Chapter 107: The Looming Crisis

I gazed at the quiet shelter, its atmosphere steeped in silence. No other guests were here, only a handful of us, and I felt as if we were prey that had wandered into a hunter's trap. Every detail of this place seemed rigged, waiting to spring upon us when night fell, and the hunter emerged to strike us down.

Qian Guang spoke, "There are over thirty guards stationed here. Five stilted houses, each with two armed men carrying submachine guns and AKs. Outside, two guards hold heavy weapons, and I saw two more patrolling beyond the fence, changing shifts every fifteen minutes. The remaining dozen follow Kun Sang. We might have an opening if we strike fast, but we don't know if there are hidden ambushes in the mountains."

Zhuzi responded, "If there's an ambush, we'd be sitting ducks in this terrain. Going out recklessly isn't an option. If possible, we take down their leader first. I'll coordinate with this guy here and grab the chance if it arises."

Zhao Kui nodded, and I replied, "Alright, let's settle on this for now."

The group nodded in agreement. I glanced toward Wei, who still hadn't returned. I wasn't sure what he was discussing with Kun Sang, but it no longer mattered. I continued inspecting the stones, using it as a distraction to keep my fear at bay. This particular gamble on jade was nerve-wracking, not only because of the unpredictability of the stone itself but the uncertainty of life and death that hovered over us, sending chills down my spine.

I examined the stone. Its skin was ashen with black markings, circled by dark, snake-like bands. It was mid-sized, about thirty kilograms, with a fine texture indicative of its origin from the Mu Na mine. I recognized the characteristic star-like specks unique to Mu Na jade on the window of the material.

Lifting the stone, I crouched down to study it closely, inhaling deeply to calm myself. I had to fully relax. I took another deep breath, focusing on the stone. Its jade type was undoubtedly Mu Na's—nearly glutinous with a slight transparency and a fine crystalline structure. The luster was decent, and the distinct cottony texture typical of Mu Na jade was present.

Observing the color, I noted a hint of melon skin green, with floating hues ideal for pendants. It was flawless, unmarred, and if paired with expert craftsmanship, the jade's value could easily reach a hundred thousand. In a full piece, the worth could even climb to half a million. But the stone was small, the quality of its translucency not optimal, and Mu Na jade was notoriously pricey. Despite its modest weight of thirty kilograms, it could easily exceed tens of millions in value, though its return on investment was questionable.

I gestured, and the person in charge approached. "How much is this stone?" I asked.

They flipped through a tablet before replying, "This is Mu Na open-window jade, with base color and melon-skin green. The price is set at fifteen million."

I nodded; the price was close to my estimate. Mu Na jade was indeed expensive, and with the rare base color, a price above ten million was expected. Still, betting on a profit would be challenging, though many would take the gamble. Mu Na jade typically yielded icy quality at minimum, and a single cut could reveal a color change, making it possible to recover costs or even turn a fivefold profit if it shifted to imperial green—but that was high stakes.

After assessing the value, I decided against betting on this stone. Without Wei's oversight, I felt like a ship missing its anchor, adrift and unsettled. I kept my worries to myself to avoid rattling the others. I glanced at Kun Sang's stilted office, growing uneasy with the thought that Wei might have been detained. The more I considered it, the more fear crept in, a cold sweat trickling down my neck.

Desperate to clear my mind, I returned to the stones. Betting was the only thing that could steady my nerves. Swallowing hard, I reminded myself to stay composed until the very end.

I wiped the sweat from my brow, my ears ringing slightly. Nerves gnawed at me, but Qian Guang crouched down, gripping my shoulder firmly. "Don't be afraid," he said, his voice icy. "I'm here. Even if we lose today, they'd have to get through my dead body before they get to you."

With that, he slapped me lightly twice, bringing me back to focus. I clenched my fists, heat pouring from my brow as my hands grew cold. I couldn't let fear win; I had to become ruthless. Ruthless men feared nothing. Yes, I was the villain. Whoever dared cross me, I'd deal with them mercilessly.

Taking a deep breath, I resumed examining the stones. I spotted one with a smooth, rock-like exterior, with an open window on the top. Through the opening, I noted a nearly icy, glutinous quality. The crystals were fine, the translucency decent, the luster strong, and the cotton texture prominent. The color leaned blue, with a gray undertone, suggesting potential for a circle pendant free of cracks or flaws. As a single piece, its market value could easily exceed a hundred thousand.

Examining the surface, rough and gray-black like elephant skin, I saw it had a sandy texture. Shining a light inside, the stone glowed blue beneath the skin and window, hinting that it might be a semi-open Mo Wang piece.

Ma Qing crouched down beside me. "This one looks good, it's blue. Maybe it'll yield violet jade—violet is very valuable," she said.

I chuckled, knowing her superstition too well. Not all blue stones produce violet jade. If it didn't have violet, just blue, it wouldn't fetch a high price. Experienced jade traders often say, "Ten blues to one violet," meaning most violet jade lacks water content and sells poorly.

True violet jade comes in five shades. The first is Royal Violet, the finest shade with rich, pure color and an air of nobility. This rare violet jade is so prized that it's almost unfindable, its value mainly in collection.

The second shade is Red Violet, a close second to Royal Violet with a hint of red. Though it generally lacks transparency and water content, its rarity lends it value.

Third is Blue Violet, commonly referred to as "eggplant violet," spanning light to dark shades with varying saturation. However, blue violet jades are usually coarser and of lower value among violet hues.

The fourth is Lavender, a common shade for violet jade. Though it lacks the richness of Royal Violet, it's a benchmark for quality violet jade. Lavender jade often appears alongside green, forming the renowned "Spring with Color." However, it's generally coarser in texture.

The fifth is Powder Violet, the palest, with a tinge of red or blue. It lacks vibrancy and purity, making it the least valued shade of violet jade.

Last time, we had a sizable, richly colored violet jade, which sold well and saved me from a crisis. Now, seeing another violet-colored stone, Ma Qing suggested trying our luck once more. "Purple is our lucky color, right? Maybe if we bet on it again, we'll escape this danger too."

Her faith in luck amused me, yet this stone did have a vivid blue that could transform into blue-violet. If the quality held, the market value could be substantial.

Purple certainly exuded allure, instilling a flicker of hope. I pondered for a moment before making my decision. I waved at the person in charge. "How much is this stone?" I asked.

The man entered a code and, after a moment, said, "This Mo Wang open-window stone with blue showing is priced at four million."

Four million...

The stone wasn't expensive and had a good price-to-value ratio. If it yielded the fourth-grade Lavender, we wouldn't lose. But as a glutinous icy type, full-bodied, it could be profitable.

Yet this stone was a gamble fraught with risks—internal mutation, color variation, and structural flaws. If the color shifted to third-grade blue violet, it would yield bracelets worth over ten million. But stones with dominant blue hues are rare. Violet, and especially Royal Purple, is even scarcer. I'd heard of a Royal Purple ring gifted to Queen Victoria, but I hadn't seen any others.

Royal Purple was the emperor of violet jade, as King Green was for emerald. Last time, we'd scored a King Green, and although it was just a few hundred grams, it netted nearly a billion. If I could land a Royal Purple, even a pound would mean instant wealth.

The more I examined this stone, the stronger my conviction grew. "Alright, let's bet on this one. Purple is our lucky color—I'm betting on it."

Ma Qing beamed with excitement. "Four million isn't too much. How about we each put in a million and split the gains?"

I nodded in agreement, exchanging a glance with Qian Guang before casting another uneasy look at Kun Sang's office. Why hadn't Wei returned yet? Had something happened?

A nameless fear surged within me…