Chapter 83: Old Leopard Chen’s Opening Move

Old Leopard Chen remained unperturbed. He approached the first raw stone, lightly brushing his fingers over its surface, closing his eyes as if sensing the pulse within. The audience held their breath; the entire stone-gambling hall was silent, broken only by the clear sound of the blade scraping against the stone.

A sharp slicing noise rang out, and the moment the stone split open, a dazzling blue light burst forth. The audience erupted in exclamations.

“Heavens! That’s Blue Water Jade!” someone shouted, nearly leaping with excitement.

Su Li’s expression was beyond grim; she clenched her teeth, a hint of murderous intent flickering in her eyes. That hatred quickly shifted toward me. Clearly, she believed it was my cryptic words that had alerted Old Leopard Chen.

The Blue Water Jade was valued on the spot at seven million, stirring a wave of excitement across the crowd. The funds instantly shifted from forty-six million to thirty-four million.

Old Leopard Chen smiled faintly, as if he had anticipated the appearance of this Blue Water Jade. He turned to look at me, gratitude shining in his gaze.

Su Li’s stare was razor-sharp, her fingers gripping the chair beside her so tightly her knuckles whitened. She drew a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm herself, but the fury in her eyes was barely contained.

“You… you’re setting me up!” she hissed.

“This is just the beginning,” I replied coldly. “Su Li, why don’t you tell me directly—who planted you in the crowd today to target me?”

Gazing at Su Li, I spoke in a low voice, “With your skill, you truly aren’t qualified for stone gambling. You simply can’t win.”

Su Li’s demeanor remained icy as she turned to glare at me. “Are you threatening me?”

I smiled quietly, meeting her gaze. “No, I’m giving you a chance, Su Li. You know that no one in this circle acts without reason. Tell me who’s backing you, and I’ll let you go.”

Shaking my head, I whispered, “Su Li, you really can’t win.”

Su Li, cold as ever, pointed at the final raw stone and looked at Old Leopard Chen. “I don’t believe it! This last stone can’t possibly be a treasure as well. There’s no way luck could be so outrageous!”

At that moment, Old Leopard Chen was already moving toward the second raw stone.

Once again, he closed his eyes, his fingers lightly caressing the stone’s surface, his expression focused. The audience held their breath once more, waiting for another miracle.

The blade sang out, and as the stone split, a flash of emerald green spilled forth, prompting another round of astonished cries.

“Imperial Green! My God, it’s Imperial Green again!”

The hall was in an uproar, and the appraisal was nothing short of miraculous—another six million!

Thus, the duel funds balanced out, forty million to forty million.

“It’s a tie!”

“Old Leopard Chen has made a comeback!”

The crowd below burst into waves of discussion. Old Leopard Chen’s gaze remained cold, fixed on Su Li.

Su Li’s face was dark with rage, her eyes nearly aflame, her clenched fists trembling slightly.

“Looks like luck is truly on your side today, Old Leopard Chen. But can you claim you would’ve uncovered these stones without Wang Hu’s earlier hints?” Su Li sneered, her voice thick with unwillingness and provocation.

“Even so, you’ve only tied with me. There’s still no victor!” she continued.

Old Leopard Chen smiled, seemingly untouched by Su Li’s words. He pointed at the last two remaining stones, then turned to Lu Yi’er. “Boss Lu, we’re tied now. It’s awkward. I tossed aside two stones earlier; if I cut them now, is that allowed?”

Lu Yi’er glanced at Su Li. “So long as Miss Su and Mr. Wang Hu agree, you may add one more for the final wager. Since this is the deciding round, a winner must be declared.”

Old Leopard Chen looked at me, and I replied calmly, “Of course. We must settle this.”

Su Li laughed coldly, a cunning light in her eyes. “Fine, since my consent is needed, I’ll agree. But you must give me one of those two stones. You claimed they’re both worthless, but even among trash, there are grades. Let’s bet one last time! Twenty million and ten thousand, winner takes all. Old Leopard Chen, do you dare?”

Her tone was full of challenge and resolve. The price she named made sense to me—half her funds were mine; if she won only a little, she would still lose in the end.

To win, she needed our combined assets to exceed sixty million in this final wager, so she could surpass Old Leopard Chen. The rule here was winner takes all; nobody leaves with anything less.

Old Leopard Chen glanced at Su Li, then at me, and spoke slowly, “Since Miss Su agrees, let’s proceed. We’ll each choose one stone; the winner will be decided.”

Su Li sneered, ruthless gleam in her eyes. “Then let’s determine who picks first.”

But before she could finish, Lu Yi’er interjected, “Sorry, Miss Su, Mr. Chen gets first pick. These two stones were originally his—he’s offering one up.”

Su Li’s expression shifted, but she said nothing in the end, only snorting, “Fine, you go first,” and shot me a glare.

Old Leopard Chen smiled slightly and, without hesitation, said, “In that case, I’ll choose first.”

He walked to one of the two raw stones, fingers once more brushing the surface, eyes closed, feeling for its pulse. The audience held their breath as the blade sliced through the stone.

“Old Leopard Chen said these two are trash. Could a good jade emerge from them?”

“Who knows, maybe it’s a dud.”

I overheard murmurs once again.

With a sharp sound, the stone split open, revealing nothing but a pile of dull, blackish green jade, chaotic and unremarkable.

Such material… fit only for construction.

Old Leopard Chen looked calmly at his chosen stone, then gestured for Su Li to proceed.

“Miss Su, your turn.”

Su Li eyed the worthless raw stone and sneered, “Even among trash, there are differences. Yours is so poor, I still have a chance to beat you.”

She smiled coldly, striding toward the other raw stone, determination burning in her gaze.