Million-Dollar Bid

The brief confrontation at the entrance of the Jiade Art Gallery was like a stone dropped into a deep pool, stirring up ripples beneath the seemingly calm surface. Zhou Wenyuan's obsession with the "mysterious lady" he'd glimpsed, with her ethereal aura, was far beyond Lin Fan's imagination.

Over the next two days, Lin Fan keenly noticed that the "eyes" around his rented apartment seemed to have multiplied. It wasn't just the official-style surveillance from before; there were now also more discreet watchers with a distinctly commercial feel, their actions more covert. He knew this had to be Zhou Wenyuan's doing. The collector tycoon's influence was clearly not to be underestimated; he had managed to find this place and set up his own network of informants even under the tight watch of the authorities.

This put Lin Fan under unprecedented pressure. On one side was the "Dragon Group" (a codename he'd privately given Chen Jing's team), representing the nation's will and operating with traceable methods. On the other was a private force that might be more flexible and extremely goal-oriented. His humble "Shelter" felt like a lone boat in the eye of a storm.

He shared his concerns with Tong Tian and Nüwa.

Upon hearing this, Tong Tian merely snorted, a flash of sword intent disappearing in his eyes. "A mere clown, scrambling for petty gains. If they dare overstep, I'll simply cut them down with a single sword."

His approach was simple and direct, filled with the arrogance of a sage looking down on the mortal world.

Nüwa, however, was much more serene. She was using new clay to sculpt a crane poised for flight. Without pausing her work, she said calmly, "Fame and fortune are like shackles, desire is a cage. They are fixated on external things, yet fail to see the true treasure before them. It is pitiable. Lin Fan, rest assured, what they seek is merely the form of objects I casually created, not their essence. If they come with respect and treat you sincerely, perhaps a good connection can be forged. If their hearts harbor ill intentions, karma will find them."

Nüwa's words contained her understanding of creation and karma. She didn't object to her "works" being appreciated by mortals, nor did she mind interacting with them, but the prerequisite was that the other party must approach with reverence and respect, not greed and possessiveness.

Lin Fan felt a little more at ease after hearing what the two sages had to say. Indeed, with these two powerful figures here, as long as the state machinery didn't deploy ultimate force, there seemed to be nothing to fear. What he needed to do now was to stay calm, handle these incoming troubles, and seize every opportunity to improve himself.

He practiced the Supreme Clarity Heart-Cleansing Mantra with even greater diligence. Although he couldn't summon that profound "primordial qi" again, his mind became increasingly tranquil, and his spiritual perception grew sharper. He could even vaguely sense the approximate locations and the strength of the observers outside his window.

He also took some time to visit the mysterious old man again. The old man's condition remained unchanged, his mind hazy. Apart from expressing gratitude for the food and lodging Lin Fan provided, he shook his head when asked about anything else. The three incomplete artifacts were still casually wrapped in old felt, as if he paid them no mind. Lin Fan tentatively offered to help him find his family or investigate his past, but the old man only responded with a vacant stare. This further convinced Lin Fan that the key to unraveling the old man's mystery likely lay beyond conventional means.

Another two days passed in a state of calm (or apparent calm). That afternoon, Lin Fan was attempting to make a medicinal tea with "clearing the mind and brightening the eyes" effect, using ordinary herbs and a recipe from an herbal guide, intending to let the two sages try it.

Suddenly, a knock echoed, distinctly different from the previous official-style knocks – it was more cautious and polite.

Lin Fan's heart tightened. He went to the door and looked through the peephole. Two people stood outside. The one in front was Zhou Wenyuan himself! Today, he wore a low-key but exquisitely textured dark Zhongshan suit, a gentle and sincere smile on his face, holding a delicate brocade box in his hands. Behind him stood a burly man in a black suit, presumably a bodyguard and assistant, also carrying a metal case that looked quite heavy.

What was coming had finally arrived. And they had chosen the most direct method: a personal visit.

Lin Fan took a deep breath and glanced at Tong Tian and Nüwa inside. Tong Tian was still browsing something on the computer, as if the matter at the door had nothing to do with him. Nüwa had just finished the final touch on the clay crane, wiping the clay from her fingers with a damp cloth. Sensing Lin Fan's gaze, she nodded slightly, signaling him to handle it himself.

Lin Fan steadied himself, adjusted his clothes, and opened the door.

"Mr. Zhou?" Lin Fan feigned just the right amount of surprise. "How did you find this place?"

Seeing Lin Fan, Zhou Wenyuan's smile widened with enthusiasm. He quickly clasped his hands together. "Mr. Lin, I apologize for the intrusion. Please forgive me! I am Zhou Wenyuan. I had a brief encounter with your... with this lady at the Jiade Art Gallery the other day, and I was deeply impressed. After much effort, I managed to discover your residence, and I've come to pay my respects."

His posture was humble, and his tone was sincere, making it difficult to harbor any ill feelings.

Lin Fan stepped aside. "Mr. Zhou, please come in. My humble abode is simple, I hope you won't mind."

Zhou Wenyuan repeatedly said, "Not at all," and stepped inside with his bodyguard. The moment he entered the small rented room, Zhou Wenyuan's steps faltered, his expression instantly froze, and his breathing became rapid!

His gaze was immediately drawn to the statue of a woman named "Xirang" on the windowsill!

At the Jiade Art Gallery, he had seen the Orchid Grass Painting through glass and lighting. While it was stunning, there was still a barrier. Now, facing the "Xi Rang" statue at such close range, the impact that struck his soul was more than ten times stronger!

The statue, made of ordinary clay, seemed to come alive in his eyes! The gentle and kind face, the eyes full of compassion and love, the maternal aura radiating from her, nurturing all things and bearing all spirits... Zhou Wenyuan felt as if his soul had been cleansed by the purest spring water. All his anxiety, calculations, and desire for fame and fortune vanished at that moment, leaving only immense peace, serenity, and an urge to prostrate himself in worship!

He had been involved in art collection for decades, seen countless treasures, and visited innumerable ancient temples and renowned monasteries, yet he had never felt such pure, lofty, and life-origin-approaching "divinity" from any object or any statue!

This... this was not something that belonged in the human realm! This was... a miracle!

His bodyguard, though not an art connoisseur, felt an inexplicable sense of peace and awe the moment he stepped into the room. He instinctively straightened his back and suppressed all his presence.

Zhou Wenyuan reluctantly shifted his gaze from the "Xirang" statue. He then saw the other small clay animals on the windowsill, the newly completed crane poised for flight on the table, and the sketches Nüwa used for practice piled in the corner...

Each one! Each one exuded a unique and faint Dao rhythm! Some serene, some lively, some elegant, some profound! They were placed seemingly casually, yet they formed a unique, harmonious "field," transforming this small, simple room into a pure land far from the dust of the world!

Zhou Wenyuan's heart pounded, blood rushed to his head, and his face flushed with excitement. He had only suspected before, but now he was 100% certain that the lady he met at the Jiade Art Gallery was a true "Goddess of Art" beyond ordinary comprehension! No, perhaps even calling her "art" was a blasphemy! She was the embodiment of "Dao," the source of "Beauty"!

His gaze instantly locked onto Nüwa, who was sitting by the table, gently wiping the clay from her fingertips with a damp cloth. Although she was still wearing her hat and glasses, and dressed in a simple, elegant long dress, in Zhou Wenyuan's eyes, she seemed to be enveloped in a hazy halo of divine light!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the excitement that was about to overflow his chest. He stepped forward a few paces and bowed deeply to Nüwa, his posture extremely humble:

"Junior Zhou Wenyuan, I have come uninvited to pay my respects to the Master! The other day at the Jiade Art Gallery, I saw the Master's casually created Orchid Grass Painting, and was already astounded, my soul shaken! Today, seeing the Master's celestial abode and witnessing so many divine works, I realize I was merely a frog in a well before, possessing worldly objects without knowing it! The Master's Dao cannot be encompassed by the mere word 'art'; it is akin to 'Dao.' Junior... Junior..." He was so excited that he became somewhat incoherent, unsure how to express the admiration and shock in his heart.

Nüwa stopped wiping her fingers and looked up, calmly observing Zhou Wenyuan. She said faintly, "You flatter me. They are merely casual doodles, creations made while playing with clay. They do not deserve the title of 'Master,' let alone being close to 'Dao.'"

Her tone was plain and natural, without a hint of false modesty or pride, as if stating a simple fact.

But to Zhou Wenyuan, this only solidified Nüwa's status as an otherworldly master! Only a true master who transcended the mundane would speak so lightly of their own earth-shattering "divine works"!

"The Master is truly humble, this junior admires you!" Zhou Wenyuan's attitude became even more respectful. He held up the delicate brocade box with both hands, carefully opening it. Inside was the Orchid Grass Painting that had caused a sensation at the Jiade Art Gallery! "I was presumptuous. I have already withdrawn this Orchid Grass Painting from the auction house and returned it to its rightful owner. Such a divine work, falling into the market and being bid upon by commoners, is truly a desecration."

Lin Fan's eyelids twitched as he watched from the side. Good heavens, withdrawing it directly from the auction house? This Zhou Wenyuan's influence and determination were certainly significant!

Nüwa glanced at the painting and nodded. "You are thoughtful." She said no more, as if the painting truly held no importance to her.

Seeing this, Zhou Wenyuan became even more convinced. He took a deep breath and stated the true purpose of his visit. He pointed to the "Xirang" statue on the windowsill, his voice trembling slightly with immense longing:

"Master, junior... junior has an impudent request! Junior... would like to ask the Master to part with this statue!" He paused, as if making a great decision, and quoted a price that almost made Lin Fan bite his tongue: "Junior is willing to offer... five million! No! Ten million! RMB! To purchase this statue!"

Ten million!!!

Lin Fan's mind went blank, his head buzzing! He knew Goddess Nüwa's statue was extraordinary, containing Dao rhythm, but... ten million?! This was just a statue made from a few dozen yuan worth of clay! Although it did have a magical effect of calming the mind and purifying the spirit, this price was utterly outrageous! Was this Zhou Wenyuan insane?!

Even Tong Tian, who had been facing away from the door, seemingly indifferent to everything, paused his keyboard tapping for a brief moment.

Upon hearing this, Nüwa finally looked up again and seriously regarded Zhou Wenyuan, a hint of faint pity in her eyes. She shook her head. "This object is not for sale."

Her refusal was swift and decisive, without a trace of hesitation.

Zhou Wenyuan became anxious and quickly said, "Master! Is the price unsatisfactory? Please name your price! As long as it is within my means, I will not haggle! Twenty million? Thirty million? Or... what do you want? Antiques? Valuables? Property? Just say the word!"

Nüwa shook her head again, her tone still calm. "It is not a matter of price. This object is named 'Xi Rang,' it is where my Dao rhythm resides. Placing it here has its own destiny, it is not an item for transaction."

Where her Dao rhythm resides! It has its own destiny!

Although Zhou Wenyuan didn't fully grasp the meaning of those two words, he understood that in the eyes of this master, the value of the statue was immeasurable by money! It concerned a higher level of "reason" and "connection"!

A wave of immense loss and despair washed over him, and Zhou Wenyuan's face instantly turned ashen. But he wasn't ready to give up. His gaze shifted to the clay crane just completed on the table, as well as several other small animal sculptures. He asked urgently, "Then... then what about these? Master, would you be willing to part with one or two of these works? You can set the price!"

Gazing at Zhou Wenyuan's almost fanatical demeanor, Nüwa sighed softly, "You are fixated on form, yet you miss its spirit. To you, these trinkets are merely another expensive collectible, to be placed in a fine house, stored in a high cabinet, no different from gathering dust? Rather than that, it would be better to leave them here, to nourish this humble abode."

Her words struck Zhou Wenyuan's heart like a morning bell and a dusk drum. He trembled all over, as if struck by lightning, and stared blankly at Nüwa, then at the sculptures exuding a lively Dao rhythm. For a moment, he was speechless.

Yes, was his fervent desire to obtain them truly for appreciating the "Dao" within? Or was it merely to satisfy his possessiveness and the unique vanity of the collecting world? Even if he obtained them, could he truly understand the mysteries they contained? He suspected that in the end, just as the master said, they would only end up gathering dust in a safe.

A sense of enlightenment mixed with immense shame surged into his heart. The excited flush on Zhou Wenyuan's face faded, leaving him looking somewhat pale. He bowed deeply to Nüwa again, his tone becoming incredibly sincere, "Master's guidance is like a refreshing rain, enlightening me. This junior was too focused on the superficial! This junior... is ashamed!"

He straightened up and cast a complex glance at the "Xirang" on the windowsill and the other sculptures on the table. Although his eyes still held undeniable fondness and longing, the frantic possessiveness had significantly diminished.

He pondered for a moment, then took out an exquisitely crafted platinum business card from his pocket and handed it to Lin Fan with both hands. He said solemnly, "Mr. Lin, I apologize for this presumptuous intrusion today. This is my card, with my private contact information. If the master ever has any needs in the future, or... if there are any practice pieces that are not 'so important' and willing to be circulated, please contact me immediately! Zhou thanks you in advance!"

He then bowed respectfully to Nüwa, "Master, this junior takes his leave. If there is an opportunity in the future, I hope to listen to your teachings again."

With that, he no longer lingered and left the rental house with his bodyguard, who wore a look of shock and contemplation.

The door closed, and silence returned to the room.

Lin Fan held the heavy platinum business card, a symbol of immense wealth and connections, feeling as if he had dreamt it all.

Ten million to buy a clay statue... and he was refused...

Who would believe it if he said it?

He looked at Nüwa and gave a wry smile, "Your Grace, ten million... and you just refused it?"

Nüwa picked up the clay crane, examined its posture, and said calmly, "To me, money is no different from dust. Leaving this item here is beneficial for your cultivation, and it nourishes the vitality of this small space. Its value, how can it be measured by money?"

Tong Tian also turned around, glanced at Lin Fan, and said with a hint of mockery, "Mortal wealth is neither brought nor taken away. Clinging to it only adds to one's troubles. Your state of mind still needs tempering."

Lin Fan's old face flushed. He knew he had indeed been momentarily overwhelmed by the "ten million" and lost his composure. He took a deep breath, casually placed the business card on the table, and said solemnly, "This junior has learned his lesson."

He understood that as the existence of the two sages became known to the outside world, similar temptations and shocks would only increase in the future. He had to adjust his mindset quickly and firmly remember his position as a "follower," not to be swayed by worldly wealth and fame.

However, the tree wished for stillness, but the wind would not cease.

Although Zhou Wenyuan was temporarily enlightened by Nuwa and curbed his frantic possessiveness, the respectful yet incredibly eager look in his eyes as he left indicated that he would not give up so easily. And his recognition of Nuwa's "master" status, along with the divine nature of the "Xirang" statue, would likely spread through his channels within certain elite circles.

More importantly, how could Zhou Wenyuan's visit, though low-key, completely escape the surveillance of the official "Dragon Group"?

Less than half an hour after Zhou Wenyuan left, Lin Fan's phone rang. The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number, but Lin Fan had a premonition.

He pressed the answer button, and Chen Jing's familiar voice came through, her tone more serious than usual:

"Mr. Lin Fan, we need to talk. About Zhou Wenyuan who visited you earlier, and the works of the 'master' he mentioned... Additionally, we detected abnormal fluctuations in the special energy field within your residence during Zhou Wenyuan's visit. Please be prepared, along with your two friends, for a more comprehensive inquiry and testing."