“Clang!”
The picture frame shattered.
With a “crash,” glass shards scattered across the floor.
Xu Zhiming, startled by Ye Qiu’s action, asked, “Xiao Ye, what are you doing?”
“Uncle Xu, there’s something wrong with this painting,” Ye Qiu said.
Xu Zhiming hurried to the ancient painting, looked at it briefly, and asked, “What’s wrong with it?”
Ye Qiu said, “Uncle Xu, touch the painting with your hand.”
Xu Zhiming extended his fingers, lightly brushing the painting.
Instantly, a chill seeped into his skin, as if he were touching not a painting but a block of ice.
“Why is it so cold?”
Realising something, Xu Zhiming asked, “Could it be yin energy?”
Ye Qiu nodded slightly.
When he smashed the frame earlier, he had felt a strong wave of deathly energy rush towards him.
Xu Zhiming, more puzzled, asked, “How could there be deathly energy on an ancient painting?”
Ye Qiu said, “If I’m not mistaken, this painting was likely taken from an ancient tomb, and not just any tomb, but a malevolent one.”
Xu Zhiming was stunned, “A malevolent tomb?”
Seeing his confusion, Ye Qiu explained, “A tomb where many people died.”
That made sense.
Xu Zhiming seemed to recall something and said, “But that’s odd. Normal paintings couldn’t survive centuries in a tomb. Even if preserved, they’d oxidise upon contact with air. Why is this painting completely undamaged?”
“Uncle Xu, when you touched the painting, apart from feeling the cold, didn’t you notice anything else?” Ye Qiu said, “This painting isn’t made of paper.”
Xu Zhiming touched it again, surprised, “It feels a bit like cloth?”
Ye Qiu nodded, “You’re right, Uncle Xu. It’s a special kind of cloth.”
“This cloth is tough, very thin, and feels like paper. Paintings on this material can last a thousand years without damage.”
“It’s rare, likely only affordable by ancient nobility or high officials.”
Xu Zhiming asked, “Then this painting must be incredibly valuable?”
“Mm,” Ye Qiu affirmed, “This painting could sell for millions, maybe even tens of millions.”
Xu Zhiming, pointing to the dozen or so other paintings on the wall, said, “What about them…”
“They likely came from the same tomb as this one, all carrying deathly energy,” Ye Qiu asked, “Uncle Xu, how long have these paintings been hanging in the bedroom?”
“They were hung up a few days ago,” Xu Zhiming said, “A few days back, my father hosted a banquet at home with many guests.”
“Almost every guest brought him a gift.”
“These paintings were a gift. My father loved them so much that the day after the banquet, he had them hung in his bedroom.”
“Xiao Ye, why are you asking this?”
“Could my father’s illness be related to these paintings?”
Ye Qiu nodded.
“These paintings carry heavy deathly energy. Let alone someone as old as Old Mr. Xu, even a young, robust person like me would fall gravely ill after staying in this room too long.”
“Uncle Xu, do you know who gave these paintings to Old Mr. Xu?”
Ye Qiu suspected the giver had ill intentions.
“Speaking of which, you know the person who gave my father these paintings,” Xu Zhiming said.
Ye Qiu was slightly surprised, “I know them? Could it be Li Zhengxi?”
“Exactly him!”
Xu Zhiming said, “Not long ago, didn’t Li Zhengxi go to China to compete with you in medicine? In the end, fearing for his life, he called my father, hoping he could intervene to save him.”
“My father, knowing you and Changjin were acquainted, asked Changjin to reach out to you. He also contacted high-ranking officials in the Chinese military.”
“After losing the competition, Li Zhengxi returned to Korea and attended the banquet that very night, gifting these paintings to my father.”
Ye Qiu sneered, “These paintings are worth at least a hundred million. For Li Zhengxi to give them away, he’s quite generous.”
Xu Zhiming said, “Li Zhengxi is cunning. He gave my father these paintings for a reason.”
“First, my father saved his life, so he wanted to repay the favour.”
“Second, he knows my father loves collecting, so gifting paintings was catering to his tastes.”
“Third, he wanted to strengthen his ties with my father.”
Ye Qiu suddenly said, “Uncle Xu, have you considered that Li Zhengxi might have a fourth motive?”
Xu Zhiming paused, “A fourth motive? What’s that?”
“Perhaps Li Zhengxi intended to harm Old Mr. Xu,” Ye Qiu said.
Xu Zhiming shook his head, “That’s impossible.”
“Li Zhengxi is clever. Though he’s Korea’s medical saint, he knows that harming my father would be a death sentence.”
“Besides, he gave these paintings to my father in front of all the guests. If my father died because of them, he’d be the prime suspect.”
“Li Zhengxi is so afraid of death, he wouldn’t do something so foolish.”
Ye Qiu found Xu Zhiming’s reasoning sound.
“Uncle Xu, these paintings will only worsen Old Mr. Xu’s condition. They should be dealt with,” Ye Qiu said.
Xu Zhiming called out, “Someone, come here.”
Two security guards immediately entered.
Xu Zhiming ordered, “Take all the paintings off the wall and burn them.”
Ye Qiu was astonished. As expected of a top-tier wealthy family, burning paintings worth over a hundred million without batting an eye.
After the guards removed the paintings, Ye Qiu noticeably felt the yin energy in the bedroom lighten.
He checked Xu Yuanzheng’s pulse again.
Soon, Ye Qiu frowned once more.
He found that even with the paintings gone, Xu Yuanzheng’s condition hadn’t improved, and the cause of his illness remained elusive.
“Strange, every illness has a cause. Why can’t I find Old Mr. Xu’s?”
Ye Qiu activated his Heavenly Eye, his gaze penetrating Xu Yuanzheng’s skin to examine his organs.
Everything was normal.
“What a pity the old man isn’t here. Otherwise, I could have him divine a reading, and we might find a clue.”
Ye Qiu sighed inwardly.
Just then, Song Huixian’s voice came from outside, “Zhiming, Li Zhengxi and Li Minghan are here.”
“What are they doing here?” Xu Zhiming asked.
Song Huixian replied, “Li Zhengxi says he’s found the cause of Father’s illness and has a way to treat him.”
“Oh?” Xu Zhiming was surprised, “Did Li Zhengxi say what the cause is?”
“He said he wants to tell you in person,” Song Huixian said, “Zhiming, go meet Li Zhengxi.”
Xu Zhiming said, “Huixian, have Li Zhengxi come here.”
“Alright,” Song Huixian left.
Hearing their conversation, Ye Qiu was skeptical. Even I haven’t found the cause yet. Could Li Zhengxi really have?
It sounds unreliable.
