The Jade Gambling Fair

After witnessing this intense fight, Ethan felt that his past fighting skills were nothing more than child's play. If he were to face an opponent of this caliber in real combat, he'd probably be knocked out before even touching them. It was frustrating to compare himself to such experts—it made him feel utterly outclassed.

"Ean, how were my moves?" Grant took the towel Blaze handed him, wiped his face, and returned to his usual playful grin.

"Not bad, but too much showmanship." Ethan pointed at Axel and added, "If he had fought you seriously, you'd be in trouble."

Axel and Blaze exchanged glances, a hint of surprise flashing across their faces. Both were elite ex-special forces soldiers, trained to kill with precision, focusing on ending fights in a single move. When Axel sparred with Grant earlier, he had held back, using only about seventy percent of his strength. If it had been a true life-or-death battle, the outcome would have been uncertain.

Grant chuckled. "Honestly, karate isn't my strongest suit. It's all about flashy moves."

Ethan pulled a pack of gum from his pocket and tossed a piece over. With a sigh, he said, "Either way, I'm no match for you. Teach me a few moves when you have time."

Grant rolled up a piece of gum and popped it into his mouth. He patted Ethan on the shoulder and said, "My skills are nothing special, but when we get back to River City, I'll introduce you to a real master. If you're lucky, he might teach you a few tricks. Once you learn from him, even ten of me wouldn't be enough to take you down."

"Seriously? How good is he?" Ethan's eyes widened. If such an expert truly existed, he was willing to do whatever it took to learn from them. He just wasn't sure if Grant was messing with him.

Grant smirked. "Very good. I'll take you there when the time comes. With your luck, you might actually get something valuable from that old fossil."

Ethan's curiosity was fully piqued, and he pestered Grant for more details about this mysterious master. However, Grant seemed to enjoy keeping him in suspense. He answered vaguely before making an excuse about being too tired and slipping away, leaving Ethan hanging in anticipation.

---

The next morning, Ethan got up early and headed straight to the gym. He spent nearly two hours working through all the equipment, sweating profusely in satisfaction.

After a quick rest, he returned to his room for a fast shower. Feeling refreshed, he lounged on the sofa, casually smoking a cigarette. Before he could even finish half of it, the slightly open door was suddenly kicked wide open.

"Ean, hurry up and get ready—we're going to buy some jade. Oh, and bring your pretty wife along," Grant announced.

Ethan perked up instantly, flicking away his cigarette butt before rushing next door to knock. *Bang, bang!* He had barely knocked twice before the door swung open. He couldn't help but wonder if she had been standing right behind it the whole time.

"Come with us to the jade fair. If we find some top-quality jade, I'll get you a matching bracelet set," Ethan said enthusiastically, making a grand promise.

Eliza smiled faintly. "You guys go ahead. I'll just stay here and watch TV."

Having extensive knowledge about jade, Eliza simply chuckled at Ethan's words. *Does he really think top-grade jade is as common as cabbage?* Just because someone buys a rough stone doesn't mean they'll find jade inside. *Ah, the ignorance of the inexperienced.*

Ethan scratched his head. He had heard that women tended to become sluggish during a certain time of the month, much like hibernating animals. It seemed this was one of those times.

Throughout history, anything related to gambling had always been predominantly favored by men. Perhaps it was an inherent instinct—a thrill-seeking drive coded into their very genes.

Since Eliza wasn't interested in the jade fair, Ethan didn't insist. He joined the group of men and drove straight to the venue.

---

The jade gambling fair was held in a massive temporary tent covering over ten thousand square meters, looking somewhat like a large-scale farmers' market. The perimeter was enclosed by metal fencing, leaving only a three-meter-wide entrance for people to enter and exit.

Entry required an official ticket issued by the event organizers. Participants were also subject to certain restrictions—only jade and jewelry merchants or renowned international jade sculptors were permitted. Of course, with Dexter's connections, getting a few entrance tickets was a simple task. The five of them entered the fair without any trouble.

Inside the vast tent, countless rough jade stones were neatly arranged, mostly belonging to private vendors. There were also on-site stone-cutting tools available. Buyers could choose to have their stones cut on the spot, and if jade was revealed inside, the surrounding jewelers could bid immediately. The highest bidder would win the piece, while the event organizers merely charged stall owners a booth fee.

Hundreds of rough jade traders had gathered here, each eloquently hyping up their merchandise, boasting about their stones' origins. They dropped the names of famous jade mines and quarries, as if buying their rough stones guaranteed a fortune in jade.

Dexter remained calm and composed amidst the sellers' relentless pitches. In contrast, Ethan and Grant were full of curiosity, taking out a flashlight to inspect the uncut stones under the light. Their antics amused the experienced jade traders nearby—after all, these were "full-gamble" stones. *Did they really think a flashlight could reveal jade inside?* It was obvious to the professionals that these two were complete amateurs.

Ethan wandered around, squinting as he scrutinized various rough stones. An outsider might think he had dust in his eyes. However, after checking three stalls, he was disappointed to find no sign of jade. The sheer amount of seemingly worthless rock made him suspect that some vendors might be selling random stones as a scam.

After browsing two more stalls, they arrived at a booth labeled "No. 6." Two young men wearing glasses immediately stepped forward to greet them. Ethan glanced at one of them—a slim young man—and couldn't help but laugh. *Wasn't this the same guy from the supermarket yesterday, the one who had never tasted a condom before?*