C16 Antique Shop
Mrs. Yang was in a critical state, her health hanging by a thread, necessitating immediate treatment. Ye Yu, understanding the gravity of the situation, quickly said his goodbyes to Mrs. Yang and set out in search of the Millennial Spirit Tortoise Shell.
Exiting the ward, he happened to glance into the nurse's station as he walked by. There, he caught sight of Chiang Ling emerging with a medical tray in hand, upon which rested a particularly thick needle. At the sight of Ye Yu, Chiang Ling's heart skipped a beat. She fought to keep her shyness at bay, attempting to initiate a conversation, but what came out was an awkward, "Are you going to get an injection?"
Ye Yu took one look at the needle and instinctively stepped back, shaking his head emphatically. This was his first encounter with fear since his return to the present day. The notion of receiving an injection from a nurse he had just met was unsettling, especially without knowing what the syringe contained. Could it be some sort of strength-enhancing drug, or perhaps even an aphrodisiac?
Realizing her blunder, Chiang Ling mentally kicked herself. She had meant to ask if Ye Yu was leaving, yet she had blurted out a question about injections. Trying to recover, Ye Yu quickly changed the subject, "I don't need an injection; I've got things to attend to. Oh, and remember to massage this spot for three minutes, three times a day, for the next fifteen days. That should clear up the blood stasis in your ovaries. By this time next month, you should feel no pain."
As he gave her a reassuring rub on the abdomen, Chiang Ling didn't accuse him of any impropriety this time; instead, she nodded earnestly, committing his advice to memory. Watching Ye Yu saunter off towards the door with an air of nonchalance, Chiang Ling's racing heart began to settle.
However, in a sudden twist, Ye Yu spun on his heel and dashed back to her, whispering in her ear, "Next time, feel free to come over to my place for the injection. I'll take good care of you." Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and by the time she collected herself, Ye Yu had vanished. Left in his wake, Chiang Ling pouted and stamped her foot in frustration, muttering, "What a tease! He didn't even tell me where he lives. How am I supposed to go to his house to give him an injection?"
After leaving the hospital, Ye Yu spent his last 20 yuan on a taxi ride directly to the Antique Market. The Spirit Tortoise Shell, also known as the Bone of the Shell, bore inscriptions from the ancient era of Lunamis. In those times, High Priests used these inscribed shells to divine for the imperial family. Only shells from a millennial spirit tortoise were deemed worthy for such a purpose.
Finding a shell like this meant it was undoubtedly a Millennial Spirit Tortoise Shell. Initially, these inscribed shells were used in medicine, but once their historical significance was recognized, they transitioned from the medical to the literary world, becoming a coveted item in antique shops.
Yangcheng's Antique Market was situated in the northern suburbs, at the Glazed Tile Factory. The market bustled with vendors and shoppers, offering a vast array of items and attracting a large volume of transactions. However, the quality of goods varied greatly, with fakes often outnumbering genuine articles. Discerning the real from the counterfeit relied on the buyer's keen eye.
"Boss, do you have any ancient bones with inscriptions?" Ye Yu asked as he entered a respectable-looking antique shop, getting straight to the point.
The shopkeeper, a man in his fifties with presbyopic glasses, appraised Ye Yu from behind the counter. Unlike typical malls, appearances in antique shops could be deceiving; a well-dressed individual might not afford a simple brick, while someone in tattered clothes could be eyeing the shop's prized possession.
Despite Ye Yu's humble attire, the shopkeeper treated him with respect, promptly serving fine tea. He then retrieved a small cotton-wrapped package from the top shelf and unveiled its contents before Ye Yu—three ancient bones, one black, one yellowed, and one white as bleached bone.
