In the 16th year of the Republic of China, the winter in Peiping was cold, and the wind was howling, and most of the pedestrians on the streets wrapped their clothes tightly and hurried by. In an antique shop in the glazed alley in the south of the city, "Sanyizhai", the candles in the store flickered, and a warm light was projected through the window paper. The shopkeeper Cheng Fusheng was sitting in the account room, flipping through the ledger, and his face looked particularly tired under the dim yellow oil lamp. The wind outside shrouded the entire alley in lifeless air, but there was an inexplicable anxiety in his heart, as if something was about to happen.
Samyizhai is no ordinary antique shop. Run for generations, Cheng Fusheng has already established his prestige on this street. He is not seeking grandeur and fame like some young people, but more of the forgotten treasures. Almost all antiques, ancient books, and even abandoned old things can be found here. This is also the mission Cheng Fusheng inherited from his grandfather when he was young - to preserve the forgotten past.
Just as Cheng Fusheng was thinking with the ledger in his hand, the sound of wind chimes suddenly came from outside the door. He looked up, then stood up and walked calmly to the door. The door was gently pushed open, and a man in a navy blue gown and a fedora came in. His steps were unusually steady and his bearing was extraordinary. Although his face was covered by the brim of the hat, his deep eyes vaguely revealed a kind of calmness and strength that could not be ignored.
"Shopkeeper, I'm sorry to bother you." The man's voice was low and magnetic, with a slight chill, as if it was integrated into the winter atmosphere of the city.
Cheng Fusheng was slightly stunned. The manly bearing in front of him was extraordinary, and the breath on his body was completely different from the guests he had met in the past. He paused and smiled politely: "Guest officer, please come in, I don't know what you are doing?"
The man glanced at the furnishings in the store, his eyes wandering among the pile of antiques, and finally stopped on a row of bookshelves in the corner. He raised his head, looked directly at Cheng Fusheng, and said slowly, "I want to find a copy of" The Ancient Bronze Book "."
Cheng Fusheng was shocked. This book was a long-lost rare book that recorded various mysteries about bronzes. It was once a treasure that many archaeologists dreamed of.
"Primordial Bronze Records?" Cheng Fusheng repeated it, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, "That book... There aren't many copies left in the world today."
The man's gaze deepened. "No, the book does exist, but it's hidden here, in your shop."
Cheng Fusheng was slightly stunned, and then he regained his composure, quickly weighing the situation in his heart. This person was obviously not an ordinary person, and he couldn't see through the man's identity for a while. "Do you want a book or something in a book?" Cheng Fusheng asked tentatively.
The man looked at him with a faint smile, a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes: "I just want the things in the book."
Cheng Fusheng was stunned, and he had a vague guess in his heart. "That book, you mean the record of the'Bronze Hidden Dragon '?"
The man nodded: "Yes. That is a treasure in the bronze ware, which is legendary to be related to the dragon vein of the ancient emperor."
Cheng Fusheng's heart beat slightly faster, "'Bronze Hidden Dragon'? Legendary treasure? Did you... know something?" He asked calmly.
After a moment of silence, the man suddenly took out a piece of paper from his arms and handed it to Cheng Fusheng. Cheng Fusheng took the paper, and in front of him was an old map. There was a vague symbol marked in the center of the map, and it was written in small handwriting next to it: "Bronze Hidden Dragon, buried under the nine gates."
Cheng Fusheng couldn't help but gasp. The map was extremely old, and it was obviously related to the history of the bronzes he had been studying, and it could even be said that it was a clue to the lost treasure. Cheng Fusheng understood that he was standing at a brand new historical node at the moment, and an extremely important event was about to kick off.
"Who... are you?" Cheng Fusheng couldn't help but ask, his eyes flashing with curiosity and suspicion.
The man's eyes were silent for a moment, and he whispered, "Xiao - Xiao Zhen."
Cheng Fusheng vaguely remembered that the Xiao family had always had a little-known family history and had heard of the legend of bronze ware. However, Cheng Fusheng rarely heard the name Xiao Zhen, as it seemed to be a younger generation in the family.
"Xiao Family?" Cheng Fusheng repeated in a low voice, and his heart couldn't help but feel waves, "Are you from the Xiao Family...?"
Xiao Zhen nodded slightly: "My father... Xiao Guodong was an elder in the family. It was not until after his death that many secrets in the family were sealed. But now, I must uncover those sealed histories and retrieve our inheritance."
Cheng Fusheng was a little stunned. It turned out that the man in front of him was actually one of the long-lost heirs of the Xiao family. And he came to Sanyizhai this time, obviously not just to find a book. Cheng Fusheng could see from this map that Xiao Zhen seemed to have some clues about the family's secrets. And this "bronze hidden dragon" treasure is the key.
"Shopkeeper, I know you are very knowledgeable about antiques." Xiao Zhen said lightly, "If you are willing, I need your help in three days. Let's go find the'Bronze Hidden Dragon 'together."
Cheng Fusheng was silent for a moment, his inner curiosity and sense of responsibility intertwined. He didn't want to get too involved, but seeing the determination in Xiao Zhen's eyes, he knew that this was an opportunity to change his destiny. "Okay, I'll take you there in three days."
Xiao Zhen smiled slightly, a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes: "Thank you, Shopkeeper Cheng."
Cheng Fusheng nodded slightly, but his heart was full of doubts and unease. Xiao Zhen's identity and the bronze hidden dragon he mentioned seemed to hide some unfathomable secret. This decision might lead him to a brand new world, or it might be an abyss that he couldn't bear.