Chapter 130: Elder Yan's Warning

Qin Feng held the ancient jade in his hand, tracing the intricate patterns on its surface. A chill radiated from his fingertips, piercing straight to his heart. Mr. Long’s story sounded flawless, yet something felt fundamentally off. The timing of this jade’s appearance was far too coincidental; it felt deliberate.

"Mr. Long, I need to study this jade thoroughly before I can help you locate that treasure," Qin Feng said, turning the jade over in his hand with a calm expression. "Could you grant me a few days?"

Mr. Long offered a hearty laugh, though a sharp glint flickered in his eyes. "Of course, Mr. Qin. Please, take your time. I am in no rush."

After leaving Mr. Long’s clubhouse, Qin Feng drove straight back to the hospital, where Zhang Hu and Yang Tianchen were already waiting. As soon as he stepped into the ward, Zhang Hu hurried over, his voice urgent. "Brother Feng, how did it go? That old guy didn't give you any trouble, did he?"

Although Yang Tianchen remained silent, his gaze was equally full of concern. Qin Feng tossed the jade to Zhang Hu. "See for yourself. We may have stepped into much deeper waters than we realized."

Zhang Hu caught the jade and inspected it from every angle, but he couldn't make heads or tails of it. "This thing? It doesn't look like much of a treasure. Brother Feng, what exactly is that guy up to?"

Qin Feng shook his head. "The old fox is cunning. The clues he provided are a mix of truth and falsehood; it’s hard to tell what’s real. But one thing is certain: this piece of jade is definitely not simple."

Yang Tianchen nodded in agreement. "I’ve been investigating, and a batch of antiques of unknown origin has recently surfaced in the market. I’ve also heard that one particular item has been hyped up to an absurd price, and many people are keeping a close eye on it."

"Oh? What is it?" Qin Feng’s interest was piqued.

"The specifics are still unclear. All I know is that it’s a bronze vessel, supposedly a ritual object from ancient times. It’s extremely rare," Yang Tianchen explained.

"A bronze ritual vessel..." Qin Feng tapped his fingers against the table, lost in thought.

"Brother Feng, do you think that might be what the old man is looking for?" Zhang Hu ventured.

"It’s possible." Qin Feng nodded. "But that’s just speculation. We need further confirmation. Tianchen, keep tracking that batch of antiques, especially the ritual vessel. See if you can find any leads."

"Understood."

"And you, Zhang Hu, don't just stand around watching. Get to work." Qin Feng glared at him. "Dig into Mr. Long’s background. I have a feeling this old man is not who he claims to be; there’s definitely a secret hidden behind him."

"Got it! Don't worry, Brother Feng, I’ll dig up his history for eighteen generations if I have to!" Zhang Hu promised, thumping his chest before storming out.

Watching him go, Qin Feng shook his head helplessly. The kid was still as impulsive as ever. "I need to go to Jianghai," he suddenly announced.

"Jianghai City? What for?" Yang Tianchen asked, puzzled.

"To see my master." Qin Feng explained, "He is quite the expert on antiques. This jade is too strange, and I’m worried about misjudging it. It would be best to have him take a look."

"I see. Go ahead, then. I’ll handle things here." Yang Tianchen nodded in understanding.

...

In Jianghai City, on the Antique Street, inside a shop called Treasure Pavilion, Qin Feng and his master sat across from each other, sipping tea in a harmonious atmosphere.

"Master, please take a look at this jade. Is there anything special about it?" Qin Feng handed the jade to Elder Yan.

Elder Yan took the jade and examined it carefully for a long time. Gradually, his brows began to furrow. "This jade..." He paused for a moment before speaking slowly, "It is quite extraordinary."

"Oh? You see it too, Master?" Qin Feng’s heart skipped a beat. His intuition had been correct; the jade was problematic.

Elder Yan nodded, pointing to the totem on the jade. "Look closely at this totem. Does it look like a form of writing to you?"

"Writing?" Qin Feng leaned in, observing intently. Sure enough, the seemingly chaotic lines, when viewed together, did indeed resemble an ancient script.

"Master, do you recognize these characters?"

Elder Yan shook his head. "I’ve studied antiques for many years, and I’ve never seen this script before. However, I once read a similar account in an ancient text..."

"What kind of account?" Qin Feng pressed.

Elder Yan didn't answer immediately. He stood up slowly and walked to the bookshelf, rummaging through a stack of dusty volumes. After a long search, he finally pulled out a yellowed book, its cover so worn that the title was illegible.

He opened it gingerly, as if touching a fragile treasure, and turned to a specific page. Pointing to the totem recorded there, he said, "I once saw these characters on the epitaph of an ancient tomb. They are identical to the ones on this jade."

Qin Feng leaned in, his eyes locked onto the ancient symbols, trying to decipher their meaning. Elder Yan traced the winding characters. "There isn't much written about this script in the records, only that it is an extremely ancient language of the Witch Tribe."

He paused, his tone growing grave. "Furthermore, this script is almost always associated with ominous curses."

"A curse?" Qin Feng’s brow tightened with doubt.

"Exactly." Elder Yan nodded firmly. "Witch culture is mysterious and ancient. They believed that everything in the world possesses a spirit, and that writing was the medium to communicate with gods and spirits. This script was likely used to seal away some form of malevolent power."

Qin Feng rubbed the jade. The cold touch sent a ripple of unease through him. Where did this jade come from, and why would it carry a curse of the Witch Tribe?

"Master, do you think this jade could be harmful to people?" Qin Feng asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Elder Yan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I’m not entirely sure. Witch culture is vast and profound, and I only know the basics. However, since this jade has found its way to you, perhaps there is a destined reason for it."

After hearing this, Qin Feng felt even more perplexed, but he understood that his master had shared everything he knew. Pressing further would be useless.

"I understand, Master." Qin Feng nodded and tucked the jade back into his pocket. "I will handle it with caution."

"Good." Elder Yan nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Keep that sense of caution. Remember, do not show this jade to others easily, and do not attempt to decipher the script yourself."

Qin Feng left the shop, his mind far from settled.