A Mystical Sensation

"Old Yu, what do you think of this cricket gourd?" 

Su Shilun, accompanying Yu Xuan, felt no reservations about Fang Yi's presence. As Yu Xuan examined the items, Su Shilun toyed with a peculiar object—a cricket gourd enveloped in ivory, its surface a rich yellow hue. 

"Old Yu, observe the cloud dragon and麟狮 patterns carved upon it. Could this be an artifact from the past?" Su Shilun, fond of miscellaneous antiques and well-versed in them, believed it plausible, recalling that Liu from Sanhe had once crafted similar pieces. 

"This is indeed an old object, though its age is somewhat later than expected…" Yu Xuan took the cricket gourd from Su Shilun's hands and scrutinized it for a moment, a look of surprise crossing his face. "How did this item come to be here? It shouldn't be in circulation." 

"Hmm? Old Yu, whose item is this?" Noticing Yu Xuan's astonishment, Su Shilun inquired. 

"This… this belongs to one of my mentors…" Yu Xuan glanced at Su Shilun and continued, "Little Su, I must take this; regardless of the price, I will compensate you later…" 

"Old Yu, if you wish to keep it, that's perfectly fine, but I should at least know whose it is, right?" Su Shilun chuckled ruefully, surprised to find such a valuable piece among the assortment of antiques, only to have Yu Xuan intercept it. 

"It belongs to Old Wang; I'm just perplexed as to how it ended up here," Yu Xuan replied, examining it closely with a magnifying glass. "Indeed, this is an item from Old Wang's early collection. I'll have to call him to inquire…" 

"Old Wang?" 

Yu Xuan's words startled Su Shilun; after all, Yu Xuan's status and seniority in the field were such that few surpassed him. The number of individuals he would refer to with the honorific "old" could be counted on one hand. 

"Is it Wang Shixiang?" Su Shilun, familiar with the antique world, immediately thought of a name. In his mind, only this elder could command such respect from Yu Xuan. 

"Precisely, it is indeed an item from Old Wang's collection…" Yu Xuan nodded affirmatively. "Little Su, you know the connection I have with Old Wang; I must keep this…" 

"Very well, Old Yu, I'll help you secure it…" Although Su Shilun felt disheartened, he refrained from further protest. Everyone in their circle understood the bond between Yu Xuan and Old Wang; there was no way Yu Xuan would relinquish the item to anyone else. 

"Old Yu, may I be so bold as to ask who exactly this Wang Shixiang is?" Su Shilun, aware of Yu Xuan's relationship with the elder, was curious to know if Fang Yi was also in the dark about it. 

"Young man, you have an interest in antiques yet do not know who Old Wang is?" 

Yu Xuan chuckled at Fang Yi's question, glancing at his wristwatch. "We don't have much time on stage; how about this: when I have a moment, I'll explain it to you?" 

Yu Xuan held Fang Yi in good regard, and under normal circumstances, he might have taken the time to enlighten him. However, he was currently employed by Su Shilun and had another undisclosed task, leaving him no leisure for idle chatter. 

"Thank you, Old Yu…" Fang Yi quickly expressed his gratitude, recognizing that his request might have been a bit excessive. Everyone on stage was racing against time to examine the items; who could afford to waste it on him? 

"It's no trouble at all. Little Su, don't wear such a solemn expression. I will keep this gourd; there are indeed treasures within…" 

Noticing Su Shilun's somewhat glum demeanor, Yu Xuan smiled and picked up a transparent snuff bottle adorned with enameled landscapes and figures from the assortment of items. 

"Old Yu, is this what you mean?" Su Shilun shook his head upon seeing the snuff bottle Yu Xuan held. "This appears to be a modern imitation, doesn't it? Genuine snuff bottles from the early Qing Dynasty were seldom made of crystal." 

Su Shilun was quite knowledgeable about snuff bottles; he understood that during the Qing Dynasty, both in the common populace and the imperial court, snuff bottles were predominantly crafted from materials such as gold, bronze, silver, porcelain, jade, coral, agate, and amber. Although crystal snuff bottles were documented, they only gained popularity towards the end of the Qing Dynasty when painting on the inner walls of the bottles became fashionable. 

A snuff bottle, in simple terms, is a container used to hold snuff, small enough to be grasped in one hand, making it convenient for carrying. 

During the late Ming and early Qing periods, snuff was introduced to China, and the objects known as snuff boxes gradually took on Eastern characteristics, leading to the creation of snuff bottles. Although the habit of using snuff has nearly vanished today, snuff bottles have persisted as exquisite art pieces, remaining a significant category within the realm of collectibles. 

"Little Su, just because there aren't many doesn't mean there aren't any…" Yu Xuan laughed and shook his head. "If I hadn't just acquired Old Wang's gourd, I might have hesitated to part with this snuff bottle…" 

"Hmm? Old Yu, what do you mean by that?" Upon hearing Yu Xuan's words, Su Shilun's eyes brightened. 

"The craftsmanship dates back to the Kangxi era; it undoubtedly belongs to the imperial workshop…" 

Yu Xuan concluded with certainty. "This item is recorded in the antiquities archives; it was likely kept in the Old Summer Palace and has been missing for over a century. If I'm not mistaken, this is a relic that has returned…" 

As he spoke, Yu Xuan lowered his voice intentionally. The items from the Qing Kangxi imperial workshop, even a small snuff bottle, held considerable value. If overheard, it could lead to competitive bidding during the auction. 

However, Yu Xuan's words did not escape Fang Yi's attention. He was curious to observe the character of this young man; if Fang Yi were to contend with Su Shilun during the auction, it would no longer warrant Yu Xuan's effort to explain Wang Shixiang's significance to him. 

"Alright, Little Su, these are the only two items of worth here; nothing else catches my interest…" Yu Xuan glanced at Fang Yi before continuing, "Young man, we've finished here; you may take a look now. I'll go elsewhere to explore…" 

Yu Xuan was not there on a mere whim; he was fulfilling a request. Otherwise, Su Shilun could not have afforded to engage him. After spending a few minutes in the miscellaneous section, Yu Xuan moved towards the display of bronze artifacts, knowing that among a hundred bronze pieces, at least ninety-nine were genuine, with the remaining one also likely unearthed. 

Given that most bronze artifacts are classified as national-level or even top-tier cultural relics, according to national laws, the trade of unearthed artifacts is strictly prohibited. Even heirlooms passed down for generations must be surrendered to the state if discovered. If genuine bronze artifacts were present, relevant authorities could thoroughly investigate the collection company based on that alone. 

"Hearing Old Yu, it seems that among these miscellaneous antiques, only these two items are authentic…" 

Once Yu Xuan and the others stepped away, Fang Yi picked up the cricket gourd to examine it closely. However, aside from noticing the thick patina on the gourd, he could discern nothing further. 

"I wonder if my abilities can affect these old items…" A thought suddenly crossed Fang Yi's mind. His powers could age new objects, but how they would interact with artifacts over a century old remained a mystery. 

"Regrettably, I lack the time to experiment, and I cannot afford these items…" Fang Yi mused internally, as he needed at least ten minutes of meditative recitation to see any effect, yet the time on stage did not permit such indulgence. 

Muttering his regrets, Fang Yi instinctively recited a few lines of scripture while handling the cricket gourd. Just as he prepared to set it down, his eyes widened in surprise. 

"What… what is happening? Why do I sense a familiar aura emanating from this cricket gourd?" 

Fang Yi had already placed the gourd on the display table, yet it remained motionless in his grasp. While reciting, he distinctly perceived a sense of timeworn depth emanating from the cricket gourd. 

This sensation was akin to the awareness he experienced when bestowing age upon new objects, and although he did not understand its origin or how it had permeated the item through his recitation, the mystical feeling undeniably existed within Fang Yi's heart.