Revealing Secrets
Huo Xuan's expression held no trace of jest. "The master who taught me qigong once demonstrated miraculous abilities. But he warned: Overuse destroys these powers permanently."
"Destroy?" Lin Yue's breath hitched.
Huo Xuan nodded. "Though I can sense jadeite through qigong, frequent use would erase this ability."
Lin Yue's shock morphed into fascination. "Who was this master? Could he also detect jadeite?"
"A true adept," Huo Xuan fabricated. "He wielded martial arts beyond comprehension. But his origins remain unknown—we only communicate via burner phones now."
This lie served dual purposes:
Exit Strategy—Future leaks could be defused by claiming lost abilities
Deterrent—The phantom master's existence would intimidate potential captors
Lin Yue massaged her temples. "This feels like a bad novel plot. Why trust me with this?"
"Because I do."
Her manicured nails pressed crescents into ivory skin. "Pinch me—this must be a delusion."
"Reality's stranger than fiction." Huo Xuan rose, shadows elongating across the café. "Shall we validate the truth at the warehouse?"
During the drive to the warehouse, Lin Yue pressed for details about qigong. Huo Xuan responded with deliberate vagueness, his answers cloaked in mist—until one truth crystallized: his partnership proposal held lethal sincerity.
The warehouse's stone-cutting machines stood ready. Lin Yue dismissed all workers, sealing the workshop doors herself to prevent leaks.
Among their purchased roughs, she selected ten mid-sized stones. Huo Xuan fitted a diamond-edged blade onto the grinder with surgical precision.
Sparks erupted in violent arcs as the first stone met the wheel. The screeching whine assaulted their eardrums for seven minutes and twenty-three seconds—until Huo Xuan lifted the windowed stone.
"Ice-grade sunlit green jadeite—acceptable."
Lin Yue's loupe trembled as she verified the verdict. "Confirmed ice-grade!"
Nine more stones followed. Each window revealed jadeite cores—ten consecutive strikes, ten exponential value spikes. The smallest gain: 38x investment return.
Lin Yue's Chanel heels sank into concrete as she stared at the glowing stones. Conservative estimate: 20 million yuan glowing on the workshop floor.
Huo Xuan brushed stone dust from his sleeves. "Shall we cut them open, senior?"
Lin Yue waved dismissively. "No need—I'm convinced." Her gaze sharpened. "Wash up. We need to talk."
As Huo Xuan exited, Lin Yue's mind raced. This changes everything. With his ability, we'll dominate the jadeite trade. Her thoughts spiraled: Father barely clings to power as clan head while Second Uncle controls over sisty percent of family assets. This venture must stay independent—no Lin family ties.
When Huo Xuan returned, her first words crackled with resolve: "I'm in."
Huo Xuan's smile held volcanic heat. "Then let's blueprint dominance."
They relocated to a hotel suite, dismissing even Li Hu from the room. Over three hours, they forged their pact:
Company: "Celestial Path Jewelry Ltd."
Capital: 100 million yuan each (Huo Xuan's share funded by selling cut stones to the Lin family)Equity: 50/50 split
Roles:Huo Xuan: Source premium jadeite
Lin Yue: Leverage Lin distribution channels
As dusk fell, Lin Yue's phone buzzed—Xu Bo's invitation to a gala hosted by the Stone Gambling Festival organizers.
"Join me tonight," she commanded. "Time to introduce you to the industry's apex predators."
Huo Xuan shook his head. "I'll pass—Xu Bo and I don't mix well."
Lin Yue adjusted her diamond choker. "Rest then. We'll strategize tomorrow."
Around seven o'clock, her black Maybach pulled into the Jiangzhou Convention Center. Li Hu trailed three paces behind, hand resting on his concealed FN Five-seveN pistol.
Meanwhile, Huo Xuan wandered the night market, slurping lamb noodle soup at a street stall. The vendor's neon sign flickered—12 yuan/bowl—as he mentally calculated inventory liquidation plans.