Chapter 377: This Woman Knows Me Too Well

After a brief pause, Xiao Ya began her serious analysis. “Both options have their pros and cons. The first is simple and direct. You wouldn’t need to make a public appearance. I would deliver all the items to you, and you could inspect them at a designated location before deciding whether you want them. Throughout the process, no one would know who you are or what you’ve acquired. The drawback is that this option only covers items I personally handle. You wouldn’t have access to things that don’t pass through my hands—for instance, private collections or old artifacts that aren’t put up for auction.”

“The second option is more proactive. You could establish a company and enter the circle as an Antique Dealer or collector. The number of people, items, and pieces of information you could access would be far greater than with the first option. But the downside is that you would need to be public-facing, to have someone represent you. Using a proxy to hold shares could solve the problem of exposure, but the proxy holder themselves is a variable. Whether they are reliable, whether they’ll be investigated—these are all risks.”

When Xiao Ya finished, she leaned back slightly into the sofa, resting her hands on the armrests. Her posture was more relaxed than before.

Honestly, Wan Ze was a little surprised.

He hadn’t expected her to propose such a plan.

Zhao Henian’s way of doing things was to find whatever you asked for.

Xiao Ya’s approach was different. She laid out two options, listed their pros and cons, and handed the decision over to him.

‘This way of doing things proves she wasn’t acting on a whim. She didn’t just start looking for an escape route on the Hengjiang Bridge when she realized she couldn’t win. She’d already considered what would happen if Zhao Henian sent people to kill her, if her opponents were too strong to fight, if negotiation was her only way out… She’d considered all of it and even prepared her proposals.’

Wan Ze’s gaze lingered on Xiao Ya’s face for two seconds.

To be honest, he was tempted.

Still, he remained impassive and said, “This… I’ll need to go back and discuss it.”

Wan Ze had said that deliberately.

The phrasing itself was a subtle signal.

He was sending Xiao Ya a false signal… that he, “Old Tan,” wasn’t the one who made the decisions. The real decision-maker was behind him, but he could relay information.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ya nodded and smiled. “Of course. I’ll be waiting.”

“By the way, about the translation. Zhao Henian hasn’t revealed any more information. I heard he’s at his wit’s end over it. You’re just stringing him along, aren’t you?”

Xiao Ya spoke up suddenly, just as Wan Ze was lost in thought.

Wan Ze looked up at her but didn’t respond.

Xiao Ya didn’t seem to mind and continued speaking. “With something like the translation, it doesn’t matter if the contents are real or fake. Its mere existence is a bargaining chip. You’re holding that chip to negotiate with Zhao Henian, to name your price, but you won’t play it easily… I understand that. After all, once you’ve played your hand, the game is over.”

She looked Wan Ze in the eye and said sincerely, “But I’m different from Zhao Henian. I don’t actually care what’s in the translation. You could even give me a fake one. I just need something to placate my superiors.”

Wan Ze’s gaze sharpened.

‘This woman is really something…’

Xiao Ya smiled and continued, “But that’s for later. Let’s settle the matter at hand first. The translation can wait. Of course, the money will be paid in full.”

Wan Ze leaned back into the sofa. He suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question. “Do you know a lot about old artifacts?”

Xiao Ya was taken aback for a moment, unsure why Wan Ze was suddenly asking this, but she answered truthfully. “I wouldn’t say I’ve ‘studied’ them, but I’ve handled many, so I know a little. Why do you ask?”

Wan Ze shook his head. “Nothing. Just asking.”

He didn’t explain, and Xiao Ya didn’t press him for an answer.

Wan Ze was thinking that if Xiao Ya was knowledgeable about old artifacts, he would need to be much more careful when he handled them.

Someone in the know could see things others might miss.

Things Zhao Henian couldn’t see, Xiao Ya might recognize in an instant.

This was a variable he needed to re-evaluate.

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Wan Ze’s gaze swept over Zhang Chong without lingering before he looked away.

Xiao Ya sat on the sofa with her hands folded in her lap, her posture composed and elegant.

She suddenly spoke, her tone tinged with a casual curiosity, as if it were an idle thought. “Mr. Tan, what kind of arts do you Dragon Eagle disciples usually practice?”

Wan Ze glanced at her. “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.” Xiao Ya smiled, her expression completely non-threatening. “Zhang Chong practices Horizontal Training; I can see that. But you don’t use the Horizontal Training style. Your Leg Technique is very unique. My own skills may not be much, but I still have a decent eye for these things.”

Wan Ze didn’t reply.

Xiao Ya wasn’t in a hurry. She continued, “Zhang Chong blocked with his forearm, but the force of your kick came in several continuous waves, one after another. I’ve never seen that kind of power generation before. Mr. Tan, is that a unique art of the Dragon Eagle?”

Wan Ze watched Xiao Ya, his face expressionless beneath his mask. ‘This woman is trying to pinpoint my identity.’

“You seem quite interested in the Martial Dao.”

“It’s not the Martial Dao I’m interested in. It’s you.”

Xiao Ya’s tone was frank, with no hint of ambiguity, yet utterly direct.

Wan Ze looked at her and gave a faint smile. “In Horizontal Training, the flesh, tendons, and bones are one layer. Qi and blood are another. And intent is the final layer. Your subordinate here has trained his flesh, tendons, and bones, and he’s also trained his qi and blood. But he hasn’t reached the layer of intent. That’s why he couldn’t block my attack.”

Xiao Ya looked surprised.

She didn’t understand any of that.

She looked at Zhang Chong.

Zhang Chong’s expression soured as he nodded in acknowledgment.

Realization dawned on Xiao Ya’s face. She looked at Wan Ze with admiration. “You really are impressive. I enjoy working with impressive people.”

Wan Ze heard her but remained as impassive as ever.

This was a psychological game.

Whether Zhao Henian lived or died, whether they could obtain the translation, whether a channel for the old artifacts could be established—the answers to all these questions hung in the balance.

BZZZ!

The communicator vibrated again.

This time, the vibration seemed more urgent than before.

‘Who is it?’

‘Brother Jia? Or… Old Zhao?’