Chapter Six: Priceless Treasure

He personally poured two bowls of wine and handed them to Xiao Lianshan and me. I noticed the guilt on his face. Judging by his features, Yue Leiting, though aggressive and competitive, harbored no malice; he was a man true to his nature.

“Words cannot express my gratitude. My life belongs to you two—from now on, I owe you a debt I will never forget. If ever you need anything from me, just say the word. I, Yue Leiting, would give my life without hesitation!”

There was a bold and chivalrous air about Yue Leiting. He was decisive, never one to beat around the bush. I, however, couldn't drink, so I told him not to take it to heart. There wasn't much else I could do, but I knew a thing or two about fortune-telling, geomancy, and divination—skills meant to help people avoid misfortune. It was a small favor, especially since I owed Liu Hao a debt myself. Now that everything was settled, Xiao Lianshan and I were ready to leave.

Yue Leiting’s temperament was somewhat similar to Xiao Lianshan’s. Seated beside me, Xiao Lianshan downed his wine in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said, “I appreciate a man who knows right from wrong. Let me give you some advice—as a leader, you should recruit men of some worth. Yours are a bunch of cowards. If I’d had a knife today, I’d have cut them all down.”

Just as we were about to leave, Huo Qian blocked our way. Xiao Lianshan, always impatient, turned without a word, grabbed a bottle from the table, and smashed it, thinking Huo Qian wanted trouble.

“What, you want to keep us here by force? Earlier I was weak from hunger—let’s see you try now.”

Huo Qian was a refined man, not one for violence. I quickly pressed Xiao Lianshan’s hand down, and Huo Qian showed no sign of taking offense.

“It’s all right, no harm done. We’re all men of principle here. Since you saved Brother Leiting’s life, you’re our benefactors too. But… neither of you seem the greedy type. I just can’t figure out how Liu Hao managed to bring you here.”

Liu Hao recounted how I’d collapsed on a hospital bench that day from acute appendicitis. Xiao Lianshan had come to him for money. Holding a grudge, Liu Hao had made things difficult, demanding that Xiao Lianshan kowtow—one bow for every dime. He claimed he’d only meant it as a joke, but Xiao Lianshan, stubborn as a mule, knelt and began kowtowing without hesitation, refusing to stop. When Liu Hao finally pulled him up, his forehead was covered in blood.

A shiver ran through me. I turned to look at Xiao Lianshan, recalling the bandage on his brow that day in the hospital. So it was because he’d kowtowed to Liu Hao for my sake. I knew Xiao Lianshan’s pride—kneeling was harder for him than dying. My chest tightened, and I didn’t know what to say. Gritting my teeth, I gripped his shoulder tightly.

“Enough of that—don’t get sentimental on me,” Xiao Lianshan said awkwardly, patting me on the back.

“You did the right thing, kid. Out here, loyalty is everything. The two of you, so young and so righteous, I have nothing but respect,” Yue Leiting declared.

Liu Hao then explained about our discharge from the hospital. Yue Leiting grew furious as he listened. Liu Hao took a bronze beast from his bag and handed it to Yue Leiting. The artifact had already been cleaned: the tiger was crouched, its eyes glaring, ears round, snout short, nose broad, mouth slightly open, body stout and plump, tail short and hemispherical.

The artifact’s surface was stained with rust-red patches, and three places bore silver-inlaid seal script inscriptions—one along the spine, two on the flanks.

Liu Hao told Yue Leiting that I was the first to select this bronze beast. I watched as Yue Leiting examined it closely, but judging by his expression, he couldn’t recognize a single character. With a heavy sigh, he slumped into a chair and casually tossed the beast to the ground, where it split in two.

I almost laughed aloud at his reaction. To think he’d made his fortune robbing tombs, yet didn’t even know the basics of antiques! He must have thought that this inconspicuous bronze beast was worthless. If we hadn’t saved his life today, he would have torn us apart for it.

Fortunately, someone in the room knew its value. Just as I was about to explain, I saw Huo Qian’s gaze fixed on the broken bronze beast. He picked it up thoughtfully; in his hands, the two pieces fit together perfectly. He then separated them again and studied them for a long time, his eyes gradually widening.

Huo Qian’s reaction made it clear he was an expert. Usually calm and composed, he was now visibly excited, asking for a magnifying glass. After a brief inspection, his hands trembling, he turned to Yue Leiting and said four words: “A peerless treasure!”

“This… This worthless trinket is a treasure?” Yue Leiting asked in astonishment, frowning.

Ignoring him, Huo Qian approached me with admiration. “You knew what this was from the start, didn’t you? That’s why you chose it first.”

Of course I knew. It’s strange—I seem to have been born with knowledge about antiques. Whenever I see a relic, details about its history and background surface naturally in my mind. There was also Master Qin’s library, filled with countless books—The Anthology of Real Records, The Complete Jade Rubbings, and the Ten Volumes of Pinggu—each chronicling precious artifacts from various dynasties.

Back in the mountains, Master Qin seldom spoke to me. I spent most of my time locked away in his library, for I knew nothing else to do. He warned me those ancient texts were difficult, but I found them easy to read and could remember everything at a glance. Sometimes, at night, the contents of those books would appear in my dreams, as if the relics themselves were before me, tangible and real. By morning, I’d understand them completely.

The bronze beast Huo Qian held was, from the moment Fatty Luo opened the bag, instantly recognizable to me—a Han dynasty tiger tally.

This bronze beast could be split in two, each side bearing four characters. Together, they read: “Tiger tally for the Governor of Ba Commandery.”

Yue Leiting still couldn’t grasp the value of this plain-looking bronze beast and remarked with some disappointment, “What’s so special about this old bronze tiger? At most, it’s just an engraved trinket.”

I explained to Yue Leiting that the tiger tally of the Governor of Ba Commandery was the authority used in the Western Han to command troops in what is now Yuzhou. The tally was usually split in two, right side kept by the emperor, left side given to the general. Each tally was unique to its region; no two places could share one. Only when both halves matched could orders be given to mobilize troops. To possess even one half was a stroke of fortune—having both was nearly unheard of. Such a complete tally was indeed a peerless treasure.

Astonished, Yue Leiting took the bronze beast from my hands and stared at it for a long while, then turned to Huo Qian, who nodded emphatically in confirmation.

“How much would this thing fetch if sold?” Yue Leiting asked.

“Priceless!” Huo Qian replied with a smile.

Hearing my explanation, and with an expert like Huo Qian confirming it, Yue Leiting broke into a wide grin, cradling the bronze beast as he laughed heartily. “Azure Dragon and White Tiger! Well said, well said! You’ve not only saved my life, but also picked out a priceless treasure for me. Don’t go—stay with me!”

“We only agreed to come back with Liu Hao to see you. Now that our business is done, we’ll be leaving,” I replied with a smile.

“If you need anything, just ask. If I have it, it’s yours,” Yue Leiting responded earnestly.

“All we want is to make an honest living, to earn enough to eat our fill,” I answered sincerely.

He burst out laughing. “Money! You want to make money? That’s the one thing I have in abundance.” Without hesitation, he handed the bronze tally to me. “This priceless treasure—take it. It’s yours now.”

I can’t say I wasn’t tempted. With the money from this Han dynasty tiger tally, Xiao Lianshan and I could live comfortably for generations. Being a porter was hard work, but the money was honest and left my conscience clear. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the mountains, but I never had any grand ambitions. As Master Qin always told me, “A simple life is a blessing.”