2026-09-29 20:02:21Evan was sweating bullets. Fortunately, the foot traffic around his stall was thin at the moment. If this got out—that he was passing off Guatemalan jade as high-end Myanmar stock—his reputation would be mud. In the tight-knit world of jade merchants, reputation was currency. Once you were labeled a cheat, you were finished.
Originally, Evan had pegged this trio—two gorgeous women and a handsome man—as wealthy tourists here to play at being gamblers. They didn't h
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Chapter 049
Once the Nine-Cycle Soul Return Needle formation was complete, Frank Yates’s vision shifted. To his spirit-enhanced eyes, the translucent gray shadow hovering over the little girl’s body—her fleeing Soul Essence—halted its ascent. It was no longer drifting toward the Gates of Hell, but it remained stubbornly detached, refusing to sink back into the physical vessel."It’s not enough," Frank thought, sweat trickling down his spine. "I need to force it back in."He extended his left hand, fingers pressed tightly together, and hovered his palm just inches above the girl's forehead. To the onlookers, the gesture looked mystical, almost like a priest performing a last rite or a magician preparing a trick. Even the police officers, who were busy documenting the crash site, paused to stare.The mother, Joy’s mom, sat on the cold asphalt, her bloody hands clasped together. She had stopped screaming. Now, she just watched Frank’s left h
Chapter 048
Frank Yates knew that in the eyes of his wife, his image was set in stone. He was the live-in loser, the man who drove the car and cooked the meals, not a man of substance. Words were cheap, and after four years of being looked down upon, he knew that no amount of eloquent speech would change Cloud Lee’s mind. Only cold, hard facts—undeniable reality placed directly in front of her—would shatter her preconceived notions.So, he remained silent.His hands tightened on the leather steering wheel of the Mercedes, his knuckles whitening slightly. instead of arguing, he pressed down on the accelerator. Ahead, the traffic light at the intersection was counting down. The digital green numbers flickered: Nine... eight... seven...The engine purred, a low growl of German engineering, as the car surged forward to beat the light.Sensing the heavy silence, Cloud Lee sighed. The alcohol in her system was fading, leaving behind a residue of guilt. She realiz
Chapter 047
"President Jennings, regarding the financing round... I'm really counting on you. Let me toast you again."Cloud Lee’s face was already flushed with a heavy, crimson hue. She stood up, her legs slightly unsteady beneath the table, and raised her wine glass toward one of the men seated at the large round table. Her vision was blurring at the edges, the luxurious decor of the Ink Flower Pavilion swimming in her sight, but she forced a professional smile.The man surnamed Jennings stood up as well, his smile practiced and oily. "Cloud, come on now. We’re old acquaintances. There’s no need for such formality. Leave the capital issues to me. I’ve got you covered."He patted his chest with a theatrical display of generosity, the picture of a reliable ally.They clinked glasses. Cloud Lee tilted her head back and drained the contents in one go. The liquid fire of the high-proof Baijiu scorched her throat, settling in her stomach like a hot stone,
Chapter 046
Frank Yates didn’t waste a second on preamble. He pivoted on his heel, torque generated from the base of his spine spiraling upward through his hips. His leg whipped out—a blur of kinetic energy that connected solidly with the side of Blaze’s face.The impact was sickeningly wet.Blaze’s massive frame didn’t just fall; it was launched. He skid across the asphalt, his body carving a long, jagged trail through the dust and gravel. The left side of his face was instantly deformed, swelling rapidly into a grotesque, purple mound, while blood gushed from his split lip, splattering the ground.Silence hung heavy for a heartbeat, broken only by the settling dust.Then, a guttural roar tore from Blaze’s throat."Arghhh!!"It wasn't a cry of pain; it was a scream of primal rage. To Frank Yates’s astonishment, the man’s upper body began to convulse and expand. The fabric of his shirt screamed in protest before surre
Chapter 045
The realization hit the leader of the ambush like a splash of ice water. He paused, his imposing silhouette framed by the harsh glare of the headlights. He had been careful to modulate his voice, dropping it an octave, adding a gravelly rasp to disguise his identity. How in the hell had this kid recognized him?But Blaze was a professional. He didn’t waste time dwelling on the mistake. The element of surprise was gone, but the advantage of overwhelming force remained. He didn't bother denying it. Instead, he made a sharp, cutting gesture with his hand, signaling the men standing behind him."Change of plans," Blaze growled, his voice now stripped of the theatrical disguise, cold and efficient. "Don't kill him yet. Cripple one of his legs first. Make sure he can't walk. As for the two women... save them for the finale. We’ll have our fun once the heavy lifting is done."At the sound of their boss’s command, the atmosphere on the desolate stretch of th
Chapter 044
Terms not in glossaryNone – all terms have been covered.Frank was already imagining the look on Jade's face when these stones were cut back at the company facility—the shock, the disbelief, the dawning realization that she'd just secured the services of someone truly exceptional. The thought brought a private smile to his lips.By early evening, the sun was beginning its slow descent toward the horizon. The sky had transformed into a riot of color—brilliant oranges and deep crimsons spreading across the heavens like fire, painting the clouds in shades of flame. The lively, chaotic energy of the Stone Gambling event was gradually winding down as participants began to pack up and prepare to leave.At exactly six o'clock, the National Stone Gambling Tournament organizers opened the doors to an elaborate buffet dinner. The venue was the same massive hall where the auction had been held earlier in the day, though it had been completely transforme
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