366: Chapter 366 Master's Handwriting

"What does that mean?"

"Just simple tracking and surveillance?"

"Heh, coward."

"I was all ready to use a few more skills."

"And yet..."

Upon reaching the door, Zou Rushuang immediately came out to greet him: "Master, you're back."

"Hm, did anyone come to visit?"

"Yes, quite a few. Most of them were strangers, but there were also government officials and a Big Monk. That Big Monk is still hanging around in the shop and won't leave."

Han Jingyang pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Kongyun sitting on the sofa with his palms pressed together in meditation, he chuckled and said: "Big Monk, what brings you here to practice Zen?"

Kongyun slowly opened his eyes, stood up, faced him, pressed his palms together, and bowed: "This humble monk, Kongyun, pays his respects to Mr. Han."

Han Jingyang laughed.

This Big Monk was truly realistic.

Overnight, even his way of addressing him had changed, and his attitude had become more respectful.

Before, he called him "Boss Han" or "Mr. Han" and the like, but now it had become "Mr. Han." A difference of a single word, yet a world of difference.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh: "Big Monk, your attitude isn't quite right. I'm afraid you have something to ask of me?"

Kongyun hurriedly shook his head: "No, no. I just heard about what happened last night and came to pay a visit, and incidentally, to inquire about the situation."

"Inquire about what situation?"

"Your situation, Mr. Han," Kongyun asked cautiously: "That move last night..."

"Heh, do you think I would tell you?"

"This... it was presumptuous of me. But I am still curious, Mr. Han, can you use a second move?"

"That kind of ultimate move, of course, cannot be used casually. I can't exactly demonstrate it for you right here. But believe me, you will definitely have a chance to see it."

"A chance?"

"As long as you don't die young, Big Monk, you will definitely see it."

"Then this humble monk will try to live a few more years," Kongyun hesitated for a moment before continuing: "Then, may I ask, is that move a dharma instrument or..."

"That is top-secret information. I cannot disclose it."

"Alright then," Kongyun sighed: "Actually, there is one more thing. I feel I shouldn't say it, but my master insisted that I do. So, I will say it. Mr. Han, my master's meaning is that when walking the path of the world, harmony is precious. It is better to commit fewer killings, especially against innocent women and children."

Han Jingyang retorted without hesitation: "When Zhang Dahai kidnapped my family, why didn't you step in?"

Kongyun hurriedly shook his head: "This humble monk did not mean that. I only hope to reduce the killing. Excessive killing offends the harmony of heaven..."

"Heh, why not say it was self-inflicted? Moreover, I didn't kill any innocents. Every single member of Zhang Dahai's family has been stained with karma and retribution. I helped them settle the karma of this life; otherwise, the karma would only grow heavier, and they would fare even worse after reincarnation. So they should be thanking me, right, Big Monk? Your Buddhist faith emphasizes this kind of thing, doesn't it?"

"Amitabha," Kongyun hurriedly pressed his palms together and chanted the Buddha's name: "That statement is biased."

"It doesn't matter," Han Jingyang was even more ruthless: "I deal with Zhang Dahai just as he dealt with me. Whoever deals with me, I will respond in the same way. This is my way of doing things and my principle for living, and I am willing to bear the corresponding consequences. So, no one should try to persuade me, or be careful, or I might settle the score with them."

Kongyun could only press his palms together and chant the Buddha's name again: "This humble monk was only saying this on behalf of my master; there is no malice."

As he spoke, he reached into his wide sleeve and took out a guanyin statue: "This is a small token of my master's sincerity. It is carved from ice-variety, full-green jade, with a total weight of over nine hundred grams. It was carved by a famous master, and its market value exceeds five million. Furthermore, my master personally performed the Consecration and blessing for it, so its market value is even higher."

Han Jingyang stared at the guanyin statue for a few seconds.

He nodded inwardly.

It was indeed a good item.

The material was very beautiful—ice-variety with full yang green. To the naked eye, one could hardly see any cotton. The texture was very fine, as clean as the ice cubes used by bartenders, almost approaching glass-variety.

The color was even more beautiful, a pure, vibrant green, consistent throughout with almost no color difference. The tone was very true, lacking the slightly gloomy shade of spinach green, which is why it is called vibrant green. It hit two or three of the four key elements—concentration, evenness, and vibrancy—and while the concentration was just slightly lacking, the overall visual effect was still top-tier.

The carving was even better.

The design of this jade guanyin was the classic Pure Bottle Guanyin, holding a pure bottle and willow branch. The posture was dignified and the expression was gentle, but the carving style was expressionistic. The depiction below the head was extremely simple, with only a few lines of varying thickness. However, it cleverly utilized the unique mirror effect of jade, using a few simple lines to outline a vivid three-dimensional effect. Combined with a frosted polishing technique, it created a stronger sense of layering, compensating for the weaknesses of jade as a carving material while preserving the integrity of the material to the greatest extent possible.

The carving of the head, however, was lifelike. The blade work was heavy and precise, the face was beautifully rendered, and the details were almost flawless. In particular, the eyes looked compassionate from afar, dignified up close, and had a hint of Majesty when viewed from different angles, making them very vivid.

In his view, this was definitely the craftsmanship of a master, the work of a national-level master of arts and crafts.

Of course, only those top masters dared to cut such material. Ordinary carvers wouldn't dare; a slight mistake would mean losing everything.

Likewise, the labor cost was not low. The fee was calculated based on the total value of the material; the more expensive the material, the higher the labor cost. With this material's price, the labor cost must have started at five hundred thousand, and then increased by hundreds of thousands or even more depending on the craftsmanship and the master's status.

Han Jingyang had seen many good things, but in terms of blade work alone, this jade guanyin's carving was the best.

The ingenuity of the design and the exquisiteness of the carving craftsmanship were breathtaking.

This was a true work of art.

The designer and the carver were both true artists, not common craftsmen.

To be able to design something classic so vividly and unconventionally was truly remarkable.

So much so that he couldn't help but ask: "This guanyin is really nice. Which master's work is this?"

Seeing that Han Jingyang liked it, Kongyun quietly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: "It was created by our Quancheng's most famous jade carving master, Zhang Shuigen, who spent three months on it."

Quancheng?

Master Zhang Shuigen?

Han Jingyang thought for a moment. He didn't have much of an impression, but the craftsmanship was truly excellent. He noted it down; perhaps he could get to know him if there was a chance in the future.

Thinking this, he nodded slightly: "The craftsmanship is very brilliant. However, Big Monk, one does not accept rewards without merit. You have brought such a heavy gift; you must have something to ask of me. Just say it directly."

Kongyun hurriedly waved his hand: "No, no."

"Really not?"

"Really not!"

"Then forget it. Take it back. Without reason, I cannot accept such a valuable gift from you."

Seeing this, Kongyun was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice: "Actually, it's quite embarrassing to say."

"Oh?"

"My master would like to ask Mr. Han for help in a fight."

"Help in a fight? Who is the opponent?"

"The Japanese. Last time, the Japanese were wiped out, and Abe Tamakane, a top-tier expert, even died in Quancheng. The Japanese are furious and have sent more experts."

Han Jingyang stared into Kongyun's eyes for a few seconds, then asked calmly: "The Japanese coming to Thousand Buddha Mountain, it's not just as simple as destroying the feng shui, is it?"