novelraw Chapter 380 Why They Came (5)_1
Chapter 380 Why They Came (5)_1
"Thirty million." Someone bid again from the other side. Shangguan You’s heart skipped a beat. Could they be planning a scam, aiming to profit without any initial investment? As this possibility crossed her mind, Shangguan You gently tugged Yu Zifeng’s arm and shook her head at him. They were planning a heist, and if she joined in, they could potentially do the same, turning a profit without any capital. This thought excited her."Girl, I believe Grandpa will like this piece of Spirit Jade. Later, we can cut several more pieces from it: two for your Grandfather Shangguan, and two for you and Zijin."
"Brother Yu, forget it. Thirty million isn’t worth this price. Besides, we don’t know what’s inside. Let’s choose something else," Shangguan You stopped Yu Zifeng from bidding any higher. The warm jade had been bought by a businessman from out of town for thirty million.
In Beijing, who didn’t show Yu Zifeng some deference? No one usually competed with him for the items he desired, and he typically acquired them at the reserve price. Now, he had encountered a boorish upstart who cared for nothing. This affront to Yu Zifeng’s dignity was smoothed over when Shangguan You gently took his hand, signaling him to stop bidding. Hearing her words, he found them reasonable.
However, his gaze towards the businessman, who was now arrogantly clutching the stone with a smug grin, was far from friendly. From the crowd’s chatter, it became clear that the businessman was an upstart from B City. He had bought the stone as a gift to ingratiate himself with the influential figures of Beijing, but unfortunately, he had managed to offend the city’s Crown Prince.
The auction ended, and the payment was made by card. Next up was the stone-cutting process. Everyone at the venue crowded around the businessman who had bought the Spirit Jade, watching as the stone was slowly uncovered. Shangguan You had initially planned to use her Clairvoyance Spell to see what the so-called Spirit Jade was, but with the Fang Family present, she suppressed her curiosity and simply watched as the jade was revealed.
A dazzling red light flashed, momentarily blinding the audience as a piece of top-grade, blood-red Spirit Jade was uncovered. Another flash of red light from the jade further dazzled everyone. Not only were the onlookers astonished, but even the Fang Family members stood up in shock, their faces a picture of disbelief as they gazed at the Blood Spirit Jade.
A rich wave of Spiritual Energy filled the room. Although it wasn’t as potent as the energy in her space, it was still remarkably comforting. Seeing the expressions on the faces of the Fang Family members, Shangguan You became even more certain of her thoughts.
Shangguan You’s hands quickly formed a seal, directing an imperceptible mark towards the upstart businessman. Then, she followed Yu Zifeng and the others out of the Jade Pavilion towards a private restaurant.
No sooner had they settled into their private room than they heard news that the Blood Spirit Jade had been stolen. The upstart immediately reported the theft, and the incident was being broadcast all over television.
"Good thing I didn’t spend thirty million; otherwise, I believe it would have been stolen even if it had been successfully cut," Yu Zifeng commented with feeling. They had only just left when the Blood Spirit Jade was stolen, disappearing silently into thin air. Now, everyone at that location was being interrogated. Fortunately, when they departed, the Blood Spirit Jade was still properly displayed in the main hall.
Even the surveillance videos revealed nothing. Just as they had entered their private room, several people from the Fang Family also entered an adjacent one.
Shangguan You’s brow furrowed. Why were they here? The sound of their conversation reached her ears, and Shangguan You’s lips twitched.
"Uncle Fang, Uncle Li, this place is part of the Zhuge Family’s holdings. Take a look at the menu and order whatever you’d like. Please, don’t be shy."
Shangguan You’s lips curled up again, derisively. The Zhuge Family’s holdings? That’s laughable. This place is clearly my territory; since when did it become someone else’s property? Humph.
Only a thin wall separated the two private rooms. Even if Shangguan You hadn’t wanted to eavesdrop, their loud conversation couldn’t help but spill, unfiltered, into her ears. They hadn’t bothered to lower their voices, so not only she but everyone else in her room could hear their discussion loud and clear.
In their private room, aside from Shangguan You, everyone else was still thinking about the Blood Spirit Jade that had just been uncovered. A slight smile touched Shangguan You’s lips as she silently cast a tracking talisman onto Fang Jianfei.
She believed she would need it later that night.
Shangguan You excused herself from the room and whispered something to the restaurant manager before returning. Observing the members of the Fang, Li, and Zhuge Families—who carried themselves with an air of immortal sages—Shangguan You’s lips curled slightly. Dıscover more novels at novel-fire.ɴet
The meal was enjoyed by all. When it was time to pay the bill, Shangguan You listened to the noisy argument between the two groups, her lips drawing up in a smirk. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. What exactly does the Zhuge Family amount to? Once I’ve arranged things here, perhaps the Zhuge Family will permanently exit the stage.
Following their plan, the group went to a KTV after dinner. Yu Zijin, Gui Luo, and others yelled at the top of their lungs, venting all the frustration that had built up over the past half-year. Under their insistence, Shangguan You had no choice but to sing her heart out as well. Eventually, the men drank, the women sang, and they all went their separate ways at midnight.
Upon returning to the Shangguan Family home, Shangguan Hao had already gone back to the military base. Shangguan Yu and Shangguan Zhi were nowhere to be seen; only Liu Ruoling was at home waiting for them.
Back in her room, Shangguan You gave everyone a few bottles of Jade Dew Pills and Marrow Cleansing Pills to consume and briefed them on some matters concerning Shangguan Qing. Only then did she retire to her own room, enter her space, and slip out of the window. Now that the college entrance exams were over, her life had become busy once again.
Shangguan You followed the signal emitted by the tracking talisman and arrived at the Lido Hotel. She carefully followed the trace until she could enter her space, from where she could observe every move in the room.
Inside the room, Fang Jianfei and a young woman stood respectfully to one side. In the middle sat an old man with a long beard, exuding the air of an ascetic sage.
"Master Uncle, how shall we deal with this Blood Spirit Jade?" Fang Jianyu asked, her beautiful eyes wide as she gazed at the imperturbable Fang Qingrong in the center. Although they hadn’t originally come for the Blood Spirit Jade, having stumbled upon such a treasure, they were naturally reluctant to hand it over.
"Master Uncle, should we divide the Spirit Jade into three parts?" Fang Jianfei asked in a low voice. Even though the jade was currently in their possession, if the Fang Family kept it all, it would definitely cause dissatisfaction among the other two families. While they weren’t afraid of them, it would certainly lead to considerable trouble.