Gambling Stone has a saying, "One cut poor, one streak rich," where some go from millionaires to paupers, while others rise from obscurity to immense wealth. Tengchong, this place, attracts gamblers from across the country skilled in Martial Arts.
Moreover, what's crucial is that with today's technological level, it is still impossible to use precise instruments to determine whether there is top-quality jade in the ore. It can only be judged by experience and the naked eye, which, of course, is one of the charms of Gambling Stone, attracting people from all over the country.
Li Yunfei's grandfather's surname is Liao, and his name is Liao Zhiping. He is one of Tengchong's most famous Jade Masters, who made his fortune through Gambling Stone and now owns a mine. He is also part of a highly reputed family in Tengchong.
However, recently Liao Zhiping and another local underground force have been competing for the mining rights of a vein, planning to decide the outcome through a Gambling Stone competition. But a few days ago, Liao Zhiping suddenly fell seriously ill, and despite consultations with renowned doctors from all over, the Liao family was helpless.
"Such a coincidence that he fell ill? Haven't you suspected that your competitors might have poisoned him?"
On the airplane, Lin Mo, after hearing Li Yunfei's account, asked suspiciously.
"Suspecting is of no use. We have no evidence, so the only solution is to cure my grandfather and let him participate in the Gambling Stone competition," Li Yunfei said, eating a pine nut.
The two flew from Qinghai to Kun City and then planned to drive from Kun City to Tengchong.
Upon arriving at Kun City airport, as Lin Mo and Li Yunfei came down from the terminal, they saw a woman in her early twenties leaning against a luxurious Maserati. She was dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, her hair tied back in a neat ponytail, her figure voluptuous, attracting the gazes of many passing men.
"Cousin." Li Yunfei saw the woman, her face lighting up with joy as she strode toward her.
Liao Ke looked up, a smile spreading across her face, "Xiao Fei, I've been waiting for you for an hour."
"Sorry, cousin. The flight was delayed, so we got here late," Li Yunfei said, scratching her head awkwardly.
Liao Ke's gaze landed on Lin Mo, examining him. She saw a teenager and looked somewhat puzzled.
Yesterday, she had received a call from her cousin Li Yunfei, who said she had found an expert to treat their grandfather. She was thrilled and excitedly came to pick them up, expecting at least to see a venerable old man. Instead, it turned out to be a young man.
Aside from being somewhat handsome, his dress and demeanor seemed no different from an ordinary person.
"Is he the master you mentioned?" Liao Ke asked in a low voice, looking at Lin Mo dubiously.
Li Yunfei nodded and said with a smile, "Cousin, I haven't properly introduced him. This is Master Lin."
Lin Mo nodded slightly, "Just call me by my name. I'm Lin Mo."
Li Yunfei hadn't told Liao Ke about Lin Mo's ability to spew Flames, as such stories were too shocking. If not witnessed firsthand, Li Yunfei wouldn't have believed them herself, and given Liao Ke's character, she would be even more skeptical.
Bringing Lin Mo here first and waiting until he cured their grandfather would naturally make everyone believe he was truly an "Immortal."
"Alright, let's get in the car and head to Tengchong," Liao Ke said, taking the driver's seat and sighing to herself.
Liao Wen knew that the family was extremely anxious because of their grandfather's illness. They had invited all kinds of renowned doctors and charlatans, but none could cure his strange illness; some 'Divine Doctors' even actively sought to swindle them for money.
She suspected that Li Yunfei was just too anxious about their grandfather's illness, so she got confused and might have been deceived by Lin Mo.
Liao Ke had no choice but to hold back in front of Li Yunfei, but deep down, he had already given up hope on Lin Mo.
The Liao Family in Tengchong also dealt in jade; as Lin Mo listened to Li Yunfei and Liao Ke chat along the way, he learned that the family's competitor was another local power led by someone called Master Xiong, also nicknamed Hei Xiong, who had cultivated a group of fighters under him, making his influence in Tengchong immensely strong.
"This time, Grandpa's illness must be Hei Xiong's doing; unfortunately, we have no evidence," Liao Ke said, his face showing a look of indignation.
"Big cousin, don't worry, Master Lin is an Immortal Character; he will definitely be able to cure Grandpa's strange illness," Li Yunfei spoke up.
Hearing Li Yunfei's words, Liao Ke glanced at Lin Mo through the rearview mirror, his eyes displaying a look of disappointment.
Throughout the trip, she had occasionally tried to probe Lin Mo by chatting and discovered that Lin Mo wasn't a medical student nor had any renowned masters as mentors. She had long considered him a fraud, but since Lin Mo was invited by Li Yunfei, Liao Ke refrained from exposing him in front of her.
The drive took about four hours to reach the borders of Tengchong, and it was already noon.
"Let's find a place to eat first, then head back after lunch," Liao Ke parked the car in front of a restaurant and led them inside.
The three of them casually picked a table and ordered a spread of dishes.
Liao Ke kept eyeing Lin Mo from time to time, and the more she looked, the more convinced she became that Lin Mo was a fraud. She thought to herself, "We must not let Xiao Fei be deceived."
At the same time they entered, a group of young people at a nearby table also noticed them.
"Isn't that Eldest Lady Liao, Liao Ke?"
"Yes, who is that man with her? I heard Eldest Lady Liao is usually cold toward men and never speaks to them, so why did she suddenly bring a man to dinner?"
"Eldest Lady Liao is supposed to be the fiancée of Young Master Shan; she wouldn't possibly bring a man to dinner. I bet he's that pretty young woman's boyfriend."
However, just as the crowd was speculating, they suddenly saw Liao Ke clutching her chest, her face twisted in pain.
"My... my heart... it hurts so much," Liao Ke clutched at her chest, her face twisted in extreme pain.
Li Yunfei was also startled, "Big cousin, what's wrong with you?"
"Master Lin, please, check what's wrong with my big cousin," Li Yunfei pleaded with Lin Mo, her voice filled with urgency.
Lin Mo cast a glance and instantly saw through Li Yunfei's trick; however, seeing Li Yunfei's performance, anyone else would have probably believed she was genuinely experiencing angina. Her acting was quite good.
"Master Lin, can you please help?" Li Yunfei asked frantically with a panicked expression.
Lin Mo reached out towards Li Yunfei's chest, "Let me check!"
"No, no need, the pain is suddenly gone," Liao Ke saw Lin Mo's wandering hand and quickly moved aside, the painful expression on her face wiped clean.
Li Yunfei looked at Liao Ke curiously. Lin Mo's lips curled into a faint smile, "It got better so quickly? I haven't even had a chance to check."
But because that group of young men and women was behind Lin Mo's flank, due to the angle of their view, seeing Lin Mo reach towards Liao Ke, they were all taken aback.