"It's my fault, Elder Liu. Please don't be angry! I will put away the costume right away!"
Master Yan was obviously somewhat afraid of the old man. Despite his own advanced age, in front of the old man, he behaved like a child who had been caught making a mistake, nervously taking the costume from Lu Fei and putting it back into the box.
He then packed up the rest of the props, closed the box, and respectfully returned it to the old man.
"Big Brother Liu, I have no capability. The Chun family troupe really can't go on anymore! Please thank Grandmother Liu for her kindness and return these costumes to her."
"Return them?"
The old man's weathered face showed surprise.
"It's not time yet, what are you returning?"
Troupe Leader Yan, with a mournful look, said: "Big Brother Liu, I really can't afford to keep this 'great Buddha' anymore..."
The old man immediately gave him a cold stare.
Troupe Leader Yan closed his mouth at once.
"Whether to return them or not is up to you, but you need to ask for my mother's opinion. Follow me."
The old man, leaning on his cane, turned and left.
Troupe Leader Yan apologized to Lu Fei, picked up the suitcase, and hurriedly followed the old man upstairs.
Lu Fei and Huzi stared at each other, large eyes meeting small ones.
"Xiaoqiang, what's going on with your boss?" Huzi looked towards Wang Xiaoqiang.
Wang Xiaoqiang, his face full of exasperation, said: "How would I know? He's always so arrogant in front of us, but in front of others, he's as meek as a lamb! I was just afraid he wouldn't be able to pay the wages, so I helped him out. Who knows what's really going on with him."
"It was right for him to return the items. Keeping that costume would only bring more bad luck to the troupe."
After saying this, Lu Fei gestured to Huzi.
"Let's go, Huzi. Since there's nothing to collect, we should head back."
"Leaving so soon, Boss Lu?"
Wang Xiaoqiang followed up, wearing an eager smile.
"I heard from Huzi that you have a big antiques business. You must need more hands, right? Why don't you take me along? Huzi and I are brothers, we know each other well. I'll work hard, and you can trust me!"
"Brother Xiaoqiang, Huzi is exaggerating! I just run a small business and can't afford to hire so many people."
Lu Fei cast a faint glance at him and left first.
Hu Zi stayed behind and said a few words before leaving.
"Boss, did you see something? Why did you say that keeping the costume would make the troupe even more unlucky?"
As soon as he got in the car, Hu Zi couldn't wait to ask.
"The costume has a heavy yin energy, and there's something strange hidden inside... but I didn't get a good look at it." Lu Fei narrowed his eyes. "It's definitely not something good. Master Yan himself said he could barely afford to maintain it."
The Liu family is also particularly odd.
Whether it was the Old Star or the birthday banquet, or even the shadow play in the wilderness, everything gave Lu Fei an extremely eerie feeling.
There might be some connection between all of this.
However, the costume belongs to them, and if they don't want to show it, it's none of their business.
"That old man really came at the wrong time; he could have at least waited for us to finish looking."
Huzi's curiosity was piqued, and without understanding anything, he felt quite uncomfortable, as if a cat had scratched his heart.
"When I get back, I'll ask Xiaoqiang for more information."
"I advise you to keep your distance from him."
"Why?"
"He works with the theater troupe, how could he not know what shadow plays are? Shadow plays are performed in the countryside, while birthday banquets are held in town. Is he so stupid that he can't even distinguish between locations?" Lu Fei gave him a look of disdain.
"Boss, are you saying he did it on purpose?"
Huzi was taken aback, feeling both angry and confused.
"What's he after? How does my misfortune benefit him?"
"How should I know? Just be careful! Drive!"
"Oh."
Hu Zi started the car, stepped on the gas, and drove out of the town.
Back to Sinisterium Pawnshop.
Thinking that the matter of the costume was over, he didn't expect that after two days, Wang Xiaoqiang suddenly called Hu Zi and asked if he wanted to buy the costume.
"Boss, has the Liu family changed their mind?"
"They changed their mind so easily?" Lu Fei felt a bit strange.
That day, the old man had said fiercely that the costume was meant to revive the opera troupe.
"You also said, Boss, that the costume might be something evil. Shouldn't we ask them to bring it over for a look? At least we can see what kind of evil it is." Since he didn't get to see it that day, Hu Zi couldn't stop thinking about it.
"Then let them come over, it's fine to take a look."
Lu Fei also got curious.
Hu Zi sent a message to Wang Xiaoqiang.
Afternoon.
This guy came over with a suitcase, drenched in sweat.
"So this is the Sinisterium Pawnshop; it took me quite a while to find it." He looked around the pawnshop, his eyes darting about.
"Xiaoqiang, you could have given me a call so I could pick you up outside." Hu Zi poured him a glass of water.
"Are you alone? Where is your troupe leader and the Liu family?" Lu Fei glanced behind him, somewhat surprised.
"The troupe leader couldn't make it and asked me to bring this costume over."
Wang Xiaoqiang smiled, his eyes flickering as he placed the suitcase on the counter.
"Boss Lu, no one will disturb us today. Could you take another look and tell me how much this costume is worth?"
But Lu Fei didn't move, instead looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.
"No need to look. I won't take it."
"Why, Boss Lu, weren't you very interested that day?" Wang Xiaoqiang was taken aback.
Even Hu Zi didn't understand and looked at Lu Fei in surprise.
"We never take things with uncertain origins at Sinisterium Pawnshop." Lu Fei sat behind the counter with his arms crossed.
"How is it of uncertain origin? Don't you know, Boss Lu, that it was lent to our troupe leader by Grandma Liu, and now she doesn't want it anymore, so she asked us to help her dispose of it," Wang Xiaoqiang said anxiously.
"That's not what I mean," Lu Fei glanced at him. "Some people have dirty hands."
Wang Xiaoqiang's eyes flickered with panic, but he quickly composed himself and forced a smile, "You've misunderstood, Boss Lu. Our troupe leader really asked me to come. If you don't believe me, I can call..."
"Hu Zi, see them out."
Lu Fei waved his hand indifferently.
"For Hu Zi's sake, I'll give you a piece of advice: return the item as soon as possible to avoid trouble."
"Boss Lu, why don't you take a look first..."
Wang Xiaoqiang became anxious.
"Xiaoqiang, just go back. If my boss says he won't take it, then he really won't!" Hu Zi said, quite disappointed, "If you're short on cash, just tell Brother Hu, I'll lend you some. But no matter what, you can't steal things..."
"What are you putting on! You think earning a few lousy bucks makes you someone special?" Wang Xiaoqiang's face darkened, "It's just a crummy pawnshop. If they don't want it, there are plenty of others who will!"
He glared at Hu Zi and carried the box away.
"Xiaoqiang..."
Hu Zi wanted to persuade him further, but the other had already run off with the box.
"Forget it, Hu Zi. The evil object will teach him a lesson," Lu Fei waved his hand, "Every person who doesn't believe in such things starts out as confident as he is."
"I really don't know why he turned out like that."
Hu Zi sighed heavily and sent many messages to Wang Xiaoqiang, hoping the other would stop before it was too late.
But Wang Xiaoqiang never replied and didn't answer any calls.
He had done everything he could, and if the other party didn't take it seriously, there was nothing he could do.
This matter could only be put on hold for now.
Sinisterium Pawnshop continued to operate as usual.
But over the past few days, whenever Hu Zi went out, he always felt someone loitering around Sinisterium Pawnshop, yet when he tried to find them, there was no one to be seen.
It was very strange.
"Boss, what's going on? Am I just being paranoid?"
Hu Zi, unsure of the situation, reported it to Lu Fei.
Lu Fei also found it extremely odd.
"It's possible to be mistaken once or twice, but for this to happen for several days in a row, it can't be a coincidence. Be more careful when you go out these days..."
Just then, Lu Fei's phone rang.
"Manager Lu, there's news about Profound Yinzi!"
"Where?" Lu Fei was startled.
"Manager Lu, you should be mentally prepared; there's a high probability that the deviant is near the Antique Street."