Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Wracked with guilt, Zhao Shandong recounted his transgression.
Heâd defied his familyâs principles, succumbing to the allure of a bargain and acquiring the burial item.
Heâd displayed it in his shop for a while, fabricating a story about it being a family heirloom, all with the intention of selling it later for a hefty profit.
âThe Guanyin is worth 20 million yuan,â Chen Yu pointed out. âSince the grave robbers are desperate for cash, whyâd they practically give it to you for 4 million? Doesnât that seem too good to be true?â
Speechless, Zhao Shandong considered this.
Heâd never dealt with grave robbers before and wasnât familiar with their practices.
âThink about it,â Chen Yu continued. âThere are other antique shops nearby. Why wouldnât the robbers try selling it to them first?â
âWhy you?â
A seed of doubt sprouted in Zhao Shandongâs mind. âAre you saying somethingâs off about the grave robbers?â
âGrave robbing is a heinous act,â Chen Yu stated. âTheir chances of survival are slim.â
âEven if they were desperate, they wouldnât undervalue their loot so drastically.â
âThey know the worth of artifacts just like you do. This is their livelihood.â
âWhy did they come to you specifically, someone with no experience dealing with them?â
Chen Yuâs repeated questions quickened Zhao Shandongâs pulse.
Blinded by greed, heâd focused solely on the supposed windfall, ignoring any red flags.
Now, under Chen Yuâs scrutiny, the more he looked at the Guanyin, the more unsettling it felt.
âDr.Chen,â he said hesitantly, âIâm certain the Guanyin is authentic, from the Northern and Southern Dynasties.â
âThe problem⦠is it the grave robbers?â
âThe grave robbers are certainly suspicious,â Chen Yu agreed, âbut the Guanyin itself is even more so.â
âConsider the industry adage passed down for generations.â
âIt holds the answer.â
Realization dawned on Zhao Shandong, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
The Guanyin was a dark artifact, a source of malevolent energy.
Fear and loathing washed over him.
What if it harbored evil spirits besides the dark energy Chen Yu mentioned?
He berated himself for his greed and for overlooking the obvious clues.
Chen Yuâs questions werenât particularly complex, but blinded by the prospect of immense profit, Zhao Shandong had seen only opportunity.
Heâd envisioned quadrupling his investment within a year or two.
The Guanyin was a double whammyâa burial object and ancient jade-violating two cardinal rules of the antique trade.
âDr. Chen,â Zhao Shandong stammered, âis the Guanyin⦠possessed?â
Chen Yu offered a curt nod.
âYou could say that.â
âScientifically speaking, jade has a unique magnetic field.â
âUpon death, a person emits a specific energy wave.â
âThis wave can be trapped within the jadeâs field, forever bound to the object.â
âOh my god!â Zhao Shandong cried, his heart pounding in his chest.
His worst fears were confirmed.
What special magnetic fields and energy waves? Chen Yu was clearly describing how the tombâs ghosts became trapped within the Guanyin.
Panic rising, Zhao Shandong grasped Chen Yuâs hand and slowly rose.
âIs there⦠a ghost⦠inside it?â he croaked.
A thought struck Zhao Shandong as Chen Yu prepared to answer.
âIf a ghost resides within,â he muttered, âwhy target only my son?â
âShouldnât it seek revenge on me, the one who bought it from the grave robbers and displayed it in the shop?â
A flurry of questions swarmed his mind.
Heâd made the deal; heâd placed the Guanyin in the shop, and he was the one who meticulously cleaned it himself, keeping his son and employees away to prevent any damage.
Why was he unscathed after prolonged contact with the evil object?
Driven by puzzlement, Zhao Shandong laid bare his questions, pleading with Chen Yu for an answer.
He was prepared to accept any explanation, recognizing his actions had brought this misfortune upon his son.
âYouâre right on the last point,â Chen Yu acknowledged. âYou did bring the trouble upon your son.â
âLet me ask you this,â he continued, a curious smile playing on his lips, âWhat part of the body is most susceptible to attracting disaster?â
Zhao Shandong furrowed his brow in confusion.
Then, a sudden realization dawned on him.
âThe mouth!â he exclaimed. âAs the saying goes, trouble comes out of the mouth.â
âPrecisely,â Chen Yu said with a knowing smile.
âWhile you excel in many areas, your tolerance for alcohol is lacking.â
âEvery time you drink with someone, you become unrestrained with your words.â
âThe Guanyin merely served as the instrument of your sonâs misfortune.â
âThe true root of this disaster lies in your speech.â
âYour words have brought prosperity to your shop, but theyâve also turned friends into enemies, ultimately leading to your friend harming your son.â
Chen Yu patted Zhao Shandongâs shoulder sympathetically. âYou and your wife had a mutual friend, someone you grew up with.â
âHe was once attracted to your wife, but her heart belonged to you.â
âThough unsuccessful in his pursuit, it didnât affect your friendship. You two remained close.â
âWang Kang!â Zhao Shandong roared.
âItâs Wang Kang! He hurt my son! But why? Heâs my sonâs godfather!â
The story unfolded.
Zhao Shandong, his wife, and Wang Kang all grew up together.
Both men fell for the same woman, and Zhao Shandong emerged victorious.
Their happiness was short-lived, however, as Zhao Shandongâs wife died in childbirth.
Wang Kang, a pillar of support during that difficult time, even became his sonâs godfather, initially showering the boy with affection..