The Company

Chapter 29 Dragon Pattern Bell

Just like before, the small seal script signboard overhead and the antique carved wooden door before him still carried a certain historical weight.

Lu Zigang stood before the entrance of Dumb Shop, feeling somewhat melancholic.

It had been over two months since his last visit to this mysterious antique shop. Fragmented memories that didn't belong to him had been surfacing in his mind. Even as an atheist, Lu Zigang couldn't help but suspect he might truly be the reincarnation of the Ming Dynasty's Lu Zigang.

Otherwise, how could he coincidentally share the same name? How could he have obtained the Wu knife? And how could he have inexplicably gained jade-carving skills?

Lu Zigang pressed his slightly aching temples. Ever since the Wu knife had been stained with Huhai's blood - whether it was his imagination or not - he felt something was fundamentally wrong with him, frequently experiencing unexplained panic.

When the Boss had given him the Wu knife, he had specifically warned him not to let it be stained with blood. Yet, in his memories from his previous life, the kitchen knife used by the divine chef Xia Zelan would inevitably have been stained with blood...

Lu Zigang thought to himself that he had flown all the way here after receiving the Boss's vague phone call partly because he wanted to ask about this matter.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Zigang pushed open the carved door. The familiar scent of agarwood wafted over, refreshing his spirit. The shop's arrangement was no different from his last visit, though perhaps due to psychological factors, recalling his strange experiences at Dumb Shop last time made him uneasy about every antique in the place.

"You're here?" The Boss's calm voice sounded through the shop. Lu Zigang followed the sound and saw the Boss emerge from behind the jade screen in the inner room, with an adorable plush rabbit doll perched on his shoulder, its long ears drooping in front of the Boss - a rather incongruous sight.

Lu Zigang stared wide-eyed as the Boss walked past him nonchalantly and skillfully began boiling water to make tea. Only when the tea aroma overpowered the agarwood scent did Lu Zigang snap out of it, coughing lightly in embarrassment. "Boss, actually I have something I wanted to ask you about."

Carefully taking out the Wu knife he always carried from his pocket, Lu Zigang hesitated before speaking: "Last time, by accident, this Wu knife got stained with blood..." His voice trailed off, like a child awaiting a teacher's scolding.

This attitude wasn't unwarranted - in the inexplicable memories from his past life, the Boss had been like a mentor to him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have immediately flown from Beijing just because of the other's vague phone call.

"Was it your blood?" The Boss didn't take the knife, instead handing over a celadon-glazed teacup decorated with gold.

"No..." Lu Zigang quickly set down the Wu knife and accepted the cup with both hands. After taking a sip of the fragrant tea, he continued, "It was that Young Master Hu Huhai's blood, from when he was using the Book of the Dead for soul summoning." Lu Zigang didn't continue, because he could clearly see the Boss's eyebrows furrowing at his words.Was it truly a taboo violation? Lu Zigang grew fearful, noticing his hands trembling uncontrollably as he held the celadon-glazed teacup with gold tracery. He hastily placed the precious cup on the counter.

The Boss’s furrowed brow lasted only a moment before he calmly said, "This isn’t your fault. It’s fine." It seemed everything was fated, and no amount of intervention would change it.

Really no problem? Lu Zigang wanted to press further, but his intuition told him the Boss wouldn’t easily divulge more. He stored the Wu knife, picked up the teacup again for a sip, and finally settled his mind. Savoring the tea’s fragrance lingering between his lips, he remarked appreciatively before asking, "Boss, why did you call me here?" As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the rabbit doll perched on the Boss’s shoulder, still unnerved by the bizarre sight.

The Boss retrieved a small brocade box from under the counter, palm-sized. Opening it revealed a finger-sized copper piece—straight on one end with a looped connector on the other, dotted with patina that spoke of its antiquity.

Lu Zigang’s eyebrows shot up as he leaned in for a closer look. His long immersion in antiques allowed immediate recognition: "This is a copper clapper? Which bell’s component is it from?"

"It’s the copper clapper from a Dragon Pattern Bell," the Boss paused briefly before elaborating, "A bell is an ancient instrument—a larger type of bell resembling cymbals but with a clapper. Used in ancient China to proclaim governmental decrees and as a musical instrument, it flourished from the Spring and Autumn period to the Han Dynasty. When shaken, it produces sound. Based on the clapper’s material, it’s classified as either a metal bell (with copper clapper) or wooden bell (with wooden clapper)."

Lu Zigang looked up, puzzled. These basics were common knowledge—why explain them? But then he thought he saw the rabbit doll’s ear twitch. Steadying himself, he asked, "Boss, what’s the history behind this copper clapper? And where is the Dragon Pattern Bell it belongs to?"

"That Dragon Pattern Bell should currently be in Room 12 of the National Museum’s collection," the Boss stated with absolute certainty, as if he’d seen it himself. He handed over a piece of paper, adding, "I’m willing to trade three artifacts listed here for it."

Lu Zigang took the paper, his heart skipping a beat at its touch—the sheet was pristine, densely textured with pure grain and subtle cloud patterns, unmistakably premium rice paper. Before he could ponder its origins, the three antique names inscribed in Han-dynasty clerical script stunned him into momentary daze.

The Boss, anticipating this reaction, sipped his tea calmly while waiting for Lu Zigang to recover, occasionally reaching up to stroke the rabbit doll on his shoulder.

Even Lu Zigang, who knew the Dumb Shop housed countless treasures, couldn’t maintain composure at the sight of these three antiquities. He smiled wryly, "Boss, you’re making this very difficult for me. I’m just an intern researcher—I don’t have the authority to decide.""Then go discuss with someone who can make the decision." The Boss blew on the hot tea in his hand and said calmly, "Trading goods for goods is reasonable. That Dragon Pattern Bell is just an inconspicuous antique, belonging to a category that the state can trade. Moreover, I can give you one of the items in advance as a deposit. But I require that the Dragon Pattern Bell must be delivered to me by the end of the month, otherwise the deal is void."

Lu Zigang wisely didn't ask about the origins of the Dragon Pattern Bell. After all, the Boss wasn't obligated to explain, and besides, any one of the three antiques listed on the rice paper seemed to Lu Zigang to be comparable in value to the Dragon Pattern Bell.

He drank his tea and pondered for a long time before nodding. "I'll do my best. But, Boss, it would be best if I could take this Copper Clapper with me as well. Only after restoring the Dragon Pattern Bell can the experts possibly reach a final conclusion through appraisal."

The Boss nodded indifferently, took out a Brocade Box from the counter, and handed it to Lu Zigang along with the small brocade box containing the Copper Clapper. He added a final reminder, "Remember, restoring the Dragon Pattern Bell doesn't matter, but whatever you do, don't shake it to make it produce sound."

Lu Zigang raised his eyebrows in surprise but didn't take it too seriously. After inspecting the acquired antiques, he hurried away anxiously.

Almost the moment Lu Zigang left, the rabbit doll on the Boss's shoulder sat up straight, its long ears swaying. "Boss, what is that bell? Which emperor's antique is it again?"

The Boss picked up the green-glazed teacup with gold tracing that Lu Zigang had used, carefully washed it with water, and returned it to its place before speaking. "During the Bronze Age, bronze ware could only be used by the most noble people. Bronze ritual vessels were especially revered as mediums for communicating with gods. Bronze instruments that could produce sound, such as bells, nao, zheng, duo, chunyu, and goudiao, became exclusive tools for those in power, used for issuing government decrees, military commands, banquet entertainment, religious sacrifices, and other activities. The duo was specifically used when announcing governmental and religious edicts."

The Doctor knew the Boss hadn't finished speaking, so he listened patiently. These days without a physical body had been incredibly carefree for him - no early mornings or late nights, no clocking in for work. Every day he just followed the Boss around, cleaning and maintaining various strange antiques, which was particularly enlightening. The only thing that dissatisfied the Doctor was his inability to eat; otherwise, he wouldn't mind extending this kind of vacation.

"Do you know King Zhou of Shang? The Dragon Pattern Bell I want belonged to him. That bell has the ability to make people obey commands. King Zhou of Shang would ring that Dragon Pattern Bell every time he issued government decrees. It's said to have come from Daji's hands." After washing his hands, the Boss added hot water to the teapot.

"Wow! No wonder you warned that Lu guy not to ring the Dragon Pattern Bell! So if he really rings it, he could control others to obey him?" The Doctor was filled with envy and jealousy - this was practically a divine artifact!

"Such a powerful weapon... no, such a demonic object, Boss, why don't you keep it in the Dumb Shop?"Does he think he's Fahai? Capturing evil spirits... The Boss silently grumbled to himself, took a sip of light tea, and said, "Do you think the Dumb Shop can collect everything under heaven? Nonsense. This Dragon Pattern Bell once stirred chaos across the land—King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang dynasty after first stealing the Dragon Pattern Bell. King Wu of Zhou once said that although this bell was extremely useful, it was a demonic artifact that led people to corruption, so he ordered Jiang Ziya to seal it with magic."

"After that, the Dragon Pattern Bell became an ordinary antique. Over a thousand years later, as Jiang Ziya's seal gradually faded, this Dragon Pattern Bell passed through many hands and eventually ended up with Yang Guang, who was still a prince at the time."

"Yang Guang? I know him—that's Emperor Yang of Sui, the one who schemed to usurp his elder brother's crown prince position and recklessly mobilized armies!" The Doctor suddenly understood. "I always thought Emperor Wen of Sui, who unified the empire, wouldn't be so foolish as to depose the crown prince without reason—turns out there was another cause! But the Qin and Sui dynasties are quite similar—both unified the world from chaotic times, then fell after just two generations, followed by the rare prosperous eras of Han and Tang. Speaking of which, Emperor Yang of Sui and Huhai are both wastrels..."

The Doctor rarely had insights to share and naturally rambled on for a long time before noticing the Boss seemed distracted, so he circled back to the topic: "Boss, then how did the Dragon Pattern Bell's copper clapper get separated from the bell itself?"

"Oh, Yang Guang abused the Dragon Pattern Bell, bringing disaster to the common people. But as emperor, he held absolute power. In haste, I couldn't find a suitable replica to replace it, so I just swapped out the internal clapper," the Boss explained lightly. "Wow..." The Doctor's imagination ran wild—that incompetent emperor Yang Guang, after discovering the Dragon Pattern Bell no longer worked, had his Sui dynasty overthrown by rebel forces from all regions. It must be said, the Boss's move was even more brilliant than King Wu of Zhou's—separating the copper clapper from the Dragon Pattern Bell eliminated the risk of future misuse. However, this time they had Lu Zigang restore the bell to its complete form, though it was to suppress the Cosmos formation—who could guarantee nothing unexpected would happen?

The Doctor wouldn't forget that Fusu, currently occupying his body, had ambitions of unifying the world.

The Boss seemed to see through the Doctor's worries and sighed faintly, "Everything is fate. Let's wait and see."

Huhai removed the Golden Ghost Mask from his face, hesitated for a long moment, and finally resolved to walk toward the study.

The little red bird eating beef jerky on a nearby shelf tilted its head to look at its master, decided not to follow, and continued lowering its head to work hard. It still preferred this spacious, bright house. Ever since its master's brother arrived, its master no longer lived in dark, damp tombs. Well, this was a good sign.

Huhai lightly knocked on the study door a few times and only entered after receiving permission from inside.

On the sunny bay window, Fusu sat cross-legged in loose homewear, just as in his previous life. Sunlight fell on his handsome face, casting a golden halo around him that made him appear even more nobly imposing.

Huhai stared blankly—though his elder brother's appearance had changed, his aura surpassed even that of the past. Even in a modern room, Huhai felt for a moment as if he had returned to over two thousand years ago.Huhai couldn't resist taking a step forward but immediately halted. He looked down at his hair ends scorched and withered by the sunlight, then silently retreated into the unlit shadows.

Indeed, he was no longer the willful and capricious Qin Er Shi, but merely a Specter clinging to existence in the human world.

Only when Fusu set down his book and glanced over did Huhai steady his nerves, recounting in detail what he had witnessed through the Golden Ghost Mask.

"A Dragon Pattern Bell that can compel obedience?" Fusu stroked his chin, his handsome eyes narrowing slightly. He never doubted the existence of such incredible artifacts from antiquity, for the distant Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties were hailed as mythical eras where nothing seemed extraordinary.

"If this artifact were used by Your Highness, it would surely not remain buried in obscurity," Huhai carefully phrased his words.

Ever since Fusu agreed to move out of the doctor's shabby apartment and live with him, Huhai had immediately purchased a large, luxurious house. After all, over these two thousand years, he had accumulated no fewer antiques than the Boss, though he typically preferred to leave them in the temporary tombs he inhabited. He had little interest in understanding these artifacts, merely selecting one or two that caught his eye to sell when needed.

Fusu glanced at his imperial brother with a faint, ambiguous smile. Despite having spent several months together, he still found the silver-white hair and blood-red eyes strikingly jarring.

Subtly shifting his gaze away, Fusu curled his lips in light mockery. "Do you know which two rulers previously used the Dragon Pattern Bell? Did either meet a favorable end?"

A chill ran down Huhai's spine. The two emperors the Boss had mentioned were King Zhou of Shang and Emperor Yang of Sui, both rulers of fallen dynasties whose posthumous titles were exceptionally brutal—rarely could any emperor bear such epithets. Huhai stood awkwardly, unsure how to respond, and could only bow his head in silence. Since childhood, he had never been able to hold his head high before his imperial brother, and it seemed even after two millennia, nothing had changed.

Noticing this, Fusu shook his head with a soft laugh. "Even our father could be accused of tyranny. In truth, those two weren't entirely as incompetent as history books depict—they were largely vilified by centuries of accumulated criticism." Fusu pointed to the stacks of history books piled beside him. These days, aside from his regular shifts at the hospital, he had been sitting here immersed in historical texts.

"Emperor Xin was accomplished in both civil and military arts. He led troops to unify the Dongyi tribes in the southeast, but at great cost. With too many Dongyi prisoners to suppress, coupled with years of military campaigns that depleted state resources and stirred public resentment, King Wu of Zhou seized the opportunity to attack. The masses of captives turned against him, leading to the fall of the Shang dynasty." Fusu summarized the historical facts he had recently studied, sifting through various accounts to arrive at the most plausible conclusion. Emperor Xin was the personal name of King Zhou of Shang. During the Yin-Shang period, the Ying clan were prominent nobles of immense wealth, so Fusu knew a thing or two about these secrets—unlike the narratives in the "Book of Documents."

Huhai listened quietly with his head bowed. He knew his imperial brother wasn't deliberately offering him patient guidance but was habitually organizing his thoughts through discussion. If that person shared Fusu's aspirations, then it wouldn't be Huhai standing here now."As for Yang Guang... Hmph!" Fusu gave a disdainful laugh. "Li Shimin also killed his brothers and forced his father to abdicate, yet why hasn't he been condemned through the ages?"

Hearing the rare sarcasm in Fusu's usually gentle tone, Huhai—who had similarly killed his brothers and forced his father—broke out in a cold sweat. Strictly speaking, he wasn't responsible for Qin Shi Huang's death, and Fusu's assassination was entirely orchestrated by Zhao Gao. Yet Huhai knew his notorious reputation in history wasn't just later slander.

Seemingly unaware of Huhai's discomfort, Fusu casually picked up a history book beside him, flipping directly to a specific page. "The Book of Sui praises Yang Guang for pacifying the south and repelling the Xiongnu in the north, standing out among his brothers with remarkable achievements. At thirteen, Yang Guang was appointed Governor of Bingzhou; at eighteen, he became Governor of Yongzhou; by twenty, he was made a general who led troops south to conquer the Chen dynasty, unifying Jiangnan. He then diligently won over hearts, bridging many political and cultural divides. Later, he led northern campaigns to defeat the Turks, achieving true unification after the Northern and Southern Dynasties—without which the Tang's golden age wouldn't have been possible."

"After ascending the throne, Yang Guang pioneered the imperial examination system to select officials, a practice that endured for over a millennium. He standardized weights and measures, enacted the Daye legal code, developed the Silk Road, and attracted tribute from myriad states. Judging by his early reign, he could be called an enlightened ruler. Even his choice of 'Daye' as his era name reveals his lofty ambitions."

Huhai's face burned with shame as he listened. He too had ascended at twenty, yet understood nothing of governance. After bungling several political matters, he'd given up entirely. Unlike Yang Guang—deliberately groomed by Emperor Wen of Sui to prevent a repeat of Northern Zhou generals seizing power—Huhai had received no education since childhood. Though Emperor Wen never anticipated that even a son with military power and prestige would refuse to remain subordinate.

"They criticize Yang Guang for moving the capital to Luoyang and launching massive construction projects. But relocating eastward helped control the empire—Chang'an was too remote from the Central Plains, whereas Luoyang remained an economic and cultural hub until the Song dynasty. As for the Grand Canal, it was a monumental feat connecting north and south, rivaling even our father's Great Wall in impact!"

Fusu sighed deeply. Privately, he believed the Grand Canal benefited the people more than the Great Wall, though his reverence for his late father remained undiminished. Like the Great Wall, Emperor Yang's Grand Canal exhausted resources and manpower—such monumental projects, however beneficial, always drew criticism, yet later generations continued maintaining them. The 5,000-li Grand Canal, completed in just six years, drained the Sui treasury and sowed the seeds of disaster.

Blushing crimson, Huhai felt each word carried hidden barbs. He looked up abruptly, steering back to the original topic: "Brother, do you want this Dragon Pattern Bell or not?"Fusu stared fixedly at Huhai's silver hair and crimson pupils, then after a long moment nodded and said, "Yes, why wouldn't I want it? Go fetch it, but remember to be careful." Fusu's tone had returned to its usual measured pace, calm and unruffled.

"Yes." Huhai took a deep breath and turned to leave.

Yet Fusu could no longer focus on the history book in his hands. His gaze drifted to the window, where tree branches outside were beginning to sprout tender green buds, lingering on the lingering spring hues entwined among the branches. For a long time, he remained lost in thought.

Lu Zigang carefully opened the brocade box on the right, revealing the ancient Dragon Pattern Bell inside.

As for the barter trade proposed by the Boss, it was actually quite difficult to arrange, as the procedures involved were very troublesome.

After undergoing various appraisals including X-ray examination, fluorescence spectrum analysis, and thermoluminescence dating of clay samples, experts concluded that this Dragon Pattern Bell might be an imitation from the early Qing dynasty's massive bronze forgery frenzy. It appeared too new, with even the patina only superficially formed. While bronze artifacts cannot be dated as accurately as porcelain using carbon-14 dating, this series of precise instrument analyses led the experts to agree to the Boss's barter request.

This Dragon Pattern Bell had remained in the museum's collection primarily because few bells from history have been passed down through generations. However, its final disposition had long been undecided, as it didn't qualify as a national-level cultural relic and was far from worthy of display in the museum's exhibition cases. This transaction conveniently resolved the issue of an idle artifact. Though puzzled why the Boss would exchange three priceless antiques for this bell, everyone privately speculated it might be a family heirloom of his.

Lu Zigang didn't take out the copper clapper given by the Boss. His request for it had been impulsive, recalling how he had previously reassembled a Blank Tablet at the Dumb Shop. Now it was his turn to ponder over something, wasn't it? Moreover, the Boss valued this Dragon Pattern Bell so highly, and the more modern instruments failed to identify its secrets, the more curious Lu Zigang became. He was certain the bell possessed mystical qualities, making him hesitant to install the copper clapper publicly. Instead, he secretly retreated to his laboratory after work.

After putting on gloves, Lu Zigang held the palm-sized Dragon Pattern Bell and turned it over, confirming the hollow interior with a connecting component at the very bottom.

He secured the bell with a stand, opened the small brocade box on his left, and carefully installed the copper clapper using tools. He then waited quietly for several minutes.

When nothing happened, Lu Zigang held the bell in his hand, staring blankly at the exquisite dragon pattern, hesitating whether he should try shaking it.

Although the Boss had finally warned him not to shake the Dragon Pattern Bell to make it sound, he had also once forbidden him from letting the Kunwu Blade touch blood! His Wu knife had already been stained with blood, and nothing had happened, had it?

Lu Zigang was naturally cautious—a necessary trait in his profession—so he pondered over the bell left and right, unable to reach a conclusion for a long time.

"If I were you, I wouldn't shake that Dragon Pattern Bell." A sudden voice echoed in the laboratory.

Startled, Lu Zigang nearly dropped the bell. Trembling, he placed it back on the soft cloth before looking up at the guest who had arrived uninvited for the second time.

Young Master Hu still wore that white hooded coat, his handsome face as pale as ever, with silver hair neatly tied back. His crimson eyes were fixed intently on the Dragon Pattern Bell before him.

Lu Zigang recalled the chaotic night months earlier when, after awakening with memories of his past life, he had seen the broken Longevity Lock in Huhai's hands. In that moment of mental confusion, he had instinctively believed Huhai to be the reincarnation of Xia Zelan, whom he had obsessively loved in his previous life, leaving him inwardly conflicted.But as he gradually calmed down over these days, Lu Zigang also began to let go. The events of his past life were ultimately like a grand dream. His drastic change in attitude toward the Boss was largely because the Boss had remained the same person all these years, but Lu Zigang would never consider Huhai before him to be Xia Zelan—they were entirely two different people. Xia Zelan was already dead, becoming a permanent scar in his past life's heart, one that could neither be smoothed nor erased. He would reminisce and remember, but he was no longer the Lu Zigang of his past life.

Steadying his mind, Lu Zigang asked the young master Hu, who freely entered and exited the restricted areas of the collection, with irritation, "Why can't it be shaken?" His attitude toward him remained as usual; although he knew this young master must harbor significant secrets, he had no interest in uncovering them.

Huhai couldn't be bothered to fabricate lies to deceive him. Moreover, as a prince of the Qin dynasty and even a former emperor, he refused to compromise his principles over such a trivial matter. So, he merely raised an eyebrow lightly and said, "Didn't the person who gave you this copper clapper tell you not to shake it?" Huhai spoke with certainty because he had seen everything through the Golden Ghost Mask.

Lu Zigang was completely resigned this time. Even Huhai said so, meaning he must know something as well. Noticing Huhai's gaze fixed intently on the Dragon Pattern Bell, his crimson eyes radiating an undisguised fervor, Lu Zigang instinctively spoke up, "Did you come for this Dragon Pattern Bell? No, this bell already has an owner."

Huhai was fully aware of all the details of his transaction with the Boss. Although he hadn't clearly seen what grade of antiques the Boss had given Lu Zigang, he was confident he could offer more to compete. So, Huhai took out something like a silk handkerchief from his robe and tossed it toward Lu Zigang. "This is my offer to exchange for this Dragon Pattern Bell."

The lightweight silk handkerchief traced an elegant arc in the air, like a dancing butterfly, and landed precisely in Lu Zigang's hand. The moment Lu Zigang felt its texture, his expression immediately changed.

He had once seen the plain silk gauze gown unearthed from the Han tomb at Mawangdui. Its threads were extremely fine, using about 2.6 square meters of material and weighing only 49 grams—less than two ounces. Folded, it could even fit into a matchbox. It was a craft that even modern technology could not replicate or imitate. The plain silk gauze gown had sparse mesh and was semi-transparent, but the silk fabric in his hand was densely woven, silvery-white, and felt as if it weighed nothing when lifted. It also carried a strong scent of incense. Lu Zigang had an exceptionally discerning eye, but even he hesitated to confirm the origin of this ancient silk fabric. What was even more infuriating was that such a precious piece of silk actually had writing on it.

As mentioned in Mozi, "inscribe on bamboo and silk, carve on metal and stone." Before the invention of paper, silk was used by nobles for writing and painting, while commoners could not afford it and still used bamboo slips. Although paper was invented during the Han dynasty, everyone knew that silk was valued and paper was looked down upon. Those who wrote on paper were mostly commoners who could not afford silk, while the court nobles still preferred using silk. And on the piece of silk he held, there were six columns of Qin Script.Qin Script, also known as Small Seal Script, is a type of calligraphy derived from the simplification and modification of Large Seal Script. It originated in the State of Qin during the late Warring States period and became the standard script during the Qin Dynasty and early Western Han period. It was part of Qin Shi Huang’s political reforms to "standardize cart tracks and unify writing" after unifying the six states. Since the scripts of various states during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods differed slightly, making governance difficult, the chancellor Li Si was ordered to standardize the script. Later generations commonly refer to this script as Small Seal Script, but just as with Han Clerical Script, calling it Qin Script better reflects its representative significance.

Qin Script features smooth, rounded lines and a tightly structured composition, with each stroke resembling silver hooks and iron brushstrokes—neat and elegant. Lu Zigang, who had considerable expertise in Qin Dynasty inscriptions, quickly read through the six columns of Qin Script and was immediately struck speechless, unable to find his voice.

Huhai was quite pleased with Lu Zigang’s reaction. Having seen numerous antiques in tombs, he could easily overwhelm Lu Zigang with just a few pieces. Feeling triumphant after his display of wealth, Young Master Hu magnanimously tolerated Lu Zigang’s delayed response and merely curled his lip to urge, "Well? Are you willing to exchange this for that Dragon Pattern Bell?"

Lu Zigang’s hands trembled slightly as he held the silk scroll. Unable to contain his astonishment, he pressed, "What is so special about this Dragon Pattern Bell? Why does everyone want it?"

Huhai did not answer, only frowning slightly.

Lu Zigang understood this as a silent refusal. Reluctantly, he clutched the silk scroll, glancing down repeatedly at the six columns of Qin Script, but ultimately shook his head firmly. "Young Master Hu, I appreciate your sincerity, but I made a deal with the Boss first and cannot break my promise."

Though inwardly reluctant, Lu Zigang spoke with unwavering resolve. On one hand, he did not want to break his agreement with the Boss—after all, the deposit had been paid, and the antique entrusted to him was already in the museum’s collection, with a themed exhibition planned in a few days. On the other hand, while he believed Young Master Hu could certainly produce the antique, he sensed it might lead to endless trouble. Ultimately, Lu Zigang found the Boss far more reliable than this capricious Young Master Hu.

Hearing this, Huhai’s crimson eyes narrowed dangerously. In his view, he had given Lu Zigang ample choice, yet the latter repeatedly tested his patience. Huhai saw no point in further discussion—if Lu Zigang refused a toast, he would have to face the consequences.

Seeing Huhai approach with a dark expression, Lu Zigang’s first instinct was to shield the Dragon Pattern Bell before him. How could he have forgotten that this man was no pushover? Back at the Liubo Chess residence, Huhai had watched a tragedy unfold without batting an eye. In that moment, Lu Zigang regretted not calling the police the moment he discovered Huhai’s intrusion instead of standing there chatting with him.

To Huhai, Lu Zigang’s resistance posed no threat. Swiftly, he seized the Dragon Pattern Bell, and as Lu Zigang picked up his phone to call the police, a mischievous idea crossed Huhai’s mind.

"Ding—"

With a slight flick of his wrist, the Dragon Pattern Bell emitted a clear, bell-like chime that echoed through the vast laboratory.After realizing the sound came from the Dragon Pattern Bell, Lu Zigang forgot to continue dialing 110. Instead, he looked up in astonishment, staring dumbfounded at the Dragon Pattern Bell in Huhai's hand. Wasn't it said that it couldn't be shaken? Hey!!!!

"No calling the police," Huhai commanded Lu Zigang. Since he was the one holding the Dragon Pattern Bell, he could naturally dictate others' actions. He wasn't afraid of the police, nor did he fear them, but it was better to avoid trouble when possible.

"Fine," Lu Zigang replied, seeing room for negotiation, and nodded cooperatively. "But you have to put down the Dragon Pattern Bell first."

The corner of Huhai's lips, which had just begun to curl into a smile, froze. How could someone under control still make demands? Huhai fell silent for a moment, then shook the Dragon Pattern Bell in his hand again. Before the crisp sound faded, he quickly said, "Give me your Wu knife."

Lu Zigang stared wide-eyed, utterly speechless. Just moments ago, this Young Master Hu had seemed reasonable—how had his brain suddenly short-circuited?

Huhai stared incredulously at the Dragon Pattern Bell in his hand. The Copper Clapper and the Dragon Pattern Bell had already been restored together, so why couldn't he command others? Was he using it incorrectly?

Next, Huhai began trying various methods, shaking the Dragon Pattern Bell repeatedly. For a while, the crisp ringing sound filled the air without pause. Lu Zigang went from initial shock and suspicion to eventually finding a chair to sit in, propping his chin on his hand as he watched Young Master Hu's once-in-a-century comedic performance.

Lu Zigang now understood: What did it mean that the bell couldn't be shaken? The Boss and Young Master Hu were just fooling idiots! Young Master Hu himself was shaking it with great delight! Still, the sound of the Dragon Pattern Bell was quite pleasant to the ear.

Huhai couldn't hear Lu Zigang's inner complaints, or he would have been even more furious. He had subconsciously sensed that something was off but couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Just as Huhai was at his wit's end, he suddenly saw a flash of azure shadow dart past his eyes. A sharp pain shot through the back of his right hand, and he could no longer hold onto the Dragon Pattern Bell. At the same time, Lu Zigang's exclamation echoed from the other side, but neither of them heard the sound of the Dragon Pattern Bell hitting the ground.

Huhai focused his gaze and realized the azure shadow was a small, three-legged azure bird. Its feathers were vibrant and its form graceful, though the beautiful tail feathers that usually trailed behind it were now broken, leaving its tail partially bald. Huhai knew full well that this was the handiwork of his Ming Hong.

What a pity—he should have brought his little red bird along instead of letting it stay home eating beef jerky.

Huhai watched as the Three-legged Azure Bird, carrying the Dragon Pattern Bell in its beak, flew to a corner of the laboratory. It gracefully landed on someone's outstretched arm, obediently lowering its head to place the bell in the person's palm.

"Boss? How... did you get here too?" Lu Zigang actually wanted to ask how he had entered. He weakly rubbed his forehead, realizing he could now accept all sorts of bizarre occurrences without batting an eye."I fear circumstances may change, so I've come to conclude the transaction early." The Boss glanced at the silk manuscript on the table before Lu Zigang, noticing the six columns of Qin Script, and couldn't help inwardly criticizing this young master for remaining just as wasteful after over two thousand years—producing so many items without batting an eye. Moreover, the clerical script he'd written earlier was merely for Lu Zigang's ease of reading, unlike Huhai who specifically used Qin Script to show off. However, his calligraphy had improved significantly compared to over two millennia ago, indicating he'd put considerable effort into it.

The Boss pointed indifferently at two brocade boxes placed to the side and said calmly, "These are the remaining two antiques as agreed. You may inspect them."

Lu Zigang quickly waved his hands. "No need, no need for inspection. I trust you, Boss." Lu Zigang was eager for these two formidable figures to leave promptly; as for the antiques, he believed the Boss wouldn't renege.

Huhai thoughtfully observed the additional rabbit plushie on the Boss's shoulder and suddenly nodded in comprehension. "So, you only intended to lure me out. I thought you must have detected the function of the Golden Ghost Mask, yet you still hung it on the wall—it was a decoy strategy after all."

The rabbit plushie's ears twitched as if startled. The Boss soothingly stroked the plushie with his free hand and, seeing Huhai about to take out Zhang Jiao's Yellow Turban to depart, remarked, "Don't you want this Dragon Pattern Bell anymore?"

Huhai snorted coldly. "This Dragon Pattern Bell is a counterfeit; I tested it just now." He wasn't afraid of Fusu's reprimand now, since bringing back a fake would be useless anyway.

The Boss smiled faintly. "This is genuine—it's just that the copper clapper I gave Lu Zigang wasn't." As he spoke, he removed the copper clapper from inside the bell's cavity and pulled out a wooden piece from his robe.

"Eh? Could it be that this Dragon Pattern Bell is actually a wooden bell? Not a golden one?" Lu Zigang stared fixedly at the wooden clapper in the Boss's hand, unable to wrap his head around it.

"Yes. Back when Yang Guang used the Dragon Pattern Bell for massive construction projects that harmed commoners, I replaced its clapper with another wooden one. That replacement clapper eventually rotted away over the long years." The Boss expressionlessly fitted the wooden clapper into the Dragon Pattern Bell.

Huhai finally realized what had felt off—so that was it. No wonder the Boss had previously mentioned replacing it with another clapper, yet he'd just seen the bell's cavity empty before Lu Zigang installed the copper clapper.

At that moment, the Three-legged Azure Bird suddenly spread its wings and flapped twice. Its melodious, clear chirp instinctively drew Huhai's gaze upward, and the next instant he heard an indescribably resonant, subtle chime.

"Dang—"

Though only a single note, it seemed to linger endlessly, echoing continuously in his ears.

"Forget my appearance here. Return to Fusu's side, pretending to assist him outwardly, but secretly report all his movements to me through the Golden Ghost Mask." A cool voice pierced through layers of fog, directly penetrating his mind. Though Huhai instinctively resisted, he struggled only briefly before settling back into calm."Yes." Huhai responded mechanically, then with a stiff expression clenched the yellow talisman in his hand, vanishing into thin air the next second.

Lu Zigang was left speechless, his eyes wide with astonishment. He turned his head, wanting the Boss to give him a reasonable explanation, but he only had time to see the Boss flick his wrist lightly.

"Dang—"

The sound of the Dragon Pattern Bell rang out once more.

"Forget everything that happened after the Dragon Pattern Bell was shaken in my hand. You have already completed the transaction with me."

When Lu Zigang came to his senses again, he found himself alone in the laboratory, with only the Brocade Box he had been holding placed in the corner.

He felt as if he had forgotten something, but no matter how long he racked his brains, he couldn't recall what it was.

"So, everything was a setup orchestrated by the Boss?" The Doctor stared at the deep pit that had appeared on the ground and sighed with some regret. "Such a useful Dragon Pattern Bell, and it's just buried in the Formation Eye? Boss, why didn't you use this Dragon Pattern Bell to control Fusu? Wouldn't it have been better to make him return my body?"

The Boss's hand holding the Dragon Pattern Bell Brocade Box trembled slightly. After taking a light breath, he said calmly, "It's not that I didn't want your body back, it's just that Fusu... he wouldn't have fallen for it so easily."

In this world, he was the one who understood Fusu best. This time, they managed to scheme against Huhai only because Fusu didn't care about Huhai. Otherwise, how could it have been so easy?

Hearing this, the Doctor also sighed. Although he thought that Young Master Fusu was a bit too chuunibyou, he certainly couldn't be treated as if he were actually a middle schooler. That was the heir carefully cultivated by Qin Shi Huang. Although he died an untimely death due to unforeseen circumstances, his cunning must surely surpass that of ordinary people. Suppressing his desire to complain further, the Doctor twitched the two long ears on his head unwillingly. "But did you have to bury the Dragon Pattern Bell? Couldn't you have used another antique instead?"

"This is a cursed object. What is obtained too easily is never cherished by humans. Over time, they take it for granted." The Boss held the Brocade Box and said with a faint, ambiguous smile. "King Zhou of Shang and Emperor Yang of Sui were both exceptionally capable rulers in their youth. But for an emperor, the most fatal flaw is believing oneself to be the Son of Heaven, and that others' obedience is taken for granted."

"And the human heart changes; it cannot be controlled forever." The Boss sighed softly. "Even using the Dragon Pattern Bell is useless."

The Doctor said nothing more in rebuttal. He lowered his head and watched with the Boss as the Dragon Pattern Bell was buried in the Formation Eye. Then everything returned to normal.

"So, that Dragon Pattern Bell was actually a counterfeit?" Fusu was playing Liubo Chess by himself, using precisely the set obtained from the Liubo Chess courtyard. One of the Owl Chess Pieces had a crack, meticulously repaired with gold inlay.

"Yes, I tried many times but found it useless." Huhai bowed his head deeply, instinctively feeling that he had forgotten something, but a voice in his mind kept telling him that it didn't matter if he couldn't remember.

"Oh, perhaps the Dragon Pattern Bell's efficacy has faded." Fusu seemed completely unconcerned, waving his hand dismissively. "There's nothing for now. You may go attend to your duties."

Huhai bowed respectfully to Fusu, backed out of the study, and quietly closed the door.Fusu casually tossed the six chopsticks in his hand, then moved one of the Liubo Chess pieces on the board according to the number shown by the half-arc patterns facing upward.

"Forming a xiao piece to double the stakes, calling for the five-white roll," Fusu murmured softly as he reached out and flipped over one of the chess pieces. Written prominently in cinnabar on it was Huhai's name.

Fusu held the piece between his fingers and smiled faintly for a moment, then precisely picked up another piece from the board and turned it over. Sure enough, three characters were also written in cinnabar on it.

Lu Zigang.

"It seems this game of chess isn't over yet..." Fusu lowered his gaze as he returned both pieces to the board, then revealed an expectant smile.

"Bi Zhi, it's been so long since I last played chess with you. How nostalgic..."

(End of Chapter)