Chapter 012 Anomaly
Every time Zhuang Rui uses the spiritual energy in his eyes, a bluish-green light appears before his eyes, but outsiders cannot see it. However, if someone stares at his eyes, they might be able to see the double pupils in them. Liu Chuan was sitting behind him at the moment, so Zhuang Rui raised his arm and held the book in his hand higher to block the old lady's view.
Zhuang Rui casually released the spiritual energy from his eyes. He didn't pay much attention to the tattered old book in his hand, just taking a look with the mentality of "better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free." However, the moment the spiritual energy in his eyes touched the cover of the book, Zhuang Rui was shocked. He discovered that an aura far more powerful than the spiritual energy in his eyes instantly merged into the spiritual energy in his eyes and then returned to Zhuang Rui's eyes.
What is a surprise? It's when something develops in a way that is beyond your expectations. Of course, such an unexpected event should develop in a positive direction. Zhuang Rui experienced this firsthand.
The surprises continued. The spiritual energy that had been dormant in Zhuang Rui's eyes, only circling around his eye socket when he used it, suddenly began to rotate rapidly after merging with the aura of the book. Strands of spiritual energy continuously flowed into Zhuang Rui's eyeballs. There was no pain, only an indescribable tingling sensation. Zhuang Rui resisted the urge to rub his eyes and tightly closed them.
If someone could see Zhuang Rui's eyes at this moment, they would notice a faint orange-yellow shimmering within his tightly closed eyes, but it only lasted a few seconds before disappearing back into Zhuang Rui's eyes.
The spiritual energy in his eyes was still spinning rapidly, constantly merging into Zhuang Rui's eyeballs. Slowly, Zhuang Rui discovered that he could clearly see his pupils and the wisps of pale yellow spiritual energy in his eyes. All the wisps of spiritual energy poured into one of his pupils, and the pupil, which was originally slightly bluish-green, slowly turned pale yellow after the large amount of spiritual energy merged in. Then, it emitted a powerful suction force, instantly sucking all the spiritual energy in Zhuang Rui's eyes into it.
The eye that had absorbed all the spiritual energy suddenly emitted a blinding yellow light, causing Zhuang Rui's eyes to fill with twinkling yellow stars. After an unknown amount of time, the light dissipated, and Zhuang Rui discovered that his two eyes had merged back into one, and all the strange phenomena in his eyes had disappeared.
The tingling sensation in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by an indescribable pleasure, like taking a hot bath after a day of rolling around in the mud, washing away all the grime, or like a traveler who had been without water for three days in the desert suddenly discovering an oasis and drinking to his heart's content. The cool sensation in his eyes made Zhuang Rui feel lightheaded and otherworldly.
"Hey bro, are you alright? How's my book? Hey bro, say something! That's weird, why did you close your eyes while reading..."
A clear, ethereal voice, seemingly from afar, rang in Zhuang Rui's ears, instantly bringing him back to reality. Reluctantly opening his eyes, Zhuang Rui was startled by a wrinkled face. He thought to himself that if he didn't open his eyes, the old woman's hand might touch his face.
"Uh...madam, what did you just say?"
Although Zhuang Rui heard a voice in his ear just now, he did not understand what it said.
"Wooden Head, that old lady asked you if her book was a treasure. What was wrong with you just now? You were holding up a tattered book in front of you and staring at it for ages. I called you but you didn't answer. What's wrong? Is your head injury still not healed? Shouldn't you go to the hospital for a checkup...?"
Liu Chuan stopped playing games, pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Zhuang Rui, asking with a worried expression.
"It's nothing, I just had a headache for a bit, it probably wasn't fully healed yet, but I'm fine now, no need to go to the hospital..."
Zhuang Rui didn't know how to explain it to this guy. What happened to him was too fantastical. If word got out, he would probably be taken to the Academy of Sciences for dissection immediately. He could only use a headache as an excuse.
"Hey buddy, are you alright? No wonder you were staring blankly at that book for ages, turns out you're mentally ill..."
The old lady muttered with a face full of sympathy, but Zhuang Rui almost couldn't catch his breath. What kind of talk was that?
"Yes, yes, ma'am, this kid has been mentally ill since he was little. You should stay away from him. He'll bite when he's having an episode. He almost bit my shop's dog last time..."
Liu Chuan, who was listening nearby, laughed heartily and even fanned the flames, as he rarely saw Zhuang Rui make a fool of himself.
"Then...then I won't sell my book, sir, please give it back to me."
The old lady was easily swayed and actually believed Liu Chuan's words. She took a few steps back, but her eyes were fixed on the book in Zhuang Rui's hand, as if she was afraid that he would have a seizure and tear it up.
Zhuang Rui looked at the book in his hand with a mix of amusement and exasperation. He no longer felt that it was a tattered book; it was practically a priceless treasure. He wanted to examine it again, but Liu Chuan and the old lady were both watching him, and he didn't know what would happen if he used his spiritual energy again after the strange change in his eyes. So he didn't dare to use his spiritual energy to examine it rashly. However, he really couldn't bear to return the book.
"Auntie, you're selling this book, right? How much are you looking to sell it for? Name your price, and if it's reasonable, I'll buy it..."
After much thought, since he wanted to keep the book, he might as well buy it himself. He felt that he had already gotten a great deal by replenishing his spiritual energy. Moreover, Zhuang Rui subconsciously felt that the book was a good thing and its value was definitely much higher than the couplets in his home. The reason was simple: the spiritual energy contained in the book was far greater than that of the couplets.
"Wood, come out here, I have something to tell you, come here..."
Liu Chuan, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, changed his expression after hearing Zhuang Rui's words. Without waiting for Zhuang Rui's reply, he pulled him outside the shop without further ado.
"What are you doing? Shh... It's so cold. Let's talk inside..."
As soon as he stepped out of the store, he felt the cold wind blowing straight down his neck, making Zhuang Rui shiver several times. He turned around and was about to push the door open to go back into the store.
"Let me finish speaking before you go in..."
Liu Chuan grabbed Zhuang Rui and said, "Hey, you blockhead, let me tell you, I've been in this market for four or five years now. I've seen people selling people, let alone books. I've even seen people selling living people. I'm not saying you're naive, but this old lady's story could go on for three days and three nights, and I could make it sound ten times worse. Listen to me, let her say what she wants, just treat it as a joke. Don't get carried away and actually spend your money on that lousy book. If word gets out that my brother got scammed by an old lady, I, Liu Chuan, can't afford to lose face like that..."
So that's why Liu Chuan pulled him out. Zhuang Rui was relieved. The book was definitely a rare and valuable ancient book, and it was handwritten by a famous person. Although Zhuang Rui hadn't learned about this industry at the pawnshop, he knew that the price of the item wouldn't be low. He just didn't know how to explain it to Liu Chuan.
Zhuang Rui pondered for a moment, but couldn't come up with a good excuse, so he simply said, "You scoundrel, you know what I do for a living in Zhonghai. When it comes to playing with dogs, raising fish, and fighting crickets, I admit I'm not as good as you. But when it comes to appraising antiques and having a discerning eye, you're far inferior to me. I don't care if the story is true or false, but that book is a good thing, absolutely valuable. Have you ever seen me squander money since I was a child? Trust me, you won't regret it."
Zhuang Rui was just talking nonsense. If he didn't use the spiritual energy in his eyes and relied solely on his eyesight to identify it, he probably would have thrown that tattered book into the stove and burned it.
"Really?"
Liu Chuan muttered to himself, putting on a skeptical expression, and followed Zhuang Rui back into the shop.
Chapter 013 Upgrade
The old lady was fidgeting in the shop, her eyes constantly glancing towards the entrance, her face full of anxiety. Only when she saw Zhuang Rui and Liu Chuan walk in did she breathe a sigh of relief and ask softly, "Young man, do you still want this book?"
Zhuang Rui didn't even hesitate before saying, "I'll take this book, ma'am. Please give me a fair price. It's so cold, you probably won't be able to sell it anywhere, so don't bother going back and forth."
"I don't know what price to ask for. When I got married, my mother said these books were treasures. If my husband hadn't had that accident, I wouldn't be selling them. Young man, how about 20,000 yuan for the three books together?"
The old lady's voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost inaudible when she mentioned the price of 20,000 yuan. After the prices offered by the previous shops, the old lady probably felt that her few tattered books were not necessarily treasures. In addition, her two sons were in school, and they received so many books every year, which only cost a few hundred yuan. For her to ask for 20,000 yuan for these three tattered books was like selling cabbages as treasures. The old lady herself felt a little embarrassed.
"How much?"
The old lady spoke too softly, and Zhuang Rui indeed didn't hear the price clearly.
"Twenty thousand yuan, is that okay? Or eighteen thousand would also be fine. We have to pay a fine when we get back. We haven't paid for the old man's hospital bills yet, and we owe several thousand yuan for the child's school fees. Any less won't do."
The old woman's voice was a little louder, but her tone was firm, and her cloudy eyes were already filled with tears.
"My own couplet is worth 10,000 yuan. If we consider the spiritual energy content, then this book should be worth no less than 10,000 yuan. Even if the condition is a bit poor, I won't lose much money buying it for 20,000 yuan. I'll just consider it as doing a good deed."
After silently calculating in his mind, Zhuang Rui pointed to the most worn-out book on the coffee table and said, "Auntie, I don't want those two books. I only want this one. To be honest, this book may be worthless in some people's eyes, but it may be a treasure in other people's eyes. However, this book has not been well preserved. Many parts are damaged by insects. I estimate that it is worth at most 20,000 yuan. How about this, let's not go for 18,000 yuan, just 20,000 yuan. I'll take it."
Since Zhuang Rui had decided to buy it, the difference between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan wasn't that significant. In his mind, the value of the spiritual energy contained in the book far exceeded 20,000 yuan.
"Wood, this lousy book isn't worth 20,000! Don't throw your money away. We're not buying it. Do you think we're stupid?"
Liu Chuan, who was standing to the side, couldn't hold back any longer. He had also taken the book and looked at it over and over for a long time. His feeling was summed up in one word: tattered. If this tattered book could be worth 20,000 yuan, then he could easily get a mongrel dog from the countryside and sell it for the price of a German Shepherd. Liu Chuan felt that Zhuang Rui had been beaten senseless.
"This... I mean, it can be less. It's the 20,000 that this guy said."
Seeing Liu Chuan's fierce face, the old lady was a little scared and said timidly in a low voice that she probably also felt that Zhuang Rui's brain was not working properly, that someone was actually buying things at too high a price.
"You scoundrel, stop talking nonsense and hurry up and give me 20,000 yuan. I'll pay you back when I get home. After you give the money to the old lady, it will be dark soon. It's snowing heavily and freezing cold, and I still have to get back to Tongshan."
Zhuang Rui had no idea that the two people beside him had already categorized him as someone with a mental problem. All he wanted to do now was get the book as soon as possible and go home to study it carefully.
"I have no money, and even if I had money, I wouldn't give it to you!"
Liu Chuan turned his face away, thinking to himself that if he were to take out 20,000 yuan, and word got out, his shop would be crammed full of people trying to take advantage of him.
"Are you taking it or not? If not, I'll go home and get it now..."
As Zhuang Rui spoke, he stood up. The 100,000 yuan bonus from his company was still at home, and he had more than 20,000 yuan in his bank account. He could just take a taxi home to get it.
"Alright, alright, I give up. You sit down and wait a few minutes. Damn it, I'm unlucky to know you..."
Liu Chuan knew Zhuang Rui's personality all too well. From childhood to adulthood, once Zhuang Rui set his mind on something, he would definitely do it, and no one could change his mind.
Liu Chuan shoved Zhuang Rui onto the sofa, then stormed out, his face full of displeasure. He didn't even take an umbrella. He didn't usually keep that much cash in his shop, but there were banks and ATMs right next to the market, so depositing and withdrawing money was very convenient.
"Young man, look, just give me 18,000, this... this is too much trouble."
"It's alright, ma'am, it's only 20,000. Don't worry, I won't ask for anything later. After you get the money, please go home as soon as possible. It's more important to get your husband medical treatment first..."
Zhuang Rui's words brought tears to the old lady's eyes. She kept wiping her tears with her sleeve, sobbing and unable to speak.
As the two were talking, not long after, they heard a loud bang as Liu Chuan pushed open the shop door. Liu Chuan, whose head was covered in snowflakes, didn't even wipe them off and threw the 20,000 yuan in his hand to Zhuang Rui.
"Auntie, count the money and hide it well. There are a lot of thieves during the holidays, so be careful on the road. You scoundrel, why don't you just drive me to the station..."
Zhuang Rui glanced at the snow falling heavier and heavier outside the door, handed the money to the old lady, and then said to Liu Chuan.
"No need, no need, I wouldn't dare trouble you. I know the way."
Perhaps a little afraid of Liu Chuan, the old lady stopped counting the money. She took out a handkerchief, first wrapped it in her wallet, then lifted her clothes and stuffed the money into her waistband. When she packed the other two books into her bag, her left hand was still covering the money. However, once she slung the bag over her shoulder, it was no longer noticeable that she had hidden money in her waistband.
Zhuang Rui, holding an umbrella, walked to the roadside, hailed a taxi, and helped the old lady into the car before returning to Liu Chuan's pet shop. Seeing the guy looking like he was about to be berated him, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey buddy, why that wife-dead look on your face? Let me tell you, this book is definitely worth more than 20,000 yuan. We've made a profit. Wait a minute, let me see what's on it."
Zhuang Rui's words were infuriating; he didn't even know what was written in the book, yet he threw away 20,000 yuan.
Liu Chuan was so angry he almost jumped up, pointing at Zhuang Rui and cursing, "Damn it, this lousy book is too hard to even wipe your butt with! What, what did you say? You haven't read this book yet?"
Liu Chuan was completely speechless. Seeing Zhuang Rui flipping through the book and ignoring him, he angrily lit a cigarette, sat back down at the computer, and started playing games. He was secretly planning how to complain about the kid to his godmother that night.
Zhuang Rui ignored Liu Chuan, as he was concentrating on the book in his hands. To his slight disappointment, the spiritual energy in the book seemed to have been absorbed, just like the couplet. After one use, no more energy flowed into the spiritual energy in his eyes.
However, this was within Zhuang Rui's expectations. Moreover, his surprise far outweighed his disappointment, because when he used spiritual energy, he could clearly feel that the spiritual energy infused with the aura of this ancient book was very different from before. How to put it, if Zhuang Rui were to describe it himself, he would feel like he had leveled up in a game.
The greenish-blue light that preceded the use of spiritual energy has now turned into a pale orange-yellow. Not only has the total amount of spiritual energy increased, but it has also become easier to control. Zhuang Rui can even control the spiritual energy within any page, just like turning the pages of a book.
He even had a feeling that he could look at other people's bodies with his eyes and see right through their clothes without touching their skin. Of course, right now it was just Liu Chuan and himself in the shop, and he had absolutely no interest in Liu Chuan's body.
The distance that his eyes could see through had also increased. Just now, before he picked up the book, Zhuang Rui glanced at the book on the glass coffee table, and the distance was definitely more than a meter. Zhuang Rui planned to test it slowly when he got home that night to find out exactly how much it had increased.
Most importantly, after experiencing the twice that he could absorb spiritual energy from the couplet manuscript, Zhuang Rui found a way to continuously increase the spiritual energy in his eyes. He even looked forward to what kind of magical changes his eyes would undergo after absorbing more spiritual energy.
Chapter 14 Incense Ancestor's Notes (Part 1)
Winter days always seem to pass very quickly. It was only around five o'clock in the afternoon when the sky outside gradually darkened. Looking out through the transparent glass door, the streets, which had just been swept in the morning, were covered with a thick layer of snow. The white snow on the ground shone brightly in the darkness.
Zhuang Rui let out a long sigh and carefully placed the tattered, almost falling-off book on the coffee table in front of him. To be precise, it should be a manuscript written by an ancient person. After a cursory glance, Zhuang Rui could confirm that it was a notebook of an ancient person, dating back to the early Qing Dynasty. This was because the reign titles of the Kangxi and Shunzhi emperors appeared many times in the manuscript. And the character "言" in "香祖笔言" on the cover, if Zhuang Rui was not mistaken, should be the character "记" in "笔记" (notebook). Due to the damage, only half of the character remained.
The manuscript is not well preserved. In the first half, there is obvious mold caused by insects, sweat, oil stains, dust and other substances. Many characters have become blurred and difficult to recognize. The second half is in better condition, but the language is written in classical Chinese, which is obscure and difficult to understand. Zhuang Rui does not recognize many traditional characters either. He can only guess and read through it. He can understand the general meaning, though. The content is extensive and mostly consists of the author's arguments and expressions of personal feelings.
The last few pages of the manuscript were all poems, mostly seven-character quatrains. However, Zhuang Rui found them somewhat frustrating because he had always been somewhat unbalanced in his studies, being strong in science but weak in humanities. He could only recite poems like "Hoeing the fields at noon" or "The bright moonlight before the window," and he couldn't discern the quality of the poems in the manuscript. Although there was a red seal in seal script below each poem on the later pages, Zhuang Rui didn't recognize those characters and couldn't identify the author.
With a quick glance, Zhuang Rui saw Liu Chuan struggling with the computer, grimacing in frustration. He stood up, walked over, and shooed Liu Chuan aside. He then exited the game, opened a webpage, typed in "Baidu," and pressed enter. After waiting for a while, he found that the computer displayed a message saying "Page cannot be opened."
"Hey you rascal, your computer can't connect to the internet?"
Zhuang Rui turned to Liu Chuan beside him and asked.
"Go online? What kind of internet? How do you go online? Oh right, I heard you can play games online, but I don't know how."
Liu Chuan scratched his head, clearly finding the question too profound for him.
"Damn it, why would you buy a computer if you don't want to go online? It's like a pig sticking a scallion in its nose, trying to look like an elephant."
Zhuang Rui couldn't help but swear. He had been reluctant to buy something worth over ten thousand yuan, even after making several tough decisions. This guy bought it just to play games, and such low-level ones at that.
“Several shops on this street have already bought some. If I don’t buy any, they’ll look down on me. I can’t let this opportunity slip by. By the way, Wood, how do I get online? Hurry up and get it set up for me. Let’s get online too. I heard from some of them that playing games online is really fun. There’s this game called Legend, it’s incredibly popular. Those guys always brag about it to me. Now I can finally play it too.”
When Liu Chuan heard Zhuang Rui mention internet access, he perked up. Usually, he was too proud to ask the shop owners on the street, but now that he heard Zhuang Rui knew about it, he grabbed Zhuang Rui and insisted that he set up internet access for him right away.
"Get lost. If you want to go online, you need to go to the telecom office to activate your internet service first. Haven't you ever been to an internet cafe before?"