C2 Dragon Scale Dagger

Lin Hao still couldn't figure out why he had agreed to her request.

Was he bewitched?

Was it a simple case of lust?

No, that couldn't be it. He wasn't that kind of person.

His gaze followed the pair of long, straight legs walking ahead of him. With each step the girl took, her pleated skirt fluttered gently.

"By the way, my name is Qin Sisi. And you..."

The girl suddenly spun around, her movement so abrupt that her skirt billowed up, revealing a glimpse of lace that caught Lin Hao's eye.

"Ah!"

"What's the matter with you?"

Qin Sisi cried out in alarm.

Lin Hao, thinking his behavior had given him away, quickly averted his face in a fluster.

"I'm fine!" he declared, feigning composure.

"Fine? You're bleeding from your nose!" Qin Sisi rushed over with a tissue from her backpack and bent down to dab at the blood.

Her posture made it impossible to hide the gray bandeau peeking out from under her jacket.

This only made Lin Hao's nosebleed worse.

Realizing this wasn't helping, he snatched the tissue from Qin Sisi, tore it in half, and stuffed it into his nostrils.

"You..."

"How much farther?"

Lin Hao cut her off.

Qin Sisi paused, then replied hastily, "Not far, just ahead to Antique Street."

At the mention of "Antique Street," Lin Hao's eyes sparkled. "Let's hurry!"

Qin Sisi seemed tense, frequently glancing at Lin Hao's side profile, worried he might cause another scene.

...

Ashpond's Ancient Antique Street was renowned within the industry.

Some called it a treasure trove, ripe with stories of lucky finds, though just as many had faced their downfall there.

Naturally, the street had its own set of rules. It was home to sixty-eight shops, with the Qin, Wang, and Li families holding the most wealth and influence.

As they entered the bustling Ancient Antique Street, the crowd was thick and lively.

Qin Sisi, with her striking looks and youthful, vibrant, and slightly sensual attire, turned heads wherever she went.

The vendors, too, seemed to know her well. Each time they spotted her, they greeted her affectionately with a "Miss Qin."

"We've arrived!"

Qin Sisi came to an abrupt halt, nearly causing Lin Hao to collide with her.

He looked up and was greeted by the sight of a large house adorned with traditional glazed tiles.

This house stood out with its opulence and expansive size compared to the other shops they had passed along the way.

At the entrance, a flagpole proudly displayed a flag with the character "Qin" emblazoned in yellow on a red background.

"Come on, let's go inside!"

Qin Sisi flashed a smile and beckoned Lin Hao to follow her into the shop.

No sooner had they stepped through the doorway than an elderly man dressed in a Zhongshan suit approached them.

"Girl, where have you been wandering? You're covered in dirt!" he chided with a chuckle.

Qin Sisi pouted, "Hmph, it's all because of you, Grandpa. That thing drew attention, and I nearly lost my life over it!"

Despite his age, the old man's eyes flashed with a sharp intensity upon hearing her words, his expression darkening like a storm cloud, exuding an air of authority.

"Humph, someone dares to mess with my granddaughter? I'll have to settle this account with them," he declared with a steely edge.

The old man's gaze then shifted to Lin Hao. "Girl, who is this?"

After Qin Sisi explained the situation, Qin Chuyang nodded in understanding. He turned to Lin Hao with a warm smile and said, "Young man, you've shown remarkable bravery. If it's not too much trouble, feel free to choose any item from the shelves as a small token of my appreciation."

Lin Hao responded with a smile, his heart swelling with delight.

Ever since he had walked into the shop, every object he laid eyes on would reveal its details on a display screen, much like the array of antiques before him now, with each item's information and even estimated prices listed—proving more helpful than a search on Baidu.

"Sisi, do you have the items?" Qin Chuyang inquired.

"Right here, take it!"

Qin Sisi rolled her eyes and pulled out a palm-sized bronze dagger from her backpack, tossing it nonchalantly onto the table.

"Oh dear, my precious granddaughter, this item needs to be handled with care!" Qin Chuyang quickly stepped forward, cradling the dagger in his hands.

"Dragon Scale Dagger?"

In that instant, an elderly man with white hair approached with palpable excitement.

He recognized the eerie dragon scale pattern on the dagger, his voice trembling with awe as he spoke almost without thinking.

The antique shop fell eerily quiet at his words, as customers turned their heads in astonishment.

"You're joking, right? The Dragon Scale Dagger actually exists?"

"The very same dagger forged by Ou Zhizi from the divine iron left over from the Great Fault Sword?"

"Isn't that the Divine Weapon rumored to have been used for the excruciating execution of criminals, so sharp it could make 3357 cuts without causing death?"

"..."

Amid the murmurs of the crowd, Qin Chuyang couldn't help but burst into triumphant laughter.

"Indeed, it's called the Dragon Scale Dagger because Ou Zhizi deliberately left the hammering marks, which closely resemble scales. Coupled with its use in royal punishments, it earned its name."

Cradling the dagger, Qin Chuyang inspected it closely, his fingers grazing the blade and trembling involuntarily.

"Yes, this is it—the Dragon Scale Dagger!" he exclaimed, taking a deep breath before turning to Qin Sisi. "My dear granddaughter, proceed with the payment to the seller!"

Typically, antique deals were cash-and-carry, but the seller insisted on remaining anonymous and wouldn't allow Qin Chuyang to collect the item in person.

Thus, a bank transfer was the chosen method, offering security for both parties.

Hearing this, Qin Sisi, not wanting to interrupt her grandfather's elation, readied her phone to make the transfer.

Lin Hao, driven by curiosity, peered over and was left speechless by the string of digits Qin Sisi entered.

"An eight-figure sum for a dagger?"

He turned back to the dagger in Qin Chuyang's grasp, and as the screen displayed information about the piece, the gravity of its history hit Lin Hao, prompting him to exclaim with a tremor, "Wait..."

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