After settling things with Ming Wen and watching him leave, I immediately took Cheng Minglang and Han Jinlun to the Tianshan Hotel opposite the club to meet with Zhu Wenjing.
At the same time, we were ready to inspect the goods.
Because Shen Mengqing had shown me a photo when she provided the clue about the Qianwang Ling, the moment I opened the wooden box containing the Qianwang Ling…
I immediately realized that this Qianwang Ling had a problem!
Taking out my phone, I opened the color photo Shen Mengqing had sent earlier. After comparing it carefully with the Qianwang Ling in my hand, I said with a cold face, "This Qianwang Ling… is fake!"
"Fake!?"
Hearing this, Cheng Minglang and Han Jinlun were stunned on the spot.
As for Zhu Wenjing, who had just joined the team, she looked at the three of us with a bewildered expression, as she didn't know the background.
I remained silent, narrowing my eyes and began to recall everything about the Qianwang Ling and the events of the evening…
There was a rumor that after deciding to hold the first Qianwang Competition in '79, Mr. He, the casino tycoon of Haojiang, had spent a fortune to hire a skilled craftsman to create the Qianwang Ling he envisioned.
Even the specialized craftsmen were hired with huge sums and non-disclosure agreements. How could the materials used for the Qianwang Ling be comparable to ordinary scrap metal?
To put it bluntly, a gold plaque bestowed by an ancient emperor might not have been made of as precious materials as the Qianwang Ling!
After all, this unique Qianwang Ling, which was updated every ten years, was endowed with supreme authority that was difficult to describe in words by Mr. He, a legendary figure in Haojiang's gambling circles!
It could generate billions in wealth, and describing the Qianwang Ling as "priceless" was most fitting and appropriate!
But the 18k gold plating on the Qianwang Ling in my hand was too damn dazzling!
Even if there was a color difference between the photo and the actual object, it shouldn't be this ridiculously far off, right?
As long as one wasn't blind, they would immediately see that the person who plated this fake Qianwang Ling with 18k gold had skilled hands, and had done it many times!
After confirming that the Qianwang Ling in my hand was a counterfeit, I gradually shifted my suspicion to Ming Wen.
However, regarding Ming Wen, I could first confirm that he absolutely, absolutely had not tampered with the box containing the Qianwang Ling before handing it over to me.
Because the box was already locked, and I had just forced it open with external force.
Even if Ming Wen, who was most skilled at picking locks, needed time to fiddle with it.
But from beginning to end, his every move was under our watchful eyes.
Moreover, I had told him to steal the box, but I hadn't mentioned anything about what was inside the box.
Even if he had malicious intentions and wanted to keep the box for himself, he couldn't have replicated it without having seen the photos of the box and the Qianwang Ling beforehand.
Therefore, I first cleared Ming Wen of suspicion.
After ruling out Ming Wen's act of swapping the item, there was only one possibility left.
That was that Yun Luo might have already made preparations shortly after Yun Jin transferred the Qianwang Ling!
Substituting the fake for the real!
Thinking about it, this possibility was the highest.
After all, where there's wind, there's movement; where there's talk, there's leakage. There really is no wall that is completely impenetrable!
From Yun Luo's perspective, the Qianwang Ling was of great importance, and it was never wrong to be cautious.
The more I thought about it, the more likely it seemed!
After all, the operation tonight was too smooth!
Even though I was prepared, it was unlikely that Yun Luo wouldn't have made any countermeasures, right?
So, in the end, my conclusion was: I had been tricked!
I was tricked by Yun Luo's foresight, and my efforts were in vain, falling directly into a trap!
The advantage I had finally gained was lost with a fake Qianwang Ling.
Not only that, but after this alarm, the difficulty of finding the Qianwang Ling again would surely double!
…
Emerging from my deep thought, I stood there in a daze, as if struck by lightning, silent.
At this moment, I couldn't help but fantasize in my heart, if only I had done proper due diligence beforehand…
But even then, it probably wouldn't have helped!
The Qianwang Ling was a matter of great importance, and Yun Luo, as the temporary custodian, would not easily reveal this information to anyone.
So, as long as someone came with news from Wenzhou, this minefield had to be stepped on!
It was just that I had stepped on it first.
Next, if Yu Shuang successfully dealt with Yun Jin, I might not have any chance to turn the tables!
Slightly dazed, I sat down and lit a cigarette, wanting to use it to buffer myself.
After taking two or three puffs, feeling like I couldn't continue, I directly extinguished the cigarette butt with my bare hand.
The Qianmen Lan Dao was truly treacherous and unpredictable.
It was like the Amazon rainforest, filled with poisonous creatures and wild beasts.
When walking in the Amazon rainforest, one must be extremely careful, not making any mistakes.
Because as soon as you make a mistake or are careless, even the most inconspicuous little thing can take your life!
In the Amazon rainforest, the roles of prey and predator could change at any time.
The Qianmen Lan Dao was the same.
I thought I was the hunter and Yun Luo was the prey, but the reality was the opposite!
This round of the chess game against Yun Luo ended in my complete defeat.
To turn the tables, I had to wait for the next round.
However, given Yun Luo's current passive defensive stance, she wouldn't give me an opportunity.
Therefore, I still had to find a way through Yun Jin.
I had a very strong premonition that if I couldn't regain the clue to the Qianwang Ling before Yu Shuang dealt with Yun Jin…
Then, essentially, there would be no more chances!
After figuring everything out, I immediately decided to rush back to Wenzhou overnight.
To intercept Yun Jin!
…
Upon returning to Wenzhou, in order to quickly ascertain Yun Jin's whereabouts, I decided to split into two groups.
I took Han Jinlun and drove to Wenzhou Port, planning to intercept her when she disembarked or came ashore the next day.
As for Cheng Minglang and Zhu Wenjing, they took a taxi to Jin Chun Tea House, where Yun Jin often had dim sum, and also staked out the hotel opposite the tea house.
That night, Han Jinlun and I didn't go anywhere or rest, and we stayed in the car, staking out all night.
The next morning.
Early in the morning, while I was still groggy, I was immediately awakened by the sound of a car starting in the parking lot.
Then I saw Shen Mengqing's black Porsche suddenly start and drive out of the parking lot.
Seeing this, I immediately woke up Han Jinlun, who was lying on his back in the driver's seat, fast asleep, and said, "Follow Shen Mengqing's car!"