Chapter Forty-Eight: The Jianghai Branch

This time, the Jade Culture Festival was held on an unprecedented scale. Not only were jade merchants and experts from all over the country invited, but even foreign jewelers and designers would be attending. Since it was a cultural festival, this year’s exhibition adopted an auction format. Every buyer possessed the right to bid.

With the change in auction method, many rare materials, exquisite ornaments, and antiques would not need to be auctioned on site as before. Qin Feng held a slender pencil, sketching on paper as he pondered what item should serve as the festival’s grand finale.

Suddenly, a hurried knocking at the door interrupted Qin Feng’s thoughts.

“Come in,” Qin Feng looked up, his voice calm.

The door swung open and Lin Wanting strode in, her expression tinged with nervousness and urgency.

“Qin Feng, I just received word that the Liu family seems to be making moves against our Jade Culture Festival.”

As she spoke, Lin Wanting handed a encrypted file to Qin Feng.

Qin Feng took the document and quickly scanned through it, his brows gradually furrowing. The file detailed how the Liu family, to counter the festival, was not only ramping up their publicity but also secretly contacting numerous jade merchants and collectors.

“It seems the Liu family is determined to oppose us this time,” Qin Feng said in a grave tone. “But do they really think this will stop us? How naive.”

Lin Wanting nodded, a resolute gleam in her eyes. “Exactly. We can’t let them succeed. What should we do next?”

Qin Feng pondered for a moment before speaking.

“If they want to play games, we’ll play along. Contact all the jade merchants and collectors who’ve confirmed their attendance. Make sure none of them change their minds because of the Liu family’s threats.”

“And another thing,” Qin Feng continued, “we need to prepare some special exhibits for the festival’s finale. I want everyone to see that Jade Pavilion’s strength cannot be easily shaken by the Liu family.”

Lin Wanting’s eyes sparkled with excitement at his words. “Great idea! I’ll make the arrangements right away.”

Qin Feng nodded, watching Lin Wanting leave the office, then his gaze returned to the encrypted file.

Liu family, this time, you are destined for disappointment.

...

By the time Qin Feng left Jade Pavilion, it was already past eleven at night. As he walked toward the parking lot, he sensed something odd in the atmosphere, as if a hidden danger lurked nearby.

Qin Feng narrowed his eyes, scanning his surroundings, finally fixing his gaze on a black sedan not far away.

“So, someone’s looking for trouble,” Qin Feng sneered and strode directly toward the car.

Inside the black sedan sat a man in a suit. Seeing Qin Feng approach, a shock ran through him. He started the car abruptly and pressed the horn.

Qin Feng ignored the commotion and continued to approach at an unhurried pace.

When Qin Feng was less than five meters from the car, he suddenly darted to the lamppost nearby and leaped upward. Using his momentum, he adjusted his posture in midair, planted his right foot on the top of the lamppost, and with the lamp’s rebound, landed firmly on the car’s rear.

The man inside began to sweat, cursing Qin Feng’s ferocity. But his fear only deepened as Qin Feng slowly lowered himself and extended his right leg.

Qin Feng’s foot slammed hard into the trunk, denting it instantly.

The man’s eyes widened in shock—was this even human strength?

He was no fool; in fact, he was a professional assassin, one who’d danced on the edge of death and survived countless deadly encounters. Yet before Qin Feng, he was as weak as an ant.

Taking a deep breath, the man tried to steady himself. Qin Feng was formidable, but he still had a chance to escape.

He quickly opened both the driver’s and passenger’s doors, ready to slip out and flee while Qin Feng wasn’t looking.

But Qin Feng would not let him get away. Just as the man bent down, Qin Feng appeared behind him like a phantom.

With muffled thuds, Qin Feng’s left foot pressed against the man’s back, his right fist hammered into the neck, elbow, and knee.

Blood trickled from the man’s lips; after a few spasms, he was still.

After disposing of the man, Qin Feng dragged him inside the car, carefully checked for any traces, and then left without a backward glance.

...

Night fell, neon lights illuminated the bustling streets, and the city was alive with excitement.

At this moment, the Jade Culture Festival had already begun.

Members of the Jade Association had set up booths near the square, arranged countless display cases, and were preparing for tomorrow’s jade exhibition.

Yet at the festival’s entrance, two men stood on the roadside.

Both were burly, faces rough—a clear warning not to mess with them.

“Boss, has the money come through?” asked a bald, muscular man.

The other, a lean fellow, pulled out his phone and checked. Seeing the bank’s message, he broke into a grin.

“It’s here. Everything’s set up. Once the job’s done, we’ll lay low abroad for a while.”

“It’s all ready. Ha, an exhibition worth millions, and we’ll torch it in one go—just thinking about it gets me pumped,” chuckled the bald man, his eyes gleaming with madness.

The lean man burst out laughing, “Those bastards dared to challenge Young Master Wen—they’re begging for trouble.”

“Alright, let’s get this over with and scram,” the lean man waved.

Moments later, the once quiet exhibition site erupted with shouts.

“Fire! The exhibition’s on fire! Quick, put it out!”

People cried out in alarm, rushing toward the exhibition.

At the same time, a deafening roar resounded. Flames burst forth at the center of the venue, blazing fiercely.

Chaos reigned as staff members fled in panic.

...

In a high-rise building.

Wen Hao stood by the window, watching the red glow outside, his eyes wild with excitement.

“Hahaha, Qin Feng, didn’t you want to hold your exhibition? Let’s see how you manage now!”

Standing beside him was none other than Liu Yuanhang.

“You’re brilliant, Young Master Wen. By the way, we’ve investigated Young Master Wen Bin’s matter—the photos and information from Myanmar just arrived.”

He handed over the recently received documents and photos.

Wen Hao flipped through the materials, then set them aside.

Coldly, he said, “Keep a close eye on Qin Feng. If he makes any move, report to me immediately.”

“Understood,” Liu Yuanhang replied respectfully.

Wen Hao pondered for a moment, then asked, “How would you feel if your Liu family became the Wen family’s branch in Jianghai?”

Liu Yuanhang was stunned at first, then instantly overjoyed.