After the sirens blared, many of the foreigners at the auction site tried to seize the cultural relics amidst the chaos.
Richard's eyes glinted with greed. "We can just snatch their cultural relics. That way, we don't have to spend any money!"
"Hahaha! The 'Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting' is mine!"
"You're absolutely right!" chimed in the sexy - dressed female secretary beside Richard.
Richard and his group exchanged glances, then rushed straight towards the stage against the crowd.
The moment Gu Anrou heard the sirens, she was instantly stunned and completely forgot that there was something to protect.
By the time Xu Qingqing came to her senses, Richard and his men had already rushed onto the stage and were about to smash the glass case to take the "Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting".
"Mr. Richard! What do you think you're doing? You haven't paid for the 'Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting' yet!"
Gu Anrou roared and leaped forward. She had spent a fortune on this auction and was determined to recoup her losses!
But as soon as Gu Anrou stood up, she was brutally pushed down by a foreign woman. The woman looked down at Gu Anrou disdainfully and said, "Be smart and get out of here. Hand over the 'Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting'!"
Gu Anrou was in so much pain that she couldn't get up. Meanwhile, Richard had already instructed the black bodyguard to pick up a crowbar and smash the glass case.
"You're being too rough!" Richard exclaimed. "Tom, be careful. What's inside is a priceless treasure!"
Richard carefully picked out the glass shards with his hands, grabbed the red brocade box containing the "Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting", opened it, and examined it closely, constantly uttering exclamations.
"Wow, it's so magnificent! It's truly beautiful. No wonder it's the 'Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting'!"
"Put that down! It's mine!"
Gu Anrou, who had been knocked to the ground, let out a scream and tried to rush forward again. But the woman wasn't going to let her get up. She stepped on Gu Anrou's hand with her high - heeled shoe, causing Gu Anrou's face to contort in pain.
"Damn it! Let go of me!"
"We should go, Richard," the woman urged.
"Okay." Reluctantly, Richard took his eyes off the painting, put it back in the brocade box, and then quickly left with the item.
"Thieves! Someone, catch them!" Gu Anrou shouted, covering her red - bruised hand.
Seeing that Richard had successfully snatched the painting, the other foreigners also boldly rushed to grab the cultural relics. It was a win - win situation for them. If they got something, they made a profit; if not, they didn't lose anything!
Tang Li had already locked all the doors and windows. When Richard and his group ran to the main door with their loot, they found it locked.
"Smash the door down!"
Richard hugged the brocade box and hid behind the black bodyguard. The woman and the black bodyguard started ramming the door hard.
Richard anxiously urged, "Hurry up, or none of us will be able to get out!"
Just as he finished speaking, a ghostly voice sounded behind him.
"Since you can't leave, then stay."
A silver figure flashed by. Before Richard could react, the "Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting" in his hand had been snatched away.
"Who!" Richard roared. Turning around, he saw a good - looking young man with flaxen hair.
"Get the painting back!"
Richard pointed at Tang Li and roared. The black bodyguard and the woman attacked Tang Li from both sides. But they didn't expect that the seemingly delicate Tang Li was actually extremely powerful. He quickly overpowered the black man and the woman.
Richard sensed the danger and took a step back, putting on a fake smile. "If you want this painting, you can have it. But you have to let us out first!"
Tang Li sneered disdainfully. "Even if I don't let you out, once this painting is in my hands, you won't be able to take it away."
At this moment, there were hurried footsteps outside. Xu Qingqing and Professor Zhou rushed over with the police.
"Professor Zhou, everyone is inside. Hurry in!"
"Okay, thank you." Professor Zhou nodded, barely hiding his excitement. He said to the policemen behind him, "Officers, I'm counting on you."
"Sure." The team leader ordered his men to surround the church. "Keep a close watch. Don't let anyone out."
"Yes." The policemen surrounded the villa tightly. Not even a fly could get out.
Xu Qingqing turned around and wanted to go in too, but Professor Zhou stopped her. "Qingqing, it's too dangerous inside. Those people might do something crazy out of desperation. You'd better stay outside!"
Xu Qingqing smiled and said, "I'm not that weak. And my friend is still inside. I have to go in and find him."
"Then I'll go with you." Professor Zhou and Xu Qingqing walked in together and saw several foreigners lying on the ground beside Tang Li.
When Tang Li saw Xu Qingqing come in, he ran up to her to show off. "These people tried to snatch the 'Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting', but I've subdued them all."
"Well done!" Xu Qingqing praised Tang Li and gave him a thumbs - up. Tang Li felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey after receiving Xu Qingqing's compliment.
Professor Zhou was more concerned about the safety of the "Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting". "Is the 'Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting' undamaged?"
"Yes, it's intact." Tang Li took out the painting hidden inside his shirt and handed it to Professor Zhou.
Professor Zhou opened the brocade box and looked at the well - preserved "Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting", hardly daring to breathe.
He found it! He finally found it!
The "Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting" that he had been searching for for years had finally appeared!
"Hahaha!" Professor Zhou couldn't help but let out a silly laugh. Only later did he realize he had lost his composure. He sincerely thanked Xu Qingqing.
"Thank you. If it weren't for you, the 'Farewell Journey for a Thousand Li Painting' might never have come back!"
Xu Qingqing's misty peach - blossom eyes were filled with a smile. "No need to thank us. This is just our contribution to protecting the country's cultural relics!"
At this moment, Gu Anrou, standing on the stage, saw Xu Qingqing chatting happily with Professor Zhou. She was so angry that her whole body trembled!
Xu Qingqing, it was always Xu Qingqing!
She had not only snatched Lu Chuanbai away from her but now also came to ruin her career!
"Xu Qingqing! I'll kill you!" Filled with anger, Gu Anrou wanted to rush up and settle the score with Xu Qingqing.
The staff member beside her grabbed Gu Anrou. Looking at the subdued foreigners one by one, the staff member said anxiously, "Sister Anrou, let's go quickly! If we don't leave now, the police will come in and none of us will be able to escape!"
"Let go of me. I'm going to kill that bitch!" Gu Anrou tried to break free from the staff member's embrace.
"It's too late if we don't go. We'll be in big trouble if we're caught!" The staff member, who had been paid by Gu's father to protect Gu Anrou, dragged her towards the backstage even as the police were getting closer.
"I won't forget this grudge!"
Gu Anrou and the staff member opened the underground passage in the backstage and left.
This church was built by foreigners during the war. In order to escape when the war came, there was a tunnel under the church that led directly to the foot of the mountain.
This was also the reason why Gu Anrou chose to hold the auction here. She wanted to be able to escape quickly in case of an emergency.