Zhuo Yu Feng Yang Chapter 11
byChapter 11 Tiger’s Test
The next morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and a thin layer of frost still clung to the flagstones of Antique Street.
The moment the door of Xianyun Studio was pulled open just a crack, the sound of deliberately muffled footsteps echoed from the alley entrance. Jiang Zhuo paused, his fingertips resting on the door panel, his eyes chilling slightly.
He didn’t rush to open the door, instead peering out through the gap.
A black van was parked at the alley entrance, its door ajar. He could vaguely see two stern-faced men sitting inside. Standing at the shop entrance was a middle-aged man in a gray jacket, holding a heavy wooden box. He was furtively sizing up the Xianyun Studio sign.
Jiang Zhuo recognized this person. He was one of Tiger’s runners, surnamed Ma, nicknamed Rat Ma, who specialized in schemes like poaching clients and gathering intelligence.
Jiang Zhuo pulled the door open, his face expressionless: “Can I help you?”
Rat Ma was startled by the sudden question. When he saw Jiang Zhuo, he immediately plastered on a fawning smile: “Boss Jiang, morning! Tiger heard you’ve been doing well on Antique Street recently, so he specifically sent me to bring something over, to make friends.”
As he spoke, he offered the wooden box forward.
Jiang Zhuo didn’t take it, his gaze fixed on the box. The system prompt instantly sounded:
Ding—Item detected: Qing Dynasty imitation Ru ware tripod washer, modern aging, bottom embedded with a listening device
Risk Alert: This is a test from Tiger, intended to monitor your words and actions, and to probe the background of Xianyun Studio
A cold sneer touched Jiang Zhuo’s lips. Tiger was playing a clever game, sending an “antique” that was rigged. He wanted to test Jiang Zhuo’s depth and plant an informant.
“I appreciate Tiger’s kindness,” Jiang Zhuo took a step back, clearly signaling his refusal. “Xianyun Studio is a small business; I can’t afford gifts from big shots.”
The smile on Rat Ma’s face stiffened, but his tone remained obsequious: “What are you saying, Boss Jiang? Tiger just sees you as a genuine person and wants to be friends. If you don’t accept it, I won’t be able to report back, will I?”
As he spoke, he tried to force the wooden box inside.
Jiang Zhuo’s eyes sharpened. He raised his hand and pressed the edge of the wooden box. The force was light, yet it rendered Rat Ma immobile. “Brother Ma,” his voice was cold as ice, “you should be clear about Old Hei’s fate. If Tiger wants to make friends, I fear it will shorten my life.”
Rat Ma’s face instantly turned pale. The news of Old Hei’s arrest had spread throughout Antique Street. He knew Jiang Zhuo was connected to Lu Chen, and he knew this young man was trouble, but he dared not disobey Tiger’s orders.
“Boss Jiang, you’re being too uncooperative…” Rat Ma’s voice weakened slightly.
“Cooperative?” Jiang Zhuo scoffed. “If Tiger truly cared about cooperation, he wouldn’t send you over with such a ‘rigged’ item.”
He deliberately emphasized the words “rigged.”
Rat Ma’s pupils contracted violently, and his gaze toward Jiang Zhuo was filled with terror. He never expected Jiang Zhuo to see through the trick in the wooden box instantly.
“Boss Jiang, you—you must be joking…” Rat Ma’s voice began to tremble.
“I never joke.” Jiang Zhuo released the box and stepped back two paces. “Take the item back. Tell Tiger that the door of Xianyun Studio is not open to just any riff-raff. Also, control his people. Stop having them stare in the shadows; it irritates me.”
Rat Ma was left speechless, his face flushing and paling in turns, standing rooted in place, unable to advance or retreat.
From the van in the alley, a faint cold snort could be heard.
Rat Ma shuddered, not daring to say another word. He grabbed the wooden box and bolted toward the alley entrance, his steps so panicked it was as if a wolf were chasing him.
Watching his pathetic retreat, Jiang Zhuo’s eyes darkened like ink.
Tiger’s test was merely an appetizer. The real confrontation was yet to come.
He turned and walked into the shop. Just as he closed the door, his phone rang. It was a message from Lu Chen: Tiger has an underground warehouse in East City, hiding a lot of smuggled antiques. I’ve had people scout the location. We move tonight.
Jiang Zhuo’s eyes brightened.
To strike a snake, you must hit its vital point. Tiger’s underground warehouse was his vital point.
He replied: Okay, I’ll be there on time.
Putting away his phone, Jiang Zhuo walked behind the counter, pulled open the secret compartment, and looked at the brown paper envelope. Zhou Jingshan’s notes mentioned Tiger’s smuggling channels, and the location matched the warehouse Lu Chen had found.
It seemed that tonight’s battle would take a significant bite out of Tiger.
The sun gradually rose, dispelling the thin frost on the flagstones. Antique Street began to bustle, with shouts and bargaining echoing everywhere.
Jiang Zhuo stood by the window, watching the crowds on the street, his fingertips lightly tapping the window frame.
Tiger, Elder Zhou, the cultural relics registry, the smuggling warehouse…
All the clues were converging in one direction.
He took a deep breath, turned, walked to the curio shelf, and picked up a small Qing Dynasty blue-and-white cup.
The glaze on the cup was warm, and the blue color was elegant, as if hiding endless stories.
A cold, sharp curve appeared on Jiang Zhuo’s lips.
Tonight, the show begins.