"The Su family has risen too quickly in Pingcheng, like a strange gust of wind. I suspect they have someone supporting them behind the scenes!" Xiao Ding warned.
Wang Xiaoyan also nodded, "Indeed! A month ago, the Su family was just an unknown minor family. Now, after only a month, they've been promoted to a second-rate family. It's truly not normal."
Xiao Ding said, "Su Feng's threat to you just now was probably not just an empty threat."
Chen Jie said coldly, "If the Su family dares to cause trouble for me, I wouldn't mind giving them an unforgettable punishment."
"Brother Chen, don't worry. I will instruct my subordinates to strictly keep today's matter confidential and not implicate you."
"By the way, this is a premium membership card from our Dingsheng Auction House. If you come to our auction house in the future, you can waive the membership fee with this card and also get an advance look at our auction lists." Xiao Ding handed Chen Jie a card.
Chen Jie nodded, took it, and then holding the spirit stone, asked Xiao Ding curiously, "Boss Xiao, I'm very curious. This kind of good thing, which is very important to outsiders and even more so to you, why are you willing to sell it?"
"To be honest, I have more than one of these things." Xiao Ding smiled mysteriously and suddenly took out another spirit stone from his pocket for Chen Jie to see.
"After my research, this thing can indeed strengthen one's body, but it has its limits. Whether it's two or one, wearing it has the same effect on a person. That's why I only put one out."
"And the one I kept for myself is much larger than yours!" The spirit stone in Xiao Ding's hand was indeed much larger than the one Chen Jie held.
However, Chen Jie frowned after a glance.
"Brother Chen, is there a problem?" Xiao Ding asked curiously.
Chen Jie pointed to his spirit stone and said, "Your spirit stone is indeed very large, but there's something wrong with it."
"You call this a spirit stone? What's wrong with it?" Xiao Ding quickly asked.
"Yours is contaminated. It does have benefits for people, but a contaminated spirit stone does more harm than good. Perhaps something bad will happen around you soon!" Chen Jie said.
Wang Xiaoyan seemed to remember something and asked Chen Jie, "You mean, this so-called spirit stone is like the jade Buddha that Ye Fan gave my dad, capable of bringing misfortune?"
Chen Jie thought for a moment and nodded, "It's similar, but more severe and more targeted!"
Wang Xiaoyan quickly said to Xiao Ding, "Boss Xiao, you'd better get rid of this spirit stone as soon as possible!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ding curved his lips into a cold smile and looked at Chen Jie, saying, "Are you suggesting that if you take this spirit stone from me, there will only be benefits and no drawbacks?"
Chen Jie did not detect the sarcasm in his tone and replied, "That's indeed the case. The spirit stone in your hand can exert some effect if it's with me, but with others, the harm outweighs the benefit."
"If you're willing to give it to me, I can buy it at a low price."
"Brother Chen is indeed good at calculating. Heh heh." Xiao Ding no longer concealed his intentions and coldly laughed.
Chen Jie frowned, "What do you mean?"
Xiao Ding didn't answer but looked at Wang Xiaoyan mockingly, "It's no wonder the Wang family has reached its current position. Even the fiancé they found is so calculating. Impressive, truly impressive!"
At this moment, Xiao Ding somewhat regretted giving Chen Jie a premium membership card. He had shown him generosity, and instead, Chen Jie was coveting his larger spirit stone. Did he really think everyone else was an idiot?
Chen Jie was stunned for a moment and finally understood Xiao Ding's meaning.
Wang Xiaoyan quickly explained, "Boss Xiao, please don't misunderstand. We didn't lie to you. Just before, my father received a jade Buddha, but Chen Jie recognized it as an ominous object at a glance. At first, my father didn't believe it, but then he suffered a series of misfortunes!"
"If Chen Jie hadn't helped my father resolve it, my father might be dead by now!"
"Nonsense! You still want to deceive me with superstitious talk? If we don't see eye to eye, we should part ways. You can leave now!" Xiao Ding said disdainfully.
"Boss Xiao..." Wang Xiaoyan wanted to say more, but Xiao Ding, with a grim expression, said, "I won't see you out!"
"I tried to help you, and you're ungrateful. If something happens, don't come begging me!"
Chen Jie's expression turned cold. He casually threw away the membership card and turned to Wang Xiaoyan, saying, "Xiaoyan, let's go!"
"A bunch of swindlers! I shouldn't have trusted you! I even suspect you called Kong Lou yourself! Never show yourselves at my auction house again! Consider that spirit stone a gift to you. Take it and get out!" Xiao Ding shouted unhappily.
Chen Jie's body froze, then he coldly turned around, directly grabbed Xiao Ding by the neck, and lifted him up.
Xiao Ding's face changed drastically. He considered himself a martial artist, believing that ordinary people were no match for him. Yet, as Chen Jie's grip tightened around his neck, he felt utterly incapable of breaking free.
"Chen Jie, don't be rash," Wang Xiaoyan said, her expression changing.
Chen Jie said coldly, "This spirit stone was obtained by my own skill. It has nothing to do with you. If you dare to slander us again, I don't mind killing you!"
"What, you intend to kill me and get rid of the evidence?" Xiao Ding retorted stubbornly.
"An ant, do you think you're worthy of me killing you and getting rid of the evidence?" Chen Jie said disdainfully. With a casual flick of his wrist, Xiao Ding's body, like a little chick, fell to the ground and rolled a bit.
Then, Chen Jie, along with Wang Xiaoyan and the other two, left the auction house.
Xiao Ding watched their retreating figures, his face contorted with anger. But after a long moment of hesitation, he ultimately did not retaliate.
Meanwhile, Chen Jie and Wang Xiaoyan, along with the other two, went to a restaurant.
At the dinner table, Jiang Xue shot Chen Jie a glance and said, "Hey, Chen Jie, you got that spirit stone. Are you planning to recover your strength?"
Chen Jie replied, "My strength requires no recovery."
"Still bragging! Have a drink!" Jiang Xue suddenly poured a glass of wine and slammed it in front of Chen Jie.
Chen Jie frowned.
Jiang Xue glared, "What? You dare not drink the wine I poured?"
"Then let's drink together!" Chen Jie said calmly.
"Drink if you dare, who's afraid of whom!" Thus, the two of them picked up their glasses and downed the wine in one go.
At this moment, Wang Xiaoyan poured another glass of wine, "Jiang Xue, cheers to our pleasant cooperation."
"What? You want to gang up with this country bumpkin to get me drunk? Then you have to drink too!" The two women, seemingly in good spirits, drank glass after glass. Chen Jie was not spared either.
Before long, Wang Xiaoyan had fallen asleep on the table. Jiang Xue was not much better, and only Chen Jie remained perfectly sober, unaffected by alcohol.
Jiang Xue staggered to her feet, "I'm full. Let's go."
Chen Jie frowned. Seeing that she was about to fall, he quickly went to support her, "You've had too much to drink. I'll take you all back."
Suddenly, Jiang Xue leaned against him, her arms encircling his neck. Her lightly clad body pressed against Chen Jie's.