Chapter 86: Tiger, You Truly Are a Genius!

All that has happened has made me more indifferent to these things. I remained calm and nodded slightly, signaling my acceptance of this responsibility.

Seeing this, Lu Yier nodded in satisfaction and continued, “Tiger’s judgment and integrity are clear to us all. I hope everyone will work together from now on to develop this market collectively.”

The whispers in the hall gradually died down, and the crowd raised their glasses to congratulate me. I responded to each in turn, but my mind was already turning over the strategies I’d need to survive what was coming.

Gao Youde’s threats still echoed in my ears. I knew that becoming the Lantern Bearer meant more power and wealth, but those were not things I could claim right away.

Yet the money I owed Gao Youde—I had to repay immediately!

After all, by the end of this stone-gambling gathering, the relationship between us had completely fallen apart.

When the banquet ended and the guests had dispersed, Lu Yier gestured for me to join him.

I brought Hu San along, following Lu Yier to a secret reception room. The room was simply yet solemnly decorated, its walls lined with ancient paintings and calligraphy—a touch of mystery hung in the air.

No sooner had we arrived than Old Leopard Chen knelt before me.

“Chen Laobao of the Ancient Jade Guild pays his respects to the Heir of Ancient Jade!”

His voice quivered with excitement.

Lu Yier was visibly stunned by the scene. Not only him—Hu San too, watching the gray-haired Old Leopard Chen, was deeply startled.

I stood frozen, unsure how to respond. This was Old Leopard Chen, an elder among the ten foremost jade markets in the city. He’d just bested me at the stone-gambling event. Why was he kneeling before me now?

“Elder Chen, what are you doing?” I hurried forward to help him up, but he insisted on kneeling, his eyes brimming with awe and excitement.

“Heir of Ancient Jade, you might not yet know your own identity,” Old Leopard Chen took a deep breath and continued, “That skill of yours, ‘Blood-Eye Jade Discernment,’ is not something just anyone can learn! The Ancient Jade Guild’s legendary treasure—only the true heir can possess it.”

My heart trembled at his words. I recalled the ‘Blood-Eye Jade Discernment’ manual. Nowhere did it mention any of this.

I’d received it from Sister Hong. I knew it was precious, but I’d never imagined it had such a profound heritage.

Lu Yier recovered himself, a complex expression crossing his face. “So that’s it. Tiger, it seems you’re not only our new Lantern Bearer, but also the successor of the Ancient Jade Guild.”

“Ancient Jade Guild?”

Now it was Hu San’s turn to be confused. Though only a novice in the jade world, he’d heard some stories. But this Ancient Jade Guild—it was a name unfamiliar to him.

“Ancient Jade Guild?” Hu San repeated, clearly baffled by the name.

Old Leopard Chen rose to his feet and explained slowly, “The Ancient Jade Guild is a secretive order dedicated to seeking and studying extraordinary jade. It has existed since before the Qin dynasty, with a legacy stretching back thousands of years. Its founder was He Shi, and the famous He Shi Jade of Great Qin was the Guild’s first supreme discovery. Our members are scattered across the land, from the Kunlun jade veins in the north to the southern peninsulas—wherever there is jade, you’ll find our traces.”

He paused, then continued, “The Guild possesses a legendary manual, ‘Blood-Eye Jade Discernment.’ This book not only records countless methods for distinguishing jade, but also conceals codes and techniques understood only by the true heir. Without the proper foundation, even if one obtains the book, they cannot grasp its essence.”

Hearing this, I was shaken. So ‘Blood-Eye Jade Discernment’ was far more than an ordinary appraisal book—it carried a legacy of great depth.

Old Leopard Chen looked at me, his expression a mix of emotions. “Wang Hu, when we gambled jade earlier, I noticed something different about you. It seems you are indeed not just our new Lantern Bearer, but also the successor of the Ancient Jade Guild.”

I took a deep breath, trying to absorb all this. “But why have I never heard of the Ancient Jade Guild?”

Old Leopard Chen sighed, “The Guild has always kept a low profile. Only the true heir knows of its existence. The fact that you possess ‘Blood-Eye Jade Discernment’ proves you are the fated one—the successor we have sought all these years.”

Hu San, still thoroughly confused, couldn’t help but ask, “So what exactly are the responsibilities of the Guild’s heir?”

Old Leopard Chen replied gravely, “The heir must not only master the art of jade discernment but also bear the duty of preserving and passing on the Guild’s skills. Our knowledge and craft must never fall into the wrong hands. And, in critical times, the Ancient Jade Guild is tasked with reviving the entire industry!”

To be honest, hearing all this didn’t bring me any joy.

Something about the situation didn’t sit right with me.

I looked at Old Leopard Chen, “By your account, the Ancient Jade Guild should have had an unbroken line of succession. If you’re now declaring me the heir, does that mean the lineage was interrupted?”

Old Leopard Chen’s face darkened with worry. “That’s exactly right. After the last heir passed away unexpectedly, the succession was lost. We have been searching for a new heir for thirty years, but to no avail—until you appeared and demonstrated the ‘Blood-Eye Jade Discernment’ technique. Only then did we know you were the one.”

“Thirty years have passed!”

Lu Yier nodded in agreement. “Tiger, your arrival is not only a blessing to the world of stone gambling—it’s the hope of the Ancient Jade Guild.”

I gave a wry smile. “Don’t exaggerate… is it really that important?”

But before I finished, Old Leopard Chen nodded solemnly. “It is indeed. Do you remember the ‘Buddha’s Heart Jade’ that was uncovered at our market?”

At that, I nodded slightly and smiled, “Actually, that so-called Buddha’s Heart Jade was a story I made up. The ‘Buddha’ was an ancient Buddha; the jade itself was a piece of red jade offcut. I merely carved a cavity in the heart of the jade Buddha and inserted a red jade core—for the sake of a premium price!”

As soon as I finished, Lu Yier’s face froze in surprise.

“Heavens, is that why lately people have been collecting ancient jade Buddhas in our peripheral markets?”

Their astonishment was understandable. In short, I had, by a rather wild means, created a niche category of jade.

I’d spun a good story around a piece of red jade offcut!

Old Leopard Chen’s eyes glimmered with admiration. “Tiger, this is exactly your unique vision and creativity. That is why we are certain you are the heir of the Ancient Jade Guild. Not only can you discern jade, you can give it new value.”

Hu San finally understood and laughed, “So that’s how it is. Tiger, you’re a genius!”