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The person known as "Dragon Lord," Ma Fulong, is 45 years old. In his youth, he was a passionate warrior who fought many battles on the streets of Chang'an.
His left eye was blinded in an incident years ago, and the eyeball was removed. Now, he has a jade prosthetic eye that looks luxurious but also quite intimidating.
There is a long scar on the left side of his face that runs from the corner of his eye down to his chin, marking the rugged years of his youth.
Now, Ma Fulong has long since stopped engaging in violent activities.
However, he commands over a hundred henchmen and is undoubtedly a significant figure in Chang'an, operating in both the legal and illegal realms. Most people would think twice before crossing him.
The establishment run by Ma Fulong, Treasure Hall, appears to be an antique shop on the surface, but underneath, it operates as a hub for black market dealings.
Anyone looking to sell valuable items knows to come to Ma Fulong for assistance in finding buyers.
While items sold through this channel may be heavily discounted, the advantage lies in safety; no one will question where these items came from.
As long as Ma Fulong deems an item worthy of purchase, it will surely find a buyer.
However, if even Ma Fulong won't take an item, it's likely that it will end up stuck with someone who can't sell it.
The damaged vermilion red Five Dragons Seizing the Pearl Shoushan Stone Carving brought to Ma Fulong by Chen Zao and Jindeli is not considered dangerous.
Yet for Ma Fulong, this stone carving is quite special.
He immediately recognized it as the Shoushan Stone Carving he sold to Big Crab in Gubei Town eight years ago. How did it end up in the hands of these two?
Considering that Jindeli came from Gubei Town, Ma Fulong suspected that they might have stolen it from Big Crab.
On the surface, Ma Fulong remained composed and made an excuse for a professional to come take a look at it. He then went to the back office and called Big Crab to get to the bottom of the matter.
Big Crab did not answer Chen Zao's call because he looked down on him.
Seeing that Ma Fulong, such a big troublemaker, was calling him, Big Crab hurriedly picked up the phone: "Hello, Dragon Lord? What brings you to call me today?"
"I have a few nice items here; if you have time, come over and take a look."
"Sure, I'll make time next week to come by and have a couple of drinks with you. If there are good items, I'll take them directly."
"Also, I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Do you still have that vermilion Shoushan Stone Carving you bought from me back then?"
"It's in my shop. That Stone Carving is the treasure of our Dining Hall. Ever since I bought it, the business has been booming. Thanks to your guidance, Dragon Lord. When I come by next week, I'll make sure to thank you properly."
"Are you sure that Stone Carving is still in your shop?"
"I'm sure. I'm in the shop right now; what's up?"
"Is that Stone Carving in front of you?"
"It's not in front of me; it's in the Swan Room. It hasn't been moved."
"Go check the private room and confirm if that Stone Carving is still there."
Big Crab was confused by Ma Fulong, but obediently went up to the second floor Swan Room. He arrived in front of the precious Stone Carving, which was covered by a crystal dome, and said to Ma Fulong: "It's here, right in front of me, covered by the crystal dome you gave me. Shouldn't we change the position of this Stone Carving?"
"There's no need to change it, just leave it as is. That Stone Carving hasn't been moved, right?"
"It hasn't been moved."
"Alright, I understand."
"What's up, Dragon Lord? Is there something going on?"
"There is a bit of a situation. You'll find out when you come by my shop next week."
"Got it, I'll definitely stop by next week."
After hanging up with Big Crab, Ma Fulong rubbed his jade-like eyes, feeling quite puzzled.
From what Big Crab said, that Stone Carving must not have been lost. Such a heavy object would indeed be very difficult to misplace.
So where did this Stone Carving in his Antique Shop come from?
This is too strange!
The Stone Carving belonging to Big Crab was borrowed nine years ago from a local businessman in Chang'an who came to Ma Fulong for a high-interest loan and left it as collateral.
This piece was made from precious stone material that the businessman obtained from a Shoushan Stone Quarry in the south at the end of the 1990s, and then he commissioned a Stone Carving Master to sculpt it, making it extremely valuable.
Such Stone Carvings are designed based on the original stone's shape, making it nearly impossible for two large Stone Carvings to be identical.
Unless that original stone was symmetrical and then split into two, resulting in two almost identical works.
If that's the case, then this pair of Stone Carvings could be worth a fortune!
You must know that there are no two identical leaves in this world.
And there are certainly no two identical large raw Stone Carvings!
If two such similar large Stone Carvings were to appear, they would undoubtedly form a priceless treasure!
Years ago, Ma Fulong appraised a Stone Carving brought over by an entrepreneur at 10,000. He lent that entrepreneur 50,000 at high interest.
Later, that entrepreneur ran away, and Ma Fulong took the Stone Carving as repayment for the debt.
After a quick transaction, Ma Fulong sold the Stone Carving to Big Crab for 150,000.
These were prices from years ago.
Now, with the market for Stone Carving crafts booming, the price of Big Crab's Stone Carving has long since doubled. Once it enters the craft collectibles market, it could easily sell for 30 million; if it takes longer, selling for 40 to 50 million is also possible!
Now this Stone Carving has surprisingly produced a miraculous twin.
If this new twin Stone Carving can be restored and sold together with Big Crab's piece as a pair, selling this rare pair of twin Stone Carvings for 100 million wouldn't be surprising at all!
Ma Fulong never expected that this chubby guy from Gubei Town could bring him such a rare item.
At first, he thought this chubby guy was just a delivery man for a gold smuggling gang and didn't take him seriously at all.
Now it seems he underestimated him.
This fat man, along with the newcomer known as the Black Giant, is clearly not an ordinary person.
You can tell just by the scent they carry.
Ma Fulong engages in black market dealings and often interacts with various Tomb Raiders teams.
These Tomb Raiders have spent years robbing graves and dealing with Yin Officials, which leaves them with a heavy aura of negativity. No matter how much they wash or dress up, there is still a distinct musty odor embedded in their skin. Different factions of Tomb Raiders have slightly different scents.
However, anyone with that musty, strange smell is undoubtedly a Tomb Raider.
Ma Fulong finds the smells on Chen Zao and Jindeli quite peculiar—an inexplicable fishy stench mixed with a damp, moldy sensation.
It seems they have just come out of a tomb without even washing up.
He has no idea where these two came from, but they don't seem like good company.
Especially the Black Giant, who gives off an impression of silence; it’s all fat talk, but his gaze is exceptionally sharp, hiding an undeniable killing intent. He must have engaged in plenty of violent activities.
Ma Fulong is not keen on provoking such Desperados. It's not that he can't handle them; he simply feels it's unnecessary to stir trouble.
Everyone is after wealth; why resort to violence?
This Twin Shoushan Stone Carving is something Ma Fulong must acquire. As for the price, he will need to negotiate carefully with these two who seem inexperienced in this field.
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