<h4>Chapter 578: Chapter 0580: What a Pity</h4>


    Boss Sun was taken aback and muttered, "Of course it’s worth it. Even if you think three hundred million is a bit too much, we can still negotiate the price."


    Chu Ge chuckled lightly, his eyes filled with sarcasm, "This Jade te, if it hadn’t been acquired by someone yet, might indeed fetch three hundred million, but now that you’ve bought it, it’s no longer worth that price."


    "What do you mean?"


    Boss Sun looked at Chu Ge puzzledly, not understanding the meaning behind his words.


    "It means that once the Jade te is in your hands, it bes second-hand. Generally, the price of second-hand goods is reduced. This Jade te certainly can’t fetch three hundred million now, it might not even sell for one hundred and fifty million."


    With those words, Chu Ge then spoke to Huo Tianqian, "Let’s go."


    Huo Tianqian grunted affirmatively and silently shook his head at Boss Sun.


    Seeing the two ready to leave, Boss Sun panicked immediately. He couldn’t let the Jade te be ruined in his hands, not when it was worth one hundred and fifty million.


    Boss Sun hurriedly stepped forward, blocking Chu Ge’s path. He forced a smile and exined, "Sir, if you think three hundred million is a bit too much, we can discuss the price. How about this, two hundred and fifty million, and you take the Jade te."


    Chu Ge did not reply. Huo Tianqian patted Boss Sun’s shoulder regretfully and said, "Boss Sun, didn’t you quite understand Mr. Chu’s meaning just now? He already made it very clear that this Jade te isn’t worth that much anymore. Who knows if it has been tampered with since it came into your possession."


    Boss Sun was on the verge of tears. He gulped, wanting to speak again, but the figures of Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian had already moved away.


    Trying to sell it at a bottom price was definitely impossible for him; selling it at a low price was like cutting his own flesh.


    But if he didn’t sell it, then the Jade te would indeed be destroyed in his hands, wasting one hundred and fifty million, and wouldn’t his wife at home skin him alive?


    By this time, Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian were already almost out the door, and Boss Sun just couldn’t bring himself to decide.


    He asionally looked up, watching as the two were about to leave.


    Finally, with a firm resolve, he stepped forward to follow them.


    But before Boss Sun could get close, Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian were stopped by two other men.


    "Excuse me, gentlemen, please hold on."


    The person stopping Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian was a middle-aged man in formal attire, who smiled and exined, "The boss of our auction wants to meet you two."


    Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian exchanged looks, "Meet us?"


    "Yes, please follow me."


    The man gestured invitingly.


    Huo Tianqian looked at Chu Ge, waiting for his decision, knowing if Chu Ge didn’t want to go, no one could stop them.


    Chu Ge nodded, "Let’s go and see."


    He was also curious to ask the organizer where he got that secret manual.


    The man smiled and led the way.


    Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian followed him.


    By the time Boss Sun caught up, Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian had already followed the man.


    He squinted at the man’s back; he recognized him as one of the behind-the-scenes boss’s capable assistants at this underground auction house, named Ah Yi.


    However, what puzzled him was why the behind-the-scenes boss would suddenly seek them out, and what was his purpose?


    Boss Sun sped his hands together, extremely conflicted.


    Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian followed Ah Yi out of the underground parking lot, passed through a dark alley, and arrived at a bustling street.


    Ah Yi led the way, and Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian exchanged nces, feeling something was off.


    However, neither showed their suspicion and followed Ah Yi until they reached the front of a small red building.


    This Little Red Building was located at this busy street corner, with a teahouse on the ground floor, where several middle-aged men were ying chess amidst a bustling crowd.


    Ah Yi took them to the second floor, stopping in front of a closed room door. He paused, turned to Chu Ge, and said, "Gentlemen, please wait a moment, I’ll go in and inform them."


    Ah Yi knocked on the door, and a weak voice came from inside, apanied by several coughs, "Come in."


    Ah Yi entered, and the door was left ajar. Chu Ge couldn’t see clearly inside.


    But he could hear the conversation inside.


    "Boss, the gentlemen are already waiting outside."


    "Okay, let them in."


    Soon after, Ah Yi opened the door and gestured, "Gentlemen, pleasee in."


    As the room door opened, a strong scent of medicinal herbs wafted out. Chu Ge instinctively furrowed his brows and saw an elderly man looking about sixty years old sitting on the sofa, appearing unwell and gaunt under his eyes.


    "Old gentleman, hello." Chu Ge stepped forward, stopped, and spoke with a trace of respect.


    Huo Tianqian also nodded at him, "Old gentleman."


    Qian Youquan chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of self-mockery. He helplessly said, "Do I look particrly old right now?"


    Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian were slightly taken aback, then realized they might have misspoken.


    But indeed, the man in front of them did look very old, probably tormented by illness, appearing to be about sixty years old.


    "Please have a seat." Qian Youquan gestured and then said, "I am Qian Youquan, from Beijing. This auction house is one of my bases in Shanghai."


    As Chu Ge sat down, he heard Qian Youquan start to discuss his condition.


    "As you can see, my body is afflicted with illness, tormenting me till I’m neither like a human nor a ghost." Qian Youquan sighed, "Actually, I am only forty years old."


    Chu Ge and Huo Tianqian were shocked, especially Huo Tianqian, who was also in his forties. Yet he couldpletely pass as his father.


    "What illness do you have?" Huo Tianqian curiously asked.


    Chu Ge, however, slightly narrowed his eyes, examining Qian Youquan silently without speaking.


    Qian Youquan waved his hand and sighed, "Never mind, let’s not talk about my illness."


    Huo Tianqian: ...


    "The reason I wanted to meet you is to see who it is that knows their goods so well, having bid on two auction items and then stopped at the third."


    Qian Youquan looked at Chu Ge and asked, "Sir, if I’m not mistaken, you are an Innate Martial Artist, correct?"


    Chu Ge nodded and exined, "I went out when the third item was put up for auction."


    Qian Youquan nodded, chuckled softly with a hint of regret, "That’s really too bad."


    "Too bad? What do you mean?" Huo Tianqian asked, confused.