It took quite a while before Pi Qiu Shi finally came to his senses. He couldn't help but turn back and sigh, "Brother, where did you find this treasure?"

"Over there..." Wang Guan pointed towards the golden pagoda.

The storage space at the base of the pagoda was still open, and Pi Qiu Shi saw it immediately, prompting yet another sigh from him. Then, as if by habit, he expressed his envy: "You must have picked this up for a steal again, right?"

"What steal? One hundred million. A full one hundred and one million."

Wang Guan sighed dramatically, "I only have four digits left in my bank account. In a place like the Capital, where daily dining expenses run into the hundreds, I estimate I’ll be completely broke in a few days. Then I’ll have to rely on your generosity, Brother Pi, for a bailout."

Although it was slightly exaggerated, Wang Guan wasn't lying; he was genuinely low on ready cash.

Of course, there was certainly a substantial amount of funds in the Shi Yi Ge account. However, the antique shop had only recently opened, and business hadn't quite settled into a regular rhythm, so Wang Guan was reluctant to touch that money.

Furthermore, back in Donghai, he had acquired some gold and silver treasures, but he had entrusted Tang Qinghua with managing them. Unfortunately, gold prices had recently dipped, so he was holding back, planning to sell only when the price rebounded. Wang Guan didn't intend to interfere arbitrarily with that, so as not to jeopardize their friendship.

Beyond that, Wang Guan clearly remembered that Yu Feibai's father's workplace owed him a massive debt. Yet, that unit wielded considerable intimidating influence, and he didn't have the nerve to demand repayment.

So, Wang Guan was naturally in a tragic situation. At this moment, he fully understood why some incredibly wealthy tycoons, upon going bankrupt, often found life unbearable and jumped off buildings. It was mainly the sheer drop in wealth that became impossible to accept; better to simply end things.

Wang Guan wasn't driven to that extreme, but he was already contemplating whether he should make another trip to Macau—before he got blacklisted by all the major casinos. He thought about winning a billion or two first, then asking General Yu Shuzhong for help, perhaps arranging for the army to escort him back.

"I'll bail you out?"

Pi Qiu Shi didn't know Wang Guan's elaborate scheme, but he couldn't help but scoff, "You’re practically begging with a golden bowl in your hands. You have so many treasures; just letting one or two slip out would be enough to send everyone into a frenzy. Are you worried about lacking funds?"

"That’s nonsense. Everything I can sell, I’ve already sent to Shi Yi Ge," Wang Guan sighed lightly. "What remains must be the things I truly don't want to part with..."

"Then you deserve it." Pi Qiu Shi showed no sympathy. Instead, he seemed to relish the situation, "That’s the karmic retribution for having too many treasures."

Seeing this, the Monk Ban Shan seized the opportunity and said, "Amitabha. Then, Benefactor Wang, perhaps you should reconsider the proposal I made earlier."

"What proposal?" Pi Qiu Shi looked slightly confused.

Just then, Wang Guan quickly steered the conversation away. "Aha! It’s getting late. I’ve already reserved a private room at Tai Su Guan. Let’s all head over together and welcome Master Ban Shan with a meal to wash away the dust..."

As he spoke, Wang Guan hurried out to arrange for transportation. After some maneuvering, everyone arrived at Tai Su Guan. As they stepped into the courtyard, they unexpectedly came face-to-face with a group of people.

Tai Su Guan was, after all, a thriving private restaurant, so foot traffic was perfectly normal. No one would normally object; a simple sideways step to pass would suffice. The issue was that Wang Guan recognized someone in that group—someone he had interacted with a few times but certainly wasn't a friend.

"What a coincidence..."

Seeing this person, Wang Guan was somewhat surprised. However, he had no intention of greeting him; a polite nod was all he offered before continuing deeper into the courtyard toward the private rooms.

The rest of the meal requires no further recounting. Although Tai Su Guan might not strictly be a vegetarian establishment, their preparation of su zhai (vegetarian fare) was exceptional—so delicious that even the Monk Ban Shan unknowingly ate two extra bowls of rice.

After the vegetarian feast, with a brief rest, everyone departed, feeling satisfied. However, the moment they stepped outside, Wang Guan spotted someone approaching with a cheerful grin, calling out, "Young Master Wang, long time no see."

The greeter was the same person Wang Guan had encountered upon arrival. He hadn't expected him to stay behind and wait nearby. The proverb 'offering service without cause means ill intent' clearly applied here; he wasn't just saying hello.

Wang Guan looked thoughtful, signaling Bei Ye to usher Elder Qian and the others toward the car. Only then did he turn back, "Li Fan, spit it out if you need something. I’m busy right now and don't have much spare time to entertain you."

Li Fan belonged to the lowest echelon among the three teachings and nine streams. While he might not have directly participated in outright fraud, deception, or theft, he had certainly handled many shady, unseen transactions, constantly navigating the gray fringes between legal and illegal.

Despite his distaste for such characters, Wang Guan had to admit that people like him could be a small but necessary asset in certain situations. However, maintaining too close a relationship was unwise; a deliberate distance needed to be kept. Thus, Wang Guan’s tone was not overly cordial; it even carried a hint of aloofness.

Li Fan, naturally, didn't mind. As long as there was profit involved, never mind aloofness—even harsh words would likely go unheard as he remained cheerfully persistent, sticking to Wang Guan like glue.

Moreover, Wang Guan’s attitude was manageable. More importantly, based on their previous dealings, Li Fan had benefited significantly. He found Wang Guan to be generous with payment, prompt, and never one to delay or shortchange—truly a good client.

Thinking this, Li Fan’s smile broadened, and he said conspiratorially, "Young Master Wang, I just brokered a deal that you are sure to be interested in."

"What deal?" Wang Guan frowned. "If it’s about flipping antiques, you can talk to the chief manager at my shop. Haven't you been collaborating well recently?"

"The chief manager can’t make the final call on this either; it will eventually need to be reported to you, Young Master Wang," Li Fan grinned. "So, no need to bother him. It’s the same if I just tell you directly."

"Fine, tell me," Wang Guan said crisply. "Quickly now. I have friends visiting, and I’m occupied hosting them."

"Yes, yes..." Li Fan nodded repeatedly, then lowered his voice, "Young Master Wang, are you interested in ancient architecture?"

"Ancient architecture?" Wang Guan blinked, then looked at Li Fan with surprise. "You dare dabble in that stuff? Aren't you afraid the Cultural Relics Bureau will come after you?"

"Young Master Wang, you misunderstand. If I wanted to deal in this, I wouldn't have the capital," Li Fan chuckled. "I’m just a facilitator, doing the legwork of connecting people. If you close the deal, just give me some pocket money for my errands."

"Architecture from what period?" Wang Guan asked, then slightly shook his head. "Never mind. Regardless of the era, it’s useless to me."

That was the truth. Even if he bought the item, he had nowhere to put it. It was an entire structure! After buying it, would he gift it to someone or donate it to the state? Previously, Wang Guan might have had the inclination for charitable activities, but currently, being short on funds, he needed to prioritize himself.

Seeing this, Li Fan quickly interjected, "Young Master Wang, even if you aren't interested in the ancient architecture itself, there might be other things inside, like wood carvings, which are also valuable items."

"Oh!"

Wang Guan considered this and thought it held some merit. However, for such a minor matter, he naturally shouldn't handle it personally. Just as he was about to tell Li Fan to consult Cao Xiang, his eyes accidentally swept over the figure of the Monk Ban Shan, immediately causing him to change his mind.

"Where is this ancient architecture?" Wang Guan asked. "Is it far?"

"Not far, not far," Li Fan knew he had an opening and quickly smiled, "It’s a short drive; we’ll be there soon..."

The next morning, Wang Guan regretted trusting Li Fan. 'Soon' turned out to be over an hour's drive, nearly exiting the Capital’s jurisdiction, and still no sign of the ancient structure.

Of course, that wasn't the main issue. The main issue was that the people who shouldn't have come were tagging along.

Wang Guan glanced at the rearview mirror and clearly saw the Monk Ban Shan and Pi Qiu Shi reflected in the clean glass. A bitter smile touched his lips. His original intent had been to use this outing to avoid the Monk Ban Shan for a while, escaping his tedious pronouncements. He hadn't expected the monk wouldn't be fooled and would insist on following.

Especially upon hearing they were going to see ancient architecture, Pi Qiu Shi also decided to join the fun. Wang Guan couldn't very well refuse, so he had to agree. Now, it seemed, he had trapped himself.

As he was sighing, they seemed to near their destination. Li Fan, leading the way, turned off the national highway onto a smooth concrete road that led deeper in.

Seeing this, Wang Guan naturally followed suit. After a few moments, he couldn't help but feel a bit curious.

Judging by the scenery on both sides of the road, they had clearly entered a rural area. Yet, this village boasted a concrete avenue comparable to a first-class highway, indicating the village must be quite prosperous. It was the Capital, after all; even in the distant suburbs, the wealth level of the villages was clearly incomparable to ordinary cities.

However, upon entering the village, Wang Guan was surprised to find a stark contrast in prosperity. On one side of the village stood towering skyscrapers; although construction wasn't complete, the outlines were visible. But on the other side of the village were very ordinary brick and tile houses.

Left and right, the contrast was sharp—a severe polarization.

Before Wang Guan could fully contemplate this phenomenon of uneven wealth distribution, the guiding Li Fan didn't stop in the village but continued along the concrete road toward the hillside near the village.

At this point, Wang Guan set aside his other thoughts and followed at a slower pace.

On the ascent, Wang Guan noticed the environment was exceptionally beautiful—lush with flowers, grass, and trees, all of which appeared to have grown naturally.

Even though the concrete road wound through it, the overall mountain environment hadn't suffered much damage. It was shaded by trees and remarkably tranquil. Even inside the car, they could feel the coolness, the quiet serenity, and the crisp sound of birdsong. It truly embodied the saying: the cicadas' noise only deepens the forest's stillness; the birds' song makes the mountain more secluded.

Arriving at this natural summer retreat during the scorching heat made everyone’s mood exceptionally pleasant. Wang Guan, more decisively, rolled down his car window to savor this rare touch of fresh nature.

Not long after, after two or three hairpin turns, Li Fan’s car stopped. Wang Guan slowed his own vehicle. Before even getting close, he saw a continuous stretch of ancient architecture standing halfway up the mountain.

"Huh!"

However, the moment they saw the buildings, everyone felt a sense of intense surprise. The plaque above the gate bore three powerful characters: Ban Shan Temple! (To be continued.)