Chapter 4

Update Time: 2012-11-02

Finally, I can update online ~~~~(>_<)~~~~. Yesterday, a little mouse bit the network cable at the school's network center, so it was a tragedy... I'll still update at 8 PM.

Wang Ke approached the stall and casually picked up a blue-and-white porcelain plate. From its texture, it appeared to be from the late Ming Dynasty.

The plate was very beautiful, exuding a grand atmosphere. The rim was decorated with sixteen panels, with eight large panels featuring bamboo and fruit patterns, and eight small panels featuring net patterns. The layers were clearly defined, and the center depicted a scene of mandarin ducks in a lotus pond.

At first glance, the blue-and-white porcelain plate seemed to be in good condition, but upon closer inspection, Wang Ke noticed something was off.

The mandarin ducks in the lotus pond were drawn with immature strokes, and the composition was distorted. The blue-and-white color was somewhat gray, and the glaze lacked luster and vitality.

Fake.

Wang Ke sighed lightly and put down the porcelain plate.

The stall owner had been observing Wang Ke. Initially, he thought this unfamiliar young man was a novice, but when he saw Wang Ke put down the plate with a discerning expression, he realized he had misjudged him.

Are young people nowadays so capable?

The stall owner was somewhat surprised.

After examining several items, Wang Ke didn't find any genuine pieces. He knew that it was rare to find genuine antiques on the antique street, as they would be quickly snapped up by experts if they appeared.

It seems that finding a bargain isn't that easy.

"Brother, which one do you like? Rest assured, I have a good reputation, and my prices are fair."

The stall owner, seeing that Wang Ke was unsatisfied with several items, asked.

Wang Ke put down the porcelain bowl he had just picked up and asked helplessly, "Boss, do you have any good items?"

"Good items" meant genuine items. After spending half a year on the antique street, Wang Ke wouldn't be foolish enough to directly say "genuine." Saying so would damage the boss's reputation and offend him.

"Good items?"

The stall owner was taken aback, then chuckled and said, "I didn't realize you were an expert. Since that's the case, I won't hide anything."

While the stall owner was fetching something, Wang Ke's eyes scanned the stall again, even though he had already looked through it. It was a good opportunity to review his knowledge of antiques, as most of them were fake anyway.

Halfway through his scan, Wang Ke felt a sharp pain in his eyes, more intense and longer-lasting than usual.

The intense pain made Wang Ke inwardly groan, and his whole body trembled slightly.

Why is it so painful?

Isn't the aftereffect supposed to be over quickly? Why is it lasting so long this time?

Wang Ke was now worried not just about his eyes but about whether he would die from the pain!

The pain was unbearable, far beyond his tolerance.

He couldn't just sit there and wait to die. He had to take action!

Wang Ke clenched his teeth and, despite the intense pain, gathered his true qi and slowly focused it around his eyes.

He did this to alleviate the pain. "No pain, no blockage; blockage, pain." There must be a blockage causing such intense pain, and true qi could help by smoothing the meridians and reducing the pain.

He didn't have time to consider the consequences of gathering true qi and had to take the risk.

Just as he expected the intense pain to return when the true qi gathered around his eyes, the pain suddenly lessened.

What's happening?

This situation made Wang Ke pause, then he felt a surge of joy. Could true qi really alleviate the pain in his eyes?

Thinking this, he immediately gathered more true qi around his eyes and was pleasantly surprised to find that the pain indeed lessened.

Ha, finally, I don't have to worry about this damned pain anymore.

After enduring the hellish torture, the sudden relief felt like heaven, making Wang Ke ecstatic.

Hmm?

Wang Ke looked up at a bronze golden toad on the stall. The sight made him pause.

The toad had only three legs, with the Big Dipper carved on its back, two strings of copper coins in its mouth, the Taiji symbol on its head, and a pile of coins inscribed with "Wealth and Treasure" under its feet. Despite being a common symbol of wealth, he saw a faint white mist on it, and more white mist was flowing towards it.

What's going on?

Where is this mist coming from?

What is this mist?

Wang Ke was shocked by the scene. He felt that this white mist was different from the true qi in his body. True qi had a strong energy, while this was very gentle, almost imperceptible, and could easily be mistaken for incense smoke.

Curious, Wang Ke looked at other items on the stall. Only a few antiques, including a jade pi xiu, were covered in white mist.

If all antiques had white mist, he might have thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, but only two items had it. What was going on?

At that moment, the stall owner straightened up and took out a golden dragon fish, smiling mysteriously at Wang Ke. "What do you think of this?"

Wang Ke's mind was still on the white mist and didn't notice the stall owner's proud expression, just nodding in response.

Seeing Wang Ke's lack of enthusiasm, the stall owner smiled again and said, "Don't underestimate this golden dragon fish. It's a magical artifact, a truly excellent item."

Magical artifact?

Wang Ke's interest was piqued. He had only heard of magical artifacts but never seen one.

There are three types of magical artifacts. One is formed naturally in a favorable position, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth. Another is created by feng shui masters over a long period. The third is blessed by high-ranking monks. Any of these can change the feng shui of a place, bringing wealth or averting disasters.

The first and third types are rare, as natural formation is difficult, and high-ranking monks don't bless items casually. Even if they exist, they are few. So, these types are rarely believed to exist. Wang Ke didn't believe in them either.

The second type is more common, as China's 5,000-year history has produced countless feng shui masters and skilled individuals, many of whose creations have survived.

But "more common" is relative.

Wang Ke examined the golden dragon fish carefully but found nothing unusual, so he looked at the stall owner with confusion. "Boss, how do you know this is a magical artifact?"

"Of course, I know. I had it blessed by the abbot of Puzhao Temple. It's definitely a magical artifact."

The stall owner chuckled.

Blessed?

Is this really blessed?

There's no difference?

Wang Ke was even more confused. After examining it for a while, he still found nothing and reluctantly put the golden dragon fish down, turning to look at the golden toad. He felt a sudden urge and asked the stall owner, "Boss, what is this? It seems to have a special placement."

"This? Well," the stall owner proudly introduced, "don't underestimate this small stall. This is the treasure of my stall, a genuine feng shui magical toad! I paid a lot for it, and my wealth depends on it!"

"Is this also a feng shui magical artifact?"

Wang Ke was surprised and then thought about the white mist on the toad. Could it be a characteristic of genuine magical artifacts?

If so, the jade pi xiu should also be a magical artifact?

Thinking this, he became excited. Could he really see what genuine magical artifacts look like?

Just then, Wang Ke's vision suddenly went dark, and his body went limp. Fortunately, he managed to hold onto the stall, or he would have collapsed.

Wang Ke quickly checked his body and found that his true qi was almost depleted.

What's happening?

Why is it being consumed so quickly?

"Are you okay?"

The stall owner, seeing the young man about to faint, quickly asked, hoping he wouldn't collapse in front of his stall, which would be very unlucky.

Wang Ke waved his hand to indicate he was fine. He looked at the golden toad and noticed the white mist was gone. He then looked at the jade pi xiu and saw it was also gone.

Could it be...

Wang Ke suddenly thought of a possibility that excited him. Could he have a special ability?

Infusing true qi into his eyes allowed him to see the characteristics of genuine magical artifacts, but it consumed a lot of true qi. There was no other explanation.

A blessing in disguise!

Wang Ke thought excitedly. With this special ability, he could identify magical artifacts and would have a significant advantage in finding bargains!

However, he still wasn't sure if what he saw was a magical artifact. What if it wasn't? He decided to buy the jade pi xiu and not the golden toad, which the boss wouldn't sell.

Seeing that Wang Ke was fine, the stall owner breathed a sigh of relief. At that moment, another customer approached, and the stall owner left Wang Ke to attend to the new customer, giving Wang Ke the chance to examine the jade pi xiu.

Without hesitation, Wang Ke picked up the jade pi xiu. As soon as he held it, a cool sensation spread through his hand, making him feel refreshed.

Wang Ke was surprised. In the six months he had spent on the antique street, he had never felt this way.

He carefully examined the jade pi xiu. The pi xiu was intricately carved in the center of the jade, but the craftsmanship was rough, and the jade quality was poor, not translucent, and looked old and worn. However, it gave the impression of having been reprocessed.

Such a jade would be immediately recognized as fake by anyone with a trained eye and ignored. But when he turned it over, he was taken aback.

The wire-cutting technique... from the Ming Dynasty?!

Wang Ke's pupils dilated, his breathing quickened, and his eyes filled with disbelief.

Could he really have found a bargain?!

"Wire-cutting technique" is an ancient method of carving jade using a flexible wire. The age of the jade and the time required for repeated cutting and polishing result in a thick patina and a matte surface. Fake jade lacks these characteristics, which are used to determine the age of the wire-cutting technique.

The wire-cutting technique on this jade pi xui not only had a thick patina but also a matte surface. Most importantly, it matched the characteristics of Ming Dynasty wire-cutting: rough and casual cuts, multi-angle cuts, and circular grinding marks in the hollow areas!

He really found a bargain!

Even if it's not a magical artifact, it's still an antique!

Wang Ke became excited and understood why few people had noticed the jade's value.

The forger had also thought the jade was fake and reprocessed it with a patina. Initially, it might have looked real, but over time, it looked even more fake.

If not for this, how could he have had the chance to find a bargain!

But why did this high-quality jade pi xiu give him such a feeling? Could it really be a magical artifact?

Wang Ke was even more puzzled and more convinced of his special ability.

"Boss, how much is this jade pi xiu?"

Wang Ke asked the stall owner, holding the jade pi xiu.