111: Chapter 111 Platinum Silver Dollar of the Eighth Year of Meiji (1889)

Han Jingyang had thought that identifying a Rank Five item was already the limit.

But he never expected the attributes of the next item to make him jump three feet high with joy.

“Name: Meiji Era Brass Shikigami Token.”

“Rank: Four.”

“Attribute: Spirit Accumulation +12.”

“Skill: Divine Resurrection.”

Rank Four!

Spirit Accumulation +12.

It had a skill, and one like 'Divine Resurrection' sounded incredibly powerful just by the name.

Were the Japanese living such comfortable lives these days?

To be wandering around with such a treasure on them?

Han Jingyang suppressed his excitement and examined it from every angle.

This token was just an ordinary-looking brass piece, about the size of a palm, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, somewhat resembling the command tokens used in traditional opera performances.

It was heavy and felt substantial in his hand.

However, the patina was smooth and moist, without a speck of rust, and it was in excellent condition—clearly something that had been handled and polished for many years.

Of course, that made sense; the Meiji era wasn't that long ago, so this brass token didn't have a vast amount of history.

History didn't matter; what mattered was its power.

Even though he wasn't yet clear on the specific methods and techniques for using this token.

The fourth item was a small, palm-sized bottle.

A porcelain bottle.

It looked a bit like Famille Rose porcelain, decorated with Ukiyo-e patterns, giving it an exotic flair.

But its attributes were quite underwhelming.

“Name: Ukiyo-e Porcelain Bottle.”

“Rank: Six.”

“Attribute: Pure Yin +3.”

“Skill: None.”

It had the same attribute as the Five Poisons Pottery Jar he had seized from Xue Xinming, but it was significantly weaker and lacked a skill.

Better than nothing, he supposed.

The fifth item was a bit strange.

It looked like a mask.

Yet it wasn't quite complete.

It wasn't very large either.

It was a clay figurine or mask of some sort, resembling a big-headed doll, but it was a full-body figure with very prominent nursing organs.

However, its attributes were quite good, and it was a defensive item—the type Han Jingyang lacked most.

“Name: Japanese Jomon Period Painted Dogu.”

“Rank: Six.”

“Attribute: Damage Absorption +5.”

“Skill: Sacrificial Substitution.”

Damage Absorption, as the name suggested, could absorb a certain amount of damage.

While not as good as attributes like Absolute Defense, it was still quite decent.

In actual combat, if both parties were injured, it could appropriately transfer a portion of the damage; used well, it could turn the tide.

Sacrificial Substitution went without saying; it was clearly a death-warding skill, equivalent to having an extra life.

It was worth its weight in gold.

Although it was only Rank Six, its actual value was more precious than many Rank Five or even Rank Four items.

It was just too ugly.

The style was very unappealing and looked a bit eerie.

He would find an opportunity to give it to Liu Jing later.

Liu Jing had to fight in close quarters and needed an item like this the most.

With this thing, Liu Jing might not be invincible, but she wouldn't be far from it.

It was an extra life, after all.

The sixth item was also quite good.

It was a copper coin.

To be precise, it was a silver dollar.

The center of the obverse was engraved with 'Platinum 10,000 Yen,' with a blooming cherry blossom directly above it, and cherry tree branches on both sides intersecting at the bottom to form a bow.

The center of the reverse was engraved with a pattern resembling 'Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl,' but in Japan, it meant two dragons breathing fireballs, symbolizing that Japan was born of fire.

Around it was a circle of text: 'Japan Meiji Year 8' along with several English letters.

The silver dollar had a good weight to it, the inscriptions and patterns were very clear, the patina was smooth, and there were no nicks or flaws.

By domestic coin-collecting standards, it was top-tier merchandise.

It was just that its rarity, recognition, and historical age were a bit lacking; otherwise, it could have fetched a good price.

Of course, Han Jingyang certainly wouldn't sell it.

He wouldn't sell it no matter how much money was offered.

This attribute was too rare and too precious.

It was on par with the previous Dogu figurine.

“Name: Japan Meiji Year 8 Platinum 10,000 Yen Silver Coin.”

“Rank: Six.”

“Attribute: Luck +5.”

“Skill: Lucky Light Shining High.”

This was the first time Han Jingyang had encountered an item that increased Luck.

Although the increase wasn't much, for an ordinary person with average Luck, it was already a massive boost.

With these five points of Luck, one might pull a few more SSR cards when playing gacha games.

Not to mention it had the skill 'Lucky Light Shining High.'

This skill made Han Jingyang subconsciously think of 'Buddha's Light Illuminating All,' which was currently on cooldown.

'Buddha's Light Illuminating All' was so strong.

'Lucky Light Shining High' probably wasn't bad either.

These six items raised Han Jingyang's collection to a new level.

One Rank Four.

One Rank Five.

Four Rank Sixes.

And the skills and attributes were all quite excellent.

Especially the three skills—Sacrificial Substitution, Lucky Light Shining High, and Divine Resurrection—were simply heaven-defying.

So much so that Han Jingyang had to admit that Abe Tamakane, that Japanese guy, really had a lot of good stuff.

To come out to fight and still bring so many good things.

Was he confident he wouldn't be wiped out in one go?

Or was his family background just that wealthy?

Han Jingyang was so happy he couldn't stop smiling; even the clanging sounds of renovation coming from the outer room didn't seem so noisy anymore, and he even ordered a luxury late-night snack for the workers who were working through the night.

The 13th.

9:30 AM.

Han Jingyang received a call from the monk Kongyun.

On the phone, Kongyun asked with a chuckle, “Boss Han, are you free?”

“I am, definitely. Something up? No need to say it, you must be sending me money or dharma treasures. Even if I weren't free, I'd have to squeeze out some time to host you.”

“Where shall we meet?”

“At... my home.”

Han Jingyang had originally wanted to say meet at Jiguang Zhai, but looking at the busy workers, he decided to set the meeting at his home instead.

Kongyun said happily, “Thank you for your trust, Boss Han.”

“Heh, Great Monk, you aren't a 'good' monk, but you're a decent person.”

“Thank you for the compliment, thank you.”

Han Jingyang smiled inwardly; was that a compliment?

Well, I suppose it counts.

But it was also the truth; some of this monk's actions certainly wouldn't qualify him as a 'good' monk.

However, as a normal person, there wasn't much to criticize.

Furthermore, what happened yesterday gave him a deeper understanding of this master and disciple pair.

A monk who dared to risk his life against the Japanese was a good monk.

As for the shady business in the Maitreya Victory Garden on Thousand Buddha Mountain...

That wasn't the monks' fault.

Because these days, temples and shrines weren't entirely under the control of monks and priests.

Especially thirty or forty years ago, the municipal or even provincial government had the final say. When it involved attracting investment or foreign affairs, many concessions were made at the upper levels; what the monks said didn't mean squat.

Even if someone had a say, it was the Religious Affairs Association.

One had to know that Xingguo Zen Temple on Thousand Buddha Mountain wasn't even allowed to hold public Buddhist activities until the nineties.

Before that, the monks of Xingguo Zen Temple could only practice behind closed doors.

And the Maitreya Victory Garden was built in the nineties.

So, no matter how you assigned blame for the matters at the Maitreya Victory Garden, it couldn't fall on this master and disciple.

On the contrary, the people of Quancheng should be grateful for the protection of these monks from Xingguo Zen Temple.

If it weren't for Monk Delin and the others, the 'nails' buried in the Maitreya Victory Garden might have truly affected Quancheng's feng shui.

However, it was enough just to know this in his heart.

At ten o'clock.

Han Jingyang waited for Kongyun at home.

Kongyun dragged a suitcase out of the car and smiled at Han Jingyang. “Boss Han, these are all yours.”

“Oh? Specialties from your Xingguo Zen Temple?”

“Yes, they were all handmade by my master and me,” Kongyun said, then waved his phone. “And ten million in cash, as a small token of appreciation from my master and me.”