Chapter 1711 - 1534: Antique with a Spirit 14
Chapter 1711: Chapter 1534: Antique with a Spirit 14
Jia Jinmeng had liked Purple Clay Teapots since he was a child. When he grew up, he took a master, specializing in learning the craft of making Purple Clay Teapots, and he studied for ten years.
Jia Jinmeng’s master was an old-fashioned Purple Clay Teapot grandmaster, who believed skill should not be lightly passed on. For the first three years, Jia Jinmeng was basically just a servant in his master’s household.
Serving tea, handing water, sweeping and doing all the housework—he took care of it all. Only after three such years did his master start teaching him basic knowledge, and it was only in the fifth year that Jia Jinmeng was allowed to fire a kiln and make teapots on his own.
Now that Jia Jinmeng was forty, he was already a Purple Clay Teapot master who far surpassed his teacher. The industry praised him lavishly, but Jia Jinmeng still had one deepest regret.
He had once heard his master talk about the Phoenix Cry Pot. He’d been deeply entranced from the very first time he heard of it, and became determined to fire a Phoenix Cry Pot himself. Unfortunately, the Phoenix Cry Pot was not something that could be made by skill alone.
Jia Jinmeng had once experimented like a madman. If people said that out of a thousand firings you might get one, then he would fire even more than a thousand kilns, certain that he’d eventually chance upon making a Phoenix Cry Pot.
Sadly, Jia Jinmeng’s experiment was useless. No matter how many Purple Clay Teapots he made, no matter how many breathtaking pieces appeared, not a single one was a Phoenix Cry Pot.
And so this fixation remained only a fixation. Since he could not make a Phoenix Cry Pot, Jia Jinmeng began searching for Phoenix Cry Pots everywhere. If he could buy one, he would; if he couldn’t, he would at least insist on seeing it with his own eyes.
Coming to There is an antique shop was an accident. At the time, Jia Jinmeng was enjoying the scenery in a bamboo grove, when he unexpectedly spotted this antique shop.
As a Purple Clay Teapot master, Jia Jinmeng was also very fond of antiques—mainly antique Purple Clay Teapots, since from them he could observe all sorts of kiln-firing techniques used by the ancients.
Seeing this antique shop, Jia Jinmeng didn’t think too much and walked straight in. Then he saw Feng Shuangshuang, who was pouring tea, and the Purple Clay Teapot in Feng Shuangshuang’s hand that was giving off a Phoenix’s call.
Jia Jinmeng was immediately drawn to this Phoenix Cry Pot. He had only one thought: he absolutely had to buy this Phoenix Cry Pot.
Unfortunately, Jia Jinmeng had already spent the better half of the day pestering Feng Shuangshuang, yet he still hadn’t managed to secure the Phoenix Cry Pot. His only gain, perhaps, was this pot of tea personally brewed by Feng Shuangshuang.
Jia Jinmeng was a bit dejected. He truly liked this Phoenix Cry Pot. Because of the unpredictability of Phoenix Cry Pots, not all of them had outstanding exteriors.
But this Phoenix Cry Pot of Feng Shuangshuang’s was truly an exceptional piece—its appearance exquisitely refined, obviously crafted by a master. If he could bring it into his possession, he would certainly treasure it dearly.
"Boss, you really can’t part with it? As long as you’re willing to sell me this Phoenix Cry Pot, the price is negotiable. You name a figure, and I won’t haggle a single cent down." Looking it over from left to right, Jia Jinmeng still spoke unwillingly.
Feng Shuangshuang set down the teacup in her hand, completely unmoved, and said, "This teapot already has its own master. It’s only temporarily lodging here with me. One day, it will ultimately return to its master’s side.
If it isn’t mine, I have no say over it. I truly can’t sell it to you. But if you really like it, you can stay in my antique shop for two days. During these two days, you can admire this Phoenix Cry Pot to your heart’s content."
Hearing Feng Shuangshuang say this, Jia Jinmeng couldn’t help letting out a sigh. Because he was too dejected, he didn’t even notice that Feng Shuangshuang had used the word "lodging" for the Phoenix Cry Pot. He only clung to it reluctantly, turning the pot over in his hands.
After two cups of tea, Feng Shuangshuang led Jia Jinmeng to a room on the right side of the antique shop. In this room there were two treasure shelves filled with Purple Clay Teapots, and on one side of the room stood an old-fashioned canopy bed.
"The shop is simple. Please stay here as our guest. If you need anything and wish to find me, just ring the bell by the bed."
Seeing the room packed full of exquisite Purple Clay Teapots, Jia Jinmeng’s eyes lit up. Excited, he said, "Simple? This is anything but simple. I’m very satisfied. Thank you, Boss."
By rights, agreeing to stay the night at a place where there was only a single woman was rather discourteous. And it was just as strange for Feng Shuangshuang to suddenly invite a man to live in a shop where there was no one else but herself.
Yet Jia Jinmeng felt nothing amiss and simply agreed to stay, feeling it perfectly natural, without giving it any extra thought.
Seeing that Jia Jinmeng was pleased with the place, Feng Shuangshuang walked over to the desk and lit the incense in the Phoenix Head Incense Burner set upon it.
As the incense caught flame, a faint, clear fragrance instantly spread through the room. Jia Jinmeng was a man of the arts; he had some knowledge of the tea ceremony and incense appreciation.
With a single sniff he could tell this incense was top quality. But the scent itself was something he had never smelled before. Unable to restrain his curiosity, Jia Jinmeng asked Feng Shuangshuang, "This fragrance is delicate and unique—may I ask what incense it is?"
Feng Shuangshuang put the lid back on the incense burner. Wisps of pale smoke rose continuously from inside, yet instead of dispersing, they condensed into thin, lingering strands that wound their way toward Jia Jinmeng, circling around his body and spiraling ceaselessly.
Feng Shuangshuang looked at the completely unaware Jia Jinmeng and said coolly, "This incense is called Returning to Life Incense. It can guide a Life Soul that has lost its way outside the body back to its path home."
Jia Jinmeng uttered an absent-minded "Oh," saying nothing more. Inwardly, though, he felt that this young boss was a bit superstitious. Where in this world were there any ghosts and gods?
Feng Shuangshuang did not continue. She turned and left the room, and as she did, a palm-sized girl in a blue cotton dress appeared atop the Phoenix Cry Pot.
The girl followed Feng Shuangshuang out of the room. Once outside, the blue-clad girl bowed deeply to Feng Shuangshuang. "Thank you, Boss, for being willing to help me send this Life Soul back to his fleshly body."
Feng Shuangshuang looked at the girl before her and said evenly, "It’s nothing. Although my antique shop only entertains the fated ones who are drawn here by the antiques inside, they aren’t the only ones who can come.
Helping him is just a casual favor and doesn’t take much effort. I just didn’t expect that someone like you, who usually keeps to herself and doesn’t meddle in other people’s business, would surprise me by taking the initiative to ask me to help a stranger."
A reminiscent smile also appeared on the blue-clad girl’s face. "He’s very similar to my master. My master was also a grandmaster obsessed with making Purple Clay Teapots."
Feng Shuangshuang looked at the blue-clad girl, a sudden trace of doubt in her voice. "I’ve always found it strange. You have a gentle disposition, you’ve never caused trouble, and you’re not a prisoner in this cage.
As long as you wish it, you can leave here at any time. So I don’t understand—every Monster in this prison longs to leave, so why don’t you want to?"
The girl smiled with a touch of sorrow, her gaze turning toward the doorway. The emotion in her eyes was so complex it was impossible to read. Her guarding this antique shop naturally meant she had her own reasons that compelled her to stay.