The car finally came to a halt after a long, bumpy journey. We disembarked and glanced around. The path leading up the mountain was narrow and covered in dirt, surrounded by trees. Fortunately, the incline wasn't steep; if it had been, I wouldn't have dared to come.
Mount Su wasn't towering, reaching just a few dozen meters midway up. It felt more like a hillock than a mountain.
Under the driver's guidance, we walked for another ten minutes. Last time, we arrived at night, plagued by mosquitoes. Today, in the daylight, it felt much more bearable.
I surveyed the area. This mountain, while small, was remote, without a single household in sight—a true wilderness. If a fight broke out here, no one would discover a body for days, perhaps weeks.
This was Myanmar: sparse in population, mountainous, and impoverished. In some places, not even a shadow of life could be found. At the village gate, we saw two guards. The first time we came, they searched us. Today, they merely signaled us to enter. Clearly, Kun Sang had prepared everything.
We entered the village and observed familiar warehouses with metal roofing. Under the shed, raw stones were displayed professionally, each carefully labeled with size, price, and number.
The village sprawled across half the mountain slope, its stilted houses exuding a rustic charm. Last time, under the cover of night, I hadn't appreciated it. But now, in daylight, the scene felt more vivid.
There weren't many people around—the heat was intense, and most traders came at night to gamble on stones. I had expected we'd arrive at night as well, yet here we were in broad daylight. I wondered why Liu Qiang had come so early.
Though I hadn't seen Liu Qiang, I could hear his voice from the cutting room, likely engaged in his usual stone-gambling.
Boss Wei glanced at us and said, "Stay calm. We'll ignore him and proceed as planned. Zhao Fei, let's start gambling."
I nodded. Qian Guang didn't join us but went aside with Old Qian to discuss the layout, likely strategizing for any impending confrontation.
I was uneasy. If a fight broke out in Kun Sang's establishment, we'd need the element of surprise. Liu Qiang would certainly resist, and a gunfight could destroy Kun Sang's place. This was exactly what worried Qian Guang; he was assessing the terrain to ensure a decisive strike.
I moved under the shed, the sweltering heat making Ma Lan's clothes cling to her, almost transparent. I offered her my jacket, but she snapped, "I'm roasting, and you want me to wear more?"
I whispered, "Do you realize you're exposed?"
She hurriedly checked herself, then awkwardly threw on the jacket, fanning herself furiously. I chuckled and strolled with Boss Wei under the shed. He remarked, "Strange that Kun Sang hasn't come out. He always meets me when I visit…"
His concern mirrored my own. I replied, "Could it be that Liu Qiang came early to collaborate with Kun Sang against us?"
Boss Wei frowned. "It's possible. Liu Qiang isn't foolish; he'd have researched us if he planned to take us out. He probably thinks he can work with Kun Sang here to rob us, then silence us. Black-on-black crime is rampant here, but he doesn't know my relationship with Kun Sang. This time, it might be his downfall."
Despite his confidence, I couldn't help but feel he placed too much faith in their friendship. I decided not to comment—sometimes, things resolve on their own.
Crouching, I examined a stone that Boss Wei picked up, nearly ten kilograms. "Zhao Fei, what do you think of this piece?"
I scrutinized it. The skin was gray, slightly oily, gleaming with a hint of translucency under water. It was likely from Mosi Sha, and after weighing it, I said, "This is a semi-bet stone from Mosi Sha, with shallow brushing. You see the rub marks? It's of a glutinous jade type, slightly rough, but with a decent sheen and a faint green hue under strong light. However, it lacks clarity in natural light and has uneven texture with some internal variation. Its gamble value is low, especially at over half a million."
Boss Wei regretfully set the stone down, and Ma Lan commented, "We're here to gamble on big pieces. Small stones like this, even if we profit, will net us only a few million—a sum not worth dividing, right?"
She had a point; with her added stake, our shares would be smaller. As the poorest among them, I could only expect the smallest cut.
Just then, Kun Sang emerged, followed by several men. He glanced our way briefly before retreating into a stilted house. His actions puzzled us, and Boss Wei's expression mirrored my confusion. He abruptly said, "Let's keep gambling, Zhao Fei. Continue."
I nodded. Ma Lan, anxious, lit a cigarette while I shifted my focus to the larger stones. Most had been partially cut open. Although seeing the stone's interior removes some of the thrill, it also brings its own risks. Despite the predictability, a sense of suspense remains with each cut.
I noticed an exceptional stone weighing over a hundred kilograms, standing out like a roly-poly toy. Crouching to examine it, I noted it was semi-opened, a common tactic here—opening the window to hike the price. This was standard practice in the Jiegao No. 6 stone-gambling district.
The stone's skin was gray and finely textured, with a slight incision. Oddly, within the cut, the base material showed a glutinous type with a fine crystal structure and a decent luster, yet the color was black. Bewildered, I wondered if Waika jade could even contain black.
Boss Wei touched the cut, muttering, "Black jade…"
His tone reflected his surprise. I had never seen black jade from Waika before. Ma Lan scoffed, "What is that? It looks like dried dung—worthless, right?"
I chuckled, explaining, "That's where you're mistaken. Black jade, or 'ink jade,' is a unique jade variety. Despite its dark exterior, it reveals a captivating green under light. Previously, I'd only heard of black jade from Hei Wusha, yet here it is from Waika."
Ma Lan exhaled smoke impatiently. "I don't care about that. Is it worth anything?"
I pondered. "Black jade, or 'black gold,' often surpasses gold in value, but the exact worth depends on the quality of the stone. If its color is rich and even, this piece alone could yield a market price of over fifty million if the cuts are smooth and craftwork is meticulous. However, there's risk involved."
Her interest piqued, Ma Lan declared, "Then let's bet on this one, shall we?"
I smiled. "The stone's color shows some uneven blue tints; if the blue infiltrates the black, it'll be worthless. But if it gains a tri-color effect, the value will triple. Still, it's risky."
Boss Wei asked the price, and the vendor, checking his records, replied, "This rare piece of Waika ink jade is priced at seven million."
Seven million felt steep given its flaws, yet black jade's scarcity justified the cost.
I said, "Rarity is what matters. If we win, it'll sell easily, right?"
Boss Wei agreed, "Indeed. Ink jade is rare in Ruili; only the stores on Jewelry Avenue carry it. At a conservative estimate, it could yield three hundred million, perhaps five if we win. I'll take the gamble."
Ma Lan, resolute, stomped her cigarette out. "Count me in."
Qian Guang joined us, eyeing the stone. "Are we set?"
I proposed, "Seven million total. Each of you contribute two million; I'll put in one. A three-three-three-one split—sound good?"
Though reluctant, Boss Wei agreed, asking Ma Lan if she was in.
With a grin, she said, "I'm here to play by your rules."
She went to settle the payment as I studied the ink jade, wondering if we'd truly uncovered black gold this time.