Chapter One Hundred and Five: Just Wait to Die, Wang Hu!

I took a deep breath and said calmly, "You want money, but do you even know the true value of this Heaven-Clearing Jade? Its worth far exceeds the amount of cash you are imagining."

"You can take it to anyone who knows their stuff for an appraisal; you won't be losing out."

The man was clearly wavering, but he was still unwilling to let go easily. "It doesn't matter how well you spin it. The boss wants money, not these flashy trinkets!"

I looked at him, my eyes showing a trace of resolve. "You can take this jade and exchange it for money—you could even get more for it than you expect."

Seeing my persistence, the man eyed the deep blue Heaven-Clearing Jade in front of me with suspicion.

I stared back at him and said slowly, "You men are in the business. Do you really think I would dare to lie to you?"

Old Leopard Chen, who was behind me, stepped forward. "That’s right. Wang Hu is a lantern-bearer for our market. If there were any issues, would we really be able to run away from such a massive operation?"

His gaze landed on the deep blue jade again, a flicker of hesitation and greed flashing in his eyes. The henchmen around him also began to whisper; they were clearly becoming interested in the jade's value. These thugs were local riffraff who had been tagging along with Gao Youde, sponging off him for a long time. Consequently, they were familiar with the various legends surrounding the jade trade.

The lead man gave me a long, hard look before turning to his brothers. "What do you guys think?"

Among his brothers, one who looked a bit more experienced stepped up to examine the jade. He seemed to grasp something, whispered into the leader’s ear, and then everyone nodded.

I struck while the iron was hot. "One more thing I need to tell you: this jade is extremely rare. You had best deliver it directly to Gao Youde. If it gets lost, I don't have a second one!"

The man finally made up his mind and nodded. "Fine. Since you say so, all right, I'll take this stone back. But I'm warning you, don't try to swindle me. If anything goes wrong or if you've lied to us, you'll bear the consequences yourself."

I smiled slightly and reached out. "Deal."

The man extended his hand and shook mine firmly. Then, he turned to his subordinates and ordered, "Pack up, take the jade, and let's go back to report to Boss Gao."

Seeing their leader preparing to leave, the henchmen followed suit. A few who were pushing the hospital bed called out to him, "What about this old woman?"

The man looked at me and scoffed, "Leave her here, of course! What, are you planning to carry her back to be your own mother?"

I watched them leave and offered a faint, calm smile before rushing forward to steady Old Lady Hu’s bed. I turned to Old Leopard Chen. "Leopard, do you have anyone here who knows medicine? Help me check on Old Lady Hu’s condition!"

Old Leopard Chen was the local kingpin here, after all. He nodded and said, "I'll arrange it right away!"

He quickly returned with a middle-aged man in a white coat—evidently the market’s resident doctor. The man checked her pulse and breathing, then frowned. "The old lady’s condition is not optimistic. She must be sent to a hospital immediately, or her life will be in danger."

I nodded, feeling a surge of anxiety, and turned to Old Leopard Chen. "Leopard, get a car ready. We need to get her to the hospital as fast as we can."

Without a word, Chen pulled out his phone and made a call. Soon, a van pulled up. We carefully lifted Old Lady Hu into the vehicle and sped toward the nearest municipal hospital. In the car, I gripped the old lady’s hand tightly, my heart filled with anxiety and unrest. Hu San had once told me that his mother was my mother; now that she was in my care, I had to save her, if only for the sake of my brother, Hu San.

Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped at the hospital entrance, and we rushed her inside for an examination. Fortunately, the old woman was suffering from a combination of chronic illness and recent malnutrition. As soon as I read the words "malnutrition," I thought of that bastard Gao Youde. It was no slander to call him a man who would devour others without even spitting out the bones!

While I was lost in thought, Old Leopard Chen, who had gone to pay the bills, came over and stood beside me. "Brother Hu, don't worry. I know the doctors here; I've already spoken to them. We can hire a few caregivers to keep the old lady’s condition stable for now."

After saying that, he seemed to remember something and pulled me outside. He whispered, "It’s just... the illness the old lady has is cancer. In the later stages... I’m afraid it’s incurable. What do you think?"

I patted Old Leopard Chen on the shoulder. "Let's stabilize her first. We'll figure out the rest later."

Chen nodded and asked, "By the way, Brother Hu, I haven't asked yet—who is this old lady?"

I thought for a moment and said, "My godmother."

Chen nodded, signaling he understood. He looked around to ensure no one was listening and whispered, "Brother Hu, how do you plan to handle Gao Youde? Can that Heaven-Clearing Jade really be traded for that much money?"

I pondered for a moment, a cold, sharp glint flashing in my eyes. "Gao Youde is insatiable. For him, this jade isn't just about money; it’s about face and authority. Once he gets his hands on it, he will definitely cut it open, and then all the problems will be solved."

Old Leopard Chen stared at me, looking confused. He didn't quite understand what I meant. I looked back at him and said slowly, "Some things, you just need to listen to me."

Though he still had doubts, his trust in me kept him from asking further. We returned to the ward, where Old Lady Hu had been settled into a clean bed, and nurses were attending to her basic care. I stood by the bedside, looking at her pale face, and silently swore that I would make Gao Youde pay the price.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated. It was an unknown number. I answered, and a deep voice came through: "Wang Hu, it’s me, Gao Youde."

I sneered. "Boss Gao, what can I do for you?"

Gao Youde’s voice carried an oppressive weight. "You son of a bitch, I asked you for money, and you give me a piece of junk rock? Do you really take me, Gao Youde, for a fool?"

I remained calm. "Not at all. Don't you know that rock is a Heaven-Clearing Jade? Have you cut it open yet?"

Gao Youde laughed coldly. "Do you know why I'm calling you from an anonymous number?"

I smiled. "I have no idea."

"Because I’m going to have someone kill you next. That way, no one will have any leads to find me. Just wait for your death, Wang Hu! You bastard!"