My husband Can Cultivate-Chapter 112: The Talented Mr. Yang in Both Letters and Arms
"This is a fake!"
Yang Qi’s words were nothing if not shocking. The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense.
Wang Nantian’s expression turned grim, while Wang He was seething with rage.
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Wang He grabbed Yang Qi by the collar and roared. "Do you have any idea how we acquired this painting? My father sacrificed his own legs to protect it! He won this painting at an auction in the Eagle Country, but someone tried to rob him on the way back. His legs were crippled in the fight, but he didn’t let this national treasure suffer so much as a scratch! And now you’re telling me it’s a fake?!"
Yang Qi gently pushed Wang He’s hand away. "I admire what your father did," he said coolly, "but a fact is a fact. That cannot be changed. This painting is a forgery, and I cannot allow my friend to spend 400 million Dragon Coins on it."
"Mr. Yang, are you absolutely sure?" Even Ye Lingyue was surprised. "This painting has been authenticated by numerous appraisers, both at home and abroad. Even the chief appraiser of our Ye Family Auction House judged it to be genuine. There can’t be a mistake. Mr. Yang, if you truly believe this is a fake, you’ll need to provide proof. Otherwise, I’m afraid many people will come looking for trouble."
She was, of course, looking out for Yang Qi, not wanting him to make such powerful enemies.
Wang Nantian was visibly angered. "Young man, some things cannot be said so recklessly. I have studied this painting for over a decade and have never found a single sign of it being a forgery. During that time, over a thousand professional collectors have come to view it, and they all confirmed its authenticity. By saying it’s a fake, you’re slapping all of us in the face."
"You’re wrong," Yang Qi said, shaking his head. "I’m not the one embarrassing you; you’re embarrassing yourselves. In fact, I doubt I’m the first to have noticed. Perhaps some among you have already discovered the issue but dared not speak up because of the painting’s fame. Or perhaps you simply didn’t want to offend anyone. Am I wrong?"
Wang Nantian was stunned. Yang Qi’s words struck a nerve. He had studied Tang Yin’s Lady Paintings for many years and had, in fact, noticed a subtle discrepancy in this very piece. However, the difference was so minor that he couldn’t definitively say it wasn’t Tang Yin’s work. After all, even a master can have an off day. But now, with Yang Qi bringing it up so bluntly, he was forced into deep thought.
Seeing his father’s contemplative silence, Wang He grew anxious. "Dad, don’t waste your breath on this punk. Let’s get on with the auction!"
"No!" Wang Nantian shook his head and fixed his gaze on Yang Qi. "Young man, if you can prove to me today why this painting is a fake, and I mean truly convince me, I will take you as my master! If you cannot, then don’t blame me, Wang Nantian, for being ruthless!"
"Dad, why bother talking to him? I’ll deal with him right now!" Wang He was furious. To think this man would publicly humiliate his father and question the national treasure he had sacrificed his legs for was unforgivable.
As Wang Nantian’s son, Wang He’s attack was naturally extraordinary. Despite his youth, he was already a powerful Martial Artist at the peak of the Innate Perfection realm. Dealing with an ordinary person would be child’s play for him. He wasn’t aiming to kill, but the power behind a Martial Artist’s casual strike was still terrifying—enough to send a normal person flying.
"He’er, don’t!" Wang Nantian cried out in alarm, but he was too late.
"Don’t worry, Dad. I won’t kill him. I’m just teaching him a lesson!" Wang He said coldly.
Yang Qi simply stood there, watching him with a calm expression, looking as if he were scared stiff.
Wang He sneered. Any ordinary person would react this way to my attack: stunned, terrified, and helpless. Few can face my fists without fear.
However, the next moment, he was the one who froze. A cold smirk played on Yang Qi’s lips. He moved later but arrived first, his hand clamping down on Wang He’s fist. He felt his fist lock in place, caught in what felt like an iron vise, completely unable to move.
"For the sake of your filial piety, I’ll let you off this time," Yang Qi said, then casually tossed Wang He aside.
Wang He’s body flew uncontrollably, crashing to the ground. Staring at Yang Qi, he was filled with an inexplicable terror. He was an Innate Perfection Martial Artist, yet Yang Qi had defeated him so effortlessly. And this Yang Qi looked even younger than him. How in the world did he train?
Wang Nantian was dumbfounded as well. The move had looked simple, but it was incredibly profound. A casual extension of the hand seemed to contain the boundless principles of heaven and earth. What level of being is this? How can such a young and terrifying master exist in this world?
"He’er, apologize to this gentleman at once!" Wang Nantian suddenly ordered.
Wang He understood what his father meant: they had encountered a true master. Even if his own judgment wasn’t as sharp as his father’s, he could feel the immense power radiating from Yang Qi. He walked over, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "Sir, I was reckless. I apologize. But while I shouldn’t have attacked, you shouldn’t have called my father’s painting a fake!"
This kid is certainly stubborn.
"I didn’t want to shatter your illusions, but since you insist on seeing the truth, I suppose I’ll show you," Yang Qi said with a shake of his head as he walked toward the painting.
Everyone grew tense, wondering what he was about to do. Wang Nantian didn’t stop him. The strength Yang Qi had displayed commanded his respect; at this point, even if Yang Qi destroyed the painting, he would accept it. Such is the way of martial artists—they admire the strong.
All eyes were fixed on Yang Qi. He secretly circulated Spiritual Energy from his hand and infused it into the painting. A piece of the seemingly flawless surface suddenly peeled away. It was from the exact spot where Wang Nantian had previously noticed a discrepancy.
"Take a magnifying glass and look for yourself." Yang Qi handed the painting to Wang Nantian.
As an avid art connoisseur, Wang Nantian naturally had a magnifying glass with him. He peered at it closely, and tears began to well up in his eyes. "A forgery! It really is a forgery!" The tears streamed down his face. To think the treasure he had sacrificed his legs to protect was a fake... The pain of this realization was far worse than the thought of spending 300 million Dragon Coins.
Wang He quickly took the magnifying glass and looked for himself. In that spot, a tiny inscription read: "Republic Period, Lin Yumin, Year XX."
Wang He was dumbfounded. It really was a forgery, a painting by a man named Lin Yumin from the Republic era. It was an extremely high-quality imitation; the brushwork was so masterful that it could practically pass for the original.
After a long silence, Wang Nantian finally sighed in admiration. "I am thoroughly convinced," he said. "May I ask for your name, sir?"
"Yang Qi."
"You are Yang Qi!" Wang Nantian froze. He had heard the name—the former medical prodigy who later gained the favor of Lin Qingxuan. He had assumed Yang Qi was just some worthless kept man now. He never imagined that not only was the man’s martial skill extraordinary, but his eye for appraisal was just as frightening. It seems the rumors can’t be trusted. How could a man like that possibly be kept by a woman?
