Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO-Chapter 681

No one knew how bitter Xu Ke felt inside.

The moment the chests were opened, Xu Ke sensed something was wrong. Why wasn't there a single trace of Dragon Essence on any of these antiques? It made no sense. He had obtained one from the Martial Alliance Treasury and another from Zhou Hongsheng, so how could the prominent Qin Family possibly have none?

When they began calling out the names of the antiques, Xu Ke finally understood. It turned out they were all foreign antiques! He then realized that the Qin Family's antique business was based primarily overseas, so they couldn't possibly have many valuable Imperial Tomb Relics. That was why, as a show of sincerity, Qin Feng hadn't brought a single one.

Realizing this, Xu Ke was extremely disheartened. But while he was disheartened, the others were practically in agony. We're giving you billions, and you're making that pained face? If you don't want them, give them to us!

Finally, Qin Feng could no longer hold back. "Xu Ke," he pressed, "what do you mean, 'Is that it?' Isn't this enough? These are my most valuable treasures."

"No." Xu Ke shook his head. "I'm not looking for valuable things; I want Imperial Tomb Relics. Do you have any?"

Xu Ke still had some faith in the Qin Family's collection. Just because you don't have them here doesn't mean you don't have them at home!

"Imperial Tomb Relics?" Qin Feng was stunned. So Xu Ke wasn't looking down on their antiques; he just didn't want this particular batch. Had his attempt to curry favor backfired completely?

Seeing Qin Feng's embarrassment, Huang Zhendong was overjoyed and gloated internally. That's what you get for giving him antiques! That's what you get for mocking me! Go on, keep trying to bribe him, damn you! He had been closely watching the change in Xu Ke's expression the entire time, seeing it shift from anticipation to disappointment. For Qin Feng, this was tantamount to a declaration that his flattery had been completely useless. How could Huang Zhendong not be thrilled?

"Well? Do you have any?" Xu Ke asked.

Qin Feng hemmed and hawed. "Er, about that..."

"You don't?" Xu Ke's expression stiffened.

"Well, it's not that we don't have any. It's just that we don't have them on hand right now," Qin Feng said awkwardly.

Xu Ke looked utterly exasperated. "Isn't that the same as not having any?"

Qin Feng chuckled awkwardly. "Haha... what choice did we have? In recent years, most valuable Imperial Tomb Relics have been handed over to the state. The rest that flow into the market have been snatched up by one big buyer. We never had a chance to get them, which is why we specialize in foreign antiques." He hurried to explain, "This big buyer has extremely peculiar tastes. He doesn't want other antiques and only picks Imperial Tomb Relics. The more they belong to a great emperor, the more he wants them. Some conservative estimates say he has spent at least six billion on this hobby. So now, whenever an Imperial Tomb Relic appears at auction, no one even bothers competing. They know they can't outbid him."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ke's heart sank. Dragon Essence was crucial for him to deal with Wong Ting and Yan Xuehai. Any news that could help him find it was priceless. The news that someone was specifically collecting Imperial Tomb Relics filled him with anxiety. Who the hell knows what they're doing with them...

"So who is this big buyer?" Xu Ke asked quickly.

"I don't know, either. The man doesn't like to socialize, so not many people have been able to get close to him. However, at an auction once, I heard the auctioneer call him Mister Mu. As for anything else, I know nothing."

Mister Mu?

Hearing this, Xu Ke's expression changed abruptly, his brow furrowed. Wasn't the matchmaker for him and Wang Qifu also named Mu? Could they be related, or are they the same person?

Then, Xu Ke looked at Qin Feng. "So you really don't have a single Imperial Tomb Relic?"

Qin Feng coughed awkwardly and gave a dry laugh. "Mister Mu pays top dollar. If I had any, you can bet I would have sold them off at auction already."

Businessmen chase profits, and Qin Feng was no exception. In his eyes, Mister Mu was the perfect sucker, and selling to him at a high price was the optimal choice. Back then, he never imagined he would end up pledging allegiance to Xu Ke, let alone that he'd be asked to hand over Imperial Tomb Relics.

Xu Ke was somewhat apoplectic. "You really know how to make money!"

"You're too kind..." Qin Feng said awkwardly.

Since he couldn't really blame Qin Feng for this, Xu Ke sighed. "Fine, let it be." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Alright then." Seeing this, Qin Feng immediately went along with it, then tentatively asked, "So, what should we do with these items?" He gestured toward the antiques, his heart pounding with excitement. Sucking up doesn't mean I actually want to give away my money. If he only wants Imperial Tomb Relics, surely he won't take these antiques, right?

Following Qin Feng's gesture, Xu Ke frowned, glanced at the antiques, and waved his hand impatiently. "Since they're not what I want, then just..."

At these words, Qin Feng was ecstatic.

But Xu Ke crushed his joy with the next words: "Send them to the Wang Family Corporation."

This was money he was owed by the Qin Family. He had to take it. It would be inhuman not to!

Qin Feng was speechless.

Heart aching with regret, Qin Feng arranged for the items to be sent to the Wang Family Corporation.

Once everyone sat back down at the table, Qin Feng's heart felt like it was being carved up. Seeing Huang Zhendong gloating, he burned with indignation and wanted to drag him down with him. However, before he could open his mouth to mock him, Huang Zhendong sensed the shift in mood and spoke up first. "Xu Ke, I have a batch of medicinal herbs that I'll send to your clinic later. I can guarantee that the value of this batch is about the same as the items Qin Feng sent. But if you're not satisfied, I can have Sheng'er replace them for you!"

Seeing that Huang Zhendong was so quick on the uptake, Xu Ke nodded with a smile. "Okay, thanks, Uncle Huang."

Hearing this, Huang Zhendong raised an eyebrow, cast a mocking glance at Qin Feng, and said, "Don't mention it!"

Unable to get a rise out of Huang Zhendong, Qin Feng nearly had an aneurysm. Even though Huang Zhendong was also forced to cough something up, why wasn't he happy at all?

Tang Yingchang, sitting nearby, was inwardly delighted to see the two Family Heads in such a state. Xu Ke had told him just to bring the two men over, promising that they themselves would provide the benefits he desired. And now it was clear he hadn't been lying!

Later, as the dishes began to be served, Xu Ke spoke. "The reason I called you here is quite simple. You must both be aware of the situation by now, right?"

Huang Zhendong and Qin Feng replied in unison, "Right."

"Then I won't mince words. What comes next is simple. Our families now have a common enemy. If our hearts aren't united against Wong Ting, we will be picked off one by one."

"We know!" the two men nodded again.

"Since you know, take this medicine. I must ensure you have no way to rebel." Xu Ke brought out his old trick: poison. With the poison out, there was a dose for everyone.

Looking at the box before them, everyone's pupils contracted. Although Qin Feng and Huang Zhendong had mentally prepared themselves, knowing they would have to take poison to earn Xu Ke's trust, they still couldn't help the suffocating feeling in their chests. From now on, the Huang and Qin Families of Tianhai would truly be under the command of the Wang Family!

But they were forced by the circumstances. What could they do, however unwilling they were? They obediently swallowed the pills.

However, three people refrained.

Shi Hongda frowned. "Mister Xu, I don't have to, right?"

The Yin-Yang Elders echoed in unison, "Yes, we've been taking it for so long. Surely we don't need to be treated like these newcomers..."

Hearing this, the members of the Huang and Qin families shot the two old men a strange look, muttering to themselves, Is having taken poison before something to be proud of?