The sound of rushing water echoed persistently in the air. In the sweltering heat, the stench of blood grew thicker. The concrete mixer churned out crimson-tinted slurry; countless bodies had been pulverized, one after another...
I sat in Kun Sang's office, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Everyone wore somber expressions—except Kun Sang, who appeared indifferent. Perhaps he had witnessed such scenes far too often.
I glanced at Boss Wei, who crouched by the materials, inspecting two stones with a satisfied look. One was a piece of calcite material, yielding a rare and valuable black gold jade worth fifty million. The other, my gamble, had turned out to be a top-grade blue ice material with a striking blue-violet hue, valued at sixty-four million.
We had made a fortune—more than last time. Kun Sang profited immensely as well, selling a worthless stone for eighty million and taking down Liu Qiang in the process.
It all felt surreal, like a feverish dream. The twists and turns left me feeling as if I had just disembarked a rollercoaster. Exhaustion weighed on me as I leaned back into the sofa, the oppressive heat making my head spin.
Qian Guang clapped me on the shoulder. "Brother, we did it! We should be celebrating. Scared you half to death, didn't it? Same here," he said with a wry grin.
I managed a smile. "You're all incredible actors, keeping me in the dark. I nearly lost it, you know."
Kun Sang let out a hearty laugh. "That bastard Liu Qiang came to me, saying he wanted to settle personal scores with you on my turf. He promised me a share of your winnings in return for my help. What a joke! These stones were gambled in my yard. If I wanted to rob you, why would I need his help? I'm a businessman; integrity matters. That bastard underestimated me."
I chuckled bitterly. Liu Qiang fell because he trusted Kun Sang, not realizing Kun Sang was on our side. Ironically, we too had nearly stumbled in trusting Kun Sang earlier.
This ordeal taught me one thing: never place all your bets on someone else. Relying on others will never be as dependable as relying on yourself.
"That fool thought he could outsmart me. How amusing," Kun Sang sneered. "People like him deserve what they get."
I turned to him and asked, "Boss Kun Sang, with the value of these materials reaching nearly two hundred million, why didn't you take them?"
Kun Sang smirked coldly. "I'm not like Liu Qiang, blinded by greed. My ambitions are much higher. Is this money a lot? It's not even enough to buy a tank. My sights are set on the public auction—that's where the real challenges lie. Your presence is worth far more to me than two hundred million. Isn't that right, Old Qi?"
Boss Wei chuckled. "Kun Sang's right. We shouldn't limit ourselves to these petty stone gambling games. The public auction is where we should set our sights. Once we sell this batch of materials, we'll team up and try our luck there."
Hearing this, I was astounded. Even with our combined strength, we were only prepared for a small gamble at the auction. The depths of that world must be unfathomable—a place where fortunes are made or lives are ruined.
Just then, Wang Gui and Zhao Kui entered. "How is he?" I asked.
"The bullet's out. He's tough, but the conditions here are too rough. We need to head back quickly to prevent infection," Zhao Kui said.
I nodded. "It's done. Let's go."
We all stood, only then noticing Siyan Dog kneeling outside under the blazing sun. His lips were cracked, his body trembling, yet he didn't move an inch.
Kun Sang spoke coldly. "I despise those who betray their brothers. Someone who betrays once will betray again. Better to end it now."
I looked at Siyan Dog. His fate was no longer in his hands; he was utterly powerless.
Qian Guang shook his head. "I need him."
Kneeling before Siyan, Qian Guang said, "You're moving up. Take over Liu Qiang's operations. If anyone disobeys, kill them. If you can't, come to me. Rebuild Seventh Master's business as quickly as possible."
Siyan nodded weakly but fervently, too drained to show any joy.
"And Liu Qiang?" Qian Guang asked.
"He lost in stone gambling and fled to Myanmar," Siyan replied.
Smart. Declaring Liu Qiang dead would bring his debts to Siyan; letting others believe he fled keeps their anger directed at him.
Without another word, Qian Guang left with Boss Wei. I stepped outside, where the ground shimmered with water tinged red—a grim reminder of how many lives had been lost in this deadly game.
Looking back at the mountain, I felt overwhelmed by the lessons it had imparted: the bloodshed, the betrayals, and the fleeting nature of human life.
We boarded the car and left the mountain behind. On the way, no one spoke. Malan leaned against me, her hand tightly gripping mine. I didn't know what it meant, but I understood—she needed me just as much as I needed her.
By the time we returned to the city, night had fallen. We headed straight to Boss Wei's shop with the materials. Exhausted, we sat silently, staring at the blood-stained stones. Gambling on stones truly was a life-and-death gamble.
"One piece is worth fifty million; we split fifteen million each, with Zhao Fei taking one million. The second piece is worth sixty-four million, divided equally at sixteen million each, minus one million for expenses. Zhao Fei gets the least, so I suggest we pool something to make up the difference," Boss Wei proposed.
I interrupted, "No need. A deal is a deal. I only contributed what I could. The main goal was taking down Liu Qiang."
Boss Wei smiled. "Fair enough. I'll handle the materials. Though this batch isn't as good as the last, its rarity ensures it will sell well. Expect the funds soon."
I stood. "Don't forget the bonuses for my brothers."
"Of course," Boss Wei replied warmly.
As I left, Malan took my hand. Outside, she leaned into me and said, "Let's call it even."
I smiled. "Even it is."
She had forgiven me for using her because I chose her in the end.
"Come to my place," she said boldly. "I want to forget everything. I want to numb myself with you."
I held her close, both of us seeking solace from the nightmares lingering in our minds.
When her BMW 760 pulled up, Malan tossed me the keys. "You drive. I'm tired," she said, her voice weary for the first time.
And so, we drove away, leaving behind the chaos, carrying only our scars and lessons.
A/N
Heyy, you reading, thanks for reading this far please don't stop, support me in any way that youcan. Your reviews, your comments, your criticism, all of it, l would appreciate them. l love you.
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