Guobei County, Antique Street.

It's called a street, but it's really just a long alleyway, about two or three hundred meters long.

There are only two or three legitimate antique shops; most are just street vendors.

However, though small, it has everything you could need: all kinds of antiques, calligraphy and paintings, jade and ceramics, and rubbings of inscriptions.

Even the "funerary objects" that had a distinct earthy smell were displayed openly.

Moreover, it seems that in the antique trade of all the heavens and myriad worlds, there is a saying that "once you buy, you don't buy anymore; if you make a mistake, you are responsible for it." The ability to quickly and accurately cut Yang Hu's knife has become a traditional skill.

However, when Bai Cang arrived at the antique street dressed in a blue Taoist robe, he exuded the aura of a "street-cleaning tiger."

As we walked along, the once bustling and lively antique street became noticeably quieter.

Even when Bai Cang used his "zero-cut" bargaining technique, the responses he received were mostly "Let's be friends" or "This is for you."

Bai Cang wandered around for half an hour, but ultimately came up empty-handed.

"Goodness, you can't find a single genuine item on the entire street, that's quite something."

Bai Cang was speechless. "These bastards, do they even know what sustainable development and exploiting resources to the point of exhaustion are?"

"They even dug up the roots of the leeks. No wonder you can't afford to open a shop and can only set up a stall."

His method for judging the authenticity of antiques is very simple and straightforward: if it has a Taoist charm, it is genuine; if it does not, no matter how similar it looks or how well it is forged, it is worthless.

But to his utter surprise, there wasn't a single genuine item among the vendors on the entire antique street; they were all fakes and counterfeits.

Bai Cang, who was excitedly looking to snag a bargain, suddenly felt his vision go black, as if he had been hit on the head with a club.

But that makes sense. Stories are all lies. If it were really that easy to find a bargain, would he even have a chance?

"It seems I still have to go to a proper shop to have a chance of finding genuine goods."

To be honest, if he had a choice, Bai Cang really wouldn't want to go to a proper antique shop to hunt for treasures.

After all, the merchants who have legitimate shops on this antique street are not simple characters; no one would believe they don't have powerful backers.

"Master Bai" is currently short of resources and weak in strength, so he really doesn't want to mess with these tough opponents.

But now there's no other way, so we can only suffer for our "cheap adoptive father" a little longer.

With "Pu Lan Bi" swirling in his mind, Bai Cang casually walked into an antique shop with his hands behind his back.

Upon entering, Bai Cang couldn't help but feel secretly delighted, his eyes fixed on an ancient painting hanging on the wall.

"Master Dao has a good eye; he spotted our prized possession at a glance."

Seeing this, the shopkeeper chuckled inwardly and quickly stepped forward, saying, "This painting of a hundred demons at night is an authentic work by a master from the previous dynasty."

"Look at Zhang Yang's bizarre brushstrokes and unconventional style. He vividly portrays the spirit of the 'Night Parade of a Hundred Demons,' making it terrifying to behold."

"But when all the demons and monsters come together, they vaguely form a picture of a white bone bodhisattva subduing demons. It's a truly ingenious and amazing idea..."

Despite the shopkeeper's incessant chatter and boasting, Bai Cang simply replied, "How much?"

"Sure, a thousand taels of silver, consider it making friends with you, Master Dao." The shopkeeper was overjoyed inside, but on the surface he put on an expression of being taken advantage of.

Your friend is way too damn expensive. Who can afford to be friends with someone like you?

Bai Cang inwardly grumbled, but felt a sense of peace amidst poverty, a calm and sophisticated roguishness.

As long as I'm poor enough, no one can cheat me out of my money.

"Fifty taels, and I'll consider you my friend."

Bai Cang directly said "cut it in half," his tone leaving no room for doubt.

He figured it out after spending half an hour strolling around the antique street.

The "cut-off-the-top" bargaining tactic is considered a major culprit in the antique trade.

If it weren't for the fact that this "Night Parade of One Hundred Ghosts" painting truly possesses Taoist charm, and that there are quite a few of them...

Bai Cang wouldn't even bother with a fifty-tael counter-offer; he simply dismissed the other party with five taels of silver.

"Master Dao, are you joking with me?"

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's face immediately fell, and he said indifferently, "Why don't you look elsewhere?"

After saying that, the shopkeeper calmly grasped Bai Cang's hand and stuffed a hard object into it.

Bai Cang didn't need to look; just by pinching it, he knew it was a five-qian (approximately 15 grams) piece of broken silver.

Seeing this, Bai Cang couldn't help but chuckle: It seems the Taoist priests of the Three Yin Temple really don't have a good reputation, and their behavior is quite unseemly.

If he were only after freeloading, he could probably "earn" back a month's salary by just walking around Guobei County.

Unfortunately, "Master Bai" wasn't there to freeload.

Wolves travel thousands of miles to eat meat; who would be insulted by these scraps of bone?

Either don't do it at all, or do something big!

Anyway, I guess other Taoist priests at the Sanyin Temple have done similar things quite a bit.

He, known as "Master Bai," is dignified and virtuous, but he only tries to blend in with the world to avoid making things difficult for his fellow disciples.

"Smack!"

Thinking of this, Bai Cang slammed the broken silver coins onto the counter, glaring at the shopkeeper with an unfriendly expression. "What do you mean by this? Are you trying to ruin the reputation of my Sanyin Temple?"

The shopkeeper's expression immediately changed when a serious accusation was leveled against him.

His eyes flashed with suppressed dissatisfaction and anger, but on the surface he still smiled and said, "No, no, thank you for making this trip, Daoist. I just wanted to offer you a cup of tea to soothe your throat."

As he spoke, the shopkeeper took out a silver coin weighing about two ounces and placed it on the counter. “My wife has been talking about going to the Sanyin Temple to offer incense the other day, but I have never been able to find the time.”

"May I ask if you could do me the favor and offer me a stick of incense?"

Seeing this, Bai Cang couldn't help but exclaim in his heart, "Good heavens!"

It seems that the Taoist priests of the Sanyin Temple not only have a bad reputation, but are also quite domineering.

Two and a half taels of silver is enough for Bai Cang's salary for half a month.

If he really wants to take advantage of others, the best option now is to stop while he's ahead and leave everyone with some dignity.

Otherwise, if things fall apart, some people might not help him save face.

But as I said before: "Master Bai" is not one to be trifled with; he either doesn't eat at all, or he eats big chunks of meat.

So he simply said, "My father is Zhang He. I wonder if you, the shopkeeper, have heard of him?"

Logically speaking, Zhang He, a mere servant in the district, shouldn't have such influence that "Master Bai" could act so confidently.

However, after hearing Jiao Fei's explanation, Bai Cang wanted to see the limits of his "cheap adoptive father".

If all else fails, then just take the two and a half taels of "tea money" and run away.

Anyway, he's agile and doesn't care about saving face.

But if it succeeds, he'll make a fortune!

I'll probably need to adjust my behavior and actions in the future.

In short: if you don't use your power, it will expire.

The same applies to a powerful patron; otherwise, why would he have to bow down and "call him father"?