At 9:30 PM, the antique market at Chaotian Palace began to thin out.
A black Dodge sedan was parked outside a shop by the street.
A man in a suit got out of the passenger side, opened the rear car door, and a man and a woman erged from the car, talking and laughing as they walked into the shop.
The woman appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with delicate features and a graceful figure. If Li Xiaoyao were here, he would have recognized her at a glance, this woman was Xiao Ya.
The man was close to fifty, with graying hair flecked with black and white. When he smiled, wrinkles creased his face, exuding the natural deanor of soone accustod to being in a position of authority.
This man was none other than Ling City's top official Ji Yutao, whom Xiao Ya had specifically invited for the day with the aim of forging a good relationship with him.
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"Chairman Ji, please, inside," Xiao Ya said with a smile, standing at the entrance of the shop.
Ji Yutao chuckled, "Don't call Chairman here, you're about the sa age as my daughter, so calling 'uncle' isn't too presumptuous, right?"
"Uncle Ji," Xiao Ya promptly responded with a broad smile and a sweet voice.
That Ji Yutao could make such remarks indicated that the relationship between the two had risen to a new level.
Upon entering the shop, several people were already waiting, among them Shi Dai and Master Mo.
Xiao Ya's purpose that day was to cater to Ji Yutao's love for antiques, hence she had specially invited Shi Dai and Master Mo.
When it ca to the knowledge of antiques, Xiao Ya was an amateur. However, she had the money and power to find connoisseurs.
In the back courtyard of the shop, several people were sitting in wicker chairs, with a young girl gracefully brewing tea for everyone.
Xiao Ya was quick to engage in conversation, and soon enlivened the atmosphere, naturally steering the topic toward antiques.
In the middle of the group, there was a stone table with several antiques displayed, including ancient jade, porcelain, and bronze.
Xiao Ya approached and picked up a piece of ancient jade with a reddish hue, saying, "Uncle Ji, I bought this ancient jade for two thousand yuan while out on an excursion. The vendor told it was an ancient piece, but I'm not sure if it's real or fake. Could you take a look for ?"
Ji Yutao let out a chuckle, "You little girl, if this piece of jade is genuine, then you've made a tidy profit. But I'm just a casual collector, certainly not as knowledgeable as Professor Shi. Don't bla if I get it wrong."
Xiao Ya teased with a playful laugh, "If it's wrong, Uncle Ji, you'll have to give a real piece of jade."
Ji Yutao burst out laughing heartily, "This old man can't afford such expensive jade. Give it here; let have a look."
Xiao Ya handed over the ancient jade, and Chairman Ji put on his glasses and took out a powerful mini flashlight from his pocket,
Xiao Ya couldn't resist comnting, "Uncle Ji, you are really well-equipped."
Ji Yutao couldn't help but flaunt a bit of pride, "Don't underestimate Uncle Ji, I do have so standards."
The ancient jade was square-shaped with a long columnar design.
After examining it, Ji Yutao declared, "Indeed, it is ancient jade from the Yuan Dynasty."
Xiao Ya feigned surprise, "Really?"
Ji Yutao nodded and set down the flashlight, beginning his assessnt, "Jade from the Yuan Dynasty isn't as valued as that from the Song Dynasty or Tang Dynasty because it was a period when the Mongols ruled, and they preferred gold and silver over jade. Large pieces of jade from the Yuan are rare, and the carving often mimics that of the Tang era. This piece of jade is high-quality Hetian jade and was used as a seal. Because Yuan Dynasty jade artifacts are so rare, and the craftsmanship isn't as advanced as in the preceding dynasties, this ancient jade isn't highly priced, but it holds significant collectible value—after all, rarity is a virtue."
"Chairman Ji is right," Shi Dai chid in promptly.
Ji Yutao modestly smiled, "I'm just talking off the cuff; Professor Shi, please don't laugh at ."
"Professor Shi, please take a look, this piece of jade is from the Yuan Dynasty, isn't it? I'm just an amateur, so my assessnt can't be accurate," Ji Yutao passed the ancient jade to him.
"Chairman Ji is too modest," Shi Dai said as he took the ancient jade and examined it closely, nodding. "Indeed, it's a piece of ancient jade from the Yuan Dynasty. Miss Xiao is truly blessed by fortune."
Xiao Ya smiled proudly, saying, "I've always been lucky." She then added, "Uncle Ji, please take a look at the other items for ."
Ji Yutao also beca interested and stood up to take a closer look at the antiques when suddenly, from not too far away, there ca an eerie howling that made one's scalp tingle.
"Woooo~~~~"
This sound, like the scream of a wandering ghost, froze everyone present in that instant.
Shi Dai and Master Mo exchanged glances, knowing that it was the ghost-inviting formation that had taken effect.
"What is that sound?" the owner of the antique shop asked, his face pale with terror, his voice trembling.
"Maybe a storm is coming," Xiao Ya replied, her expression changing uncertainly. Despite her vast experience, she felt sowhat panicked and could only console herself with the thought of an impending change in weather.
But everyone present knew that the sound they had just heard was definitely not a sign of changing weather but rather... sothing eerily strange.
Shi Dai remained calm and looked in the direction of the sound, "Everyone, there's no need to panic. Master Mo knows a bit of the Qihuang Technique. Maybe we should let Master Mo do so divining."
The few people were aware of Master Mo's reputation and knew that he had so achievents in matters of spirits and the supernatural.
The individuals who had t again that night were mostly believers in ghosts and spirits.
Xiao Ya, as a lady from a great family, at their level of society, was always more susceptible to encountering the extraordinary than ordinary people.
As soone who occupied an upper position, Ji Yutao's ascension to his current standing was naturally facilitated by contacts with so remarkable and unusual figures.
And the owner of the antique shop dealt with ancient artifacts for a living, respecting gods and ghosts alike was the norm for him.
Moreover, they had all just experienced it firsthand; to staunchly deny that anything had happened would be nothing but self-deception.
Master Mo, assuming the air of a sage, stood up facing the direction of the strange sound, closed his eyes, and began making divination gestures. The others didn't dare to breathe too loudly, afraid to disturb Master Mo.
A few minutes later, Master Mo opened his eyes, and just as he did so, from that sa direction ca another scalp-tingling, fear-inducing sound.
"Woooo~~~"
This ti, everyone heard it crystal clear—a sound like a bloody dagger thrusting at them.
Master Mo said solemnly, "Wronged spirits!"
The antique shop owner asked in fear, "Wronged spirits? Where?"
Master Mo pointed in a direction, "Over there!"
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing and asked, "Master Mo, does this affect us?"
Master Mo shook his head and sighed, "It has no effect on us, but it is pitiful and tragic that these wronged spirits linger in the human world, unable to find release."
Shi Dai tily asked, "Master Mo, do you have a way to help these wronged spirits find release?"
Master Mo nodded, "There is a way, but Chairman Ji is here, and it would be highly disrespectful for to leave halfway."
Upon hearing that Master Mo might be able to help the spirits find relief, Ji Yutao's eyes lit up, "No worries, Master Mo, don't mind . If you can help the spirits find relief, it would be a great act of rit. If Master Mo doesn't mind, could you take with you?"
Master Mo nodded, "Yes."
No one noticed that, as Ji Yutao spoke those words, a sly smile crept across Shi Dai's lips, a sign of a sche coming to fruition.
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