Chapter 19: Encountering a Master
At precisely four-thirty in the morning, the grand iron gates of the villa’s garage creaked open. The ceremonial implements had been carefully packed away, and the house had been cleansed, leaving no trace of the night’s work.
Two black carriages rolled out first, their polished surfaces gleaming under the dim streetlights. By the last vehicle, Assistant Yan stood respectfully, bending slightly toward the man seated inside.
“President Fang sends his deepest gratitude to you, Uncle Qing,” he said in a low voice. “He instructed me to ensure you know his appreciation. Also, the payment has already been transferred to your account.”
Inside the vehicle, Luo Qing reclined leisurely, his posture composed. He gave a slight nod, just enough to acknowledge the words, and the door closed with a soft thud. The vehicle hummed to life and disappeared into the fading night.
Only then did Assistant Yan exhale quietly. He turned on his heels and entered the last remaining sedan, settling into the back seat. A yawn escaped him.
“Assistant Yan, should I take you home?” the driver asked from the front.
“Take me to the company,” he replied, rubbing his temples. Then, with a weary chuckle, he added, “It’s been a long night for you too.”
“No trouble at all,” the driver quickly assured him. “The overtime pay is always generous.”
“Good. But as always, keep your lips sealed. These matters are not for idle gossip.”
“You can count on me, sir.”
—
The car cruised through the deserted streets, heading from the southern outskirts toward the heart of Jin Ling Prefecture. Finally, it pulled up before a somewhat dated commercial building. It was old—over twenty years, its infrastructure far from the grandeur of modern office towers—but President Fang had no need for ostentatious displays. His business did not rely on lavish reception halls or prestigious addresses. The space was spacious, sufficient, and most importantly—cheap.
Stepping out, Assistant Yan instructed the driver not to wait for him and entered the building alone. He knew his employer well—at this hour, President Fang would undoubtedly still be in his office. It was always wise to deliver reports promptly; timing was everything. An early-morning update would leave a stronger impression than a midday summary.
The elevator chimed as it arrived at the eighteenth floor. Assistant Yan stepped into a silent hallway. The other offices had long since gone dark, their occupants home and asleep. Only at the very end of the corridor did a single light remain burning.
He reached the door, unlocked it with practiced ease, and entered. The office was modest, about three hundred square meters in total. Empty workstations filled the space, the air still and undisturbed. Further in, several private offices remained shut, their occupants long gone for the night.
At the farthest end was President Fang’s personal chamber.
Knocking twice, Assistant Yan waited precisely three seconds before a voice from within signaled his entry.
—
The room was spacious, about thirty square meters. A grand wooden desk occupied the center, supporting a gleaming computer and a large golden toad figurine. Framed calligraphy adorned the walls—Assistant Yan had no knowledge of its artist, only that President Fang had once boasted about its exorbitant price. A bookshelf lined one wall, filled with elegant but unread volumes. A slightly aged sofa set sat opposite a traditional tea table, complete with a full set of porcelain cups.
For a man of President Fang’s wealth, the setting was almost spartan.
Behind the computer monitor, a round, fleshy face emerged.
“Little Yan, the matter’s settled?” President Fang asked, his voice thick with fatigue. “Why haven’t you gone home?”
“Yes, sir. Everything proceeded smoothly.” Assistant Yan kept his tone cautious. “Given the importance you placed on this, I thought it best to report directly.”
President Fang smiled in satisfaction and gestured toward the couch. “You’ve done well. Sit.”
Despite his short stature and corpulent build, his features, if slimmer, might have made for a passable gentleman. But indulgence had long since eroded any semblance of sharpness.
As President Fang settled into the sofa, Assistant Yan first walked to the desk, lifted the heavy porcelain teacup, and carefully refilled it to exactly seven-tenths full before placing it before his employer. Only then did he sit.
He gave a concise report—the tenant had vacated as agreed, Uncle Qing and his people had entered to set up the altar, and the ritual had been conducted without issue. When it was over, Uncle Qing assured them the ceremony was a success. The house was now clear of any lingering malevolence.
As he spoke, President Fang’s furrowed brow gradually eased. He nodded, satisfied. “Good, good. You’ve done well. I’ll make sure you get a generous red envelope before the New Year.”
Then, after a pause, he asked, “When Uncle Qing was performing the ritual, you watched?”
“Boss, I’m not well-versed in such things,” Assistant Yan said carefully. “But from what I observed, his process was not much different from what Elder Zi did before.”
He hesitated, then added, “Of course, I wouldn’t know the deeper aspects. That’s just my layman’s impression.”
President Fang pondered this before nodding. “That’s fine. Uncle Qing is Elder Zi’s senior brother. His expertise should surpass Elder Zi’s.”
After a moment’s thought, Assistant Yan stood. “Shall I take my leave?”
“Go, get some rest.” President Fang waved him off with a smile.
Assistant Yan hesitated before offering, “Sir, would you like me to take you home as well? The company is empty at this hour.”
At once, President Fang’s expression darkened. “Damn it, no! Home is nothing but noise and complaints. I came here to escape.”
A grumble of frustration rumbled from his throat. “Tell me, Little Yan, why are women so insatiable? I bust my ass every day making money, and she sits at home, draped in gold and silk, eating the finest food, yet still—still!—she finds things to complain about.”
Master Fang let out a weary sigh, his voice laced with exhaustion. “I toil like a dog, breaking my back to earn silver for her to spend. And yet, the more I labor, the more it feels as though I owe her a debt?”
Assistant Yan gave an awkward smile but kept his lips tightly sealed. When the master of the house lamented about the mistress, how could he dare to chime in?
To side with Master Fang in berating the mistress? Only a fool would tread such treacherous waters. In a few days, once they reconciled, wouldn’t he be the one caught between sword and blade?
Besides…
Assistant Yan sighed inwardly. [Tired? Tired, my foot. All the bitter toil and backbreaking work fall on my shoulders!]
Master Fang was merely venting his frustrations, not truly expecting a response. He waved a hand dismissively. “Go home. Don’t bother coming in this morning. Get some proper rest. Come fetch me in the afternoon; we’ll head to Falling Cloud Retreat together. I need to return a gift.”
“Understood.”
Assistant Yan acknowledged the order and turned to leave—
Then, disaster struck!
A thunderous boom shook the air!
The ceiling overhead, aged and weakened by the years, or perhaps its very materials had deteriorated, suddenly gave way in a great cascade of wreckage!
The crashing din of falling beams and shattered plaster sent the room into utter chaos!
A massive section of the ceiling collapsed, bringing down debris, wires, pipes, and even glass fragments!
A jagged piece, thick and heavy, plummeted straight toward Assistant Yan, grazing the tip of his nose before slamming into the ground just inches from his foot!
A great swath of the ceiling had come crashing down, and within it, a shattered light fixture still dangled precariously.
For a moment, both men stood frozen, stunned by the sudden catastrophe.
Master Fang, seated comfortably on the sofa, had been spared from harm. His first instinct was to flinch backward, his body tensed. It was only when the dust settled that he let out a visceral curse.
“By the heavens!”
His gaze swept across the wreckage, taking in the disaster that had unfolded within his office—splintered beams, shattered wires, and shards of glass littering the floor.
Then his eyes locked onto Assistant Yan, who stood stiffly, utterly dumbstruck, his face devoid of color.
Master Fang pushed himself upright, his legs trembling slightly. “Yan! Are you—are you alright?!”
He hurried over and grabbed Assistant Yan by the shoulders. “Did you get hurt?”
His hands patted across the assistant’s arms, his gaze sweeping over him, searching for any injuries. Miraculously, not a single scratch could be found.
Assistant Yan remained motionless, his mind blank, his body locked in stunned paralysis. It was only after Master Fang’s frantic patting that he finally stirred, his legs turning weak beneath him.
He glanced down at the debris just before his feet.
Barely two or three centimeters. That was the margin between fortune and calamity.
Had the falling wreckage deviated by even that much…
Well, it wouldn’t have killed him outright.
But a skull split open, his face in ruin? That was a certainty!
“M-Master Fang… I… I’m fine, I’m fine.” Assistant Yan finally regained his wits, forcing his mind to move. “And you? Are you alright?”
“Me?” Master Fang scoffed. “Of course, I’m fine! But by the heavens!” He ran a hand through his hair, his irritation mounting. “This damn building! Falling apart like this! Tomorrow, I’m filing a complaint with the property management! Those bastards will compensate me for this, mark my words!”
Then his eyes darted back to the pile of wreckage, realization dawning.
“Yan! By the gods, your luck is unreal!”
His gaze flickered between the assistant and the jagged debris that had nearly crushed him.
“Just a hair’s breadth! You nearly got caught in that disaster! Fortune truly favors you!”
Assistant Yan swallowed hard. A strange flicker of insight flashed through his mind, a whisper of fate brushing against his thoughts.
His hands shot to his chest, fingers fumbling inside his inner pocket. When he pulled them out, they clutched a small cloth pouch.
His breath hitched as he turned it over and poured its contents onto his trembling palm.
A cheap white jade talisman tumbled out…
Or rather, the remnants of it.
Shattered into several pieces!
Master Fang’s sharp eyes immediately caught sight of the fragments. He let out a low exclamation and seized Assistant Yan’s wrist in an iron grip.
“A protective talisman?”
Master Fang knew of such things. He could recognize one at a glance.
Assistant Yan nodded, his face still pale. “Yes.”
“Where did you get it?”
“A—A few days ago. Someone gifted it to me.”
Master Fang’s expression grew solemn. He pulled Assistant Yan a few steps away from the debris, guiding him to the wall, his gaze intense.
“Yan! Think carefully! You said this talisman was fine when you received it, correct? Have you, in these past days, dropped it? Crushed it by accident? Perhaps bumped into someone?”
Assistant Yan took a deep breath, his mind combing through recent events. After a moment, he shook his head with certainty.
“No. Absolutely not. You know me, Master Fang. I am always cautious in my movements.”
Master Fang’s face shifted into something unreadable. His plump cheeks trembled as excitement took hold.
“Then that means… this talisman just saved your life! It took the disaster in your stead!”
A thrill ran through him as he gripped Assistant Yan’s shoulders, his excitement palpable.
“Yan! Yan! The one who gave you this talisman—must be a master of the highest order! A true Eminent Master!”
“Who? Who was it?! How did you meet them?! Tell me! Quickly!”
Assistant Yan, unnerved by his employer’s enthusiasm, hesitated for a moment before replying, “Master Fang… you actually know them. It—it was the tenant who rented the haunted residence from you. The one who hired me for a ritual.”
“The tenant?” Master Fang was taken aback.
Then a spark of realization flared in his eyes.
“A tenant… a tenant…”
He sucked in a deep breath, and his mind pieced things together.
“Of course! Of course! It makes perfect sense!”
A glint of admiration shone in his gaze.
“Only a true master would dare reside in such a cursed dwelling!”
“I had assumed them merely a fool with an iron heart. But to think… to think I had unknowingly crossed paths with a hidden dragon!”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation