Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Nine Coiling Dragon Cauldrons
Ye Dong showed no fear toward Master Wei, who looked ready to explode. He replied coldly, “If you can’t get it done, just say so. Admitting defeat is so much better than pretending to be tough.”
Faced with Ye Dong’s taunt, Le Cheng grew agitated. “A Grade One artifact isn’t some trinket! You think you can just buy one whenever you like?”
“Hmph, I’m well aware of the rarity of a Grade One artifact,” Ye Dong said, removing the cigar from his mouth. “If it weren’t precious, my men wouldn’t have had to shoot it out with Customs last night! Damn it, what a mess!”
Seeing the dissatisfaction etched on Ye Dong’s face, Master Wei exchanged glances with his two companions, as if confirming something. “The painting confiscated by Customs last night—was it yours?”
Ye Dong, annoyed at their suspicion, retorted, “Yes, it was mine! So what?”
Master Wei shook his head. “From what I know, that painting was in Wan Tianze’s possession. Besides, very few people know its true value.”
Hearing Master Wei’s doubt, Ye Dong countered, “So you’re saying that painting was also dug out from a tomb by your people? The genuine work of Wang Xianzhi—remarkable!”
Master Wei merely smiled, not denying it. He said coldly, “A painting worth a hundred million—its value isn’t just in collecting, is it?”
Ye Dong sneered. “Looks like you’re not just a simple tomb robber after all, Master Wei.”
“Well, money is the reason, isn’t it?” Master Wei sounded bitter. “What did you pay Wan Tianze for that painting?”
Ye Dong took a deep drag on his cigar, the smoke billowing like his fury at Customs. “One hundred and twenty million! Damn it, what a headache!”
“One hundred and twenty million!?” Li Xing and Le Cheng blurted out in unison.
“What’s the problem? Wan Tianze, that old fox, pocketed an extra twenty million just by flipping it. Still, Wang Xianzhi’s paintings fetch far more abroad. That I got it for one hundred and twenty million was only because Wan Tianze did my old man a favor.”
Master Wei felt uneasy hearing Ye Dong dismiss twenty million so lightly. He narrowed his eyes. “He made twenty million with a single transaction?”
Ye Dong responded coldly, “Wang Xianzhi died young, so his surviving works are much scarcer than those of other famous calligraphers. Wan Tianze bought it at auction for a hundred million, and it was easily resold to me for one hundred and twenty.”
Master Wei muttered to himself, “Twenty million in a single flip! What a slick deal! I risked my life in the Tomb of Eternal Life for that painting, and in the end, I only got crumbs!”
Of course, Master Wei wasn’t foolish enough to admit that the genuine Wang Xianzhi painting confiscated was stolen from the tomb.
He smirked, “Young Master He, you dare smuggle national treasures abroad—you must not fear death!”
Ye Dong laughed heartily. “If you’re afraid of dying, how can you make big money? Smuggling those artifacts abroad—one earns the death penalty, two earns the death penalty. If you do it, do it big!”
Though Master Wei found Ye Dong’s words distasteful, he couldn’t help but agree. “Well said: if you do it, do it big.”
Ye Dong grinned wickedly. “In this age where capital is king, talent is just as crucial. I have capital, you have skill. If we join forces, business will flourish!”
Le Cheng and Li Xing exchanged smiles, looking hopefully at Master Wei.
Master Wei felt conflicted. “He’s right—I can’t argue. He’s got money, I’ve got tomb-raiding expertise. With no middleman, the price for antiques is straight up at retail!”
After a moment’s thought, Master Wei replied, “So, Young Master He, your goods were confiscated, and you want us to find another artifact of equal value and smuggle it out?”
Ye Dong neither denied nor elaborated, for he never begged anyone.
At this point, Liang Lingzhi spoke. “Master Wei, you don’t know—the reason our boss wants to get this national treasure abroad isn’t just for money, but to please his father.”
Master Wei raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So Young Master He’s here not just to talk business?”
“My old man loves antiques. If I satisfy his passion, the influence over his enterprises will gradually shift to me.” Ye Dong frowned, deep in thought.
Master Wei understood. “So the antique is just a pretext. He Wen Tian is aiming for his father’s entire fortune? Scheming against your old man—what a rebel!”
Ye Dong spoke coolly, “Name your price. If this works out, I owe you a favor.” He pointed his cigar at Master Wei. “You’re a smart man! I, He Wen Tian, love dealing with smart people!”
Master Wei had already guessed Ye Dong’s true purpose. “In that case, I’ll take a hefty bite out of your wallet. Don’t blame me for being greedy.”
He smiled. “So, what kind of artifact does Young Master He want?”
He signaled to Liang Lingzhi, who promptly drew a blueprint from his cash box and handed it to Master Wei. “Our boss wants this. Money is no issue.”
Master Wei glanced at the blueprint, his face tightening—this deal would be tough.
He eyed the group suspiciously. “How did you know this item existed?”
The blueprint depicted the Panlong Nine Tripods, an antique Wan Tianze had once seen in the stone chamber. Master Wei had wanted to take it when he followed his master into the Tomb of Eternal Life, but his master stopped him. While ordinary people could enter the tomb for tea, to remove treasures you had to wait three years between each item—never two at once.
Ye Dong laughed loudly. “Don’t think I’m crazy all the time—I’m perfectly clear-headed!” He tapped his head. “Besides, do you know who my old man is? What’s so strange about knowing about this item?”
Master Wei mulled it over. “Right, his father is He Ding, the antique fanatic. It’s not surprising he knows about the Panlong Nine Tripods.”
“To acquire this item, I’ll need my master himself. Whether it succeeds or not, his fee is ten million,” Master Wei said, tucking away the blueprint. “If we succeed, you pay a total of one hundred and twenty million, with a ten-million deposit up front.”
Le Cheng and Li Xing were overjoyed. “Master Wei sure is ruthless—this is a huge deal!”
“Your master?” Ye Dong struggled to contain his excitement. “He must be quite the expert.”
Master Wei smiled with pride. “Young Master He’s money isn’t easy to earn, so I have to bring my master out of retirement. Even if we don’t get the Panlong Nine Tripods, other Grade One artifacts are almost guaranteed.”
Actually, Master Wei already knew his master planned another trip to the Tomb of Eternal Life, which matched the intelligence Li Zi Mu had overheard. Master Wei was simply capitalizing on the opportunity, finding a wealthy, reliable buyer in He Wen Tian.
Despite Master Wei’s exorbitant demands, Ye Dong remained unfazed. “Money is no problem. But I want to join you in tomb raiding!”
He finished with a low, wicked laugh—the sort only madmen could muster.
Master Wei couldn’t help but chuckle. “Young Master He, you think tomb raiding is easy? The real thing is a hundred times harder than what you see on TV!”
Hui Yan tried to pull Ye Dong back. “Sir, this is far too dangerous!”
Master Wei added, “See, even your bodyguard disagrees. I’m afraid I can’t comply.”
Ye Dong laughed wildly, pushing Hui Yan aside. “My life is my own! Destiny? I defy it. No evil spirit or immortal can stop me! I’m joining this deal, no matter what!”
“Madman.” That was the only word anyone could think of.
Master Wei, hearing Ye Dong’s wild declaration, found himself respecting him more. “He may be mad, but his philosophy mirrors ours as tomb raiders.”
Master Wei sneered, “Young Master He, letting you into the tomb isn’t impossible, but if you bungle things and get us killed, don’t blame us for leaving you behind. And you’ll pay an extra five million for ‘travel expenses.’”
Ye Dong stopped Hui Yan from protesting further. “Deal!”
“Deal!”
Hui Yan’s eyes were full of worry. “In that case, I’ll go in as well!”
Master Wei’s eyes sparkled. “Ah, the beauty is quite devoted! Since you’re skilled, you can come to protect Young Master He.”
Ye Dong laughed skyward. “Straightforward! Zhi, bring the payment for the olive vase to Master Wei!”
“Right away!” Liang Lingzhi placed the cash box before Master Wei. “Thirty million, not a cent short!”
Master Wei didn’t reach for it; Le Cheng took it instead. “Thanks!”
Ye Dong filled out a check for ten million and handed it to Master Wei. “Ten million!”
Master Wei nodded and accepted the check, looking at Ye Dong with mutual appreciation. “Young Master He, a pleasure doing business.”
Ye Dong swept his hand grandly, gripping Master Wei’s hand tightly in his own.