Everyone was stunned, never expecting Chen Wanli to actually be able to explain the background and origins.
Even the tea master couldn't help nodding and saying, "What the gentleman said is identical to what President Shu explained!"
"It's just that nowadays guests tasting tea always associate bitterness with aged tea, so they follow convention and add salt."
Chen Wanli nodded. "Understood. Most people are just pretending to be cultured; those who truly understand tea are a minority!"
Tao Yuze's face darkened, and he said with displeasure, "Are you saying we're just putting on airs, and you're the only one who truly understands?"
"I only understand a tiny bit!"
As Chen Wanli spoke, his gaze lingered on the incense burner. "Burning incense while tasting tea is an ancient tradition, but this Azure Phoenix Marrow doesn't match agarwood at all. It should be paired with pine needles!"
"The fragrance of agarwood isn't clear and soaring enough, and its aftertaste is overly rich, which ruins the lingering sweetness of the tea's return."
Tang Yanran looked on in astonishment as Chen Wanli spoke with effortless eloquence.
"As for this zither..." Chen Wanli shifted his gaze to the guqin.
Tao Yuze wore a dark expression and sneered, "It's a seven-stringed zither. Do you even know anything about it before you start critiquing?"
"The 'Courtship of the Phoenix' doesn't fit the mood at all!" Chen Wanli curled his lip.
Tao Yuze mocked coldly, "What, are you going to play a tune yourself?"
"Sure, I'll give it a try. If I play poorly, I hope everyone won't mind!"
Chen Wanli rubbed his hands together and walked over to the seven-stringed zither.
Among the arts in the *Celestial Medical Scripture*, there was a technique called the *Zither's Soothing Immortal Tone*, which was specifically used to control and attack the spirit and soul. During those three years of bitter hardship, Chen Wanli had studied it extensively.
Tao Yuze sneered, stood up, and made way. He simply didn't believe that Chen Wanli knew how to play the guqin!
After taking his seat, Chen Wanli tuned the instrument and plucked the strings a few times. At first, he seemed a bit unpracticed, but he quickly grew familiar with it.
"Serve more tea, and burn pine needles!"
The tea master nodded.
Chen Wanli's fingers nimbly plucked the strings, and the sound of the zither rose into the air.
His entire demeanor seemed to have transformed. In his brow, there appeared to be starry skies and vast rivers, bursting with bold and unrestrained vigor.
The sound of towering mountains and flowing water filled the air, making it feel as if one were gazing upon a boundless, cloudless sky, instantly refreshing the mind and spirit.
The melody suddenly shifted, like a sudden gust of wind stirring up wild imaginings, the breeze wrinkling the surface of a lake.
The tune changed once more: flashes of swords and blades rose across the calm lake; flowers, moonlight, ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains, the rise and fall of dynasties—all came rushing forth in rapid succession.
*A hall full of intoxicated guests beneath falling blossoms, a single cold sword frost-bound across fourteen states!*
Listen to the ringing of this sword, listen to this Song of the Draconian Dragon.
Tang Yanran felt that this melody was just like the cup of tea in her hand: the initial taste was plain, clear, and moist; the middle taste was slightly green and faintly bitter. After swallowing the tea, a mellow, sweet fragrance exploded across her taste buds, breathtakingly wonderful, and the lingering charm endured endlessly.
She looked at Chen Wanli in astonishment. Who could have imagined this guy had such a trick up his sleeve!
If they weren't in the hospital, and if he hadn't walked out on her, Tang Yanran felt that in this quarter of an hour, she might have been truly moved by this man with stars in his eyes!
Not just her; at this moment, who among those present did not have eyes filled with awe?
Even the zither player looked on with eyes full of amazement.
If Tao Yuze's skill was just a tiny bit better than a beginner's, then Chen Wanli's performance was at a master level!
Chen Wanli was completely immersed in playing. Using the *Zither's Soothing Immortal Tone* technique just to play a little tune was truly using a butcher's knife to slaughter a chicken.
As the song ended, everyone present felt a lingering reluctance for it to be over.
"Sorry, it's been a long time since I played, my hands got a bit rusty!" Chen Wanli stood up and smiled faintly.
Both the zither player and the tea master couldn't help applauding.
This melody, this tea, this incense—everything was just right.
The tea master clicked her tongue and asked, "Has the gentleman made a special study of the ancient tea ceremony?"
"No, I just messed around for fun!" Chen Wanli shook his head.
These words almost made Tao Yuze choke with fury.
Especially seeing the undisguised admiration on Tang Yanran's face, an unnamable fire raged through his heart.
"You play the zither well, but I didn't hear how it connects to today's Azure Phoenix Marrow!"
Tao Yuze stubbornly insisted.
Chen Wanli smiled faintly. "Perhaps there is no connection!"
"Heh, you play the zither quite well. In the future, you could actually make a living busking instead of living off a woman!" Seeing that Tao Yuze was angry, Jiang Li chimed in with a sarcastic jab.
Just at that moment, the private room door was pushed open.
A woman wearing a qipao walked in.
At first glance, a single word popped into Chen Wanli's mind: *vixen*!
The riotously colorful qipao did not look gaudy on her at all; instead, it made her as dazzling as brilliant fireworks.
With perfect bodily proportions, her curvaceous, exquisite figure possessed both voluptuousness and slenderness, naturally bringing a single phrase to mind: born with seductive bones.
Her long hair was pinned up high, and beneath her fair neck was a face of peerlessly stunning beauty.
Her beautiful eyes darted and turned, rippling with shifting lights, brimming with coquetting allure as she swayed gracefully.
"Such a wonderful Song of the Draconian Dragon—would it be too abrupt of me to invite myself in uninvited?"
"President Shu!"
"Sister Shu!"
Tao Yuze and the others hurriedly stood up to greet her.
None of them had expected Shu Yiyan to show up.
Tao Yuze cast off his previous embarrassment, and triumph re-emerged in his eyes.
Shu Yiyan was proud and possessed considerable background; aside from truly important figures, she rarely met with guests.
"How could it be an intrusion? Sister Shu coming to my private room is doing me the greatest honor possible!"
Tao Yuze said with a beaming smile.
Shu Yiyan smiled lightly, her eyes radiating a charm that stirred the imagination yet dared not be profaned.
"I heard a Song of the Draconian Dragon that matches the Azure Phoenix Marrow on your table to perfection. The scent of pine needles does not mask the tea's aroma, and it echoes the winding, bold spirit of the melody."
"To come up with such a pairing shows a true connoisseur of the tea ceremony! I wonder whose masterpiece this is?"
...
Chapter 20: Why Does This Beauty Want to Harm Me?
As soon as Shu Yiyan finished speaking, an indescribable, awkward silence filled the air.
Tang Yanran was also somewhat surprised; her own interest in the tea ceremony was merely a passing fancy.
However, Shu Yiyan was the president of the Jiangnan Tea Ceremony Association—a true professional. This praise practically elevated Chen Wanli to the heavens.
It made the rest of them look entirely like ignorant outsiders who were merely pretending to be cultured.
Tao Yuze flushed red with embarrassment.
Shu Yiyan hadn't even considered that this might be his handiwork, which meant that in this woman's eyes, he was just a superficial fraud putting on airs!
Shu Yiyan didn't care at all about the thoughts of these young scions; her gaze went straight to the unfamiliar Chen Wanli.
"My zither player doesn't have that kind of mastery over this Song of the Draconian Dragon!"
Chen Wanli nodded in greeting. "I played it. It's not worth calling mastery, just messing around for fun!"
A flash of astonishment crossed Shu Yiyan's pretty face.
"Then this wonderful pairing of pine needles, Azure Phoenix Marrow, and the Song of the Draconian Dragon—did that come from you as well?"
"Oh, the Azure Phoenix Marrow was bought by someone else playing host; I just followed the host's lead and threw in a little extra for fun!" Chen Wanli smiled.
Shu Yiyan's brow relaxed into a smile. "It's rare to meet a kindred spirit. I've recently acquired an ounce of top-grade Longtuan tea; would you be interested in coming to taste it?"
This invitation came out of nowhere.
Tao Yuze turned green with jealousy.
A single ounce of top-grade Longtuan tea was worth upwards of hundreds of thousands of yuan, and it was virtually priceless and unavailable on the market.
Even when his grandfather hadn't yet retired, it was very difficult for him to buy any, let alone now that he had stepped down.
And yet, she was actually inviting Chen Wanli to taste it.
Tang Yanran gave Chen Wanli a slight shake of her head.
Chen Wanli, however, looked at Shu Yiyan and smiled faintly. "Sure!"
Whether he drank the Longtuan tea didn't really matter; his main goal was simply to watch Tao Yuze eat humble pie and humiliate himself.
Shu Yiyan nodded and crooked a finger, and Chen Wanli followed her out the door.
Those left behind looked at each other in dismay, left with nothing but embarrassment.
Jiang Li gave a dry cough. "Yanran, I think you should divorce him sooner rather than later. This man is completely dishonest—another woman just crooks a finger, and he follows right along!"
Tang Yanran's pretty face flushed red, and she felt a surge of annoyance in her heart.
...
Shu Yiyan led Chen Wanli up to the rooftop terrace.
The massive terrace held only two tea tables, leaving it wide open and refreshing.
Four or five middle-aged men were seated at one of them.
Shu Yiyan led Chen Wanli to sit at the vacant tea table.
"By inviting you to taste tea so abruptly, do you think I'm being too forward?" Shu Yiyan asked with a beaming smile as she brewed a pot of Longtuan tea.
Chen Wanli rubbed his chin. "Since I agreed without a second thought, do you think I'm being too reckless?"
"Hahaha, a little backbone on this young man! No wonder you could come up with pine needles, Azure Phoenix Marrow, and the Song of the Draconian Dragon!"
Shu Yiyan laughed cheerfully, her brow unfurling. She had seen too many men who either felt deeply inferior before her or struggled to conceal their lustful desires.
Yet this young man before her was neither humble nor pushy, his gaze clean and clear.
"So when you invited me to drink Longtuan tea, you actually wanted to ask me how Longtuan tea should be paired?" Chen Wanli clicked his tongue with a faint smile.
"You've got a bit of cleverness in you!" Shu Yiyan had already finished brewing a pot of Longtuan tea.
Chen Wanli smiled. "If it's Longtuan tea scented with borneol, I imagine no other spices are needed, and the musical piece 'Purple Clouds' would make a fine accompaniment."
"If it's original-flavor Longtuan tea, pairing agarwood with the musical piece 'Vermilion Phoenix' would surely bring out a unique flavor."
A flash of surprise first crossed Shu Yiyan's brow, and then she gave him a thumbs-up. "Tea appreciation is also aesthetics! You actually have an artistic bone in you, quite different from those pretenders downstairs!"
"I'm just an ordinary person!" Chen Wanli shook his head.
The Longtuan tea was ready. The two of them picked up their teacups, and a piercingly rich tea aroma filled the air.
As Chen Wanli held his cup and inhaled the fragrance of the tea, he heard the table next to them engaged in a lively discussion, their voices growing louder.
"Although this painting of snow-laden bamboo is not an authentic work by Xu Xi, it is a copy by the Yuan dynasty painter Wang Yuan!"
"I've authenticated it; it's a genuine treasure! Director Shen can collect it with absolute peace of mind!"
A middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit said this after carefully inspecting an unfurled scroll with a magnifying glass.
Shen Hong, the director of the Nanbin City Security Department, laughed heartily and said, "With your word, Old Huang, I can rest easy."
"How does three million sound as a price?" Shen Hong asked again.
"Haha, well worth it!"
Chen Wanli glanced sideways at the painting, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
"That's the Director of our Nanbin City Security Department. His father was a prominent figure in the business world and a collector in his early years, and Director Shen is also fond of cultural artifacts and antiques."
"That appraisal master is Qi Gaoming, the most famous calligraphy and painting appraisal expert in Nanbin City."
Noticing that Chen Wanli seemed interested, Shu Yiyan offered a tit-for-tat explanation.
"For three million to just go down the drain like that—what a pity!" Chen Wanli shook his head, wearing an expression of regret.
"You understand this stuff too?" Shu Yiyan asked in surprise.
"Just a little bit!"
Chen Wanli raised his eyebrows. Although his mother had run an antique and collectible company during her lifetime, he had been too young back then, only picking up a smattering through osmosis; he couldn't really claim to understand it.
However, antique treasures had all been preserved for hundreds of years, leaving behind a spiritual essence bestowed by time.
Even if it was just a little bit, Chen Wanli practiced the *Celestial Medical Scripture* and was extremely sensitive to spiritual essence.
Yet that painting just now possessed no spiritual essence whatsoever; it was an absolute fake.
A mischievous smile flashed across Shu Yiyan's pretty face. She suddenly raised her head, looked toward the neighboring table, and said loudly, "Director Shen, this young man says that painting is a fake!"
"???" Chen Wanli was dumbfounded. Has this woman lost her mind?
As soon as these words were spoken, the four or five people at the neighboring table all turned to look at Chen Wanli.
Shen Hong was visibly startled, and the appraisal master Qi Gaoming flew into a rage. "Where did this punk come from, daring to talk such utter nonsense?"
Shu Yiyan's expression didn't change at all. "Don't be angry, Master Qi! Since the little friend feels it's a fake, why not listen to his reasons?"
Chen Wanli looked at Shu Yiyan speechlessly, just wanting to ask her one question: *Why on earth does this beauty want to harm me?*
Qi Gaoming angrily retorted, "From this distance, he probably couldn't even see the thing clearly, yet he dares to make wild, boastful statements. Isn't he just acting for attention and courting praise?"
Shen Hong also displayed a hint of displeasure. "Miss Shu, this joke isn't funny at all. It harms Master Qi's reputation!"
With that, he turned back to Chen Wanli and said, "Young people should be upright in their conduct. Spouting nonsense and showing off for attention is no good habit."
Chen Wanli shrugged. "Originally, this had nothing to do with me; I'm not the one spending three million. I just said it casually. You can just listen to it casually."
"Since you dare to make wild claims, punk, you'd better lay out one, two, three. Otherwise, you owe me an apology, Qi!"
Qi Gaoming was a rigid and proud man; if just any random person could come along and criticize him, it would be bad for his reputation.
The others nodded along.
Clearly, in everyone's eyes, Chen Wanli was just a young man running his mouth, but running your mouth in the wrong place meant you had to offer an apology!
Chen Wanli let out an "oh," stood up, and walked over. "Fine then, I'll give you one, two, three!"
After glancing at the painting a few times, he grabbed a cup of tea, took a mouthful, and spat it directly onto the painting!
"You damn punk!" Shen Hong's eyes split with rage—a three-million-yuan collectible!!
Was this kid trying to get himself killed?!
...
Chapter 21: I Think You Just Can't Bear to Leave
Qi Gaoming was dumbfounded.
Everyone else at the table stared at Chen Wanli in shock!
Has this guy lost his mind?!
Even Shu Yiyan froze. This game had gotten too big; it was about to blow up in their faces!
Who could have imagined this kid had the guts to do something like this?
She had only repeated what Chen Wanli said not because she believed how knowledgeable he was!
It was simply because her relationship with Director Shen was pretty good. By speaking up, if it really was a fake, she would be giving a warning that helped Shen Hong save three million yuan, thereby cashing in a favor!
If she guessed wrong, it would just be the foolish chatter of an arrogant kid, with nothing lost.
Who could have guessed this fellow would be so reckless as to walk right up and ruin the painting!
Now things had blown up into a massive incident!
"Is this kid trying to get himself killed?"
"Miss Shu, your friend is going way too far. Forget about Director Shen; even I can't stand to watch this!"
Shen Hong's face turned black with fury. "Shu Yiyan, just what kind of person is he?! This is completely lawless!"
Qi Gaoming was beside himself with rage. "Such a famous masterpiece, destroyed by you just like that! Are you—are you even human?"
The painting gallery manager holding the painting stood frozen in place, having no idea what to do.
Chen Wanli calmly swept his gaze over the crowd, picked up his teacup, took another sip, and spat it onto the painting again!
"Insufferable! Simply insufferable!" Qi Gaoming shouted repeatedly.
Shen Hong's anger also reached its peak. "Punk, rotting the rest of your life away in a prison cell is something you brought on yourself!"
Shu Yiyan offered an apologetic smile. "All of this is my fault, Yiyan's. Regardless of whether this painting is real or fake, I'll buy it!"
"Is this a matter of money? This is trampling on everyone's dignity!"
"Count it as me owing the two of you another favor!" Shu Yiyan actually showed some spine as she said this.
While this woman was quite capable of setting traps, her attitude at the moment made Chen Wanli feel slightly more at ease.
"You don't need to buy it, and you don't need to owe anyone a favor. This piece of junk isn't worth anything!" Chen Wanli calmly pointed at the soaked-through paint scroll.
Everyone looked closely and saw that the scroll was covered in water and thoroughly drenched.
Yet the ink hadn't scattered at all; there was no running or bleeding of the ink as one would expect.
Chen Wanli curled his lip. "I don't need to say much more, right?"
Shen Hong's expression froze on his face.
Qi Gaoming took a step back, his expression changing drastically as he muttered, "Impossible..."
"What do you mean?" Shu Yiyan couldn't help asking.
"Just now the master said this was a Yuan dynasty painting, and that the paper was mounted raw *xuan* paper. But only cooked *xuan* paper doesn't bleed, and furthermore, cooked *xuan* paper only became widespread after the Ming dynasty!"
"Then how did this so-called Yuan dynasty raw *xuan* paper painting manage not to bleed? Naturally, through modern technology and ruthless tricks!"
Chen Wanli shrugged.
Shu Yiyan didn't understand appraisals, but looking at the reactions of Shen Hong and Qi Gaoming, she knew what Chen Wanli said was true!
This painting was a fake, and Qi Gaoming had misjudged it!
The gazes everyone cast toward Chen Wanli shifted completely; they never expected this young man to have such discerning eyes, actually surpassing Qi Gaoming in skill.
One had to know that Qi Gaoming was a top-tier antique appraisal master in Nanbin City, and even across the entire Jiangnan region.
"How did you see through it?" Qi Gaoming's voice trembled. Misjudging an item was utterly humiliating!
If he hadn't sprayed it with water to check for bleeding, he wouldn't have been able to spot a single suspicious point at all.
Yet who would ever spray water on an ancient ink treasure for authentication?
"You guess!" Chen Wanli said indifferently.
Qi Gaoming was left speechless for a moment. He cupped his fists toward Chen Wanli and said, "It was my eyes that failed me, and I almost led Director Shen astray. On top of that, I spoke thoughtlessly."
"I should be the one apologizing to you! Forgive me, little friend! Please enlighten me!"
Shen Hong was a magnanimous man, and he immediately bowed deeply to Chen Wanli:
"I owe an apology as well! The gentleman helped me authenticate the piece, helping me avert a loss, yet I misunderstood and spoke insolently. I was truly in the wrong!"
Chen Wanli accepted their apologies before speaking: "This painting possessed no spiritual essence whatsoever; it couldn't possibly be authentic. Spraying it with water was just a test!"
"It was that simple?" Shen Hong found it hard to believe.
Chen Wanli knew that the spiritual essence Shen Hong understood referred to the artist's spiritual energy and aesthetics, which was not the same thing as the spiritual essence he himself spoke of, but he couldn't be bothered to explain.
Qi Gaoming assumed Chen Wanli was simply unwilling to reveal his ultimate trump card skills, and he laughed awkwardly:
"It was this old man who acted rashly. Since little friend can surpass an old man like me, you naturally possess hidden talents."
"Your discerning eyes far surpass mine. If you are willing to come to Tianyuan Pavilion as an appraiser, I am willing to cede the position of chief appraiser!"
Qi Gaoming extended an olive branch and handed over his business card: Chief Appraisal Master of Tianyuan Pavilion.
Tianyuan Pavilion was the largest local auction house, standing firm for twenty years—Chen Wanli had heard his mother mention it in his youth.
Everyone looked as if they had been struck by lightning. What kind of place was Tianyuan Pavilion? What kind of person was Qi Gaoming? And yet he was actually willing to step down from the chief position?
Shu Yiyan also stood up and smiled slightly. "How about it? If you're interested, I invite you on behalf of Tianyuan Pavilion to be our chief appraisal master!"
"You represent Tianyuan Pavilion?" Chen Wanli raised his eyelids in surprise.
"Didn't Brother Chen know? Miss Shu is the new owner of Tianyuan Pavilion! It hasn't been announced to the public yet!" Qi Gaoming laughed.
Chen Wanli hadn't expected Shu Yiyan to have such a massive background, but in the end, he still shook his head. "No thanks! I have no interest in that sort of thing!"
Chen Wanli's goal was very clear: since he had inherited the *Celestial Medical Scripture*, he should pursue the path of entering Dao through medicine as recorded by the Great Celestial Physicians. He would enter Dao through medicine.
Even Shu Yiyan glanced sideways at him slightly this time. Could this young man possibly have some incredible background? He didn't even care about Tianyuan Pavilion.
"Miss Shu, have the pound of top-tier Pu'er tea I keep here sent to this little friend."
Shen Hong greeted Shu Yiyan, then said to Chen Wanli, "Little brother, you must not refuse! This is both my apology and my gratitude!"
Chen Wanli nodded.
Qi Gaoming clearly had the intention to forge a connection and shamelessly asked for contact information. As for the others present, they were all collection enthusiasts; who would refuse the chance to get to know an antique appraisal master whose skill surpassed Qi Gaoming's?