"Amitabha, if it were merely a straightforward merger, this poor monk wouldn't be overly concerned." At this moment, the Half-Mountain Monk spoke slowly, "After all, a temple is just a place of sojourn; whose name it falls under is not of great importance, so long as it provides shelter for this poor monk and my disciples. However, this poor monk is afraid, afraid of failing the trust placed in me by my master..."

In an instant, Wang Guan and Pi Qiushi had a moment of clarity, understanding the root of the Half-Mountain Monk's apprehension. If the temple were to be absorbed, to whose name would the precious cultural relics within the temple belong? And who could guarantee that those taking over the temple would not covet those valuable artifacts? Considering this, one could easily grasp why the Half-Mountain Monk found the situation difficult. However, knowing the reason did not offer Pi Qiushi any real solution for such a matter. Even if he did possess some connections, those ties were inland, and his reach didn't yet stretch as far as Singapore.

"Master," Pi Qiushi frowned, "A merger isn't like a public limited company where acquiring a certain percentage of shares allows for a forced takeover. If it’s a partnership, it should require mutual consent; if you don't agree, they shouldn't have any recourse, should they? Unless... they plan to resort to some underhanded tactics?"

"Amitabha." The Half-Mountain Monk offered a wry smile and sighed deeply, "Buddhism is meant to be a place for pure cultivation, and monastics should strive for detachment from the material world, yet we are entangled in worldly troubles. Alas!"

Though no further words were spoken, his attitude was the answer itself, confirming that Pi Qiushi had guessed correctly.

"Then, Master, what are your plans?" Wang Guan contemplated for a moment, musing, "I don't know many people in Singapore, but I do know some wealthy figures in Malaysia; perhaps they could offer some assistance." A brief introduction through Yu Feibai, and the Chen family would likely be willing to help, potentially resolving the issue with ease.

"Wouldn't that cause too much trouble for Benefactor Wang?" The Half-Mountain Monk's expression shifted subtly, revealing a hint of hopeful anticipation. After all, the temple was not only his dwelling but also the legacy handed down by his master, something he naturally had to strive to protect. His righteous temperament did not preclude him from being pragmatic; he could certainly distinguish between matters of urgency and importance.

"It’s no trouble at all," Wang Guan smiled. "For them, this should be a simple matter of lifting a finger..." As he spoke, he pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, found Chen Shaofeng's number, and placed the call.

When the call connected, Chen Shaofeng sounded quite surprised by Wang Guan's call. After a brief exchange of pleasantries and catching up, upon hearing the matter Wang Guan was requesting assistance with, he immediately slapped his chest and guaranteed it was settled on his end...

"Give my regards to Young Master Bai." "Alright, thank you. Let's catch up again when there's time..." After chatting for a few more moments, they concluded the call. Wang Guan then smiled, "Master, you likely don't need to worry anymore."

"Amitabha." The Half-Mountain Monk was naturally deeply grateful. "Thank you, Benefactor Wang, for your righteous help." "We aren't helping for nothing; we still need the Master's expertise for the Jinsinanmu wood," Wang Guan said with a smile. "And since I'm calling in a favor, I won't be offering extra wages!"

"Indeed," Pi Qiushi chimed in with a chuckle. "Finally showing the consciousness of an employer, rapidly advancing toward becoming a wicked capitalist..."

His spirits lifted, the Half-Mountain Monk also played along, "No worries. If you have time to visit the temple for worship in the future, just remember to donate a generous offering of incense money."

Amidst the light banter, the Half-Mountain Monk, free from immediate worries, readily agreed to Wang Guan's request. However, this task wouldn't be completed in a day or two, so the Half-Mountain Monk decided to take the items back to Singapore and deliver them only after the work was done.

"By then, we probably won't be in Hong Kong anymore," Pi Qiushi reminded him, then laughed, "Perhaps I can just go over and collect them then."

"No need!" The Half-Mountain Monk waved a hand gently and smiled, "It happens that I am also keen to return to the mainland for a look. I hope the two benefactors will look out for me then."

"That would be perfect; we’ll await Master's arrival," Pi Qiushi expressed his delight, but then immediately realized, "Is Master leaving so soon? Won't you stay in Hong Kong for a couple more days?"

"A monk is inherently a traveler through the mortal realm. Once worldly affairs are concluded, naturally, one must return to quiet cultivation." The Half-Mountain Monk smiled gently, "Besides, the two benefactors clearly have urgent matters of their own; this poor monk will not impose further. We shall meet again in ten days to half a month!"

Seeing the Half-Mountain Monk's firm stance, Wang Guan and Pi Qiushi found it inappropriate to press further. After sitting for a short while longer, they rose to see him off. Not long after, watching the Half-Mountain Monk board his flight with his luggage, the two drove back towards the hotel. On the way, Pi Qiushi laughed, "Brother, do you regret it?"

"Regret what?" Wang Guan looked slightly puzzled.

"Are you genuinely clueless or just pretending?" Pi Qiushi chuckled lightly. "Master Half-Mountain encountered trouble—that’s the perfect time to strike while the iron is hot! Don't tell me you aren't interested in the rooms and objects in that temple."

"I’m not that unscrupulous," Wang Guan shook his head. "The Master is a true venerable monk, deserving of our respect, and we certainly shouldn't take advantage of his predicament to covet treasures."

"That’s true," Pi Qiushi agreed. "Acquiring the Tang Bohu Crow Array Painting was satisfaction enough for me, let alone the Jiaowei Zither you obtained. Considering that rare treasure alone, helping him was the right thing to do..."

As they spoke, Wang Guan suddenly felt the direction felt off and asked curiously, "Brother Pi, where are we going?"

"It's still early; I'm taking you to meet some peers," Pi Qiushi smiled. "But these peers are a bit special; they don't run shops themselves, but they frequently travel north to acquire inventory, usually dealing in major, high-end transactions. They are the elite among our peers."

"Oh!" Wang Guan's eyes flashed as he surmised, "Are they the art brokers most sought after by auction houses?"

"Exactly," Pi Qiushi smiled faintly. "Don't let the fact that they don't manage storefronts fool you; shop owners don't necessarily earn as much as they do. Those with good reputations, extensive networks, and strong capabilities often rake in ten times or more in commissions annually than what we earn from our shops."

Wang Guan nodded gently, suspecting nothing untoward. Art broker is a modern term. In fact, the profession of an intermediary has existed in China for a long time, historically known as a yaren (middleman). Simply put, they were agents who facilitated deals within the trade, charging both buyer and seller a service fee based on commission rates like 'three parts for the buyer, two for the seller' (cheng san po er).

However, with the current development of the art market, such intermediaries often operate on a small scale, hardly daring to claim the title of 'art broker.' By modern standards, true art brokers, or brokerage firms, belong to a highly capable echelon. The least powerful among them are sophisticated financial investment advisors; the most powerful can influence and steer the art auction market, driving price fluctuations across the entire sector.

This is no exaggeration, as some large art brokerage firms often sign contracts to buy out the entire agency rights for a painter's output for a year, purchasing works in bulk and then reselling them in higher-priced markets for profit. Some even have long-term contracts with painters, managing national sales representation. We won't discuss unknown minor painters; if they manage to secure representation rights for works by famous masters, and then coordinate packaging, operations, and promotion with major auction houses, they can naturally manipulate market prices to a certain extent. Of course, the few friends Pi Qiushi was about to introduce hadn't reached that level yet.

"They are often entrusted by bosses of major companies to purchase art pieces with appreciating potential globally," Pi Qiushi chuckled. "After all, the Hong Kong art market connects more easily with international trends, attracting many who are willing to spend heavily on art, and consequently, they are also willing to pay for art investment consultants to assist in managing these affairs."

"This is the exact opposite domestically..." Pi Qiushi shook his head slightly. "In the domestic collecting circle, many are willing to spend money to buy things, but very few are willing to spend money to hire art investment consultants. Generally, they manage it themselves, so they often make poor judgments without even realizing it."

"Very true." Wang Guan wholeheartedly agreed, then smiled, "But we can't entirely blame the domestic bosses for being stingy; they buy items worth hundreds of millions or tens of millions, so adding a commission shouldn't matter. The issue is that there seem to be very few professional art brokers domestically, and even those available are of mixed quality, making them hard to trust. Otherwise, Boss Li wouldn't have traveled all the way from Jinmen to Jiangzhou to appraise the Jihong Tianqiu Bottle back then."

"That's precisely the reason," Pi Qiushi nodded. "It's not just on the mainland; even in Hong Kong, there are very few art investment advisors with authority and credibility—at least those with over fifteen years of experience in the field."

"Then I must certainly get to know them better," Wang Guan smiled. His experiences over the past year had thoroughly taught him that having more friends truly means having more pathways. Frankly, without the support of numerous friends, no matter how capable he was, he likely wouldn't have achieved his current success.

While talking, Pi Qiushi drove them to a clubhouse. This appeared to be a private establishment, not allowing ordinary people entry, but Pi Qiushi’s friends had clearly made prior arrangements; after announcing their names, the guard let them pass.

Pi Qiushi navigated with familiarity, leading the way inside. After navigating for a short while, they arrived at a very spacious and elegantly furnished tea room. Several people were seated inside, and a young woman in a qipao, with a delicate appearance, was brewing tea with movements that were fluid and seemingly unburdened by effort, a sight that was pleasing to the eye and naturally soothed the mood.

Of course, upon hearing the movement at the door, someone looked up and smiled, "Brother Pi has arrived. Is everything settled?"

"It’s handled." Pi Qiushi smiled and made the introduction, "I’ve brought along a colleague from Beijing; please extend your usual hospitality."

"Great, we always enjoy meeting new friends," the man replied, standing up. He appeared to be in his early forties, with his hair neatly parted in a three-seven split, exuding an aura of honed sharpness. "Brother, let me introduce you," Pi Qiushi smiled. "This is Brother Sha—the 'Sha' from Sha Seng (Sandy), and also the infamous 'Sha Yi Dao' (Killing Blade) on the circuit."