Chapter 7 – Water Script

Upon clearly seeing the contents of the box, Wei Yang’s eyes lit up instantly. “A Jade Lotus Platform?”

In the center of the box lay a lotus platform carved from jade. The so-called lotus platform has two interpretations in Buddhism and Taoism. In Buddhism, it is the Nine-Grade Lotus Platform, and in Taoism, it is the Twelve-Grade Lotus Platform. Both are legendary platforms upon which Bodhisattvas and ancient masters are said to sit, representing the unity of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism—”Red Lotus, White Lotus Root, Green Lotus Leaf.” However, while these platforms are renowned, they are often associated with Buddhist and Taoist statues or paintings, rarely appearing as standalone artifacts.

The lotus platform in this box, however, was different. It was carved from a piece of jade with a dark green stone skin, approximately fifteen centimeters in diameter, and divided into two layers. The thick stone skin of the base was carved into a circle of lotus flowers, elegantly unfurling, while the inner lotus heart was made from a blend of green and white jade. This uneven coloring is typically a taboo in jade carving, but the skillful craftsmanship and layout balanced the disharmony, with a few strokes transforming the pale green jade veins into a hibiscus flower. The blooming lotus heart showcased exceptional artistry. What’s more, the lotus platform had a patina and a misty white water seepage, giving it an antique texture.

After holding the Jade Lotus Platform and examining it closely, even Wei Yang couldn’t help but praise, “A fine piece! How much is it?”

Heipi chuckled, “A discounted price, 200,000!”

Hearing this, Wei Yang raised an eyebrow with a half-smile, “If you said the cost was 20,000, I might have believed you.”

The jade’s quality was indeed excellent, with patina and seepage, making it hard to believe it could be obtained for just a few thousand. However, Heipi clicked his tongue in frustration, “It’s not just about the cost. The concept, the patina—could an ordinary person create this?”

“Definitely not an ordinary person,” Wei Yang genuinely smiled this time. “I’ve never seen someone carve just a lotus platform without a Buddha. Could this be a graduation piece from some young talent? They saw the shape was suitable and carved a lotus platform without considering who would buy a lotus pedestal for their home. If I didn’t have a use for it, this piece would probably end up in storage, right?”

Heipi was momentarily speechless. Wei Yang had hit the nail on the head. The Jade Lotus Platform was indeed carved by Liu Qu, the most talented fourth-generation member of the Liu family, and it was indeed an impromptu creation. Liu Qu was undeniably talented but had no interest in inheriting the family business, instead aspiring to become a modern jade carving master. As a result, he often created such whimsical pieces. The family always provided him with genuine materials, not the fake jade powder compressions, so storing these pieces would be a significant loss. However, selling them was tricky—true connoisseurs wouldn’t buy them, while amateurs wouldn’t pay a high price. The best option was to offload them to unsuspecting buyers, and using them for feng shui arrangements was already the most favorable outcome.

Seeing Heipi’s sullen expression, Wei Yang knew he had guessed correctly. It wasn’t hard to figure out. The jade was typical of “fire-treated jade,” where heat is used to alter the jade’s color, turning it white—commonly known as “chicken bone white.” However, this piece was exceptionally well-made, with minimal cracking and no common gray or yellow streaks. Instead, the originally chaotic jade veins were transformed into a coherent pattern, with a few strokes effectively concealing the burn marks. While it wouldn’t fool true experts, it was more than enough to deceive half-baked wealthy buyers. Unfortunately, the unusual shape meant those half-baked buyers likely had no interest in purchasing a lotus platform.

With a smile, Wei Yang spoke up, “Brother Ming, we’re old customers, and you know Uncle Sun’s temperament. 200,000 is definitely out of the question, but there’s room for negotiation. We’re preparing a grand scheme to attract customers to buy ritual instruments, and the final price will depend on your sales pitch. How about a 30-70 split?”

“With that look of yours, I doubt it’s 70 for me and 30 for you, right?” Heipi grimaced as if he had a toothache. “Brother, this is still our family’s treasure. Are you trying to get something for nothing?”

“Do you think fishing is easy?” Wei Yang chuckled slyly. “This deal could go into the millions. If it sells for a million, you’ll make a profit. I think with some extras, it could reach 1.2 to 1.3 million, and there’s a ready-made sucker for you to exploit. This opportunity is hard to come by…”

Heipi looked at the young man before him, who was grinning like a fox, and finally gritted his teeth and nodded. “I’ll talk to the front later. How do you plan to spin this?”

“It doesn’t need to be too old. The pattern is Tang-style imitation, so let’s say it’s a Ming Dynasty replica of an ancient jade, originally used to hold a Tang Dynasty jade Buddha. After the Buddha was lost, only the lotus platform remained. Over the years, it has been exposed to incense and has developed a Buddhist aura, making it perfect for gathering incense and fortune. The phoenix landing on the lotus platform naturally attracts fortune, and with the hibiscus blooming, the fire element will stimulate the flowers, bringing prosperity and dispelling any ill omens.”

This explanation flowed effortlessly, seamlessly aligning with feng shui and antique lore. Even Heipi, who had seen his share of schemes, was momentarily stunned. After staring at Wei Yang for a while, he sighed, “Uncle Qi really should have recruited you back then. With a mouth like yours, you could bring the dead back to life!”

Wei Yang chuckled, “Being quick with words isn’t enough. The antique world is too deep. With masters like those in your family, the porcelain they fire might not even pass customs. Such craftsmanship can fool machines, and with my level of expertise, I could easily be scammed.”

This remark had some history behind it. Once, a distant relative of the Liu family fired two imitation Jun kiln porcelain pieces for export. Unfortunately, customs seized them, testing them and declaring them genuine Song Dynasty artifacts, accusing them of smuggling cultural relics. The Liu family had no choice but to bring the officials to their home, showing them an entire bed of various Jun porcelain pieces before the matter was dropped. The technique of using Song Dynasty shards and clay to recreate artifacts was so extraordinary that even experts and professors might not be able to discern the truth. A novice entering this field would be easy prey.

Hearing this backhanded compliment, Heipi’s expression improved, and he laughed, “That’s true. Your eye isn’t quite there yet. Just having a silver tongue isn’t enough.”

After settling the transaction details, the two chatted and laughed as they walked to the outer room. Seeing the thin, elderly man still engrossed in his work, Wei Yang suddenly remembered something. He took out a wooden box from his pocket and approached, “Uncle Qi, sorry to bother you. I recently acquired a Bone Formation. Could you take a look at it for me?”

Mere words wouldn’t pique Uncle Qi’s interest, but when the box was placed before him, the old man immediately stopped working and softly exclaimed, “A rare item. Where did you get it?”

“It was dug up from a cemetery near Miaotou Mountain. It was originally sealed in a porcelain jar,” Wei Yang replied honestly, standing nearby.

Uncle Qi adjusted his glasses, brought the box closer for a careful look, then took a pair of white gloves from the side. After putting them on, he picked up the bone piece and examined it closely with a magnifying glass. After a while, he murmured, “It looks like Water Script…”

“Water Script?” Heipi scratched his head, confused. “Isn’t it carved on bone? What does it have to do with water?”

Wei Yang was also momentarily stunned but then recalled something. “Could it be ‘Ghost Script’?”

Uncle Qi looked surprised and glanced at him. “You know about Ghost Script? Yes, that’s it. It’s also called Extinction Script or Reverse Script. It’s said to be an ancient incantation script used to communicate with spirits, written for the dead. Few Water Script masters who can use this script remain. When the Dushan County archives were unearthed, it caused quite a stir. This bone piece is small, yet the characters are carved so finely and clearly. It must be an extraordinary ritual instrument, but being a bone artifact, its auspiciousness is hard to determine.”

Upon hearing this, Heipi shivered. Those in the antique trade are somewhat superstitious, especially those involved in selling ritual instruments. They’ve heard too many strange stories and are quite wary of such obviously sinister items. Wei Yang, however, didn’t seem to care. Instead, his eyes lit up. “So there are still Water Script artifacts on the market? Uncle Qi, can you help me sell this? The price is negotiable.”

Uncle Qi gave him a cold look and said sternly, “Xiao Wei, do you still not believe in these things?”

Wei Yang chuckled, “Uncle Qi, have you forgotten what I do? If I truly believed, I wouldn’t be able to continue this business.”

Uncle Qi’s gaze remained heavy, clearly displeased. In the spiritual practitioner business, most practitioners are moderate, adopting a “better safe than sorry” attitude toward the supernatural. They always leave room for doubt, much like those selling health supplements on TV ads. They speak convincingly, mixing half-truths with falsehoods, charging high prices for minimal efficacy, but the remedies they prescribe are never harmful—it’s purely a money-making venture.

However, beyond these “ordinary” practitioners, there are two extremes in the spiritual practitioner scene. One is the “true believers,” who wholeheartedly believe in the Daoist and mystical arts they’ve learned, deceiving themselves before deceiving others. They either go mad or achieve enlightenment, becoming paragons of the trade if they master it. The other extreme is the “complete skeptics,” who study the arts deeply, speak eloquently, but do not believe in the supernatural, instead treating it as a form of psychological manipulation. They deceive others more ruthlessly, ultimately either becoming wealthy or meeting a grim end. These two extremes, one “true” and one “false,” can both become the most skilled masters, and are the most deceptive types in the spiritual practitioner business.

Wei Yang was clearly heading down the latter path. When Uncle Qi first met Wei Yang on the antique street, he had high hopes for the young man. However, such a promising talent in antiques had instead become a fortune-teller, and with such a mindset. Giving Wei Yang a deep look, he coldly replied, “Fear in the heart leads to measured actions. Your approach is not good. Walking by the river often, how can you avoid getting wet?”

Wei Yang merely smiled and didn’t respond.

Seeing his attitude, Uncle Qi lost interest in further persuasion and said indifferently, “Leave the item here. I’ll notify you if there’s any news.”

“Thank you, Uncle Qi,” Wei Yang responded politely and followed Heipi out.

Heipi still felt a bit awkward and said in a low voice, “Ah Yang, don’t take it to heart. Uncle Qi just has a bad temper. He’s a geek, so he’s a bit socially awkward…”

Wei Yang chuckled nonchalantly, “He’s just worried about me. Anyway, go talk to the front desk staff. We’ll coordinate when the time comes.”

Although Heipi had considerable influence at Treasure House, his appearance wasn’t exactly presentable, so he mainly handled backroom deals. The front-of-house sales were left to the more presentable and eloquent young men. He grinned, “Don’t worry.”

With the main business settled, Wei Yang didn’t linger. He glanced at Uncle Qi’s workshop and walked out of the courtyard. Uncle Qi’s earlier words had indeed caught him off guard, as they were somewhat overly familiar. However, when it came to the spiritual practitioner business, no one understood it better than he did.

Having lost both parents at a young age, Wei Yang grew up in the countryside, raised not by uncles or aunts but by his grandparents. His grandfather was a “divination” master from the old days, well-connected and even serving as the head of the Changchun Association for several terms. His grandmother was a renowned village shaman, called upon to exorcise spirits and recover lost souls. Their reputation was so great that even during the Cultural Revolution, the villagers dared not offend them, allowing these remnants of the old society to live peacefully into the new era. Growing up in such an environment, Wei Yang understood better than anyone what “supernatural forces” truly were.

Fortune-telling, divination, and feng shui relied not on the Book of Changes or the Eight Trigrams but on the “insight” of the practitioner. Does a sorrowful expression indicate a sick wife or a family disaster? Does the person seeking divination desire a child or wealth? If there’s a referrer, what is their relationship with the client and what is their background? Everyone who seeks fortune-telling harbors a “desire to believe,” and the divination master simply tells them what they want to hear. Rather than being masters of the mystical, these old charlatans are latent psychological experts. If the divination masters of old had read “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” they would have considered the detective a kindred spirit.

However, while divination was somewhat respectable, spirit possession was another matter entirely. As a child, Wei Yang had seen his grandmother perform spirit possession rituals a few times, but they always ended awkwardly, at most temporarily calming those with mental illnesses. None were cured, let alone any appearances by fox spirits or immortals. It was more like performance art, and even then, more people would believe it was just that. Unlike his grandfather, his grandmother was a “true believer,” not only believing herself but sometimes even blaming Wei Yang for bringing misfortune or offending the spirits. If not for his grandfather’s intervention, his childhood would have been even more miserable.

With such upbringing and exposure, it was clear whom to emulate. A cold smile crossed Wei Yang’s lips as he strode towards Jieshui Studio.

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