Compared to Xia Tian, at this time, inside the large hospital in Jianghai City—
"Director Li, how is he?"
"Mr. Xu, we simply have no way to determine it. Young Master Xu can't even last half a minute without collapsing. During the examination, he even lost control of his bowels."
Director Li was utterly helpless.
"Was he poisoned?"
"We've already run tests—there are no traces of poison. And now Young Master Xu has nothing left in his system. In just one afternoon, he's lost ten pounds. If this continues, he won't survive."
Director Li had exhausted every possible method, yet still couldn't identify the cause.
"Ten pounds? That'll kill him."
Xu Qinghua, Xu Shaocong's father, was deeply distressed. Xu Shaocong was his only son.
Though his son often caused trouble, what was the point of earning money if not for him? Now his son had suddenly become like this—how could he not be anxious?
"Old Master Xu, we just questioned Young Master Xu. He said that earlier today at school, he got into a conflict with a student named Xia Tian. Before leaving, that student told him to 'be careful not to get diarrhea when you go home.'"
Old Master Xu's butler had already investigated and gathered details about Xu Shaocong's situation.
"Have our people been sent out?"
Xu Qinghua nodded with satisfaction.
"They've already departed. I sent San Yi with two men."
The butler deliberately emphasized San Yi's name. San Yi was no ordinary man—he was a retired special forces operative, said to have carried out dozens of large-scale missions and earned a second-class merit. He was later forced to retire after injuring his left leg.
Xu Qinghua had once saved San Yi's life. Because of that, San Yi had loyally served the Xu Family for years—something Xu Qinghua took great pride in.
He felt reassured knowing San Yi was the one handling the matter.
At that moment, Xia Tian had no idea he was being targeted. He was in an excellent mood after purchasing the ancient Buddha relic.
He had heard his father speak of such relics before—only enlightened Great Masters could condense them at the time of nirvana, and ancient Buddha relics were said to exist only in legends.
It was said that after the ancient gods and buddhas entered nirvana, their relics would ascend into the heavens, purifying the sins of the mortal world, before descending into the lands of Kyushu.
Their divine radiance would illuminate humankind. Xia Tian had always assumed these stories were just myths his father told, yet now he had seen one with his own eyes. That intense glow—he knew he hadn't been mistaken.
"Hmph, something worth only five hundred yuan, and you dare talk about being rich in front of me?"
Old Master Xu snorted coldly. It was the first time he'd been provoked—especially by a kid not yet twenty.
"I heard someone say you're a Gu Wan Great Master. Is that true?"
Xia Tian turned toward Old Master Xu. Though he didn't intend to stir trouble, the old man clearly wasn't planning to let him walk away.
"That's right! On Gu Wan Street, who doesn't know me—Xu Decheng?"
Old Master Xu spoke proudly. His reputation on this street was well-known, and it was the foundation of his arrogance.
He was originally part of the Xu Family—one of Jianghai City's four great families—but as a youth, he had been obsessed with Gu Wan collectibles. Because of that, the family business had eventually fallen into his brother's hands.
He had tried to reclaim it, but failed. Later, after his brother's death, the family's consortium passed to his nephew, Xu Qinghua.
Xu Qinghua sent him a small monthly allowance, but compared to the Xu Family's vast fortune, it was a mere pittance.
Determined to reclaim his family's legacy, Xu Decheng had spent years building wealth and influence—and the best way to gain both was right here, in the world of antiques.
Over time, he had accumulated enough prestige and status to stand tall again.
"How about we have a little competition?"
Xia Tian smiled faintly. The old man intrigued him, and his influence on this street could prove useful later.
"A competition? Compete in what?"
Old Master Xu chuckled, amused.
"In what you do best. You pick five items, and I'll identify which ones aren't genuine antiques. If I get even one wrong, I lose."
Xia Tian wanted to challenge him in treasure appraisal.
"Haha, kid, you're showing off in front of an expert. But what happens if you lose?"
"Me lose?" Xia Tian's lips curved upward. "Then I won't leave here alive. But if you lose—help me purchase something I find appealing."
"Truly ignorant of heaven and earth," Old Master Xu sneered. "Fine. If I win, you don't have to die—but your life will belong to me."
Xu Decheng found the young man fascinating, reminiscent of San Yi, Xu Qinghua's loyal subordinate.
Perhaps this was fate's arrangement—if he could gain a follower like San Yi, it would be a great boon.
He was confident he'd win. Even he couldn't always identify genuine antiques without instruments—his success rate was only about ten percent. The high-quality fakes on the market were often indistinguishable from the real thing.
He planned to borrow one genuine piece from a shop, mix in four fakes, and let the boy guess. There was no way the kid could win.
Meanwhile, Xia Tian calmly waited as Old Master Xu went to select the items.
When word spread that Old Master Xu was gambling on antiques, a crowd of hundreds quickly gathered.
Xu Decheng wasn't sure why he was taking the challenge so seriously, but for some reason, he was.
He carefully picked one genuine antique from a reputable shop and several near-perfect fakes—even ones he himself couldn't distinguish without tools. He also added a few cheap trinkets from street stalls. The vendors, flattered that Old Master Xu wanted their wares, refused payment, but Xu Decheng still tossed them two hundred yuan each.
"Kid, the items are here. Take a look."
Old Master Xu's bodyguard placed five items on a square table in front of Xia Tian.
The crowd murmured in excitement. Most were convinced Xia Tian was courting death—how could anyone dare challenge the Gu Wan Great Master of this street?
The five items laid out were: a wooden box, a large porcelain vase, a plate, a clear crystal-like stone, and a bracelet.
Xia Tian gazed at them, then activated his Clairvoyance.
"Well, kid? It's not too late to admit defeat," Old Master Xu said smugly, stroking his goatee—a gesture he always made when victory felt certain.
Xia Tian picked up the wooden box and tossed it to Xu Decheng. "Genuine."
"Good! You're right. This is a dressing box used by Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty."
Old Master Xu didn't cheat; his reputation was on the line. Though he assumed Xia Tian had merely gotten lucky, he couldn't deny it.
Some people in the crowd began whispering that Xia Tian's first correct guess was pure luck.
Ignoring them, Xia Tian picked up the large vase.
Xu Decheng smiled knowingly. He was certain this one would expose the boy—it was an expertly crafted fake.
Xia Tian examined it and smiled faintly. "Old Master Xu, if I believe an item is fake, would it matter if I break it?"
"Of course not. If it's a fake, I can afford to compensate," Xu Decheng said carelessly.
The next instant—clang! The vase shattered against the ground.
The crowd gasped. To them, that vase had looked like a priceless artifact. Regretful murmurs and curses filled the air.
Xia Tian ignored them, crouched, and picked up a shard. Etched on it were the words Made by Fang Quzi.
When the crowd saw this, they fell silent. Fang Quzi was a legendary master forger—his counterfeits were so perfect that only high-grade instruments could expose them.
"Made by Fang Quzi?"
Xu Decheng stared, stunned. "Impossible… How did you see through that?"
What shocked him wasn't just that Xia Tian was right again, but that he'd recognized a Fang Quzi fake—something even seasoned appraisers struggled with.
If appraisal were divided into five ranks, Xu Decheng considered himself third rank. Fang Quzi's counterfeits could only be exposed by fifth-rank experts.
If Xia Tian had truly identified it on sight, then he was no ordinary person.
At that moment, Xia Tian smashed the porcelain plate, revealing its inner markings—another fake.
The crowd erupted again. Xu Decheng was completely dumbfounded.
Xia Tian dropped the crystal-like stone and crushed it underfoot—another counterfeit.
Finally, he picked up the last piece—the bracelet.
"Wait, young man—you win. Say what you want."
Xu Decheng stopped him before he could destroy the last piece. He had already made up his mind to befriend this youth.
With Xia Tian's skill, his own ambitions might finally be realized.
"Oh? Then thank you, Old Master Xu. I rather like this bracelet, so I'll take it."
Xia Tian smiled faintly as he examined the bracelet in his hand.