Qin Feng picked up the jade, scrutinizing it carefully. Indeed, the totem was intricate and mysterious.

He silently pondered—this mission would be far more challenging than he had imagined.