OFR – Chapter 90 That haha.

Several large stalls were bustling with people, including many experienced jade stone gamblers. Crowds gathered around those who had already cut into valuable jade stones, respectfully seeking their advice on which raw stones to purchase.

Mu Bai guided Qian Yiwen through the venue, picking raw stones based on the reactions from the jade pendant on his chest. However, he didn’t cut open any stones on the spot, preferring not to attract too much attention.

During their exploration, they met an experienced jade gambler known as He Lao. Perhaps impressed by Mu Bai’s skill in selecting raw stones, He Lao chatted with him for a bit and subtly hinted at taking him on as a disciple, causing Mu Bai to smile politely. Mu Bai chose not to elaborate or waste words since their meeting was fleeting and He Lao meant well.

Keeping a low profile, Mu Bai and Qian Yiwen eventually headed to the second floor. On the way, Mu Bai casually cut a stone at a small booth, revealing jade worth 200,000 yuan, granting him access to the second floor.

Once on the second floor, the crowd thinned out and the number of booths decreased. However, Mu Bai noticed that the quality of the raw stones here was significantly higher than those on the first floor, as indicated by his pendant. He selected a few, cutting open a stone worth two million yuan, barely qualifying for entry to the third floor.

The impressive value of the stone captured the attention of onlookers, who whispered among themselves as Mu Bai ascended to the third level.

“Who is this young man? His luck seems incredible—already cutting jade worth over two million.”

“Didn’t you see the screen earlier? His code name is Cold. But two million is nothing—last year, He Lao cut jade worth ninety million, yet he still didn’t get the coveted Nalan Black Card.”

“To get the Nalan family’s Black Card, you not only need to rank first but also cut jade worth over one billion yuan.”

“His gambling luck aside, that girl with him is stunning! Too enviable.”

“Yes, even I, a man in my thirties, am captivated.”

…

Mu Bai and Qian Yiwen arrived on the third floor. Here, the cheapest raw stones were priced at 300,000 yuan, but despite the price increase, Mu Bai didn’t notice a significant improvement in quality. The main difference was a higher probability of finding jade compared to the second floor, but the high prices still made most stones a risky bet.

Carefully relying on his pendant, Mu Bai spent over twenty minutes choosing a few promising stones. The third floor had private, enclosed cutting rooms for added discretion. Realizing it was already past 7 PM and the event ended at 10 PM, he pushed his stone-laden cart into a room and began cutting. Some stones were intentionally worthless to mislead observers.

As Mu Bai and Qian Yiwen settled in, the sound of the stone-cutting machine filled the room. Time flew, and soon it was 9:50 PM. The sky outside had grown pitch-black, while the third floor remained brightly lit. What was once a quiet space gradually filled with over a hundred jade gamblers, most directing admiring glances at an older man with white hair but youthful vigor—He Lao.

“Congratulations, He Lao! You cut jade worth eighty-seven million this time, proving you’re still at the top of your game!”

“Looks like you’ll win the championship again this year, He Lao!”

“Word is that He Lao gambled away his fortune seven times when he was young, but now, in just two years, he’s built a fortune worth billions. Impressive!”

“Yeah, my luck is awful—I spent sixteen million on raw stones and only got jade worth one hundred thirty thousand. I really shouldn’t have come.”

“Same here. It’s painful to even talk about.”

…

Despite being seasoned jade gamblers, not everyone on the third floor was smiling. Some were celebrating, while others lamented their losses. He Lao sat calmly, sipping tea and reflecting on his brief encounter with Mu Bai. The young man’s sharp instincts for picking raw stones and his unhurried, gentle demeanor had left a strong impression.

Even more memorable was how Mu Bai had reacted to his offer to take him as a disciple—with just a polite smile before walking away. He Lao wondered if the boy simply didn’t trust him. But he brushed the thought aside, assuming Mu Bai would be surprised when he saw the rankings later.

Suddenly, the sound of the cutting machine in a nearby room stopped, and a few minutes later, the door opened. He Lao glanced over casually, only to be surprised by who emerged—it was Mu Bai and his female companion.

“Hmm? That kid? He made it to the third floor, too? But he’s empty-handed. Did he not find any jade after all that cutting?”

Curious, He Lao approached and greeted Mu Bai, “Hey, young man, remember me?”

Mu Bai turned and smiled, “He… Lao?”

“Yes, that’s me. So, what did you get after all that cutting?” He Lao asked.

Mu Bai chuckled, “Nothing of value. I sold everything to the venue at its estimated worth.”

“Jade gambling is all about experience and luck. It’s normal to lose. If you’d stuck with me on the first floor, you’d probably have done much better.”

“Is that so?”

“Absolutely. The rankings will be announced soon; why not stick around and listen? You might be surprised.”

He Lao spoke confidently, expecting Mu Bai to understand his implications. But instead of reacting with awe or fawning over him, Mu Bai just smiled lightly and walked away with his companion, leaving behind only a simple “Haha.”

Puzzled, He Lao frowned slightly. He couldn’t figure out what Mu Bai’s laugh meant, but he soon shrugged it off. It was just a chance meeting, not worth dwelling on.

Moments later, the clock struck ten, echoing through the venue. Attendees on the first and second floors focused on the large screens, while those on the third floor turned to the high platform.

The vice president of the event stepped onto the stage with a list in hand. “Thanks to everyone for making this year’s jade gambling event a success! Let’s skip the formalities and go straight to the most exciting part: the rankings! As always, we’ll announce from tenth place upward.”

He paused before reading out, “In tenth place, from Yuntian City, Miss Zhang Yining, with jade valued at 28.69 million yuan. Applause, please!”

“Ninth place, anonymous, code name Tea Wen, with jade worth 31.82 million yuan. Applause!”

“Eighth place…”

“Seventh place…”

The applause never ceased as each name and jaw-dropping figure appeared on the central screens. By the time the third-place result was announced, the valuation had exceeded seventy million, causing many to stand in excitement. Jade gambling was all about the thrill, the adrenaline, and the dreams of one day reaching such heights.

He Lao was also brimming with anticipation. He knew he was the best on the third floor, and he was ready to claim the title once more. Winning two years in a row would be a glorious achievement.

However, as he savored the thought, the vice president’s voice brought him back to reality.

“In second place, from Xuzhou, He Lao, with jade valued at 87.6 million yuan. Applause!”

“What? Second place?” He Lao was stunned. Before he could process it, the next announcement made his ears ring.

“In first place, anonymous, code name Cold, with jade valued at 298.9 million yuan! This is the highest jade valuation in the event’s history! Let’s give a thunderous round of applause!”

First place! Code name: Cold! 298.9 million yuan!

The entire venue erupted into applause and murmurs of disbelief.

“Almost three hundred million? That’s insane!”

“The highest in history!”

“Who is this guy? What luck!”

“Cold? I’ve never heard of such a jade gambling expert from Jianghai Province!”

…

He Lao could only replay his earlier conversation with Mu Bai in his mind.

“Yes, that’s me. So, what did you get after all that cutting?”

“Haha, nothing of value. Sold it all to the venue.”

“Jade gambling is all about experience and luck. It’s normal to lose. If you’d stuck with me on the first floor, you’d probably have done much better.”

“Is that so?”

“Absolutely. The rankings will be announced soon; why not stick around and listen? You might be surprised.”

“Haha.”

Now, He Lao understood the surprise. It was so astonishing he could barely believe it. Mu Bai’s final “haha” now seemed to mock his assumptions, and for the first time in his life, He Lao, an experienced jade gambler in his fifties, felt his face flush with embarrassment.

A gentle, composed young man of nineteen or twenty had just stunned the entire venue.