As soon as John Grant said this, everyone’s expressions turned strange, because from the way he had stopped Emily Parker from touching the pixiu earlier, and from some of his past remarks, it was clear that he believed in these things. Yet now, he was suddenly denying everything.

This was tantamount to indirectly admitting that he was behind it all—that he had stolen the gold jewelry, and that the so-called taking the pixiu for consecration was probably just an excuse to take out the gold jewelry hidden inside.

All along, although everyone had heard stories about feng shui auspicious beasts, they had never really believed them. But seeing what was happening now, and John Grant’s behavior, they couldn’t help but start to believe.

“John Grant, I’ve always treated you well, and yet you did something like this.”

William Miller was the angriest. He never expected that John Grant’s insistence on getting the pixiu was just a ploy to steal his gold jewelry. By now, he completely believed what Brian Carter had said.

Although he had never actually seen a feng shui beast, he had heard plenty of such stories on this antique street. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to John Grant’s suggestion to bring in a pixiu.

A trace of guilt flashed across John Grant’s face, but he quickly returned to indifference. He knew that even if he tried to argue now, it would be useless. All he could do was insist that it was nonsense.

He couldn’t stay at Yubaoxuan anymore, but that was just losing a job. If he admitted to stealing gold jewelry worth three million, it wouldn’t just be about losing his job—it would mean going to jail.

John Grant understood this, and so did Emily Parker, who stood nearby. But like John Grant, she didn’t want to believe in the pixiu swallowing gold, because if she did, it would overturn everything she thought she knew.

“Boss Miller, don’t listen to his nonsense. How could a pixiu possibly swallow gold? I believe that even if this went to court, the judge wouldn’t believe it.”

John Grant spoke up, and this was his confidence. Yes, he had done all of this, but could it really be made public? Would a court accept such evidence?

At most, he would just be fired. He couldn’t stay at Yubaoxuan, but with his work experience, he could easily find a job at another jewelry store in a different city.

“That’s right, a judge wouldn’t accept such evidence. That’s why you’re so fearless.”

Brian Carter also smiled, completely unfazed by John Grant’s challenging gaze, and said casually, “But I’m sure the person who told you about the pixiu’s properties left out one thing: never deceive a spiritual beast.”

Brian Carter’s words made John Grant shudder, but he still pressed his lips together and said nothing.

“Think about it. Ever since you started wiping the pixiu with tiankui blood, hasn’t something happened at home? Your family’s health—if I’m not mistaken, someone in your family recently developed gallstones, right?”

“How… how do you know that?”

John Grant’s voice trembled. It was true—someone in his family did have gallstones, and it was his daughter, a girl of only twelve.

Half a year ago, his daughter started having pain and discomfort. When they went to the hospital, they discovered it was gallstones. A twelve-year-old girl with gallstones—neither he nor the doctors could believe it.

The main cause of gallstones is poor diet and a buildup of intestinal parasites, but how could a city girl’s food be unhygienic?

Fortunately, gallstones aren’t a serious illness. After surgery, John Grant thought it was over. But unexpectedly, his daughter’s gallstones recurred.

In just over half a year, she had three gallstone surgeries. Seeing his daughter’s pale face, John Grant was nearly driven mad, but the doctors couldn’t offer a good solution.

Especially after the second surgery, his daughter stayed in the hospital, but even so, a month later, new stones formed again.

“Don’t doubt it. This is the consequence of bullying a spiritual beast.” Brian Carter looked at John Grant. “You stuffed things into the pixiu’s belly, so the pixiu stuffed things into your family’s bellies. I don’t need to spell out the final result.”

John Grant’s face turned ashen. Thinking of the pain his daughter suffered in her hospital bed, the next moment, his knees buckled and, to everyone’s surprise, he knelt before Brian Carter.

“Master, please, I beg you, please save my daughter. She’s innocent, she’s still so young…”

“Yes, I’m worse than a beast. I did this, and I’m willing to turn myself in. But my daughter shouldn’t have to suffer like this. It was all my doing—let the retribution fall on me.”

John Grant finally admitted it.

A year ago, when the stock market was booming, John Grant bought several stocks on a friend’s recommendation. For the first few months, things went well and he made quite a bit.