The coarse fabric’s weave was filled with dirt, feeling greasy and slick to the touch.
A whiff of earthy,腥味 filled the air, likely from the moss clinging to the stone walls, its scent steeped from long exposure.
Li Chonglou showed no disgust, his hands carefully unwrapping the layers.
Revealed within was a weathered bronze Buddhist statue, its surface mottled with a coppery hue.
It was only ten centimeters tall, fitting in the palm of a hand.
At the neck of the statue, there was a tenon hole pointing upwards, the halo was separate, and it sat upon a small, square lotus throne.
The top of its head was adorned with polished cranial protuberances, like a string of pearls.
Its eyes were almond-shaped, its brows like swords, its gaze fierce.
It bore no resemblance to any known Buddhist iconography, yet it sent Li Chonglou into paroxysms of joy.
Being alone, he no longer bothered to conceal his delight, murmuring, "A derelict temple on the mountaintop, and to find such a treasure… it was worth it… so worth it!"
His trip to Shuyu had begun with a mere hope, and the gains from Huang Jian and the stone slab had already surpassed his imagination.
He hadn’t expected to find such a treasure atop this mountain.
Although this bronze meditation Buddha was not perfectly preserved, missing its canopy, it was a truly rare gem.
Buddhist iconography had a long history, but there was a clear dividing line, namely the Tang Dynasty.
Statues from before the Tang Dynasty often referenced Western Buddhist features, some with glaring eyes, others with benevolent smiles, but they were not as sinicized as later ones.
It wasn't until the era of Empress Wu Zetian, when Maitreya was depicted with her likeness, and subsequent emperors followed suit, that Buddhist imagery gradually became more idealized.
The more perfect the depiction, the more it represented the emperor’s wishes of the time, rather than the original myriad of human forms.
The meditation statue in his hand, however, was a product of the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
Even the silk cloth that had wrapped it was decades old.
Thinking about it, it was likely hidden in this mountain temple during the "Four Olds" campaign. Decades of wind and rain, coupled with human destruction, had half-ruined the Guansheng Emperor statue on the temple wall.
Yet, this statue from the Sixteen Kingdoms had survived, its components lost to the elements, though it remained remarkably lifelike.
A great treasure!
Li Chonglou carefully folded the silk cloth and placed it back into the crevice in the stone, holding the statue protectively.
This ancient temple on the peak, though dilapidated, had its every blade of grass and tree weathered by time, imbued with its own spiritual energy.
The silk cloth had merged with it, and it was best left undisturbed.
As for the statue, he was determined to take it and protect it. It was unclear if this would pose a challenge for Lu Weishen, but its value was immeasurable.
Li Chonglou returned to the car, beaming.
Zhou Yacheng was astonished, unable to help but ask, "Brother, what good news did you encounter? You're so happy?"
He rarely saw Li Chonglou like this; usually, he was aloof and imposing, even without showing anger.
Now, he was smiling as if his face had bloomed, with the innocence of a child.
The contrast was as stark as day and night.
"I found a treasure," Li Chonglou didn't hide it.
He trusted them all, and from his chest, he produced the statue, displaying it.
Huang Jian exclaimed in wonder, "This… it’s ancient, but I can’t date it. Buddhist statues are too varied; a true master wouldn’t dare to dabble."
Zhou Yacheng was even more speechless, and Tian Lingli, who was still feeling carsick, was too dazed to utter a word.
Li Chonglou didn’t explain, "I’ll keep you in suspense. After the competition, I’ll tell you its origin."
He needed to maintain secrecy when facing Lu Weishen.
That guy had resorted to all sorts of measures to extract information from his master, even bribing prison guards.
He likely wouldn't let Lu Weishen roam freely in Shuyu without interference.
While Huang Jian was trustworthy, the less he knew, the better.
"Alright, I'll wait for your good news," Huang Jian replied readily, unconcerned.
He had no particular interest in Buddhist statues; everyone had their preferred categories. Bronzeware and ancient jade were his true passions.
Li Chonglou had already provided him with an immense favor by identifying a precious jade.
Not only did he not hoard it, but he also promised to help establish its provenance, earning his utmost admiration. Thus, he had no desire to covet Li Chonglou’s possessions.
"Get in, we're going to see Tian Lingli's uncle," Li Chonglou, filled with satisfaction, called out to everyone.
The trip had been a complete success. If he wanted to add a final touch of brilliance, he would have to return to Shuyu to check out that Chun Jun sword.
If it were a genuine one of the Ten Famous Swords, it would be a national treasure.
If it was merely a sword of the same name, it would be far inferior to the statue he held.
However, for now, he didn't have enough items; including the base, he only had three. He needed to acquire more to add to the collection.
He didn't expect to stump Lu Weishen, but he couldn't lose face.
There was no signal on the mountain, so navigation was impossible. The four of them didn't want to retrace their steps, agreeing that continuing down the mountain path would inevitably lead them back to the main road.
Li Chonglou's driving skills were no longer a concern; who knew that the descent would be even more challenging.
Furthermore, a section was in disrepair due to years of neglect. Fortunately, there were no landslides, otherwise, they would have had to turn back.
After a nerve-wracking descent, they found themselves outside Shanxia Town, within the boundaries of Tangquan Town.
"Damn, we actually came down this way. Even locals probably know little about it," Huang Jian exclaimed after checking his phone and suggested, "Shall we go for a hot spring soak?"
"Our Tangquan is a natural low-sulfur hot spring."
"Yes, yes…" Tian Lingli was the most excited.
Zhou Yacheng enjoyed comfort, so he naturally had no objections. Only Li Chonglou was somewhat reluctant.
However, the arduous journey up the mountain earlier, though he was driving, had been more nerve-wracking for Huang Jian and the others than for him.
The bumpy ride had left them all exhausted.
Seeing that all three looked weary, and not wanting to dampen their spirits, he agreed.
After driving for another half hour on the mountain road, they arrived at a relatively prosperous large town, where a statue of Li Gonglin stood in the center.
It seemed this was also a place with a long history.
They found the most luxurious establishment, Sheng Tang Quan. The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, many with out-of-province license plates.
It appeared that wealthy people who appreciated enjoyment were numerous, traveling this far to soak in hot springs during the harsh winter.
The four bought tickets and swimsuits.
Naturally, Huang Jian, as the host, took care of everything.
After changing into their swim trunks, Li Chonglou and the other two men went to the outdoor jade pool to soak.
The water was not too deep, making it very comfortable.
Li Chonglou, soaking in the water, mused that in both his past and present lives, he had never enjoyed such a luxury even a few times.
Either he was too busy, or he was not in the mood.
As a grown man, who would come to soak in hot springs without company?
Immersed in the water, with a towel covering his face, memories of his past and present lives washed over him.
In his previous life, his journey had been arduous. He had long given up hope for love, dedicating himself to his studies and using antiques to suppress his hatred.
Especially after the deaths of his master and senior sister, and Xu Lie’s departure to search for his sister, he had lost his last family, becoming increasingly reclusive.
This reclusiveness had made him successful, but it had also led to decades of monotony.
In this current life, he did not want to live like that again.
Xu Lie had gone to heaven for him, but his family and friends were still alive.
Such a tragedy had occurred once, and it must never happen again.
For this reason, he had no right to enjoy himself, nor did he have the right to stop.
As his chest swelled with emotion, suddenly, an enraged shout came from beside him, "What the hell are you staring at? Keep looking and I’ll gouge your eyes out!"