Chapter 112: The Hong Gang

Li San looked up abruptly, clutching at the air as if grasping a straw, his eyes filled with desperate hope. "Mr. Qin, please, just give me your orders. Whatever I can do, I will walk through fire and water for you without hesitation!"

Qin Feng’s lips curled into an intrigued smile. He leaned toward Li San’s ear and whispered a few sentences.

As Li San listened, his expression shifted dramatically—first shock, then hesitation, and finally, a look of utter despair.

"Mr. Qin, this... this..." Li San stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence for a long while.

"What? Are you unwilling?" Qin Feng’s eyes turned cold, his tone carrying a subtle, dangerous warning.

"No, no, no! I’m willing! I’m willing!" Feeling the chill radiating from Qin Feng, Li San shivered and nodded frantically. He knew he had no choice left. He either followed Qin Feng’s instructions or waited to be crushed by both the Hong Gang and Qin Feng.

"Very good." Qin Feng patted Li San on the shoulder, his tone returning to its previous gentleness. "Then it is settled. I hope you won't disappoint me, Master Li."

With that, Qin Feng turned and walked out of the private room, leaving Li San alone on the sofa, his face a mask of uncertainty as he stared into the void, lost in thought.

...

A few days later, the auction hosted by the Hong Gang arrived as scheduled.

This auction was a grand event for the entire underworld. Countless dignitaries, wealthy tycoons, and even factions from other cities had gathered here, all eager to witness the spectacle and see if the legendary He Shi Bi would truly appear.

The venue was a private estate on the outskirts of the city. The grounds were heavily guarded by bodyguards, and the atmosphere was exceptionally tense.

Qin Feng, dressed in a black suit and wearing sunglasses, blended into the crowd and entered the venue with a low profile. He was here not only to see what the Hong Gang was up to, but more importantly, to witness Li San’s performance and see if he had the courage to follow through on his promise.

Inside, the auction hall was resplendent with light and filled with the scent of perfume and the rustle of expensive fabrics—an aura of pure extravagance. Qin Feng found an inconspicuous corner to sit, quietly observing his surroundings.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight.

Bai Ruoxi wore a white evening gown, her long, dark hair swept up to reveal her slender neck. Exquisite makeup highlighted her naturally fair skin until it looked translucent. She seemed to radiate a faint glow, drawing the gaze of everyone in the room. She was representing the Baiyun Group tonight; it was rumored that one of the items the Hong Gang was auctioning had deep, intricate ties to the Bai family, which was why she had come in person.

Watching her, a playful smile touched Qin Feng’s lips. It seemed tonight’s auction would be quite interesting.

He did not approach her, as everyone knew his current relationship with the Bai family was close; if he were seen with her, his cover would surely be blown.

The atmosphere in the hall grew heated. One rare antique after another was brought to the stage, only to be snapped up at staggering prices.

Qin Feng sat in the corner, seemingly nonchalant as he observed the crowd, but in reality, he was carefully tracking the movements of both Bai Ruoxi and Li San.

Bai Ruoxi maintained an elegant composure, politely declining the overtures of those who tried to approach her. Her gaze remained fixed on the auction stage, as if she were waiting for something.

Li San, meanwhile, appeared restless. He looked toward the entrance every few moments and wiped sweat from his forehead, clearly preoccupied with something.

"It seems Master Li is nervous," Qin Feng whispered to himself with a smirk. He knew that what Li San had promised him was an incredibly risky gamble—one wrong move could lead to his ruin, or worse, total destruction.

Finally, after several final items were auctioned off, the auctioneer’s voice rang out again, tinged with irrepressible excitement: "Distinguished guests, we now come to the final item of the evening, the most precious treasure of this entire auction—the He Shi Bi!"

As soon as he spoke, the hall erupted in an uproar. Everyone knew what the He Shi Bi represented.

"It really is the He Shi Bi!"
"My god! To think I would live to see this with my own eyes!"
"Look! Is that it? Truly a treasure of the ages!"

Amidst the gasps, an exquisite jade box was slowly opened, revealing the beautiful stone resting quietly inside. The jade was translucent and emitted a soft, gentle light, as if it possessed some magical power that made everyone crave it for themselves.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the starting bid for this He Shi Bi is three hundred million! Each increment must be at least ten million!" the auctioneer announced loudly.

The atmosphere ignited instantly.

"Four hundred million!"
"Five hundred million!"
"Six hundred million!"

Within minutes, the price had been driven to a jaw-dropping level. Yet, this was only the beginning.

"One billion!"

A booming voice rang out from the VIP box on the second floor. Everyone looked up in unison to see a burly, middle-aged man in a traditional Tang suit sitting there. He stared at the He Shi Bi with burning intensity, a look of absolute certainty on his face.

"It’s the leader of the Hong Gang, Hong Tianba!"
"It seems Hong Tianba is dead-set on winning the He Shi Bi!"
"Now things are getting interesting!"

Seeing Hong Tianba place his bid, those who had been eager to compete suddenly went quiet. Competing for an item against the Hong Gang was like courting death—who would be foolish enough to try?

Qin Feng watched this scene with a cold sneer. It seemed the main event of the night was finally about to begin.

He turned his gaze toward Li San, only to find that the man’s face had turned deathly pale, his body trembling slightly.

"Master Li, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Qin Feng asked, feigning ignorance with a hint of mockery in his tone.

"No... nothing at all..." Li San forced a smile that looked worse than crying. "I’m just... just a little excited..."

"Excited? Are you sure?" Qin Feng looked at him, his expression unreadable. "I heard that you’ve run into some trouble recently."

Hearing this, Li San’s face turned even uglier, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Mr... Mr. Qin, what... what do you mean by that?" Li San’s voice trembled, his eyes filled with terror.