C16 The Detailed Analysis

With his eyes closed, Yuh Wenming was enveloped by the cacophony of vendors peddling their wares.

Instinctively, he peered inside, curious to discover the assortment of goods the small merchants had on offer.

Yuh Wenming realized it was an impossible task to scrutinize every stall in a single night.

Besides, the stalls were transient, ready to pack up and move on at a moment's notice, indicating their impermanent nature.

Should any vendor depart, he would have to reexamine the remaining stalls.

Armed with this insight, Yuh Wenming knew he needed a strategy, a clear direction for his search.

Revisiting the system's clues, he noted the term "fragment," suggesting that the object of interest could still be retrievable, even in pieces.

Small adornments like jade hairpins and jade rings, if shattered, would surely not be displayed. Instead, the merchants would likely repurpose them into new items.

Such items wouldn't be categorized as fragments. Only items like bronze, jade artifacts, or ceramic wares could earn that label.

Furthermore, the system's directive for Yuh Wenming to seek out such items implied their significant value, hinting that they would stand out conspicuously among the rest.

Narrowing his focus, Yuh Wenming wasted no more time and wove his way back through the stalls, determined to pinpoint the location of the elusive object.

The surrounding merchants were a constant flux of arrivals and departures, with many vanishing from sight while others lingered, positioning themselves before Yuh Wenming.

He scrutinized their offerings, hoping to spot an item that fit the bill.

Yet, nothing aligned with his mental checklist; ironically, everything there was precisely what Yuh Wenming was searching for.

"Come take a look at the latest arrivals! These are treasures you've surely never laid eyes on before," beckoned a voice.

A man, his attire coated in grime, emerged and positioned himself prominently, beckoning the crowd to inspect his goods.

Yuh Wenming could deduce from the man's attire that he had likely just arrived, and the chance of him possessing a true gem was real.

Approaching the man's stall, Yuh Wenming observed a limited selection, each piece a delicate trinket.

The Collector had already begun perusing, convinced of the authenticity of the items, so much so that he neglected even to authenticate them.

Yuh Wenming casually picked up an accessory and noticed the soil on it was an unusual color.

Seeing no reason to disrupt anyone else's hustle, he quietly returned the item to the vendor's stall.

The vendor watched Yuh Wenming set the item down, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he sensed that Yuh Wenming had discerned the item was a counterfeit.

In such a market, few could keep their wits about them, and Yuh Wenming's attire only added to his credibility.

In a flash, the vendor had sold several items and swiftly packed up his bag. Hoisting it over his shoulder, he left without giving anyone a second glance.

Those who missed their chance to make a purchase shook their heads in disappointment, lamenting, "What rotten luck to miss out on such a perfect opportunity to snag a deal."

Perhaps their tone sparked Yuh Wenming's discontent, prompting him to cough lightly and remark, "You're better off having missed it. Otherwise, you'd be regretting it too late."

Nearby, a man boasted about the jade hairpin he had acquired, bristling at Yuh Wenming's implication, "Are you suggesting my piece is a fake?"

Yuh Wenming simply shrugged, preferring to remain silent and eager to leave.

The authenticity of the item could easily be determined by a Treasure Appraisal Master.

Given Yuh Wenming's apparent youth, skepticism was expected; there was no need to convince them otherwise, especially since they were all strangers.

The man, persistent, approached Yuh Wenming and held the jade hairpin up to his face, asserting, "I am an Appraisal Master. This jade hairpin is freshly excavated; it can't possibly be a fake."

With his hands crossed over his chest, Yuh Wenming delivered a question that left the man speechless.

"Tell me, if the jade hairpin was meant to accompany the dead in a Burial Pit, why is there yellow mud on it?"

Yellow mud typically rests on the surface, and any dust found would be black or dark sediment—yellow is out of the question.

The mud's color suggested that the jade hairpin was likely buried in mud long after its supposed time in the pit.

He slammed his hand against the pillar with frustration. "Damn, it's actually a fake. I was convinced it was real. Where did that guy run off to?"

Those who had been envious just moments before now burst into laughter, surprised that they had all been so easily deceived.

Perhaps they had been too presumptuous, not taking the time to closely examine what the man had presented.

Wandering through the stalls, they found no trace of the fragments, even as dawn began to break.

Without realizing it, they had spent five or six hours searching, yet the night market crowd showed no signs of fatigue.

In their profession, the night brought out crowds far larger than just a handful of people.

"Where could that fragment be? Am I really going to lose a skill over this?"

Despairingly, he surveyed the stalls. Some were deserted, while others bustled with people inquiring about prices.

It wasn't that their wares were subpar; rather, their inexplicability made people hesitant to come closer.

Yuh Wenming figured since he couldn't find the fragment, he might as well take a chance.

If he stumbled upon a bargain, he wouldn't have to worry about his siblings' livelihood or the next semester's tuition fees.

The search area had already narrowed; he didn't need to inspect every place, just spot the small items.

Before long, he spotted exactly what he was looking for.

"Did you retrieve these copper pieces yourself? They look quite old."

The vendor glanced up at Yuh Wenming and, recognizing him as a college student, his interest waned.

A student was unlikely to have much money, certainly not enough to make a serious offer.

"If you can't afford it, don't waste your time here. These copper pieces are out of your reach. Better try your luck at another stall."

With a dismissive wave, the vendor signaled Yuh Wenming to move on, no longer welcome to linger at his booth.

It was precisely the vendor's dismissive attitude that convinced Yuh Wenming the items at his stall were worth a closer look.

After all, if the price was too good to be true, it was likely a counterfeit.

"There's no need for this kind of back-and-forth. I've got the cash, you've got the goods. I'm in the market for antiques, and you're looking to sell. Let's just benefit from each other."

The copper pieces were set aside, as he was curious to check for any so-called fragments within.

Yuh Wenming had initially suspected that there might be some small, scattered items among the copper, but to his surprise, he found that all the pieces were intact.

"How odd. Your copper pieces don't have any fragments?"

Upon hearing Yuh Wenming's comment, the man nearly lost his cool. "No, they don't. If you're not knowledgeable, then keep your opinions to yourself. I do business only with those who appreciate the value."