★ A classic masterpiece by Ma Boyong, winner of the People’s Literature Award, Zhu Ziqing Prose Award, and Mao Dun New Writer Award—taking you deep into the unpredictable world of antique collecting!
★ A legendary Buddha head treasure unravels an authentication conspiracy spanning decades. A battle of wits, a test of human nature—thrilling and utterly engrossing!
★ Not only is the story compelling, the book is also packed with knowledge of epigraphy, historical anecdotes, and authentication techniques. It’s like joining the protagonist in deciphering cultural codes hidden behind antiques!

A rare treasure rumored among the people unexpectedly reveals intricate grievances.
A shocking conspiracy from decades ago begins to unveil the most hidden and sinister side of the antique world.
Between authenticity and forgery, one must first see through deception; before passing judgment, one must understand human nature.
Everything begins on the day Xu Yuan turns thirty...

Ma Boyong

A well-known contemporary Chinese writer and recipient of China's Science Fiction "Galaxy Award", People's Literature Award, Zhu Ziqing Prose Award and Mao Dun Newcomer Award. He is considered to be following the "literary tradition of historical writing since the 'May Fourth' Movement" and is committed to exploring "historical possibility novels". He is well-known for his historical fiction, and his writing is full of quirks, earning him the nickname "master of words" from readers.
His works often present unique perspectives and meticulous writing, revealing the touching human stories behind historical events and allowing readers to feel the charm of history.
Representative works: “The Great Doctor”, “The Fifteen-Day Miracle”, “The Undercurrent of the Ming Dynasty”, “The Longest Day in Chang’an”, “Mystery of Antiques‌”(1-4), “Secret of the Three Kingdoms”, “Wind from Longxi”, etc.

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Organization That Authenticates Antiques
Chapter 2: The Great Republic-Era Cultural Relics Case
Chapter 3: First Came Tianjin’s Shenyang Road
Chapter 4: Outwitting the Family of Bronze Forgery Experts
Chapter 5: Su Ding Lu: The Authoritative Guide to Epigraphy
Chapter 6: Authenticating a Song Dynasty Stele at an Auction
Chapter 7: The Search for Hailuo Mountain
Chapter 8: The Code Behind Real and Fake Antiques
Chapter 9: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes—Lao Chaofeng Emerges
Chapter 10: Is the Buddha Head Real or Fake?
Epilogue