C22 The Most Perfect Lie! the Most Perfect Lie!(2)

As Su Hao's blade came down, it nearly sliced away a quarter of the Waste Raw Stone's mass, yet there was still no hint of green. The moniker 'Waste Stone' was unquestionably fitting.

"Let's move on. It's a total waste of time to watch someone work on a Waste Stone. There are others cutting stones nearby, including a renowned appraiser from Quanzhou. Let's check it out," said another lady, her patience waning as she and her friends headed towards Zeng Ziyuv and Kwoo Guangkun.

The raw stone they were examining was thick on the inside and polished to a smooth finish on the outside. Its veins and patterns were distinctly aged, and a subtle green hue seemed to encircle its surface. It looked promising, with a much higher chance of revealing green than the Waste Stone.

"That looks like Master Gu. I've heard he's quite the savvy gambler when it comes to stones, having uncovered top-tier jade on numerous occasions. Just look at the quality of the raw stone he's selected; it's clear there's jade in there. Let's hurry over for a closer look. We might even be able to purchase it," said another onlooker, prompting a new wave of spectators to head towards Zeng Ziyuv and Kwoo Guangkun.

In under thirty seconds, Su Hao's area was left with only a handful of onlookers, while Zeng Ziyuv and Kwoo Guangkun's spot was bustling with activity.

Kwoo Guangkun might not have been a household name in Quanzhou's stone gambling scene, but he had earned a respectable reputation. The exceptional quality of the raw stone he'd chosen was drawing crowds.

Watching the scene unfold, the stall owner was struck by a pang of guilt. After all, it was his deception that put Su Hao in this position. Had he been upfront about the stone's lack of jade, Su Hao might have been spared the crowd's scorn.

With a tinge of remorse in his gaze, the owner watched as Su Hao picked up the grinding tools and commenced the final step of the stone's transformation—grinding. The section Su Hao had cut was just an empty space on the right side of the Waste Raw Stone; it was no surprise it hadn't turned green. Only through grinding could the green potentially emerge.

"Some folks just can't accept defeat. They've already cut away a quarter of the stone and still no green. And now grinding? It's laughable," Wang Tiehzhu scoffed, his eyes brimming with derision.

Cutting the stone is the most crucial step in the process, as it reveals whether the raw stone actually contains jade. If a green mist envelops the stone layer after cutting, it indicates an 80% likelihood that the stone harbors jade. Yet, when Su Hao made his cut, there wasn't a hint of green mist—resembling an ignored reef by the seaside.

Now, here he is, persistently polishing this Waste Stone, clinging to a fantasy. It's quite ridiculous. The others, upon hearing Wang Tiezhu's remarks, nodded in agreement. If the stone layer lacks any green mist after being cut, it's a clear sign there's no jade within, and polishing is utterly unnecessary.

Su Hao, however, seems to be deceiving himself, unwilling to accept the truth. Unfazed, he continues to operate his grinding tools, working on the discarded stone. By this point, he's lost the crowd's attention—they've all shifted focus to Zeng Ziyuv and Kwoo Guangkun.

Wang Tiezhu is no different. Though puzzled by Su Hao's silence in the face of mockery, he can't help but relish seeing the young playboy scorned. "What a waste for Bai Wenling to be with such a loser," he mutters disdainfully, before heading over to where Kwoo Guangkun and Zeng Ziyuv are standing.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!" The stone-cutting machine screeches as Kwoo Guangkun finishes the stone-washing phase and begins slicing into the Smooth Raw Stone. The noise is so jarring that even a seasoned stone cutter like Kwoo Guangkun winces. Everyone around clutches their ears, eyes glued to the stone.

As the blade descends, a green mist swirls within the stone layer, sending a shiver through the onlookers. "Master Gu's expertise is unmatched—such a keen eye," someone exclaims. "With that thick green mist, the jade's quality is bound to be high." Another laments, "No wonder I haven't found a single high-quality stone all morning; Master Gu has already claimed the best. Alas, my own judgment is sorely lacking!"

Exclamations of surprise ebbed and flowed, accompanied by a mix of flattery and sycophancy, drawing an ever-growing crowd to the scene.

Kwoo Guangkun stood amidst the chorus of praise, his demeanor unflappable as if accustomed to such adulation. Yet, a subtle trace of smugness flickered across his brow.

Beside him, Zeng Ziyuv was a bundle of excitement. Kwoo Guangkun had proven himself a savvy veteran stone appraiser, striking it lucky on his first attempt—not only saving money but also netting a handsome profit from the jadeite.

In that moment, Zeng Ziyuv was convinced that bringing Kwoo Guangkun on board for the stone gamble had been a stroke of genius.

Wang Tiehzhu, too, was fixated on the smooth raw stone, his face alight with anticipation. He fondly recalled a previous venture with Kwoo Guangkun, where they had unearthed a piece of ice jadeite. Though only fist-sized, it fetched several million and earned them lavish praise.

Given the exceptional quality of the smooth raw stone before him, he was certain the jadeite about to be revealed would be of a remarkable grade.

With this thought, he glanced over at Su Hao, who was laboring away on a Waste Raw Stone in the distance, and a sneer curled his lips. How could there be such a vast gulf between two individuals?

What Wang Tiehzhu failed to notice, however, was the darkening cloud over Kwoo Guangkun's face as he mocked Su Hao.

Despite three precise cuts by the stone cutter, the smooth raw stone revealed no jade, only layers of stone veiled in green mist—nothing more.

"Green mist in the stone layer means there must be jade inside!" Kwoo Guangkun's face alternated between shades of pallor and flush as he peered at the onlookers' puzzled looks. Clenching his teeth, he resumed his work with the stone cutter.

Cut after cut, the stone was whittled down to the size of an egg, yet still no trace of green emerged.

Zeng Ziyuv's face, once etched with excitement, now bore the hollow look of hope extinguished.

He stared in silence at the egg-sized piece of smooth raw stone, feeling a plummet from the heights of elation to the depths of despair.

In such a state, the likelihood of finding jade was virtually nil. And even if jade were to appear, its diminutive size would render its value negligible.

"How could this happen?" Kwoo Guangkun's face turned ashen as he operated the stone cutter, slicing the last smooth raw stone in half.

Yet...

There was still no trace of jade inside.

"No way..." Wang Tiehzhu stood to the left, staring at the stone, disbelief flooding his eyes as he shook his head repeatedly.

How could such a fine-looking smooth raw stone be devoid of jade?

"What a shame. This stone should have contained jade, but it was unearthed prematurely, preventing the jade from forming. Notice how fresh the patterns within the stone are," remarked a seasoned stone appraiser from the crowd, pointing to the inner wall of the stone with a note of regret in his voice.

Upon hearing this, the crowd followed his gesture and came to a realization.

"Mr. Zeng, I apologize for my lack of discernment, which has led to your financial loss," Kwoo Guangkun admitted, managing a rueful smile as he turned to Zeng Ziyuv.

He had invested three million in this smooth raw stone, confident of a sure profit, only to discover it was devoid of jade.

Seeing his dismay, Wang Tiehzhu quickly stepped in to offer consolation, "Master, you can't blame yourself. Stone gambling comes with its risks, and occasional failures are part of the game."

He then glanced at Zeng Ziyuv, seeking affirmation, "Right, Mr. Zeng?"

"Yes..." Zeng Ziyuv nodded, mustering a weak smile.

Despite being aware of the risks involved in stone gambling, he had high expectations. Kwoo Guangkun was a renowned appraiser in Quanzhou, and Zeng had paid handsomely for his expertise, confident of a favorable outcome. It was a bitter pill to swallow that Kwoo had misjudged this particular stone, leading to such profound disappointment.

After all, losing three million in an instant would leave anyone feeling sour.

"If only I had heeded Su Hao's advice and steered clear of this smooth raw stone," Zeng Ziyuv lamented internally, the sting of regret sharp in his chest.

But as he voiced this thought, a sudden realization struck him.

He remembered Su Hao had indeed warned him that there was no jade in this smooth raw stone.

At the time, he hadn't believed it, but now, after cutting into the stone, he realized Su Hao had been right all along.

This raised a question: How did Su Hao know there was no jade inside the smooth raw stone?

He was about to go and ask Su Hao when a loud shout erupted, "Oh my god, it's green!"

At that shout, everyone shuddered, their gazes swiftly turning to where Su Hao stood.

With the stall owner looking on in astonishment, Su Hao lifted the jug of water and gently poured it over the Waste Raw Stone that had been polished.

With the first splash of water, a green mist emerged out of nowhere.

With the second splash, a swath of green revealed itself at the street corner.

And with the third, a vibrant jade green light, shimmering and dripping with vitality, burst forth.

The intense sheen outshone even the lights of the gem fair, dazzling all who saw it.