84: Picture in picture, Embroidered Spring Knife

To get on a boat, they charge by the head, one thousand per person. They're quite ruthless.

Su Can raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "These people must have forces backing them, right?"

"That's right."

Hong Lei replied in a low voice, "The people on these boats all come from one force, called the Boat Gang, also known as the Caobang."

"The Boat Gang's influence is widespread; they can be found almost everywhere there are rivers and waterways across the country!"

"These people are very mysterious; few know their true identities. In every city, there's almost always a Boat Boss, who are said to be martial artists, and their strength is not weak!"

"Especially the Boat Gang leader, no one has ever seen him. They only know that his strength is astonishing, that he is a Martial Arts Grandmaster, so very few people or forces dare to provoke the Boat Gang!"

"Of course, the Boat Gang members are also very trustworthy and principled. Whether in Jiang City or He City, no matter what astonishing treasure you acquire, they will not covet it or engage in black-on-black dealings. This is also their way of survival!"

After listening to Hong Lei's account, Su Can became quite interested in this so-called Boat Gang.

After all, it's an ancient organization that has been passed down from the Caobang. Leaving aside wealth, the treasures it must possess are surely beyond imagination.

The boat arrived.

Hong Lei took out his phone and scanned a QR code, paying two thousand.

The two calmly stepped onto the boat.

The boatman was very experienced; it was a sculling boat, neither fast nor slow, very steady.

After about ten minutes, at a bend in the river, a large expanse of reeds appeared.

The boatman glanced at it, then suddenly sped up. Soon, after many twists and turns, the view in front of them suddenly opened up.

They saw a wide open area in the center of a large reed marsh, with many boats floating on it.

People were either standing or sitting on each boat; some were looking at items, others were chatting and bargaining, presenting a bustling market scene.

"Gentlemen, He City has arrived!"

The boatman said, "Next, I will slow down. If you see anything interesting on any boat, you can tell me, and I will stop."

"Also, let me state that our Boat Gang is only responsible for transportation, not for resolving disputes. So, if a conflict arises, you two can only rely on your own abilities!"

"Every year during He City, there are quite a few conflicts, and eventually, bodies are buried in the river. So, everyone, please try to prioritize peace and harmony to make money!"

"I understand!"

Hong Lei nodded, while Su Can remained impassive, standing on the boat with his hands behind his back, saying nothing.

"Alright then."

The boatman nodded slightly, set up a hanging lamp at the bow, and slowly steered into the midst of the passing boats.

"Young Master, you should take a good look later to see if there's anything that catches your eye. If you like something, we'll board the boat and negotiate the price."

As the small boat slowly moved, Hong Lei leaned closer to Su Can and whispered.

"Okay, I got it."

Su Can's eyes were bright, showing a hint of interest as he surveyed the passing boats.

Soon, two people bargaining on a small boat caught his attention.

There were two people, one a seller, the other a buyer.

The boat was like a street stall, with the seller displaying a dozen items.

These items were all antique, including jade curios, ancient calligraphy, and paintings, quite a complete collection.

The two were currently bargaining over an old painting that looked quite ancient.

The buyer was a man in his early thirties, who seemed to like the painting and offered fifty thousand.

But the seller insisted it was an ancestral painting, that he was only selling it because of a family emergency, but he wouldn't take less than two hundred thousand.

The two were haggling!

Out of curiosity, Su Can's spiritual sense stirred and swept over them.

"Oh?"

Su Can's expression immediately changed. Under the scan of his spiritual sense, there was actually an ancient painting hidden within that old painting.

"Painting within a painting!!"

Su Can's spirits immediately lifted. In such a situation, it was definitely a hidden gem.

Moreover, to hide a real painting with another old one indicated that the value of this painting was absolutely extremely high.

Su Can's spirits immediately lifted. Finding a hidden gem, only he knew how secretly thrilled he was by this feeling.

"What's wrong, Young Master?"

Hong Lei noticed Su Can's abnormality and couldn't help but ask, then followed his gaze.

"Is Young Master also interested in that painting?" Hong Lei's eyes lit up, and he quickly told the boatman to stop the boat.

Su Can smiled faintly and said, "Watching them bargain is quite interesting; it makes me feel a bit eager to try."

"No problem, Young Master. As long as you like it, I'll take care of the rest."

Hong Lei looked even happier than Su Can. Being able to spend money and effort for Su Can was his purpose for this trip.

Otherwise, how could he solidify his relationship with a Hua Jin Martial Artist?

Su Can could not fail to see his intention, but he merely smiled without speaking, his gaze fixed on the two with great interest.

When the seller saw that someone else was paying attention to them, he became even more resolute, firmly stating, "Sorry, this calligraphy and painting is an heirloom of mine. I will absolutely not sell it for less than two hundred thousand!"

"One hundred thousand! I'll add fifty thousand more for you. Do you think that's acceptable? Honestly, your calligraphy and painting has no origin, it's just old, and the brushwork is indeed good, which is why I'm willing to pay for it and intend to collect it myself. Otherwise..."

The man shook his head repeatedly, not finishing his sentence.

But the seller still insisted, "One hundred thousand won't do either. I told you, I won't sell it for less than two hundred thousand!"

"You, you're truly unyielding. Fine, fine, I'll add another twenty thousand, one hundred and twenty thousand. How about that?"

The man still wanted to try and get it, to pay for his liking.

"Two hundred thousand, not a penny less!!"

The seller also became a bit impatient, and rolled up the painting, saying, "Forget it, you can't even offer two hundred thousand. I'm not selling this painting to you anymore."

The man also snorted coldly, "If that's the case, then forget it. An unknown painting, one hundred and twenty thousand is already an inflated price. If you don't sell it, just keep it yourself!"

With that, the man turned and got off the boat.

"Keep it then, keep it!" the seller said somewhat defiantly.

"Let's go, it's our turn to make an appearance."

Su Can smiled faintly and said to Hong Lei.

The latter quickly had the boatman approach, and the two successfully boarded the boat.

Su Can went straight to the point, "I'm also interested in your painting. You said it's an heirloom of yours, is that true or false?"

"Of course it's true. My ancestors even produced a Jinyiwei Hundred-Household! Look at this blade pressing down on the stall, isn't it an xiuchun blade?"

The seller snorted, saying somewhat proudly.

At the same time, he reached out and lifted a somewhat rusty blade, then placed it back on the stall.

"Hmm?"

It wasn't until this moment that Su Can noticed the blade. It was a blade without a scabbard. From its style, it indeed looked like an xiuchun blade, but it was too rusty.

However, Su Can still instinctively swept his spiritual sense over it.

Buzz...

As his mental power touched the rusty blade, a faint aura of malevolence assailed him, causing Su Can's heart to stir slightly.