Chapter 40 – Peculiarity

The words spoken were not overt, but the underlying tone of bragging was unmistakable. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell who had brought the Iron Buddha as their exhibit. The reason this event was called an “exchange meeting” rather than a “trade fair” was that some of the exhibits were non-sale items, specially invited for collectors of status and influence to showcase their prized possessions. Examples included Liu Qu’s Dushan Jade carving of the Eight Legions and the bronze Buddha before them. However, compared to the exceptional craftsmanship of the Eight Legions jade carving, this Iron Manjushri Buddha, though exquisitely crafted, might not hold as much value. The most likely explanation was that the collector’s identity was anything but ordinary.

In an instant, Wei Yang had already formed a plan in his mind and began to speculate about the identity of this “Elder Ye.” However, Liu Qu, being the kind of person who couldn’t stand others showing off in front of him, had no patience for such thoughts. Upon hearing the old man’s question, he let out a sly chuckle, “I don’t know much about iron artifacts, so I can’t really judge their quality. But Iron Buddhas? Tsk tsk, they’re quite eerie.”

Liu Qu’s non-mainstream outfit, paired with his deliberately provocative words, caused even the usually composed old man to change his expression. His attendant, as if stepping on a tail, jumped up and snapped, “Kid, watch your mouth! If you don’t know what you’re talking about, keep it to yourself!”

Master Su, standing nearby, frantically tried to signal Liu Qu with his eyes. While Liu Qu might not be aware of Elder Ye’s identity, Master Su knew all too well. This Elder Ye was none other than the father-in-law of the Provincial Public Security Department’s Director Sun. If it were just a mayor or a party secretary, Master Su might not have been so nervous. However, Director Sun was a seasoned law enforcement officer who had handled numerous major cases over the years, yet he was also famously henpecked. This made Elder Ye highly influential in the director’s affairs, earning him a reputation akin to a county official despite not holding any official position.

This “Supreme Emperor’s” greatest interest happened to be ancient artifacts and Buddhist instruments. Given that the Buddhist Artifact Exchange Meeting was being held in Shanxi Province, how could Master Su not inform Elder Ye? The antique trade was a deeply gray area, and without some form of protection, it would be impossible to operate. Offending the father-in-law of the Public Security Director would undoubtedly bring trouble. Even for a family like the Lius, dealing with the director’s wrath would be a headache. The “antique replication” business, though lucrative, was not without its risks, and there was no need to make an enemy out of thin air.

However, no matter how much Master Su signaled, Liu Qu seemed completely oblivious, as if he were insulated from any external cues. Facing Wang Ming’s rebuke, Liu Qu sneered and was about to retort when Wei Yang, standing beside him, suddenly laughed and interjected, “Elder Ye, please don’t take offense. Master Liu was merely speaking in general terms about the antique world. Not every Iron Buddha carries an eerie aura. In fact, some iron artifacts were specifically crafted to suppress malevolent forces, and the fortune they hold is extraordinary.”

Wei Yang’s words were neither humble nor overbearing, appearing to be an objective statement yet subtly smoothing over the awkward situation Liu Qu had created. Elder Ye’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded slightly, “This young man seems to truly understand these matters. Are you here for the Buddhist Artifact Exchange?”

With this question, Elder Ye had effectively excluded Liu Qu from the conversation. Wei Yang, however, pretended not to notice the underlying implication and smiled modestly, “I wouldn’t dare claim to be an expert. I’m just tagging along with Master Liu to see the sights. I found this Buddha interesting, so I came over to take a look. My surname is Wei, and I work as an environmental consulting assistant. I only have a basic understanding of antiques.”

As soon as Wei Yang revealed his occupation, the smile on Elder Ye’s lips faded. Everyone knew what an “environmental consulting assistant” really meant—it was just a euphemism for a feng shui master. For someone like that to evaluate his collection, it was likely not out of good intentions. Given that he had a police officer as a son-in-law, Elder Ye’s ability to detect scams was far superior to the average person. With his expression cooling, his attendant once again seized the opportunity, completely ignoring Wei Yang and addressing Liu Qu directly, “Name your price for the Eight Legions. Elder Ye is interested in acquiring it.”

The last few words were spoken as if they were an imperial decree, as if it were a great honor for the jade carving to be acquired by them. Liu Qu didn’t respond directly but instead pointed at the Iron Buddha behind him, “This thing seems decent too. How much are you selling it for?”

This Iron Buddha was a private collector’s exhibit and wasn’t meant to be sold. Liu Qu’s question made his intentions clear. However, before Elder Ye could get angry, a voice suddenly spoke up beside them, “You can’t buy it.”

It was Zhang Xiuqi, who had been silently observing the Iron Buddha. His tone was calm yet cold, carrying an icy chill that sent shivers down the spine.

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you!” Wang Ming immediately jumped out, unable to tolerate this repeated provocation, which felt like a slap in the face.

However, his words were cut short as the young man who had been standing with his back to him turned around. Zhang Xiuqi possessed strikingly handsome features, but what was even more striking at this moment was the cold, sharp aura he exuded, like a blade of ice. Though Wang Ming had met many provincial and municipal leaders and had interacted with some so-called “underworld” figures due to his position, he had never encountered someone with such a presence. His words stuck in his throat.

Elder Ye, being more composed than his attendant, only paused for a moment before coldly responding, “Oh? And what is it about this Iron Buddha that has caught your eye, making it unworthy of purchase?”

Zhang Xiuqi didn’t answer, as a hand had already gently pressed against his. Wei Yang subtly pulled his companion’s arm and gave it a light squeeze, then smiled at Elder Ye, “Of course it’s unworthy of purchase. After all, this is Elder Ye’s cherished possession. How could we, as juniors, take away something so dear to you? Master Liu, we’ve only just arrived. Why don’t we take a look around the rest of the exhibition?”

Despite the obvious dismissiveness in Wei Yang’s words, his intention to end the conversation was clear. This was far from the usual scam tactics, and Elder Ye hesitated for a moment before finally giving a cold smile, “Whether it can be bought or not depends on fate. Since Mr. Liu isn’t willing to sell, I have no intention of forcing the matter. This is, after all, an exchange meeting. Master Su, don’t you agree?”

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Master Su, who immediately felt a headache coming on. It seemed the old man had truly taken a liking to the Eight Legions. If Liu Qu were a respectable and accomplished master carver, Elder Ye might have shown some courtesy. However, given Liu Qu’s non-mainstream, troublemaking demeanor, it was clear that things wouldn’t end well today.

Liu Qu, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about who this “Ye” person was. He had seen plenty of people who loved to flaunt their status, and he was thoroughly sick of it. Without acknowledging Elder Ye, he simply nodded at Wei Yang, “Sure, let’s go check out the other exhibits. I remember Old Qiang brought a Ming Dynasty Jade Guanyin, a genuine masterpiece by Xu Zigang. It’s a great opportunity to see Master Xu’s craftsmanship…”

This was exactly what Wei Yang wanted. With an apologetic nod to Elder Ye, he took Zhang Xiuqi’s hand and quickly followed Liu Qu away from the exhibit. Behind them, Elder Ye’s expression darkened. In recent years, as his son-in-law had risen in rank, few in the antique circle had dared to show him such disrespect. His attendant, seething with anger, leaned in and whispered, “Elder Ye, should I have someone look into these people? The Liu family may have a big reputation, but Liu Qu is just a junior. What kind of connections could someone like him possibly have…”

Elder Ye gave a subtle nod and glanced at Master Su, “Master Su, it seems this exhibition isn’t quite suited for an old man like me. Let’s close it for today. When the quality of the exhibits improves, you can invite me again.”

His words carried a mix of softness and firmness, expressing his displeasure without completely burning bridges. Master Su, being a shrewd man, understood the underlying message: Elder Ye was pressuring him to negotiate with Master Liu. However, while Elder Ye’s status was significant, the private exchange meeting wasn’t obligated to bow to the whims of a provincial-level official’s relative. He would have to have a serious talk with the Liu family to smooth things over and resolve this conflict…

Meanwhile, Liu Qu, walking away, asked with interest, “Is there really something wrong with that Buddha?”

Despite his non-mainstream appearance, Liu Qu wasn’t completely ignorant of the world. He simply preferred not to follow conventional norms. Compared to those who shamelessly tried to strong-arm their way into a purchase, he was far more interested in the mystical and supernatural.

Wei Yang had no idea what was wrong with the Iron Buddha. Based on Zhang Xiuqi’s usual behavior, if they encountered something truly malevolent, he would have likely taken action regardless of the number of people around. However, Zhang Xiuqi had simply observed it for a while and concluded with a “don’t buy it” assessment. Yet, Zhang Xiuqi didn’t offer an explanation. The cold aura around him had faded, and he had become quiet once more, like a guard dog that had moved away from danger. Facing Wei Yang’s questioning gaze, he shook his head slightly, “It’s peculiar. I can’t tell. The energy here is too strong.”

His slender finger traced a gentle arc in the air, encompassing the entire exhibition hall. The brightly lit hall was filled with people, and the display cases made of reinforced glass housed a variety of Buddhist artifacts—angry Vajras, laughing Maitreyas, solemn Buddhas, and compassionate Guanyins. The cold lighting couldn’t diminish the serene and compassionate expressions on their faces. In such a gathering of Buddhist artifacts, the resonance alone was incredibly powerful. How could any malevolent force dare to show its face here?

Surprisingly, Liu Qu, who usually couldn’t communicate well with normal people, seemed to understand Zhang Xiuqi’s words and became even more intrigued, “Oh, so there really is such a thing as energy! I’ve heard from my elders that genuine antiques carry energy, especially the masterpieces of renowned artists. Sometimes, an expert can tell the authenticity just by touching or looking at an item. Do you understand this field too? What do you think of my Eight Legions?”

This was practically self-praise, but Zhang Xiuqi actually responded, “Yes, but it’s faint.”

This surprised even Wei Yang, and Liu Qu grinned from ear to ear, almost ready to sling an arm around Zhang Xiuqi’s shoulders. However, hearing Zhang Xiuqi’s assessment, Wei Yang felt somewhat reassured. Regardless of what was going on with the Iron Buddha, as long as Zhang Xiuqi wasn’t planning to get involved, it would save them a lot of trouble. The only concern was that Elder Ye was likely connected to someone in the government, and Wei Yang wasn’t sure if today’s incident would lead to any complications.

As he was thinking this, he felt a gentle tug on his hand. Wei Yang looked up to see Zhang Xiuqi, who hadn’t paid much attention to the enthusiastic Liu Qu, gazing at him with a hint of inquiry in his calm eyes. Though he might not understand Wei Yang’s complex thoughts, he could always keenly sense the subtle worries hidden in the young man’s heart. Wei Yang’s heart eased, and he smiled, patting Zhang Xiuqi’s hand, “Brother Qi, let’s go see what else is here. If you find anything interesting, be sure to let me know.”

As they walked and chatted, the three quickly left the exhibit. The cold white light shone on the iron-black Manjushri statue, casting an ominous glow.

The exchange meeting was divided into two parts: the morning session focused on exhibits, with collectors leaving for lunch in between, and the afternoon session was dedicated to transactions. By noon, the crowd in the exhibition hall had gradually thinned out. Since the transactions hadn’t been finalized, the exhibits in the hall remained untouched. However, today there was an exception. A man in a suit, exuding an air of authority, instructed the staff to open a display case and remove an exhibit.

Though it was against the rules, this private exchange meeting had been held many times before, and the staff were well-versed in handling such situations. Without asking questions, they respectfully stepped forward to assist. However, perhaps due to his disdain for the organizers, the man in the suit refused the staff’s help and personally reached into the display case to retrieve the Iron Buddha, bending down to place it in a portable safe. But as he bent over, his wrist suddenly went numb, as if it had cramped up. The Iron Buddha was quite heavy, and with this sudden jerk, it slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

With a dull thud, the iron sword held by Manjushri flew off, and the man’s face turned pale. He quickly glanced at the staff member beside him, who promptly took a step back and turned away, pretending not to have seen the incident. Muttering curses under his breath, Wang Ming was relieved that Elder Ye wasn’t present. He quickly picked up the Iron Buddha and the small sword, carefully reinserting the sword into Manjushri’s hand. Though the angle of the sword was slightly off, the statue itself seemed undamaged.

He could adjust the sword’s position later by referencing the photos. Breathing a sigh of relief, Wang Ming quickly packed the Iron Buddha into the safe and barked at the staff member, “What are you standing around for? Go get my car! Hmph, these small exhibitions are always causing trouble!”

Fully aware of the kind of guest he was dealing with, the staff member didn’t dare linger and hurried off to fetch the car. Wang Ming straightened his collar, adopted a haughty demeanor, and strode toward the exit. However, inside the safe, the iron sword in Manjushri’s hand silently tilted downward by a couple of degrees. With this subtle change, the expression on the Buddha’s face also shifted. The serene smile twisted into a faint, eerie grin.