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It is a profound tragedy that a discipline born of pure scholarly devotion should breed such endless trouble the moment it crosses paths with worldly greed. While slumbering in the dust, antiquities carry no price; they are equal in their silence. Yet, the moment a relic is authenticated, traced back to the foundries of the Shang or Zhou dynasties, or proven to have graced the study of a historical luminary, its value swells a hundredfold. The wealthy and powerful rush to hoard them, sparking vulgar contests of extravagance reminiscent of the infamous rivalries of ancient lords. The ancient tyrant Shi Chong built his fortune on the blood of robbed merchants and earned the eternal scorn of history. But if today's collectors drive men to tear open the sacred, ancient tombs of Mount Beimang for the sake of a single bronze vessel or carved inscription, their sins are surely far darker than mere vanity.