Master Yuan held the sculpture in his weathered hands, turning it slowly beneath the lamplight. The silence in the office was heavy, each second stretching longer than the last.
Lin Hao sat on the edge of his chair, watching the old man's expression.
His parents said nothing.
Finally, Master Yuan exhaled.
"This piece," he said softly, "is beyond value. If I were to auction it today, I expect the bidding would start at twenty million silver coins. And it would not stop there."
His mother gasped.
His father gripped the edge of his seat, knuckles white. "T-Twenty million?"
"At least," Master Yuan said. "But I am not here to rob you of what is rightfully yours."
He carefully wrapped the sculpture again, his hands almost reverent.
"I would like to offer you a direct sale. Discreet, secure, and immediate. Fifty million silver coins."
The room went silent.
Lin Hao's father stared in disbelief. His mother covered her mouth again.
"I… I don't even know what to say…" his father stammered.
"There is more," Master Yuan said calmly. "I would like to make another offer. One not of coin—but of cultivation."
He turned to Lin Hao, who blinked in surprise.
"Boy," he said, "you said you want to become an adventurer. Someone who finds relics, preserves history, and protects your family. Is that true?"
Lin Hao nodded quickly. "Yes!"
"Then let me guide you. Not just as a buyer of artifacts… but as your teacher. If you're willing, I will take you in as my disciple. I will teach you the study of relics, inscriptions, formations, and how to walk the path of cultivation with knowledge and caution."
His father's eyes widened.
"My… my son? A disciple?"
Master Yuan nodded. "He has the heart. The instinct. And, more than anything, the courage. I see it."
Lin Hao's father turned to him, unsure.
"Hao'er… it's your choice."
Lin Hao looked at the old man, heart pounding. He had expected a sale. Maybe safety. But this—this was a chance to learn from one of the most respected cultivators of his previous life. A man who had walked away from power… yet still commanded respect across nations.
"I'd like that," he said, standing straight. "I'd like that very much."
He bowed deeply.
"Please accept me, Master."
Master Yuan smiled—calm and warm.
"Then rise, my disciple."