Chapter 474 - Chapter 474: Chapter 474 Dark Artifacts Begone, Ancient Jades Beware
Chapter 474: Chapter 474 Dark Artifacts Begone, Ancient Jades Beware
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Despite his exhaustive efforts, his son’s condition remained unchanged. Despair gnawed at Zhao Shandong. TIWhat did I do to deserve this?” he cried. “My wife constantly reminded me to take good care of our son. For ten years, he was the picture of health, had excellent grades, was respectful, and was a beacon of joy.11
The sudden, debilitating illness was a crushing blow.
“Your son’s case is indeed unique,” Chen Yu said coolly. “A significant financial investment may be necessary for his recovery.”
“Money is no object!” Zhao Shandong declared, eager to prove it to Chen Yu.
“Name your price. Even if it means selling my house or shop, 1’11 do whatever it takes.”
“There’s a misunderstanding,” Chen Yu replied with a wry smile. “The cost won’t increase. However, I do need something destroyed —your prized White Jade Guanyin?1
Zhao Shandong’s jaw dropped. The White Jade Guanyin wasn’t just their family heirloom; it represented half the value of his entire shop, even though something was unsettling about it…
Sensing Zhao Shandong’s hesitation, Chen Yu probed, “It pains you to part with it?”
“No, no, not at all,” Zhao Shandong stammered. “I just don’t understand the connection. You said saving my son would be expensive, and now you want me to destroy the Guanyin? Is there a reason?”
“The answer will soon be revealed,” Chen Yu replied cryptically. “Your shop is just two hundred meters away. Bring the Guanyin here, and 1’11 explain everything.”
“If it cures my son,” Zhao Shandong vowed, his voice thick with desperation, “I wouldn’t hesitate to burn down the shop, let alone smash this statue.”
Fueled by a flicker of hope ignited by Chen Yu’s uncanny knowledge—the exact date of his son’s illness and perfect health history—Zhao Shandong sprinted out.
He soon returned, lugging a magnificent white jade Guanyin statue nearly his son’s height.
“This is it, Dr. Chen,” he said carefully, placing the statue on the floor and wiping sweat from his brow.
“My treasure. Please explain why you want it destroyed. It’s not about attachment; I just want to understand how it’s linked to my son’s illness.”
Chen Yu offered a knowing smile. “As a man in the antique trade, you understand the rules better than most.”
“There’s an old saying: ’Dark artifacts have no place in the living world, and ancient jade shouldn’t be worn on the body.111
Zhao Shandong’s face paled. A horrifying realization dawned on him after a few seconds,
The saying had two parts, each with ominous implications.
Dark artifacts were offerings for the dead, essentially funerary objects. They should never be kept at home, let alone near a living person.
Ancient jade, on the other hand, was believed to possess spiritual energy, absorbing auras over centuries underground.
Wearing such jade could attract misfortune.
The antique shop was a traditional live-work space, with the shop front facing the street and the family living quarters in the back.
Unease gnawed at Zhao Shandong. Could the White Jade Guanyin harbor some malevolent energy? It was supposed to be a symbol of good fortune.
“You’re familiar with the saying, aren’t you?” Chen Yu asked.
“Inanimate objects from the underworld shouldn’t be kept indoors, and ancient jade shouldn’t be worn directly.”
Zhao Shandong’s face drained of color as Chen Yu’s words struck a chord.
Chen Yu pressed. “Wiry on earth did you have this thing in your shop?”
Zhao Shandong groaned, the truth dawning on him.
The Guanyin must be the culprit behind his son’s illness. Regret washed over him.
“Our family has a strict rule,” he confessed. “We never accept doubtfully sourced antiques, no matter how tempting the price.”
“But that day…” Shame colored his voice. “It felt like divine providence. I bought it impulsively, blinded by the chance to make a fortune.”
“A grave robber, wasn’t it?1’ Chen Yu cut in.
Zhao Shandong offered a weak nod. The grave robber had spun a talc of needing quick cash and practically begged him to take the Guanyin at a steal. “Zhao Shandong, you fool!” he roared, slapping himself in frustration.
Greed had clouded his judgment, leading him to cast aside his family’s wisdom, “Not only did I buy this funerary object,” he continued, his voice laced with self-loathing, “but I convinced myself it was a lucky find. I even forgot the warnings about cursed artifacts and ancient jade.”
The Guanyin’s hefty price tag made him uneasy no matter where he placed it.
In a twisted justification, he decided the shop wasn’t technically his home.
Surely, keeping it there wouldn’t endanger him or his son.
How wrong he was. A moment of avarice had jeopardized his son’s well-being. “Hold on, Mr. Zhao,” Chen Yu interjected. “Don’t jump to conclusions yet. There’s more to the story.”
“Of course, Dr. Chen,” Zhao Shandong replied, eager to atone for his mistakes, “Tell me what you know. I’ll answer anything.”
“Given your expertise,” Chen Yu posed, “how much do you think this White Jade Guanyin could fetch at an auction house or other reputable venues?”
“At least 20 million,” Zhao Shandong answered without hesitation.
The Zhao family had been in the antique business for generations, and their knowledge was passed down through the years.
Based on the craftsmanship and style, the Guanyin was likely a relic from the Northern and Southern Dynasties—over 1,500 years old.
Such an antiquity wouldn’t be a mere trinket.
If he could cleanse it of its dark past and sell it through legitimate channels, it would easily fetch 20 million.
The grave robbers had practically given it away for a measly 4 million..