Chapter 142 I Can Make That!

I smiled and said, "I simply wish to gain a better understanding of this industry so that I can avoid being deceived by fakes in my future work."

Professor Wang furrowed his brow slightly, appearing not entirely convinced by my response. He did not press further, however, falling into a silence that suggested he was turning something over in his mind.

Then, looking at me with great gravity, he probed, "Your 'Bengjian' market seems... a bit meager. Tell me, Mr. Wang Hu, you aren't planning on taking the crooked path and manufacturing fakes yourself, are you?"

I thought carefully, feeling a moment of hesitation, but ultimately decided to be candid. I admired Professor Wang’s erudition and his profound understanding of the trade; to continue with evasions would only make me appear foolish. Taking a deep breath, I said slowly, "Professor Wang, the truth is that I have been monitoring a man named Old Ghost Shi. He was once a legend in this industry, but he was apprehended for certain reasons. He was recently released, and he has already been systematically stripping the assets of multiple markets in this city."

"Because our Bengjian market is so remote, we haven't been affected yet, but I feel it is only a matter of time."

Professor Wang’s eyebrows arched slightly, and a flicker of unreadable emotion passed through his eyes.

Then, with a hint of displeasure, he said, "I never expected that I would actually be right."

"You intend to pollute your own inventory with fakes to use against Old Ghost Shi?"

I nodded. "That is correct. To be frank with you, there is no need for concealment."

No sooner had I finished speaking than Professor Wang slammed his hand onto the desk!

The palm struck the surface with a sharp, thunderous crack that seemed to shatter the atmosphere between us in an instant. His face turned stern, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

"Mr. Wang Hu, I never imagined you were the type of person to do this!" he said coldly, his voice thick with unconcealable indignation. "You actually intend to resort to forgery to deal with Old Ghost Shi? This is not only a desecration of your own professional ethics, but a betrayal of the entire industry!"

My heart tightened; I realized I had underestimated Professor Wang’s principles and bottom line. However, this extreme reaction also made me realize that many things were likely far more complex than they seemed.

At this moment, my candor seemed to have been my greatest mistake.

"Professor Wang, I..." I tried to explain, but before I could, he interrupted me.

"Say no more," he said, shaking his head, his tone growing colder. "I will not assist you in this matter, no matter what. If you continue down this path, you will only destroy your own future and ruin everything you hold dear."

"While I have not yet changed my mind about other things, abandon all thoughts of cooperation and leave this room." His words were like a sharp blade, cutting through my intentions without mercy.

I ultimately chose silence. Professor Wang’s intense reaction made me realize that any attempt to persuade him would be pale and futile. I stood up, trying to maintain my composure, and walked slowly toward the door.

Just as I was about to push it open, Professor Wang’s voice rang out again: "Mr. Wang Hu, remember, we are inheritors of jade culture. In some matters, it is best to have a bottom line. If today the opponent is Old Ghost Shi, we resort to fakes; then if tomorrow a 'Stone Immortal' comes along, are we to discard all genuine jade entirely? I hope you will re-examine your choices, and I hope you will think carefully—with your capabilities, you do not need to walk this path."

I paused, considered his words, but did not stop.

I pushed the door open and left.

As I walked out of Professor Wang’s office, a sense of loss washed over me. After all, I had hoped to receive some support from him, even if only a scrap of advice, but his reaction left me deeply disappointed. Professor Wang’s idealism and his devotion to the industry’s integrity seemed glaringly out of place at this moment. It was exactly as Pan Ximi had said: he was an academic, and he simply did not care for the ways of the underworld.

I hadn't walked far from the office when I began to rethink my next move. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared before me: Li Qiang.

"Mr. Wang Hu, thank you for what happened yesterday!"

It seemed he still remembered that I had helped him out of a tight spot.

I smiled and said, "It’s nothing. We’ve fought together, so it was just a small favor. You are different from us; you are an academic. If we make a small mistake, Professor Wang might give us some face, but if you make a mistake, decades of hard work could be for nothing!"

Li Qiang looked at me, nodded, and expressed his gratitude once more.

I smiled and kept walking. When I had done that favor earlier, I hadn't been looking for his thanks.

However, after I had walked a few steps, Li Qiang called out to me: "Mr. Wang Hu... that thing you asked the Professor to make—I can do it!"

I stopped in my tracks, turned around, and frowned slightly, a wave of turbulence rising in my heart.

There was a glint of determination in Li Qiang’s eyes; it seemed he was not joking.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my tone laced with caution.

Li Qiang took a deep breath, as if steeling himself. "I know you want to deal with Old Ghost Shi, and you also know that Professor Wang would never support such a method." He paused, then continued, "But I can make it for you. I can even use some underhanded tactics to sabotage Old Ghost Shi’s plans."

I was stunned. Although Li Qiang’s proposal was sudden, he did not look like he was playing games. If I could actually get the items made as planned and find a way to counter Old Ghost Shi, it might be a viable path after all.

"How do you intend to do it?" I asked, trying to find more clues in his words.

"I have some friends in the industry who know a thing or two about these methods of creating fake stones. If you need it, I can do it," Li Qiang said, his voice growing firmer.

I laughed. "There is nothing in this for you!"

He seemed to sense my hesitation, and a flicker of anticipation crossed his eyes: "Mr. Wang Hu, not everyone in this world is like my teacher. I can understand you. In this industry, survival comes first. We cannot just sit here and wait to be destroyed!"

"Of course, I’m not doing this for nothing. I have requirements!"

I looked at him. "What are your requirements?"

Li Qiang spoke: "I need you to give me five hundred thousand... I have debts to pay!"

He paused, then added, "I need to survive..."

I was slightly taken aback. Li Qiang’s demand was unexpected, but upon reflection, he had already reached the point of trying to steal ancient jade from an exploration team. Clearly, the pressure on him to survive was immense.

Five hundred thousand was not a massive sum to me. If I could use this opportunity to deal with Old Ghost Shi, it might be worth a try.

"Very well, I will consider your request," I nodded, already beginning to calculate my next steps. "But you must give me a few samples of the stones first."