Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Hmph! Tang Meng, don't be so c.o.c.ky. Look at Ling Yun's current results. We don't know who will be the loser yet!”

Gou Junfa and Xie Junyan knew that Ling Yun didn't play according to the rules, which made them fear him instinctively. Tang Meng, however, was different.

Tang Meng raised his chin in disdain and said, “We'll see!” He flicked his long hair and headed out.

“Ling Yun, I hope you don't mind what happened in the room. I was there as a witness and had to maintain my objectivity,” Song Zhengyang said to Ling Yun while waiting for the elevator.

“Uncle Song, you have done me a great favor by not demanding that I bring you a hundred million in cash. I can't thank you enough. Why would I mind?” Ling Yun replied with a smile.

Song Zhengyang nodded. They entered the elevator together followed by Tang Meng with the Psychic Jade Box and Tie Xiaohu with two hundred thousand cash.

Ling Yun took the bag of cash from Tie Xiaohu and stood in front of Song Zhengyang. “Uncle Song, I didn't manage to prepare anything for our first meeting. I should actually treat you to a good meal, but it's really too late. This is not a lot of money, but it contains my sincerity. Please accept it.”

Song Zhengyang pushed Ling Yun's hand away gently and shook his head. “Ling Yun, to be honest, your Uncle Song has enough money. Keep your money if you respect your Uncle Song.”

Ling Yun had known that Song Zhengyang wouldn't want this money from the start. He didn't stand on the ceremony. He tossed the bag of money back to Tie Xiaohu and beamed. “Alright, Uncle Song. I will let Tang Meng head over to your place with the betting stake tomorrow…”

Song Zhengyang waved his hand dismissively. “Ling Yun, I was just about to talk to you about this. You don't need to care about the betting stake. Your one hundred million yuan would be useless if you put it with me. Your time will be better spent on studying to get into Yanjing University. You have to win!”

Ling Yun concealed his delight and said anxiously, “How can I do that…”

“I believe you can definitely win judging from your performance tonight. However, let me make myself clear. I don't care who is right or wrong. I will get the one hundred million from you if you lose!” Song Zhengyang said half jokingly to Ling Yun.

Ling Yun was of course not naive enough to think that Song Zhengyang would pay for him if he lost. Moreover, he knew that he would not lose. Song Zhengyang had already saved him a lot of unnecessary ha.s.sle by waiving the need to produce cash for the stake.

They exited the elevator when it reached the first floor and came quickly to the door of the Triumph Nightclub.

“Ling Yun, it's the Qingming Festival holiday today. Tomorrow is also a Sunday. Do you have any interest in attending the stone gambling event at Yu Ding Xuan in the Antique Market?”

Song Zhengyang did not need Ling Yun to send him back since he had his own car. He stared at the Psychic Jade Box in Tang Meng's hand while extending the invitation to Ling Yun.

Tang Meng's ears p.r.i.c.ked at the exciting invitation. His gambling instincts triggered and he tried to egg Ling Yun on. “Big Brother Yun…”

Ling Yun was interested in the stone gambling event. He didn't know how to appraise the stones, but he was sure he could rely on his gift to identify stones with spiritual energy! It would be his gain if he could bring some of those babies home!

The invitation was untimely though. Ling Yun was preparing to explore the mysterious crater tomorrow. He didn't have any time to spare as he had to be fully prepared and rested to break through the Physique Tempering Stage Four.

Ling Yun shot a glare at Tang Meng. “Have you forgotten our important task tomorrow?”

Tang Meng recalled his paramount task of decorating the two mansions and fell silent.

Ling Yun turned towards Song Zhengyang apologetically. “Uncle Song, my sincere apologies. I have some important things to attend to. I will definitely pay you a visit when I am done!”

Song Zhengyang didn't force them since they were just high school students. He took no offense and replied with a smile on his face, “That's alright. Call me when you are free. I will introduce you to some of my friends in the Antiques sector. You have to showcase your priceless baby so that I can have some face!”

To put it bluntly, Song Zhengyang was most interested in the jade box.

He wouldn't have given Ling Yun so much leeway otherwise. Song Zhengyang wasn't some kind old man.

He wasn't one to be trifled with. He stood on the pinnacle of the Antique Market in Qingshui City and faced gamblers from the entire Huaxia country.

“Rest a.s.sured, Uncle Song. Treat it as done!” Ling Yun agreed heartily.

Song Zhengyang gave Ling Yun a pat on the shoulder before parting ways.

“Return to Mansion Number One.” Ling Yun got into the Land Rover with Tang Meng driving. Tie Xiaohu followed closely in his Audi.

“Big Brother Yun, Song Zhengyang gave us a lot of leeway today. He gave you his name card personally and waived the need for the one hundred million stake. Hehe, Gou Junfa and Xie Junyan really shot themselves in the foot this time!” Tang Meng started excitedly in the Land Rover. His eyes were full of excitement.

“Did you really think Song Zhengyang was so kind and righteous? He treated us this way because of my jade box. Who exactly is this Song Zhengyang? Why do I feel that Gou Junfa and Xie Junyan are fearful of him?” Ling Yun put the psychic jade box back into the spatial ring and asked Tang Meng.

Tang Meng's expression turned serious. “Big Brother Yun, Song Zhengyang isn't originally from Qingshui City, but he has been here for the past twenty years. He opened the Pearl Jade Court in the Antique Market which focuses on the stone gambling event. He is also a collector of precious stones and jewelry. He managed to placate both the gangsters and police with ease when he first started here. Legend has it that he has a very strong military background!”

“Xie Junyan was right. Not only does Song Zhengyang have a good knack for stones, he is also a great gambler. In addition, he is involved in some mysterious business. Basically, anyone who made it in Qingshui City has something to do with him…”

Ling Yun was intrigued by the mysterious business. His eyebrows arched as he smiled lightly. “What kind of mysterious business?”

Tang Meng lowered his voice even though there were only two of them in the car. “Pops mentioned that he seems to be trading military arms and funerary objects. I don't know the details though…”

Ling Yun knew about the about military arms but what were the funerary objects? “What kind of business is trading funerary objects?”

Tang Meng laughed and explained to Ling Yun, “Funerary objects are things that ancient people are buried with in their graves. They are also known as ‘burial objects'. These are sometimes stolen and smuggled by grave robbers…”

Ling Yun didn't think much of them until he reminded himself that the crater was also a huge tomb.

Won't I be rich if I let Song Zhengyang deal with any funerary objects I manage to get from the crater tomorrow? Ling Yun couldn't help but smile at that thought, forgetting about the danger lurking in the crater momentarily.

“My Dad has seen so many strange things in the criminal investigations after retiring from the special forces. These are things that cannot be announced to the public. He has constantly drilled one thing into me since I was a child: there is no need to be afraid of the things in the open, but there is a need to be cautious about the things happening in the dark. Take Song Zhengyang for example. No one knows where he came from or his background. We cannot afford to cross this person!”

“Gou Junfa and Xie Junyan can be c.o.c.ky in school, but they will meet their opponents and fall from grace when they enter society. They will bring great disaster to their families and themselves…” Tang Meng stole a glance at Ling Yun from the rear view mirror in the car and was caught in the act.

“You rascal! What are you trying to imply? Don't beat around the bush. Spit it out!”

Tang Meng scratched his head. “Big Brother Yun, I am not implying anything. What I meant was that Gou Junfa met his opponent today when he tried to find trouble with you. To be honest, you are the most mysterious type of person!”

Ling Yun gave it some thought before replying to Tang Meng solemnly, “Tang Meng, we are brothers bound by oath. Act normally when we are alone, and don't think of me as mysterious. You must not let any psychological burden come between us.”

Ling Yun knew that the appearance of the Protection of the Nine Dragons and the ability to become invisible had had a profound impact on Tang Meng and the rest. He could only comfort Tang Meng in this way without explaining too much.

Tang Meng nodded. “Big Brother Yun, I understand. I just want to bring up a point. I remember the most powerful a.s.sa.s.sin from yesterday night said that the brush you have is called the Emperor Brush. Am I right?”

Ling Yun smiled. “That's right!”

Tang Meng's eyes flashed with uncontrollable excitement. “Big Brother Yun, do you know who is the Human Sovereign?”

This matter was of utmost importance to Ling Yun, but he had yet to find the time to understand it. Yesterday, the a.s.sa.s.sin had said that he was the descendant of the Human Sovereign. It would be the joke of the century if he didn't know who the Human Sovereign was.

“Who is he?” he asked.

Tang Meng smiled. “Big Brother Yun, don't you ever read online novels? The Human Sovereign is f.u.xi, the first of the Three Sovereigns in ancient Huaxia! He is the one who created the eight trigrams in accordance to the Yellow River Map in the Luo Scroll!”