Chapter 68: Take a Gamble, Old-Fashioned Old Leopard Chen!

Lu Yier took the appraisal results handed over by the staff, a faint, meaningful smile appearing on his face. He cleared his throat and announced slowly, “According to the results, the winners of this round are—Wang Hu and Su Li!”

Upon hearing this, Gao Youde’s face instantly turned ashen, his tightly clenched fists trembling ever so slightly—a clear sign of the bitterness he felt inside. Old Leopard Chen, on the other hand, remained as calm as ever.

After all, Old Leopard Chen hadn't lost much in this round. Out of three stones, he had correctly guessed two.

A net loss of one million.

When Su Li heard the result, a smug smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She turned to me, her eyes flashing with a cold indifference. “Wang Hu, did you really think I was clueless?”

Her words were clearly a declaration of intent, a provocation meant for me.

Hearing her speak, I fell into deep thought.

Her technique felt as if it stemmed from “Blood-Eye Jade Appraisal,” yet there seemed something different about it.

Whenever she examined the raw stones, her movements and posture were gentle, unlike my own method of tapping and listening for the sound.

Still, her skills bore a striking resemblance to mine, as if we shared the same teacher.

I pondered this deeply.

Then, suddenly, realization struck me.

It was Sister Hong!

All my skills in jade appraisal and judgment had been learned in Sister Hong’s villa. “Blood-Eye Jade Appraisal” was the foundation, and those two hundred or so raw stones were the source.

Thinking back to when Sister Hong sold me those stones… Considering her philosophy that everything is about profit… Would she really have given me the secret manual to appraising jade?

And yet, now it was obvious that Su Li had mastered some of these skills as well.

All these signs connected in my mind.

Sister Hong hadn’t left at all.

Not only had she stayed, she had bound me to her completely!

Su Li was her person!

What’s more, what Su Li had learned was undeniably related to “Blood-Eye Jade Appraisal” in some way!

Looking back from the very beginning to this moment, I faintly discerned the truth.

Sister Hong wanted to use me to consume everyone at the table!

Because she understood the true value of “Blood-Eye Jade Appraisal.” She knew my character—unyielding, not easily defeated!

For that reason, I was the perfect blade in her hand. Now, with the situation as it was, win or lose, Su Li and I were bound together; I could not escape Sister Hong’s grasp!

I took a deep breath, calculating silently.

Su Li’s cold gaze stung me, but I understood that this was not simply her own victory, but the unfolding of Sister Hong’s scheme behind her. She was manipulating everything from the shadows, using both Su Li and me to achieve her ends.

And earlier, when Sister Hong had warned me not to participate at the outset, it was nothing but a test of my resolve, an act for show!

“What a formidable woman,” I thought.

She wasn’t even present at the table, yet her shadow was everywhere.

With this round over, Su Li had won!

Together, our funds now totaled sixty-five million. According to the rules, after conversion, that was thirty-two and a half million!

Gao Youde had twenty million, Old Leopard Chen ten million!

“Wang Hu, did you really think I couldn’t manage without you?” Su Li’s voice rang out again, a trace of challenge in her tone.

I looked up, meeting her gaze, having made up my mind.

Since I couldn’t break free from Sister Hong’s control, I had to find my own footing within this game.

The skill of jade appraisal and judgment was my only support, my weapon to strike back.

I ignored the provocation in Su Li’s words, replying coldly, “This is just the beginning. There are still over a hundred stones on the table.”

Su Li was momentarily taken aback, but then she sneered and turned away.

Gao Youde and Old Leopard Chen’s expressions remained complex; they must have sensed the shift in the situation as well.

Both Gao Youde and Old Leopard Chen were typical old hands in the market! Their skills in jade appraisal had been honed through years of hard experience. They were formidable, but not infallible—there was always a chance of error!

That is the very essence of gambling on jade!

If you could be certain of the outcome, there would be no element of risk, no concept of gambling.

At this pace, I was already confident in telling everyone—their defeat was inevitable!

But…

Exactly because of the unpredictable factor that was Su Li!

That made it impossible!

If I were to win, I would be paving the way for two people.

One was Sister Hong—the woman I had once regarded as my sole confidante and benefactor, only to find myself ensnared by her machinations.

The other was Su Li. Since she knew Xiao Mi was still alive, she was clearly involved; moreover, it was she who had ruined my life!

Between the two of us, there was no longer a shred of sentiment left!

If I continued to win, I would only be helping Sister Hong. That, I could barely tolerate.

But to help both Sister Hong and Su Li—that, I could not abide!

I was no longer the fool I once was!

But now, at the final round, there was no way I could back out!

If I withdrew…

All sixty-five million would go straight to Su Li!

She had already shown her hand and won. If she maintained her strength through the rest, doubling that sum was entirely possible!

There was only one way to change the current situation.

That was—to lose!

I resolved secretly. Since I couldn’t defeat Su Li head-on, I would have to take another approach.

Losing the match might actually be my only way out.

But to simply lose outright! The principal that Gao Youde provided would become a crushing debt I could never escape.

Even if I lost, it could not be to Gao Youde!

I could only lose to… Old Leopard Chen!

I stood up slowly, my gaze settling on Old Leopard Chen.

Yet he appeared as unruffled as ever, unchanged from before.

What I needed to do now was to collaborate with Old Leopard Chen, but I had to be certain of one thing!

Old Leopard Chen had to be willing to return all the money I lost to him—only then would I not be doomed.

Yet… From the beginning of this gambling session, there had been little interaction between us.

At this crucial moment, I couldn’t just announce in front of everyone that I wished to join forces with him.

I took a deep breath, my mind racing through every possible scenario.

To lose to Old Leopard Chen in this gambling match, and ensure he would return the money—every step of this plan had to be executed flawlessly.

“Well, so be it!” I thought to myself. I had only one idea left—to risk everything!

I glanced around at everyone present, then cleared my throat and said, “Gentlemen, I personally feel that none of you are a match for me. After all, my jade gambling skills have a true pedigree!”

“Once I reveal my lineage, if you wish to withdraw, now is your last chance!”