"Hahaha, this is hilarious! You absolute idiot, you've been conned and you don't even know it."
"Do you know what fifty-million-yuan jade shoes look like? Although I'm not wearing them today, I happen to have an imperial green jade pendant on me. Why don't you open your eyes wide and take a good look at what true imperial green looks like."
Qian Long laughed mockingly and then took out the genuine imperial green jade pendant from his person, letting the fool get a good look.
After taking the jade pendant from Qian Long's hand, he carefully compared it with the jade circling the sole of his shoe. However, after a long time, he couldn't discern any difference.
Both pieces of jade appeared to be as green as water droplets, with excellent texture.
"No way? You can't tell?"
Seeing his confused state, Qian Long's mocking tone grew even louder. "No wonder you were cheated. With your level of understanding, it would be a miracle if people didn't scam you."
"Since you don't understand, let me explain. This shoddy jade you have is worthless. You can find it everywhere on the street stalls in Kyoto's antique street."
"True imperial green jade is not only pure, like a water droplet, but more importantly, it's the texture when you touch it. This kind of jade feels not only smooth but also has a cotton-like texture, a characteristic that your imitation completely lacks," the middle-aged man said, pointing at Qian Long's jade pendant.
Qian Long rolled his eyes, utterly speechless. This man was not only foolish but also incredibly stubborn.
Just as he was about to announce Li Yang's status as a Treasure-Appraising Grandmaster, an old man suddenly emerged from the crowd. After carefully comparing the jade, he stated directly, "What this young man said is correct. The jade on your shoes is indeed fake."
"And who are you?"
The middle-aged man turned to the old man and asked curiously.
"My name is Wu Lei, from Kunpeng Mountain in Kyoto," the old man said slowly, stroking his beard.
"Elder Wu?"
The middle-aged man and everyone present who knew his identity were all stunned.
Wu Lei of Kunpeng Mountain in Kyoto was a paramount figure in Kyoto's antique circle and one of the most renowned elders in the national antique community.
In the Kunpeng Mountain lineage, let alone Elder Wu himself, even his four disciples were all top-tier appraisers in Kyoto.
Appraisal titles like these were created by his eldest disciple, Xu Tianyou.
Xu Tianyou had divided the levels of appraisers into multiple tiers, and achieving the Great Accomplishment realm allowed one to be called a Treasure-Appraising Grandmaster.
Xu Tianyou's appraisal skills were naturally far above Grandmaster, allowing him to bypass Great Grandmaster and become a Treasure-Appraising Venerable.
As for Elder Wu Lei, his realm was even higher than Venerable, known as a Treasure-Appraising Divine Venerable.
The few Treasure-Appraising Divine Eyes Li Yang had encountered previously were titles situated between Venerable and Divine Venerable.
Their status was above Xu Tianyou's.
The moment Li Yang heard the name Wu Lei, he also showed a look of shock and couldn't help but glance back at the old man.
However, when Li Yang looked over, he unexpectedly saw a string of numbers above the old man's head, causing him to worry for him.
"The cost of these shoes of yours indeed does not exceed five hundred. Even if this young lady damaged your shoes, she would only need to compensate five hundred yuan at most. However, by chance, I saw you whistling and winking at the young lady just now."
"Today, this is your fault, so the young lady doesn't need to compensate you. Instead, you should apologize to the young lady and this young man," Wu Lei added sternly.
"What? This..."
The middle-aged man was extremely guilty. He never expected to encounter an elder like Wu Lei here. He was highly respected.
He was a big shot in Kyoto whom no one dared to provoke, and his words were undoubtedly authoritative.
Qian Long also greatly admired Elder Wu. He had tried to visit Elder Wu before but couldn't even get an audience, which was a great regret.
To be able to meet him here today was an immense honor.
Qian Long said respectfully, "Greetings, Elder Wu. I am Qian Long, the young master of the Qian family in Kyoto. This is my master, Li Yang. We both greatly admire your skills and hoped to meet you. It is a great honor to meet you here today, and you are helping us."
"The Qian family?"
Wu Lei glanced back at Qian Long, sizing him up, and said calmly, "Yes, the Qian family is indeed a righteous family. I have heard of your father's name."
"It's just this young man... why would you take him as your master? Does he have some extraordinary quality?"
In his opinion, the young master of the Qian family had an extraordinary status, so his master must have an even nobler identity.
Qian Long said with a smile, "Elder Wu, my master is from Jiangcheng. His treasure appraisal skills are extremely high. I am learning appraisal with him. My master received the title of Treasure-Appraising Grandmaster in Jiangcheng not long ago."
"Such a young Grandmaster is truly rare. When I was his age, my skill was not as good as his," Wu Lei said, looking at Li Yang with a hint of surprise and genuine praise.
"The young man is very humble. I admire you greatly."
A faint smile appeared on Wu Lei's face. He then snapped back to attention and looked sternly at the middle-aged man, "Why are you still standing there in a daze?"
"Didn't you hear what I just said? You must bravely take responsibility for your mistakes. Do you want everyone present to know what you did just now?"
"You old geezer, hurry up and apologize to my master and mistress!"
Qian Long, having recovered, glared fiercely at the middle-aged man and commanded.
The middle-aged man's eyes darted nervously. Seeing the surrounding audience mocking him, he felt utterly humiliated, almost to the point of death!
If Master Ma found out about this, he would be in serious trouble.
It seemed he had no choice but to accept this loss today.
"Alright, I apologize. It was my fault just now. Young lady, young man, I apologize to you both. I hope you can forgive me." The middle-aged man proactively apologized to Li Yang and Fang Xiaoqing.
Li Yang dug into his ear with a finger and walked forward, sneering, "Your apology lacks sincerity. Not only did you try to extort money from us, but you also harassed my girlfriend. Apologizing once for these two offenses is not enough."
"Besides apologizing, you must also make my girlfriend happy. She really enjoys watching people slap themselves. Why don't you slap yourself a hundred times, and then we'll call it even."
"What? Kid, don't push your luck!"
The middle-aged man's face immediately turned red with anger. He was willing to apologize out of respect for Wu Lei, but he would never slap himself in front of a young girl to admit guilt.
If he did that, how could he ever show his face again!