You Mo hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "Certainly!"
He had someone bring out a package. Upon opening it, a jade box was revealed. He carefully opened the jade box, and inside lay a small white snake coiled up. The snake was stiff, its surface adorned with golden patterns. Its eyes were closed, as if in hibernation.
Seeing the white snake, Ye Tian's heart stirred. He recalled a substance mentioned in ancient texts: the Jade Bone Immortal Snake. This snake was said to be a treasure from head to tail, its venom a potent medicinal ingredient. He hadn't expected to encounter such a rare find!
Keeping his composure, he asked, "What kind of snake is this?"
You Shi Ming chuckled, "Locally, in Yun Luo, we call this the Snow Spirit Snake. The medicinal wine brewed with it is known as Snow Spirit Treasure Wine. Drinking it yields many unexpected benefits."
Ye Tian thought it a terrible waste of a treasure, using such a marvel for brewing wine!
He remarked, "Brewing wine, you say? That's quite interesting. But if it's only for wine, it probably isn't worth much, is it?"
You Shi Ming replied earnestly, "Brother Ye, a single cup of this treasure wine is worth over a million. Furthermore, this snake can be used to brew wine repeatedly, at least ten jars or more."
Ye Tian: "Then what price are you asking, Brother You?"
You Shi Ming extended a finger, then flipped it over, stating, "Ten billion!"
Ye Tian raised an eyebrow, "Ten billion? Brother You, even the finest medicinal wine wouldn't fetch such a price, would it?"
You Shi Ming smiled, "If Brother Wu wishes to purchase both items, I can offer a slight discount."
Ye Tian: "Brother You, why don't you just give me your lowest acceptable price? If it's reasonable, I'll take it. Otherwise, you can find another buyer."
You Shi Ming pondered for a moment, then declared, "Fourteen billion. If Brother Ye finds this acceptable, we can finalize the transaction immediately."
Ye Tian considered this for a moment, then agreed, "Alright. Fourteen billion, and I'll take the snake and the ginseng."
You Shi Ming's face lit up with a smile, "Brother Ye is truly a man of his word."
Ye Tian made a phone call, and shortly after, You Shi Ming's account received several transfers, totaling exactly fourteen billion.
After securing the items, Ye Tian engaged in casual conversation with You Shi Ming. He learned that the You family had invested in a major project a few years prior, but it had encountered problems, making it impossible to recoup their investment. This had led to financial strain for the You family. You Shi Ming did not elaborate on the nature of the project.
Before long, You Shi Ming spotted an acquaintance and excused himself to go and speak with them.
Huang Yanran asked, "Mr. Ye, fourteen billion for a snake and a ginseng root? That's incredibly expensive!"
Ye Tian replied calmly, "If it's expensive, there's naturally a reason for its price."
The subsequent meeting was tedious. A speaker, who clearly had no connection to cultivation, took the stage. After ten minutes, Ye Tian made an excuse to visit the restroom and made his escape.
Huang Yanran followed him out, chiding him, "You're a prominent figure, Mr. Ye. How can you leave before the meeting concludes?"
Ye Tian: "I have no time to waste here. How about you accompany me to Jinshi Hall?"
Huang Yanran nodded, "Alright, I suppose I have no choice but to go with you."
Ye Tian: "Wait in the car. I'll go in alone, to avoid anyone recognizing you."
Huang Yanran's eyes widened, "What? What are you planning to do?"
Ye Tian: "Liu Xiangguang's painting is clearly a fake. The real one is in my possession. I'm going to Jinshi Hall with the genuine painting to see how they handle this."
Huang Yanran: "Jinshi Hall has powerful backing. They're unlikely to back down easily. Most likely, they'll try to cover this up."
Ye Tian: "If Jinshi Hall lacks integrity, how can I feel confident in cooperating with them?"
Huang Yanran sighed, "Alright, you go ahead and try."
Jinshi Hall had three branches in the capital. Ye Tian arrived at the headquarters, a nine-story retro building. Jinshi Hall's facade was grand, with a large plaza in front.
He parked the car outside, instructed Huang Yanran to wait in the vehicle, and then walked in, carrying the painting.
Upon reaching the entrance, he was stopped by a guard. The guard sized him up and asked, "Sir, are you here to have a painting appraised?"
Ye Tian smiled, "Yes, this painting is an authentic masterpiece."
The guard chuckled, "Sir, our appraisal fees are quite high, and there are certain thresholds. If the painting's value does not exceed one hundred thousand, we will still charge a fee of ten thousand."