138: Chapter 228 Soul, Dao, Sincerity.

A flash of brilliance crossed Yu Bo's eyes, and he understood immediately. He stopped pressing for the specific address, instead bowing slightly and making an extremely solemn gesture of invitation: "Sir, to receive your guidance today is my honor, Yu Bo. There is a quiet tea house over there. I wonder if you would do me the honor of allowing me to treat you to a cup of tea so I may ask for your detailed advice? Regarding the matter of visiting your friend, I will need to trouble you further, sir."

Yin Tianxue watched from the side, her surprise and suspicion deepening. The level of importance Yu Bo placed on this "Master Yang" far exceeded her expectations. The eagerness and humility he displayed at this moment, which bordered on "seeking the Dao," was a side of him she had never seen before. Who exactly was this "Yang Shuming," or "Yang Yizhuo," that he could make Yu Bo act this way?

Tang Guo, on the other hand, had no idea what riddles they were speaking in; she only felt that the atmosphere had suddenly become somewhat solemn and mysterious, and she subconsciously leaned closer to Yin Tianxue.

The old man seemed very pleased with Yu Bo's attitude. He stroked his beard and looked Yu Bo up and down a few times, his gaze lingering for a moment on the raw stone "the person returning home in wind and snow" in Yu Bo's hand, a flash of complex appreciation in his eyes. Finally, he nodded: "Very well. In view of your sharp eye, kid, and this 'obsession' you have for stones, I'll say a few more words. However, whether my old friend will see you or not, I cannot guarantee. His temper—tsk—is like the clouds in the sky and the wind in the mountains; it changes at a moment's notice."

"To have your introduction, sir, is already a stroke of immense fate. Whether it succeeds or not, I am deeply grateful," Yu Bo said, his attitude remaining respectful.

"Alright then, let's go. You pay for the tea." Old Yang was quite straightforward. With his hands behind his back, he led the way toward a tea house on the edge of the jade market that looked antique, with a sign that read "Ting Shi Zhai" (Listening to Stones Studio).

Yu Bo signaled for Yin Tianxue and Tang Guo to follow, while he carefully cradled "the person returning home in wind and snow" as if it were a priceless treasure.

Upon entering "Ting Shi Zhai," a scent mixed with aged Pu'er tea, sandalwood, and a faint hint of ink rushed to greet them. The interior of the tea house was elegantly decorated, mostly adorned with bamboo, wood, and natural exotic stones. Calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, mostly related to jade, landscapes, and waters, creating a serene and refined atmosphere. The owner seemed to know Old Yang; seeing him enter, he just smiled and nodded without asking questions, leading them into a quiet room near the window.

They took their seats and ordered some fine Pu'er. Amidst the swirling tea fragrance, Old Yang's expression relaxed significantly, and he stopped playing coy.

"My old friend Yang Shuming is indeed the 'Ghost Hand' Yang Yizhuo you speak of," Old Yang sipped his tea and said slowly. "When we were young, we worked together in the mines, but later he became obsessed with carving and took a different path. His craftsmanship has truly attained the 'Dao'; it's not mere artisan skill, but spiritual energy. It's just a pity that he is too stubborn. He couldn't stand the impetuous and vain things in the market, so twenty years ago, he washed his hands of the business and hid away in a quiet place called 'Yunxi Village,' at the foot of Cangshan Mountain and the source of Erhai Lake. Usually, he just grows vegetables, goes fishing, and occasionally, when he's in a good mood, he picks up a stone that catches his eye to carve. His hands have effectively been semi-retired."

"Yunxi Village..." Yu Bo silently noted the name.

"You want to find him to carve this 'the person returning home in wind and snow' of yours?" Old Yang's gaze fell on the raw stone that Yu Bo had carefully placed on the tea table, especially on the pattern sketched out with an eyebrow pencil. "The idea is good, and this material, the artistic conception you 'divined' from it, is indeed up his alley. But..." He paused and sighed. "It's difficult. Not to mention whether he would be willing to see strangers or pick up his tools again. Even if he were willing to see you, this stone of yours might not be good enough in his eyes."

"Oh? Please, enlighten me, sir," Yu Bo asked humbly.

"That guy Shuming established rules before he retired his blade," Old Yang held up three fingers. "First, the material must have a 'Soul.' It's not just about quality, but about having a unique 'energy' or 'story' that can move him. Second, the subject matter must align with the 'Dao.' It's not about cliché flowers, birds, fish, insects, or symbols of wealth and luck; it must provoke thought and resonate with the truths of nature or the human heart. Third, the person requesting the carving must have 'Sincerity.' It's not the kind of sincerity that just comes with money; it's the 'sincerity' of truly understanding this piece of material and understanding what he wants to do."

He looked at Yu Bo: "This material of yours has a very poor base, full of cotton-like inclusions and impurities; by all accounts, it's waste material. You 'divined' the artistic conception of 'the person returning home in wind and snow' from it—this is its 'Soul,' and also your 'sharp eye,' so you've passed the first hurdle. The theme of lonely desolation, implying an obsession with returning home, is interesting; it barely brushes the edge of the 'Dao.' But this third hurdle, 'Sincerity'..."

Old Yang shook his head: "Today in the jade market, you threw around millions, hitting big wins one after another, the center of attention. Although you showed off your 'jade divination' skills on this 'waste material' at the end, which was stunning, in Shuming's eyes, this behavior of yours is 'gambling' and 'showing off.' It's the mindset of a merchant chasing profit and seeking thrills. It is likely far removed from the 'Artisan Soul' and 'Sincere Heart' required to quietly carve and comprehend the work of nature. The thing he detests most in his life is a wealthy idler like you who just 'plays with stones,' feeling that it defiles the spirituality of the stones themselves."

These words were quite blunt, almost pointing a finger at Yu Bo to call him "vulgar" and "impure in his motives." Yin Tianxue frowned slightly as she listened and looked at Yu Bo, but she saw that his expression was calm, showing no displeasure; instead, he had fallen into deep thought.

A moment later, Yu Bo raised his head, his gaze clear and firm: "You are right to lecture me, sir. Today in the jade market, I did have the intention to show off and chase profit, especially with the first two stones. But regarding this 'the person returning home in wind and snow,'" he gently stroked the rough surface of the raw stone, his eyes becoming incredibly focused, "the moment I saw its cut face, and when that image appeared in my mind, what I thought about was no longer how much money it was worth, or how much praise or profit it could bring me. What I thought about was only how to present this stone—a stone shaped by heaven and earth and 'abandoned' by fate—and its inner loneliness, resilience, and longing for home, completely and even surpassing its own texture. To make it 'come alive,' to let it tell its own story."

His voice was not loud, but it carried a strange power, as if he were telling a secret buried deep in his heart for a long time. "As for money and fame, compared to fulfilling a work that might 'live,' they are not worth mentioning. I am seeking Master Yang not because he is famous, but because I believe that perhaps only someone like him, who truly understands the 'language of stones' and holds reverence for the 'work of nature,' can help me turn this idea from a sketch made with an eyebrow pencil into an eternity under the carving knife."

Yu Bo said these words with extreme seriousness, even with a sense of near-devotion. Yin Tianxue stared at him, stunned, as if she were meeting this man for the first time. She had never heard him speak in such a tone—not to persuade anyone, not to perform for anyone, but simply to state his most genuine inner thoughts. The cold, calculating, highly controlling Yu Bo, and the Yu Bo before her now, obsessed with a piece of "waste material" and with eyes shining with idealistic light—which one was the real one? Or was human nature just inherently this complex and multi-dimensional?

Old Yang also put away his slightly teasing expression and examined Yu Bo carefully, as if trying to discern the truth of his words from his eyes. After a long while, he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out a little.

"Kid, what you said... is actually quite interesting." He rubbed the teacup. "However, talk is cheap. You have to pass Shuming's test yourself. I can only tell you that Yunxi Village is in a deep valley between Malong Peak and Shengying Peak of Cangshan Mountain. You can't find it on a map, and the road is not easy to travel. There are only a dozen households in the village; just ask for an elderly man living alone called 'Old Yang.' He keeps a big yellow dog, which is very fierce, but it doesn't bite genuine visitors."

"Thank you very much, sir!" Yu Bo solemnly cupped his hands in a salute.

"Don't thank me too early." Old Yang waved his hand. "Whether he will see you is one thing. Even if he does, whether he is willing to pick up his blade for you is another unknown. His hands have been retired for too long, and he is very picky. You... had better be prepared."

After saying this, Old Yang picked up his teacup and sipped it slowly, saying no more. The intention to see them off was very clear.

Yu Bo knew that asking any more questions would be useless. After thanking him again, he paid for the tea and, together with Yin Tianxue and Tang Guo, took the three stones and left "Ting Shi Zhai."