Chapter 13: The Rourke Entourage

Mr. Sun’s maneuver was a blatant, unapologetic use of his power and connections—a demonstration of absolute authority meant to reclaim his son’s lost face and assert his dominance over the market.

The crowd of onlookers murmured anxiously, deeply concerned for the seemingly frail Skylar, but terrified of Mr. Sun’s known local connections to the criminal underworld. Not a single person dared to intervene.

“Hit him. I’ll handle the consequences,” Mr. Sun stated flatly, his words ringing with a lethal finality. He clearly held zero regard for the young man’s life.

Skylar smirked internally. Like father, like son. Both arrogant to the core.

The skirmish had been insufficient to warm up her body. She side-stepped, lowering into a combat stance, ready to fully test her enhanced physique against a group of trained bodyguards.

“Stop right there!”

A furious shout ripped through the crowd. Alan Sterling burst through the throng, his face a mask of panic, immediately placing his body between Skylar and the imposing Mr. Sun. “Mr. Sun, what is the meaning of this? Has my nephew offended you?” On the way to the market, Skylar had briefly advised Alan to introduce her as his nephew for better business efficiency in a male-dominated world.

Mr. Sun was startled to see a familiar, if unimpressive, face. He frowned, his disdain palpable. “Alan Sterling, the man from the Jade Fortune shop in Yuncheng? This child is yours?” Although they were both referred to as ‘Mr. So-and-So,’ Mr. Sun clearly considered Alan far beneath him.

Yuncheng was a small city, and Jade Fortune was far from an industry leader. Mr. Sun looked down on Alan Sterling’s regional business with open contempt.

Alan’s expression tightened. He knew his place in the hierarchy, but his loyalty to Skylar was absolute. He bowed his head slightly. “If my nephew has caused any offense, I humbly ask for your leniency, Mr. Sun. Please give the boy a chance.”

“A chance?” Mr. Sun scoffed, pointing at his two groaning henchmen on the ground. “Your nephew certainly didn't give Mr. Li’s son a chance! His arm is broken! So, if I decide he must lose a hand in retribution, is that truly too much to ask?”

“What?” Alan was momentarily dazed. He glanced back at Skylar—small, fine-boned, looking as if a strong breeze would knock her over. How could she possibly have broken a grown man’s arm? Then he caught the serene, unflustered confidence in her eyes, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He gripped his lip, deciding not to question her power. He turned back to Mr. Sun, bowing slightly deeper. “I will personally apologize and compensate Mr. Li for the injury. But your suggestion, Mr. Sun, is excessively harsh.”

“Hah! I see you don’t frequent this market, Mr. Sterling, or you wouldn’t be so ignorant of the rules. To cause trouble on Sun Ze’s territory means accepting the consequences. My apologies, Mr. Sterling, but my decision stands.” Mr. Sun waved his hand sharply. The black-clad bodyguards instantly closed in on Alan and Skylar.

Skylar, who had been fully prepared to engage in another practice session, unexpectedly relaxed. She stepped neatly behind Alan Sterling’s back, adopting the posture of a casual spectator. Let Alan handle this. He’s my asset now.

Alan gritted his teeth, his face flushed with impotent rage at the public humiliation. “Sun Ze! You are going too far!”

Mr. Sun simply smirked, clearly enjoying the fact that Alan was powerless to resist.

Just as the bodyguards moved to grab Skylar, a new, powerful intrusion rippled through the crowd. Footsteps—fast, coordinated, and heavy with military precision—moved inward. In seconds, a new, massive contingent of bodyguards, dressed in tailored black suits, had forcefully encircled both groups. Their hands remained deliberately tucked into their jackets, suggesting they were prepared to draw weapons at a moment’s notice.

Mr. Sun froze in astonishment. Before he could demand to know their affiliation, the crowd parted, and a man emerged.

He was impeccably dressed in a bespoke, dark suit, a flawless silhouette of expensive authority. His handsome features were framed by an innate nobility, his presence radiating an almost frightening power that silenced the entire hall.

“M-Mr. Qu!” Mr. Sun stammered, his face melting into a terrified, subservient grin. He rushed forward, bowing low. “What an immense honor! Your presence graces our humble auction, Mr. Qu! Have you seen any stones that interest you? Allow me to personally escort you!”

The display of sycophancy was almost pathetic.

The man—Mr. Qu—twitched the corner of his mouth, a motion that was either a sneer or a flicker of bored indifference. “Save your labor, Mr. Sun. I have little need for the stock in this venue. However, I am here for an exceptionally valuable item that is scheduled to be auctioned. I’m waiting for the bidding to begin, but you seem to be causing a significant issue with the seller. This complicates my schedule.”

As he spoke, Skylar, though she remained protected behind Alan, felt the man’s intense, assessing gaze sweep over her, lingering for an unnerving moment.

Mr. Sun’s face instantly seized up. His eyes widened in disbelief. “Hah, what a joke! I… I don’t understand. What exceptional item could Alan Sterling possibly be selling that has caught Mr. Qu’s eye?”

“Shouldn't that information be readily available to you, Mr. Sun? You are the manager of this place,” Mr. Qu replied coldly. “Now, if you are finished with your little temper tantrum, I suggest you start the auction. I am looking forward to completing this transaction.” He turned and walked away from the circle of people, leaving Mr. Sun completely exposed.

Sun Ze was drenched in cold sweat. His face was rigid, a terrible grimace replacing his earlier arrogance. He slowly turned, forcing the most respectful, miserable smile he could manage toward Alan Sterling. “Mr. Sterling! My deepest apologies for the misunderstanding. If there’s nothing else, perhaps we should proceed to the auction hall.”

Skylar arched a perfect eyebrow, entirely unimpressed by the rapid shift in power dynamics. Wealth and authority always clear the path.

Alan smoothed his jacket, recovering his dignity, every trace of his previous anger vanished. The humiliation had been replaced by a potent, satisfying victory.

Mr. Sun, meanwhile, was left standing over his two whimpering sons, unable to vent his rage. The arrival of the powerful Qu family representative meant he couldn't afford to offend anyone linked to the auction’s success.

Once inside the auction hall, Alan immediately led Skylar into a small private lounge, and his first words were not a reprimand. “Skylar—have you been hurt at all?”

In Alan’s view, Skylar was not only his partner but also a young girl. Even if she had broken the henchman’s arm, he was certain the Sun boys had provoked the fight. His trust in Skylar’s judgment and character was absolute and immediate.

This genuine, unconditional concern—the first true protection she had experienced in this new life—softened Skylar’s guard. A rare, slight upward curve touched her lips, transforming her exquisite features with a fleeting, feminine softness that momentarily dazzled Alan.

“I’m fine,” she assured him. She then handed him the bag of stones she’d purchased from the terrified stall owner. “Since our item has already drawn attention, we should strike while the iron is hot and build a greater momentum. Let’s auction these two as well.”

Alan, still reeling from the sight of her smile, stared down at the two plain, unremarkable black stones. He finally stammered out, “You… you bought these from the roadside stall?”

“Yes. Now, we have time, let’s cut them open.” Skylar walked to a nearby stone-cutting machine and gestured to a second one across the room for Alan.

Alan was perplexed. These stones were low-grade, roadside rubbish. What were the chances they both contained valuable jade? But who am I to question her luck? He reluctantly decided not to dampen her spirits and began to work the cutting machine.

Skylar watched him for a moment, absorbing the technique, then began her own work. Her Spatial Ability made the process easy, allowing her to see the exact vein of the jade and cut with surgical precision. She was far faster than Alan.

By the time Alan glanced over, struggling with his first rough cut, Skylar had already revealed two fist-sized pieces of flawless white Ice Jade with Floating Flowers.

Just as he saw her result, a sharp, cool sensation ran through his own hands. He looked down and saw a brilliant, glassy purple radiating from his stone. He had cut a perfect piece of Ice Lavender Jade!

The quality of the jade from both stones—while not quite the top-tier Old Pit Glass Jade—was breathtakingly beautiful and undeniably auction-worthy. Alan Sterling stared at the jade, then at Skylar, his doubt finally shattered. He knew then, absolutely, that the person before him possessed a profound, almost supernatural talent in this industry. Her genius was undeniable.