Chapter 1: The Ghost Market

Before the sound could escape, the vehicle had already knocked Luo Tian's body away. He was thrown into the air, landing on the ground with a loud "bang." Surprisingly, Luo Tian still had some awareness; he was unsure whether it was his bones that had broken or if the precious bowl in his arms had shattered. He opened his eyes and saw the people from the ghost market slowly gathering around him, their faces displaying a curious expression. He caught a whiff of a pungent smell of blood, and then everything before him turned black

Luo Tian is not very old; among this group of people picking up bargains, he can be considered the youngest, at only twenty-six years of age. He has a refined and fair appearance, but due to the early loss of his parents, he did not receive formal higher education. His knowledge of antiques comes solely from books and his own understanding. He never expected that he would rely on this knowledge to survive.

Just when Luo Tian was feeling dejected, he caught sight of the drawer beside the hospital bed. Compelled by an inexplicable force, he pulled it open, and his eyes immediately brightened. The eight-treasure bowl was right inside. However, he was soon disappointed; it was indeed there, but it was already a pile of fragments, all packed in a transparent plastic bag. His head tightened, and he reached for it in silence. As soon as his hand touched the fragments, the warmth he had felt earlier surged back!

This eight-treasure bowl was collected by Little Huzi in the countryside for eighty yuan. Originally, the old man was overjoyed with the five hundred yuan he received, but unexpectedly, this refined young man actually offered one thousand yuan! He accepted the money, carefully placed the eight-treasure bowl in Luo Tian's hands, and asked, "Young man, why did you offer such a high price?"

"One thousand, I accept. hetushu.com" Luo Tian took out one thousand yuan in cash from his pocket: "Elder, I am young and not here to compete with you; I genuinely want to acquire this item, so please do not take offense."

Luo Tian's heart skipped a beat; today, could it be that he would encounter a blocking bid? The so-called blocking bid refers to raising the price at which competitors purchase collectibles or buying up collectibles in advance. Luo Tian felt somewhat anxious, as he was not 100% certain about the value of that eight-treasure bowl. To gamble or not to gamble?

"Boss, haven't you distributed anything tonight yet?" Luo Tian put away his phone and asked casually.

This remark seemed to have given Little Mustache a boost of energy, and he immediately perked up: "Young man, are you serious?"

Both the old man and the little mustached man were taken aback, especially the old man, whose face clearly showed displeasure: "Young man, this is merely official porcelain from the Qing Dynasty, one thousand? Young man, do not act impulsively."

Indeed, ten minutes later, a van screeched to a stop, and several burly men unloaded two boxes from the vehicle. They quickly got back in and drove away, leaving behind a man in his thirties wearing glasses to handle the situation. He was also quite adept, and in no time, he spread out the contents of the boxes, which turned out to be an array of old books. Some of them appeared to be quite ancient, seemingly ready to turn to dust at the slightest touch.

Wait a moment, I will offer one thousand

Wait! An old man with white hair called out, and Luo Tian's heart sank. Could it be that today he has encountered an expert

After speaking, Luo Tian left with the eight-treasure bowl. He was in urgent need of verifying the authenticity of this bowl. As he departed from the ghost market, he planned to walk across the road, his mind solely focused on the authenticity of the item in his hand. He completely failed to notice a small truck speeding towards him from the other side of the road. It was not until the headlights shone on him that he looked up and inwardly shouted that it was bad!

He struggled to sit up and looked around. This was a three-person ward, but at that moment, he was the only one occupying it. The cold walls were truly chilling to behold. Luo Tian suddenly shivered. Where is the bowl? One thousand yuan down the drain!

Another figure leaned down, a cold object pressed against my chest: "The heartbeat has returned to normal, good, let us go out and allow the patient to rest properly"

"It is truly strange. Those who were present at the scene said that he was knocked away, yet he only sustained minor injuries. This person is really lucky," a woman's voice rang out.

"It is certainly not cost-effective to buy an ordinary Qing Dynasty official porcelain for one thousand yuan, as it can only be resold for about one thousand two or three. However, what if it were porcelain used during the wedding of Emperor Tongzhi?" Luo Tian chuckled and said, "In that case, its value could increase by more than ten times. As far as I know, porcelain used during Emperor Tongzhi's wedding has fetched over twenty thousand yuan at auction."

Luo Tianman casually scanned the area, having already identified his target, but he did not rush to inquire about the price or verify its authenticity. Instead, he stood next to the stall owner, took out his phone, and began to play with it, appearing utterly bored.

Luo Tian, frightened, hurriedly released his grip. As soon as he let go, the heat flow immediately vanished, which was truly strange! Luo Tian looked at the fragments and noticed some faint red objects among them. How could there possibly be such things in genuine official porcelain! Exhausted, he lay back on the hospital bed, realizing he had misjudged the situation. Instead of finding a treasure, he had picked up something sinister! What could be mixed in with the porcelain? And what was this heat flow all about?

Hu Xiaozai noticed that Luo Tian had been silent for a long time and had already shifted his attention to the old man with white hair. Luo Tian steeled himself; taking a risk meant seizing an opportunity, and he had to trust his own judgment. It was impossible to always make the right choice, but when the moment came, he had to act decisively

Luo Tian places great importance on a small eight-treasure bowl, which features auspicious and harmonious decorative patterns on its bright yellow surface. While standing aside and fiddling with his phone, he notices that the edge of the bowl has a slight wavy glaze. The ghost market has been open for nearly forty minutes, yet the owner of this bowl has still not started selling, and impatience is beginning to set in. The seller, who is in his forties and sports a small mustache, we shall temporarily refer to as 'Little Mustache'.

The old man extended a hand and said: "Five hundred, I accept!"

The kind of indistinct heat eventually converged into a current of warmth, which spread upward along Luo Tian's legs, as if a living creature were crawling within him, evoking a chilling sensation. This current of heat advanced all the way to the lower abdomen, and with a "bang," it vanished.

For a long time, there has been a custom in the antique community to visit hetushu.com night markets, commonly referred to as "ghost markets." At around three or four in the morning, various antique dealers and collectors gather at designated locations to set up stalls for buying and selling. This is the most suitable place for "picking up bargains," and it is also the place where Luo Tian relies on for survival.

In City N, at the antique night market, at two o'clock in the morning, although the night is deep, there are still quite a few people carrying bags and holding flashlights, looking around as if waiting for something. Among this group, Luo Tian appears particularly silent. Based on his experience, the sellers are likely to arrive in about ten minutes.

The heat enveloped him, as if his entire body were being scorched by fire, with every pore feeling as though it were wide open. Amidst the intense heat, he sensed a faint breeze flowing into his body. Luo Tian felt his eyelids heavy, unable to lift them, as if he had fallen into a dark abyss. No, it would be more accurate to say he had plunged into a furnace.

Little Huzi was filled with frustration: "Alas, this cursed market is becoming increasingly unprosperous"

Luo Tian's heart sank back into his stomach; this old man with white hair had an eye for value, but only recognized half of it. He was still unaware of the true worth of the bowl. Little Mustache turned his gaze towards Luo Tian, as Luo Tian was the first to inquire about the price. After pondering for a moment, Luo Tian said: "Three hundred"

A faint light appeared before him, and Luo Tian struggled to open his eyes. Several shadowy figures flickered in front of him, and he could hear voices speaking.

Indeed. Luo Tian looked at the other person sincerely and said, "You just need a good start; let me help you kick things off, how about that?"

The old man picked up the eight-treasure bowl and examined it carefully for a while. He then turned the bowl over, revealing the inscription "Made in the Tongzhi Era" on the bottom. "The craftsmanship and glaze are characteristic of official porcelain from the Qing Dynasty. I can take it for 200 yuan; what do you think?"

The old man let out a muffled grunt, shook his head, and walked away helplessly

His most important task each week is to await the arrival of the ghost market, where he seeks out the items he desires among numerous stalls. If luck is on his side, he might pick up one or two items, and with a simple transaction, cover a month's expenses. At this moment, an increasing number of sellers gather here, with stalls appearing one after another, offering ancient books, porcelain, and a variety of jade, along with some unknown objects that can dazzle the eyes. Many buyers are seen carefully examining their chosen items with flashlights, yet Luo Tian remains unhurried. He has his own approach, believing that showing too much eagerness for the items he is interested in is akin to revealing his intentions.

The patient, Luo Tian, felt a bit dizzy and wondered when he had fallen ill. The surroundings became quiet, and the blur in front of his eyes gradually faded away, revealing everything clearly: the white walls, the white sheets and covers, and the sound of the medication dripping down, all became so distinct. Looking at the needle in his hand, Luo Tian finally began to recall some memories.

Among the crowd that was originally waiting, many could no longer contain their curiosity and moved forward to take a look. Luo Tian remained unmoved, as the ghost market had just begun, and the good items were still to come.

"Let me be frank, I cannot afford anything too expensive; I can only make a token gesture." Luo Tian glanced around the porcelain items at the stall and picked up the Eight Treasures bowl, saying, "This item is small; perhaps I can take it."