C16 Treasure Evaluation Convention

At six o'clock the following evening, Qi Xiao punctually made his appearance at A Hotel.

The treasure evaluation convention was taking place there again, this time in the grand lobby on the first floor. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the rear, an open-air swimming pool was visible.

Today, the hotel was closed to the public, its interior and exterior adorned with an air of elegant luxury.

Qi Xiao hadn't inquired about the specific details from Xue Rensheng, but the Xue family's hosting of such a grand event was common knowledge; a few casual inquiries were all it took for him to be in the loop.

The convention was set to begin at eight in the evening, but the doors opened at six, prime time for mingling.

Arriving at the base of A Hotel, Qi Xiao called Xue Rensheng.

"I'm downstairs."

With just those four words, he ended the call within two seconds.

Xue Rensheng, having thoroughly researched Qi Xiao's contact details and address, knew immediately who it was.

Still, he was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Qi Xiao, who was dressed in the same "ragged" attire he had worn at their last encounter in the restaurant.

"Mr. Qi, I have a suit here for you, should you wish to use it..." Xue Rensheng offered as he escorted Qi Xiao inside, a man in black trailing behind them.

"I'd rather not."

Qi Xiao's terse reply nearly left Xue Rensheng speechless.

After a pause, Xue Rensheng tried again:

"Mr. Qi, tonight's attendees are the crème de la crème of West River society, the elite. As my bodyguard, it would be prudent to present yourself accordingly."

Qi Xiao chuckled, then turned to face Xue Rensheng:

"Let's get one thing straight—I'm here to offer you protection on the side, not to be your bodyguard."

Xue Rensheng gave Qi Xiao a look of astonishment. How could this down-and-out young master be so audacious?

Concealing his displeasure, Xue Rensheng continued to lead Qi Xiao to a private room where another individual awaited.

An elderly man clad in a Zhongshan suit, glasses perched on his nose, exuded an academic air.

"This gentleman is Mr. Liu Dongfeng, the most renowned appraiser in West River."

Xue Rensheng began by introducing the elderly gentleman to Qi Xiao, then turned to present Qi Xiao to the old man.

"This gentleman is someone I've hired for a considerable sum..."

He was about to say 'bodyguard' when he recalled Qi Xiao's earlier comment and paused briefly before adding,

"A Martial Arts Master."

Liu Dongfeng adjusted his glasses, sizing up Qi Xiao with a glance over the rim and let out a scornful chuckle.

"Hmph, a mere kid and you're calling him a master?"

Xue Rensheng offered an apologetic smile and responded:

"Mr. Liu, don't let Mr. Qi's youth fool you; his mastery of martial arts is quite extraordinary."

He then glanced at Qi Xiao and, noting his unfazed demeanor, felt reassured as he continued:

"Mr. Qi, today you'll not only be ensuring my safety but I must also ask you to look after Elder Liu. He is the main appraiser for the treasure evaluation convention, and should any misfortune befall him, the event simply cannot proceed."

"Understood."

Qi Xiao gave the appraiser a once-over, committing his features to memory, then turned on his heel and exited the private room.

Xue Rensheng had intended to suggest that Qi Xiao change his attire, but before he could voice the suggestion, Qi Xiao had already departed. The words he'd intended to speak were left unuttered.

Liu Dongfeng, observing Qi Xiao's self-assured departure, displayed a look of distaste.

"Why is this young man so rash? Mr. Xue, I would advise you to limit your association with him. A martial artist is, after all, rather uncouth and hardly suited for refined society!"

"You have a point, Mr. Liu!"

Xue Rensheng was quick to agree, though what he truly thought remained his own secret.

Qi Xiao's visit with Xue Rensheng was out of necessity; he knew there was someone else in need of protection. This brief meeting was simply to familiarize himself with the individuals involved; he could have just as easily infiltrated the place on his own.

Moreover, meeting face-to-face made it easier for him to take certain... liberties with the two men.

He had no intention of shadowing Xue Rensheng all day, so a sliver of his spiritual awareness placed upon both Xue Rensheng and Liu Dongfeng would suffice, ensuring he could pinpoint their whereabouts whenever necessary.

Upon entering, Qi Xiao had already scoped out the place, confirming that not a single practitioner of internal martial arts was present in or around the hotel.

With a confident stride, Qi Xiao made his way back to the main hall.

Soothing music filled the space, while the long white tables on either side were laden with an array of exquisite food and drinks. A diverse crowd mingled in the hall, each person eagerly networking for their own gain.

Qi Xiao stood out as the odd one out, clad in cheap, patched-up clothing. He avoided socializing, choosing instead to sit at one of the tables, legs crossed, as he contentedly ate and drank by himself.

Though seldom hungry, Qi Xiao, like anyone else, couldn't resist the allure of fine cuisine and relished the experience.

He much preferred savoring the flavors before him over feigning courtesy with the polished scions of renowned families.

After some time, Qi Xiao had a clear understanding of the hall's internal dynamics, pinpointing the most secure spots and identifying the weakest links for potential intrusion.

He believed that if Xue Rensheng's brother truly intended him harm, the bodyguards on duty would be ineffectual.

Qi Xiao dabbed at his mouth, rose from his seat, and made his way to the swimming pool through the back door.

The poolside too was abuzz with conversation.

Choosing a spot by the water, Qi Xiao sat down cross-legged. The evening was setting in, with the moon ascending, creating the perfect ambiance for him to harness the moonlight to recalibrate and focus his mind.

The elegantly dressed guests took note of Qi Xiao's peculiar presence but chose not to engage, instead subtly keeping their distance.

Meanwhile, Xue Rensheng had finished overseeing the event's preparations and entered the hall. He scanned the room for Qi Xiao but found no trace of him, which left him muttering to himself in concern.

He had expected Qi Xiao to be close at hand to ensure his protection. Was his trust misplaced?

Shaking off the doubt, Rensheng reminded himself that Qi Xiao was just one part of his contingency plan, and it was unlikely that his adversaries would actually send an assassin.

After exchanging pleasantries with a few familiar faces, Rensheng checked the time. Nearing eight o'clock, he walked with purpose toward the stage at the front of the hall.

"Cough, cough!"

Xue Rensheng cleared his throat at the microphone, waiting for the murmurs to subside before he began.

"I'm deeply grateful to all of you for attending the Xue family's Treasure Appraisal Conference. On behalf of the Xue family, I extend our heartfelt thanks to each of you!"

After a respectful bow and a few customary remarks, he declared the event open.

"Let's cut to the chase. The treasure evaluation convention starts now. Please welcome our esteemed appraiser, Mr. Liu Dongfeng!"

Applause erupted from the audience, accompanied by a buzz of whispers. Clearly, Liu Dongfeng was a well-respected figure in West River, recognized by many as a renowned appraiser.

Dressed in his signature Sun Yat-sen suit, Liu Dongfeng strode to the appraisal table and took his seat with precision.

Xue Rensheng evidently had no intention of hosting the entire event himself. After introducing the appraiser, he retreated to the front row and settled into the principal seat, casually observing the items being appraised on stage.

The majority of the pieces at the convention were provided by the Xue family, although some had been brought in by other patrons for appraisal.

Most of the Xue family's items were appraised and then auctioned on the spot, with only a select few reserved for appraisal only.

Qi Xiao, having returned to the main hall and recharged with a brief meditation, walked nonchalantly to the white table and poured himself a drink. He sipped leisurely, his attention divided between the ongoing convention and scanning the attendees with his spiritual awareness.

Caught off guard by an unexpected bump, he failed to react in time, and his glass tumbled to the ground, shattering and spilling its contents.

Unperturbed, Qi Xiao figured it was a simple matter for the staff to clean up. However, the person who bumped into him blurted out an expletive before recognizing him:

"You motherf... Hey? Is that you?!"