Chapter 120: Do You Think You’re a God?

I felt the pressure from the surrounding crowd, yet my face remained devoid of expression. Gao Qiqiang’s stance was clear; he would not let me off easily. At this moment, his only goal was to force me to hand over the fifty million, no matter the cost.

I took a deep breath, struggling to keep myself composed.

"Mr. Gao," I began, keeping my voice as steady as possible, "I did not bring this jade to deceive you. In fact, the jade you hold has absolutely nothing to do with that broken jade shell from earlier."

Gao Qiqiang sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. "Brother Wang Hu, that’s an easy thing to say. This item was clearly brought by your people; how can you claim it has no connection to that shell? My brother lost his life. Do you really think this jade, worth less than half a million, is enough to compensate for his life?"

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, but I knew I could not show a hint of panic. Gao Qiqiang’s gaze was like a blade, as if he intended to slice me open and see right through me.

"Mr. Gao, I understand your anger," I continued, my tone remaining level, "but there are some things you shouldn't force me to say. All the prominent figures of the city are present here."

Gao Qiqiang frowned, clearly intrigued by my words, yet he maintained his cold demeanor. "Oh? Then why don't you tell me what secret this jade holds?"

I took a deep breath and said slowly, "This jade is just a piece you found at random. The truth is, the jade that was originally inside that shell was swapped by someone long ago!"

My voice dropped lower. "Gao Qiqiang, you fishmonger, you used a bait-and-switch scheme to frame me!"

As soon as the words left my lips, the surrounding crowd erupted in an uproar. Gao Qiqiang’s face changed instantly; a flicker of surprise and fury flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by the embarrassment of being exposed. He slammed his hand onto the table, his voice booming like thunder. "You’re spouting nonsense! Do you have any proof?"

I offered a cold smile, having anticipated his reaction. "Mr. Gao, did you really think I would come to see you without being prepared?"

I walked directly toward the jade he was holding and activated my Golden Eyes. In an instant, images like a phantom vision appeared before me. In front of everyone, I began to detail the history, the origin, and even the previous owners of the jade.

Gao Qiqiang’s face grew increasingly grim; clearly, he had not expected me to possess such a skill. Li Tiancheng, standing behind him, widened his eyes in disbelief.

The crowd began to whisper, evidently stunned by my claims.

"This jade comes from a small mining area in the Third District, northwest of Mian City," I continued, my gaze locked sharply on Gao Qiqiang. "That mining area was always mediocre. After the owner went bankrupt, he bundled everything off to your Gao family. If I’m not mistaken, someone here at this gathering once owned this piece. It’s not worth much, but it’s enough to serve as a facade for a small family."

I turned abruptly and pointed at someone in the crowd. "The previous owner of this material is sitting right there!"

Gao Qiqiang’s hand trembled slightly. He gritted his teeth, clearly struggling to suppress his rage. Suddenly, he let out a cold laugh. "Keep pretending. Who in this world has the ability to look at a stone and know its origin and circulation history? Do you think you're a god?"

I smiled slightly and replied calmly, "Believe what you will, Mr. Gao. Since you claim I am spouting nonsense, why don't we invite the experts present to verify the authenticity and origin of this jade?"

Gao Qiqiang’s eyes flickered, but he quickly regained his cold expression. "Fine. Let the experts take a look."

With that, Gao Qiqiang turned and handed the stone to Li Tiancheng. Li Tiancheng glanced at me, seemingly feeling a bit awkward, and suggested, "Mr. Gao, shouldn't we call over a few more people?"

Gao Qiqiang nodded. Shortly after, several elders from families involved in the jade trade stepped out from the crowd. They joined Li Tiancheng to examine the piece, whispering among themselves for a while.

Finally, one of the senior experts looked up and said solemnly, "Mr. Wang Hu is correct. This jade indeed comes from a small mine in the Third District, northwest of Mian City, and it is certainly not worth half a million."

Gao Qiqiang’s face turned ghastly. He clenched his fists, struggling to contain his fury. Because of this, his claim that this was the core material from the jade shell was proven false. This jade was not the original piece inside the shell at all, meaning every word Gao Qiqiang had spoken was invalidated.

I seized the opportunity to add, "Mr. Gao, if you truly want those fifty million, you might want to clarify the facts first. Perhaps you should investigate who is pulling the strings behind the scenes to frame both of us."

"Regardless, I have already used this piece to settle the debt. You said that when a man dies, the debt is cleared, and that is fine, but you cannot treat me like a fool by taking my jade material and not counting it toward the payment!"

Gao Qiqiang’s expression was unreadable as he weighed my words. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, as if making a final decision. Li Tiancheng stood to the side, his expression equally complex.

"Wang Hu, I will consider what you've said," Gao Qiqiang finally spoke, his tone laced with reluctance. "But this is not over. I will uncover the truth. If you had any part in this, I will never let you go."

I nodded. "Mr. Gao, I look forward to your findings. I hope we can find the true culprit and bring justice to us both."

"Now, since the payment has been made, may I leave?"

Gao Qiqiang stared at me coldly for a moment before waving his hand, signaling his men to clear a path. I walked slowly through the crowd, feeling countless eyes fixed on my back. While the crisis had been temporarily averted, I knew deep down that this was only the beginning.

As I reached the edge of the crowd, a figure suddenly blocked my way. I looked up; it was Su Li.

"Wang Hu," Su Li said, watching me. "Have you made your decision about the Bengjian Market?"

I looked into her indifferent eyes and said slowly, "Are you that desperate to take over the Bengjian Market?"

Su Li sneered. "You’re wrong. It isn't that I want to; this is Sister Hong’s plan, and I am merely acting on her instructions."

I scoffed. "If Sister Hong truly wants to buy the Bengjian Market, tell her to come see me herself!"

"Who do you think you are?" Su Li laughed coldly. "You’re nothing more than a scout for a third-rate market... do you really think you're worthy?"

I couldn't be bothered to engage with her further and walked straight past.