Chapter 50: The Golden Celestial Eye

"Hey, are you serious right now?" Though Li Bing'er didn't know much about antiques, she had at least a rough idea of what stone gambling was. Essentially, stone gambling involved selecting raw stones and cutting them open to see if there was any jadeite inside. If there was, you'd won the gamble; if not, you'd wasted your money. Every year, countless people lost everything to stone gambling. Trying to make money in a stone gambling house had even slimmer odds than winning the lottery.

"Lin Feng, are you joking with me? You actually think you can find a thousand-year-old antique for me through stone gambling?" Li Bing'er pursed her lips in disbelief, eyeing Lin Feng with a hint of disdain.

"Once we're inside, watch more and talk less. It won't do you any harm," Lin Feng shot her an impatient look, replied casually, and then strode straight into the shop.

She stopped in her tracks, hands on her hips, fuming with anger inside.

You dare look down on me? I'll see for myself today just how capable you really are!

As soon as she entered the shop, she saw that it was packed with people, the business bustling with excitement. Most of the stone gamblers were men, and after glancing around, she finally caught sight of Lin Feng and hurried over to stand by his side.

She found Lin Feng standing before a section of raw stones, diligently examining each one, picking them up and inspecting them closely.

Her face was full of puzzlement, her eyes darting this way and that. She leaned in to whisper into Lin Feng's ear, "Hey, Lin Feng, do you really know what you're doing? Even if you do, all these stones are covered in skin—how can you tell if there's any green inside without opening them?"

"Those who know what they're doing have their ways. This is the only place where I might find you a priceless ancient jade. If even here we can't find one, then fate itself is against you," Lin Feng replied, still assessing the stones, his explanation offhand.

In an instant, she clapped her hand over her mouth, not daring to speak again for fear of distracting Lin Feng's judgment.

After all, this was a matter of life and death for her!

"Master Jin has arrived!" Suddenly, a loud shout rang out from outside the shop.

At the sound of those words, the crowd within grew instantly restless. As several black-clad bodyguards rushed in, all the customers hastily backed away to either side, clearing a wide path.

The bodyguards lined up on both sides of the aisle, waiting to welcome Master Jin.

A few seconds later, a rotund, bearded man entered with deliberate slowness, rolling a pair of carved dragon jade beads in his hands and dressed in a finely tailored Suzhou-embroidered robe.

The moment the crowd saw him, a hush fell over the room.

This was none other than Jin Mantian—Master Jin—famed throughout the stone gambling world as the Golden Eye!

Within the industry, his name was known by all.

"What a display!" Li Bing'er crossed her arms over her chest, speaking with open disdain.

She had seen grander scenes than this. Whenever her adoptive father appeared somewhere, the occasion was always much more impressive than this. Still, she was curious as to what special abilities this bearded man possessed to command such respect.

"Master Jin, your presence brings honor to my humble shop. Allow me to extend my warmest welcome," came a voice from the stairs. A middle-aged man hurried down—Zhao Peng, the shop's owner.

Once downstairs, Zhao Peng hurried over to Jin Mantian, bowing and scraping with a broad, flattering smile.

Jin Mantian eyed him with stern scrutiny and asked, "I heard your shop just received a shipment of new raw stones. Is that true? I've come today hoping to try my luck. You won't refuse me, will you?"

"Of course not, Master Jin. It's my great fortune to have you grace my establishment. Please, come inside." Zhao Peng bowed and scraped, leading Jin Mantian deeper into the shop.

Ordinary shops could hardly hope to host a figure of Jin Mantian's stature.

He was called the Golden Eye because of his extraordinary stone gambling skills; nine times out of ten, the stones he selected would reveal green jade inside. He even set the highest record in Jiang City, uncovering eight top-grade jade stones in a row, shocking the entire industry.

An unremarkable little shop could lose everything in a single visit from him.

"Master Jin, this latest batch of jade stones was imported from Hetian's famous mines abroad. The odds of finding jadeite are extremely high—you've come at just the right time," Zhao Peng said as he led Jin Mantian to the back, eager to impress.

Jin Mantian was clearly pleased, showering him with praise as they walked.

When they reached the raw stone area, however, they found a young man standing in their way, his back to them, patiently selecting stones.

Zhao Peng's face turned cold.

He stepped forward, patted Lin Feng hard on the shoulder, and barked, "Kid, get out of the way! Don't you see Master Jin is behind you?"

The implication was clear—you arrogant brat, you don't know your place!

Lin Feng turned around, glanced at Zhao Peng with a faint smile, and replied disdainfully, "Boss, I'm a customer in your shop too, and I got here first. Why should I move for him?"

"What did you say?" Zhao Peng was stunned.

Who in this room didn't know Master Jin? And this kid dared to speak like that in front of him?

If Master Jin were offended, the consequences would be unimaginable. Zhao Peng himself couldn't afford such a loss.

The crowd gasped in shock. In all of Jiang City, few dared to slight Master Jin.

This kid really didn't care for his own life!

In the next instant, Zhao Peng's eyes narrowed, his fist clenched, and the security guards immediately surrounded Lin Feng, catching on to the signal.

"Throw this kid out! And don't ever let him set foot in my shop again," Zhao Peng ordered coldly.

"Yes, boss," the guards responded, closing in on Lin Feng with raised fists.

"I'd like to see who dares!" Suddenly, Li Bing'er stepped in front of Lin Feng.

Her gaze was sharp as she glared at those before her, letting out a cold snort. "You've got some nerve—not only do you not recognize me, but you dare to drive away my friend?"

"Do you all have a death wish?"

Her words sent another wave of shock through the crowd.

Zhao Peng's expression changed drastically, his heart skipping a beat. Could this girl, with the surname Li, have some connection to Li Nantian?

After a few moments of stunned silence, he hurriedly changed his tone, fawning as he asked, "Miss, are you perhaps related to Chairman Li Nantian…?"

"He's my adoptive father. Are you satisfied now?" Li Bing'er arched her lips in a proud sneer and gave a cold snort.

"What? Chairman Li's adopted daughter?" Zhao Peng went pale with fright, his manner instantly transforming. He bowed deeply to Li Bing'er, not daring to risk the slightest offense.

Li Nantian was the underground kingpin of Jiang City, a figure even more powerful than Jin Mantian. Who would dare provoke such a big shot?

Even Jin Mantian was momentarily stunned, not expecting Li Nantian's adopted daughter to show up at a stone gambling house.

The room fell into utter silence.

Even the air seemed to freeze.