Chapter Twenty: Old Enemies and Ancient Grudges

"What do you need me to do, Brother De?" I asked.

Gao Youde let out a cold laugh, an inscrutable glimmer flickering in his eyes. "That man's name is Old Leopard Chen. He's been my rival for decades."

"Back then, he forced me out of the jade gambling business, ruining my reputation in the trade. Now, I want you to destroy his establishment and find a way to utterly humiliate him in front of everyone."

I was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized this was an incredibly thorny task.

These past few days, whenever I had a spare moment, I'd been roaming the jade markets with Third Hu, and Red Sister had provided me with some information as well.

I knew this Old Leopard Chen was no ordinary man!

Among the major local markets, the Zhuangbengqiao Market was under his ownership.

The greatest draw of his market was the abundance of high-stakes goods!

Old Leopard Chen's name was renowned throughout the jade trade—not just an ordinary boss, but a figure with deep roots and formidable power.

Under his control, Zhuangbengqiao Market had become a legend in the jade world.

Though he wasn't quite on the level of the so-called Four Great Clans or the Six Gangs, his reputation locally still rang out with authority!

I glanced at Gao Youde. "Brother De, it seems Old Leopard Chen isn't quite as powerful as you... and you still want to go after him?"

Gao Youde sneered, "Of course he's not as good as me, but I can't swallow this insult. Not only is he inferior, he often comes to me to borrow money for turnover!"

"Then why target him?"

He snorted. "Lending him money is just business—another story altogether. Besides, now that he's grown, the profit he brings me is barely a hundred thousand a year—peanuts!"

"But the way he forced me out back then? I don't forget or forgive that! Sooner or later, I'll settle this score."

Clearly, Gao Youde's resentment had been festering for years. I also understood that if I could help fulfill his wish, Third Hu's issue would likely be resolved.

However, dealing with Old Leopard Chen would not be easy.

"Brother De, I'll need some time to prepare," I finally said.

A chill passed through Gao Youde's gaze. "But I won't give you much time. Two days, that's all the grace you get! Listen, five days from now, there will be a major jade gambling exchange at Third Hu's Zhuangbengqiao Market!"

"If you're going to strike, this is the biggest opportunity you'll get in the coming months!"

I drew a deep breath and nodded. "Very well, Brother De, I accept."

Gao Youde nodded with satisfaction, a sly glint in his eyes. "Good. So, how much capital do you need?"

I thought for a moment, calculations running quickly through my mind.

To prepare a plan against Old Leopard Chen in just two days would require a substantial sum. The gambling exchange was a perfect opportunity, but the risks were immense—one misstep and I'd lose everything.

"At least five million," I said, meeting his gaze with determination.

He raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised by the figure. "Five million? You're bold, I'll give you that."

"Even the big families don't play with such sums! The most is half a million!"

I nodded. Deal.

Gao Youde smirked and called for his assistant to come in.

"Leave your ID here... I'm not worried you won't pay me back! I, Gao Youde, get things done by the power of virtue!"

I knew it was a gamble—a high-stakes one.

"Brother De, this isn't an ordinary task. If we want to disgrace Old Leopard Chen at the exchange, we need to outmatch him with capital," I explained.

"No need to explain. I care only for results!"

"Remember, this money isn't for you to squander. I want results."

"Understood," I replied, secretly relieved.

Gao Youde turned and took a check from his desk drawer, signing it swiftly and handing it to me. "Here's half a million. Go. Do not disappoint me."

Taking the check, I felt the weight of responsibility pressing through that thin slip of paper.

As I left his office, Red Sister was already waiting outside, her face clouded with worry, brows tightly knit.

I followed her out, my mind uneasy about what might come next.

She said nothing, simply heading straight for the car parked by the door.

I trailed behind, an uneasy feeling growing in my heart.

We got in; Red Sister started the engine and drove in silence.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I watched the cityscape roll by, my mind turning over how to complete the dog sacrifice ritual.

After some time, she still hadn’t spoken.

I couldn't help but ask, "Red Sister, is there something you want to say?"

She remained silent, her gaze stern and cold.

At a red light, she finally glanced over, her eyes filled with conflicting emotions.

When the light turned green, she drove on, finally parking at the entrance to a park.

"Get out," she said coldly.

Puzzled, I obeyed.

She locked the car and led me into the park.

At its center was a small lake, the water still chilly in this season. We stopped by the shore, and at last, she turned to face me.

"Red Sister, what do you want to say?" I couldn't help but ask.

She didn't answer. Without a word, she shoved me into the lake.

Water splashed everywhere as I struggled, finally surfacing, gasping for air.

"Red Sister, what are you doing?" I shouted in anger, confusion and frustration churning in my chest.

She stood on the bank, watching me coldly, without a hint of compassion.

Her voice was as icy as the water. "Who do you think you are? What status do you think you have? And you dare take money from Gao Youde? Do you know what that means?"

Treading water, I tried to make my way to the shore, but her gaze was sharp as a blade, making me hesitate.

"Do you know why Gao Youde wants you to go after Old Leopard Chen?" she continued. "He doesn't care if you succeed or not—he's just using you. He wants a scapegoat, someone to take the fall if things go wrong."

"And if you win, he wins. If you lose, you owe him not just the half a million, but all the interest as well!"

"You really think with just that money you can easily defeat Old Leopard Chen?" She laughed coldly. "You're too naive. Chen's strength is far beyond what you imagine—he has even greater forces behind him. You're no match for him."