Seeing Feng Xiao's stubbornness, yet his demeanor that allowed no room for questioning, Ye Fan felt a surge of amusement.
Elder Lei, his face already flushed red, would have erupted in laughter long ago if not for his status and the occasion.
Only Jiang Zhong, unconcerned with Feng Xiao's status as the Feng family's young master, sighed, "If this artifact is from the Shang and Zhou periods, how could its craftsmanship be so exquisite? Especially the dragon's depiction, which is exactly the same as the dragons known to modern people. This further defies the norm. As everyone knows, the image of the Chinese dragon has evolved over thousands of years to reach its current form. This means that dragons in the Shang and Zhou periods were completely different in appearance from those today."
Facing Jiang Zhong's probing gaze, Feng Xiao couldn't help but take two steps back.
Though he was the foremost dandy of Jiangnan City, the Feng family's young master, fearless in all matters, he was still far from the level of a master like Jiang Zhong.
But Fatty Chen let out a cold snort, "And how do you know there were no dragon patterns like this in the Shang and Zhou periods?"
Compared to Feng Xiao, Fatty Chen possessed a truly reckless personality. Regardless of who the other person was, or what noble status or position they held, if they displeased him, he would retort.
"Which book records that such dragons did not exist in ancient times? And how did you come to know this? If you can produce evidence, then consider us defeated. But if you cannot produce concrete proof, then do not blather on here. Do you truly believe that by virtue of your status as a senior appraiser, you can do as you please?"
This Fatty Chen was truly arrogant. Such audacious words were likely only something he dared to utter.
"Heh heh, that's a good question. Throughout history, no literature has ever documented anything regarding this. In that case, without any other clear evidence, this bronze dragon must be genuine."
Elder Han's face was now tinged with a cold smile, a smile that seemed to tell everyone that this time, Elder Lei and his faction had lost.
Seeing that Elder Han had sided with him, Feng Xiao beamed with pride.
He provocatively glanced at Ye Fan, his head held high.
"Heh heh, well said, Elder Han. As expected of the Vice President of the Antique Association and a senior appraiser, your analytical skills are truly admirable. However, I find it quite peculiar. Since there are no records in ancient and modern texts, how can you be so sure that such dragons existed in the Shang and Zhou periods? It seems your argument, Elder Han, is rather shaky."
Ye Fan sneered, his gaze towards Elder Han filled with mockery.
Elder Han was stunned by Ye Fan's questioning, unsure how to respond for a moment.
Ye Fan then let out a cold snort and paid him no further mind.
He turned his head slightly and looked at Feng Xiao, "I said this bronze dragon is a fake, and therefore it is a fake."
Ye Fan's gaze suddenly turned sharp.
"What are you? Because you say it's a fake, it's a fake?"
Feng Xiao, utterly provoked, pointed at Ye Fan and roared.
Ye Fan's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Because, I made this bronze dragon."
"I made it."
"I made it."
...
The words seemed to echo in Feng Xiao's ears, resonating endlessly.
In an instant, Feng Xiao's face turned ashen.
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible."
How could Ye Fan be the one who exchanged for Xiao Ran Pavilion?
Feng Xiao considered a possibility, but actively dismissed it.
If this were indeed the truth, then without a doubt, Elder Gu had deceived him.
Furthermore, he and Ye Fan had conspired to deceive him.
But was that possible? He refused to believe it, he absolutely refused to believe it.
Feng Xiao placed great importance on Elder Gu, as the old man was his enlightenment mentor in antiques.
Although Feng Xiao was arrogant and overbearing, he still respected his teachers, especially those with capability. Otherwise, he would not have appointed Elder Gu as the person in charge of Xiao Ran Pavilion.
Seeing Feng Xiao's state, Ye Fan smirked repeatedly.
Fatty Chen, however, wore a grim expression and furrowed his brows.
"Ye Fan, you claim you made this, but do you have any proof? Moreover, if you cannot provide sufficiently convincing evidence, you will not leave here safely today."
Seeing Feng Xiao on the verge of collapse, Fatty Chen could only brace himself and step forward.
He absolutely could not let Ye Fan succeed, even if he lacked much confidence, he could not let Ye Fan achieve this so easily.
"You? Are you worthy?"
Ye Fan sneered, then pointed at the bronze dragon and said, "At the root of the third whisker from the back, below the dragon's head, there is a protrusion. Apply pressure there, and all the dragon's whiskers will fall off."
Ye Fan shrugged, speaking with utter nonchalance.
Upon hearing Ye Fan's words, Feng Xiao quickly picked up the bronze dragon and, following Ye Fan's instruction, found a protrusion exactly where indicated.
At this moment, Feng Xiao's face was dark.
If this bronze dragon had not been made by Ye Fan, how could he have known such intricate details?
This protrusion was something even he hadn't discovered.
After all, since the bronze dragon came into his possession, he had handled it almost daily, examining it countless times.
Yet, he had never noticed this detail.
But now, Ye Fan had described it so clearly, what did that imply?
Meanwhile, Fatty Chen, seeing Feng Xiao stunned once again, realized something was amiss.
He snatched the bronze dragon from Feng Xiao's hand. Sure enough, just below the third whisker, he found the subtle protrusion.
Looking coldly at Ye Fan, Fatty Chen hesitated.
"What? Afraid to press it?"
Ye Fan smiled, "Shall I press it for you?"
"Hmph, I don't believe you're that amazing."
Fatty Chen gritted his teeth and then forcefully pressed down.
*Click.*
A soft sound, and with that sound, it was as if Fatty Chen's heart also cracked.
Feng Xiao's body trembled violently. It was over, it was completely over.
But after waiting for a moment, none of the whiskers fell.
The two looked at each other, seeing shock in each other's eyes. Immediately, they were filled with surprise and joy.
"Haha, Ye Fan, what else do you have to say?"
Feng Xiao asked Ye Fan with extreme excitement.
Finally, he could hold his head high and trample on Ye Fan, that feeling...
Before Feng Xiao could fully savor it, he heard another *click*.
Then, he saw all the whiskers, over a dozen of them, instantly break off and fall to the ground.
Ye Fan shook his head, utterly speechless at Feng Xiao's foolishness.
This scene had stunned everyone, even Elder Lei was taken aback, staring intently at the more than ten whiskers that had fallen to the ground.
What kind of method could achieve this?
After all, these senior appraisers had spent decades delving into this field.
Many intricate mechanisms could not escape their eyes.
However, a mechanism as exquisitely designed as Ye Fan's was something he had never encountered.