Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

Chapter 18 Li Yu’s Diary

The crowd fell silent at the sight of Wu Tian. Most of them were stunned. Who is this person? they wondered. He’s so domineering. After a moment, however, some people grew upset that Wu Tian had called them ignorant.

"Listen, everyone!" the chubby owner of the antique shop scoffed after his initial shock. "How arrogant! How could someone like that not be a thief?"

Wu Tian sneered. "It seems you have a death wish."

"To get my property back, I’d gladly risk my life!" the chubby owner declared righteously. "Now, hand it over!"

"Alright. You said it yourself," Wu Tian said with a slight smile.

The chubby owner found it strange. How can this guy still be smiling at a time like this? He had no idea that Wu Tian was staring right at him, a trickle of Spiritual Power flowing from his own eyes into the chubby owner’s. Since the man said he didn’t value his life, Wu Tian would grant his wish. Now surrounded by the crowd, Liang Qingren finally couldn’t stop herself from looking at Wu Tian. "What should we do now?" she asked.

Wu Tian smiled. "This item is mine."

"Nonsense!" the chubby owner retorted sharply. "This is clearly my property. How can you say it’s yours?"

"Yours?" Wu Tian’s smile remained. "Then can you tell me what’s inside this chessboard?"

"So what if I don’t know? Can you?" the chubby owner huffed. The chessboard has never been opened, so how could I possibly know what’s inside! But there’s no way this young man knows, either.

"I, of course, can," Wu Tian said confidently.

"Really?" The chubby owner was utterly incredulous, and Liang Qingren was also stunned. Even if Wu Tian is the Innate master Grandma always wanted me to meet... an Innate master’s strength may surpass that of an ordinary person, but he’s not some protagonist from a novel with an X-ray vision cheat. How could he possibly know what’s inside the chessboard?

"If you can say what’s inside, then the item is yours," an elderly man with glasses announced as he stepped out from the crowd. He observed the scene with great interest. "The chessboard belongs to the one who can describe its contents. Don’t worry, with me, Xiao Liang, as a witness, no one will dare go back on their word."

The crowd began to murmur. "Xiao Liang? Is that him?"

"My God, a big figure from the antique world is actually here."

"With his glasses on, I didn’t recognize him. I hear he even has connections with the mayor."

Wu Tian had heard the name Xiao Liang back in his school days. A quick web search yielded nothing about his background, but the man was undoubtedly a leading figure in the world of antiques.

Wu Tian nodded. He took the chessboard from Liang Qingren’s hands and said, "Inside is a notebook. A diary, to be exact."

The chubby owner furrowed his brow. A notebook hidden inside a chessboard? What a joke. I’d have an easier time believing it was a treasure map.

Xiao Liang nodded, then turned to the owner. "So, what do you say is inside?"

"I... I think it’s a treasure map." The chubby owner had no idea, of course. At this point, he could only take a wild guess and hope for the best.

Xiao Liang nodded. He walked up and, after getting verbal confirmation from both the chubby owner and Wu Tian, had the chessboard split open.

CRACK!

The board split apart, revealing a diary nestled inside. On its cover were several large characters: "Li of the Five Surnames and Seven Clans."

Seeing this, Xiao Liang’s expression changed dramatically. He lunged forward and carefully picked up the diary, his hands trembling with excitement.

Most of the people who frequented Antique Street had a keen eye.

"This... this looks like the handwriting of Li Yu," one of them exclaimed, having recognized it.

"What? Li Yu, the Last Ruler of the Southern Tang?"

"My God, judging by Mr. Xiao Liang’s reaction, it’s almost certainly his."

"It must be. It’s an authentic work of the Last Ruler!"

"Wait... that’s not right," a college student mumbled, confused. "How could the Last Ruler’s authentic calligraphy be on a notebook like this?"

Many others shared this doubt. They moved closer to inspect it, but no matter how they looked at it—from the left, right, top, or bottom—the calligraphy was unmistakably that of the Last Ruler. Everyone was both shocked and perplexed. What in the world was going on? Had the Last Ruler really written a "diary" that was later collected and bound page by page?

"But the young man was right. It really is a diary."

"Yes, it is."

The crowd nodded, their discussions flaring up once more. Their gazes then shifted to the chubby shop owner, now filled with anger. This man had been lying the whole time, treating them all like fools.

The chubby owner of the antique shop didn’t know what to do. Suddenly, his head began to spin. Am I just this angry? he wondered. He staggered backward until he was leaning against the wall, which kept him from collapsing.

Wu Tian saw this and smiled faintly. To cross me is to court severe consequences. The majesty of the Immortal Emperor is not to be offended.

"Let’s go." Holding the diary, Wu Tian prepared to leave with Liang Qingren.

"Wait a moment!" Xiao Liang, desperate for the diary, rushed forward and placed a hand on Wu Tian’s shoulder. "Young man, name your price. I will agree to anything. This diary... it’s vital to my entire family. Please, give it to me. What do you say?"

If he hadn’t seemed so devoid of hostility, he never would have gotten close to me, Wu Tian thought.

"To be honest, I don’t know how to price it right now," Wu Tian said.

"Alright. Make any request of me. If it is within my power, I swear to fulfill it in my lifetime," the old man said, his face etched with an eagerness that bordered on tears. He desperately needed the diary in Wu Tian’s hands.

Wu Tian glanced at the notebook in his hand. He didn’t care what was recorded inside. He had once been the Immortal Emperor. Aside from immortal herbs and a few other priceless rarities, there was nothing in the universe he hadn’t possessed. This notebook, in his eyes, was insignificant.

Wu Tian nodded. "Alright, I can give it to you. But right now, I need a good vase."

Xiao Liang was taken aback. A good vase? That’s far too simple.

"Qing Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Sui Dynasty... I even have pieces from earlier eras. All of them are royal treasures."

"Good. Just give me a royal vase from the Qing Dynasty," Wu Tian said.

Xiao Liang nodded. He immediately made a call, instructing his family to retrieve a royal vase from the Qing Dynasty from their family’s treasure vault. Then he looked intently at Wu Tian again. Having judged countless people in his life, he could tell this young man was extraordinary. Xiao Liang could see it clearly: neither Li Yu’s diary nor a Qing Dynasty royal vase meant anything in this young man’s eyes.

His curiosity piqued, Xiao Liang made a mental note to have his son thoroughly investigate this young man’s origins upon returning home. Perhaps he could be of great help to our family.