Travis found himself enveloped in a whirlwind of confusion as he hastened toward the commotion, unable to fathom the unfolding situation. Upon his arrival, his gaze fixated upon a tall, slender, and exquisitely crafted golden ceramic vase that lay broken into two on the ground, a scene that left him in stunned disbelief. A multitude of small ceramic fragments laid on the floor, akin to a constellation of stars on a moonless night.As he surveyed the wreckage, his discerning eye could not help but recognize the historical significance embedded within those broken shards. It became apparent that the once majestic vase, now fragmented, was none other than a relic hailing from the esteemed Song dynasty—an exquisite Jade pot spring bottle, no less. The significance lay not only in its age but in the authenticity of the gold embellishments, elevating its value to an extent beyond imagination.Raised in a family of considerable wealth and privilege, Travis had been nurtured in an environmen

As Travis found himself in an unusual and unsettling situation, he couldn’t help but cast wary glances around the bustling surroundings. Everyone in the shop appeared blissfully unaware of his uneasiness, each absorbed in their respective activities and Mr. Shen looked anxious as he waited for his subordinates’ return with Mr. Matthew in tow.Although intrigued by the ancient book he had discovered, Travis contemplated returning it to the wooden box, but his decision wavered under the persistent voice within his mind. “Take it, Travis Danforth. You need it. Aren't you curious?”“What the hell?” Travis couldn’t help but mutter in bewilderment.The insistent voice continued to press him, challenging his hesitancy, “You’ve already opened the box. What is stopping you from opening the book?”Although Travis remained confused by the situation, he cleared his throat and fixed his gaze on the enigmatic book. On the title page, four ancient and cryptic characters were meticulously inscribed,

Travis locked eyes with Mr. Shen, a determined look in his gaze, and declared, "I need granulated sugar, a heavy-bottomed saucepan, a silicone brush, water, and a stove."Mr. Shen, utterly perplexed as to why sugar would be necessary for this endeavor, regarded Travis's request as a mere jest, while Matthew couldn't resist a scoff, reaffirming his belief that this was a futile endeavor. "I told you, you're wasting your time on him," he interjected dismissively.Ignoring Matthew's skeptical comments, Mr. Shen, partly out of curiosity, decided to entertain Travis's request. He swiftly dispatched someone to procure the items requested. Despite his willingness to provide the necessary materials, he couldn't refrain from a touch of mockery. "Using sugar to repair cultural relics – I've never encountered or heard of such an unorthodox method. Let me make it clear: don't attempt any trickery here. You either compensate us for the damages, or we'll take this man to court, and he'll be senten

Approaching Travis with a subtle smile, Cora gracefully introduced herself, “I am Cora from the Lee family. May I ask from which cultural relic master you have acquired your skills?”Travis, unfazed by Cora’s prestigious identity, acknowledged the power of the Lee family in Grove City. While they boasted considerable wealth amounting to hundreds of billions, the Danforth family, to which Travis belonged, overshadowed them with a vast fortune reaching into the trillions.Responding with a mirrored faint smile, Travis calmly stated, “My name is Travis, and I lack any formal master or expertise. I merely repaired the damage caused by this regrettable uncle of mine,” gesturing subtly towards Matthew, “who made a mess in your shop and broke the bottle.”Cora, however, interrupted him, her expression revealing a sense of awe. “Mr. Travis, you didn’t just repair it; you performed magic on it.”With a gentle chuckle, Travis retorted, “I’m certain everyone can attest that I didn’t employ any m

Travis released a weary sigh, finding solace leaning against a building in a serene street with few passersby. He patiently awaited the arrival of individuals he deemed significant.Amid his quiet vigil, his phone buzzed, and a smile graced his face when he saw it was Joanna calling. Answering with a warm greeting, he said, "Hey, babe.""Hi, Travis. How did it go with my uncle? Did you have a good time with him?" Joanna's voice carried a hopeful tone through the phone.Travis chuckled softly and responded, "Not really. He tried to get me into trouble, Joanna. Your uncle doesn't seem to have much affection for me.""Oh," Joanna replied, a hint of disappointment evident. "I can't believe this. What the hell is their problem? I thought things were going to be fine, you know, with the kind of speech that he gave. So he really was planning to get you in trouble. What kind of trouble?" she inquired."The kind of trouble that would land me in jail," Travis stated matter-of-factly."Oh God. A