I am becoming the ultimate demon.

Chapter 18 Treasure Pavilion Messenger, Records of Strange Objects; Circle, Bone Flute Information

"Treasure Pavilion offers free appraisal services, accepts old items, and buys medicinal herbs!!"

A middle-aged man wearing a blue cotton robe, with a slightly bloated figure, a mustache, and somewhat chubby cheeks, set up a stall in the market and called out his wares.

He attracted a lot of onlookers shortly after he arrived, most of whom were just there to watch the spectacle, while only a few actually brought items for appraisal.

Just then, someone came to the stall carrying an old bronze vessel shaped like a chamber pot. "Steward Luo, this is a chamber pot used by the emperor of the previous dynasty. Please take a look!"

"Hey! Fellow villager, this is a really good find! It's old, but not very useful."

These words drew boos from the crowd.

Just then, a carriage slowly drove by, with a man inside embracing a tall, beautiful woman.

"Young master, we haven't been out for a stroll in a long time," Yun Cui said happily.

"There looks like there's something fun over there, let's go check it out." Ji Lin pointed to the Jubao Pavilion stall in front of them.

The two stepped off the carriage and approached the stall.

"Isn't this Jubaoge located in the prefectural capital? Why does he yell like that? It sounds like he's here to collect junk." Yun Cui said softly.

The prefectural capital? Ji Lin had a sudden inspiration. This person should know a lot. Perhaps he could ask him about the unusual situation.

He bowed slightly and said, "I have an artifact from a previous dynasty in my family. Would you mind if I took you there? My father has already arranged a banquet to entertain you. Let's eat and talk."

That man surnamed Luo from Jubao Pavilion was just a minor steward, but judging from his luxurious attire, he must have some valuable possessions at home. Going to the banquet wouldn't be beneath his dignity.

"Oh? Young master, is that really true? Then please." The steward surnamed Luo immediately packed up his stall.

Instead of shouting here for ages, it's better to find someone with real skills, especially since the weather is so cold. Going with them will save us from freezing, and we'll get food and drink. It's a win-win situation. We'll head back when it's time.

Ji Lin then led Steward Luo back to the Ji residence, briefly explained the situation to Ji Chang'an, who understood and ordered someone to prepare a feast.

The man entered the room and looked around, no longer caring about etiquette. As soon as he sat down, hey! He actually found an old object that faintly emitted an unusual aura.

"Lord Ji, what is this?" Steward Luo asked, staring in disbelief at a blue-and-white porcelain bottle on a wooden shelf.

"Oh! This is a vase I saw at the market last year. It was said to be an antique from the previous dynasty, but I don't know if that's true. It looked quite pretty, so I bought it. It's not worth much. If you like it, sir, you can take it," Ji Chang'an said with a smile.

"How could I possibly accept this?" Deacon Luo couldn't hide his joy, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

He immediately stood up, walked quickly to the wooden shelf, picked up the vase, and examined it carefully.

He recounted in detail that these items must have been lost to the common people from the Zhenbei Prince's mansion when the previous dynasty fell. It was said that the Zhenbei Prince was an anomaly in the previous dynasty.

Ji Lin was surprised. He hadn't kept this vase in front of him before. It turned out to be an old item from the previous dynasty, and it did indeed carry a strange aura.

This person was able to see through the clues at a glance and even tell a story. Since the item had already been promised to him, there was no need for him to make up a story to deceive him. Regardless of whether it was true or false, it seemed that he knew quite a lot.

I wonder if he also has any information about that bone flute?

At this moment, the servants first brought out several plates of hot dishes: sweet and sour Huaihe River fish, braised bear paw with sauce...

A plate covered with a crystal-clear, jade-red sauce, exuding a sweet and sour aroma...

Another plate had a thick, inky black sauce on top, and a whiff of aged sauce wafted out...

One after another, a mix of meat and vegetables, seven or eight dishes were served in a row, all emphasizing one thing: flavor...

This is already the most presentable dish in the county.

Deacon Luo wiped his drool. The dishes were good, but he felt there was something strange about them.

After a few cups of hot wine, the group felt warm all over, dispelling most of the chill.

Taking advantage of his drunken state, Ji Lin quickly moved on to the topic again.

"Steward Luo, I recently acquired a strange object by chance. I wonder what its origin is and how much it is worth?" he said slowly.

Deacon Luo was a shrewd man after all. Seeing that he only talked but didn't take out anything, he could tell at a glance that it was something shady, like tomb raiding. He never expected that Young Master Ji had such a hobby.

He said in a low voice, "Jubao Pavilion specializes in collecting items that are old, have a story, or are special. Generally, when it comes to valuable items, we don't immediately make a bid, but let 'people who know their stuff' compete for them."

"As for its origin... we'll really have to take a look to find out."

Ji Lin could understand what he was saying; it was an implication of a secret trading circle existing beneath the surface of the secular world.

"Please wait a moment, sir, while I fetch some samples."

After saying that, he immediately returned to his room, used a sharp tool to scrape off some fragments of Kou Wencang's bone flute, and then carefully wrapped them in oiled paper.

He then returned to the hall and handed it to Deacon Luo.

When Deacon Luo opened it, his expression changed slightly, his pupils contracted sharply, and he was very surprised, but he didn't show it too obviously. After a moment of silence, he closed it again and looked at Ji Lin with a complicated expression.

"I am very grateful for Lord Ji's hospitality and for presenting such a valuable gift. I have no way to repay you, so I will give you a copy of 'Records of Strange Things - Fragment'."

He touched the collar of his shirt, reached inside, and pulled out a thin notebook. The paper was brand new, as if it hadn't been opened much.

"Then I shall humbly accept your offer and thank you in advance, sir."

Ji Lin took the book, slightly surprised. He flipped through it a couple of times and found it to be new; it must be a handwritten copy.

It was full of strange and unusual things, most of which he had never seen before.

He searched frantically, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find any information about the bone flute...

There was a note tucked inside, seemingly some kind of clandestine means of communication...

Deacon Luo muttered to himself, as if offering a piece of advice: "Some things, once you get involved, you can't get rid of them easily. You either destroy them completely or find a way to control them."

Ji Lin understood again; it seemed he knew something but couldn't say it outright.

Some things are best left unsaid. Since we've already gone this far, there's no need to spell it out.

He slowly closed the book, "The Record of Strange Things: Fragments," and carefully tucked it into his robes.

"Sir, your words have hit the nail on the head. You are truly a genius. I will remember this." Ji Lin cupped his hands in greeting.

After the banquet, Steward Luo returned to the prefectural capital.

Both sides gained something. For Ji Lin, the value of a single copy of "Records of Strange Things: Fragments" far exceeded a few sheets of new paper and a piece of blue and white porcelain... It would definitely come in very handy in the future.

Most importantly, this trip confirmed the existence of the "circle" for Ji Lin and provided him with his first external information channel.

It must be admitted that in this small county, his knowledge is indeed inferior to others, and he cannot stay in Xiong'an County forever.

The sooner we receive more information about the outside world, the better we can prepare for venturing out of Xiong'an County in the future...

At this moment, Yun Cui walked to Ji Lin's side and said, "Young Master, someone outside said that they saw something in the Huai River."