10: Drug-seeking frenzy

Night once again enveloped the Cloud Deer Garden.

The three-hundred-year-old wild ginseng, unanimously confirmed by several veteran herbalists, was placed in a specialized constant temperature and humidity safe, guarded closely by four security personnel, and transported all the way to the entrance of He Ming's villa.

Inside the side hall, the atmosphere was even more solemn than last time.

Brother Quan's team, including the previous two experts, had added two new top-tier ancient calligraphy and painting appraisers.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the two pieces of calligraphy and painting displayed on the table.

After nearly rigorous repeated comparisons, data verification, and intense internal debate.

Brother Quan's team's final decision leaned towards the Painting Sage's 'Heavenly King Hunting Demons Picture'.

Although Zhang Xu's Cursive Script was priceless, the Painting Sage was a great master of the Tang Dynasty known as the Painting Saint.

His genuine works had virtually become legends, and the market expectation was even more frantic.

"Mr. He, we choose the Painting Sage."

Brother Quan's voice carried an uncontrollable tremor.

He Ming showed no surprise and, while he was at it, handed one of the zitan wooden boxes to Brother Quan.

"Mr. He, you are too kind!"

Even as he spoke, Brother Quan had already taken the wooden box into his hands and was examining it closely.

This was definitely an antique as well, perhaps even specially crafted at the time to house calligraphy and painting.

Together, the value was even greater!

The transaction was complete, but Brother Quan's team was reluctant to leave.

Their eyes involuntarily glanced toward the other unopened wooden box on the table.

Brother Quan's curiosity had been piqued the moment he entered the room.

He couldn't help but ask.

"Mr. He, what is inside this wooden box?"

He Ming spoke calmly.

"Tang Ming's calligraphy."

"Tang Ming?"

A calligraphy and painting expert cried out in surprise, almost losing his footing.

Tang Ming, the true pillar of the Tang Dynasty calligraphy world, whose works are even rarer than those of Zhang Xu, was reputed to have "a single character worth a thousand pieces of gold."

Last time, a fragment containing only three characters appeared at the largest auction house in the capital and sold for a staggering ten billion yuan.

Yet, what He Ming held was a complete calligraphy piece?

The entire team's hearts were practically leaping out of their chests; their breathing was heavy, and their eyes were bloodshot.

The immense temptation nearly made them lose their minds.

He Ming's tone remained completely unruffled, as if what he held was merely a tool for trade.

He Ming handed a stack of detailed photographs of the calligraphy, taken from various angles, to Brother Quan.

"Confirm it. Find a living Ganoderma lucidum that is three hundred years old or more, and it will be yours."

Brother Quan's team treated the photos like a treasure, studying them repeatedly.

The texture of the paper, the layering of the ink, the turns of the brushstrokes, the details of the seals... all information pointed to one maddening fact.

This was highly likely to be the genuine work!

Brother Quan's team suppressed their excitement and left the Cloud Deer Garden in a daze.

He Ming sat composedly on the sofa, feeling very pleased as he looked at the old wild ginseng in the wooden box.

As long as he could find a Ganoderma lucidum that was over three hundred years old and still growing, he would be able to break through again in a short period.

One week later.

At the international top-tier auction house Ruilong, earth-shattering news broke.

A genuine work by the Painting Sage, which had never been exhibited before, was finally won by a mysterious collector for a staggering 600 million yuan after fierce competition.

Everyone in the circle knew that the collector was extremely obsessed with the Painting Sage, having already collected two works, this being the third.

Those with inside knowledge immediately connected this auction with the widely rumored 'King of Herbs' bounty circulating in the underground world.

Brother Quan's team seized the opportunity to fan the flames, officially releasing clear information to the public.

The bounty amount was fully increased.

Five hundred million in cash for a living Ganoderma lucidum three hundred years old or more.

Two hundred million in cash for all kinds of rare wild old medicinal herbs two hundred years old or more; they would buy as much as was available.

At the same time, a blurry photograph leaked out from an unknown source.

A disheveled, ragged young man tightly clutching a wooden box was nervously standing outside Brother Quan's company entrance.

The coincidences were perfectly linked together.

Someone had genuinely found the King of Herbs and received the two hundred million bounty.

The entire wave of herb searching was completely ignited, plunging into an unprecedented frenzy.

Those who were previously watching from the sidelines could no longer sit still.

This was not just a chance to get rich overnight, but a heaven-sent opportunity for several generations to live comfortably.

A certain ancient city.

Boguzhai Antique Shop.

The old neighbors knew exactly what the boss, Zhao Laosi, used to do; he had just washed his hands and opened an antique shop in recent years.

He looked at the viral news and photos on his phone, then glanced at the antiques in his shop that hadn't seen a sale in half a year.

"What the hell am I selling these fake trinkets for?"

He roared at his two sons beside him.

"Pack your things and follow your old man into the mountains!"

Relying on his early years of traveling across the country and penetrating deep mountains and forests, Zhao Laosi took his two sons, whose eyes were red from the 500 million yuan stimulus, straight towards the deepest parts of Changbai Mountain.

During this time, the three slept rough, exposed to the elements, and were bitten by snakes and insects.

After a month, they were worn out but had found nothing.

Just as they were about to give up, Zhao Laosi's eyes narrowed as he examined a huge, dead ancient tree growing on the cliff face.

"Have we searched that tree?"

"No."

"Let's go look."

Zhao Laosi's eldest son carefully climbed the cliff, peeled away the thick moss, and poked his head into the tree hollow, shining the flashlight he held in his mouth inside.

A dark purple, huge, and moist cap came into view.

It clung tightly to the dead wood; the cap was layered, beautifully shaped, and emitted a rich medicinal fragrance.

"Dad, it's a huge Ganoderma! Come look quickly."

Zhao Laosi was ecstatic internally. He quickly took his son's place and peered into the tree hollow for a closer look.

Although he hadn't studied Ganoderma, he had seen many on the old streets.

The Ganoderma in the tree hollow was definitely several times larger than any he had ever seen, though he couldn't be sure of its exact age.

"Dad, how old is it exactly?"

Naturally, Zhao Laosi wouldn't admit he didn't know, so he made a rough estimate based on its size.

"Looking at the color and the layers, it should be over three hundred years old."

"Dad, three hundred years means five hundred million yuan!"

The eldest son instantly went mad, jumping up and shouting.

"I want to buy a large, flat apartment in the city center, with a swimming pool!"

The second son was also incoherent with excitement.

"I want to marry a celebrity."

He thought about it carefully, felt it wasn't realistic, and immediately corrected himself.

"I want to marry the prettiest internet celebrity!"

Zhao Laosi laughed heartily, breathing heavily.

After carefully preserving the Ganoderma intact, Zhao Laosi did not sell it immediately but waited patiently for a month.

Once the initial fervor subsided somewhat, he returned to the city like an ordinary tourist, carrying the seemingly common wooden box.

When Zhao Laosi and his two sons walked seemingly calmly into Brother Quan's company and opened the wooden box, the entire appraisal team erupted again.

Upon appraisal, the Ganoderma brought by Zhao Laosi was confirmed to be over three hundred years old, perfectly meeting He Ming's requirements.

Confirmation was made, and the transfer was completed.

Looking at the seemingly endless string of digits on the mobile banking notification, Zhao Laosi and his two sons hugged each other tightly.

Five hundred million yuan.

Their Zhao family had completely turned their fate around, becoming billionaires living in the sunlight from now on.

And the beginning of all this originated entirely from He Ming's demand.