Of course, Wang Guan couldn't appraise the raw jade material, but Jia Qin and the others certainly could.

At this moment, Jia Qin and the others were completely focused, absorbed in examining the stones in the warehouse. They worked with remarkable synergy, each person tending to their own selection without any intention of verbal exchange. After all, camaraderie is one thing, but business is business—the two must not be conflated. Even the closest of friends should only discuss matters after the fact, not whisper furtively under the public gaze; one must consider appearances...

Regardless, while these men were lost in the stones, Wang Guan remained singularly clear-headed amongst the intoxicated crowd. After making a round, he returned to the entrance. Seeing this, Liu Hua'en asked with surprise, "You've seen enough?" "I have seen enough," Wang Guan nodded seriously. "Impressive!" Liu Hua'en exclaimed, though a natural suspicion lingered in his eyes. "I can't understand them anyway," Wang Guan admitted with total candor. "I'm not in the jade business." "Oh." Liu Hua'en immediately understood, then recalled Wang Guan's earlier demeanor and smiled. "You're an incense connoisseur?" In Hong Kong, being an incense connoisseur wasn't an uncommon profession. Considering Wang Guan's extensive knowledge of agarwood, it was no wonder Liu Hua'en jumped to that conclusion. "No, I'm an antique collector," Wang Guan smiled, then suddenly spoke up, "Could you ask Wu Gang that I don't need any gifts? And could you take me back to that other warehouse? I’m more interested in what’s stored there." "...Certainly." Liu Hua'en was momentarily taken aback, then agreed. Since he and Wang Guan weren't close, and Wang Guan was willingly giving up such an opportunity, there was no need for him to interfere further. Conveying Wang Guan's request to Wu Gang was more than enough courtesy.

Simultaneously, Wu Gang was also somewhat surprised and naturally inquired about the reason. After Liu Hua'en explained that Wang Guan was a collector, not a jade merchant, Wu Gang broke into a joyful smile. In truth, the contents of the other warehouse already suggested that while Wu Gang dealt in raw jade, he also had a strong preference for collecting. Compared to jade merchants like Jia Qin, Wu Gang naturally felt a greater affinity for a fellow collector like Wang Guan. Thus, Wu Gang agreed to Wang Guan's request without a second thought. Following Wu Gang’s lead, Wang Guan was escorted back into the warehouse piled high with collectibles.

Liu Hua'en, acting as translator, naturally accompanied them, relaying messages between the two men from time to time. At this point, Wu Gang enthusiastically pointed to several dilapidated objects, speaking volubly about them. Through Liu Hua'en’s translation, Wang Guan understood these were relics from the Pagan Kingdom. It might be noted that although Myanmar is an ancient civilization with a long history, it only formed a unified nation after 1044, experiencing the Pagan, Taungoo, and Konbaung dynasties. The Pagan Dynasty was the first unified empire, establishing Theravada Buddhism as its state religion. However, by the end of the thirteenth century, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty led the Mongol armies to conquer it, establishing the province of Myanmar Zhong to govern northeastern Myanmar. The Pagan Dynasty is approaching a thousand years old now, so it was understandable that these artifacts were somewhat fragmented. Yet, no matter how shattered the items were, they were undoubtedly immensely significant to Wu Gang. Wang Guan was careful not to be tactless and casually devalue them; instead, he offered a few words of praise. This was simply human nature; if someone were to scorn artifacts from the Qin Dynasty in his presence, Wang Guan would certainly lose his temper as well.

In fact, Wu Gang’s collection was quite rich. However, perhaps due to the strong Buddhist faith prevalent in Myanmar, many of the collected items were related to Buddhist practices. Buddha statues were the most basic items, present in all materials—gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, wood, and even clay sculptures. Furthermore, there were various miscellaneous ritual implements, enough to host a grand water and land assembly ceremony.

While observing closely, Wang Guan suddenly noticed an extraordinary string of prayer beads. What made them extraordinary was not the quantity, but the sheer size difference compared to ordinary mala. Each bead was nearly the size of an infant's clenched fist. A string of such massive beads was already rare enough, but furthermore, the shape of each bead was quite peculiar. They were not the traditional perfect sphere or oval, but rather miniature human heads—more precisely, the heads of monks.

Seeing this string of beads, Wang Guan naturally became curious. After obtaining Wu Gang's permission, he couldn't resist taking them to examine closely. The string held eighteen beads, each intricately carved into the likeness of a monk’s head. Beads with this specific design should have a unique name; at least in China, they could be called the Eighteen Arhat beads. Because the carved monk heads resembled the Eighteen Arhats, they were thus named. However, typically, an Eighteen Arhat mala bracelet is much smaller, suitable for wearing on the wrist; a string this large was truly rare.

After a brief look, Wang Guan felt that the prototype for these beads must have been the string worn around Sha Wujing's neck in Journey to the West. They certainly couldn't fit on a wrist; worn around the neck, however, they would be quite striking and imposing. At that moment, Liu Hua'en also seized the opportunity to explain the provenance: "Wu Gang says these beads are crafts from before the Restoration, and judging by the style, they likely came from China. If you like them, he is willing to give them to you." "Hmm?" Hearing this, Wang Guan smiled and chuckled, "Oh, I couldn't possibly... Please express my sincere thanks, tell him I truly adore them. If he genuinely wishes to gift them, I would not decline out of false modesty."

Liu Hua'en smiled, unsure how he phrased the translation, but Wu Gang burst into laughter. He directly took the Eighteen Arhat beads from Wang Guan’s hands and personally placed them around Wang Guan's neck. "Thank you so much!" Wang Guan beamed, unsure of the local Burmese etiquette, so he simply shook hands vigorously to express his gratitude. Wu Gang, in turn, patted Wang Guan’s shoulder and returned a few words. "He says you're very welcome; as long as you like them..." Liu Hua'en translated, though he inwardly grumbled that collectors were certainly different from others. Why choose these seemingly worthless beads instead of selecting a single piece of raw jade? He thought Wang Guan was throwing away a massive opportunity. This was a difference in philosophy. For those frequently engaged in jade gambling, the chance to acquire raw material for free was an opportunity that fools would not seize. They never considered that if the stone turned out to be a dud, the beads in hand would be far more practical. Of course, the reverse was also true: for the jade gamblers, they would rather spend money for the chance of the gamble than care about a mere string of beads. This showed that differences in professional nature led to different viewpoints.

In any case, having received this gift, Wang Guan was content. He continued to listen to Wu Gang narrate the history and cultural relics of Myanmar. After about half an hour, they returned to the other raw material warehouse. By this time, everything worth seeing had been seen, and everything worth choosing had been selected. Seeing Wu Gang return, Jia Qin and the others rushed forward, babbling their thanks. After some pleasantries, the entry permits Wu Gang had arranged for everyone arrived, allowing Wu Gang to bask momentarily in the adoration of the crowd.

Having viewed the raw materials, selected gifts, and obtained entry permits, the group returned laden with success. They were also somewhat impatient, eager to see if the stones they had chosen contained any jade. Returning triumphantly, they went back to Liu Hua'en’s luxurious residence, where another round of tense and exciting stone-cutting commenced.

This time, Wang Guan did not join the clamor. Instead, he sat quietly to the side, carefully examining the Eighteen Arhat prayer beads. Each bead was a dark red; not precious red coral, but coated in red lacquer. However, likely due to decades of exposure to the elements, the lacquer had developed fine cracks. These mottled textures, however, lent the beads an air of ancient simplicity and naturalness. At that moment, Jia Qin walked over for a drink of water, glanced at the beads, and immediately frowned. "You didn't choose any raw material and just took this?" The implication was clear: he felt Wang Guan had wasted a massive opportunity. "I am also preparing for tomorrow," Wang Guan replied with a light laugh. "My luck has always been strong; I cannot waste it lightly. Now that I have received the blessing of this string of beads, my fortune will surely skyrocket. Then, I can probably cut a fine piece of jade from any random stone I buy."

Jia Qin scoffed internally at this, finding it pointless to argue, and returned his attention to the stone cutting. Seeing this, Wang Guan gently shook his head. Logically speaking, jade gambling was much like authenticating antiques—both involved peeling back layers of mist and using meticulous deduction to find the ultimate truth. However, Wang Guan could never muster the enthusiasm for jade gambling, likely for two reasons. First, he genuinely didn't understand it. Second, when he didn't understand, he couldn't resist cheating, which completely ruined the fun. Therefore, studying the prayer beads was far more interesting to him than playing with stones.

To clarify, Wang Guan had not yet activated any special ability. It was purely based on the acute sensitivity honed through experience that he perceived an anomaly in the beads' feel and weight. This difference in weight wasn't because the beads were heavy due to their size. On the contrary, Wang Guan felt that for such large beads, they were surprisingly light. "Is this just the paranoia of someone who has found too many bargains, or is there truly something odd?" Wang Guan pondered this internally, then held the beads higher, using the lingering glow of the setting sun to examine the details of each bead. Gradually, he did glean some findings, and a subtle smile touched his lips.

Simultaneously, it wasn't just him making discoveries; the others cutting stones were experiencing mixed fortunes. Those with good luck and sharp eyes had naturally picked good material and were already revealing jade. Regardless of the jade's quality, it was a good omen, bringing immediate cheer. Of course, two or three people, lacking both skill and luck, had picked stones that turned out to be duds. This naturally struck them hard, their dejection written plainly on their faces. The lucky ones were quick to offer consolation, telling them not to rely on luck today, as tomorrow was the main event and a perfect opportunity to turn things around...

Amidst the bustle and chatter, another day passed. The night was uneventful. The next morning, everyone packed their gear, ate a hearty meal, and then headed toward the public auction with renewed vigor. At the same time, along the roadsides, streams of people hurried along, presumably merchants also heading to the public auction to bid. Wang Guan knew that for the next few days, until the auction concluded, many people would likely find themselves unable to eat or sleep peacefully...