C17 Golden Silk Jade Robe

"Don't get so worked up. It's no surprise you're all alone here."

Despite the man's fits of anger, he didn't prevent Yuh Wenming from examining the contents of the room, indicating a desire to make a sale.

But he seemed rather dim-witted, utterly incapable of retrieving the items himself.

Yuh Wenming set all the copper pieces aside and surveyed the remaining items, combing through his memory for anything that could be broken down into fragments.

Quickly, Yuh Wenming located the item he needed and set aside the copper piece he was holding.

"What's this?"

He picked up a shiny, scaly fragment that looked as though it had been torn from a garment.

Holding it to his nose, he inhaled a subtle, pleasant scent.

Clearly, if he had stored this item away, it was no ordinary object.

"May I ask what this is? I realize you might be short on patience, but that's the nature of a transaction."

He placed a bank card on the ground, hoping to coax the story behind the fragment from the man.

Tempted by the sight of the bank card, the man began to recount its history.

"I'm not sure of its origins. All I know is that the person who had this nearly met their end inside. They accidentally ripped off a piece, which looks like it belonged to a set of clothes."

Listening intently, Yuh Wenming formed a preliminary idea in his mind.

Such an item could only be part of a jade burial suit.

The ancient texts mentioned Liu Sheng being interred in such a garment; it was unclear whether this fragment had been stripped from Liu Sheng himself.

"Do you want it? Since it's just a fragment and I don't have the complete suit, the price is definitely within your reach."

He had set the armor piece aside simply to try his luck.

If someone showed interest in buying it, he'd essentially be picking up extra cash. It all hinged on whether Yuh Wenming was willing to make the purchase.

After a moment of careful consideration, Yuh Wenming stood up: "Let me think about it."

Meanwhile, a second mission had already taken shape in his mind, branching off from the first.

Yuh Wenming had assumed that completing the task would be the end of it. He hadn't anticipated the possibility of mission branches, an utterly preposterous notion.

The system mission popped up, presenting Yuh Wenming with two options at the end, signaling that he needed to make a choice between them.

The response was somewhat murky, suggesting that Yuh Wenming had some unresolved issues, hence the mission hadn't been fully displayed earlier.

"Do you want this or not? Down below, this would be considered a treasure, even though it was accidentally torn off by someone."

He extended his hand, a light chuckle escaping him, "Name your price. If it seems fair, I'll take it off your hands."

The mission clearly indicated that since the item wasn't his, he was unable to respond a second time.

The man pondered for a moment, unsure of the value of a single jade piece.

"Regardless, this golden-threaded jade garment is a treasure. It's serendipitous that you could take a piece. Let's say ten thousand."

The man's offer seemed reasonable and within Yuh Wenming's budget. Without a word, he pulled out his bank card and laid it before the man.

"You've got a card reader, right? Do you have any other pieces?"

He retrieved a card reader from his bag, shaking his head, "Just this one. If it hadn't been for that fellow accidentally pulling it off, who would want to ruin something whole?"

If the entire jade garment were presented, it would be a rare find, securing his livelihood for the next lifetime.

He swiped the bank card, entered the amount, and handed it back to Yuh Wenming to key in his PIN.

Spending ten thousand yuan on a mission made Yuh Wenming wince internally, uncertain if the system would compensate him.

With the sunrise imminent, the success of the mission hung in the balance, hinging on the completion of this transaction.

Once the man confirmed the payment, he relaxed, "You're probably my first customer. It's yours."

With a wave of his hand, he signaled that Yuh Wenming no longer needed to linger by his stall.

Dawn was breaking, and there was no further reason for him to remain.

Yuh Wenming gestured towards the trinkets on the vendor's stall, "Could you possibly spare some broken shards for me?"

Most of those items were damaged in the Burial Pit, rendering them valueless. Giving them away as freebies wasn't an issue.

Selecting a jade hairpin, the vendor handed it to Yuh Wenming. "Consider this a token of our newfound friendship. It's yours."

A subtle smile graced Yuh Wenming's face as he accepted the item, discreetly slipping the antique into his pocket.

Such an object held no practical use for him, but it was sure to elicit a smile from his sister.

Back at his stall, Yuh Wenming noticed the Antique Night Market crowd was clearing out. Vans pulled up, their drivers eager to whisk the vendors away.

After all, these treasures unearthed from the depths were not meant for daylight exposure.

Besides, night provided a veil of safety; daylight dealings would inevitably lead to their capture.

Upon arriving home, Yuh Wenming discovered his siblings still asleep. He quietly stashed the find in his room, away from prying eyes.

Should they learn of the antique's arrival, it could stir up unwelcome rumors at school.

He then prepared breakfast, setting it on the table, awaiting their rise.

With all tasks completed, Yuh Wenming realized he still had unfinished business—a side mission loomed in his mind.

Now in possession of the fragment, its fate was in his hands.

Seated in his room, he shut the door, ensuring privacy.

Eyes closed, the system mission resurfaced. The sought-after fragment was in hand, and a new branch of the mission unfolded.

The once hazy mission path now came into sharp focus, revealing the next step.

"Please select one of the following options with great care, as it may shape your future," the system prompted.

A twinge of anxiety hit Yuh Wenming as he pondered the choices.

As the text clarified, he read aloud, "Submit the acquired antique to the authorities and gain the Tomb Digging Skill."

Upon witnessing the skill, Yuh Wenming lapsed into deep contemplation, uncertain of its practical application for himself.