Volume One: Beihai Qinyang Chapter 15: The Stone Gambling

Bincheng’s raw jade gathering site was a place where most of the materials were hauled in from Myanmar, with some shipments only recently arrived. At this time each year, jewelers from all over Bincheng flocked here, eager to purchase the finest jadeite.

Time ticked by as Zhang Yiming stood at the entrance, waiting for Qin Yang to arrive—after all, this place was not open to the public. Only those with capital received invitation cards. The gamble of jade was not something ordinary people could afford to play. As the saying goes, one stroke to heaven, one stroke to hell: with luck, one could make a fortune; without it, lose everything.

Stepping out of the taxi, Qin Yang saw Zhang Yiming waiting at the door, and his face was filled with embarrassment. “Brother Zhang, I’m really sorry for keeping you waiting,” he apologized.

Zhang Yiming chuckled, “Haha, I just got here myself. I was hoping to ride your luck, Brother Qin, and maybe strike it rich this time!”

As they chatted, a woman approached. She looked about thirty, dressed in a black long dress. “Mr. Zhang, I haven’t seen this young gentleman before. Is he your relative?” she inquired.

Zhang Yiming was surprised to see her; he hadn’t expected even someone like her to be drawn to this jade convention. She was Ye Meier, CEO of Meili Group—a jewelry company that rivaled Chow Tai Fook in Hong Kong. Over the past few years, Meili Group had established many overseas branches, its assets staggering. As it hadn’t gone public, no one knew its true worth, but it could easily rank among the richest.

“Hello, Ms. Ye. My name is Qin Yang,” Qin Yang said, extending his hand to the mature woman before him, smiling.

“Qin Yang?” Ye Meier paused, her fair face showing a hint of recognition. The name seemed familiar, though she couldn’t recall where she’d heard it. Shaking her head, she smiled, “Hello, I look forward to working together in the future.”

She nodded to Zhang Yiming and walked inside.

Once Ye Meier had left, Zhang Yiming withdrew his lingering gaze. “Sigh, she’s truly a shrewd woman.”

“Oh?” Qin Yang’s eyes held a trace of curiosity, waiting for more.

Ye Meier, thirty years old, was the daughter-in-law of the Bai family. Unfortunately, Bai Changhe’s fate was ill-starred; he married such a beautiful wife, only to die in a car accident on their wedding day. Afterwards, Ye Meier took over the Bai family business, and after ten years of hard work, achieved her current success.

Hearing this, Qin Yang sighed inwardly. For a woman to grow a business so large, it was no easy feat.

They walked inside, the crowd growing and the atmosphere lively—there was no hint of autumn, just the fervor of summer, with everyone ablaze with enthusiasm.

He looked around; before coming, he had read several books, sharpening his knowledge at the last minute. He knew that coming here clueless was folly. If Zhang Yiming knew Qin Yang was completely ignorant, he might regret bringing him.

“Brother Qin, take a look around first. I have some friends to greet; I’ll come find you later,” Zhang Yiming said apologetically, feeling guilty for leaving Qin Yang behind.

“Brother Zhang, you’re too polite. I’ll just wander around myself.”

Stalls lined the area, with shopkeepers sitting in front, drinking tea—it felt less like business and more like idle chat. Qin Yang observed carefully, watching how others made their purchases.

The raw stones varied greatly in size, and distinguishing those containing jadeite was a formidable challenge.

“Master Ma, where should we head?” As Qin Yang was lost in thought, a familiar voice called out. He was surprised to see Feng Bo here, as this was a private trading event—without an invitation, entry was impossible. Feng Bo had received his card only because his father couldn’t attend and wanted him to gain some experience.

“Hmph, now that Mengqi has received my recording, she should have broken off contact, but my money isn't so easily earned.” Feng Bo strode over, “Qin Yang, are you here to gamble on jade too?”

“I suppose so,” Qin Yang replied, lighting a cigarette and shrugging.

“Oh?” Feng Bo’s mind spun with schemes. “How about this—we make a bet. Let’s see whose raw stone yields the higher price. What do you think?”

“Not interested.” Qin Yang frowned, a trace of displeasure flashing through his mind. He truly had no interest in such trivial games.

“Qin Yang, you’re not scared, are you?” Feng Bo pressed, unwilling to give up, mocking him.

“Fine, since you want to bet, let’s bet.”

Feng Bo was elated at Qin Yang’s agreement. “Alright, we’ll wager one million. Whoever wins gets the other’s raw stones as well.”

“No problem.”

Those nearby were excited by the prospect. Choosing raw stones was usually dull, but now something interesting was happening to liven things up.

“Master Ma.”

“Wow, the Feng family brought in Ma Three Hands—he’s a master in the jade gambling world.”

“Sigh, that kid’s sure to lose.”

“Exactly.”

Qin Yang ignored their chatter and focused intently. Although he didn't understand jade gambling, he possessed the inheritance of the Emperor who Slays Immortals; if even such a minor challenge defeated him, it would be shameful.

The Aura Sight Technique—a low-level spell—helped him analyze things well. Renowned in Daoism, it could judge a person's fortune or misfortune, and it also worked for raw stones.

As he swept his Aura Sight over the stones, he found most were dull, with not even the faintest ripple. Shaking his head, he walked away. These stones were mostly leftovers from last year, or had been picked over many times—clearly not good material.

As he walked, he spotted a black stone in the distance; it was inconspicuous. “How much is this one?” he asked.

The shopkeeper, having overheard their bet, smiled, “This is fresh stock from this year—a good piece, with a great chance of jadeite. Ten thousand, and it’s yours. What do you say?”

Qin Yang shook his head, dissatisfied with the price. “And what about this one?” He pointed to another stone of similar size.

“One thousand.”

He pulled out a thousand, bought the smaller stone, and continued browsing.

Only when he truly started exploring did he realize how vast the place was. Aside from the stone in his hand, he hadn’t found anything else worthwhile. While the Aura Sight let him tell if there was jadeite inside, he couldn’t discern its quality; he could only explore step by step.

An hour passed as he nearly covered all the stalls, but he found nothing particularly promising. He picked up another stone and sat down.

A few minutes later, Feng Bo came over, face full of smiles. With Ma Three Hands’ guidance, he had selected several good stones. Seeing Feng Bo with three stones, Qin Yang's mood soured, and he glanced at Ma Three Hands in surprise.

He hadn’t expected the old man to be so capable.