This piqued Gu Mengzhong’s curiosity so he asked, “I’ve rarely painted any works in the past few years so there shouldn’t be many circulating in the market. Appraiser Tan, where did you buy it from? Let me have a look at it in case it’s a counterfeit.”
Tan Xun chuckled and explained, “I got it as a gift. Also, I’ve personally examined it so it’s definitely not a counterfeit. Come, bring me the painting so Master Gu can take a look at it.”
This painting Tan Xun mentioned was one of Gu Mengzhong’s creations that he had received from the City Lord Manor.
Back then, when he first laid eyes on it, Tan Xun knew that it was genuine.
However, he was afraid he might be mistaken so since Gu Mengzhong himself was here, it was only natural to let him take a look to confirm its authenticity.
Because he adored this painting so much, Tan Xun had his attendant carry it wherever they went. That attendant instantly came up and handed Tan Xun the painting.
Wang Ji was dumbfounded the moment he laid his eyes on the painting.
He remembered how Steward Zuo of the City Lord Manor had mentioned that among Wang Ji’s gifts, there was a genuine painting by Master Gu. Back then, Wang Ji hadn’t thought about it too deeply, assuming that Steward Zuo must have made a mistake.
This can’t be that same painting, could it?
Wang Ji shook his head on the inside. If it was a painting purchase by his subordinate, it must be a fake. How could it possibly be genuine?
Thus, Wang Ji mused how even Appraiser Tan would make such a mistake at times.
Meanwhile, Tan Xun was carefully unrolling the painting. The people around immediately edged closer, trying to see if the painting was a genuine piece.
Once the painting was revealed, Gu Mengzhong was stunned before his expression darkened. Standing beside him, Masterchef Liao Gu saw the painting as well and exclaimed, “Isn’t this…”
He didn’t finish his sentence.
Liao Gu wasn’t an idiot. He knew there was something fishy going on.
Tan Xun said, “How is it? Is this one of your genuine creations?”
There wasn’t a trace of pleasantness on his face as Gu Mengzhong nodded. “You’re right. It is one of my genuine works.”
“Haha, I knew it. How could I ever mistaken a painting created by Master Gu?” Tan Xun was glad as he praised the City Lord Manor silently.
‘As expected of the City Lord Manor. They’re really generous with their gifts.’
Tan Xun was about to put it away at once.
Yet, Gu Mengzhong reached out his hand, stopping him in his tracks.
“Master Gu, what is it?” Tan Xun was stunned. He finally noticed Gu Mengzhong’s extremely solemn expression and this confused Tan Xun.
“Appraiser Tan, let me ask you, where did you get this painting?” Gu Mengzhong asked.
Although Tan Xun was puzzled, he answered honestly, “A few days ago, when I was a guest at the City Lord Manor, Lord Bai gave it to me as a gift.”
“Hmph!” Gu Mengzhong scoffed.
Tan Xun knew something must be up. Otherwise, Gu Mengzhong wouldn’t be upset so suddenly.
“Just what is going on?” Tan Xun asked.
At that moment, Masterchef Liao explained, “This was a painting Mengzhong gave to Lin Jin several days ago. How could it end up at the City Lord Manor, and how did it, in turn, end up in your hands, Appraiser Tan?”
“Ah!” Tan Xun let out a voiceless cry.
This was a huge issue and Liao Gu’s tone was clearly laced with suspicion.
Wang Ji’s heart began to thump wildly as an unpleasant feeling surfaced in his heart.
He had a feeling there would be another disaster.
“Could there be a mistake? This painting was indeed presented by Lord Bai,” Tan Xun’s attendant explained.
Tan Xun turned to stare at Gu Mengzhong, hoping that the latter was indeed mistaken.
Gu Mengzhong pointed to a corner of the painting and said, “This painting can be viewed from different perspectives. The big picture is indeed the painting of scenery, but inside this painting, there is a tiny courtyard where three people are having a delightful conversation. This is the scene of me, Brother Liao, and Lin Jin having a pleasant exchange on that day. So tell me, how could I be mistaken?”
Tan Xun immediately turned pale.
Someone said, “Could Appraiser Lin had given this to the City Lord Manor?”
Gu Mengzhong shook his head at once. “When I went to see Lin Jin to have him help me for a blood pact with my ink monster, he told me the painting that I’ve given him was missing. And it went missing within the Beast Appraisal Association. Back then, I could only draw him another one, but now that I think of it, things don’t sound as simple as it is. Since this has something to do with the City Lord Manor, have them send their people here. We’ll know once we ask.”
Someone went to inform the City Lord Manor at once.
No one noticed how Wang Ji’s face had now turned maroon.
Soon, Steward Zuo of the City Lord Manor arrived.
Both Tan Xun and Master Gu were incredibly important figures so Zuo Wentang wouldn’t dream of making them wait.
“Steward Zuo, where did this painting come from?” Tan Xun proceeded to explain what happened. When Zuo Wentang saw the painting, he seemed to have recalled its origins.
“This is a painting given by Chief Wang Ji. Wasn’t there a batch of mutant eggs that required evaluating? The eggs came back together with Chief Wang’s gifts, and this painting was among the presents.”
When Zuo Wentang was done explaining, everyone shifted their gaze to Wang Ji.
Now, Wang Ji finally knew what happened.
No matter how shameless he was, or strong he was mentally, he couldn’t stop himself from breaking out in cold sweat. It wasn’t just about the painting. The batch of mutant eggs was getting dragged into the matter.
Only he knew that it was Lin Jin who evaluated the mutant eggs that night, not Wang Ji himself.
“I… I…”
He had no way to get out of this. He knew that after Lin Jin appraised the eggs, the latter must have left the painting behind in the appraisal hall so it ended up being assumed a gift and was delivered to the City Lord Manor.
But how could Wang Ji explain this?
If he did, he would be exposed.
But if he didn’t, that wouldn’t end well too because someone would assume he had stolen the painting.
The people around him weren’t fools. Seeing how Wang Ji was stammering without being able to offer an explanation, they knew something dodgy was going on.
Even Nan Gongxian was getting flustered. He quietly shifted two steps away from Wang Ji. He had a feeling this chief was about to get into huge trouble today.
Just then, the bell in the association chimed.
The exams were over.
Soon, candidates poured out of the hall. With his keen eye. Zu Can immediately noticed Lin Jin among the crowd so he called, “Appraiser Lin, over here!”
Lin Jin noticed Zu Can beckoning him as well so he went over. But once he got near, he was dumbstruck.
What was this extravagant display?
Zu Can was here. Masterchef Liao too. Even Master Gu had come.
Lin Jin who had just finished his exams was baffled by this huge lineup.
When Tan Lin saw Lin Jin, the guilt within her overflowed. She had wanted to approach him to apologize but didn’t know where to begin. Aware of his daughter’s inner conflict, Tan Xun went over instead.
This had nothing to do with his identity as a beast appraiser. It was purely a father showing gratitude to his daughter’s benefactor.
“Appraiser Lin, your method of using the fire spirit energy finger to attack the Heavenly Pivot acupoint is simply marvelous. Allow me to thank you on my daughter’s behalf.”
Once Tan Xun said this, Lin Jin knew what it was about.
“She’s your daughter?” Lin Jin asked, pointing to Tan Lin.
Tan Xun nodded.
Lin Jin’s next words embarrassed Tan Xun. “Although it was a misunderstanding that night, I was just trying to help her out of goodwill. Forget the fact she didn’t show any gratitude, not only did she conspire with Wang Ji to plot against me, but she was also trying to ban me from the association. You have to do something about this.”
Lin Jin looked aggrieved.
Tan Xun’s aged face blushed. To think he was being ‘reprimanded’ by a young man. However, since he was in the wrong, Tan Xun nodded at once. “Yes, my daughter has been spoiled since a young age and is too capricious. She didn’t clarify the situation before making decisions and I have admonished her for it.”
Seeing how nice the older man was being, Lin Jin didn’t press the matter. He only nodded and said, “That’s great then. But you just have to educate her a little and don’t be too harsh on her. After all, girls are easily embarrassed, she might not be able to take it if you’re too hard on her.”
What he said made the mouth of onlookers gape in silence.
Master Gu couldn’t bear to watch this any longer so he spoke up.
“Lin Jin, this is the Rank 3 beast appraiser, Elder Tan from your Beast Appraisal Association’s headquarters.”
“Ah!” Lin Jin jumped out of shock. Tan Xun had been keeping a hand behind his back so Lin Jin hadn’t noticed the beast patterns on his sleeve. Now that he craned his neck to get a better look, the man was truly wearing a three-ring beast pattern sleeve band.