Chapter 3: Both Willing, Both Accepting

Lu Qingfei racked her brains, recalling every shady deed she’d ever committed in this life, the last, and even the one before that. She could say with absolute certainty that she had never robbed a tomb. This was truly a calamity out of thin air. Was there anyone in the world more unfortunate than her?

Lu Qingfei had been ‘invited’ to the Yuncheng Police Station. She accepted a cup of warm tea, brought it to her lips, and imitated her sect master’s elegant way of blowing on the tea. Outwardly she appeared calm, but inside, she was in utter chaos. In a law-abiding society, being caught by the police and possibly facing prison—who wouldn’t panic?

“Lu Qingfei, graduate of Jinghua University, major in archaeology.” The middle-aged officer read off her file, casting a sidelong glance at her. “You’re young, a graduate from a prestigious university. Of all things you could do, why tomb robbing?”

A young intern at the computer, busy sorting files, overheard and craned his neck, joking, “Archaeology major turning to tomb robbing—talk about a perfect match, hahahaha.”

The middle-aged officer shot him a glare sharp as a knife, and the intern quickly added, “Those are my personal views, and have nothing to do with the Yuncheng precinct!”

Lu Qingfei held her teacup, her gaze earnest. “Officer, you say I robbed a tomb. May I ask, where is the porcelain I supposedly stole?”

At that moment, an elderly man approached, dressed in a casual Zhongshan suit, carrying a mountain-measuring ruler. His thick brows and nose gave him an imposing presence; his long hair was tied back neatly, his aura dignified and commanding. He looked to be in his seventies.

He pinched his fingers together in a calculating gesture, eyeing her with a complex expression.

Lu Qingfei lifted her eyes, clear and bright as stars, to meet his gaze.

“This young woman carries the malevolence unique to ancient tombs, identical to the aura on the porcelain,” confirmed Master Liu Guanyun. “It’s her.”

Only then did Lu Qingfei notice the object held carefully by his disciple at his side. Wasn’t that the battered jar she’d sold this morning? Could it be that the buyer, dissatisfied with its worth, called the police on her?

“Officer, it was a fair transaction at the market. One sells, one buys; I sold an old jar, someone was willing to pay a thousand yuan. Money changed hands, goods exchanged—surely that’s not fraud?”

“An old jar? This is a polychrome dragon-patterned covered jar, over a thousand years old, found only in ancient tombs!”

The middle-aged officer glared at her, frustrated that young people with talent and ability would resort to stealing relics.

At his words, Lu Qingfei finally understood. Last night, she’d encountered a vengeful spirit, likely one that had lingered in an ancient tomb. When she dealt with it, her hands picked up the tomb’s aura, which then clung to the jar. The celestial master had used the malevolence to identify the ‘culprit.’

Is this how cases are solved nowadays—by celestial masters?

Lu Qingfei sipped her tea, resigned. “This jar isn’t a thousand years old. If you don’t believe me, call in an expert to appraise it.”

After all, the aura alone couldn’t serve as evidence.

The middle-aged officer whispered to the intern, who soon rushed out and, before long, returned with an elderly woman.

She was petite, white-haired, and carried a bag with a New Year’s painting motif. Her kindly face could have belonged to any lady dancing in a city square.

“I heard there’s an antique here—let me take a look,” she said, smiling.

Liu Guanyun’s disciple immediately presented the jar to her.

The middle-aged officer introduced her, “This is Jin Yu, a recognized inheritor of traditional handicraft and a respected expert in antiques. She can tell at a glance if it’s over a thousand years old.”

Lu Qingfei kept her composure and drank her third cup of tea.

Jin Yu pulled out a magnifying glass in one hand, adjusted her reading glasses with the other, and studied the battered jar intently.

Though worn, the piece’s craftsmanship was flawless. The porcelain was exquisitely white, beautifully shaped, with refined glazing and an archaic design.

Twenty minutes later, Jin Yu looked up at the officer. “Who made this?”

He was puzzled. “If it’s from a tomb, it’s thousands of years old—how would I know who made it?”

Lu Qingfei raised her hand. “I did.”

She had learned ceramics from a wandering cultivator during her time training in the cultivation world.

“You?” Jin Yu asked, doubtful.

Lu Qingfei nodded.

The officer still didn’t understand, so he pressed, “Well, is it an antique or not?”

“It’s not,” Jin Yu declared. “It’s simply a finely crafted piece of porcelain, artificially aged by some unknown gas.”

Master Liu Guanyun was stunned. “Impossible! That jar clearly carries the unique evil aura of an ancient tomb!”

Jin Yu’s smile faded, her demeanor turning stern. “Are you questioning my expertise, Master Liu?”

“No, not at all, absolutely not,” the middle-aged officer said quickly. “It’s just that the jar looks so much like the lost relic from the tomb.”

Jin Yu snorted, “Then it only proves the creator’s exceptional skill.”

Having downed five cups of tea at the station, Lu Qingfei spoke up, “Sorry to interrupt, but may I leave now?”

Her journey back to the sect was long, and she had to prepare for a livestream—there was no time to waste.

Since it wasn’t tomb robbing or an antique, there was no reason to detain her.

The middle-aged officer replied, “You may.”

“Wait,” Jin Yu called out as Lu Qingfei stood to leave.

“Young lady, who was your teacher?”

Lu Qingfei looked at her, confused.

“Who taught you ceramics?” Jin Yu asked again.

Lu Qingfei thought for a moment. “I don’t remember.”

“I see great talent in you. Would you like to study more traditional crafts with me?”

“Thank you, but I’d rather not.”

Lu Qingfei was polite but her refusal was clear and firm.

A stunned silence fell over the room.

People queued from Yuncheng to the capital for a chance to become Jin Yu’s apprentice, and this young woman had refused without a second thought!

Seeing that Lu Qingfei was eager to leave, Jin Yu hastily pulled out her business card, handing it over with a kind smile.

“No need to decide now. Think it over, and call if you change your mind.”

Lu Qingfei glanced at the card—President of the Association of Traditional Crafts, Jin Yu. Impressive, perhaps, but things that couldn’t revive spiritual veins held no appeal for her.

She looked up at the old lady and thanked her politely. Then, wasting no more time, Lu Qingfei skirted the intern’s desk and headed for the exit. No one noticed her hand brush lightly over the porcelain jar as she passed.

After Lu Qingfei left, Jin Yu turned to the jar, her wrinkled hands caressing it with heartfelt admiration.

Both the inner and outer surfaces were brilliantly painted, the forms vivid and lifelike.

It had been many years since she’d seen such exquisite porcelain.

After a moment, Jin Yu asked, “Is this jar for sale?”

Liu Guanyun, still perplexed by the sudden disappearance of the evil aura from Lu Qingfei, immediately objected, “No, it’s tainted by the malevolence of an ancient tomb!”

“Malevolence? The only malevolence here is yours. Such extraordinary workmanship—how could it possibly be tainted?” Jin Yu retorted.

“Master Liu, perhaps you should check again?” the officer suggested, now uncertain.

Liu Guanyun pressed his index and middle fingers to his brow, focusing his energy, his keen eyes scanning the battered jar.

In the next instant, he was aghast.

It was gone—completely gone!