Chapter Twenty: Three Steps of Appraisal

  Time slowly slips away, and the self resides in a quiet and peaceful place.

  Two hours later, Wang Ke slowly opened his eyes. When his vision cleared up, he saw the scene in front of him and suddenly looked puzzled, because at this time, Zhao Menfeng was staring at him with a strange expression on his face, and his eyes still had a thoughtful look.

  Quickly standing up straight, Wang Ke respectfully looked at Zhao Menfeng and said: "Old Zhao, I'm really sorry just now. Because treating the wounded consumes a lot of energy, so..."

  Zhao Menfeng waved his hand and smiled, "It's alright, I just saw that your complexion wasn't good, so taking a rest is necessary. However, how did you manage to do it? Using true energy to treat the wounded?"

  Wang Ke nodded and said, "Not bad, I've tried using true energy to treat my own injuries before, and also treated others. I know that true energy has a very good therapeutic effect on the wounded. However, in front of Old Man Zhao, I'm just showing off my skills... mainly because I couldn't bear to watch them..."

  Zhao Menfeng interrupted Wang Ke once again, laughing and saying: "I understand what you're thinking, no need to explain anything to me. I'm already very happy that you were able to come here. It's just that I didn't expect you to show me such an amazing treatment method. Fantastic, fantastic!"

  Wang Ke touched his nose bridge, feeling a bit embarrassed by Zhao Meng's praise.

  Zhao Menfeng looked at Wang Ke's expression, smiled slightly, and asked with a hint of probing: "You're Wang Ke? Can I ask you something?"

  "Mr. Zhao, you can just call me Little Wang or Wang Ke directly," he replied hastily. "If you have any questions, please ask and I will answer them as long as I know."

  Zhao Men Feng nodded in satisfaction and asked, "Can you tell me the characteristics of true energy? I'm very curious about the wonders of this new energy."

  Wang Ke's heart was slightly excited, he didn't think Zhao Menfeng would ask him this question, and without thinking, he said: "Zhao Lao, as for the characteristics of true energy, I can't explain it clearly either. After cultivating true energy, it has a strong body-building effect, making my physical body stronger, nourishing all the organs in my body, and of course, its main function is to bring me great power. It's a kind of gas that exists, very mysterious gas, at first only a thin thread, later as cultivation progresses, the amount of true energy also increases, just like mist flowing through my meridians, if I need it, I can let this mist-like true energy merge into my body muscles, bones, and even internal organs..."

  Five minutes later, he told Zhao Menfeng everything he knew and his thoughts on the true energy without any reservation.

  Looking at the silent Zhao Menfeng, Wang Ke hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Old Zhao, I have an impolite request, I don't know if I can say it. This is our second meeting, and saying it out loud might be a bit abrupt."

  Zhao Menfeng woke up from his thoughts and looked at Wang Ke's hesitant expression, smiling: "If you have anything to say, just say it."

  Wang Ke's eyes sparkled with excitement as he said, "Old Zhao, I want to follow you and learn about antiques and artifacts, as well as how to identify them. Previously, I heard you mention that you can draw therapeutic talismans. Can you teach me this skill? If you're willing, if I could be your apprentice, I'd probably smile in my sleep."

  Zhao Menfeng was taken aback and lost his smile, looking at Wang Qi's sincere expression. After a long silence, he finally spoke up and said: "I, Zhao Menfeng, had once sworn an oath that I would never again take on an apprentice. The matter of becoming my disciple is now closed, don't mention it again. I can teach you about antiques and artifacts, and also the skills of identifying them. However, as for creating talismans, don't even think about it. Even if I wanted to teach you, there's no way."

  Wang Ke's expression was stunned, he had a great curiosity about the mysterious symbol, and even yearned to learn it by hand. What did Zhao Lao mean? Was he only able to draw symbols himself and not teach others? Or did he himself lack the talent for drawing symbols? Did he look down on himself?

  "Old Zhao, what can't be done?"

  Zhao Men Feng sighed, "Fu is a carrier of various mysterious energies, its effect is incredibly wonderful. However, to learn how to draw Fu, one must start training from a young age when they are still ignorant. Let the children firmly believe that Fu is efficacious and have an unshakeable faith. If I had to describe it in two words, it would be 'brainwashing'. This is also the most important point of drawing Fu, forever adhering to the principle of 'sincerity moves the divine'."

  "If it's teaching grown-up kids to draw talismans, it's extremely difficult. Grown-up kids have their own thoughts and habits, so no matter what they learn, even if they believe in it, deep down inside, there will always be a hint of doubt, and because of this doubt, they can't draw useful talismans."

  "Moreover, the requirements for drawing talismans are very high, such as the drawer's understanding of the energy of heaven and earth, the drawer's painting talent, the drawer's memory, etc. This is like countless thresholds, only by passing these thresholds can one try to draw talismans, and out of ten talismans drawn, at least nine will fail."

  Wang Ke stared blankly at Zhao Menfeng, his face flashing with an unbelievable light.

  Learning calligraphy must start from childhood?

  Then yourself...

  A hint of bitterness lingered on his tongue, and even if a sumptuous Manchu-Han feast were placed before him, he would probably find it tasteless.

  What a coincidence!

  It has been his dream for years, and seeing that dream become unattainable is a kind of pain that ordinary people can hardly feel.

  A few minutes later, Wang Ke's expression returned to normal.

  He has thought it through, if he can't learn, then he won't learn. Some things just can't be forced.

  Moreover, I already possess true energy and have the ability of heterochromatic eyes. Even if I couldn't create talismans, it would be a lifelong regret, but that's just how things are.

  Contentment is happiness!

  Yesterday, didn't that fat taxi driver also tell me?!

  "Zhao Lao, since I'm unable to learn how to draw talismans, then so be it. From now on, I'll definitely follow you seriously and study antique knowledge and the ways of artifacts," Wang Ke said with a serious expression.

  Zhao Menfeng had been observing Wang Que's expression, he could see the disappointment on this young man's face, but some things couldn't be forced, and he didn't have the skill to teach him.

  "Knowledge of antiques is the most fundamental thing. If you want to identify whether the item in your hand is a genuine antique, you must have a wealth of knowledge. This knowledge covers everything from historical allusions to subtle clues on the antique itself. By applying this rich knowledge and combining it with keen observation, one can determine whether an item is genuinely antique or not. There are many cases of mistaken identity in the collecting world, simply because people lack a better grasp of knowledge and more acute observation..."

  Zhao Menfeng began to explain things about antiques to Wang Ke without any hesitation after the latter promised to learn from him. He didn't mention anything about magical instruments, but only gave a general overview of antiques, which he talked about for almost an hour in one breath.

  At twelve o'clock, Zhao Menfeng stopped explaining and took a sip of the brewed tea, smiling: "It's already noon, time flies so fast! Wang Ke, let's have lunch in the store today! It's also a way to welcome you to Changji. By the way, I forgot to ask, have you found a place to stay? Are you planning to stay in Changji City from now on?"

  Wang Ke smiled and said: "Yes! I've already found a place to live and also found a job. I'll work while following you to learn."

  Zhao Menfeng nodded and smiled, knowing that Wang Ke had money. The first time they met, Wang Ke picked up a piece of equipment worth over 100,000 yuan, and he had told him the price at the time. As long as Wang Ke wasn't foolish, the selling price wouldn't be less than 100,000 yuan.

  The lunch was not very sumptuous, Zhao Menfeng ordered takeout over the phone, four dishes and one soup, two people eating and chatting, getting along very well.

  After dinner, Wang Ke cleaned up the leftover dishes and threw them in the trash can. After resting for half an hour at Zhao Menfeng's place, he continued to explain knowledge about antiques to him.

  "What I've said, you must remember firmly, this is the most basic thing about antiques. As the saying goes: A high-rise building starts from the ground. If the foundation is not laid well, everything is in vain." Zhao Menfeng reminded Wang Ke again after explaining for nearly an hour.

  "Mr. Zhao, every word you said today, every single character, I will remember them firmly in my mind." Wang Ke said seriously.

  Zhao Men Feng nodded in satisfaction, a pleased expression on his face, and smiled: "If you're not tired, then I'll continue to tell you about the knowledge of magical tools."

  Tired?

  Wang Ke shook his head vigorously, how could he feel tired with such a good learning opportunity now?

  "Please go ahead, Mr. Zhao! I'm not tired." Wang Ke said quickly.

  Zhao Men's smile faded from his face as he began to explain, his tone serious and focused: "A magical tool is a precious item that can change one's fortune and luck. It can also affect the feng shui and influence one's destiny. There are three types of magical tools. The first type is an ancient object that has existed in a specific location for a very long time, absorbing the energy of heaven and earth to form, just like the mythological stories say 'absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into one's body', thus forming a magical tool."

  "The second type: items worn by feng shui masters, such as jade pendants, Buddha statues, and ornaments. Feng shui masters often interact with various feng shui landforms and use certain special energies, for example, when drawing talismans, it is a way of gathering heaven and earth energy, allowing the paper to carry this energy, and then using it. Many items worn by feng shui masters can form ordinary magical tools if they are not taken off for about ten years."

  "The third type: our country has countless accomplished monks, those Buddhist masters who use special means to consecrate objects, which is a kind of ritual instrument. The consecration by these masters is not a deceitful trick, they will receive some influence each time they consecrate an object, so the ritual instruments formed after this kind of consecration are not much different from the other two types."

  "Of course, if we say that the most common type of Faqi is formed, then there is only the second type. After all, our Huaxia has a history of 5,000 years, and it is a vast country with many strange people and events. The masters who study Feng Shui are not in the minority either. The accessories on their bodies or the items they use generally can be stored for more than ten years."

  Here is the translation:

  At this point, Zhao Menfeng's mouth curled up with a hint of a smile as he gazed at Wang Ke, who was deeply absorbed in thought. He chuckled and said, "A magical artifact can change a person's luck, fortune, and destiny, but it can also alter the feng shui of a place. That's why countless people are infatuated with it - it has countless mysterious uses that cannot be put into words."

  "For example, this store of mine has poor feng shui and is even a place where wealth is scattered. But if I use a magical tool to calm the house, it can break this scattering of wealth; or if someone has great difficulties, having an object that changes their destiny and fortune can dispel the disaster..."

  Wang Ke listened very carefully and seriously. After Zhao Menfeng finished explaining a paragraph, he asked: "Old Zhao, how can we identify the law enforcement equipment?"

  Zhao Menfeng took a sip of tea and then said, "The method of identifying magical artifacts, I'll share my years of experience with you. To identify a magical artifact, one must achieve three levels: examination, observation, and scrutiny."

  "Appraisal: It's about utilizing one's rich knowledge of cultural relics to identify whether this item is an antique or not. The vast majority of ritual instruments are antiques, containing special energy. Only when a cultural relic contains special energy can it be called a ritual instrument."

  "Prospect: It is the prospect of air. The method brings people an inexplicable and wonderful feeling, which can only be perceived by Feng Shui masters because they also use this method to determine the Feng Shui terrain."

  "Inspect: Observe whether there are Feng Shui arrays, Feng Shui paintings, or Feng Shui tool shapes on the surface of objects. Can you perceive that mysterious energy? All ritual tools will form a unique Feng Shui array on their surface due to the existence of energy. This kind of Feng Shui array cannot be seen with the naked eye and can only be observed by relying on one's skills in Feng Shui, observing the shape of objects."