Jade Pendant

"Fang Yi, do you believe that the 'Yongle Dadian' is authentic?" 

After exchanging barbs with Xie Qingyang, Man Jun found himself feeling somewhat apprehensive. Despite possessing a fortune in the millions, the prospect of engaging in a potentially unprofitable venture was a novel experience for him. 

"Brother Man, I think it is genuine..." 

Fang Yi responded with unwavering conviction. Setting aside other considerations, the profound aura of antiquity he sensed from the item indicated that it was at least from before the Qing Dynasty. Even if it were not the original 'Yongle Dadian' compiled by Zhu Di, it was undoubtedly a version from the Ming Dynasty. 

Had Fang Yi not been financially constrained, that volume of the 'Yongle Dadian' would surely not have fallen into Man Jun's hands. Fang Yi felt a sense of helplessness, realizing the truth in a saying that Mr. Sun had once shared with him: collecting is rooted in depth; without a solid financial foundation, one can only gaze longingly at fine treasures. 

"Alas, I sold dozens of those things back in the day; how could it possibly be real..." Man Jun sighed upon hearing this, feeling increasingly naive. He was fully aware that it was a counterfeit yet still sought reassurance from Fang Yi. 

"The likelihood of authenticity is quite low..." 

As soon as Man Jun's words fell, Yu Xuan, seated nearby, leisurely interjected, "Since the Republic era, the 'Yongle Dadian' has not appeared in the public sphere. Even if this copy were repurchased from overseas, the hope of it being genuine is slim..." 

Ancient texts can be categorized alongside calligraphy and painting collections or as miscellaneous items; thus, Yu Xuan had considerable knowledge in this area. He had immediately discerned that the condition of this particular 'Yongle Dadian' was remarkably preserved, leading him to instinctively regard it as a forgery without bothering to examine it further. 

"Mr. Yu, nothing is absolute; perhaps Brother Man has stumbled upon a significant find?" Fang Yi remarked with a smile, "Isn't this auction renowned for uncovering hidden treasures? I suspect those two items you acquired earlier might also be fortunate finds?" 

Fang Yi had heard from Man Jun that the auctions organized by the collection company, while rife with forgeries, often contained genuine treasures overlooked by the organizers due to their expertise, allowing astute bidders to acquire valuable items at relatively low prices. 

"I suppose mine could be considered a minor find..." Upon hearing Fang Yi's words, Yu Xuan smiled nonchalantly. There were hardly any items in the auction that caught his discerning eye. 

Among the items purchased by Su Shilun, only the snuff bottle held any real value; the cricket gourd was significant solely because it belonged to Yu Xuan's elder, while the snuff bottle from the Qing court's imperial workshop was of greater worth. 

"Young man, weren't you just inquiring about Wang Shixiang? Would you like me to enlighten you?" 

Having secured the items he desired, Yu Xuan lost interest in the ongoing auction and switched places with Bai Chuxia, settling beside Fang Yi. 

"Mr. Yu, the auction isn't over yet; it might be ill-timed for us to converse now," Fang Yi noted, his gaze drawn to the auctioneer, who was nearing the ancient jade piece. Despite it being the source of his earlier distress, Fang Yi still felt a strong interest in it. 

It's important to recognize that antiquities from distant eras abound; not only stones formed over countless years but even ordinary pieces of wood may have existed for centuries. Yet, none of them stirred Fang Yi's consciousness as this jade pendant did, suggesting it might possess some significance. 

"You are quite the rule-abiding young man." 

Upon hearing Fang Yi's words, Yu Xuan was not angered; rather, he regarded Fang Yi with respect. After all, it was rare for someone of Fang Yi's age, even those with a fine arts background, to recognize the obscure name of the Eight Great Mountain Man. 

"Mr. Yu, you flatter me. Once the auction concludes, I would like to seek your guidance..." Fang Yi's demeanor pleased Yu Xuan immensely. When one finds another agreeable, everything about them seems agreeable as well; such was Yu Xuan's current state of mind. 

"The next item up for auction is verified to be an ancient jade piece predating the Han Dynasty, though the exact period remains uncertain. The starting bid is five thousand yuan, with increments of five hundred. Interested parties may place their bids now..." At that moment, the auctioneer began the bidding for the dragon-shaped jade pendant, prompting Fang Yi, who had been relaxed, to sit up slightly straighter. 

"Hmm? Young man, are you interested in this jade pendant?" 

Noticing Fang Yi's subtle shift, Yu Xuan turned to him and said, "Not all unearthed items are treasures, and objects retrieved from tombs with ill fates or poor feng shui may even be harbingers of misfortune. Young man, one must exercise caution when purchasing ancient jade..." 

Yu Xuan's additional remarks stemmed from his favorable impression of Fang Yi. He believed that with the knowledge Fang Yi had displayed, he would understand the implications of his words. 

"Mr. Yu, I comprehend your concerns..." Yu Xuan was indeed correct; upon hearing the term 'feng shui,' Fang Yi immediately grasped Yu Xuan's intent. Furthermore, Fang Yi's understanding of this subject surpassed even Yu Xuan's. 

Tombs, often deep underground, are generally well-sealed, which restricts air circulation and fosters the accumulation of yin energy, commonly referred to in feng shui as 'death energy.' Scientifically, this phenomenon can be explained as a toxic gas that, when inhaled, can induce hallucinations or even death. 

However, from a Daoist perspective, this 'death energy' represents a lingering resentment—an attachment or grievance from the deceased that remains unaddressed, or a curse left by grave robbers. Such resentment can cling to certain objects, resulting in what Yu Xuan termed 'dreadful items.' 

For instance, jade artifacts found on corpses may bear deep purple stains from the decaying bodily fluids, a phenomenon commonly known as "corpse seepage." 

Conversely, red stains on jade signify that the deceased was likely bound alive and brutally murdered, with the blood seeping into the jade, which lay buried for years, thus earning the moniker "blood seepage." 

Both corpse seepage and blood seepage are considered ominous, yet some newcomers to the field, unaware of the implications of ancient jade, may seek out such vibrant colors, oblivious to the adverse effects these items can have on them. 

While others may fear such objects, Fang Yi, having studied Daoism from a young age, harbored no such trepidation. Not only did the dragon-shaped jade pendant lack any lingering resentment, but even if it did, Fang Yi possessed the ability to dispel it. 

"Brother Man, may I borrow your bidding paddle?" Fang Yi said, noticing that a full minute had passed without anyone raising a bid. 

"Hmm? Fang Yi, are you truly intending to bid on this jade pendant?" 

Man Jun was taken aback by Fang Yi's request; in fact, the jade pendant had initially captured his attention, but he had abandoned it upon handling it, as the mingling colors had detracted from its overall beauty.