Wang Guan observed carefully and found that what Old Man Jin had said was entirely correct; these items truly were subpar. It was no wonder they were the leftovers after everyone else had picked through them. They were clearly the rejects, and one could easily imagine the quality of what remained.

Yu Feibai barely glanced at them before losing all interest. He turned to Qin Yue and began whispering about the Luan Jiao formula, wondering if Professor Liu had intentionally misled them.

As the subject of their discussion, Professor Liu was rather meticulous, picking up and weighing each item individually, a slight smile on his face that made it impossible to gauge his true thoughts. However, the way he examined each piece only to set it back down indicated he hadn't found anything that pleased him either.

It was Wang Guan, however, who, after a single look, picked up an object about the size of a thumb. After a moment, a thoughtful expression crossed his face.

Wang Guan’s focus also caught Professor Liu's attention, who watched with curiosity. Upon seeing that the object in Wang Guan’s hand was a shallowly carved stone cicada, the professor immediately looked away.

Cicadas were the most popular burial items during the Han Dynasty. High officials and wealthy gentry would certainly be buried with jade cicadas. But common folk couldn't afford jade, so they had to settle for stone carvings.

This stone cicada was precisely that—made of simple stone, and since they couldn't even afford a skilled craftsman, an apprentice must have done the work. Taking a stone roughly the size of a cicada, they first ground out the outline, then etched shallow lines onto it, resulting in a very inexpensive stone cicada. Even if this were a genuine Han artifact, it probably wouldn't be worth much.

Yet, for some reason, Wang Guan was taken with the stone cicada. He handed Old Man Jin three hundred yuan, stating he wanted to buy it. Old Man Jin didn’t even attempt to bargain, immediately taking the money and pocketing it. The stone cicada was now Wang Guan’s.

At the same time, Professor Liu shook his head. "Old Jin, these things really aren't much. Nothing here interests me. Let’s call it a day. If you get anything truly special later, remember to call me first, alright?"

"Don't worry, you'll be the first to know."

It was entirely expected that Professor Liu wouldn't value these items. Old Man Jin wasn't disappointed; instead, he beamed and said heartily, "It’s time for dinner. Why don't you all stay and have a drink?"

"Another time," Professor Liu waved a hand, smiling lightly. "I still need to discuss a few things with these new friends I’ve made."

"Oh, you’re leaving. I’ll see you out..." Old Man Jin didn't press further. After escorting his guests to the door, he returned to his room to count his money.

A moment later, the group was seated in the car. Yu Feibai hesitated. "Are we really going with that Liu fellow? I don’t find his words very credible. He might just be a massive charlatan. It doesn't matter much to us; once we're in Chang'an, we can just fly back to the capital. But Qin Yue, you’ll be making a wasted trip."

"I’ve already made many wasted trips, so one more won’t matter," Qin Yue laughed. "Even if there’s only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, we have to look, just in case we miss something."

"Suit yourself. I still think Professor Liu has ulterior motives. Perhaps it's for the item you bought. You said it was resin, and I’m certain it’s not simple." Yu Feibai then added, "Speaking of which, take out the thing you bought and let me see it again."

Qin Yue readily complied, taking out the box.

Yu Feibai examined the gum-like substance inside the box repeatedly. After studying it for a few more minutes, he scratched his head. "I really can’t tell what kind of resin this is. Wang Guan, do you truly have no idea?"

"I don't know," Wang Guan shook his head blankly. "I’ve never seen anything like it; I truly can't say. Why don’t we call Elder Qian and ask him?"

"You call..."

Yu Feibai gestured to him while extending his hand. "Oh, while you’re at it, let me take a look at the thing you bought too."

"It's just a stone cicada. What’s there to see?"

Even as he said that, Wang Guan casually handed the item over and dialed the number for Elder Qian’s home. He briefly recounted the situation, focusing on describing the substance in the box.

However, Elder Qian wasn't an omniscient god. Without physically examining the item, it was difficult for him to judge its origin based only on a few photographs. Still, he agreed with Yu Feibai's initial assessment, feeling the substance was more complex than ordinary resin.

"If possible, it would be best to bring it back for study," Elder Qian instructed. "Of course, the item belongs to Little Qin, and how she handles it is her own business. Don't try to sway her."

"We understand," Wang Guan nodded repeatedly, well aware of the implication behind Elder Qian’s words.

Professor Liu's intentions were practically screamingly obvious. Claiming to have the Luan Jiao formula and inviting them to the site was largely motivated by his desire for this material. If Professor Liu genuinely possessed the formula and intended to exchange it for the substance, Qin Yue would most likely agree.

In that scenario, even without Elder Qian’s specific advice, Wang Guan wouldn't interfere. Firstly, he had no standing to do so; secondly, for Qin Yue, the value of the Luan Jiao outweighed everything else. Therefore, an exchange would undoubtedly be a net benefit for her.

However, this was all speculation; they would have to observe the actual situation unfolding.

"Just handle it as you see fit," Elder Qian concluded the communication after a brief pause.

"How was it?"

Just then, Yu Feibai looked over. "What did Elder Qian say?"

"He couldn't identify it without handling it," Wang Guan replied, shaking his head. "There are many possibilities; nothing is certain."

"That makes sense."

Yu Feibai nodded. "When I first saw it, I thought it was some kind of industrial plastic. Never mind that; the truth will come out eventually. But that stone cicada you bought—that looks like a very ordinary item."

"It is an ordinary item, isn't it?" Wang Guan countered with a wry smile. "What else did you think it was, some hidden treasure?"

"Can you blame me?" Yu Feibai grumbled indignantly. "Someone who casually picks up a stone and calls it the essence of white jade, and now inexplicably buys a random stone cicada—it’s deliberately inviting misunderstanding!"

"Whatever you say," Wang Guan conceded with a smile, retrieving the roughly carved stone cicada. A hint of understanding softened his expression. "I had my reasons for buying this piece, you know. It wasn't about finding a bargain, but rather, it was a moment of self-reflection."

"Self-reflection?" Yu Feibai was startled. "Why are you reflecting out of the blue?"

"Is it forbidden to examine myself three times a day?" Wang Guan chuckled, and under Yu Feibai’s scornful gaze, he finally explained, "I am reflecting on my own prejudice."

"What prejudice?"

This time, not only Yu Feibai was surprised; Qin Yue also grew curious. Under their focused attention, Wang Guan sighed softly. "My prejudice against Old Man Jin..."

Yu Feibai froze for a second, vaguely grasping Wang Guan’s meaning.

"Seeing the luxury of the mansion contrasted with Old Man Jin’s appearance, we can't deny that we immediately harbored unfavorable associations, thinking his path to wealth must have been improper," Wang Guan said quietly. "I felt he was either fencing stolen goods or grave robbing—that the items he possessed were illicit in origin."

"Aren't they?" Yu Feibai challenged.

"Absolutely not," Wang Guan shook his head. "I looked closely just now. Although some of the things he presented bear the mottled marks of time, those are naturally formed, not the result of being unearthed."

"Are you sure?" Yu Feibai looked skeptical, then pointed at the stone cicada. "Look, this thing is a burial object."

"Who told you it was a burial object?" Wang Guan toyed with the stone cicada, pointing to a tiny hole near its neck. He smiled gently. "Cicadas in ancient times were divided into two types: burial objects and wearable ornaments. The difference is simple: check if there’s a hole for threading a cord. If there’s no hole, it’s for burial; if there is a hole, it was a plaything..."

"Alright, alright, I get it. You’re brilliant," Yu Feibai cut him off, waving his hand. "It’s just a small thing, but you’ve turned it into a huge philosophical lesson. I submit."

"Good that you submit," Wang Guan quipped. "I didn't intend to elaborate, but you insisted on being suspicious."

"I told you it’s not my fault! Your actions aroused suspicion! So, you should pick up fewer bargains in the future and let me have the chance to find them. Then I won't be suspicious..."

"Get lost!"

In their banter, time passed unnoticed until they arrived in Chang'an.

Chang'an—meaning 'perpetual peace'—was the aspiration of rulers across dynasties, yet sadly, none managed to achieve this ultimate goal. On the contrary, under their ceaseless manipulations, this once magnificent city inevitably drifted toward decline.

Of course, the decline was relative. As the capital of a province, Chang'an’s economic situation wasn't poor, especially in terms of cultural history tourism, where it likely ranked among the top major cities nationwide.

But like so many tourist cities, the historical and cultural sites only occupied a small fraction of the area; the majority of the city's structures were high-rises built of reinforced concrete.

Chang'an was no exception. As the car sped along the broad avenues, the sides were lined with either ceaseless traffic or bustling, prosperous shops—nothing like the dusty, grand old city one might imagine. Even the few remaining historical relics were now encircled by towering skyscrapers.

"You haven't been to Chang'an before, have you?"

At this point, Yu Feibai smiled. "When we finish this matter, you should consider staying a few extra days. You can go see the Bell and Drum Towers, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Huaqing Hot Springs, and Daming Palace."

"Sure."

Wang Guan nodded. After all, these landmarks were world-famous. Since he was already there, it would be a shame not to visit. Whether the commercialization had stripped these sites of their ancient charm was not something he worried about too much; he had to see them first before passing judgment.

It struck him that this was how many tourist spots made their money. China had too large a population; they didn't need repeat customers. Just fleece the entire nation once, and they could secure a lifetime of extravagance and boundless luxury...

Lost in thought, Wang Guan’s musings were interrupted as the car turned into a residential area and slowly pulled to a stop—they had arrived at Professor Liu’s residence, an exquisite building...