Chapter 218: The Feeling of Sudden Wealth
Yu Luo didn’t want to drag things out. To put it bluntly, these paintings were stolen goods, and selling them as soon as possible was in her best interest—especially since she was taking a risk in doing so.
Hearing Yu Luo’s counteroffer and her words afterward, the shopkeeper hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and agreeing.
Without hesitation, Yu Luo discreetly retrieved over twenty more of Zhu Daguang’s authentic paintings from her system and placed them on the counter.
Now, with the ones she had brought earlier, it made a total of forty paintings—a nice round number, making calculations simpler.
Seeing yet another thick stack of scrolls appear before him, the shopkeeper’s mouth twitched with excitement, and he immediately began inspecting the merchandise.
After carefully examining each piece, he confirmed they were all authentic Zhu Daguang works. He lifted his gaze to Yu Luo, his shock evident in his expression.
“Where did you get these? How could you have so many?”
“Inherited from my ancestors.”
As soon as she spoke, Yu Luo realized her mistake. She narrowed her eyes behind her mask and fixed her gaze on the shopkeeper.
“Wait. What are you implying? Have the rules in Feng City changed? Since when do merchants here question the origins of goods? If that’s the case, how can I continue doing business with you?”
The shopkeeper: …
If he actually believed that these were heirlooms, he might as well chop off his own head and kick it like a ball.
But seeing that Yu Luo wasn’t going to budge, and now questioning him instead, he wisely chose to drop the subject.
“I was merely curious. Zhu Daguang’s works haven’t surfaced in years, and suddenly so many appear—it was just an impulse question. Young Master, don’t take offense. Rest assured, Feng City’s rules never change. If you have more treasures in the future, you’re always welcome here.”
Yu Luo pretended to hesitate, eyeing the shopkeeper suspiciously before seemingly relenting in her stance.
Satisfied that she wouldn’t press further, the shopkeeper forced a smile and returned his focus to the paintings.
“Such precious items—and in such large quantity—I need to call in our master appraiser to verify them. I ask for Young Master’s patience.”
Hearing this, Yu Luo’s guard instantly went up.
“Tch. So you want to stall for time, huh? What, is Feng City planning to rob me? And where would I go to complain if you did?!”
Feigning anger, she reached out to take back her paintings.
Just then, from the back of the shop, an elderly man with graying beard and sharp eyes leisurely strolled out, hands clasped behind his back.
“Hah! What an arrogant brat, speaking of Feng City like that? Our city has always followed the rules of the trade. When we say it’s a transaction, there’s no need for underhanded tactics. Besides, what’s a mere several hundred thousand taels of gold compared to our reputation? You’re simply ignorant.”
The old man’s words made Yu Luo’s brows furrow tightly!
He spoke about several hundred thousand taels of gold so casually?!
Just how wealthy was Feng City?!
“Master Pang!”
The shopkeeper, now flustered, rushed forward to greet the elderly man, bowing respectfully.
The so-called Master Pang merely glanced at him before turning his attention to Yu Luo’s paintings.
At first, his gaze was casual, but upon taking a proper look, his expression sharpened—his old eyes gleaming with excitement.
He suddenly quickened his pace, swiftly moving to the counter. Without a word, he pressed his hands firmly down on the stack of paintings, then turned and narrowed his eyes at Yu Luo.
“These are all yours?”
“Whose else would they be? The price has been settled, and I won’t haggle further. Forty scrolls in total—either we complete the deal, or I’ll take my money to your casino instead.”
Yu Luo deliberately mentioned the Feng City casino, knowing it was a place where noble families from various countries came to launder money—offering bets of all sizes.
As expected, the moment she mentioned it, both men’s gazes flickered before returning to the paintings.
“Have you verified them properly?”
Master Pang’s voice was full of authority, and the shopkeeper nodded fervently.
“I’ve examined them thoroughly. They are all authentic Zhu Daguang works.”
“You’ve been with me for forty years, and I trust your judgment. Besides, who would dare sell counterfeits in Feng City? Go fetch the gold banknotes for the Young Master.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hearing Master Pang agree so readily, Yu Luo finally relaxed.
She never expected that this small shop alone would have such an enormous flow of capital.
Even more surprising—the shopkeeper didn’t need to call for money from outside.
Instead, he simply went to the back, retrieved a wooden chest, and opened it to reveal a neat stack of gold banknotes.
The lowest denomination was one hundred taels, while the largest were ten thousand tael notes.
In a matter of moments, the shopkeeper had counted out three hundred and twenty thousand taels and handed them to Yu Luo.
Yu Luo meticulously counted the notes, then had her system verify their authenticity before safely tucking them away.
“Young Master, if you have more treasures at home, feel free to bring them here. Feng City can always afford to buy.”
Master Pang stroked his graying beard, a pleased smile spreading across his face as he observed Yu Luo’s apparent ‘reckless spending’ habits.
“Alright, then. I’ll take my leave.”
With that, Yu Luo turned and left the shop—but remained on high alert.
For Master Pang, three hundred thousand taels was a trivial amount.
But for her, it was an enormous sum.
With thirty-two thousand taels of gold banknotes hidden on her, Yu Luo didn’t feel light-footed with joy—instead, she felt a chilling sensation on her back!
This kind of sudden wealth was both thrilling and terrifying—exhilarating yet nerve-wracking—a truly torturous feeling!
“System, can you spy on them and tell me what they’re saying now that I’m gone?”
[Host, at present, my abilities do not allow for that. If this were before, I might have been able to monitor them.]
“Tch, forget it. I need to change disguises before heading out.”
Saying this, Yu Luo made her way to Feng City’s casino and, after a brief stop in the restroom, emerged in an entirely new outfit.
Gone were the luxurious robes.
Now she wore a simple gray warrior’s outfit, complete with a curved blade at her waist and a gray cloth mask covering her face.
Her hair, previously tied with an ornate jade crown, was now wrapped in a gray headscarf, her ponytail tied high.
This ordinary and inconspicuous look was common in Feng City—perfect for blending in.
With a fortune in her pockets, Yu Luo glanced at the time.
Seeing that it was still early, she decided to take a stroll through the casino.
Unlike modern gambling, Feng City’s casino games were relatively simple—mainly dice games where players bet on big or small numbers, odd or even, or engaged in Pai Gow and Dragon-Tiger bets.
After observing for a while, Yu Luo found that she only understood the big-small and odd-even dice games.
She casually placed a few bets, winning and losing small amounts before switching tables.
