Chapter 2: The Pawnshop and the Antique Mirror

The rain hadn't stopped, but Li Zitan no longer felt the cold.

With fifty thousand RMB resting in his bank account and a glowing golden system interface hovering in his line of sight, every breath felt different. The crushing weight that had pressed down on his chest for years was gone, replaced by a razor-sharp focus.

‘Fifty thousand into five hundred thousand in forty-eight hours,’ Zitan thought, stepping off the curb. ‘Stock markets take days to clear trades, and crypto leverage is a gamble even with a system. I need an asset with immediate, massive mispricing.’

As if answering his thoughts, his vision flickered.

Activated by his intent, [Market Eye (LV. 1)] engaged. The world transformed into faint monochrome shades, while glowing lines of text and numerical values began floating above objects and people around him.

[Commuter’s Leather Bag] — Market Value: ¥350 RMB | Resale Potential: ¥80 RMB

[Used Smartphone] — Market Value: ¥1,200 RMB | Resale Potential: ¥600 RMB

[Street Vendor’s Cart] — Daily Profit Margin: 12%

‘Fascinating,’ Zitan smirked. ‘It evaluates everything automatically.’

He walked briskly away from the glittering high-rises of the financial district, heading down into the narrow, winding alleyways of Old Jiangcheng—the antique district. This was a place infamous for cheap counterfeits, desperate sellers, and greedy shopkeepers who preyed on the ignorant.

If there was anywhere a fortune could be found hidden in plain sight, it was here.

Ten minutes later, Zitan pulled open the creaking wooden door of Treasure Pavilion Antiquities. The shop smelled of aged mahogany, stale tea, and dust.

Behind a heavy glass counter sat an elderly man with thin spectacles, lazily fanning himself despite the chilly rain outside. Manager Zhou was well-known in the district—a cunning fox who bought low from desperate people and sold absurdly high to gullible tourists.

"We're closing soon, kid," Zhou muttered without bothering to look up. "If you're looking to buy souvenir trinkets, the night market is down the street."

Zitan ignored the dismissive tone and swept his eyes across the shop.

Dozens of glowing data tags flooded his field of view:

[Replication Qing Dynasty Vase] — True Value: ¥150 RMB (Fake)

[Modern Jade Pendant] — True Value: ¥400 RMB (Chemical Treatment)

[Bronze Incense Burner] — True Value: ¥800 RMB (Overpriced at ¥12,000)

Nearly everything in the shop was junk or overpriced tourist traps. Zitan kept walking toward the back corner, where a pile of unsorted, dusty artifacts sat under a dim yellow lamp.

Then, his eyes locked onto a small, tarnished bronze mirror tucked beneath a stack of broken porcelain plates.

Unlike the dull white and blue tags hovering over the rest of the shop, this object emitted a soft, pulsing violet radiance.

[Item: Bronze Ritual Hand Mirror (Tang Dynasty)] -Surface Condition: Poor (Covered in heavy oxidation and artificial grime)

True Value: ¥680,000 RMB

-Current Shop Price: ¥12,000 RMB (Misidentified as a 1980s theatrical prop)

- Resale Trajectory: Rapid liquidity if sold at the Jiangcheng Royal Auction House.

Zitan’s breath hitched slightly, but his expression remained cold and indifferent. A genuine Tang Dynasty ritual mirror mistrusted as cheap brass...

He casually walked over, picked up a worthless wooden carving first, and then picked up the bronze mirror with his other hand, examining both like an amateur collector.

"How much for these two?" Zitan asked casually, strolling back to the counter.

Manager Zhou raised an eyebrow, finally looking up. He glanced at Zitan’s worn hoodie and wet sneakers, a flicker of disdain crossing his eyes.

"The wooden carving is eight hundred. The bronze mirror... well, it’s a vintage theatrical prop from the late twentieth century," Zhou lied smoothly, puffing up its importance. "I can let it go for fifteen thousand RMB."

"Fifteen thousand for a rusty piece of metal?" Zitan chuckled dryly, setting both items back down on the counter. "I only have ten thousand RMB on me for a birthday gift for my grandfather. If you don't want to sell, I'll go check the shop across the street."

He made a sharp turn and took two steps toward the door.

"Wait, wait!" Manager Zhou called out, his eyes glinting with greed.

To Zhou, that rusty mirror had been sitting in the bargain pile for three years, bought from a bankrupt peasant for fifty RMB. Getting ten thousand RMB out of a clueless kid was an absolute steal.

"Since you're shopping for your elder, I'll show some goodwill," Zhou said, feigning reluctance. "Ten thousand RMB. Take the mirror and the carving."

Zitan turned around, pulling out his phone. "Deal. QR code?"

Ding.

[Transaction Complete]

Spent: ¥10,000 RMB

Remaining Bank Balance: ¥40,006.50 RMB

Acquired Asset: Tang Dynasty Bronze Ritual Mirror (Valuation: ¥680,000 RMB)

As Zitan wrapped the heavy bronze mirror in a cloth and walked out into the rain, a light chiming sound rang in his mind.

[Main Quest 1 Progress]

Target: ¥500,000 RMB

Current Portfolio Value: ¥720,006.50 RMB

Quest Objective Met! Please liquidate the asset to officially complete the quest and unlock [Market Eye (LV. 2)].