The dedication of the historical verification enthusiasts borders on the most boring yet most devoted spirit in the world. After all, their existence, perhaps, gives the world more... meaning? Regardless, no one knows how much material those verifiers sifted through to meticulously list the source, context, and every single anecdote mentioned by the experts during the appraisal meeting, leaving absolutely no room for doubt.

Each item came with a detailed explanation spanning over a dozen pages. Some people perused them thoroughly, while others only glanced over them briefly. Then, someone with a keener eye noticed something amiss.

"It seems like the documentation for one item is missing."

"Yes, one thing is missing—that cup..."

It could be said that every single object presented at the appraisal meeting was a peerless treasure. They were like fireflies in the night sky, impossible to overlook. Especially that cup capable of transforming water and baijiu into a scarlet liquid—it was inherently eye-catching enough, so how could it be ignored?

To maintain their authority, the verification enthusiasts naturally stepped forward to defend themselves: "It's not that I didn't want to verify that item, but the expert barely commented on that cup."

"That seems right."

Prompted by the verifiers, others also recalled the event and realized they weren't lying.

"Many people were scrambling for attention at that time, so the expert directly brought out the Chixiao Sword to divert them, overlooking the cup."

"Ah, those people are truly more trouble than they're worth..."

Amidst the recriminations, some people pondered, "Since that cup is so miraculous, it must also be an ancient rarity. Aren't there any clues to confirm its origin?"

Among the common folk, there are naturally hidden masters. Just as many were racking their brains, someone effortlessly offered their answer, and this answer seemed somewhat credible.

"During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, the inner court possessed a wine cup, cyan in color, with patterns resembling chaotic silk threads. Its walls were thin as a leaf, and upon the foot of the cup were inscribed gilded characters naming it the Self-Warming Cup. When wine was poured into it, a gentle warmth would rise, causing the air to stir as if it were boiling soup."

"The Self-Warming Cup?"

"It feels like it. You all saw how the cup bubbled vigorously after water was poured in..."

"This is recorded in the Strange Tales of Kaiyuan and Tianbao. Aside from the appearance, the cup's unusual effect matches the description—it might truly be the Self-Warming Cup."

"Indeed, indeed!"

Many voices chimed in, expressing agreement.

Of course, some, maintaining a posture of caution, spoke without fully committing, though their tone was subtly boastful: "Whether it's the Self-Warming Cup or not, I will let you all know the answer after I've had a chance to examine it. Look forward to my good news."

Alongside the commentary, a ticket was attached.

Seeing this, envy, jealousy, and resentment were inevitable. It must be known that tickets to the Xiyi Museum currently cannot simply be bought; they are harder to acquire than Chunyun train tickets. Rumor has it that tickets originally priced in the tens of yuan have been driven up to hundreds in the black market. And the trend suggests they will rise even faster than commodity prices, possibly breaking a thousand.

Even so, these tickets are priceless but scarce. It's not just about having money; one must also rely on luck.

"Mister Rich, let's be friends."

"Ticket plea, ticket plea for support! Are there any more tickets? Give me one!"

This interlude caused the thread to derail significantly. After much commotion, things gradually returned to normal. Many felt the object was likely the Self-Warming Cup, but others presented differing opinions.

"The Self-Warming Cup heats things up, but that cup transforms liquid into x—the effects are completely different."

"Besides, the Self-Warming Cup should conform to the style of native Chinese wine vessels, yet that cup leans toward a Western style, so I don't think it's the Self-Warming Cup..."

"As for what it is? Perhaps it's a Holy Relic from the Western Church..., it looks quite holy..."

"The Holy Grail?, your imagination is too strong."

"'s imagination has broken through the celestial sphere; they are not on our level."

"...Is that just idiotic nonsense?"

"It’s fine if you know, just don't expose it."

At this moment, after scrolling through a few comments, Wang Guan smiled and casually closed the webpage. He was confident that someone, in the near future, would find this comment thread and treat it as scripture, marveling in awe. But that was a matter for later. Wang Guan glanced at the time, tidied up slightly, and headed out.

The sun was shining brightly outside, and traffic and pedestrian flow were normal, not as exaggerated as reported on television media. Perhaps many people were indeed flocking toward the Beijing-Tianjin area, but surely not tens of millions. After all, it wasn't a public holiday, and no matter how curious people were about those treasures, few would genuinely take time off work to make the trip.

Life’s core theme is the daily grind of food, fuel, oil, salt, sauce, and tea; rare treasures are merely adornments. People can chatter online and join the excitement, but they won't abandon everything to chase after a viewing.

Of course, if there were a traveling exhibition, many would likely be interested in seeing it up close. But Wang Guan felt this current situation was fine; if tens of millions really swarmed in, even a good event might turn sour.

Lost in thought, Wang Guan slowly drove to the Shiyi Pavilion. Upon arriving and stepping out of his car, he observed that the entrance looked rather desolate, suggesting an almost deserted establishment.

Wang Guan paid it no mind. For an antique shop, business success isn't calculated day by day, but rather by the month, the quarter, or even the annual summary.

Three years without a single sale, one sale feeds you for three years—this is certainly no idle saying. A whole year might pass without much business, but securing one successful sale on the very last day of the year could eliminate financial worries for the next three years. The Shiyi Pavilion wasn't that dire, but it couldn't possibly have a constant stream of customers; that was unrealistic.

"Boss, you're here."

As Wang Guan stepped out of the car and approached the entrance, the shop attendant spotted him immediately and hurried out with a beaming smile. Before Wang Guan could ask, the attendant cleverly explained, "The Chief Manager is upstairs..."

"Mm, you carry on. I'll go up myself." Wang Guan nodded with a smile and ascended lightly. He didn't actually have urgent business; he was just coming over at the strong request of the Chief Manager, Cao Xiang, to inspect the premises and understand the operational status.

Since he had finished his pressing tasks, and was free anyway, Wang Guan came over. It was his property after all; he couldn't neglect it too much.

"Third Brother..."

Reaching the upper floor, Wang Guan gave a light knock before entering.

Cao Xiang was watching television. On the large screen, a replay of the appraisal meeting was showing, specifically the scenes featuring the Mingguang Armor and the Tang Saber.

After seeing Wang Guan and inviting him to sit, Cao Xiang couldn't help but exclaim, "Owner, I never knew your skill was so formidable! Just a few casual swings, and you reduced that wooden post to splinters."

"It's not that my skill is great; it's that the Tang Saber is incredibly sharp and unmatched." Wang Guan remained very humble.

"But even the best blade depends on who wields it."

Cao Xiang's remark had a touch of flattery, but it wasn't entirely without merit. After all, with the same knife, one person could cleave a wooden post, while another couldn't even hack off a table corner, fully illustrating that weapons are merely tools; the key lies in the capability of the person.

Everyone enjoys hearing kind words, and Wang Guan was no exception, but he wasn't one to dwell on them. With a soft chuckle, he casually changed the subject: "Where is Guanyang? I don't see him."

"He's out on business," Cao Xiang chuckled. "I don't know what sparked it, but he's suddenly become quite diligent."

"Diligence is good."

Wang Guan nodded. "How is he performing? Has he caused you any trouble?"

"No trouble at all; quite the opposite, he's been a great help."

Cao Xiang quickly stated, "Perhaps he was a little unfamiliar at first, but once he got used to it, whether it’s sourcing goods or negotiating deals, he handles everything systematically, taking a significant load off my shoulders."

Although they were friends, in matters of business, Cao Xiang had no reason to lie. After all, the ledgers would show the truth. The base salary in an antique shop isn't very high; the key is the commission percentage and bonuses. Even if they were the best of friends, Cao Xiang couldn't just give Guanyang his rightful earnings. Cao Xiang also had a family to support; helping Guanyang occasionally was fine, but doing it too often would be financially unsustainable for him. Thinking this, Wang Guan nodded slightly, then accepted the ledger handed over by Cao Xiang and began to carefully review and cross-reference the figures.

Cao Xiang didn't disturb him. After serving tea, he quietly turned off the television and slipped out.

After reviewing the ledger and inspecting the storeroom, Wang Guan was quite satisfied. While admiring a Qing Dynasty lacquerware piece that Guanyang had acquired at a low price, he suddenly heard a loud clamor rising from downstairs.

"What's going on?"

Wang Guan frowned slightly, set down the lacquerware, and slowly walked toward the stairs. However, he proceeded cautiously, stopping at the landing to observe. Firstly, he wanted to assess the situation, and secondly, if trouble had truly erupted, he wanted to gauge Cao Xiang's reaction and how he intended to handle it... After a quick look, Wang Guan saw that the source of the commotion was a young man around twenty or thirty years old. Judging by his features, he had a somewhat roguish air, with shifty, untrustworthy eyes that gave off a frivolous impression.

The reality was much the same. The man was carrying a battered leather suitcase and seemed to be trying to peddle something to Cao Xiang, but judging by the atmosphere, the negotiation had failed, and he was now creating a scene.

"Brother, it's not that our shop is bullying the customer."

At this moment, Cao Xiang looked extremely helpless: "Although our shop isn't small, it's far from massive. Furthermore, these things of yours... they truly aren't worth this much."

"Why aren't they worth it?" the man yelled. "Didn't you see it on TV? These are genuine swords, true swords, just like the Gongbu Sword and the Chixiao Sword—they can slice iron like mud and cleave through metal with ease... If you don't believe me, I can demonstrate for you..."

As he spoke, the man pulled a rusty longsword, or perhaps just a piece of iron, from his battered suitcase. Whatever it was, it only retained the basic outline of a sword; the corrosion on the edge was severe, riddled with pockmarks...

To call such an object a sword was an insult to the very concept of a sword.

Yet, this man was brazen, completely ignoring the grimaces on Cao Xiang and the others' faces. He lifted the "iron rod," swinging it up and down in a show of eagerness.

Seeing this, Wang Guan also frowned slightly, feeling that this person wasn't here to sell something but rather looked like he was trying to extort something. (To be continued)