She had been dealing in dzi beads for so many years, but had never seen a three-eyed dzi like this one. However, the texture and weight in her hand felt all wrong. Based on her experience, this shouldn’t be a real dzi bead, just a stone that resembled one.

Lily Brooks couldn’t help but curl her lips, thinking she’d found a treasure. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of David Bolton, noticing his face was full of panic—he was clearly very nervous about this fake dzi bead.

Lily Brooks secretly felt amused and decided to tease the chubby kid: “You said you want to compensate, huh!”

David Bolton nodded, then pointed at the fire source stone in Lily Brooks’s hand and said, “Please, big sis, return this item to me first.”

Lily Brooks glanced again at the fire source stone. “You accuse me of selling fakes, but it turns out the one you’re wearing is the real fake! Kid, are you trying to use this fake dzi bead to scam people?”

Chapter 12: Deliberately Looking for Trouble

David Bolton thought to himself, with your ordinary eyes, how could you tell this is a fire source stone? Even if you added up everything in your shop, it wouldn’t be as valuable as this.

That’s what he thought, but he didn’t dare say it out loud. After all, the fire source stone was in her hands. He forced a smile and said, “Sister Brooks, I know I was wrong. You’re the bigger person, please don’t hold it against me. Just give me back the stone first.”

Lily Brooks said, “Spineless! I can’t stand men who grovel. If you’ve got guts, stick to it! Not even a minute and you’ve caved? Fine, I’ll confiscate this fake dzi bead, so you don’t use it to fool others again.”

David Bolton was secretly furious. This woman was so unreasonable, she was basically robbing him in broad daylight. Was there no justice? No law?

David Bolton said, “Sister Brooks, stop joking. That worthless stone isn’t even worth anything. Give it back to me and I’ll pay you double for the flowerpot I broke.” He was ready to accept his loss and pay to avoid further trouble.

The more nervous he looked, the more Lily Brooks wanted to make things difficult for him. Smiling, she said, “Forget about compensation. I’m keeping this fake dzi bead.”

David Bolton saw she was determined to keep the fire source stone for herself. No matter how nicely he spoke, it was useless. His expression changed and he pleaded pitifully, “That stone is a keepsake from my parents. If you try to take it, I’ll call the police.”

When Lily Brooks heard it was a keepsake from the chubby kid’s parents, she was a bit moved, but as soon as he mentioned calling the police, she got angry again and snorted, “Call the police? Go ahead, try it!”

As luck would have it, just as Lily Brooks finished speaking, a middle-aged policeman walked in. He was the local community officer, named Samuel Cooper, and was quite familiar with Lily Brooks. Seeing a chubby kid shirtless and making a fuss in the shop, he thought someone was causing trouble for Lily Brooks, so he came in to check.

“Boss Brooks, is someone giving you trouble?” Samuel Cooper boomed.

When Lily Brooks saw him, she immediately rolled her eyes and said, “It’s nothing!” She shook the fire source stone in her hand and said, “Go buy two flowerpots and I’ll give this back to you.” She’d teased him enough and decided to end it. After all, the chubby kid was still young—no need to be so harsh with a child.

David Bolton was at her mercy and could only nod.

Samuel Cooper looked David Bolton up and down sternly and said, “Kid, I’m warning you, don’t cause trouble in the market, and don’t mess with Boss Brooks.”

David Bolton could tell this cop was clearly siding with Lily Brooks, so he didn’t want to argue. He was about to go out and buy flowerpots to compensate Lily Brooks, when his eyes happened to fall on the incense burner on the wall altar dedicated to the God of Wealth. Even with just a quick glance, he could tell the incense burner was no ordinary item—its whole body was dark, the texture rough, and it faintly glimmered with a greenish light.

David Bolton had refined elixirs in the Doushuai Palace for many years and had seen countless immortal cauldrons and treasures. The material of this incense burner should be black-shelled green, able to withstand the true fire of Samadhi. Truly, he had searched high and low only to find it by chance.

David Bolton lowered his head and left the antique shop, his heart surging with excitement from his unexpected discovery.

Samuel Cooper frowned as he watched him leave and said, “That kid looks shifty—doesn’t seem like a good person.”

Lily Brooks said, “Officer Cooper, he’s gone now. If you’ve got nothing else to do, go keep the peace outside. Don’t stand here and affect my business.” She was quite blunt with Samuel Cooper.

Samuel Cooper chuckled. He’d been divorced for three years, and ever since he was transferred to this area, he’d developed feelings for Lily Brooks. He’d even tried to get a matchmaker involved, but unfortunately, his feelings were unrequited. No matter how attentive he was, Lily Brooks never gave him the time of day.

Samuel Cooper said gently, “Are you free tonight? Let me treat you to dinner.”

“Nope!” Lily Brooks rejected him without hesitation, picked up a feather duster, and started dusting the counter, clearly trying to get him to leave.

Samuel Cooper was a bit disappointed. Although he was used to being rejected, it still stung every time. He nodded and awkwardly left the antique shop.

As soon as Samuel Cooper left, a tall, delicate-looking young girl walked in.

When Lily Brooks saw who it was, she immediately turned away.

The girl bit her cherry lips and walked timidly toward Lily Brooks, saying, “Auntie…”

Lily Brooks suddenly turned around and glared at the girl. “Don’t call me that! I’m not your aunt. I have nothing to do with your Lin family. Tell your mother I cut ties with her long ago! If we meet again, we’re enemies!”

The girl’s pretty face lost all color, and she was at a loss from Lily Brooks’s stormy scolding. After a moment’s hesitation, she placed a document envelope on the counter. “My mom asked me to give this to you…”