Li Yang accepted all their business cards, stunning Fang Xiaoqing beside him.
After they left, Fang Xiaoqing praised Li Yang profusely, smiling and saying, "Brother Li Yang, it seems bringing you here today was the most correct choice. These people who actively sought you out are all renowned treasure appraisal masters from all over China."
"You're the first person in Jiangcheng to receive such treatment."
"That's all thanks to you. Without your guidance, how would I have had the chance to meet these influential figures? Are you here to purchase jade today? I can help you pick out a few raw stones, and you can give them to your grandfather when you return. He'll be very happy." Li Yang said casually.
"Okay! It would be my honor if Brother Li Yang is willing to help me pick them out." Fang Xiaoqing grabbed Li Yang's arm, deliberately rubbing her chest against him a few times.
"Little girl, are you trying to seduce me? If you keep tempting me like this, I might not be able to control myself later." Li Yang turned his head, catching sight of two snowy white mounds peeking from her chest, and said with a smile.
"Hmph, then come on. I don't have any objections as long as you're willing!" Fang Xiaoqing blinked her beautiful eyes and teased Li Yang with her tongue sticking out.
"You said it yourself, I'm really coming now."
As Li Yang spoke, he prepared to make a move on Fang Xiaoqing. Fang Xiaoqing actually puffed out her chest, allowing Li Yang to do as he pleased.
Just as they were getting intimate, a manager in a suit walked up to Li Yang and respectfully said, "Hello, Mr. Li. Our boss would like to see you."
"Your boss? Do I know him?" Li Yang came to his senses and asked the manager.
"Our boss saw your exquisite stone gambling skills just now and greatly admires you, so he wants to invite you upstairs for a cup of tea to discuss cooperation," the suited manager continued.
"I see. Xiaoqing, wait for me here. I'll be right back." Upon hearing this, Li Yang turned to ask Fang Xiaoqing to wait for him there.
Fang Xiaoqing nodded and obediently sat aside, waiting for Li Yang.
Li Yang went upstairs with the manager and arrived at the office door. The manager respectfully said, "Mr. Li, our boss is inside."
"Okay, I understand."
Li Yang pushed open the door and walked in. The moment he stepped inside, the door automatically locked behind him.
Simultaneously, Li Yang heard hurried footsteps outside the door, and his brow immediately furrowed.
"Hahaha, Mr. Li, you're here. Please, have a seat. I just finished brewing tea for you."
A man with gold-rimmed glasses in the office saw Li Yang enter and personally stood up to welcome him.
Li Yang turned back and, seeing the unfamiliar man before him, curiously asked, "Boss, may I ask who you are..."
"I am the owner of this jade stone gambling shop. My name is Jin Weiwu, you can just call me Old Jin," Jin Weiwu said, extending his hand for a handshake.
Li Yang was bewildered. Weren't all the participants in today's jade conference friendly competitors of the Situ family?
He had just competed with Tian Feiyu and the others downstairs. Jin Weiwu couldn't possibly not know about it. Since he knew Li Yang was an opponent, why would he respectfully invite him up for tea and a chat?
Most likely, this was a Hongmen Banquet!
This was also why the door automatically locked when he entered just now.
"Boss Jin is too kind. I am just a junior, and my status cannot be compared to yours." Li Yang responded with feigned politeness.
"Mr. Li, there's no need to be so formal. I saw your stone gambling skills just now. So many renowned stone gambling masters here defer to you. I am precisely the kind of talent I need."
Jin Weiwu invited Li Yang to sit, then brought a cup of tea and proactively offered it to Li Yang, saying, "I toast you with this cup of tea, Mr. Li. After drinking this, we'll be friends."
"Thank you, Boss Jin."
Li Yang wanted to see what trick Jin Weiwu was up to, so he accepted his tea and drank it all in one gulp.
Jin Weiwu's smile remained undiminished as he asked, "Boss Li, how do you find my tea? Do you feel anything after drinking it?"
"It's good tea. Boss Jin's tea is sweet and smooth, with a lingering fragrance and a satisfying aftertaste. This is the best black tea I've ever had," Li Yang praised casually.
"Mr. Li truly knows how to appreciate tea. This tea is the finest black tea, made from pure buds, a Jin Jun Mei. Its yield is extremely small."
Jin Weiwu introduced it again, then said, "Besides that, Mr. Li, do you have any other sensations after drinking this cup of tea?"
"After drinking Boss Jin's tea, I don't know why, but I feel a bit lightheaded. I'm feeling dizzy now and want to sleep," Li Yang suddenly said, touching his head, his whole body feeling groggy.
"Oh? That's right. Because in this tea, I've added some medicine for you, Mr. Li. If you didn't feel dizzy after drinking it, that would be strange."
Seeing Li Yang already dizzy, Jin Weiwu revealed his true colors.
"What? You..."
Li Yang realized what was happening and collapsed onto the table.
Jin Weiwu's smile quickly vanished, and he said coldly, "Li Yang, Li Yang, you've finally fallen into my trap. You didn't expect me to be working with Mr. Tang, did you?"
"Tonight is your death day!"
As he finished speaking, he lightly clapped his hands, and a man in black emerged from the shadows.
This person had a blue dragon tattooed on his face, his eyes flashed with blue light, the veins on his arms were black, and his physique was robust, like a monster!
He was a disciple of the Gu Sect brought by Tang Yilong!
"Qing Hu, Li Yang's life is yours. Don't let him die too quickly. Use all your lifelong skills on him, make him suffer unimaginable pain, and wish he were dead!" Jin Weiwu said with a stern expression.
His mission tonight was to kill Li Yang and report back to Situ Jue.
Tang Yilong was secretly investigating intelligence. When Tang Yilong learned that Li Yang would be here tonight, he had already arranged for disciples of the Gu Sect.
Qing Hu's lips curled into a cold, sinister smile!
There is a legend in the Gu master community: when Qing Hu smiles, life and death are uncertain!
He walked up to Li Yang, suddenly circulated his true qi, and a ball of black qi emanated from his palm, along with a black poisonous scorpion that slowly appeared!
He placed his hand near Li Yang's neck, and the poisonous scorpion crawled out of his palm and directly onto Li Yang's neck.
He used the black qi in his palm to control the poisonous scorpion. The scorpion suddenly opened its mouth and bit Li Yang's neck. After successfully biting open a small wound, it smoothly burrowed into Li Yang's neck.
"Master Qing Hu, your skill is truly extraordinary. Your control over the Gu is masterful. This scorpion has now entered Li Yang's neck. Has he already come under your control?" Jin Weiwu asked, turning to Qing Hu with admiration.
"Indeed. This scorpion is a Black Heart Soul-Snatching Scorpion that I meticulously refined. Its greatest characteristic is its ability to attack the heart. Once it enters a person's body, that person's heart will soon be controlled by it."
"And as long as I use my Gu techniques to control the scorpion, this person will obey my commands!" Qing Hu said confidently.