Chapter 24: A Different Price
The carriage rumbled to a stop before the towering structure of the hospital. Chen Yan stepped down, his robes rustling softly as he made his way inside. With practiced ease, he navigated the pristine corridors until he reached the designated chamber.
Pushing open the door, he found President Fang seated upon the sickbed, his countenance grave. At the sight of Chen Yan, he straightened his posture and spoke in a low, steady voice. “Master Chen, please, take a seat. Forgive me for not rising to greet you.”
Chen Yan nodded, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. Only then did he approach, settling himself upon the chair beside the bed. His gaze swept over President Fang—his complexion, though still pallid, had improved considerably since their last encounter. Clearly, the days of recuperation had served him well.
“President Fang, how have these past few days treated you?” Chen Yan asked with a faint smile. “Your meals, your rest—have they been adequate?”
President Fang sighed heavily. “Better, at least. Staying here has brought me some peace of mind. Before, I would wake in the dead of night, startled from my sleep. These past few nights have been tolerable, but my heart remains restless. Until this matter is resolved, I cannot find true peace.”
He hesitated briefly before venturing, “My assistant, Yan Zhao Xing, told me he took you to the company. But you haven’t visited my residence yet, likely because…”
Chen Yan raised a hand, cutting him off. “There is no need to go to your home, President Fang.”
A man as shrewd as President Fang naturally caught the implication. His heart stirred. “Does this mean… Master Chen, you’ve already found the root of the problem?”
Chen Yan gave a small nod.
Straightening in his seat, he spoke with deliberate slowness, “I told you before, your troubles do not stem from that villa.”
President Fang’s heart clenched. He had once placed his faith in Uncle Qing of Falling Cloud Retreat, whose reading of fate had differed from the young master before him. But after enduring this ordeal, there was little doubt left in his mind—his trust now lay solely with Chen Yan.
Taking a measured breath, he asked, “If the ritual at the villa was futile, then where does the true problem lie?”
Chen Yan folded his arms. “First, I need you to agree to something before I intervene.”
“Of course!” President Fang responded instantly. “Whatever you need, I will comply! If it’s a matter of payment—”
Chen Yan shook his head. “The price is not money. First, listen. If you can agree, we shall proceed.”
A strange feeling crept into President Fang’s heart, but he nodded nonetheless. “Go on, Master Chen.”
“The matters we discuss today stay between us. No third party is to know—not even your assistant.”
Chen Yan’s gaze bore into him as he continued, “President Fang, I have found the source of your misfortune. And I can dispel it. But this must be done in absolute secrecy. No one must learn of my involvement—not even Yan Zhao Xing.
“To him, you must say I found nothing, that I am stepping away from the matter entirely. Moreover, ensure he speaks of this to no one. In fact, it would be best if neither of you ever mention consulting me at all.”
The weight of Chen Yan’s words sent a chill down President Fang’s spine. But he was a man well-versed in business, accustomed to reading the faces of those before him. Instinctively, he understood—this was no trivial matter.
“Understood,” he said solemnly. “Master Chen, regarding you, this matter shall never leave my lips. I will also caution Yan Zhao Xing—he is a cautious man, never one to speak out of turn.”
Chen Yan gave an approving nod. “Then, I shall explain.”
After a deliberate pause, he spoke, his voice low and measured. “The reason you have suffered misfortune of late… is because you have meddled with things beyond your reach.”
President Fang’s breath hitched. “An object…? Something has tainted me?”
His mind raced. Then, as realization dawned, he murmured, “The item—it’s in my company, isn’t it?”
It was not a difficult conclusion to reach. After all, Chen Yan had visited the company, but not the residence. If the issue had already been identified, the only logical answer was that its source lay within those office walls.
But what exactly had caused this disaster? President Fang had no answer.
His thoughts flashed back to his assistant’s account of Chen Yan’s investigation. The master had examined many things at the company, but had not pointed out anything directly.
Yet now, Chen Yan merely said, “Dispose of everything in your office.”
President Fang stared. “Everything?”
Chen Yan nodded. “You are not lacking in wealth, President Fang. These objects are but worldly possessions. Part with them—you will not regret it.”
Without hesitation, President Fang agreed, “Fine! I’ll have my office completely cleared out! Not a single scrap of paper will remain!”
Satisfied, Chen Yan reached into his sleeve and retrieved a small bundle. He placed it atop the blanket covering President Fang’s legs but kept his hand hovering over it.
President Fang peered down to see a set of four paper talismans, each meticulously inscribed with arcane markings.
“These are four Evil-Dispelling and Fortune-Enhancing Talismans,” Chen Yan explained. “Place one in each of the four corners of your office—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. They may be tucked within the ceiling panels or hidden between the pages of books—placement matters not, so long as they remain in these designated corners.”
He had drawn these talismans himself the night prior. They were basic charms, carrying only the simplest protective incantations. Their true effect would be minimal at best.
But then… if President Fang refrained from burning that particular incense again, these charms would serve little function. Their true purpose lay elsewhere.
A complete illusion must be woven flawlessly.
President Fang was no expert in mystical arts, but he recognized quality craftsmanship when he saw it. Instantly, he nodded in gratitude. “Thank you, Master Chen! These talismans—”
He reached out to accept them, but Chen Yan merely smiled, keeping his hand firmly atop the bundle.
The price had yet to be paid.
President Fang was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure, forcing a smile. “Ah, I was the one who failed to follow the proper etiquette!”
After a brief moment of contemplation, he continued, “Master Chen, though our previous meeting was brief, I believe I have come to understand your temperament. Let us dispense with unnecessary pleasantries.”
He exhaled and got straight to the point. “I’ve reviewed the lease agreement for the residence. The contract was for two years. You have already paid six months’ rent, leaving another year and a half—eighteen months in total.”
As he spoke, he struggled to turn his body and reached into the drawer of the bedside table, pulling out an envelope. “Inside this envelope is the original lease agreement.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “I also had someone pay the property management fees for the remaining year and a half. The receipts are in here as well.
These documents are now yours. You may rest easy—this house is yours to live in without any further payment. Consider it a token of my gratitude for your efforts. Does this arrangement suit you?”
Chen Yan felt a flicker of insight in his heart. He understood President Fang’s intent clearly. How to put it…
Fang appeared generous, but he was no fool. His words carried an unspoken message—one that was not explicitly stated, yet easily discernible.
The residence would be his to occupy rent-free. However, there was no mention of permanence.
Fang had subtly pointed it out: the contract was for two years, and the property fees had now been covered for exactly that period.
The message was clear: the house was his to live in—free of charge—for two years.
Chen Yan did a quick calculation. Excluding the six months’ rent he had initially paid, the remaining rent would have been 270,000. The additional property fees paid amounted to 54,000.
Altogether, President Fang had effectively covered over 300,000.
And that was not including the 100,000 Fang had paid for his compass previously.
In total, over 400,000.
It was a generous amount—but not an extravagant one. It was precise, calculated.
Chen Yan nodded, loosened his grip on the talisman, and took the envelope, tucking it into his robe.
“Master Chen,” President Fang exhaled in relief upon seeing Chen Yan accept the documents. He then took the stack of talisman papers, idly pinching them between his fingers before speaking again. “There is something else that troubles me. You mentioned that there is an item in my company that has been obstructing my fortune… May I ask what it is? I would like to have my people remove it at once.”
Chen Yan’s expression remained calm. “It is of no great consequence. Simply empty out your office. Replace everything. That will suffice.”
President Fang hesitated for a moment, then his brows furrowed slightly in deep thought. And suddenly, his expression changed!
Understanding dawned on him!
The portly businessman narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. “Master Chen… Are you saying this is something that cannot be openly discussed?”
Chen Yan sighed and gestured toward the hospital room’s door.
“President Fang, you are a businessman. You understand the unspoken rules of the world. This is no different.”
He continued, his voice as steady as an ancient river. “Suppose you were ambushed in the night and had your leg broken. The hospital would mend your bones and set you on the path to recovery. That is their duty. But if you wanted the hospital to hunt down the culprit who attacked you…
That would be outside their obligations. I trust you understand?”
A dangerous glint flickered in President Fang’s eyes. His voice turned hoarse, carrying a sharp edge. “So, what you mean is… this was not simply bad luck—some unfortunate accident.
This… was the work of an enemy?”
Chen Yan remained silent, his gaze steady.
Fang pondered over his previous words, and realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
He understood now! This young master had clearly seen through the situation.
But he refused to say it outright.
Because, as he had said—his task was to change fate, to shift fortunes. Anything beyond that…
Had a price of its own.
Furthermore, his insistence on secrecy implied that he had no desire to make unnecessary enemies.
A newfound sense of clarity steadied Fang’s breathing.
“Master Chen,” he said solemnly. “If this is truly the work of a foe, then I cannot allow this matter to rest. A thief may lurk in the shadows for a thousand days, but a man cannot guard against misfortune forever. If I do not uncover the perpetrator, how can I rest at ease? What if they strike again?”
He clenched his fists. “You need not worry—I understand the rules. I will pay you an additional 200,000. For that price, I do not ask for your intervention—only for a name, a single clue. Nothing more. And rest assured, this knowledge will remain between us. No third party shall ever learn that it was you who pointed me in the right direction.”
Chen Yan considered it for a moment. “Very well. Remember—today, I was never here.”
“Of course. Today, we never met.” President Fang agreed without hesitation.
Chen Yan nodded and rose to his feet, pulling out his phone. He opened his banking system.
President Fang, without a moment’s hesitation, retrieved his own phone.
Within two minutes, Chen Yan’s device vibrated with a notification—200,000 had been deposited.
He acknowledged it with a slight nod. Then, leaning in, he whispered two words into President Fang’s ear:
“Sandalwood Incense.”
And with that, he straightened and turned coldly toward the door. “Remember your promise, President Fang. Today, we never met.”
With those words, he strode away, disappearing into the corridors of the hospital.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation