Zhao Lun gazed at the cursing Pirro, observing the soft golden light surrounding him.
This golden light was gentle, yet it could protect Pirro from fatal harm. Pirro, a mere mortal, could not see this golden aura, but he continued forward nonetheless.
As Zhao Lun watched him, what had once been a mystery to him suddenly became clear in an instant.
The environment of this courtyard was harsh, and the reason Pirro had survived wasn't due to his life force, which was comparable to that of a cockroach, but due to something else entirely. It was this factor that had saved his life. Otherwise, no matter how resilient his vitality, he would have perished in such a perilous environment.
Zhao Lun discovered that the golden light surrounding Pirro was only barely maintaining his safety. It couldn't fully block the harmful, cold, and sinister forces around them. Some of these forces were still invading Pirro.
Furthermore, the golden light appeared unstable, like a flashlight running out of power. The light flickered uncertainly, and if the energy of the golden light were to be exhausted, Pirro's fate would be all but certain.
The mysterious wind Pirro spoke of carried ominous forces—filth, misfortune, curses, and resentment.
For Zhao Lun, this power was nothing to be afraid of; his own strength could ward it off. But for ordinary people, it posed a deadly threat.
At worst, it could cause a fever that wouldn't subside, potentially damaging the brain. In more severe cases, it could lead to madness, confusion, and eventual death if left unchecked.
As for solutions, this wasn't something that could be cured by regular medicine; most of the time, it was something one had to endure. The outcome was inevitable: many would not survive.
After his complaints, Pirro entered the chamber and handed his torch to the one on the wall, lighting it. With five torches now lit, the entire basement was as bright as day.
The basement wasn't large, only about thirty cubic meters. The walls were rough, coated with a layer of cement, which appeared uneven. It was clear that whoever applied it was not a professional, most likely the work of the owner of the place.
This place was rather informal; it was clear it had been dug and built without proper authorization.
This, however, was a common occurrence, as many people did the same. Even if it was illegal and lacked proper documentation, no one bothered to intervene. As a private property, the owner had the right to arrange things as they saw fit. Even if it wasn't legal, the relevant authorities would turn a blind eye as long as it didn't endanger others.
Apart from this, everything else seemed fine. The safety measures were well implemented, indicating that a great deal of effort had been put into that aspect.
The room was quite cold, but there was no strange odor or dust!
Without Pirro's introduction, Zhao Lun had already noticed the antiques in the room. On the nearby shelves were vases, porcelain, jade, books, calligraphy, and even bronze items and rusty swords.
But what truly caught Zhao Lun's attention were two items: a Buddha statue and a coffin—these two imposing objects.
The Buddha statue was made of marble, depicting Shakyamuni. The statue exuded an aura of solemnity and compassion, as if it were seated on a lotus throne, offering mercy to all sentient beings.
The Buddha emitted a faint light, a radiance that seemed to embody the great light of enlightenment, the great light of joy, and the great light of dignity. Wherever the light shone, all evil forces retreated!
Next to it was the coffin, made of a special hardwood that, after meticulous treatment, could last for millennia. In a specific environment, it could endure even longer.
The coffin's lid was engraved with the image of a human face with crossed hands. Zhao Lun had never seen it before, but it was a common feature in Western films.
This was an Egyptian sarcophagus! It showed signs of having been opened but had been resealed. However, something inside had been damaged, and even though the coffin had been resealed, a mysterious force was leaking out, spreading gloomy energy throughout the entire basement, making it feel as though they were in the depths of the underworld.
"How do you like them? These two treasures are priceless!"
"My grandfather went to great lengths to acquire them, and they've been kept here ever since. No one knew they were here!"
"If it weren't for the situation at home, I would never have brought you here!"
Pirro took great pride in these treasures and was deeply respectful of his grandfather. He couldn't help but share the story of his father with Zhao Lun.
"Do you see this Buddha statue? It was unearthed in the A-San country, a national treasure…"
As he spoke, Pirro couldn't resist walking up to the statue.
"Zzzzz…"
The Buddha statue emitted light, quickly dispelling the dark energy surrounding him.
"Ah! So warm! Every time I get close to this statue, it makes me feel so warm."
Pirro closed his eyes in comfort, emitting a sound that could easily lead one's thoughts astray. At that moment, it was as if he saw the great light of enlightenment, a light so warm that it felt as though he was in a Buddhist kingdom, listening to a sacred chant.
Within moments, his state returned to normal, and he appeared as if nothing had happened. The golden light that had been emanating from him seemed to absorb the light from the Buddha statue. It appeared that it had gathered enough strength to stabilize.
Zhao Lun's mind cleared, and the doubts he had were resolved. Without a doubt, it was these two objects that had allowed Pirro, an ordinary man, to survive in such an environment.
After returning to normal, Pirro did not leave but continued to share the origins of the Buddha statue with him.
Historical records stated that A-San was the birthplace of Buddhism, where it reached its zenith until a new sect, the A-San religion, emerged. This new sect, backed by the elite, supplanted the old, and Buddhism gradually disappeared from the region. The land no longer had the conditions to sustain Buddhism.
Although this sect vanished, its traces were not so easily erased. Some temples had transformed, existing in different forms.
Many underground relics contained Buddha treasures that had not yet been destroyed. During Britain's colonization of A-San, they invaded the country, plundering its treasures. This Buddha statue was unearthed from one of these underground sites and eventually made its way into Pirro's grandfather's hands.
"…Those fools! They looked down on this Buddha statue and sold it to my grandfather for fifty pounds."
"Haha…" Pirro laughed heartily, as though he wanted to bow down before his grandfather in reverence.
Fifty pounds? It was truly a bargain! Zhao Lun couldn't help but admire Pirro's grandfather's capabilities.
"And this one, inside it lies Egypt's greatest pharaoh!"
"This was acquired by my grandfather from an officer stationed there!"
Yet another captivating story that made Zhao Lun feel as though Pirro's grandfather was like the protagonist of a fateful adventure novel, born with invincible luck. Once he began his journey, his fortune skyrocketed, allowing him to discover treasures at every turn, acquiring them for a fraction of their worth. (To be continued.)