Chapter 16: Bagua Mirror
“Across all the Jingxin Hall branches in the country, there aren't even ten magical artifacts in total. Do you really think having two here is too few?”
Hearing Jing Shizhen's words, both Su Xiaofan and Zheng Dagang were stunned.
The statement was far beyond either of their expectations. Zheng Dagang especially had always assumed that Jingxin Hall, one of the country's top antique chain stores, could casually produce hundreds of magical artifacts.
“That just proves you two don't understand anything. Come inside with me.”
Jing Shizhen stood up and walked toward the inner hall. As he did, he called out, “Old Yuan, we're not receiving guests in the inner hall today. If anything comes up, handle it outside.”
“Yes, Brother Jing. Don't worry, I've got things covered out here,” Old Yuan replied.
“This is where I receive guests.”
The inner hall was another living-room-like space, with the most eye-catching feature once again being a tea table.
Su Xiaofan had a decent eye. He could tell that the tea table was made from buried golden nanmu wood. At first glance it looked completely black, but from another angle under the light, it revealed a faint golden sheen. He focused his attention on it, and as expected, the words appeared in his mind:
【Buried golden nanmu wood. Cannot be repaired!】
“I acquired this piece years ago from Yunnan Province. The timber wasn't regular in shape, so it was made into a tea table. It's hard to find material this large nowadays.”
Seeing Su Xiaofan staring at the tea table, Jing Shizhen explained its origin.
Su Xiaofan couldn't help clicking his tongue in amazement. He knew the price of golden nanmu. Even an ordinary bracelet made from buried wood cost several thousand yuan, while one made from buried golden nanmu started at over ten thousand. A tea table this large, if put up for sale, would probably start at no less than ten million yuan.
“Uncle Jing, there really aren't many antiques displayed in your shop.”
Su Xiaofan finally voiced the question he'd wanted to ask for a while.
Although this was an antique shop, there were surprisingly few items on display. He had deliberately looked around earlier and found that eight out of every ten items in the outer hall were modern handicrafts. The remaining two weren't very old either, both dating only to the late Qing Dynasty.
“The good stuff is all kept in bank vaults.”
Since Su Xiaofan was Zheng Dagang's friend, Jing Shizhen didn't treat him like an outsider. He also had a good impression of the young man. Su Xiaofan wasn't talkative and knew when to advance or retreat, so Jing Shizhen spoke to him quite casually.
“We rent safety deposit boxes at banks in every city. Valuable items are generally stored there.”
Jing Shizhen smiled. “As luck would have it, a client is coming tomorrow to inspect these in person, so I brought these two magical artifacts back. You two just happened to show up. Normally, it's a hassle even to see them. Old Yuan doesn't have the authority either—you have to make an appointment with me in advance.”
“But Uncle Jing, if you don't display the items in the shop, how do customers choose what they want? And isn't it troublesome to make an appointment and go to the bank every time?”
Although Su Xiaofan had spent several years in the antique market, he had always operated at the lowest level and knew little about how major antique stores worked.
“That's simple enough. We may deal in antiques, but we have to keep up with the times.”
Jing Shizhen laughed and pointed at an iPad on the tea table.
“They just look at the tablet. All the photos are of the actual items, taken from every angle. You can zoom in and out. It's even clearer than looking at the real thing.”
He chuckled.
“Our clientele is relatively stable. Most are regular customers, or people introduced by regulars. They usually come with a strong intention to buy and know exactly what they're looking for. Once they ask to inspect an item, they almost always purchase it. It's rare for us to make repeated trips to the bank vault.”
Only then did Su Xiaofan understand.
So Jingxin Hall actually chose its customers. Those without sufficient means probably just sat in the shop drinking tea and browsing pictures on the tablet. To see the real items, you had to be either a regular customer or someone introduced by one.
“Gangzi, you and Xiaofan wait here for a moment.”
Jing Shizhen didn't stop in the inner hall. Instead, he pushed open another door. Zheng Dagang and Su Xiaofan halted where they were. Clearly, beyond that point was off-limits to guests.
“I've been in there before. There's a safe inside.”
Zheng Dagang pointed toward the door.
“There are still some good things in the shop, all kept in the safe. But the very best items are definitely stored at the bank.”
“I came today just to see the magical artifacts,” Su Xiaofan said expectantly.
“Xiaofan, I owe you an apology. We can't do business in magical artifacts anymore.”
With Jing Shizhen gone, Zheng Dagang apologized again.
“Brother Gang, didn't Uncle Jing already explain? We can't sell magical artifacts ourselves, but we can introduce customers to him. Besides, magical artifacts are made from ordinary objects too, right? We could also try looking for suppliers and stock some ourselves.”
Whether he could deal in magical artifacts honestly didn't matter much to Su Xiaofan.
After all, the repair value in his mind could identify magical artifacts. Maybe he'd really stumble across one someday.
“Magical artifacts aren't made by craftsmen. Stop thinking along those lines.”
As soon as Su Xiaofan finished speaking, Jing Shizhen's voice sounded.
“There are things you can't understand yet. Just remember one thing: magical artifacts aren't easy to come by. And if you do come across one, it'll probably be the kind Gangzi sold. So don't waste your time chasing this.”
As he spoke, Jing Shizhen emerged from the inner room.
His previously empty hands now held a tray covered with velvet cloth. Two objects rested on it. From a distance, Su Xiaofan could only make out one palm-sized black object, while the other was round, resembling a lid.
“Come over and take a look. These are genuine magical artifacts. Put on gloves before handling them.”
Jing Shizhen carried the tray to the tea table and beckoned them over.
Zheng Dagang and Su Xiaofan hurried forward, each picking up a pair of white gloves from the table.
“Uncle Jing, this is an ancient bronze mirror, right? And this thing is a bell?”
After seeing the items on the tray, Zheng Dagang couldn't help saying,
“I've got ancient mirrors too. Just because one has a Bagua pattern engraved on it, it's a magical artifact? If you want them, Uncle Jing, I can collect thirty or fifty for you. Does that count as magical artifacts?
“And this bell is common too. Isn't it just the kind of wind bell hanging from Buddhist pagodas? It's a bit harder to get, but still possible. Uncle Jing, are these two things really the magical artifacts you're talking about?”
“I really hate talking to you. You're ignorant and yet you never stop talking.”
Jing Shizhen glared at Zheng Dagang before explaining,
“This Bagua mirror is a protective artifact for homes. It stabilizes feng shui and wards off baleful energy. It's an exceptionally rare defensive magical artifact. I dare say there are very few people in the country who possess one better than this.
“As for this bell, it's indeed a wind bell, also called a Divining Wind Chime. In ancient times it could be used for divination. But it's different from the wind bells hanging on Buddhist pagodas. This is an offensive magical artifact. When it encounters sinister winds or baleful energy, it rings on its own to injure the enemy. One for defense and one for offense—hang them in a house, and your family will remain safe. No filthy yin energy will be able to invade.”
“Uncle Jing... have you been reading novels too?”
Zheng Dagang looked at him with a strange expression.
“What sinister winds and baleful energy? That's all made up in fiction. You actually believe it? Then again, I guess some people do, otherwise how could these things sell?”
“I... I shouldn't have wasted my breath talking to you. Look if you want. If not, get lost.”
Even with Jing Shizhen's normally calm temperament, Zheng Dagang's sarcastic remarks infuriated him.
He shoved the tray in front of Su Xiaofan and ignored the two of them.
If it hadn't been for giving Zheng Dagang face today, he never would have taken out these two precious magical artifacts. Yet instead of appreciation, the brat had mocked him.
“Uncle Jing, don't be angry.”
Zheng Dagang glanced at the two objects and leaned closer.
“Seriously though, if I help you collect these things, would you buy them?”
In Zheng Dagang's opinion, bronze mirrors weren't especially common in the market, but they certainly weren't impossible to find. It was only a matter of condition.
As for the wind bell, he wouldn't dare remove one from White Horse Temple, but there were plenty of temples around Luochuan. Some with little incense offering might even sell one for the right price.
“Get lost!”
Even though he knew he shouldn't get angry with the brat, Jing Shizhen's face still flushed red.
The two magical artifacts he'd gone to great lengths to obtain had somehow become common street goods in Zheng Dagang's mouth.
Jing Shizhen stood up and reached for the tray, startling Su Xiaofan, who had been standing there in a daze while holding the bronze mirror.
“Uncle Jing, wait. Let me look a little longer.”
Su Xiaofan quickly stopped him.
He had only just finished examining the bronze mirror engraved with the Bagua pattern and hadn't yet looked at the bell.
【Repair Value: 8 points!】
【Bagua Mirror. Low-grade damaged magical artifact. Can be repaired. Repair requires 3 Repair Value. Repair?】
“No.”
Su Xiaofan answered silently in his mind.
The information displayed by the bronze mirror appeared clearly in his consciousness.
It also left him puzzled.
The Bagua pattern on the mirror was perfectly clear. There wasn't even a trace of verdigris. It looked completely intact, with no visible damage whatsoever.
So why, like his dragon-shaped jade pendant, was it identified as a damaged magical artifact?
What exactly was missing?
Moreover, although the Bagua mirror was only a low-grade magical artifact—lower than his mid-grade dragon-shaped jade pendant—it was incredibly cheap to repair.
It required only 3 Repair Value.
Compared to the jade pendant's 50 points, it was practically a giveaway.
If it had belonged to him, Su Xiaofan would have spent the Repair Value immediately.
Afraid Jing Shizhen would take the artifacts away, Su Xiaofan quickly picked up the bell, about the size of a baby's fist, and focused his attention on it.
The bell's information also appeared in his mind.
(End of Chapter)
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