Chapter Fifty-Eight: Hidden Motives

That evening, we were all accommodated in the guest rooms of Lu Yier’s stone gambling market. As night fell, an enticing aroma wafted from the hall, stirring everyone’s appetite.

To fulfill his duties as host, Lu Yier had specially arranged a lavish dinner. The long dining table was laden with a variety of dishes: local Yunnan mountain delicacies, mushrooms, and beef from the Tibetan region. Each dish was meticulously prepared, making one’s mouth water.

“Everyone, please help yourselves. Don’t be shy,” Lu Yier greeted us warmly, a sincere smile on his face.

We all took our seats, but the atmosphere failed to lighten. Su Li sat across from me, her gaze still tinged with coldness, though she seemed momentarily distracted by the sumptuous meal and set aside her hostility. Sister Hong, meanwhile, sat quietly beside us, patiently savoring the food without uttering a word.

It was a most peculiar banquet.

No one toasted, no one chatted—there was only the act of eating.

Eventually, bored by the silence, Gao Youde turned to Old Leopard Chen and said, “Hey, Old Leopard, tell me—do you think I could finish you off in just one day tomorrow?”

Old Leopard Chen sneered, setting down his chopsticks and fixing Gao Youde with a sharp glare. “Have you forgotten how you got run out back then? Same story: a few hundred stones, not even knowing your own stake, lost everything. I didn’t see you on Ruili’s streets for years after that.”

Gao Youde’s expression changed, clearly stung, but he quickly regained his composure, curling his lips into a disdainful smile. “That was the past, Old Leopard. I’m not the man I used to be.”

Old Leopard Chen snorted, eyeing Gao Youde up and down. “You certainly aren’t—just older, and weaker.”

Gao Youde exploded with anger, swinging a chicken leg as if ready to start a fight. His assistants rose as well, eyes full of vigilance and hostility.

Old Leopard Chen, unfazed, continued to smirk, arms crossed, waiting for Gao Youde’s next move.

Sensing the tension, Lu Yier hurried to mediate. “We’re all here for the stone gambling tournament. Let’s talk things out, don’t get physical. Come on, keep eating—don’t let the food go cold.”

Gao Youde thought for a moment, withdrew his arm, and shot a threatening sneer at Old Leopard Chen. “Just wait—you’ll see what I do to you tomorrow.”

He glared fiercely at Old Leopard Chen, then sat down again, tearing into his chicken leg with gusto, venting his fury through food.

Su Li’s gaze flickered between the two, clearly unsettled by the conflict. She sighed softly, then looked over at me.

I didn’t avoid her eyes, murmuring quietly, “If you can’t win tomorrow… aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Su Li was caught off guard by my sudden question.

She looked at me, then suddenly sneered. “Someone’s bound to die, but it won’t be me! As for whether it’s you—that depends on your skills!”

I nodded, but inwardly understood that this stone gambling tournament was destined to be anything but peaceful.

Everyone had come with their own ambitions; competition was inevitable.

Sister Hong remained silent, focused on her meal. Her quietness made her seem even more enigmatic, impossible to read.

The atmosphere of the banquet settled back into silence, broken only by the clatter of cutlery and the occasional sound of chewing.

Lu Yier seemed to realize he could no longer reconcile the tension and simply stopped trying, immersing himself in the feast.

As night deepened, everyone gradually left the table and returned to their rooms.

Su Li and I walked down the corridor to our rooms. She suddenly stopped, and in a low voice asked, “What do you think will happen tomorrow?”

I looked at her, pondering for a moment before replying, “Tomorrow, only one person will leave the stone gambling market alive.”

Su Li sneered, “You think it’ll be you?”

I gave no answer.

But I suddenly asked her, “Xiao Mi—what’s really going on? Her disappearance—is it related to your ex-boyfriend?”

Su Li sneered, “I won’t say much. If you insist, all I can tell you is: she’s still alive. Whether well or not, you’ll know once you walk out of here tomorrow.”

Her words stabbed into my heart like a knife. I knew she was hiding something, but now was not the time to press her.

I took a deep breath, nodded, and signaled for her to continue.

We returned to our rooms in silence.

The night was deep. Lying in bed, I replayed every detail of the evening in my mind.

The clash between Gao Youde and Old Leopard Chen, Su Li’s sneer, Sister Hong’s silence—all of it pointed to a perilous stone gambling tournament tomorrow.

Suddenly, faint footsteps sounded outside my door. Alert, I sat up and called softly, “Who is it?”

A low voice replied from outside, “It’s me, Sister Hong.”

I got up and opened the door. Sister Hong stood there, her face as expressionless as ever.

She spoke quietly, “We need to talk.”

I nodded, letting her in.

Sister Hong sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze deep and searching. “Tomorrow, at the stone gambling tournament, you need to watch out for Gao Youde and Old Leopard Chen. They’re both cunning foxes—won’t let any opponent off easily.”

I frowned, asking, “Why are you telling me this?”

Sister Hong smiled faintly. “Because you’re too naive. Haven’t you noticed? Old Leopard Chen is just a tool for Gao Youde.”

I was startled, but tried to stay calm. “What? Are you saying they’re working together?”

“Their cooperation is just a minor matter. The real person you need to guard against is Su Li!”

Her words left me speechless.

Su Li?

To me, Su Li was nothing but a player—a novice, not someone who truly understood jade.

Sister Hong saw my thoughts and sneered, “Su Li’s ex-boyfriend is the leader of an underground syndicate. Xiao Mi’s disappearance is likely connected to him. Right now, she’s just using you. Once she gets what she wants, you’ll be discarded.”

“Let me tell you, after reading ‘Blood-Eye Jade Recognition,’ Su Li realized your ability to identify jade is leagues above hers.”

“Everything she did today was to leverage your limited capital, binding you together as allies.”

“Why would she do this?”

Sister Hong smiled coolly, then went over to the window and opened it, gazing out at the night of Ruili.

“She’s toying with you… And she’s telling you: your father died because of stone gambling, so you won’t get rich from it either. Even if you could, Su Li would make you her tool for profit.”

“In your uncle’s eyes, you—Wang Hu—are not fit to be a useful person.”

“And you certainly won’t be allowed to grow stronger. Ruili is only so big. If you become powerful, what will they do?”

“Let everyone laugh at them?”