Chapter 144: Are You Sure You Want to Do This?

Yun Shengguo smiled when he heard this. “Then I really must thank you, Mr. Lu.”

Yet as Shi Jidong looked at Lu Ming, he remained deeply astonished. Whether it was Lu Ming finding the Dragon Head the previous night or the respect Yun Shengguo showed him, Shi Jidong felt that this man was shrouded in mystery.

At that moment, Yun Shengguo waved his hand. A white-gloved staff member, his face twisting with reluctance, lifted the Dragon Head from beside the bed and placed it in a tray before leaving. A whole squad of special-duty soldiers escorted it, while Yun Shengguo and Shi Jidong also took their leave. They still had plenty to attend to that day.

After washing up, Lu Ming wandered over to the museum’s front exhibition area.

Visitors had already begun arriving in a steady stream. As Lu Ming strolled about, he suddenly heard a voice say, “Well, well. How did you manage to get in here?”

Lu Ming turned and saw that it was the grandfather and granddaughter he had encountered on the high-speed train.

“What’s the matter? Am I not allowed in?” Lu Ming replied irritably.

“Only people who received electronic invitations are allowed in today. I seriously doubt you have the qualifications,” the girl said smugly.

Lu Ming gave a cold laugh. “I didn’t receive an invitation, but I got in anyway. Do you have a problem with that?”

The girl’s pretty face darkened. At that moment, her grandfather, Xia Yuanfei, said, “All right, Xuanxuan. Don’t lower yourself to this sort of person. I’m an old friend of Director Shi. I’ll just mention it to him later.”

Only then did the girl give a cold snort and leave with her grandfather.

Lu Ming shook his head and sighed inwardly. Even cultured people looked down on others like this? It was truly ridiculous.

He resumed wandering aimlessly, but his spiritual awareness had already locked firmly onto the Dragon Head. If anything changed, he could reach it in an instant with his speed.

Gradually, more and more people arrived. They were all renowned figures from the nation’s cultural circles, along with several patriotic citizens of considerable standing. They entered and exited the various exhibition halls, praising the museum’s profound heritage.

At precisely ten o’clock, guided by the museum staff, the visitors made their way to Exhibition Hall One and began their tour.

Lu Ming remained nearby, quietly sensing everything.

At a time like this, spiritual awareness was far more convenient than sight. Every speck of dust and grain of earth within Exhibition Hall One appeared with perfect clarity in his mind.

Yet to this point, Lu Ming had discovered nothing unusual, and he could not help feeling puzzled.

By all rights, the thief had been unable to get the Dragon Head out of the museum that night and had instead hidden it somewhere. Now that he knew the Dragon Head was being displayed as scheduled, he would surely be curious enough to come and take a look.

If the thief were an existence like Lu Ming himself, Lu Ming would certainly have been able to detect him. But so far, he had found no one unusual.

Still, he was in no hurry. Anyone capable of stealing the Dragon Head would surely make another move. All he needed to do was wait patiently.

Thus, Lu Ming simply leaned against a corridor wall and closed his eyes in a light doze.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shaofeng, who was patrolling with his men, wore an extremely ugly expression.

They had searched through the entire night. Shi Jidong’s assistant had been found unconscious in a patch of bushes. After reviving him, Zhang Shaofeng questioned him, but the assistant could only say that he had suddenly been knocked unconscious and knew nothing after that.

Having obtained no useful clues, Zhang Shaofeng was furious, yet there was nothing he could do.

After thinking it over, he decided that the matter could only be connected to Shi Jidong and Lu Ming. He could not imagine anyone else capable of stealing the Dragon Head silently under such tight security.

However, given the present circumstances, Secretary Yun would certainly not allow him to touch either of them. Today was an especially sensitive day.

Even so, Zhang Shaofeng had already made up his mind. After the tour, when Secretary Yun took the distinguished guests to the banquet, he would immediately arrest Lu Ming and use him as a breakthrough. Once Lu Ming confessed, even Secretary Yun would have nothing to say.

As for Shi Jidong, if Lu Ming implicated him, Zhang Shaofeng would arrest him as well. Then no one could accuse him of wrongdoing; on the contrary, it would count as a major achievement.

He cast a meaningful glance at one of his subordinates, who immediately understood and began watching Lu Ming from a distance.

Zhang Shaofeng looked at Lu Ming from afar, gave a cold snort, and entered Exhibition Hall One.

Nearly a hundred people had gathered around the crystal display case, praising the Dragon Head inside.

The return of such a symbolically significant relic was a source of immense pride for the nation.

With a smile on his face, Yun Shengguo chatted and exchanged pleasantries with the visitors one after another.

These people were not businessmen. Associating with them carried no risks and could even benefit him, so Yun Shengguo was more than happy to do so.

Shi Jidong followed behind him, introducing anyone Yun Shengguo did not know. Shi Jidong was himself a well-known figure in the field. He knew nearly everyone present, and had business relationships with quite a few of them. They were all familiar with one another.

At that moment, Xia Yuanfei approached Shi Jidong.

The moment Shi Jidong saw him, he smiled and introduced him to Yun Shengguo. “Secretary Yun, this is Professor Xia Yuanfei of the Archaeology Department at Huaqing University in Xijing. He has been a close friend of mine for many years.”

“I’ve heard a great deal about you.”

Yun Shengguo immediately shook Xia Yuanfei’s hand with enthusiasm. These people might not possess any official power, but they carried considerable weight in public opinion. Yun Shengguo did not dare underestimate them.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Yun Shengguo said, “Director Shi, since Professor Xia is your longtime friend, you two should chat. I’ll go greet the other guests.”

With that, Yun Shengguo took his leave. He had spotted an acquaintance with some influence in Shangjing’s upper circles and went over to greet him.

After Yun Shengguo departed, the two men exchanged a few more pleasantries before Xia Yuanfei said, “Brother Jidong, when I arrived, I saw a young man wandering around the courtyard. He looked neither like a staff member nor like an invited guest. Perhaps you should have someone keep an eye on him.”

Shi Jidong thought for a moment.

Everyone allowed inside today had been invited. The only person who had not received an invitation was probably Mr. Lu, and he was carrying an important mission.

“Did the man you saw have a faint scar on his face?” Shi Jidong asked.

Before Xia Yuanfei could answer, Xia Xuanxuan immediately cut in. “Yes, that’s him! He obviously doesn’t look like a good person. Director Shi, this is an important occasion. You need to be careful that he doesn’t cause trouble.”

Her words were filled with dislike for Lu Ming.

Shi Jidong said, “His identity is unusual. There’s a reason he’s here. Don’t worry.”

Xia Yuanfei said nothing more, though he was puzzled inwardly. How unusual could the identity of a young man possibly be?

Time passed little by little, and it was already after eleven. Yun Shengguo glanced at his watch, then nodded to his secretary.

The secretary immediately announced, “Everyone, the tour has now come to an end. The government has prepared a banquet at the Xijing Hotel to entertain you all. Please follow the staff and leave in an orderly manner.”

The visitors followed the museum staff out of Exhibition Hall One and slowly made their way toward the exit.

Shi Jidong was the last to leave. He closed the hall’s electronic doors and inspected them carefully. Only after confirming that everything was in order did he depart.

At the same time, a squad of special-duty soldiers stood guard outside the entrance, rifles in hand.

Yet not long after Shi Jidong had left, a shadow appeared like a ghost.

The squad of soldiers was startled. Before they could raise their weapons, the shadow had already reached them. It swept around them, leaving only a blur in its wake, and the entire squad was knocked unconscious in an instant.

The shadow then produced a device and scanned the electronic door. The door opened at once.

Lu Ming, who had been dozing in the corridor, abruptly opened his eyes and rose to his feet.

At that moment, Zhang Shaofeng appeared before him with two criminal officers.

Zhang Shaofeng said coldly, “What is it, Mr. Lu? Did you find another opportunity to make your move? Unfortunately for you, I’ve been watching you.”

Lu Ming shook his head. “Get out of my way. Someone has entered Exhibition Hall One.”

“Hahahaha! What a joke. Do you take me for a three-year-old? There’s an entire squad of special-duty soldiers guarding that place. Mr. Lu, you are suspected of participating in the theft of a national super-grade cultural relic. You’ll have to come to the station with me for questioning.”

As Zhang Shaofeng spoke, he gave a signal. One of the criminal officers took out a pair of handcuffs and approached Lu Ming, while the other rested a hand on his waist and watched him warily.

Lu Ming looked at them and said slowly, his expression darkening, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Stop wasting time. Come with me to the station,” Zhang Shaofeng said grimly.

Lu Ming slowly extended his hands.

With a click, the officer fastened the handcuffs around his wrists.

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