In the world of novels, old men with white beards are always hidden experts!
Tang Ao carefully examined the old man standing before him and became even more convinced of his theory.
The old man's beard and hair were completely white, but his posture was unusually straight with no sign of a hunched back. His clothes, though simple, were clean and free of any peculiar odors. Most notably, his beard and hair were neatly groomed without a single stray strand.
[Heaven must have sent this old man because Zhou Qiao'er's lucky streak was messing with the storyline!]
[Characters like this usually serve the protagonist. How many protagonists have gained powerful artifacts or secret inheritances from such old men after buying something from them?]
[Heaven, you finally sent someone to save the day. Zhou Qiao'er, feel the power of fate! Hahaha!]
Tang Ao was thrilled, while Zhou Qiao'er grew alert, instinctively hiding behind Tang Ao with her newly bought items.
The white-bearded old man wasted no time and got straight to the point: "You two young people have sharp eyes. You've managed to find real treasures in this chaotic Antique Street. You're the youngest people I've seen to acquire such valuable items!"
Hearing this, Tang Ao was overjoyed inside.
As expected, his judgment was spot on—this old man was indeed a hidden expert!
Without hesitation, Tang Ao responded, "We were planning to give these things as gifts anyway. If you like them, I'll give them all to you."
As he spoke, Tang Ao casually handed over the Pearl Jade White Tiger and the Pearl Jade White Lion tea pets.
The old man froze for a moment, his eyes filled with surprise as he stared at Tang Ao.
Setting aside everything else, just those two tea pets Tang Ao had handed over would fetch a fortune in the market, with wealthy collectors fighting over them.
Yet Tang Ao was treating them like mere trinkets, ready to give them away to a stranger?
Zhou Qiao'er, on the other hand, frowned. These were the gifts she had planned to present to the Li family elder on behalf of Tang Ao. There was no way she would let them be given away so easily!
She shot a glare at Tang Ao and swiftly grabbed the two tea pets back from his hands. "These are the gifts we prepared for the Li family. How can you just give them away like that?"
The old man squinted, his eyes filled with curiosity as he looked back and forth between Tang Ao and Zhou Qiao'er:
"Interesting. Young man, since your girlfriend objects, I won't take what isn't freely given. However, I must say I like your straightforward personality. By the way, what's your relationship with this young lady?"
Tang Ao frowned, while Zhou Qiao'er stared at him intently, her eyes full of expectation.
Tang Ao paused, unsure why the old man was asking such a strange question, but he answered honestly: "There's nothing special between us. It's just that our elders want to match us up. It's ridiculous—who does arranged marriage in this day and age?"
"Oh? Do you like this young lady?" the old man asked.
[Could this be a test sent by Heaven because things have gone off track?]
[Don't worry, Heaven! I, Tang Ao, will follow the plot to the letter!]
With a determined look, Tang Ao shook his head firmly. "Of course not! In this life, I, Tang Ao, will only love Lin Ruoxue. Even if I die and am cremated, my ashes will still be in the shape of my love for Lin Ruoxue!"
[Bah! How unlucky! Once I've completed my storyline, I'll definitely wish for Zhou Qiao'er to come back home with me as my wife. Who in their right mind would love Lin Ruoxue, that crazy woman?]
Zhou Qiao'er blushed and lightly tugged at the corner of Tang Ao's shirt, feeling as sweet as if she had just eaten honey.
She clenched her fists in her heart, silently vowing to become stronger. So what if it was Dragon King? So what if it was Dragon King's Hall?
Once she became powerful enough, she would crush them all!
This upcoming visit to the Li family... was the perfect opportunity!
She would resist Dragon King, starting by mastering his signature technique, Nine Heavens Thunder Kick!
"Lin Ruoxue? That girl from the Lin family? She's quite fortunate, then!" The white-bearded old man smiled approvingly and patted Tang Ao on the shoulder. "Young man, I like your attitude. Would you like to learn martial arts from me?"
"Huh?" Tang Ao was taken aback. Aren't you supposed to be here to keep the storyline intact? Why would I, a villain, need to learn martial arts? To beat up the protagonist?
After all, Ye Chen was the ultimate powerhouse in the novel!
And besides, Tang Ao already had the superpower Super Rebound, which ensured no one could harm him!
Learn martial arts?
"No way! There's no way I'll ever learn martial arts in this life. I can tell you're no ordinary person, but you've got the wrong guy. I'm just a lazy slacker, living day by day."
Tang Ao hurriedly added, "If you really want to take on a student, there's a guy named Ye Chen. Teach him everything you know. He'll definitely carry on your legacy and spread your name far and wide."
"Ye Chen? Isn't he your mortal enemy?" The old man's gaze deepened as he studied Tang Ao. "Interesting. You're an interesting young man. I like you more and more. We'll meet again soon, and by then, I hope you'll reconsider."
This old man seemed to know a lot!
Tang Ao felt goosebumps rise all over his body as the old man's gaze bore into him.
Thankfully, the old man simply patted Tang Ao on the shoulder and then walked off into Antique Street without saying another word to either Tang Ao or Zhou Qiao'er.
"What a strange guy."
Tang Ao couldn't make sense of the old man's intentions. If he was interested in the tea pets, Tang Ao had already offered to give them away. Even though Zhou Qiao'er had objected, if the old man had insisted, Zhou Qiao'er wouldn't have gone against Tang Ao's wishes.
But instead of pressing the issue, the old man had shifted the conversation to Tang Ao's personal life and even offered to teach him martial arts. What was his game?
Mysterious as he was, Tang Ao felt certain of one thing: this old man was knowledgeable, capable, and harbored no ill intentions toward him. He wasn't motivated by greed, either.
...
Meanwhile, things weren't looking good for Ye Chen.
After hearing the full story from the five thugs, Ye Chen was once again respectfully released from the police station. Accompanying him out of the station was a tearful woman— Sister Hong.
She held her bank card tightly, thanking Li Shiyun profusely, crying her eyes out.
By now, Ye Chen was practically on a first-name basis with everyone at the police station.
Before leaving, Li Shiyun had given him a fierce warning yet again!
Ye Chen was beyond frustrated. This woman had been targeting him from the start, and he couldn't understand why. He had never done anything to offend Li Shiyun, yet she treated him like a thorn in her side!
But Ye Chen had a hunch that Li Shiyun's hostility wasn't just personal. There was something more to it—something involving Tang Ao?
Curse it! Now wasn't the time to deal with Li Shiyun. Once he finished his urgent tasks, Ye Chen swore he'd make sure that thorny woman became part of his harem!
The stronger and more stubborn a woman was, the more it fueled Ye Chen's desire to conquer her!
The sunlight was glaring.
Ye Chen glanced at his watch—it was already 10 a.m.
If he hadn't been dragged to the police station so early, he would have already been at Antique Street, buying gifts for the Li family birthday banquet and paying his respects to the Li family elder!