Ding Mo and his group walked towards the leisure area behind the venue.
Since Song Yun rarely attended the high society parties in Magic Capital and had completely handed over the company affairs to his father, Ye, the people were not very familiar with this new wealthiest man of Magic Capital, and he was not recognized along the way.
Following Ding Mo to the back, they entered a room.
Inside the room stood an old man leaning on a cane, and from the deep wrinkles on his face, it was clear that he was well over eighty years old.
"Master Gong, I've brought an interesting junior to look at some stones,"
Ding Mo said respectfully from behind the old man.
Master Gong was virtually a living fossil in the jade circle, already a centenarian this year, yet he was still hearing well and not losing his teeth—an undeniable legend.
The old man slowly turned around, his pair of eyes markedly different from those of other elderly people, showing no signs of muddiness but instead very clear, like those of a child.
"Little Ding, come and see what you think of this stone of mine,"
Master Gong nodded at Song Yun and the others without paying much attention.
Ding Mo leaned in to look and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Master Gong, isn't this the rough stone you bought sixty years ago? Why do you still have it?"
"I can't make up my mind!"
Master Gong sighed and said, "I can feel there's definitely a superior jade inside, but I dare not cut it open... Ah, it's like I'm regressing the more I live."
Ding Mo had seen this stone at least a dozen times. If it hadn't been Master Gong's private reserve, he would have already marked and cut it in half!
He took out a strong flashlight from his pocket and shone it on the stone. Under the light, it reflected a beautiful luminous green glow.
"Master Gong, look, it's already translucent green. Why not cut it open today?"
"This..."
"If you don't cut it soon, it'll become your obsession!"
Ding Mo said earnestly, "A stone that has been kept for sixty years, how long else do you intend to keep it?"
"Let me think about it..."
Master Gong sat silently on the rattan chair, leaning on his cane.
Ding Mo shook his head helplessly and gestured for Song Yun to come over: "What do you think of this stone?"
Old Gong fell into a dilemma, muttering to himself incessantly.
"Maybe not open it, it's been sixty years already, why not wait a bit longer?"
"Open it! Whether it's life or death, one cut and we'll know everything!"
"That's not okay, what if there really is nothing?"
Seeing this scene, Ding Mo was terrified. What did old people fear the most? The draining of their heart's strength!
How many old people died from exhaustion, and now Old Gong was starting to burn his own life!
But he dared not interrupt. People lost in this maze couldn't be woken up by others; forced awakenings only led to trouble!
"You, you, you! It's fine if Old Gong is okay, but if something happens, your family can't cover for you!" Ding Mo chided, frowning.
"Relax, I know a bit of traditional Chinese medicine, and I can give emergency help if needed," said Song Yun with a shrug, nonchalant.
Listening to this, Ding Mo felt like rolling his eyes to the heavens. You're in your twenties, kid—what use is your knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine!
"Open it! I don't care anymore!"
Old Gong suddenly stood up, casting aside his walking stick, and attempted to embrace the stone.
Damn! That wouldn't do. Song Yun quickly stepped forward to assist. If the thing hit the old man, there would definitely be serious trouble!
"Ding Mo, lead the way. You, kiddo, carry the stone and follow! I want to see if there's any treasure inside!"
Upon hearing Old Gong's words, Ding Mo nearly wept with excitement. They were finally going to open the damn stone, and the scene earlier had scared the hell out of him.
He nodded, opened the door, and Song Yun followed, carrying the stone weighing over three hundred pounds.
The wealthy patrons they encountered on the way were startled by this odd procession. Master Ding Mo, Old Gong, and an unknown young man—what were they up to? Opening a stone?
When they managed to get from Ding Mo the information that the stone was the sixty-year treasure Old Gong had kept, they all perked up.
No joke, the whole club knew about it, and there had even been some secret betting on whether Old Gong would open the stone within a few years.
One person told another, and soon the entire club knew today was the day Old Gong had decided to open the stone.
They swarmed toward the stone opening site.
"Old Gong, you draw the line, and I'll open it for you," Ding Mo said eagerly, offering a pen.
After Old Gong made a few marks along the serpent belt, he said, "I want this young man to do it!"