C36 Su Qingyin's Suspicions!

On Antique Street, with only ten minutes left, the owner of the calligraphy and painting shop let out a cold laugh.

"Kid, looks like your big boss has ditched you!"

After his remark, the shop owner took a moment to appraise Qian Duoduo's legs.

"You... are full of it!"

"My boss is all about loyalty and would never leave a brother behind!"

Qian Duoduo's face turned a shade redder.

His words rang with conviction, but time was ticking—nine minutes had already passed!

In another minute, if Lin Chen didn't return, Qian Duoduo would indeed be carried out of there.

"Hallmaster Liu, I believe we're running out of time."

"Let's wrap this up early and avoid disrupting our business."

The shop owner shot a glance at Qian Duoduo, then turned to address Liu Wu directly, ignoring Qian Duoduo's protests.

Liu Wu, not fond of the shop owner's authoritative tone, found himself in a difficult position and refrained from taking sides with Lin Chen and Qian Duoduo.

"Make it quick," Liu Wu commanded his bodyguards in a stern voice.

Upon hearing this, Qian Duoduo's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, paralyzed with fear.

As despair set in, Lin Chen's voice cut through the tension.

"Boss, you've finally made it back!"

"I was afraid I'd never see you again in this lifetime..."

Watching Lin Chen stride into the center, Qian Duoduo was on the verge of weeping with relief.

Before Lin Chen could utter a word, Lee Chen showed his impatience.

"Now that you're here, let's get a move on."

Lee Chen wasn't the least bit concerned about Lin Chen's return.

The wrinkled sheet of xuan paper in Lin Chen's grip was clearly of inferior quality.

How could Master Kunlun, of all people, resort to using such rubbish?

"Kid, that tattered xuan paper you're holding couldn't possibly be an original from Master Kunlun, could it?"

"That's just laughable!"

The shop owner, too, had taken note of the cheap xuan paper in Lin Chen's hands and couldn't resist scoffing.

"Tattered paper?"

"Are you suggesting that Master Kunlun's originals are done on some exorbitantly priced xuan paper?"

Lin Chen's eyes widened with genuine curiosity.

"Isn't that stating the obvious?"

"Master Kunlun is a figure of such stature; naturally, the paper for his works would be nothing short of exquisite!"

The shop owner didn't miss a beat before responding.

Lin Chen's blood boiled at the words; he wanted to lash out in frustration.

The paper he used for his paintings was nothing more than toilet paper.

Wasn't it obvious whether it was valuable or not?

"I can't waste my time arguing with you."

"You were all eager to see an original from Master Kunlun, right?"

"Well, feast your eyes on this!"

Lin Chen would have loved to whip up a painting right then and there to shock these snobs, if not for the risk of blowing his cover.

With that, he unfurled the painting across the table.

"Pfft!"

"I can't believe I fell for your nonsense!"

"Kid, what's the point of duping everyone with a counterfeit?"

The calligraphy shop owner barely gave it a glance before bursting into laughter.

When Lin Chen seemed unimpressed, the owner jabbed a finger at the paper, "First off, this paper is brand new, not vintage stock."

"If you're skeptical, just examine the upper right corner—it's stamped with the most recent date."

"Moreover, the ink on this piece is still wet. You expect me to believe this is Master Kunlun's authentic work?"

Lin Chen's head throbbed with irritation after the owner's retort.

He cursed himself for his haste, having overlooked the date printed on the paper.

Yet, Lin Chen remained composed.

"Hallmaster Liu, the truth is clear now."

"It's your move."

The shop owner took a brief pause before addressing Liu Wu once more.

Liu Wu let out a sigh, his eyes betraying a flicker of disappointment.

He had hoped Lin Chen possessed a true piece by Master Kunlun, but it turned out to be nothing more than a sham.

"I'll handle this."

"There's a wager between us, after all."

Lee Chen stepped forward, his tone nonchalant.

Liu Wu's brow creased slightly, and he wavered for a moment before ultimately holding his tongue.

It didn't matter who acted; the outcome would be the same. No point in making an enemy of a young master over a fraud.

"Wait a minute!"

As Lee Chen was poised to break Lin Chen's legs himself, Su Qingyin unexpectedly intervened to stop him.

"Qingyin, what are you getting at?"

Lee Chen was growing increasingly frustrated with Su Qingyin's repeated interference in dealing with what he saw as an insignificant figure.

"I believe this piece of calligraphy could very well be an original by Master Kunlun!"

Su Qingyin was well aware of Lee Chen's displeasure, yet she chose to disregard it, instead murmuring her thoughts.

Her statement sent a ripple of astonishment through the crowd.

Could this calligraphy actually be a genuine work by Master Kunlun?

Was Su Qingyin making some sort of international joke?

Experts had already declared that the paper of the calligraphy was new and the ink had yet to dry.

How could it possibly be a creation of Master Kunlun?

"Please, take a closer look at these two pieces of calligraphy."

"The first one, though the paper is aged and valuable, possesses the right form and essence."

"Yet, when you compare it to the second piece, it lacks a certain ethereal quality and that elusive touch of destiny."

Su Qingyin's eyes blazed as she regarded Lin Chen.

She had this intuition that the unassuming man before her might actually be Master Kunlun himself!

Her hunch wasn't unfounded.

For starters, Lin Chen had requested brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the calligraphy shop owner, which, given the current circumstances, suggested he was ready to demonstrate his talent then and there.

He likely changed his mind upon realizing that Master Kunlun's reputation was too illustrious and he didn't want to reveal his identity.

The idea that he possessed an authentic piece by Master Kunlun was plausible; perhaps he had crafted an even more impressive piece of calligraphy in the spare ten minutes!

Nevertheless, without a word from Lin Chen, she wouldn't disclose her suspicions.

"Spirituality and destiny?"

Su Qingyin's words left Lee Chen, Liu Wu, and the calligraphy shop owner momentarily dazed.

Their eyes instinctively scanned the two pieces of calligraphy laid out on the table.

"Does this embody the Dao and Destiny of a cultivator?"

With just one look at Lin Chen's calligraphy, Liu Wu's face underwent a dramatic change.

The cultivation method within him began to operate on its own accord.

Seeing the situation, he didn't hesitate; he simply sat down cross-legged and entered a state of deep meditation.

Lee Chen was hardly faring better than Liu Wu.

Had he not forcefully subdued the flow of his cultivation method, he might have ended up just like Liu Wu.

Yet, the more he tried to control it, the less he could believe it.

How on earth did a kid like Lin Chen come across an original work by Master Kunlun?

"Sir, would you consider parting with this piece of calligraphy and selling it to me?"

Su Qingyin, keeping her suspicions at bay, inquired of Lin Chen with utmost courtesy.

"Beauty, talking about selling is already too formal."

"If you like it, I'll gift it to you, as a token of our new friendship."

Lin Chen, seeing Su Qingyin's fondness for his calligraphy, didn't waver and offered it with a generous air.

Though selling the piece might net him tens or even hundreds of millions,

he was on the verge of winning a billion-yuan bet. Why bother over such a trivial sum?

Besides, gifting a piece of calligraphy to make friends with a lady of Su Qingyin's stature would not only infuriate Lee Chen but also secure a powerful ally. It was the best of both worlds.

"For me?"

Su Qingyin's ethereal face showed a hint of surprise as she sought clarification from Lin Chen.

"Absolutely, it's yours!"

"I was instantly drawn to you, Miss. No, no, no, I mean we hit it off right away."

"A mere piece of calligraphy is nothing; consider it a gift."

Lin Chen shrugged nonchalantly.

Watching him spin his tall tales with such earnestness, Su Qingyin was torn between amusement and disbelief.

Though she couldn't fathom Lin Chen's motives, she was certain he wasn't smitten with her looks or figure.

Otherwise, his gaze wouldn't be so clear and bright!

"In that case, I gratefully accept, sir."

Su Qingyin wasn't one for affectation. Regardless of whether Lin Chen's intention was to gift or sell, she acknowledged the gesture graciously.

"My name is Lin Chen. If Qingyin doesn't mind, just call me Chen."

"Of course, I can't let you call me Brother Chen for nothing. I have an old connection with Master Kunlun. If you ever want any of Master Kunlun's calligraphy or paintings in the future, just let Brother Chen know."

Lin Chen said with a slight smile.

"Brother... Chen?"

"Ah, Qingyin, you say it so sweetly!"

"Pfft!"

Su Qingyin couldn't help but laugh at Lin Chen's brazenness.

She had blurted out 'Brother Chen' in a moment of confusion.

Little did she know, Lin Chen would take her up on it so readily!

If she hadn't thought Lin Chen might actually be Master Kunlun, she would have lost her temper long ago.

The nerve of any man thinking he could take advantage of Su Qingyin – such a man hadn't been born yet!

"Kid, it doesn't matter if this painting is an authentic piece by Master Kunlun or not."

"You still haven't proven that the painting from the shop owner is a counterfeit!"

"So, in the strictest sense, you've still lost our wager!"

Lee Chen watched Su Qingyin's charming smile, feeling his heart break into pieces.

For years, he had done everything to earn such a smile from her.

And now, how could this unknown youngster receive such favor from Qingyin?

With that thought, Lee Chen's irritation grew.

He didn't even wait for Lin Chen to respond before a dense aura of murderous intent erupted from him.

However, just as Lee Chen was about to make his move and break Lin Chen's legs, Liu Wu, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes.

He fixed a cold gaze on Lee Chen and said icily, "If you dare to lay a finger on him, no matter who you are, I, Liu Wu, will ensure you never leave this antique street on your own two feet again."