C14 Golden Four Vermillion

The Noble Building certainly had a heavy-handed approach. It was just a regular auction for antiques, yet they had the audacity to have someone tail him.

A cold smirk crossed Tantrum's face as he retraced his steps to the riverside path, entering the alley where he had dealt with Daniu the day before. He leaned against the wall, waiting in silence.

Tantrum had only been in Jianghai City for a couple of days, but he'd already handled his fair share of trouble. It was unclear whether Jianghai was inherently chaotic or if Tantrum was just unlucky, attracting problematic people wherever he went.

However, Tantrum didn't shy away from trouble. Push him too far, and he wouldn't hesitate to grab Yang Zun and give him a thrashing. If things got too heated, he could always retreat to his hometown.

After all, with his old man back home, Tantrum felt untouchable. No matter the clout of the Noble Building or its impressive connections, he was sure they couldn't touch him there.

But returning home in defeat was not an appealing option for Tantrum. He had no desire to face that humiliation.

Soon, the sound of careful footsteps drew near. A sharp-looking young man in his mid-twenties peeked out, trying to spot Tantrum. In a flash, Tantrum grabbed his hair, pinned him to the ground, and swiftly bound his hands and feet with his own clothes.

"What are you doing? Help! Murder!" the young man screamed.

With a swift slap, Tantrum silenced him, his face puffing up from the impact.

Tantrum had held back, recognizing the man as a non-threat. Had he not, his slap could have floored a bear, possibly killing the man.

Grabbing the young man by the collar, Tantrum hoisted him up and said icily, "You've been tailing me for quite some time. Do you really think you can keep it up?"

"I wasn't following you! I live around here; I was just heading home. What gives you the right to tie me up..." The young man's eyes darted frantically as he scrambled to defend himself.

Tantrum let out a derisive chuckle and delivered another slap. "Whether you admit it or not doesn't concern me. I'll keep at it until you confess."

"You're breaking the law. What gives you the right to hit me? I'm calling the cops—you can't just hit people!" The young man was on the verge of tears, yet stubbornly refused to confess.

"You've got quite the stubborn streak, don't you? Looks like you could use a few more slaps," Tantrum said with a cold laugh, his hand poised to strike again.

The young man was bound hand and foot, powerless to fight back. He burst out in a desperate plea, "Stop, please! I'll talk, I'll talk. It was Yang Qi from the Noble Building who sent me after you. He paid me two hundred yuan to find out where you were staying. I barely know the guy—I was just trying to make some money."

Tantrum set the young man down, his tone cool and detached, "You should have started with that. Go back and give Yang Qi a message—and Yang Zun too. Tell them to stop messing with me, or they'll live to regret it."

With that, Tantrum released the young man and strode off toward Gu's Antique Shop, content in the knowledge that the young man was just a regular guy, not an agent of the Noble Building, and not someone Tantrum wanted to trouble further.

Tantrum made his way back to the shop in no time.

Inside Gu's Antique Shop, Elder Qi was examining a porcelain bowl with a magnifying glass, while his disciple, Hee Ming, was nowhere to be seen.

Tantrum's keen senses told him that the bowl was devoid of any runes—it was a fake, a typical modern reproduction—and his interest waned.

"Tang, you're back," Elder Qi greeted warmly, setting aside the porcelain bowl, having also discerned its lack of authenticity.

Tantrum nodded and said, "Elder Qi, I've got an item here. Could you take a look at it for me?"

"Oh? Certainly, I've got some time," Elder Qi replied, intrigued.

Tantrum presented the metal piece, and Elder Qi, rather than taking it directly, gestured for Tantrum to place it gently on the table. Donning white gloves, Elder Qi began his careful examination.

"Judging by its appearance, this seems to be a copper coin. It's missing a corner but is otherwise beautifully crafted. The characters in the center are in seal script and need to be read in a specific order. Together, they read 'Four Zhu of Gold'—likely a coin from the mid-Warring States period. This is quite a find; let me take a closer look."

Elder Qi spoke as he adjusted his reading glasses, examining the item with even greater scrutiny.

The "Sight Gold Four Zhu" copper coin, a currency from the middle to late Warring States period in the Chu region, was named for its value of four zhu, indicating it could be exchanged for that amount of gold at the time. The coin itself was rectangular, with both sides adorned with intricate patterns of coiled serpents and flowing clouds. The obverse featured two concentric raised ridges, large and small, creating a round coin shape. The inner ridge was noticeably higher than the outer one, with a cross-shaped groove set lower than the ridges at the center. Between the two ridges, the words "Sight Gold Four Zhu" were inscribed in a spiraling seal script, its calligraphy elegant yet simple, exuding an ancient charm.

After scrutinizing the piece for over ten minutes, Elder Qi finally nodded in confirmation. "Indeed, this is the 'Sight Gold Four Zhu' copper coin. Despite missing a corner, it remains a fine specimen with a rarity that adds to its value. If you're willing to part with it, Tang, I can offer you ninety thousand yuan on behalf of Gu's Antique Shop. Take some time to think it over."

"Ninety thousand?" Tantrum paused, pleasantly surprised by the offer. He was quite content with the price.

"Ninety thousand yuan is the best I can do," Elder Qi said with a smile. "Any more, and the shop wouldn't see a profit."

Tantrum nodded in agreement. "I trust you, Elder Qi. Ninety thousand it is. However, could we possibly complete the transaction later tonight?" Tantrum planned to use the copper coin to practice his Relic Arts before selling it to Gu's Antique Shop.

"Of course, that's no problem at all," Elder Qi replied with a nod.

That afternoon, Tantrum secluded himself in his room, focusing intently on the Relic Arts with the copper coin before him. The practice required antiques, not only to transform them into Relics but also to absorb some of their external runes into the body, converting them directly into spiritual energy.

Absorbing runes was a simpler process than transforming an antique into a Relic. Tantrum felt his perception surge as he easily absorbed the energy. Within less than an hour, the orange runes on the copper coin had faded by about half.

The remainder of the runes had been absorbed into Tantrum's body, becoming part of his spiritual essence and significantly increasing his spiritual energy. However, he still had a considerable way to go before he could become a level 2 Relic Arts Master.

"I must keep pushing forward! Relying on chance finds for antiques is too slow, and it's rare to come across truly exceptional pieces. Now, with the sale of the 'Sight Gold Four Zhu' coin, I'll have ninety thousand in capital. Once I've saved up a million, I'll open my own antique shop. It can start small and grow over time."

Tantrum's resolve was bolstered once more. He stepped out of the room, handed the copper coin plaque to Elder Qi, and sealed the deal, securing his first windfall of ninety thousand yuan.

Flush with 90,000 yuan, Tantrum's thoughts turned to Xia Xingchen, eager to celebrate. He planned to treat her to a lavish meal.

Xia Xingchen was known for her thriftiness, keeping her living expenses low. With newfound wealth, she was the first person Tantrum wanted to share his good fortune with. However, his call to Xia Xingchen went unanswered.

A crease of concern formed on Tantrum's brow as he began to worry about her. By all accounts, Xia Xingchen should have been out of class and on her way back to Gu's Antique Shop. With no direct bus service from her school to the Antique Market, she typically took a shortcut on foot, a journey of just over ten minutes. The silence on the other end of the line raised an unsettling question: could something have happened to her on her way back?