A Million Yuan for the Statue

The brief confrontation outside Jiade Art Gallery was like a stone tossed into a deep pool, sending ripples through the seemingly calm surface. Zhou Wenyuan's fixation on the "mysterious lady" he had glimpsed—the ethereal woman with an otherworldly air—far surpassed Lin Fan's expectations.

Over the next two days, Lin Fan keenly noticed that there seemed to be even more "eyes" around his rental. And they weren't just the official-style surveillance from before; there were also some more commercially minded watchers, operating with greater secrecy. He knew Zhou Wenyuan had sent them. The energy of this collector tycoon clearly couldn't be underestimated. Even under strict official surveillance, he had managed to find this place and set up his own network of informants.

This left Lin Fan feeling more pressure than ever. On one side was the Dragon Group (the codename he had privately given Chen Jing's team), representing the will of the state and operating according to rules. On the other was a private force that might be more flexible in its methods and far more single-minded in its aims. His little "shelter" seemed like a lone boat caught in the eye of a storm.

He told Tong Tian and Goddess Nüwa about his concerns.

Tong Tian merely snorted. Sword intent flashed briefly in his eyes. "A bunch of clowns, scurrying about for their own gain. If they dare cross the line, I'll cut them down with a single strike."

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

Goddess Nüwa was much calmer. She was using fresh clay to shape a crane with wings spread as if about to take flight. Her fingers never stopped moving as she replied coolly, "Fame and fortune are shackles; desire is a prison. They cling to external things, unaware that the true treasure is right before them and beyond their recognition. It is pitiable. Lin Fan, be at ease. All they seek is the form of something I made on a whim, not its spirit. If they come with courtesy and sincerity, perhaps a good affinity may come of it. If they harbor ill intent, cause and effect will take its course."

Her words held her understanding of creation and causality. She didn't mind mortals admiring her "works," and she was even willing to speak with them. But they had to approach with reverence and respect, not greed and possessiveness.

Hearing the two sages put Lin Fan's mind at ease. That was true— with these two big shots holding down the fort, there didn't seem to be much to fear unless the state deployed its ultimate force. All he needed to do now was stay calm, deal with the troubles coming one after another, and seize every chance to improve himself.

He practiced the Supreme Clarity Heart-Cleansing Mantra even more diligently. Though he had not managed to draw out that mysterious Innate Qi again, his mind had grown increasingly tranquil, and his spiritual perception had become more acute. He could even vaguely sense the general positions and relative strength of the watchers outside his window.

He also found time to visit the mysterious old man again. The old man's condition was unchanged: dazed and muddled. Aside from thanking Lin Fan for the food and lodging, he shook his head whenever Lin Fan asked him anything else. The three damaged artifacts were still wrapped haphazardly in his old felt blanket, as if he couldn't care less about them. Lin Fan tentatively offered to help him look for his family or investigate his past, but the old man only stared back blankly. This made Lin Fan even more certain that the key to unraveling the old man's mystery probably lay beyond conventional methods.

Two more peaceful—or, rather, outwardly peaceful—days passed. That afternoon, Lin Fan was following a herbal guidebook and trying to combine some ordinary medicinal herbs he had bought into a tea said to "calm the mind and brighten the eyes," hoping the two sages might enjoy it.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door. It was cautious and polite, utterly unlike the official visitors' knocking style.

Lin Fan's heart tightened. He went to the door and looked through the peephole. Two people stood outside. The one in front was none other than Zhou Wenyuan! Today he wore a discreet but exquisitely made dark Zhongshan suit, and his face held a warm, sincere smile. He was carrying an elegant brocade box. Behind him stood a burly man in a black suit, likely his bodyguard and assistant, who was holding a metal case that looked quite heavy.

What was bound to happen had finally happened. And the other party had chosen the most direct approach: a visit in person.

Lin Fan took a deep breath and glanced at Tong Tian and Goddess Nüwa inside. Tong Tian was still browsing something on the computer, as if what was happening outside had nothing to do with him. Goddess Nüwa had just added the final touch to the clay crane's eyes and was wiping her fingers with a damp cloth. Feeling Lin Fan's gaze, she gave a slight nod, signaling that he could handle things himself.

Lin Fan composed himself, straightened his clothes, and opened the door.

"Mr. Zhou?" Lin Fan asked, putting on an appropriately surprised expression. "How did you find this place?"

Seeing Lin Fan, Zhou Wenyuan smiled even more warmly and hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting. "Mr. Lin, I hope you'll forgive me for this unannounced visit! I'm Zhou Wenyuan. I had the good fortune to meet your— to meet this lady at Jiade Art Gallery a few days ago. I've admired her greatly ever since. After going to some trouble, I managed to find your home and came to pay my respects."

He was extremely humble, and his tone was sincere enough to make it hard to dislike him.

Lin Fan stepped aside. "Please come in, Mr. Zhou. My place is humble, so I hope you'll excuse the poor hospitality."

"Not at all," Zhou Wenyuan said repeatedly as he entered with his bodyguard. The moment he stepped into the small rental, his stride faltered. His expression froze, and his breathing grew rapid!

His gaze was immediately drawn to the female statue named "Xirang" on the windowsill!

At Jiade Art Gallery, he had seen the Orchid Grass Painting through glass and under the lights. It had been shocking, but there had still been a barrier between them. Now, standing so close to the Xirang statue, the impact that struck his very soul was more than ten times stronger!

In his eyes, the statue of a woman sculpted from ordinary clay seemed to come alive! Her gentle, compassionate face, the loving kindness in her gaze, the maternal aura that flowed around her, nurturing all things and embracing all life... Zhou Wenyuan felt as if the purest spring water had washed over his soul. All his anxiety, scheming, and desire for fame and fortune vanished in an instant, leaving only profound peace, serenity, and an urge to prostrate himself in worship!

He had spent decades collecting art and seen countless treasures. He had visited countless ancient temples and famous shrines, yet never had any object or divine statue given him a sense of divinity so pure, so lofty, and so close to the source of life!

This... this was no creation that belonged in the mortal world! This was... a miracle!

Though the bodyguard behind him knew nothing about art, he too felt a strange sense of reassurance and awe the moment he entered the room. He instinctively straightened his back and reined in every trace of his presence.

Zhou Wenyuan struggled to tear his gaze away from the Xirang statue. Then he noticed the other little clay animals on the windowsill, the crane on the table, just completed with its wings spread as if about to take flight, and the piles of sketch drafts in the corner that Goddess Nüwa used for practice...

Every single one! Each one gave off its own faint, distinctive Dao rhythm! Some were serene, others lively, elegant, or profound! They seemed to be arranged casually, yet together they formed a unique, harmonious "field" that transformed the cramped, shabby room into a sanctuary far removed from the clamor of the world!

Zhou Wenyuan's heart pounded wildly, his blood surged, and his face flushed with excitement. Before, he had only suspected. Now he was a hundred percent certain: the lady he had met at Jiade Art Gallery was a true "god of art," someone who couldn't be measured by ordinary standards. No, perhaps even calling her an "artist" was sacrilege! She was the embodiment of the Dao, the source of beauty!

His gaze immediately locked onto Goddess Nüwa, who was sitting by the table and gently wiping clay from her fingertips with a damp cloth. She still wore a hat and glasses, along with a plain dress, but in Zhou Wenyuan's eyes, a hazy holy light seemed to envelop her!

He took a deep breath, forcing down the excitement that nearly burst from his chest. Then he stepped forward and bowed deeply to Goddess Nüwa, his manner utterly humble.

"This junior Zhou Wenyuan has come uninvited to pay his respects to the master! When I saw the master's casual work, the Orchid Grass Painting, at Jiade Art Gallery a few days ago, I was astounded by its divine beauty and shaken to my very soul! Only today, after seeing the master's residence and witnessing so many divine works with my own eyes, have I realized that I was no better than a frog in a well, oblivious to the vulgar things I'd collected! The master's path can no longer be encompassed by the word 'art'; it is close to the Dao. I... I..." Overcome with emotion, he stumbled over his words, unable for a moment to express the reverence and shock in his heart.

Goddess Nüwa stopped wiping and raised her eyes to look at Zhou Wenyuan calmly. "You praise me too highly. They are merely casual doodles and clay playthings. I am undeserving of the title 'master,' let alone being close to the Dao."

Her tone was natural and even. There wasn't the slightest hint of humility or pride, as if she were stating the most ordinary fact.

But to Zhou Wenyuan, this only confirmed that Goddess Nüwa was a transcendent expert. Only someone who had truly risen above the mortal world could speak so casually about such astonishing "divine works" of her own!

"The master is so modest. This junior is impressed!" Zhou Wenyuan said, growing even more respectful. He lifted the elegant brocade box in both hands and carefully opened it. Inside was the Orchid Grass Painting that had caused a sensation at Jiade Art Gallery! "This junior took the liberty of withdrawing the master's Orchid Grass Painting from the auction and returning it to its rightful owner. For such a divine work to be put on the market and bid on by vulgar people would be a desecration."

Lin Fan watched from the side, his eyelid twitching. Good grief, he had pulled it from the auction? Zhou Wenyuan's influence and resolve really were formidable!

Goddess Nüwa glanced at the painting and nodded. "You were thoughtful." Then she said nothing more, as if the painting truly meant nothing to her.

Seeing this, Zhou Wenyuan grew even more certain. He took a deep breath and stated the real purpose of his visit. Pointing to the Xirang statue on the windowsill, he spoke with a tremor in his voice and boundless yearning.

"Master, this junior... has an unreasonable request! This junior... would like to ask you to part with this statue!" He paused, as if making a tremendous resolve, then named an amount that nearly made Lin Fan bite his tongue. "I'm willing to offer... five million! No! Ten million yuan! I'd like to buy this statue!"

Ten million!!!

Lin Fan's mind went "buzz," and everything went blank! He knew that Goddess Nüwa's statue was extraordinary and held Dao rhythm, but... ten million?! It was just a statue made from clay that cost a few dozen yuan! Sure, it really did have the miraculous effect of calming the mind and clearing the air, but that price was utterly outrageous! Was Zhou Wenyuan crazy?!

Even Tong Tian, who had kept his back to the door and seemed indifferent to everything, briefly paused his fingers over the keyboard.

At that, Goddess Nüwa finally raised her eyes again and studied Zhou Wenyuan. A faint note of pity appeared in her gaze. She shook her head. "This object is not for sale."

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

Zhou Wenyuan panicked and hurriedly said, "Master! Is the price not to your liking? Name your price! As long as it's within my means, I won't bargain! Twenty million? Thirty million? Or... what would you like? Antiques? Rare treasures? Property? Just name it!"

Goddess Nüwa shook her head again, her tone as calm as before. "It is not a matter of price. This object is named Xirang, and it holds my Dao rhythm. It was placed here for a reason. It is not something to be traded."

It held her Dao rhythm! It was here for a reason!

Though Zhou Wenyuan didn't fully understand the meaning of those terms, he understood that in this master's eyes, the statue's value couldn't be measured in money! It was tied to some higher principle and affinity!

An immense sense of loss and despair surged through him, and his face turned ashen. But he still couldn't give up. His gaze shifted to the newly finished clay crane on the table and the other little animal statues. He asked urgently, "Th-then what about these? Master, would you be willing to part with a few of these works? You can name your price!"

Goddess Nüwa looked at Zhou Wenyuan's near-mad expression and sighed softly. "You cling to the form and lose sight of the spirit. To you, these playthings would be nothing more than expensive collectibles, placed in a grand house and shut away on a high shelf. How is that any different from leaving them to gather dust? They would be better off staying here, nourishing this humble room."

Her words rang through Zhou Wenyuan's heart like the morning bell and evening drum. His whole body shuddered as if struck by lightning. He stared blankly at Goddess Nüwa, then at the statues, which radiated a lively Dao rhythm, and for a moment he was speechless.

Yes. Was he so intent on acquiring them because he truly wanted to appreciate the Dao within them? Or was it just to satisfy his possessiveness and vanity over owning something unique in the collecting world? Even if he obtained them, could he truly understand the mysteries they contained? In the end, as the master had said, he would probably just leave those "divine works" gathering dust in a vault.

A flash of understanding mingled with overwhelming shame welled up in him. The flush of excitement drained from Zhou Wenyuan's face, leaving him pale. He bowed deeply to Goddess Nüwa again, his voice now utterly sincere. "Your guidance has been like having my mind washed clean. This junior was too fixated on appearances. I... am ashamed!"

He straightened and looked once more at the Xirang statue on the windowsill and the other statues on the table. His eyes still held unmistakable affection and longing, but the frenzied possessiveness had faded considerably.

After a moment's thought, he took an exquisitely crafted platinum business card from his pocket and handed it to Lin Fan with both hands. "Mr. Lin, I'm truly sorry for imposing on you today. This is my card, with my private contact information. If the master ever needs anything—or if she has any 'unimportant' practice works she's willing to let circulate—please contact me right away! I'd like to thank you in advance."

He bowed respectfully to Goddess Nüwa again. "Master, this junior will take his leave. I hope I may have the good fortune to hear your guidance again someday."

With that, he didn't linger. He left the rental with his bodyguard, who looked just as shocked and contemplative as he did.

The door closed, and the room fell quiet again.

Lin Fan held the weighty platinum business card, a symbol of immense wealth and connections, and felt as if he had just woken from a dream.

Ten million for a clay statue... and he'd been turned down...

Who would believe that if he told them?

He looked at Goddess Nüwa and gave a wry smile. "Your Ladyship, ten million... and you turned him down just like that?"

Goddess Nüwa picked up the clay crane and examined its posture. "To me, money is no different from dust. Keeping this here benefits your cultivation and nurtures life within this tiny space. How could its value be measured in money?"

Tong Tian turned around and glanced at Lin Fan, his tone tinged with mockery. "Mortal wealth comes neither with you in life nor goes with you in death. Clinging to it only brings needless trouble. You still have much to do to temper your state of mind."

Lin Fan's face reddened. He knew he had indeed lost his composure at the mention of "ten million." He took a deep breath, set the card on the table, and said solemnly, "This junior has learned his lesson."

He understood that as outsiders gradually learned of the two sages' existence, there would only be more temptations and shocks in the future. He had to adjust his attitude as soon as possible and firmly remember his place as their "follower." He couldn't let mortal wealth and fame sway him.

Yet the tree wished for stillness while the wind would not cease.

Though Zhou Wenyuan had temporarily been awakened by Goddess Nüwa's words and reined in his frenzied possessiveness, the reverent yet fervent look in his eyes as he left showed he would never simply give up. His belief that Goddess Nüwa was a "master," along with the supernatural nature of the Xirang statue, would likely spread quietly through his connections among certain elite circles.

More importantly, Zhou Wenyuan's visit had been discreet, but how could it have entirely escaped the official Dragon Group's surveillance?

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 feeling.

He answered, and Chen Jing's familiar voice came through, more serious than before.

"Mr. Lin Fan, we need to talk. About Zhou Wenyuan's visit just now, and the works of the 'master' he mentioned... Also, we detected an abnormal fluctuation in the special energy field at your residence while Zhou Wenyuan was there. Please prepare yourself and your two friends for more comprehensive questioning and testing."