The rooftop of the Yi Si Hotel.
The two stood at the very edge.
Mo Tao stood with his hands behind his back.
"Where have you been for these four years?"
Qin Xuan blew in the cold wind and, after a sigh, spoke two words,
"Jiangbei."
"Jiangbei?" Mo Tao frowned slightly,
"After I secretly sent you away back then, you went to Jiangbei?"
"Mm."
"What about Qin Lin? Is she alright?"
Qin Xuan said lightly,
"She was sick for two years, but she's better now. Currently... she should be doing alright."
"What about you? Why are you a hotel manager here?"
Looking at Qin Xuan's weathered face, Mo Tao pondered for a moment before saying,
"After I sent you and Qin Lin away, my father found out. He was worried that this matter would be known by a third party, so he sent me to Dongyong City. Then I became a manager at this Yi Si Hotel under Qian Jue Jewelry. Alas, it's been four years since I've returned to the capital, and I doubt I'll ever be able to go back."
Mo Tao sighed.
Four years ago, the Qin family was annihilated.
In one night, everyone in the family perished in flames.
At that time, only Qin Xuan and Qin Lin were left, chased by a group of men in black.
If not for Mo Tao saving them, the grass on Qin Xuan and Qin Lin's graves would likely be as high as a person by now.
Back then, among the capital's five great families.
The only one that was on good terms with the Qin family was the Mo family.
And Qin Xuan and Mo Tao had grown up together, it was no exaggeration to call them childhood friends.
However, the Mo family's strength ranked last among the five great families.
Therefore, at that time, Mo Tao's father feared that news of Qin Xuan and Qin Lin would leak. Not only would they be doomed, but the Mo family would also fall into immense danger.
This was why he had Mo Tao send Qin Xuan and Qin Lin out of the capital.
Qin Xuan clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot and red.
"I will avenge the massacre of my family!"
Upon hearing this, Mo Tao sighed,
"What happened back then was not simple. I'm relieved to know that you and Qin Lin are still alive. Jiangbei is quite far from the capital, so it's safer."
Speaking of which, Mo Tao patted Qin Xuan on the shoulder and continued,
"The woman who was with you earlier seemed to come from a good family. Is she yours?"
Qin Xuan shook his head,
"I'm married, but it's not her. She's just a friend. I'm accompanying her this time just to attend a jade gambling auction."
"Not yours?" Mo Tao widened his eyes and punched Qin Xuan's shoulder.
"You fellow, you're not even making a move on a woman like that? Those who attend jade gambling auctions must have some family backing, and she's beautiful and has a great figure. Why would you look for other women? If you get this woman, you won't have to worry about food or drink, and you could live a comfortable life in Jiangbei. Go back, divorce her, and pursue this woman. I can tell there's potential between you two."
Qin Xuan gave a wry smile. This guy was still so uninhibited after a few years.
"My wife is good to me. She runs a small company. We're living quite happily."
Mo Tao clicked his tongue and teased,
"I wouldn't have thought you, Young Master Qin, would be the settling-down type. Next time you come to Dongyong City, bring me along to take a look."
Qin Xuan shook his head helplessly, waved his hand, and said seriously,
"Let's talk business. I'm attending the jade gambling auction tomorrow. That Young Master Chu probably won't let this go easily. Tomorrow, help me keep an eye out, mainly to protect the woman beside me. You've been around here for four years; you must have some influence, right?"
Mo Tao frowned.
"Do you really have to attend that damned auction? When did you become interested in such things?"
Qin Xuan smiled and shook his head.
"You wouldn't understand. There are some things I can't tell you now. One question: will you help me or not?"
Mo Tao looked at Qin Xuan, thought with a frown, then gritted his teeth.
"I'll help. If you, Young Master Qin, ask for it, how could I not?"
Hearing Mo Tao's agreement, Qin Xuan smiled.
"Thanks, brother. When I return to the capital, it will be your time to return to the family."
Upon hearing this, Mo Tao's body trembled.
Although Mo Tao felt this was a pipe dream.
For some reason, Mo Tao felt that he couldn't see through Qin Xuan anymore, as if he was meeting him anew.
Yongjiang Auction House.
The first auction house of Qian Jue Jewelry in Dongyong City.
As usual, there were only ten raw stones for auction today.
However, these ten raw stones could be said to be the finest raw stones produced in the entire Dragon Country this year.
According to appraisal, each raw stone could yield jade.
The quality of the jade was yet to be determined, but it was certain that no inferior jade would be found.
"Qin Xuan, do you really have to go? Qi Xiang said the security at Yongjiang Auction House today is several times more than yesterday. And she found out that they are all Young Master Chu's men. I'm worried..."
Qin Xuan looked at Wang Yuyan, who was filled with worry, and smiled, patting her shoulder.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. Besides, didn't you say your grandfather instructed you to bid for a raw stone to bring back?"
"But..."
"No 'buts'." Qin Xuan was determined to win this jade gambling auction.
"Trust me, I'll bring you back safely."
Wang Yuyan didn't know where Qin Xuan's confidence came from. Was it just because he knew Mo Tao?
But after all, he was just a hotel manager.
"By the way, if there's a raw stone I need later, I'll need you to help me bid for it. This will be considered a favor owed to your family." Qin Xuan suddenly said.
"Raw stone?" Wang Yuyan asked in confusion.
"You like those things too?"
Qin Xuan thought for a moment and gave a casual excuse.
"Something like that."
He couldn't possibly tell her that he needed raw stones with spiritual energy to cultivate.
"Let's go, it's about to start."
The two arrived at the entrance of Yongjiang Auction House.
Dozens of security guards were at the entrance.
Normally, there would only be two people checking identities.
Wang Yuyan looked at the dozen or so security guards and said to Qin Xuan with some worry,
"Qin Xuan, why don't we just forget it."
Qin Xuan smiled.
"We've come this far, why should we turn back?"
Just now, Qin Xuan clearly felt a fluctuation of spiritual energy from within the auction house.
This further solidified Qin Xuan's resolve to participate in the jade gambling auction.
There were definitely stones containing spiritual energy in this auction house.
The two arrived at the entrance.
The security guards at the entrance immediately stopped them. One of them said directly,
"Please present your entry pass."
Wang Yuyan nodded, took out her entry pass, and handed it to the man.
The security guard opened it and read the name on the pass: Wang Yuyan.
Seeing this, the security guard quickly signaled to a few others around him, then said,
"I'm sorry, there's a problem with your entry pass. It's suspected of being forged. We request that you two come with us."
As he spoke, the people behind him blocked Qin Xuan and Wang Yuyan's retreat.
"How could it be fake! It even has your Qian Jue Jewelry's seal on it!" Wang Yuyan said anxiously.
The tall security guard at the forefront curled his lips into a strange smile.
"If I say it's fake, then it's fake. Please, you two, come with us."
Qin Xuan immediately understood that these people were deliberately looking for trouble, likely at the instigation of Young Master Chu.
"Fine. Since you say it's fake, we won't participate then." Qin Xuan said, taking Wang Yuyan's hand and preparing to leave.
However, the security guards behind them showed no intention of letting them pass.
The tall security guard sneered,
"You want to leave after coming here? You dared to use a fake entry pass. Until this matter is clarified, you're not going anywhere!"
"Take them down!"
Just as everyone was about to make a move, an angry shout suddenly rang out.
"Who dares!"
Everyone's gaze immediately turned towards the source of the voice.
Mo Tao strode out of the auction house, glaring at the security guards.
"What are you doing!"
The tall security guard, seeing it was Manager Mo, quickly lowered his head and explained,
"Manager Mo, these two used a fake entry pass to try and get in. After we discovered them, they tried to escape, so we were about to stop them."
"Scoundrel!"
With a "slap," Mo Tao slapped the tall security guard across the face.
"These two are my friends. I personally gave them the entry passes. Are you saying the entry passes I obtained are also fake?"
"This..." The tall security guard, holding his face, couldn't say a word.
"Hmph." Mo Tao snorted, then gave Qin Xuan a look and said,
"Go in quickly."
Qin Xuan immediately nodded and quickly pulled Wang Yuyan inside.
As he passed by Mo Tao, he heard a faint voice.
"The auction is over. Leave quickly. I've arranged a car for you..."