519: Chapter 514 Has he gone mad?

The appearance of Shen Yan was like a stone tossed into a still pond.

He was too young.

And he had an Eastern face.

Most importantly, he came alone.

Many gazes fell upon him without making a sound, filled with scrutiny and appraisal.

Shen Yan acted as if he didn't notice these looks.

He walked slowly, his gaze sweeping over the rough stones that had already been cut open, revealing alluring green interiors.

One rough stone, priced at eight million US dollars, already showed Ice Jadeite with vivid green color at the cut window.

Seeing him stop, the stall owner immediately began to introduce it enthusiastically.

Shen Yan only glanced at it, shook his head, and continued walking forward.

He then passed by a massive violet rough stone, its color bizarre and its size astonishing.

Many people were gathered around, all clicking their tongues in amazement.

Shen Yan's steps didn't even pause in the slightest.

Just like that, he walked through nearly half the market.

He had looked at no less than a hundred rough stones that looked extremely promising, yet he showed interest in none of them.

Those who had initially been paying attention to him gradually lost their patience.

"Looks like he's just window shopping."

"A kid whose voice hasn't even fully broken, what could he possibly know about stones?"

Some people withdrew their gazes and discussed in low voices.

This was exactly the effect Shen Yan wanted.

The cost was too high; he couldn't play the 'pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger' game this time.

Going straight for the target would inevitably arouse suspicion.

He needed to first use this 'amateur' demeanor to lower everyone's guard.

Finally, he walked to the deepest part of the alley.

There was only one stall there.

Behind the stall sat a haggard white old man with a hooked nose and sunken eye sockets.

It was Paci, the legendary mine owner mentioned in the intelligence.

Beside him stood four bodyguards with bulging temples, looking vigilant.

And in front of him, there was only one stone placed on display.

A stone that looked ordinary, even somewhat ugly.

It weighed thirty kilograms, its surface was grayish-brown, pitted and uneven, resembling a common river stone.

This was the 'Blood Beauty'.

Shen Yan's steps finally came to a halt.

He squatted down, reached out his hand, and gently stroked the rough surface of that stone.

This action instantly made the atmosphere around them subtly strange.

Those who had just dismissed him as an amateur cast doubtful glances at him again.

They couldn't understand why this young man would take a fancy to Paci's piece of scrap material that no one else wanted.

Paci himself opened his cloudy eyes and scrutinized Shen Yan.

"How much for this stone?"

Shen Yan stood up and asked calmly.

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone nearby.

The entire alley seemed to fall silent for a moment.

All eyes focused on Shen Yan.

There was astonishment, mockery, and amusement in their looks.

"Is this kid crazy?"

"He ignored so many good stones with cut windows and instead focused on Paci's bottom-of-the-box trash?"

"I heard Paci is almost bankrupt and is trying to gamble one last time with this piece of junk stone, but no one is taking the bait."

Paci's eyes flickered. He stared at Shen Yan and spoke with a hoarse voice.

"Young man, are you sure you want to ask about this one?"

"Name your price.", Shen Yan did not answer his question, his tone remaining flat.

Paci held up two fingers.

"Two hundred million."

He was referring to US dollars.

"Hiss—"

A collective gasp echoed around them.

"Paci is truly insane! Demanding two hundred million US dollars for a piece of scrap stone!"

"Does he think this kid is some fool from Wall Street?"

Everyone looked at Shen Yan as if he were an idiot, waiting for him to fly into a rage or simply turn and walk away.

However, Shen Yan's reaction once again exceeded everyone's expectations.

He looked at Paci and spoke slowly.

"One hundred and fifty million."

"Cash."

"We can transact right now."

The alley was deathly silent.

If Paci's asking price was crazy, then Shen Yan's counteroffer was unbelievable.

One hundred and fifty million US dollars!

And in cash!

Paci suddenly shot up from his chair, the haggardness in his eyes vanishing instantly, replaced by extreme shock and disbelief.

He stared fixedly at Shen Yan.

"What did you say? Cash?"

"I am staying at the penthouse of the Golden Triangle Hotel."

Shen Yan stated his address as if discussing some trivial matter.

"The money is in the room. You can bring people with me to collect it."

"Deal!"

Paci almost roared the word.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his breathing was rapid.

His capital chain was broken, debt collectors were everywhere; he was cornered.

The Bank loans weren't coming through, and his old friends were avoiding him one by one.

He needed money, needed cash!

This young man before him was his last lifeline!

Shen Yan nodded, turned, and prepared to leave.

He knew that the moment he mentioned cash, the stone already belonged to him.

The gazes of the surrounding people had shifted from mockery and amusement to greed and apprehension.

One hundred and fifty million US dollars in cash.

This news exploded in the hearts of everyone in Dragon Stone Alley like a bomb.

What was the background of this young man from the East?

Was he an ignorant fool who didn't know fear, or a formidable dragon who had crossed the river with full confidence?

No one knew.

They only knew that tonight, City of Jade was destined not to be peaceful.

Shen Yan's turn was decisive and swift.

Paci and his four bodyguards followed closely behind.

The crowd in the alley automatically parted to make way.

Those gazes stuck to Shen Yan's back like viscous caramel.

No one dared to make a move.

And no one dared to speak.

The phrase 'one hundred and fifty million US dollars in cash' itself was the most potent weapon in City of Jade.

It represented perhaps a warlord's entire annual expenditure.

Or perhaps, enough to buy the lives of everyone in the alley.

Exiting Dragon Stone Alley, Shen Yan's black SUV from his arrival was still parked in place.

The driver leaned against the car door, smoking a cigarette. Seeing Paci and his group following Shen Yan, he merely lifted his eyelids once, stubbed out the cigarette, and opened the car door.

Shen Yan got into the front passenger seat.

Paci and one of his bodyguards squeezed into the back seat, while the other three bodyguards got into their own dilapidated pickup truck.

The vehicles started and drove away from the filthy alley.

Inside the car, the atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.

Paci's bodyguards kept their hands pressed against the grips of their guns at their waists, muscles tense, their gazes locked onto the back of Shen Yan's head.

If Shen Yan made the slightest move, he would probably shoot without hesitation.

Paci himself remained silent. Through the car window, his cloudy eyes watched the chaotic street scene rapidly receding, as if he were thinking, or perhaps gambling with his life.

Shen Yan leaned back against the seat, his eyes closed, appearing as if he had fallen asleep.

His composure was completely out of place with the tense atmosphere inside the vehicle.

The more this was the case, the heavier Paci's heart felt.

The golden sign of the Golden Triangle Hotel was exceptionally conspicuous in the night.

"Bank"