Chapter 42: Pretending (Part 1)

"You're leaving tonight? Master, why not stay a few more days?"

"Why are you leaving so soon?"

Hearing that the Master was about to leave, everyone looked anxious. It wasn't easy for an appraiser to come to Tianxuan Royal City, and now, after only a few days, he was already leaving?

"I have important matters to attend to!" Master Mo Yang raised an eyebrow, exuding the unique demeanor of a distinguished person, his presence as elusive as flowing water. "How about this, I'll change the five appraisal slots to ten. That means I can help you appraise ten treasures today! As you know, appraising treasures isn't easy for an appraiser; it consumes a lot of mental energy. Ten is already my limit..."

"Don't worry, Master, as long as you help me choose a treasure, I'm willing to pay you..." a middle-aged man in the crowd shouted.

"Yes, we're willing to pay!"

"As long as the Master helps me choose, whatever the price of the treasure, I'll pay the Master that same price!"

Many people echoed his shouts.

According to the Master's "achievements" in the past few days, every treasure he had identified had increased in value several times over. As long as they could acquire a genuine item, paying a reward was nothing.

"Hmph!"

Master Mo Yang waved his hand, cutting off the crowd's chatter. Raising his eyebrows, he spoke with an air of superiority: "My study of appraisal, Mo Yang's appraisal, is not merely for money, nor do I help you appraise treasures for wealth! If I truly desired money, why would I bother helping you? I could simply identify treasures myself, sell them directly, and wouldn't I earn far more?"

"Uh..."

Everyone fell silent. What he said was true; with his discerning eye, he could certainly buy the treasures himself and make a huge profit.

"The reason I agreed to help you appraise is because your enthusiasm moved me! Money, to me, is like fleeting clouds! I can have as much as I desire, but friendship is priceless!"

With his hands clasped behind his back, Master Mo Yang exuded an aura that commanded respect, like a towering mountain. "I said I would help you appraise out of an unyielding sense of camaraderie, not for money. So, if anyone mentions money again, don't come to me for appraisals!"

"The Master is right to admonish us; we were presumptuous!"

"The Master's virtue is beyond our reach!"

"I've never truly admired anyone in my life, but today, I truly admire the Master!"

...

Hearing the Master's words, those who had previously mentioned money felt a secret shame. Look at his character! And then look at themselves... Could they compare? No wonder he was a Master, and they were just mere subordinates.

"However, before I help you with appraisals, let me say this: an appraiser can only increase your chances of acquiring a valuable treasure; it doesn't mean you'll be 100% guaranteed to get one!" Master Mo Yang continued.

"Nonsense, Master! We all know there are risks in treasure gambling, but your discerning eye is definitely far better than ours!"

"We trust the Master's character, and we trust your judgment!"

"We understand the rules; no appraisal is ever 100% guaranteed. But if the Master chooses for us, we're sure we'll profit!"

...

The crowd roared in unison.

"Since everyone trusts me, Mo, I shall make a humble attempt. Which friend would like my help in choosing?" Master Mo Yang looked around.

"Me!"

"Me..."

Instantly, countless hands shot up, and people jumped around excitedly. The appeal of an appraiser was not fake; every action could drive countless people wild with enthusiasm.

"Alright, you!"

Master Mo Yang pointed, and a portly middle-aged man stepped out. Even after walking clear of the crowd, he couldn't believe he had been chosen: "Is it me? Is it really me?"

"It is you!" Master Mo Yang nodded, smiling faintly, his distinguished demeanor perfectly evident.

"Thank you, Master!"

The middle-aged man jumped up repeatedly in excitement, his eyes full of anticipation as he looked at the old man before him: "Master, please tell me, which one should I buy?"

"Let me see!"

With a flick of his sleeve, Master Mo Yang slowly walked forward, seemingly untouched by dust, his eyes fixed on the many treasures displayed on the long table. Seeing his actions, everyone lowered their voices, afraid to speak loudly, lest they disturb his concentration. Soon, he stopped, his hand resting on a treasure. He carefully felt it, then, using some unknown secret technique, his entire body trembled. Moments later, his face was slightly pale.

"Alright, you can buy this one. I just used a secret technique to examine it, and it's quite valuable!"

Master Mo Yang turned around.

"This one?"

The middle-aged man's eyes lit up, and he quickly looked at the item. It was a very large treasure, covered in thick rock, appearing like a fossil. Such a treasure was the most difficult to polish. Furthermore, its massive size, over a person's height, meant that grinding it out piece by piece would likely take at least one or two days.

"Hmm!" Master Mo Yang nodded.

"Since the Master recommends it, I'll buy it!" The middle-aged man nodded repeatedly and looked at the seller: "How much?"

"Fifty thousand gold coins!" The treasure gambling stall owner stepped forward.

"Fifty thousand?" The middle-aged man was stunned. This was no small sum. Even with his considerable family fortune, it was close to his limit. A high-ranking teacher, a renowned teacher like Shen Biru, only earned around a thousand gold coins a month. Fifty thousand was almost the equivalent of her income for several years combined.

"Buy it! The Master recommended it; if you don't buy it, I will..." Seeing his hesitation, someone in the crowd shouted.

"That's right, what the Master recommends must be correct. Although it costs fifty thousand now, once it's polished out, it could be worth millions, and you'd be rich..."

"The previous times, the Master appraised small treasures; this time, he's picked such a large one. You're really going to hit the jackpot..."

Many people shouted at the same time.

"Alright, I'll buy it!"

After a moment of hesitation, the middle-aged man nodded and quickly paid the money.

"Alright, second slot!"

After the middle-aged man bought the treasure, Master Mo Yang seemed to have recovered and looked around.

"Me!"

"Me..."

The remaining crowd eagerly raised their hands. Zhang Xuan noticed that the stall owner he had previously helped with the "manly problem" was also among them, holding his hand high, his face excited, eager to be chosen by the Master.

"You!"

Master Mo Yang chose another person. It was an elderly man, richly dressed, clearly a person of considerable wealth. Like the first person, the Master circled through the pile of treasures and quickly selected an item.

"Eighty thousand gold coins!"

This treasure was even more expensive, but the old man paid the money immediately without the slightest hesitation.

"This... isn't this just the ornamental vase made by a craftsman from the Southern Kiln? Eighty thousand gold coins?"

Zhang Xuan blinked his eyes as he clearly saw the treasure Master Mo Yang had chosen for the old man. He hadn't examined the other treasures and couldn't be certain about them, but this one he had just looked at. Although it was large, it was just an ornamental vase, not worth even a single gold coin... eighty thousand directly?

"Surely this Master couldn't be wrong..."

Feeling curious, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but look at the Master, who wore a righteous expression. Suddenly, his mind jolted, and a book slowly materialized. The words "Mo Yang!" were clearly written on its cover.

"Is he using a martial art technique?"

According to the characteristics of the Heaven's Path Library, a book couldn't be generated unless a martial art technique was being used. Was this guy using one right now? Curiosity piqued, he couldn't resist opening the book.

"This... this..."

Upon seeing its contents, his mouth twitched, and his face was filled with an odd expression.