"Behold, here lies a symbol, a mark of the craftsmen of the Han Palace. Such symbols are only found adorning artifacts of the royal household of the Han Dynasty!" The master uttered, sinking into deep contemplation.
All eyes were fixed upon him, and Jian Yumei remembered how tense the atmosphere had been at that moment. Everyone awaited the master's next move.
After a long pause, the master sighed deeply. "What is destined to come will come, and what is meant to depart will depart. All is ordained by fate."
"Jian Yumei, come here. Your graceful demeanor suggests you possess great potential. Should you ever require guidance, seek me at the Southern Flower Temple in Shaoguan, Guangdong," the master said.
"May I inquire about your honorific, Master, so that I may seek wisdom from you in the future?" Jian Yumei asked.
"I am known as Kong Yu. Remember, most abbots of major temples across the land are acquainted with me. Should you seek my counsel, inquire with them," the master replied.
"As for the matter concerning my mother, how should it be resolved? I beseech your guidance, Master," Jian Yumei inquired.
"Ah, this matter is entangled in karmic repercussions and may not yet be concluded. I advise you to inform your father to steer clear of artifacts from the Han Dynasty. Let him fend for himself. By avoiding relics from the Han Dynasty, he may yet lead a peaceful life. Originally, his fate was auspicious, but alas, the curse from a millennium ago is too potent. Whether he can withstand its force remains uncertain," the master explained.
Having spoken, the master placed his hand on Jian Yumei's head, massaging it gently. "There, this should suffice you for some time."
Then, he retrieved a string of prayer beads from his robe, placing it in Jian Yumei's hand. "Remember, keep this with you at all times, and you shall be safe."
"Very well, I shall take my leave. I will bring this necklace back to the temple and offer it before the Buddha, hoping for the departed soul's swift liberation," the master announced.
"Thank you, Master! Rest assured, I will seek you out when the need arises," Jian Yumei replied.
"Farewell, child. Take care of yourself!" With these parting words, the master bowed to the assembled company before vanishing before their eyes, leaving them astonished.
Jian Yumei turned her gaze back to her mother, only to find her countenance now serene, a stark contrast to before.
"Uncle, look at Mother!" Jian Yumei exclaimed.
"Yes, at first, I suspected the master was merely seeking profit, desiring the necklace for himself. But now, it seems his words were true. With the necklace gone, your mother has found peace. Indeed, everything is predestined," her uncle remarked.
However, following this incident, Jian Yumei's aunt began to harbor prejudices against her. During the days spent living with her uncle's family after her mother's passing, Jian Yumei noticed her aunt's gaze becoming increasingly judgmental.
Jian Yumei knew her aunt was beginning to resent her. She overheard her aunt saying to her uncle, "When her father returns, ask him to take the child away from our home."
"You're being unreasonable. Yumei is still young, and it's inconvenient for her father to take her while he conducts business," her uncle responded.
"You are naive. By keeping Yumei here, you are endangering our entire family. Have you forgotten how her mother died? The master said it was a consequence of karmic retribution, directly linked to that pearl necklace! How that necklace came into our possession, no one knows. What kind of business her father is involved in, we're clueless. I can't be bothered with such matters. But since this incident, it's best we avoid any further entanglements with them. Let her father take her away! Yes, I understand you care for the child, but think about our own children. If anything were to happen to them, how could we live with ourselves? Besides, the master also said this child has an exceptional constitution and a strong fate, but our own children might not be as fortunate. What do you say, dear?" her aunt argued.
Her uncle fell silent.
After hearing her aunt's words, Jian Yumei rarely played with her cousins. The next day, she informed her uncle that she wished to return to her own home.
Her uncle sighed as he watched her. Jian Yumei noticed a hint of relief flicker across her aunt's face, quickly concealed.
Subsequently, her aunt attempted to persuade Jian Yumei to stay.
"Mei'er, you're living well here. Why leave?" her aunt pleaded.
"Auntie, I want to go back and wait for my father! I will continue my studies at the school as usual! I'll manage my meals myself, so don't worry, Auntie. Thank you for taking care of me!" Jian Yumei replied.
And so, Jian Yumei continued her studies at home, awaiting her father's return. Her uncle provided her with ample provisions and pocket money, ensuring her educational needs were met. Thus, several months passed.
Upon her father's return, he was greatly distressed. He prostrated himself before his wife's grave, weeping bitterly for three days, knowing that everything was now beyond remedy.
Jian Tianhong carefully pondered the origins of the necklace. He recalled how, as his wife's birthday approached, he had been searching for a suitable gift. At that time, a friend from the underworld had offered him an item in exchange for something else. Jian Tianhong had been captivated by the necklace's beauty and traded for it without a second thought.
However, he found it peculiar that after obtaining the necklace, he never saw that friend again. Inquiries with the intermediary yielded vague responses, suggesting the friend might be in hiding. Such occurrences were not uncommon in their line of work.
Despite these oddities, Jian Tianhong did not dwell on them. Yet upon reflection, he couldn't shake the feeling that the acquaintance seemed familiar, perhaps from a past life or a distant memory, specifically, a woman.
Never did he imagine that the necklace would harbor such malevolence. But what was done was done, and he now contemplated his daughter's future.
"Child, would you prefer to remain here and continue your studies or accompany me elsewhere?" Jian Tianhong asked.
"Father, the other children at school know about my mother's incident. Their parents have instructed them to avoid me, and some have even asked the teachers to expel me. Although the teachers have defended me, I don't want to cause them further trouble! Father, I'll go with you! I'm willing to do anything!" Jian Yumei replied, now having a vague idea of her father's line of work.
Jian Tianhong sighed deeply.
After paying their respects at her mother's grave, Jian Yumei accompanied her father, embarking on a life of wandering.
From that moment on, tomb raiding became Jian Yumei's everyday life. She learned the art of grave robbing alongside her father, honing her skills in identifying ancient artifacts. Gradually, she acquired
a wealth of knowledge.
Jian Yumei often pondered why her father was so enamored with this profession, knowing it wasn't solely for monetary gain, yet unable to pinpoint the true reason.
When questioned, her father simply stated that everything was preordained, including his pursuit of tomb raiding, a fortuitous encounter during a time of despair in his earlier years of business failure. Amidst his darkest hour, a mysterious individual appeared, teaching him the ways of tomb raiding and setting him on this path.
And that person... Jian Tianhong couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity, as though they had met in another life or a distant past.