Chapter 3: It’s Nine-to-Nine!

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The viewers in the live stream saw the two acting mysteriously but remained skeptical.
“Give it a shake, I don’t believe it yet!”
“I’m allergic to the sound of nails scraping glass, but I’ve never heard of someone being allergic to the sound of a bell.”
“Is it really that mysterious? I want to hear it!”
Long, snow-white legs asked, “Brother Xuan, what exactly is this?”
Zhang Xuan replied, “Come closer, let me see the inscription on it!”
“Right, turn the bell—not too fast, not too slow.”
After a moment, Zhang Xuan finished reading the text. “Seven points authentic!”
“Do you know what these characters say?”
Long, snow-white legs said, “I don’t recognize them; they must be ancient script.”
Zhang Xuan sighed, “Of course they’re ancient script.”
“Fine, I’ll tell you.”
“This is bronze script used during the Zhou and Warring States periods!”
“Usually, it only appears on bronze artifacts!”
“To have eight bronze-script characters so clearly and exquisitely carved on such a tiny bell is absolutely a treasure!”
Long, snow-white legs grew excited as well: “Really?”
“How many steamed buns is it worth?”
The viewers in the live chat grew eager.
A bronze bell with writing from the Zhou and Warring States periods is far more valuable than mass-produced currency!
Zhang Xuan pressed play, and music immediately filled the live stream.
The familiar melody, coupled with a man’s sorrowful monologue, sent chills down everyone’s spines.
“The greatest tragedy in life is losing freedom…”
The chat exploded with excitement.
“Damn, the streamer’s amazing!”
“What kind of creepy music is this?”
“Streamer, what are you playing at?”
“You said it was valuable, so why this music?”
Long, snow-white legs looked confused: “Isn’t this ‘Tears Behind Iron Bars’?”
“Brother Xuan, don’t scare me—I’m timid.”
Zhang Xuan said seriously, “No, I’m not trying to scare you at all.”
“This thing is currently seven points authentic. If it’s fully genuine, it’s at least a ten-year sentence, possibly life imprisonment or even the death penalty!”
Long, snow-white legs immediately fell silent.
The viewers noticed Zhang Xuan’s expression and realized he was serious.
“This must be something extraordinary!”
“This guy’s probably about to run. What’s the story behind this bell? Why is it so dangerous?”
“No idea, but once the Zhou dynasty is involved, it’s serious. Better run before the authorities arrive!”
Perhaps due to the eerie music, the number of viewers gradually rose, quickly reaching nearly three hundred.
After a brief silence, Zhang Xuan said, “Brother, I’ve told you how serious this is.”
“But fortunately, it’s only seven points authentic so far. Do you want to continue the appraisal?”
“I’m giving you the choice—think carefully!”

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“Once you decide, there’s no turning back.”
Long, snow-white legs seemed torn but after a while said, “Continue the appraisal.”
Zhang Xuan slammed the table, “Good!”
“A gentleman’s word is his bond!”
“Then let’s proceed!”
Long, snow-white legs nodded. “Brother Xuan, you ask.”
Zhang Xuan’s excitement grew, “Alright, I’ll say something first!”
“This item—in the world of live appraisals, even in the national and global appraisal circles—only I can authenticate it!”
“This item is currently seven points genuine, but even at seven points, its value starts at five million!”
The live chat instantly erupted upon hearing the five million figure.
“Seven points authentic and worth five million? What would full authenticity be, over ten million?”
“No wonder it starts at ten years—this is serious!”
“Oh my god, that’s terrifying!”
“Never seen Brother Xuan this excited before—this must be the real deal!”
Long, snow-white legs caught the excitement, “Brother Xuan, you’re this confident?”
Zhang Xuan nodded, “Yes, absolutely confident!”
“In this world, besides me, no one can authenticate this!”
Long, snow-white legs immediately sent five carnival gifts.
“Hehe!”
“Brother Xuan, hearing you say that, I’m not afraid.”
Zhang Xuan was surprised, “Why’s that?”
Long, snow-white legs said, “Punishment requires proof, right? You wouldn’t accuse me, would you?”
Zhang Xuan paused, “No, I wouldn’t.”
“My words are only valid in my live stream; I won’t admit to them outside.”
Long, snow-white legs sent another five carnival gifts.
Zhang Xuan blinked, “Eight points authentic now!”
“Only two points short!”
Long, snow-white legs asked, “Which two points?”
Zhang Xuan shook his head, “I can’t say yet.”
Long, snow-white legs said, “Alright then.”
“But now I can explain why this bell is worth five million at seven points authenticity.”
“I really want to know!”
Zhang Xuan nodded, took a deep breath, and said, “Everyone in the live stream and you, listen carefully.”
“This bronze bell’s full name is the Western Zhou Octagonal Bronze Bell!”
“The reason it’s worth five million even at seven points authenticity is because the inscription on the octagonal faces reads: ‘King Mu’s Bronze Bell, Spirits Beware!’”
“In translation, it means: This is King Mu of Zhou’s bronze bell; even ghosts and spirits avoid this place!”
Long, snow-white legs gasped, “King Mu of Zhou?”
“Isn’t this from the Warring States period?”

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The live chat was stunned.
“King Mu of Zhou’s bronze bell? Is that for real?”
“If it really belonged to King Mu, five million is an understatement!”
“A few hundred people watching this live stream, are they playing this big?”
“I thought this would be valuable, but didn’t expect it to be this valuable!”
“King Mu of Zhou’s bronze bell, starting at ten years is too low!”
“It should start at the death penalty!”
Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, “Brother, I’m going to continue the appraisal now!”
“Please bring the previously shown knife coins to the camera one by one, three seconds each!”
“I’ll say stop when I want it to stop!”
Long, snow-white legs nodded and followed Zhang Xuan’s instructions, passing the knife coins in front of the camera in order.
After more than ten coins, Zhang Xuan said, “Sure enough, they all come from the same place.”
“Okay, stop!”
Long, snow-white legs looked expectantly, “How authentic now?”
Zhang Xuan said, “Eight points!”
Long, snow-white legs asked, “Still just eight points? Wasn’t it eight points before?”
Zhang Xuan replied, “The previous eight points was a bit uncertain. This eight points is very genuine.”
Long, snow-white legs was dissatisfied, “How can you get ten points?”
Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment, “I don’t know.”
“But I want to hear the sound. If the sound is right, it can reach nine points!”
“If you’re uncomfortable, you can cover your ears.”
Unexpectedly, Long, snow-white legs said, “Alright.”
“But no need to cover my ears—I tried, it doesn’t help!”
He picked up the octagonal bronze bell and gave his wrist a light shake!
A crisp and eerie sound immediately echoed through the live stream.
“Ding!”
Zhang Xuan’s pupils suddenly dilated; a faint image even appeared on the phone screen!
Comments flooded in: “Whoa!”
“This sound???”
“What a strange sound, I feel like my eyes are playing tricks on me!”
“Oh my god, it’s like seeing a ghost!”
“What the heck is that sound?”
Long, snow-white legs gritted his teeth and hurriedly put the bronze bell away, “Brother Xuan, how authentic now?”
Zhang Xuan snapped back to reality, face full of shock, “Nine points!”
“Just one point away from ten!”