（I am very sorry, dear readers, that I was not feeling well a few days ago and did not update. I will update a few more chapters every day in the next few days.）
Seeing that the little girl enjoyed the snacks, Lu Fei brought over the treats from his table.
"Junior Lu Fei, greeting Elder Duan."
"No need for such formality, please sit."
Lu Fei sat down, with Tiger sensibly positioning himself behind him.
"Wow, pineapple pastries!" The moment she saw the snacks, Duan Lingyue's big, sparkling almond eyes lit up with joy, and she gave Lu Fei a sweet smile. "Thank you, big brother!"
"You're welcome," Lu Fei replied with a smile.
With slender fingers, Duan Lingyue picked up a pastry and popped it into her small, rosy mouth.
"Lingyue, eat slowly so you don't choke," Duan Tiankui said fondly, smiling. "My granddaughter has quite the sweet tooth; I hope Little Master Lu doesn't mind."
"Not at all. It's good to see her enjoying herself," Lu Fei said, feeling a pang of longing. If his grandfather were still around, would he still be as carefree as this little girl?
"Little Lu, I know why you're here. But my connections with your grandfather were limited. He was always a reserved person, not one for socializing or the limelight," Duan Tiankui spoke in a gentle tone.
"He only appeared when strange or cursed items emerged in the martial world, never involving himself in other conflicts."
"Later on, even his handling of such items dwindled, and three years ago, he vanished completely."
"Everyone thought the Evil Pawnshop had shut down until news came of you reopening it."
Lu Fei listened quietly, realizing how little he actually knew about his grandfather. Although his grandfather had taught him a lot about dealing with cursed items, he had never taken him along on his outings to retrieve them.
Perhaps it had to do with the deaths of Lu Fei's parents.
In the beginning, his grandfather must have hoped that his descendants would continue the family business, but the tragic accident made him hesitate.
"Regardless, your grandfather was a remarkable man. Few have earned my respect in my lifetime, but he was one of them," Duan Tiankui said with a smile.
"I can tell you have a good character. Take good care of the pawnshop, and one day, you might surpass him."
"I will, thank you, Elder Duan," Lu Fei said, nodding earnestly.
"No need for 'Elder'; it sounds too distant. Call me Grandpa Duan."
"Yes, Grandpa Duan."
"Little Lu, it's fate that brought us together today. I may not be able to help with your grandfather's whereabouts, but I do know of a few cursed items that might interest you if you wish to retrieve them."
Lu Fei quickly poured tea for Duan Tiankui.
"Grandpa Duan, please tell me."
"The first is the Stone of the Frightened Fish," Duan Tiankui said after taking a sip of tea.
"It is said that a fish in Fuxian Lake has lived for over a hundred years and may have become a spirit. This fish's Stone of the Frightened Fish is known not only for its ability to ward off evil and misfortune but also for other mystical properties."
"The second is the Coffin Fungus, which grows on century-old coffin planks, nurtured by the essence of yin energy and corpse qi..."
The Evil Pawnshop didn't just collect cursed items from others; it also sought out items found in the wild.
Lu Fei listened attentively, committing the details to memory.
Unexpectedly, before Duan Tiankui could finish, a white-clad man at the next table let out a snort of laughter.
"Old man, you've got quite the nerve, telling a greenhorn to retrieve those major cursed items. Are you trying to send him to his death?"
Duan Tiankui's expression stiffened as he turned to the man, displeased. "Sir, eavesdropping is hardly the behavior of a gentleman."
"I don't need to eavesdrop. The tables are close enough that it's impossible not to hear," the man shrugged, looking unbothered.
"Even so, you shouldn't interrupt."
"I just can't stand watching an old man set a young one up for disaster. Did you tell him that the fish in Fuxian Lake has devoured many people, and that Coffin Fungus only grows on planks from coffins that held zombies?"
"You're spouting nonsense! My grandfather would never set someone up!" Duan Lingyue, angry at the stranger's words, puffed up and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at the man with her round eyes, ready to pounce.
Duan Tiankui calmed his granddaughter and said sternly, "Sir, you're being too presumptuous. I hadn't even finished before you interrupted."
"Fine, whatever. Say what you will; I've lost my taste for tea with all this racket." The white-clad man stood lazily. "Madam Hong, the bill."
With that, he paid and left.
"Little Lu, if you don't believe what I said, you don't have to pursue these items. Just forget I mentioned them," Duan Tiankui resumed his calm tone.
"Grandpa Duan, who was that?" Lu Fei asked, curious about the odd man.
Madam Hong approached with a knowing smile. "His name is Jing Jian, a rogue practitioner of some yin-yang arts. That's just how he is—always speaking and acting unpredictably. Don't take him seriously, Elder Duan and Little Master Lu."
"It doesn't bother me; I have a clear conscience," Duan Tiankui said placidly.
"I trust Grandpa Duan. He told me about these items as a gesture to the Evil Pawnshop," Lu Fei added.
"You have good judgment for your age. I knew I wasn't mistaken about you." Duan Tiankui looked pleased, then said, "Still, Jing Jian wasn't entirely wrong. The giant fish in Fuxian Lake has indeed claimed many lives and is extremely ferocious."
"As for Coffin Fungus, the coffin must have held a zombie. There have been reports of zombies appearing near the Great Yin Mountain by Luo River, but that information is unverified."
"In short, retrieving these items is indeed dangerous, so I hope you think carefully before taking action."
"I understand. Thank you for your concern, Grandpa Duan," Lu Fei said sincerely, remaining rational.
Unless these items served a unique purpose for him, he wouldn't take unnecessary risks.
"No need to thank me. These two pieces of information aren't exclusive to me. I was just doing a little favor, hoping the Evil Pawnshop continues to flourish."
With that, Duan Tiankui stood with his granddaughter to leave.
"We've been out long enough today. Next time, I'll treat you to tea."
"Safe travels, Grandpa Duan," Lu Fei said, standing up.
Duan Lingyue turned back and made a playful face at Lu Fei.
"Thanks for the snacks, big brother. See you!"
The pair disappeared down the street.
Lu Fei's spirits lifted. He felt that today had been lucky—he had gleaned more clues about his grandfather and met an elder who had known him.
"Tiger, we should head back."
"No way, boss. We haven't finished our tea yet. Three thousand for a pot—we can't waste it." Tiger grabbed his cup and chugged, refusing to leave until every drop was gone.
"Look at you," Lu Fei shook his head. Just as he sat down again, his phone rang.
It was Mr. Yu.
Lu Fei's heart skipped a beat.
Was there new information about the child?
He quickly answered.
"Mr. Yu, have you found your child?"