Chapter 21: The Unlucky President Fang
Assistant Yan took a deep breath and said, “The boss was sent directly to the hospital. Before he got into the car, he made sure to instruct me to visit you personally. He asked that you take the time to meet him as soon as possible.”
Chen Yan shook his head. “If he’s injured, then let’s wait a few days. It’s not like anything urgent is going on.”
“Urgent! It’s very urgent! Extremely urgent!” Assistant Yan’s eyes widened with desperation. “Mister Chen, this is really important… There’s a lot to explain, and I need to tell you everything…”
Chen Yan considered it for a moment. He had no particular plans today, and Assistant Yan had always treated him with respect, making his dealings rather comfortable.
“Alright, I’ll go with you.”
But then… this President Fang was a wealthy and powerful man, the owner of a haunted estate.
And just last night, they had held a ritual…
Now, come morning, he’d fallen and broken a bone?
A thought suddenly struck Chen Yan with clarity.
Perhaps when Boss Ma had sought out Old Madam Zhang, it was also for something similar?
It seemed… business was about to open up.
With that in mind, Chen Yan glanced at Assistant Yan. “Since we’re going to see your boss, we should bring the necessary tools.”
“Yes, yes, you…”
Chen Yan cleared his throat. “Just wait here. I’ll…”
“I won’t move! I won’t move! I’ll stay right here waiting for you!” Assistant Yan quickly assured him.
[Hmph, taking advantage of me once wasn’t enough, was it?]
Assistant Yan grumbled internally but maintained a perfect smile.
Chen Yan returned home, and though he didn’t bring much, he grabbed the compass he had bought online for a hundred and eighty yuan. With that in hand, he stepped back outside.
When Assistant Yan saw Chen Yan walking out, compass in hand, his heart immediately settled.
That was something he had seen before.
This man was definitely no ordinary person!
Chen Yan had never ridden in a luxury Mercedes-Benz before.
Well, last time he had been forced into one by Boss Ma’s men, but that had been a Maybach, so it didn’t count.
How did it feel?
Comfortable.
It smelled like money.
Chen Yan was a simple man. He quite liked the scent of wealth.
Assistant Yan, on the other hand, was exceedingly careful, smiling awkwardly after they got in the car.
Chen Yan sighed. “Alright, Assistant Yan, we’re already acquaintances. No need to be so formal. Tell me about your boss. What exactly is going on?”
Assistant Yan let out a light sigh. “Our President Fang… well, he’s been having a streak of bad luck.”
President Fang’s misfortunes had started last month.
First, while heading out for business negotiations, the weather abruptly changed, and he was caught in a downpour.
The next day, he caught a cold.
He didn’t think much of it and took some medicine.
A couple of days later, it turned into pneumonia.
He ended up in the hospital for a week, his hand swollen from IV drips. The worst part? He nearly died—
The antibiotics he had used before without issue suddenly triggered a severe allergic reaction.
If they hadn’t caught it in time, he might have been done for.
Once he finally recovered and was discharged, he went for a game of golf, only to twist his back. Another two days of bed rest at home.
When he finally got back to the office, he learned that a major shipment of his business’ goods had gotten into an accident on the way—
An entire truck had fallen into the river.
Thankfully, the driver was unharmed. Otherwise, the compensation costs would have been astronomical.
President Fang realized something was terribly wrong.
Having encountered so many accidents in such a short time, he became convinced that some unseen force was at play.
Given his background, he had connections to spiritual experts, the type who dealt in the unseen. So he sought one out.
After some calculations, the expert told him that the root of his misfortune lay in the haunted estate he had purchased.
Owning the property had tied him to its karmic burden.
Although past rituals had been conducted to cleanse it, the estate’s ominous nature was too deeply ingrained. It seemed that whatever had lurked there was merely suppressed, not fully eradicated.
And now, it had started to resurface…
Chen Yan chuckled. “So, you all suddenly decided to hold another ritual because of your boss’s bad luck? Some ‘expert’ told him it was because of the haunted estate?”
“Exactly.” Assistant Yan forced a smile. “When you rented the place, we didn’t mention anything about rituals at the year’s end, because—frankly—it wasn’t planned. This was a last-minute decision.”
“Makes sense.” Chen Yan nodded. “But after the ritual, things should have settled, right?”
“That’s what we thought!” Assistant Yan’s face darkened. “Yet this morning, the boss broke his leg…”
“Now he’s truly terrified. And it’s clear to him that whatever Uncle Qing from Falling Cloud Retreat did last night was useless.
“But you, Mister Chen, you’re the real Eminent Master. That’s why he’s desperate to meet you—he doesn’t dare wait any longer. If he delays, who knows what misfortune will strike next?”
Chen Yan mulled it over for a moment, then nodded. “I understand.”
Then, he fell silent, closing his eyes as if to rest.
Assistant Yan dared not disturb him. He simply sat in silence, breathing as softly as possible, focusing entirely on driving.
Chen Yan had been awake for a full day and night. Now, in the warm luxury of the car, with its plush seats and perfectly regulated climate, he felt himself drifting.
Some time later, a gentle jolt roused him. Opening his eyes, he saw that the car had just driven past the hospital gates.
The slight tremor had come from crossing a speed bump.
Chen Yan recognized this place—it was an elite private hospital in Jin Ling Prefecture, known for its exorbitant fees.
After parking, Assistant Yan led Chen Yan inside.
The inpatient wing was as opulent as a five-star hotel.
Inside, the hospital hall gleamed with luxury. A central elevator took them to the orthopedic ward. Walking through the pristine corridors, they finally reached a private suite.
Assistant Yan pushed open the door, gesturing for Chen Yan to enter.
The first thing Chen Yan noticed was that the room looked more like a high-end hotel suite than a hospital room.
Bright windows, central heating, a flat-screen television, a sofa set, a tea table.
A separate private bathroom.
The only thing that distinguished it from a luxury hotel room was the hospital bed—standard, professional-grade, designed for emergencies.
And then, at last, Chen Yan laid eyes on President Fang.
The man lay upon the hospital bed, one leg bound in a splint, wrapped securely. When Chen Yan stepped through the door, President Fang was idly scrolling through something on his phone. At the sound of an arrival, he lifted his gaze, his round face lighting up with a smile. His assistant, Yan Zhao Xing, quickly stepped forward.
“Boss, I’ve invited Mister Chen as you requested.”
President Fang’s plump face beamed with an eagerness that bordered on reverence. His gaze settled upon Chen Yan, and his voice rang with enthusiasm.
“Mister Chen! Master Chen! At last, you’ve arrived! I’ve been awaiting your presence!”
As he spoke, he attempted to sit up, but the moment he moved, pain contorted his features into a grimace. His assistant, always quick on his feet, rushed forward to press him down.
“Boss, please, mind your injury!”
Chen Yan observed President Fang’s theatrics, and from his practiced eye, it was clear that seven parts of his suffering were for show. He waved a hand dismissively.
“President Fang, stay where you are. No need for formalities.”
His gaze swept across the room, taking in his surroundings. Before he could move, Yan Zhao Xing swiftly fetched a chair and placed it beside the bed. Chen Yan sat down without ceremony, only for President Fang to reach out and clasp his hand tightly.
“To meet such an esteemed master is my greatest honor! However, to do so under these circumstances—I must beg your pardon for my lack of proper hospitality.”
Chen Yan merely smiled, withdrawing his hand as he examined President Fang with a knowing look.
“No need for pleasantries, President Fang. Misfortune befalls us all—no one invites disaster.”
President Fang let out a pained chuckle. “Master Chen, you are a man of few words, unbothered by empty courtesies. That’s refreshing…” His eyes flicked toward his assistant, who immediately took the cue.
“I’ll go prepare some tea for Master Chen,” Yan Zhao Xing said smoothly before stepping out.
Chen Yan didn’t stop him. He knew well that the man wasn’t leaving to make tea—rather, he was making himself scarce, unwilling to eavesdrop on his employer’s private affairs.
President Fang composed himself and spoke with solemnity. “Little Yan has served me for years, always reliable. I can’t do without him even for a day. And it was thanks to the jade talisman you gave him—had it not been for that, he would’ve suffered a blood-soaked calamity last night. For that, I must first offer you my gratitude.”
“No need.” Chen Yan shook his head, cutting off any further sentimentality. “That jade talisman wasn’t a gift; it was a transaction. You paid me for it. The deal is done.”
President Fang nodded repeatedly. “I understand! A master such as yourself abides by these principles—you mustn’t be entangled in karmic debts.”
Seeing that the man was still poised to exchange further pleasantries, Chen Yan grew impatient. He waved a hand. “President Fang, your assistant already briefed me on the situation. I’m not one for riddles, so let’s speak plainly.”
“Yes, yes, of course!” President Fang’s eyes flickered with understanding. “Since you already know, then please, Master Chen—take a look at my predicament.”
Chen Yan pondered for a moment before speaking. “I can’t guarantee much, but I’ll tell you one thing, President Fang—whatever has been troubling you recently has nothing to do with the villa I currently reside in.”
“Huh?” President Fang blinked in confusion.
Chen Yan’s tone remained calm. “I inspected that house thoroughly the first day I moved in. The place is clean.”
Seeing the lingering doubt in President Fang’s eyes, Chen Yan continued. “I’ve lived there for quite some time. If there was anything foul lurking in that house, I would have already purged it myself.”
President Fang considered this and eventually nodded. The logic was sound.
“Then… then what should I do?” Anxiety crept into his voice. “Master Chen, you don’t understand. Technically, I didn’t even need to be hospitalized for this fracture. A simple cast, and I could’ve gone home. But I’m terrified! My luck has turned wretched. Staying in the hospital feels safer—at least here, if something happens, the doctors can save me.”
Chen Yan couldn’t help but chuckle at the man’s honesty.
“No need to panic. Since I’m here, I won’t refuse to help.”
He smiled, watching President Fang’s reaction.
President Fang was a shrewd man, instantly catching the implication. “I understand! Such arts are not to be shared lightly. But… may I ask, Master Chen, what would be your price for taking action?”
Chen Yan had already considered this on his way here. “We’ll speak of payment later. First, let me determine if I can resolve your issue. If I can, I won’t hesitate to claim what’s due to me. If I can’t, then I won’t take a single coin, and you’ll need to seek another master.”
President Fang hurriedly nodded. “Of course! How could I let you exert yourself without proper compensation? Regardless of the outcome, I’ll still offer a generous fee for your efforts.”
Despite his words, this assurance settled something in his heart. Until now, President Fang had some lingering doubts about Chen Yan—after all, this was their first meeting. The broken jade talisman had been miraculous, but seeing Chen Yan in person… the young man looked far too youthful.
While Yan Zhao Xing had confirmed that Chen Yan was only twenty-two years old (the rental contract had a photocopy of his ID), it was still hard to believe that someone so young could wield true mastery.
Chen Yan could guess the man’s thoughts but saw no need to address them. Instead, he instructed President Fang to relax, lie flat, and close his eyes. Once the man complied, Chen Yan produced a compass, pacing around the hospital room as if making careful calculations. His expression remained grave, his movements deliberate.
Minutes stretched into over ten before he finally stowed the compass away and returned to his seat. He then asked for President Fang’s birth date and zodiac sign.
It was all an act.
Chen Yan had grown up under the care of an Old Madam—though he had never formally studied the arts, she had taught him many things. Even the simplest of rituals needed to be performed with great fanfare in front of the paying client—only then would they believe in the value of their purchase.
But in truth, the real answer had already revealed itself to him the moment he secretly activated the Heavenly Eye Qi-Observing Technique.
At first glance, President Fang’s fortune was already off. His forehead carried a faint, unhealthy shade of green. But when viewed through the Heavenly Eye, a dark aura clung to his head, tendrils of black mist curling and dissipating as if gradually fading away.
That was peculiar.
Because this black aura wasn’t rooted in President Fang himself.
Rather… it seemed as though someone else had placed a curse upon him.
Or perhaps, he had come into contact with something… unclean.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation