I'm Already the Richest Man, Why Did My System Just Arrive?

Chapter 306: Chapter 182: Contention

Zheng Xiu and Cheng Xiao remained motionless.

The other eight people exchanged a look. Without a word, they all stepped forward to examine the scroll of the *Plum Blossoms in the Snow*.

”There’s no need to rush, everyone. Since I have given my word, I will certainly keep it and allow all of you to view this painting together.”

Dugu Xiang clapped twice. Two disciples from the Dugu Family carried over a long wooden table, and Dugu Xiang unrolled the *Plum Blossoms in the Snow* across it.

”A fine painting!”

Yue Chongyang calmly stroked his beard and chuckled softly. With his other hand, he ran his fingertips over the scroll, feeling its texture.

Zhang Da’er’s eyes were as round as bronze bells, not wanting to miss a single detail.

The others reacted in much the same way.

It wasn’t as if they were actually here to admire a painting.

Their true intentions lay elsewhere.

Dugu Xiang smiled and stepped back, gesturing with open hands for them to proceed as they wished. He then silently observed everyone’s reactions. When his gaze fell upon Cheng Xiao and Zheng Xiu, a subtle glint flashed in his eyes.

The eight of them crowded around both sides of the long table, making it a bit cramped.

Zheng Xiu could tell the scroll was a fake at a glance, but he figured he should still go forward to confirm it—or at least put on an act.

Just as he was about to step forward, Zheng Xiu glanced back and noticed Cheng Xiao simply standing his ground, eyes closed, hugging his Broken Saber. After a moment’s thought, Zheng Xiu smiled and asked, ”Why aren’t you looking?”

Cheng Xiao didn’t open his eyes. ”I don’t understand it.”

Zheng Xiu asked, ”Then why did you come?”

Cheng Xiao said, ”Someone else here understands.”

Zheng Xiu countered, ”And if no one does?”

Cheng Xiao uttered a single, cold word: ”Wait.” After he spoke, he glanced at Zheng Xiu, pursed his lips, and added, ”Just keep waiting.”

Zheng Xiu said, ”By the way, I’m sorry about your saber.”

Cheng Xiao was silent for a full ten seconds before he managed to piece together a sentence, forcing the words out one by one: ”A saber is for killing. If it breaks, it breaks. It’s still usable.”

Zheng Xiu then realized that Cheng Xiao’s short silence wasn’t an attempt to act cool or tough, but rather him struggling to organize his thoughts.

Recalling the moment Cheng Xiao had cut down the unnamed master of the heretical Purple Blood Sword in a single clash with his Broken Saber, Zheng Xiu had a flash of insight. ’So that’s it,’ he thought. ”I see,” he said aloud in admiration. ”That’s a good way to look at it.”

Cheng Xiao didn’t see his weapon as some kind of treasure; it was just a ”tool” that could be replaced at any time.

As Zheng Xiu and Cheng Xiao were making awkward small talk,

The eight people gathered around the long table, who had initially maintained a calm facade, were starting to grow impatient.

Zhang Da’er cursed, ”Dammit, what the hell is this supposed to be!”

Yue Chongyang chuckled. ”If you can’t understand it, you shouldn’t force it.”

Zhang Da’er scoffed, ”Oh, you can? If you understand it so well, then why don’t you share your wisdom? Enlighten us all!”

Yue Chongyang put on a profound, inscrutable expression. ”The masterpieces of the Gongsun Painting Saint hide infinite mysteries, and his brushwork is exquisite. As the saying goes, ’expertise in one field does not translate to another.’ I wouldn’t dare claim to have glimpsed the Painting Saint’s realm; I can only say I have a rudimentary understanding. As for explaining it... I believe the art of Danqing is something that can only be understood, not explained. We must each find our own destiny within it!”

Yue Chongyang’s smile was radiant. His words to Zhang Da’er were laced with barbs, clearly payback for Zhang Da’er’s earlier disrespect.

Hearing this, Zhang Da’er was inwardly furious but couldn’t lash out. What Yue Chongyang said was true; no one among the ten people present would willingly share any secrets they discovered with the others.

Seeing the ”heated” atmosphere by the long table, Zheng Xiu smiled faintly and stepped forward to join the crowd.

Zheng Xiu had identified it as a fake at a glance. Now, after taking a closer look, he was even more certain.

’It’s an excellent painting, no doubt. Incredibly lifelike. It’s just not the work of Grandpa Gongsun.’

”Hero Dugu, you have possessed this masterpiece by the Gongsun Painting Saint for some time. Have you managed to discern any of its secrets?”

Just then, someone unwilling to give up so easily asked Dugu Xiang loudly in front of everyone.

”Yes, exactly! Everyone knows of Hero Dugu’s magnanimity! You wouldn’t be so stingy as to refuse to share your enlightened views with us, would you?”

The others quickly chimed in, piling on the flattery as if it cost them nothing.

Zhang Da’er even began to subtly praise Hidden Sword Manor, implicitly elevating it to the status of ”Martial Arts Venerable.”

At first, Dugu Xiang just smiled wryly and waved his hands, claiming that he had practiced the sword since childhood and had kept its company for thirty years—what would he know of scholarly arts like painting? But their flattery was difficult to refuse. At last, Dugu Xiang relented with a helpless sigh. ”Since you all insist on flattering me so, I will stop treating you as strangers and offer my humble opinion.”

Zhang Da’er chuckled greedily. ”That’s right! We’re all friends here!”

”But before I do,” Dugu Xiang said, ”I have a small favor to ask.”

Dugu Xiang calmly turned to Cheng Xiao, who was still waiting with his eyes closed. He cupped his fist in salute. ”Brother Cheng, I wonder if I might borrow the *Spring Pond Willow Swallow Map* for a look? I, Dugu Xiang, swear on the century-old reputation of Hidden Sword Manor...”

But before Dugu Xiang could finish, Cheng Xiao reached into his tunic and tossed the *Spring Pond Willow Swallow Map* toward him.

No one, not even Zheng Xiu, had expected Cheng Xiao to be so decisive. Everyone froze, stunned. Inside his sleeves, Yue Chongyang’s fists clenched tightly. For a split second, the urge to snatch the scroll flared within him, and he was certain the others felt the exact same way.

But in the end, no one acted on that impulse. They weren’t fools. None of them could decipher the painting, so snatching the scroll now would be pointless. Worse, it would mean offending Hidden Sword Manor, and the potential loss far outweighed any gain.

Dugu Xiang caught the *Spring Pond Willow Swallow Map* that Cheng Xiao had so casually tossed and eagerly unrolled it on the long table.

The yellowed scroll depicted a clear pond in early spring. Lush willows grew by its edge, their branches swaying gracefully and casting mottled reflections upon the water. Lively swallows flitted among the leaves, each captured in a different pose—some spreading their wings, some preening their feathers, some dipping toward the water. The little birds were rendered with remarkable, lifelike spirit.