《Reversal of Good and Evil》


 Betrayed by my girlfriend

    "Tinting, I''m back..."


    Huang Quan cheerfully opened the door, but the scene before him made his blood run cold.


    Today was his girlfriend Cao Tinting''s birthday, and Huang Quan had bought her a necklace as a gift. He was just an ordinary employee at a trading company, earning only three to four thousand yuan a month. This necklace had cost him three to four months of saving, tightening his belt just to make her happy. But what he saw in front of him struck him like a bolt of lightning.


    On the bed¡ªthere were two people!


    Cao Tinting''s face was flushed, her hair disheveled, and her intimate clothes scattered on the floor. Beside her, a shirtless man was calmly getting dressed.


    Huang Quan''s eyes filled with blood, his mind went blank.


    He had met Cao Tinting two years ago. At the time, she was penniless, and Huang Quan, who had just found a job and was quite good-looking, naturally ended up in a relationship with her. But this woman was extremely lazy. Since they started living together, she had never bothered to find a job, relying entirely on Huang Quan for everything. She even swore that she was a traditional girl and wanted to save the most important night for their wedding, so despite living together for years, they always slept in separate beds.


    He never expected that she would betray him like this...


    "Why? ... Why?"


    Cao Tinting nonchalantly finished dressing and cast a cold glance at Huang Quan.


    "Why? I should be the one asking you that! Idiot, barging in here and ruining our fun!"


    She raised her hand, not even looking directly at Huang Quan, her face full of disdain. "You''re nothing but a worthless piece of trash. Just looking at you makes me sick. Get out of here!"


    "Tinting, why are you doing this to me? I saved up three months'' salary for your birthday... and this is how you repay me!"


    "Do you think that''s fair?"


    His last sentence was almost a roar.


    Cao Tinting, spoiled for so long, saw that Huang Quan dared to shout at her, and her temper flared up instantly.


    "Trash, scum, garbage, don''t think you''re something special! You don''t even deserve to look at yourself in the mirror! And you think you can talk to me like that?"


    "A pathetic loser making three or four thousand a month thinks he can be with me? A toad dreaming of eating swan meat!"


    "You can''t even compare to a single hair on Wen Dong''s leg! You''re not even worthy to tie his shoes!"


    "Get out!"


    Huang Quan was trembling with rage.


    On the side, Wen Dong calmly held Cao Tinting in his arms, his hands slowly moving over her body, his face full of a lecherous smile.


    "Darling, don''t get angry. Why bother with a dog?"


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    "Shut up! Take your hands off her; I''m Tinting''s boyfriend!" Huang Quan clenched his fists, shouting angrily.


    "Pah, and a dog like you can measure up to me?" Cao Tinting sneered.


    "It''s over between us! I''d rather die than stay with a worthless man!"


    "Hah, these days, there are always idiots who don''t know their place... Hey! Fool, Tinting is mine from now on. If you want to keep living, you''d better tuck your tail between your legs and get lost!"


    "Ma, you''ve gone too far!" Huang Quan''s anger erupted, and he couldn''t hold back any longer.


    He clenched his fists and charged at Wen Dong.


    But Wen Dong was strong and robust, how could Huang Quan be his match? With Cao Tinting helping to pin him down, Huang Quan couldn''t even fight back.


    Filled with sorrow and fury, Huang Quan struggled to break free from Cao Tinting''s grip, desperate to fight back.


    Bang!


    A loud crash, and a heavy blow struck his head, rendering him unconscious on the floor.


    Behind him, Cao Tinting stood with a vase in her hand, her face twisted in a malicious grin.


    Huang Quan, still reeling from the earlier confrontation, lay unconscious in the filth and grime of the garbage heap, the pouring rain mixing with the blood and dirt that coated his battered body. Just moments before, he had been dragged by two burly bodyguards, his head scraping against the rough ground, leaving a trail of blood behind as they tossed him away like discarded trash at the behest of Ma Wendong. The sky cracked with thunder as the storm intensified, but Huang Quan remained motionless, lost in a world of darkness and pain.


    In his unconscious state, Huang Quan''s wounds began to heal, his body responding to some strange, unseen force. As he drifted in and out of awareness, an eerie vision began to form in his mind¡ªa building, ancient and foreboding, loomed before him. It appeared as an old, rectangular apartment complex, standing four or five stories tall, with rows of windows that stretched endlessly. No matter how hard he tried, Huang Quan couldn¡¯t count the exact number of floors or units, the details constantly shifting, eluding his grasp.


    The more he stared at the building, the more it seemed to exude a malevolent presence. Dark shadows flitted behind the windows, sinister and watching him with unholy intent. The entire structure radiated an overwhelming sense of viciousness, as though it were alive with evil. Huang Quan felt a deep sense of dread, as if staring too long would drive him to madness.


    "Is this hell?" Huang Quan muttered, his voice laced with despair. "I''ve lived my life like an insignificant ant, never harming anyone, and yet, even in death, I''ve been condemned to hell."


    As his mind struggled to comprehend the situation, a flood of information surged into his consciousness. In an instant, Huang Quan understood the true nature of the building¡ªit was the Hell Apartment, a place that existed within his mind, accessible with just a single thought. He had been chosen as its Apostle, the title given to the building''s caretaker.


    As an Apostle, Huang Quan''s duty was to help the residents of the Hell Apartment fulfill their final desires, their lingering obsessions that bound them to this eerie place. In exchange, these residents would pay their "rent" by bestowing their powers and abilities upon him.


    "So, by resolving the tenants'' obsessions, I can gain their strength and powers?" Huang Quan was shocked by the revelation, realizing that this could be the very opportunity he needed to exact his revenge and rise to greatness.


    Just as he came to this realization, the door of the apartment swung open, and a young woman stepped out into the dim light. Her delicate figure bowed slightly in greeting. "Honored Apostle, you¡¯ve arrived to help me fulfill my obsession, haven¡¯t you?"


    Her voice was clear and gentle, but there was an unsettling echo of water rippling within it. Huang Quan could tell that she was one of the tenants.


    "What is your obsession?" he asked without hesitation.


    "My name is Yang Mei, and my boyfriend was Xu Hai," she began softly. "Three days ago, I accidentally drowned... Please, could you check on my boyfriend, help him move on from his grief... And, if you would be so kind, could you retrieve my body?"


    Huang Quan couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for her tragic story. "I¡¯ll help you with your obsession," he promised without much thought, nodding in agreement.


    "Thank you, honored Apostle," Yang Mei said, a hint of joy creeping into her voice. "The more obsessions you complete, the more powers you can borrow from us. We can even descend to the human world to assist you directly."


    Huang Quan was intrigued. "You can descend to the human world?"


    "Yes, as tenants of the Hell Apartment, we can fulfill any request you have," Yang Mei whispered as she stepped closer to Huang Quan, placing her hand lightly on his chest. "Even those... more excessive requests..."

 Golden Finger arrives

    Huang Quan was startled and quickly agreed to help Yang Mei resolve her lingering obsession, swiftly exiting the space within his mind.


    After leaving the haunted house in his mind, Huang Quan awoke.


    His body still ached, and anger still burned within him, but his mood had changed dramatically.


    With the haunted house in his mind, his future prospects seemed limitless.


    As for that despicable couple...


    With this apartment, vengeance would be inevitable.


    But first, he had to complete Yang Mei''s request.


    In the alley, he found a water pipe and rinsed off his body. Still soaking wet, he rode his bicycle toward Linjiang Road.


    Upon arriving at Linjiang Road, Huang Quan followed the address Yang Mei had given him to her boyfriend¡¯s residence and rang the doorbell.


    After a few chimes, the door opened.


    Seeing the person who answered, Huang Quan frowned slightly.


    It was a young woman.


    Huang Quan distinctly remembered Yang Mei telling him that she had bought this house for their wedding. Why was there a young woman here?


    The young woman, seeing a disheveled, pale man standing at her door, looked nervous and took a half step back.


    After a moment''s thought, Huang Quan forced a smile and asked, "Excuse me, is this Xu Hai¡¯s residence?"


    The young woman regained some composure but remained wary. "He¡¯s my boyfriend. What do you want with him?"


    Boyfriend?


    Huang Quan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a suspicion forming in his mind.


    Just then, a young man with glasses and a fair complexion emerged, his expression cautious as he looked toward the door. "Dear, who¡¯s looking for me?"


    Before the woman could respond, he turned to Huang Quan. "Who are you? What do you want?"


    Huang Quan had figured it all out. He smiled at the couple and said, "Nothing, sorry to bother you."


    With that, he politely took his leave, ignoring the confused and suspicious glances they exchanged.


    However, just as the door was about to close, Huang Quan spoke again.


    "Oh, by the way, Mr. Xu Hai."


    He stared intently into Xu Hai''s eyes, baring his teeth in a grin. "Yang Mei sends her regards."


    Xu Hai¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, but he quickly masked his emotions, frowning at Huang Quan. "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about."


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    Huang Quan had already seen the fear in his eyes but said nothing more. He simply smiled politely and turned to leave.


    Xu Hai stood there, frowning deeply, watching Huang Quan walk away.


    The fear and confusion in his heart refused to subside.


    Who was that man?


    And why did he mention A-Mei?


    Could he... could he know something?


    Xu Hai suddenly recalled a detail: the man¡¯s face was deathly pale, and his entire body was drenched as if he had just been pulled from the water.


    Pulled from the water?


    Water?


    Xu Hai¡¯s pupils dilated again, a chill rising inexplicably within him.


    After leaving Yang Mei''s house, Huang Quan headed to the spot where Yang Mei had drowned, following the directions she had given him.


    Once he reached the riverbank, he confirmed with Yang Mei that this was indeed where she had fallen into the river. Without hesitation, Huang Quan took out his phone and called the police.


    Half an hour later, the police retrieved a waterlogged, pale corpse from the river, and arrested the ashen-faced, distraught Xu Hai at Yang Mei¡¯s home.


    One of the officers mentioned that when they arrived, they found Xu Hai in a state of utter collapse, lying on the floor, his soul seemingly shattered.


    Before the police could even cuff him, Xu Hai confessed everything. He had plotted to seize Yang Mei''s apartment and wanted to break up with her so he could marry his current girlfriend. One night, he pushed Yang Mei into the river and weighed her down with stones. Now, he would face the full force of the law.


    As the one who reported the crime, Huang Quan was asked to give a statement, and the duty officer relayed all these details to him. Huang Quan, in turn, shared everything with Yang Mei.


    A ghostly sigh echoed in his mind, and Yang Mei''s voice followed. "Thank you, my lord Apostle... When I drowned, I knew it was Xu Hai who had betrayed me. I almost became a vengeful spirit, seeking revenge on him."


    "Fortunately, the apartment appeared and took me in as a tenant, preventing me from becoming a malevolent ghost..."


    She paused, a hint of light laughter in her tone. "Thank you, my lord Apostle, for helping me resolve this obsession... Here is my rent."


    As she finished speaking, Huang Quan felt a cold energy surge through his body, coursing through his veins. He clenched his fist tightly. The next time he encountered Ma Wendong, he felt confident he could crush him with a single punch.


    Along the roadside, a car had been parked illegally, blocking half the street and causing frustration among passersby. Huang Quan lifted the car by the bumper, dragged it to the side, and propped it upright against a tree. Then, he quietly left, leaving his deeds unsung.


    A few minutes later, the car owner came out and was dumbfounded to find his car "standing" by the tree, surrounded by onlookers.


    Aside from his newfound strength, Huang Quan also discovered he could control his eyes to use a skill resembling a form of clairvoyance. With the ability of "Aura Vision," he could see the fortune of others.


    Huang Quan tested the skill and noticed that everyone had a different colored aura above their heads. Most were white, while some had a faint gray or yellow hue.


    After observing for a while, Huang Quan understood that yellow represented good fortune, while gray signified misfortune. He watched as a man with a gray aura stepped into a gutter, after which the gray aura above his head faded back to white.


    Curious, Huang Quan wondered, "What color is my aura?"


    As he passed by a storefront, he glanced at his reflection in the glass, hoping to see his own aura.


    What he saw shocked him.


    In the mirror, there was nothing but pure emptiness.


    "Is it because of the apartment?" Huang Quan pondered. He had a vague suspicion that becoming an Apostle and mastering the Hell Apartment, straddling the worlds of the living and the dead, had rendered him immune to the fortunes of the mortal realm.


    Before he knew it, he had reached his residence. Although he and Cao Tingting had fallen out, and he had no reason to stay there, he still needed to retrieve his belongings.


    As for that despicable couple...


    Huang Quan narrowed his eyes. He had never been the forgiving type, and he couldn''t let their humiliation slide. This grudge would be settled.


    And he still needed to collect his belongings from the apartment.


    Just as he was about to head upstairs, a young couple walked out¡ªnone other than Cao Tingting and Ma Wendong.


    Ma Wendong spotted Huang Quan approaching and immediately sneered. "Well, well! The trash has crawled out of the garbage heap? Who gave you permission to come out?"


    Huang Quan narrowed his eyes, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Perfect timing. I have a score to settle with both of you."

 Dogs can also do accounting

    "Ha! A dog that can keep accounts?" Ma Wendong laughed uproariously.


    With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards behind him immediately moved forward, encircling Huang Quan.


    Beside him, Cao Tingting clung to Ma Wendong¡¯s arm, her expression one of utter disdain as she looked at Huang Quan. "How disgusting... I can¡¯t believe I ever fancied such trash. Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve already thrown out your junk. Don¡¯t bother going upstairs¡ªyou¡¯ll only dirty my floors."


    Huang Quan¡¯s rage boiled over into a cold laugh.


    In just a few short hours, any fondness he once felt for the woman before him had vanished without a trace.


    All that remained was a deep sense of sorrow and burning anger.


    I devoted myself to you for all these years, and in the end, this is how you repay me!


    Fine, then¡ªlet¡¯s settle this score properly.


    Noticing the smile on Huang Quan¡¯s face, Cao Tingting hesitated for a moment. After all, she had been in a relationship with Huang Quan for many years and knew him well, but she had never seen such an expression on his face.


    For reasons she couldn¡¯t quite grasp, a faint sense of unease crept into her heart.


    But that unease was quickly smothered by the long-standing contempt and disdain she held for him.


    At the same time, Ma Wendong noticed the smile playing on Huang Quan¡¯s lips. With a sneer, he pointed a finger at Huang Quan¡¯s face. "Trash like you dares to laugh?"


    Cao Tingting chimed in, "Darling, can you teach this trash another lesson? Just seeing him smile makes me sick."


    Ma Wendong nodded, rolling up his sleeves as he approached Huang Quan. As he walked, he instructed his bodyguards, "Hold this kid down¡ªI want to deal with him personally. Don¡¯t let him escape."


    Throughout it all, Huang Quan maintained his smile, regarding Ma Wendong as if he were an imbecile.


    Unsettled by the look, Ma Wendong reached him and threw a punch with all his might. "Let¡¯s see how long you can keep smiling!"


    But then, his eyes widened in terror.


    Ma Wendong felt as though his fist had collided with a cold, unyielding vise.


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    He realized that Huang Quan¡¯s hand was icy to the touch but possessed immense strength, gripping his fist with an unbreakable hold.


    Huang Quan¡¯s smile grew even more pronounced.


    How did this guy suddenly become so strong? He wasn¡¯t this powerful before...


    Overcome with a mix of rage and fear, Ma Wendong tried to wrench his fist free, but to his horror, it felt as though it was caught in a steel trap, the pain searing through his bones.


    "What are you all standing around for? Kill him... Ah..." Ma Wendong screamed in terror.


    But before he could finish his sentence, there was a sickening crack. His wrist swelled grotesquely, and when he looked closer, he saw a shard of white bone protruding through his skin.


    Ma Wendong¡¯s face turned ashen, his lips drained of color, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He was too shocked to speak.


    The two burly bodyguards exchanged glances before charging at Huang Quan, their fists aimed squarely at him.


    Huang Quan took a half-step back, and with a swift pull and toss, Ma Wendong was sent flying through the air, his screams echoing as he soared toward a pile of trash.


    Then, with precise timing, Huang Quan caught the fists of the two bodyguards. A light twist, and both of their wrists cracked audibly. Their hands went limp, swinging uselessly at their sides.


    With a swift pull and a flick of his wrist, Huang Quan sent the two burly bodyguards flying through the air, their anguished screams echoing as they traced graceful arcs before crashing into the trash heap.


    "Y-You¡­ Huang¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ kill¡­ you!" Ma Wendong groaned in agony, forcing each word out through clenched teeth. He tried to push himself up, desperate for revenge, but the searing pain made it impossible for him even to crawl. His legs twitched helplessly.


    Thud! Ma Wendong¡¯s vision darkened as one of the bodyguards landed squarely on his head.


    Thud! Another one followed.


    Cao Tingting was stunned. This man¡­ How could he be so strong? Is he really Huang Quan?


    Terror-stricken, she looked up and locked eyes with Huang Quan, whose gaze was icy despite the smile on his lips. A shiver ran down her spine.


    Knowing Huang Quan well, she immediately understood his intentions. Panic surged through her, and she retreated, shouting in desperation, "Huang Quan! You want to hit me? You want to hit a woman? Are you even a man?"


    Her words made Huang Quan pause.


    Cao Tingting¡¯s heart leaped with hope. She cautiously glanced at Huang Quan, then at the struggling Ma Wendong in the trash heap. After a moment¡¯s thought, she decided to placate the terrifying man before her.


    She softened her tone, preparing to say something conciliatory, but before she could, Huang Quan spoke first.


    Nodding earnestly, Huang Quan said, "You''re right. I shouldn''t hit a woman."


    Cao Tingting¡¯s heart soared: This man is so easy to manipulate!


    And then she was airborne.


    She crashed into the trash heap with a solid thud.


    "I shouldn¡¯t hit a woman," Huang Quan continued calmly, "but every good citizen knows you should throw trash where it belongs."


    "How dare you treat me like this, Huang Quan! You''re finished! Wendong is the son of the Ma family! You¡¯ve got less than three days before you¡¯re dead!"


    Huang Quan didn¡¯t bother responding. He walked over to Ma Wendong, who stared at him with a mixture of pain and terror. Reaching into Ma Wendong¡¯s pocket, Huang Quan calmly took out his wallet and pulled three hundred yuan¡ªjust enough for a cheap set of sportswear. Then, without another word, he retrieved his belongings from the hallway and left.


    He had no intention of letting this pair of scoundrels off so easily, but for now, he had more pressing matters to attend to¡ªquestions about the apartment in his mind that needed urgent answers.

 If you dont become the groom, youll turn into a vengeful spirit

    Huang Quan slowly closed his eyes, preparing to delve into the mysterious apartment once again. Unlike the last time when he encountered Yang Mei, this time, a wooden ancient door appeared in his mind. On either side of the door, a red character for "happiness" was pasted.


    As Huang Quan gently pushed open the door, he was greeted by the sight of a traditional ancient bridal chamber, adorned with a large "double happiness" character in the center, surrounded by symbolic items like peanuts, longans, and melon seeds¡ªeach carrying the wish for many offspring.


    Looking to one side of the room, he saw Yang Mei sitting upright on the bed. She was unlike any ordinary bride; dressed in a crimson wedding gown reserved for the formal wife in ancient times, yet without the customary red veil, only a sheer red cloth half-covering her delicate features. Huang Quan recognized her at a glance.


    Her posture and expression were odd¡ªher legs positioned in a pigeon-toed stance, her feet slightly misaligned, exuding a feminine charm yet poised as if ready to move at any moment. Yang Mei''s expression was vacant, her gaze seemingly fixed on Huang Quan, though devoid of any life in her eyes.


    How strange! When he helped her fulfill her last wish, Yang Mei had clearly expressed her gratitude. But now, she seemed so unfamiliar.


    Huang Quan waved his hand in front of Yang Mei¡¯s face, sensing something was off. She blinked slowly, her gaze shifting to meet his, yet her eyes remained hollow.


    Well, she is a ghost after all¡ªcoldness is to be expected!


    ¡°Will the groom please lift the bridal veil!¡± A voice suddenly echoed from nowhere, causing Huang Quan to pause. The groom?


    He glanced around, realizing that aside from himself, there was no one else here. Could it be that he was the groom?


    This is interesting!


    Huang Quan picked up the nearby ceremonial scale and gently lifted Yang Mei¡¯s veil, revealing a delicate but slightly pale face beneath.


    He studied her for a moment, nodding to himself. If this woman weren''t a ghost, she would indeed be as beautiful as a celestial being¡ªwhat a pity!


    ¡°Now, will the bride and groom drink the nuptial wine!¡± The voice rang out again from above.


    Huang Quan frowned slightly. This was getting ridiculous. He could tolerate lifting the veil as part of the charade, but drinking nuptial wine with a ghost? That was simply too much. He had no intention of complying.


    Huang Quan remained motionless, but Yang Mei mechanically picked up a cup of wine, stretched out her arm, and, with a tilt of her head, drained it.


    ¡°Now, will the bride and groom proceed to the bridal chamber!¡±


    The voice called out once more, and Yang Mei slowly stood up, reaching out to grab Huang Quan¡¯s arm.


    Seeing this, Huang Quan took a step back. There was no way he was going to let his purity be so easily sacrificed to a ghost.


    When Yang Mei¡¯s first attempt failed, she mechanically stepped forward again, reaching out to grab his arm.


    This time, Huang Quan was not pleased. How dare she try again and again!


    He retreated once more, his voice sharp with annoyance. ¡°Yang Mei, enough is enough! I helped you fulfill your last wish, but I didn¡¯t agree to be toyed with.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, a cold light suddenly flashed in Yang Mei''s once hollow eyes. Her gaze locked onto Huang Quan, the whites of her eyes slowly turning blood-red, deepening in color until they were a dark crimson.


    The skin around her eye sockets sank in deeply, forming two dark pits where black-and-red pupils glowed ominously. Her once smooth, pale skin began to peel away, revealing the gleaming white bones beneath.


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    If it had been anyone else, they would have been scared out of their wits, possibly too terrified to even run, collapsing in fear.


    But Huang Quan was not like most people. The more tense the situation, the calmer he became.


    He stared at Yang Mei, now transformed into a vengeful spirit, with a serious yet composed expression. ¡°So, if I refuse to do as you wish, and won¡¯t be your groom, you¡¯ll turn into a vengeful ghost?¡±


    ¡°If I had known you would repay kindness with treachery, I wouldn¡¯t have helped you fulfill your wish. I should have left you to freeze and suffer in that river!¡±


    Yang Mei¡¯s clawed hand drew closer to Huang Quan¡¯s neck, coming within inches of slashing his skin, but Huang Quan didn¡¯t flinch, his gaze unwavering as he stared straight into the dark pits of her eyes.


    In an instant, Yang Mei¡¯s claw halted mere centimeters from his throat, close enough to draw blood. Yet, time seemed to freeze, and she made no further move.


    Moments later, Yang Mei¡¯s expression softened, her vacant eyes regaining focus as they settled on Huang Quan.


    ¡°Lord Apostle? What are you doing in my room? Why do I feel like I lost track of time?¡±


    She seemed to have forgotten what had just transpired, her demeanor returning to its previous respectful state. As Huang Quan looked around, he noticed that the once elaborate bridal chamber had reverted to a simple, clean, and elegantly furnished apartment. The oppressive atmosphere had vanished, replaced by a serene and refreshing ambiance.


    Huang Quan glanced up and saw several lines of text appear before his eyes:


    "The Hell Apartment does not imprison spirits but provides them with a place to reside. However, spirits living in the Hell Apartment face the constant threat of annihilation. Yang Mei, having received the help of the Apostle to fulfill her past life''s desire, must now pass a trial of her current wish to survive this crisis."


    Huang Quan reached out to touch the words, but they were intangible, mere shadows. He turned to look at Yang Mei, who was staring intently at him, seemingly oblivious to the text.


    "Lord Apostle, have you come to my room because you¡¯ve reconsidered those more intimate requests? I¡¯m willing to offer myself to you!" Yang Mei¡¯s entire body slowly leaned toward Huang Quan, her voluptuous figure brushing against his arm. Surprisingly, even as a ghost, she felt soft and supple.


    The only difference was the lack of warmth¡ªunlike a living woman, there was no heat to stir his blood. This, in turn, sent a chill down Huang Quan¡¯s spine. What kind of situation was this? A ghost offering herself to him daily¡ªhow could an ordinary man handle that?


    He chuckled lightly. "Yang Mei, I¡¯m here today to have you show me around the apartment."


    Huang Quan quickly changed the subject, making his purpose clear with lightning speed. He had no intention of being ensnared like one of Pu Songling¡¯s scholars, drained of his essence by some spirit or demon.


    Yang Mei, hearing this, looked a bit disappointed. Her eyebrows drooped, and she pouted her blood-red lips, replying with a sulky "Oh," before leading the way out of the room.


    Huang Quan followed her through the Hell Apartment. He discovered that the apartment had only seven accessible floors; the eighth floor remained locked and required some form of unlocking. At present, the progress was merely at level one. Huang Quan craned his neck, peering curiously up the passage to the eighth floor.


    Could there be an extraordinary world beyond the seventh floor? Or perhaps some superpowers? How could he unlock the eighth floor? Was it by using abilities gained from the spirits or by completing a certain number of tasks for them?


    Huang Quan¡¯s mind buzzed with endless speculation.


    "Apostle, we¡¯ve nearly finished the tour of the Hell Apartment. Some rooms already have residents, like Sun Lutang over there¡ªhis ability is martial arts, but for now, he cannot initiate any tasks," Yang Mei informed him.


    Huang Quan nodded in acknowledgment. Just as he was about to leave the apartment, his gaze caught something on a nearby wall.


    The wall was covered in layers of morning glory vines, but in the center, a small section was left exposed, revealing inscriptions. It recorded the names of past Apostles.


    To his shock, he saw the last entry: "89th Apostle, Huang Quan."


    He stared at the wall, then at Yang Mei, puzzled. "What is this?"


    Yang Mei¡¯s expression shifted, the irritation she had felt earlier completely evaporating, replaced by a look of anxiety. "My lord, it¡¯s nothing. You should return to the real world as soon as possible!"


    "The less you know about this wall, the better. Don¡¯t ask questions, and don¡¯t inquire with others! I can¡¯t guarantee your safety otherwise."


    "Oh, and you noticed there are many vacant rooms in the apartment. As an Apostle, you can actively recruit spirits. Any wandering ghost that you help fulfill their last wish can be brought here, giving those lonely souls a home."


    Without giving Huang Quan time to process all of this, Yang Mei promptly pushed him out of the apartment.


    Back in reality, Huang Quan was momentarily blinded by the bright light, a stark contrast to the darkness of the apartment. It took him a moment to adjust, and when he did, he realized he was at a bus stop. Nearby, two office workers were chatting while scrolling through their phones.


    "Did you see today¡¯s trending news? The heir of the Tang Corporation, Tang Ming, apparently got possessed by a ghost."


    "Yeah, I heard! Serves him right for being such a womanizer. Seems like he got tangled up with a female ghost this time. They say he¡¯s even hired a master to perform an exorcism¡ªhow embarrassing!"


    Huang Quan listened, nodding slightly to himself. As the Apostle of the Hell Apartment, he could recruit spirits on his own.


    Was this not the perfect opportunity?

 Rogues and charlatans

    Outside the Tang family mansion:


    "And who might you be? This is no place for someone like you! Move along!"


    Huang Quan attempted to enter the estate but was promptly stopped by a security guard.


    "I heard your young master is being haunted. I''ve come to exorcise the ghost," Huang Quan explained calmly, a polite smile on his face.


    The guard looked Huang Quan up and down, unimpressed. Despite his refined features, the cheap tracksuit he wore¡ªworth no more than a few hundred yuan¡ªmade him seem utterly unconvincing.


    If this young man were truly a Taoist priest, where was his robe? And if he were some kind of revered master, his attire certainly didn¡¯t reflect it. Judging by his youth and appearance, he was likely just another fraud looking to scam the family.


    "Get lost! Our young master doesn¡¯t need your help. If you don¡¯t leave, you¡¯ll get a taste of my fist!"


    Huang Quan smiled again. Whether or not Tang Ming was saved, the family would be far more anxious about it than he was. If they weren¡¯t willing to let him help, there was no point in pushing the matter.


    He wisely turned to leave.


    "Wait!"


    A voice, soft yet urgent, called after him.


    A beautiful figure stepped in front of Huang Quan.


    "Sir, if you can help my brother, please come with me. He¡¯s in a very bad state."


    The speaker was Tang Ming¡¯s sister, Tang Jiao. She had been watching her brother languish for days, her heart aching with every moment. At this point, she was willing to try anything, and there was something about this young man¡ªhis clear, gentle features¡ªthat made her want to trust him.


    Just as Huang Quan was about to follow Tang Jiao into the estate, a figure blocked their path.


    "Young miss, it¡¯s best not to invite someone of uncertain origins into the house."


    The man bowed slightly, appearing respectful to Tang Jiao, yet there was a note of firmness in his tone.


    "Ah, Steward, you¡¯re back. Is this the Taoist priest you found, the one said to be the best in Maoshan?"


    The guard, who had previously been acting so arrogantly, suddenly transformed into a humble, deferential figure.


    The steward straightened up, pride evident in his posture. "Indeed, young miss. This is the renowned Maoshan Taoist, here specifically to exorcise the ghost from the young master."


    He glanced at Tang Jiao, as if expecting praise.


    Huang Quan looked up to see a man in a Taoist robe, holding a horsetail whisk, sporting a pair of bushy eyebrows¡ªevery bit the image of a Maoshan priest.


    The robe looked authentic enough, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that this "priest" was more show than substance.


    Huang Quan¡¯s interest was piqued; he decided to stay and watch the charlatan at work.


    Tang Jiao looked from the priest to the steward and asked, "What makes him so exceptional? He seems rather ordinary to me. Was it really necessary for you to go all the way to Maoshan to bring him here?"


    The steward, eager to justify himself, began to talk rapidly. "This Taoist is truly remarkable! When I arrived at Maoshan, I encountered him at the foot of the mountain. I hadn¡¯t even stated my purpose, and he had already guessed it almost perfectly."


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    "How could I let such a master slip away?"


    "Ha!"


    Huang Quan couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Anyone could have guessed the reason a wealthy family might urgently visit a Taoist mountain. Yet this was being treated as a sign of greatness?


    It was only then that the steward noticed Huang Quan¡¯s presence and scrutinized him more closely.


    "Are you the new security guard?"


    The guard, now also noticing Huang Quan again, shook his head. "No, Steward, he¡¯s not one of us. Just another con artist claiming he can exorcise ghosts. But look at him¡ªhow could he compare to the master you¡¯ve brought?"


    The steward didn¡¯t even bother to look at Huang Quan directly, raising an eyebrow in disdain. "Where did this child come from? Run along and play. You¡¯re too young to be pretending to be a ghost hunter."


    "If you saw a ghost, you¡¯d probably wet your pants. Now get lost!"


    Before Huang Quan could respond, Tang Jiao, having heard enough, wasn¡¯t pleased at all.


    "Steward, why is it that the Taoist priest you invited is so highly regarded, while the one I brought is met with such disdain?"


    The steward, not daring to be disrespectful, forced a smile as he replied, "Young Miss, you''re still too young. These charlatans can easily deceive you. Look at him¡ªdoes he seem like someone capable of exorcising a ghost?"


    "What if he goes in and gets himself devoured by the spirit? We couldn''t possibly bear that responsibility."


    As he spoke, the steward gently pulled Tang Jiao closer to the entrance.


    Huang Quan wanted to say something, but the guard stepped in front of him, growing impatient. "Didn''t you hear? Move along, move along!"


    With a sigh, Huang Quan could only shout after the retreating backs of the steward and the Maoshan Taoist, "Priest, remember, you must not be forceful in exorcising the spirit, or the consequences will be dire."


    The trio had already entered the mansion, dismissing Huang Quan''s warning without a second thought.


    Inside Tang Ming¡¯s room, both his hands and feet were tightly bound to the bed, deep marks revealing the prolonged restraint.


    Tang Ming¡¯s father, his face lined with exhaustion, brightened with a glimmer of hope at the sight of the Taoist. Rising to his feet, he bowed deeply and said, "Master, it¡¯s been five days since Ming¡¯er returned from the party and fell into this state. Please, Master, save him. Our family would be eternally grateful."


    The Taoist glanced at Tang Ming and, with an air of nonchalance, replied, "Rest assured, this is a minor issue. I''ve encountered such cases many times. With a simple ritual, I will drive the spirit away."


    Approaching Tang Ming¡¯s bedside, the Taoist noticed the young man¡¯s pallid complexion, his eyes sunken and surrounded by dark rings¡ªsigns of a malevolent spirit¡¯s strong presence.


    With a flourish, the Taoist shook his horsetail whisk, drew a talisman from his sleeve, and affixed it to Tang Ming''s forehead, chanting, "By the decree of heaven, I command the demon possessing Tang Gongzi to depart! Begone!"


    The talisman fluttered slightly, and Tang Ming¡¯s eyes snapped open, his gaze falling on his father with a look of deep sorrow.


    Tang Ming''s father rushed forward, clasping his son¡¯s hand, his emotions a mix of joy and despair. "Is he awake? Has the ghost been expelled?"


    But before the words had fully left his mouth, Tang Ming began to froth at the mouth, the foul stench of decay filling the room. Moments later, his body convulsed violently before falling back into unconsciousness, black blood seeping from his nose.


    Panic-stricken, Tang Ming''s father grabbed the Taoist, his voice trembling. "What¡¯s happening to my son¡ª"


    Before he could finish, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.


    The Taoist sighed deeply. "Well then, this spirit is indeed stubborn. If you refuse to leave, don¡¯t blame me for being unkind."


    Muttering under his breath, the Taoist drew a peachwood sword from his back, lit another talisman affixed to the blade, and began waving it over Tang Ming''s body, chanting incessantly. Finally, he thrust the sword towards Tang Ming¡¯s chest.


    Suddenly, Tang Ming¡¯s eyes flew open again, his pupils a chilling shade of green, with dark blood oozing from the corners of his eyes and nose.


    Tang Ming fixed the Taoist with an unblinking stare, as if trying to draw the man¡¯s very soul into himself.


    The Taoist shuddered, his hand trembling as he held the peachwood sword. He could feel his life force being drained away, bit by bit. Was this spirit trying to absorb his essence?


    Realizing the danger too late, the Taoist found himself powerless to retreat as Tang Ming grasped the peachwood sword and yanked it, pulling the Taoist off balance and sending him crashing towards his chest.


    Tang Ming seized the Taoist¡¯s hat, ripping it from his head, and reached out to grasp the Taoist¡¯s scalp. The Taoist¡¯s essence was swiftly absorbed into Tang Ming''s hand, leaving the Taoist struggling weakly, unable to escape the deadly grip.


    As the Taoist¡¯s legs flailed helplessly, the steward rushed forward, trying to pull him free, but it was as if the Taoist was bound by an immense force¡ªno amount of effort could break him loose.


    The chaotic scene left Tang Jiao momentarily paralyzed with fear. Then, a flash of inspiration struck her¡ªhadn¡¯t that young man at the gate warned against using force to drive out the ghost? Perhaps he knew what to do.


    Wasting no time, Tang Jiao dashed out of the room, grabbing the guard by the arm. "Where is that young man?"


    The guard, bewildered, asked, "What young man?"


    Unable to explain in detail, Tang Jiao pushed the guard aside and began searching frantically. But as she scanned the surroundings, Huang Quan was nowhere to be seen.


    She turned around and noticed a shadowy figure moving among the dappled trees.

 Save my son

    Huang Quan was basking in the sun not far from the villa, clearly in no hurry to leave. After all, the chance to capture a ghost and add it to his collection was an opportunity he couldn¡¯t pass up. He was waiting¡ªwaiting for the family to come to him, desperate for his help.


    As Tang Jiao turned and spotted the figure, she realized it was Huang Quan. Without wasting a moment, she rushed over and blocked his path, as if afraid he might slip away.


    "Sir, please! Please save my brother! The ghost has taken control of him¡ªit''s about to kill the Taoist!"


    Huang Quan remained unruffled, his demeanor leisurely as he remarked, "So, he resorted to force after all."


    Tang Jiao was frantic. She grabbed Huang Quan¡¯s arm, trying to pull him back towards the villa.


    Huang Quan smirked. This family only sought him out when they needed something, ignoring him otherwise. Such self-serving behavior. But his curiosity about the ghost urged him to follow her, eager to see what kind of spirit he was about to capture.


    Back in Tang Ming''s room, the old man had already regained consciousness and was now part of a tug-of-war to free the Taoist. The Taoist''s head was clamped under Tang Ming''s armpit, his hands being pulled by the steward, while Tang Ming''s father clung desperately to the Taoist¡¯s legs.


    As soon as Tang Jiao stepped through the door, she joined the fray, pulling on the Taoist and urging Huang Quan, "Sir, don¡¯t just stand there¡ªhelp us!"


    Huang Quan, however, was in no rush. Using his Qi vision, he observed that while a dark aura hovered over Tang Ming, it was encased in a protective layer of white energy. The rich young man was in no immediate danger.


    Instead of intervening, Huang Quan pulled up a chair and sat down, content to watch the spectacle unfold. Since Tang Ming wasn¡¯t in dire straits, there was no reason to rush. After all, wasn¡¯t the Maoshan Taoist supposed to be so powerful? Let¡¯s see how he handles this.


    Huang Quan leaned back, looking relaxed as if he were watching a play, only missing a bowl of sunflower seeds.


    The steward, glancing over at Huang Quan, nearly lost his temper. This young man wasn¡¯t helping at all¡ªhe was just enjoying the show!


    Tang Ming¡¯s father, winded from the struggle, had no choice but to let go, breathing heavily. "Young man, you''ve seen my son''s condition. If you can help him, the Tang family will reward you handsomely!"


    Still, Huang Quan remained unmoved, sitting back with his legs crossed, smiling as he watched the ongoing struggle.


    Suddenly, Tang Ming released his grip, sending both the steward and the Taoist crashing to the ground. The steward was panting heavily, while the Taoist''s face had turned a deep purple, gasping desperately for air.


    Before anyone could react, Tang Ming got up, his head swiveling like a puppet''s, and spotting the fruit knife on the bedside table, he snatched it up and aimed it at his chest.


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    Despite his age, Tang Ming¡¯s father moved with surprising speed, leaping forward to grab the knife before it could descend. Blood dripped steadily onto the bed as Tang Ming¡¯s father, holding the blade in his hand, watched in horror as his son, or rather the entity possessing him, licked its lips like a starving wolf, then began to suck on his father''s bleeding hand with a perverse delight.


    Despair filled Tang Ming''s father''s eyes as he realized that the creature before him wasn¡¯t his son, but something that was devouring his very soul. With a choked sob, he pleaded, "Young man, please! Save my son. If you can save him, I¡¯ll give you fifty million!"


    The steward, now on his knees, looked at the scene with a mix of guilt and fear. "It was my fault. I was blind. Young man, please save our young master!"


    Upon hearing the offer of fifty million, Huang Quan finally stood up, his expression nonchalant as he said, "Well, for the sake of a father¡¯s love, I suppose I¡¯ll give it a try."


    He approached Tang Ming, examining the ghost clinging to him. It was a female spirit, though not nearly as beautiful as Yang Mei. She was furious, baring her teeth in a grotesque snarl after being provoked by the Taoist.


    Huang Quan almost chuckled. The ghost, though seemingly enraged, appeared more to be taking advantage of Tang Ming, entwining herself around him, sucking his life force with an almost sensual fervor.


    Shaking his head, Huang Quan muttered to himself, "If I let you continue feeding on Yang Qi, who knows how many more people you¡¯ll harm? No, I can¡¯t allow you to remain here."


    Closing his eyes slightly, he summoned the Hell Apartment. The female ghost''s expression turned to one of disbelief as she felt an invisible force pulling her away from Tang Ming¡¯s body.


    Desperate, she clung to Tang Ming¡¯s neck, but the pull from the Hell Apartment was too strong. She was helpless against it, her struggles futile. In moments, the apartment¡¯s door swung open, and she was drawn inside, dissolving into white smoke.


    When Huang Quan opened his eyes, Tang Ming had regained consciousness. The purplish hue had faded from his face, and his breathing had steadied. Only a faint trace of blood at the corner of his mouth remained as evidence of what had transpired.


    Tang Jiao held her brother close, while Tang Ming¡¯s father, overwhelmed with emotion, wept openly. He clasped his son¡¯s hand, trembling as he asked, "Ming¡¯er, can you see me? It¡¯s your father!"


    Tang Ming, weak but conscious, managed to whisper, "Dad..."


    It was enough to break the old man¡¯s composure, and he began to sob uncontrollably.


    Huang Quan sighed. Helping to reunite a family like this was truly a good deed¡ªperhaps even worthy of extending his lifespan?


    With a satisfied smile, Huang Quan strolled towards the door, ignoring the astonished stares from the steward and the Taoist.


    Tang Jiao tried to call after him, wanting to offer him his reward, but when she looked up, Huang Quan was already gone.


    "Father, that man saved my brother. You must ensure he receives the money you promised."


    Tang Ming¡¯s father nodded, intending to chase after Huang Quan, but his son held him back. "Dad, where are you going? I feel so weak... I don¡¯t want you and Sister to leave me."


    With a sigh, the old man relented. Right now, his son¡¯s health was the priority. If the young man had left, he would use all his resources to find him. A promise made is a promise kept.


    Meanwhile, the steward and the Taoist exchanged bewildered glances. They had both witnessed the terror of the spirit haunting Tang Ming. The steward had brought in a dozen Taoists, all of whom had failed to deal with the malevolent spirit.


    The Taoist, who had nearly lost his life in the struggle, couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Huang Quan had merely closed his eyes, without uttering a single incantation, and the ghost had surrendered? It seemed too simple¡ªimpossible even.


    Convinced that Huang Quan was merely putting on a show, the Taoist resolved to expose him and immediately followed him out.


    Huang Quan stepped outside into the courtyard, gazing up at the sky. It was time to find out more about the ghost he had just captured.


    Closing his eyes slightly, he summoned the Hell Apartment once more. At the entrance, a figure slowly emerged.

 What kind of motorcycle do you want?

    Similar to his first encounter with Yang Mei, Huang Quan found himself once again standing at the entrance of the apartment. The female ghost had returned to her original form, no longer appearing fierce or possessive. Instead, she seemed rather innocent and demure. She bowed slightly and spoke in a soft voice, "My Lord, may I ask for your help in fulfilling my lingering wish?"


    Huang Quan sighed lightly, "I would have been inclined to help you, but your resentment is too deep, and you¡¯ve harmed others. For now, let your anger subside, and then we can talk."


    "However, you may start by telling me about your life."


    The ghost, Ling Mei, nodded gently. She was aware of her heavy sins, but as a wandering spirit, consuming Yang energy was her only means of survival.


    "My Lord, I am Ling Mei from No. 13 Jingnan Road," she began.


    Ling Mei? The name struck a chord in Huang Quan¡¯s memory. He pondered, trying to recall where he had heard it before.


    Ling Mei bit her lip and continued, "In life, I was a movie star, living a life of fame and adoration, but I lost myself in it. I went from one man to another, knowing full well why they were with me, and never giving my true heart in return."


    "But at the peak of my career, I met him¡ªQi Fei, an actor as well. He was different from the others, always caring for me, understanding my thoughts even without words."


    "I thought I had found my soulmate," Ling Mei said, her expression turning sorrowful as tears welled in her eyes.


    "But it wasn''t long before I discovered that Qi Fei was cheating on me. Right before my eyes, he was with another actress¡­ in bed."


    As she recounted her story, Huang Quan couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of resonance, recalling his own similar experience. Though he kept his face impassive, he continued to listen to Ling Mei.


    "If it had been before, I would have left without looking back. I wouldn¡¯t have given up the entire forest for just one tree. But this time¡­ this time, my heart truly broke."


    "I couldn¡¯t move on, fell into depression, and no doctor could help. About a week ago, I don¡¯t remember much, but I smelled gas¡­ I struggled, but it was no use. I died in that cloud of gas."


    "My Lord, if you can fulfill my wish, please help me find out the true cause of my death."


    Initially, Huang Quan had felt some empathy, but the more he listened, the more he realized that Ling Mei wasn¡¯t exactly a paragon of virtue. Her fate seemed to be a form of karmic retribution. His impression of both parties soured, and he quickly dismissed her plea with a few indifferent words.


    Back in the real world, under the same sky, Huang Quan stood in the courtyard when Tang Lao Ye emerged from the villa and approached him.


    "Young man, I cannot thank you enough for what you¡¯ve done. As promised, here is your reward," Tang Lao Ye said, handing Huang Quan a check. The string of zeros on it reflected the value of Huang Quan¡¯s deed.


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    Huang Quan glanced at the check, then nonchalantly folded it and slipped it into his pocket. Although inwardly excited¡ªthis was a staggering amount for him¡ªhe had grown accustomed to handling such situations with composure after recent events.


    This scene was observed by the departing Taoist, who was left simmering with anger. Inside the villa, Tang Ming had regained consciousness, and Tang Lao Ye was expressing his gratitude to Huang Quan. Meanwhile, the steward took out his frustration on the Taoist, who was left with no chance to claim any reward.


    However, just as the Taoist was about to leave, he caught sight of Tang Lao Ye handing the check to Huang Quan. Enraged, the Taoist couldn¡¯t stand the idea of Huang Quan taking what he believed was rightfully his.


    "Young man, might I ask which school you follow? I¡¯ve been exorcising spirits and securing homes for over a decade, yet I couldn¡¯t discern the method you used," the Taoist called out.


    Huang Quan turned at the sound, recognizing the Taoist¡¯s attempt to bluff him. He knew the Taoist¡¯s skills were rudimentary¡ªsufficient for dealing with minor spirits, but no match for a vengeful ghost. Huang Quan ignored him, deeming it beneath him to converse with a charlatan.


    The Taoist mistook Huang Quan¡¯s silence for fear, convinced that he had struck a nerve. After all, he had studied the Taoist texts extensively and still couldn¡¯t identify Huang Quan¡¯s methods. He concluded that Huang Quan must have simply capitalized on his own efforts, with his exorcism taking effect just as Huang Quan arrived. Hence, he felt entitled to a share of the reward.


    "Hey, kid! If you can¡¯t explain your methods, it¡¯s clear you¡¯re just riding on my coattails. I played a part in curing Young Master Tang, so you shouldn¡¯t pocket that money without sharing it. How about a sixty-forty split in my favor? Then I won¡¯t hold it against you."


    Huang Quan nearly laughed out loud at the audacity. He had seen shameless people before, but this was a new level. Well, since the Taoist was offering, Huang Quan decided to play along.


    Smiling, Huang Quan stepped closer. "Taoist, you suggest a sixty-forty split. So, who gets the sixty and who gets the forty?"


    The Taoist puffed up with pride. "I did most of the work, and you just swooped in at the end. Naturally, I should get sixty while you get forty!"


    "Sixty percent, Taoist? That¡¯s quite ambitious. And you even want a motorbike? That¡¯s pretty greedy, don¡¯t you think?" Huang Quan interrupted with a loud exclamation, deliberately catching Tang Lao Ye¡¯s attention.


    The Taoist froze, stammering, "I never said anything about wanting a motorbike! What are you talking about?"


    Huang Quan frowned and continued, "Aren¡¯t monks supposed to be free from worldly desires?"


    Tang Lao Ye, who had only caught snippets of their conversation, was now under the impression that the Taoist wanted a motorbike. He glanced at the dusty, unused bike in the corner of the courtyard and decided to make a goodwill gesture.


    "Young man, I¡¯ll give you that motorbike. It¡¯s just sitting here, and if you ride it while continuing to help others, it would be a way for our family to contribute to society."


    Feigning modesty, Huang Quan scratched his head. "Tang Lao Ye, I couldn¡¯t possibly accept¡­"


    The Taoist was left stunned. He had intended to discredit Huang Quan, but instead, Huang Quan had skillfully manipulated the situation in his favor. Just as the Taoist was about to warn Tang Lao Ye about the "fraud," Huang Quan had already mounted the bike and was riding away.


    Shaking his head in disbelief, the Taoist muttered, "Tang Lao Ye, I never asked for a motorbike. And besides, that guy didn¡¯t even use any real Taoist techniques. How could he have exorcised the ghost? I suspect¡­"


    Tang Lao Ye, having had enough, rolled his eyes and returned to the villa, signaling to the steward as he passed. The steward immediately grabbed a broom and, without warning, began beating the Taoist out of the courtyard.


    "Out! How dare you spout nonsense here!"


    Meanwhile, Huang Quan, now astride the motorbike, was making his way from the Tang estate. Still unfamiliar with the controls, he accidentally scraped against a Mercedes as he turned onto the main road.

 Youre fully responsible.

    Huang Quan rubbed his backside as he got up from the ground. He had been driving slowly, so how did he still manage to crash? It felt like the car had flown out of nowhere, he muttered to himself.


    ¡°Well, well! Who do we have here? A mangy dog, it seems!¡± The voice was familiar. Huang Quan looked up, and sure enough, it was his old nemesis, Ma Wendong.


    ¡°I thought so! Even though I was driving slowly, I still ended up hitting someone. Turns out it was a cripple who shouldn¡¯t be driving in the first place!¡± Huang Quan retorted, his temper flaring up again at the sight of Ma Wendong.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be at home resting that broken hand of yours? If you can¡¯t drive, then stay off the road!¡± Huang Quan shot back, unwilling to back down.


    Ma Wendong, who already despised Huang Quan, couldn¡¯t swallow his pride. After being humiliated the last time, and now being mocked again, there was no way he was going to let this slide.


    ¡°Hmph! A dog that runs wild! Take a look at this¡ªI¡¯m driving a Benz. Can you even afford to pay for the damage?¡±


    ¡°Oh, wait, I forgot¡ªyou make a whole three or four thousand a month! Let me do the math. If you save every penny for a year, you might be able to cover the cost of a paint job.¡±


    ¡°But, if you get on your knees and apologize, maybe even bark like a dog, I might consider giving you a discount.¡±


    Huang Quan sneered. He knew his motorcycle was worth ten times more than Ma Wendong¡¯s Benz. The collision wasn¡¯t even his fault¡ªif Ma Wendong hadn¡¯t been speeding, there wouldn¡¯t have been an accident at all.


    But Ma Wendong didn¡¯t care about the details. As far as he was concerned, if Huang Quan was involved, then it was all Huang Quan¡¯s fault.


    Seeing that Huang Quan was silent, Ma Wendong assumed he was worried about the money and continued to mock him. ¡°You should¡¯ve known better than to act tough without the means to back it up. But since I¡¯m so magnanimous, I¡¯ll let you off with a small payment. This car repair will cost a hundred grand at the very least. Write me an IOU and you can pay it off in installments.¡±


    ¡°Or better yet, let¡¯s involve the insurance company, since I doubt you can afford it.¡±


    Just as Ma Wendong finished speaking, Huang Quan calmly responded, ¡°Let¡¯s go through insurance then. My bike¡¯s worth ten times what your car is.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Ma Wendong couldn¡¯t believe his ears. He chuckled, pointing at Huang Quan as he laughed. ¡°Are you delusional? You expect me to pay for that little toy of yours?¡±


    ¡°Ha! The accident is entirely your fault. Don¡¯t you know the rules of the road? When merging from a side street, you have to yield!¡±


    Huang Quan sighed, ¡°You were speeding.¡±


    That simple statement only infuriated Ma Wendong further. ¡°What the hell do you know about speeding, you pauper? Have you ever driven a car? Do you even know what the speed limit is?¡±


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    ¡°Just hand over the money, or we¡¯re going to the traffic police!¡±


    Huang Quan said nothing more, simply staring at Ma Wendong with a cold, unyielding gaze. There was a terrifying chill in his eyes that made Ma Wendong¡¯s heart skip a beat. He was reminded of that night and felt a cold sweat down his back.


    But he wasn¡¯t about to back down so easily. He needed to avenge his earlier humiliation. His mind quickly hatched a plan, and a sinister smile curled his lips as he pulled out his phone.


    ¡°Traffic police? I need to speak to Captain Li. There¡¯s been a traffic accident, and I¡¯d like him to handle it personally.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll come to your station.¡±


    After hanging up, Ma Wendong smirked at Huang Quan, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Push your little toy to the police station and we¡¯ll settle this there.¡±


    Huang Quan¡¯s expression remained calm as he followed along without a word, seemingly unbothered by Ma Wendong¡¯s attempt to pull strings.


    At the traffic police station, Ma Wendong sat with his legs crossed, bouncing them nervously, while Huang Quan sat quietly, smiling at the officer across from them. The officer looked through the incident report, clearly exasperated. A simple traffic accident, yet here they were, wasting the police¡¯s time as if they had nothing better to do.


    ¡°So, tell me, why couldn¡¯t you two settle this on your own?¡±


    Ma Wendong jumped in eagerly, ¡°I was driving perfectly fine when this guy, on his little electric scooter, suddenly rammed into me.¡±


    ¡°Officer, I was driving straight when he came out of nowhere. I couldn¡¯t even react in time. I¡¯ve always hated these street racers¡ªthey¡¯re reckless and rude.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m driving a Benz. It¡¯s not about the money; I just want to teach these people a lesson. Otherwise, they¡¯ll think the law is a joke!¡±


    Ma Wendong went on and on, not giving anyone else a chance to speak.


    When he finally finished, the officer sighed and said, ¡°Pull up the footage from the scene.¡±


    The three of them gathered around the computer, and the officer furrowed his brow as he watched. ¡°Sir, this doesn¡¯t match your story at all.¡±


    ¡°Look here, the motorcycle was already on the main road. And your speed¡ªwell, it¡¯s clearly over the limit.¡±


    Ma Wendong swallowed nervously, his eyes darting around. ¡°Why don¡¯t you call Captain Li?¡±


    Huang Quan smirked, knowing Ma Wendong was trying to call in favors to cover his tracks.


    The officer, however, was having none of it. ¡°Captain Li is busy, and he¡¯s entrusted this case to me.¡±


    ¡°Sir, both parties are at fault here, but you bear the greater responsibility.¡±


    Realizing he had backed himself into a corner, Ma Wendong tried to bluster his way through. ¡°Hey, officer, are you even paying attention? His little scooter just turned onto the main road. At the very least, it should be a 50-50 split.¡±


    The officer, unamused, responded, ¡°If you¡¯re not interested in mediation, we¡¯ll just issue a formal decision.¡±


    He glanced at Huang Quan, who remained calm and composed, smiling as he said, ¡°I¡¯m fine with whatever the officer decides. It¡¯s just a minor accident¡ªthere was no need to escalate it to the police.¡±


    ¡°All I wanted was for this gentleman to file an insurance claim, but he insisted on involving the authorities, so¡­¡±


    ¡°A minor accident? As if you could afford to pay for my Benz!¡± Ma Wendong cut him off, unwilling to let a ¡°poor wretch¡± like Huang Quan look down on him.


    The officer seized the opportunity. ¡°So you agree to pay for the damages, then?¡±


    Ma Wendong sneered, ¡°I could buy ten of his scooters, but my car still needs to be repaired, and he has to pay for that.¡±


    Huang Quan, tired of the back-and-forth, nodded and said to the officer, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do that. I agree to pay for the repairs. Please go ahead with the assessment.¡±


    The officer, impressed by Huang Quan¡¯s reasonable attitude, smiled and said, ¡°Very well, young man. I¡¯ll have the damage assessed for you.¡±


    Huang Quan nodded, and shortly after, the report was completed.


    The officer handed the compensation amounts to each party, and Huang Quan, after glancing at his, smiled at Ma Wendong. ¡°Feel free to get your car repaired. Just bring me the receipt, and I¡¯ll reimburse you.¡±


    Ma Wendong gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath, ¡°Reimburse me? I¡¯ll make sure you cry when you see the bill.¡±


    But as he glanced down at his own report, he nearly choked on his own spit.

 Kid, wait for it... youll cry.

    "Officer, did you make a mistake? How can a broken-down scooter require such a hefty compensation?" Ma Wendong''s hands trembled as he held the report.


    The officer glanced at the report and calmly replied, "No mistake. This motorcycle is a high-end model. Even a single part has to be custom-made by the manufacturer, and when one component is damaged, you can''t just fix that part¡ªyou have to replace a significant section of the bike. That''s the cost."


    Ma Wendong glared at Huang Quan, gritting his teeth as he spat out, "This is your doing, isn''t it?"


    Huang Quan smiled innocently at Ma Wendong without saying a word, then turned to the officer, "Officer, everything seems in order. Let''s proceed with the signatures."


    "No way, I''m not signing anything!" Ma Wendong snapped, blocking Huang Quan from picking up the pen.


    He finally realized that he had been outmaneuvered by Huang Quan. If he signed the report without involving insurance, he''d have to pay a fortune out of pocket.


    "You, call your Captain Li down here now!" Ma Wendong was desperate, needing someone to back him up, or else he would end up as the fool.


    The officer, already unimpressed with Ma Wendong, simply ignored his demand and turned to Huang Quan. "Young man, sign here," he said, brushing Ma Wendong''s hand aside and pointing to the signature line.


    Huang Quan nodded, just about to sign when Ma Wendong''s voice interrupted again.


    "Do you know who Ma Jingtong is? He''s the boss of Longcheng Automobile Trade Company! That''s my second brother!" Ma Wendong''s voice was filled with arrogance. "He controls all the imported cars in Longcheng. Your traffic police department relies on his company for your yearly vehicle imports. Offend me, and you might find your path suddenly blocked!"


    The officer hesitated for a moment, his face showing a trace of unease. Then, forcing a smile, he said, "Ah, so you''re Ma Jingtong''s brother. Why didn''t you say so earlier? Wait here, I''ll go get Captain Li for you."


    With that, the officer took the pen from Huang Quan''s hand and headed upstairs.


    At the stairwell, a junior officer stopped him, asking, "Brother Liu, are you really going to fetch Captain Li? You didn¡¯t exactly leave a good impression on that guy downstairs."


    Officer Liu, the one handling Huang Quan¡¯s case, looked conflicted. "It''s hard to say. That young man, despite his modest appearance, is riding a motorcycle worth millions. Anyone who can afford such a bike isn''t someone you want to mess with lightly."


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    "I''d better consult with Captain Li first," Officer Liu decided as he continued toward the office on the second floor.


    Meanwhile, Ma Wendong, having boasted about his connections, knew the traffic police would likely inform his brother. But his biggest concern was his brother¡¯s reaction. He slipped into a corner and dialed the number of his brother¡¯s secretary, Liu Bo.


    "Secretary Liu, it''s me. I''m at the traffic police station..." Ma Wendong recounted the incident, though conveniently omitting his own arrogance and focusing solely on Huang Quan''s faults.


    Then, playing the victim, he pleaded, "Secretary Liu, could you please put in a word with the traffic police? Just don¡¯t let my brother find out. I swear, this will be the last time I ask you to clean up my mess."


    After hanging up, Ma Wendong¡¯s face quickly reverted to its usual smug expression. Meanwhile, Officer Liu had reached Captain Li''s office. He explained the situation, though he skewed the story to place the blame squarely on Ma Wendong, making it clear he was in a difficult position.


    Captain Li didn¡¯t want to get involved. He had passed the case off to avoid dealing with it himself. But now, Ma Wendong was pushing the issue and even mentioned his powerful brother.


    Yet, when Captain Li checked the motorcycle¡¯s registration, he saw that it was connected to the Tang family¡ªa major player in Longcheng, possibly even more influential than the Ma family.


    This kid has ties to the Tang family? Captain Li¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Both sides were powerful; he couldn''t afford to offend either. What to do?


    After some thought, he decided to call the Tang family.


    "Hello, Mr. Tang? This is Captain Li from the traffic police. I just wanted to ask if you know a young man named Huang Quan?"


    Captain Li¡¯s tone was overly polite, almost groveling. On the other end of the line, Mr. Tang, recalling how Huang Quan had saved his son Tang Ming, immediately responded, "Huang Quan? He''s our family''s savior! Why? Is someone causing trouble for him? If so, they''re crossing the Tang family!"


    Captain Li nearly dropped the phone in shock, quickly assuring, "Of course not! As long as he''s in my jurisdiction, there''s no way Huang Quan would be treated unfairly."


    Hanging up, Captain Li breathed a sigh of relief. This Huang Quan was clearly no ordinary person.


    Seeing Officer Liu waiting, Captain Li ordered, "Handle this by the book. Whoever''s at fault takes responsibility. Get them both to sign the paperwork, quickly!"


    Officer Liu scrambled out of the office.


    Back in the hall, Ma Wendong was still lounging, legs crossed, sneering at Huang Quan. "Kid, you¡¯ve messed with the wrong guy. You¡¯ll be begging for mercy before this is over!"


    Huang Quan simply shook his head. With a family member like Ma Wendong, it was only a matter of time before the Ma family faced disaster.


    Despite his bravado, Ma Wendong felt a chill under Huang Quan''s cold gaze, like being sliced by a thousand invisible knives. But his fear only made him act tougher.


    "Keep staring, and the first thing I¡¯ll do after this is pluck out your eyes!" Ma Wendong shouted, his voice louder to mask his trembling fear.


    Huang Quan chuckled inwardly. How terrified must someone be to ramble like this?


    At that moment, Officer Liu returned, carrying a fresh set of documents. Ma Wendong''s sinister grin widened. It seemed Secretary Liu had indeed pulled some strings to have the responsibilities reassigned.


    He was already gloating, "Kid, prepare to cry!"


    But as he lifted the pen and was about to sign, Ma Wendong froze in disbelief at the document in front of him.

 Your balance is insufficient.

    The document clearly stated that Ma Wendong was the primary party at fault and that he was required to compensate Huang Quan with one million yuan.


    Huang Quan smiled, picked up the pen, and signed his name with a flourish.


    Ma Wendong, still in denial, muttered, "Did you not check with your captain? Is this really his decision?"


    Officer Liu, trying to maintain professionalism while hiding his disdain, replied without looking at Ma Wendong, "Yes, I''ve checked. Captain Li''s instructions were clear: both parties share responsibility, but the primary responsibility lies with you."


    As he spoke, he subtly winked at Huang Quan, who was momentarily puzzled by the gesture.


    Ma Wendong, still holding the pen, refused to sign. "If you won¡¯t sign, how about leaving your fingerprint?" Officer Liu suggested, producing a box of ink and pushing it towards Ma Wendong.


    Realizing that continuing to resist would be futile, Ma Wendong, his nostrils flaring with anger and his hand trembling, finally scrawled his name on the document. "Huang Quan, don¡¯t think you''ve won. I¡¯ll make you pay back every cent with interest."


    Seeing Ma Wendong¡¯s signature, Officer Liu, now dripping with mock deference, asked, "Young Master Ma, how would you like to pay? Card or check?"


    Ma Wendong, eyes blazing with hatred, glared at Huang Quan before turning to Officer Liu, his face flushed with fury but unable to speak.


    Growing impatient, Officer Liu asked again, "Mr. Ma?"


    "Card!" Ma Wendong snapped. He then sneered at Huang Quan, "You penniless wretch, you¡¯ve probably never seen this much money in your life. Enjoy it while you can, but remember, every girlfriend you ever have¡ªI¡¯ll make sure she ends up with me. Your head will be nothing but a field of grass."


    Huang Quan, unbothered by the taunt, simply smiled and handed the card to Officer Liu. "Thank you, officer."


    Officer Liu, taking the card, replied respectfully, "Not at all, Mr. Huang. With the Tang family backing you, you must be very busy. I hope we didn¡¯t waste too much of your time today."


    Huang Quan, realizing now why Officer Liu had winked at him earlier, simply sighed and shook his head.


    "Mr. Ma, it seems your card doesn¡¯t have enough funds," Officer Liu announced, glancing at the insufficient balance on the machine.


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    "Impossible! Our family has millions in assets. There¡¯s no way this card doesn¡¯t have at least a million!" Ma Wendong blustered, though there was an edge of panic in his voice. "Try it again!"


    Officer Liu tried again, but the result was the same: insufficient funds.


    Stunned, Ma Wendong quickly turned to his bodyguard, his voice low but menacing, "What¡¯s going on? I told you to bring a million! Are you trying to embarrass me in front of all these people?"


    The bodyguard, looking helpless, shrugged and whispered, "Young Master, where could I possibly get that much cash on short notice? I¡¯m just your bodyguard, not your accountant!"


    Enraged, Ma Wendong struck the bodyguard on the head. "You useless idiot! If I could involve the accountants, would I need you? Now, because of you, I look like a fool!"


    After another frustrated swipe at the bodyguard, Ma Wendong snapped, "How much is in the card?"


    "Ten thousand. All my savings," the bodyguard muttered, rubbing his sore head.


    Ten thousand? Even combined with his own funds, it wasn¡¯t nearly enough. Ma Wendong sighed heavily, pulling out his phone once more.


    "Brother Wang? It¡¯s Wendong. Listen, I need a favor. I¡¯ve got some money tied up in the company, but I need a million right now. Can you help me out?"


    "Only five thousand? Fine, I¡¯ll take whatever you can spare."


    "Mr. Li, it¡¯s Wendong..."


    He called every contact he had, but no one was willing to lend him the full amount. Most just brushed him off with small sums.


    Finally, after much effort, he managed to scrape together the money. By then, Huang Quan was nearly dozing off.


    Ma Wendong¡¯s gaze was filled with venom as he stared at Huang Quan. This man had made him lose face, not only in the police station but also in front of his bodyguard and friends. His hatred burned deep.


    But Huang Quan, noticing the murderous look on Ma Wendong''s face, remained unphased, finding the situation almost amusing.


    "Young Master Ma, have you finally gathered the funds?" Huang Quan asked with a cold smile.


    Ma Wendong''s knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists, resisting the urge to punch Huang Quan right there. But they were in a police station, and he wasn¡¯t bold enough to act on his impulses. So, instead, he handed his card to Officer Liu, his face twisted with fury.


    This time, the payment went through smoothly.


    As Officer Liu returned the card, he smiled politely and said, "Mr. Ma, perhaps in the future, if you can¡¯t afford the consequences, it¡¯s best not to break the law."


    Seething, Ma Wendong snatched the card back and snarled at Huang Quan, "This isn¡¯t over. I¡¯ll destroy you, even if it¡¯s the last thing I do. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll change my surname to yours!"


    Huang Quan chuckled, nodding slightly. "I¡¯ll be waiting, Young Master Huang."


    Ma Wendong¡¯s fists clenched and unclenched as he glared at Huang Quan, but eventually, he stormed out of the station.


    Seeing Ma Wendong leave, Huang Quan also rose to his feet and gave a slight bow to Officer Liu. "Thank you for your help today, officer. I should be going now."


    Officer Liu nodded back, smiling. "Of course. The funds should reach your account soon. Take care, and give my regards to Mr. Tang."


    Huang Quan nodded and left the station. As he retrieved his motorcycle, his phone chimed. He glanced at it and saw that the money had already been transferred to his account. Sighing, he thought about the repair costs for the motorcycle he¡¯d just acquired from the Tang family.


    Suddenly, he felt a disturbance from the apartment in his mind. Closing his eyes, he saw the door to the apartment open, and a new figure walking inside.


    A new tenant?

 I want to resign.

    Huang Quan rode his motorcycle towards the company, deep in thought. Now that he had a few million in his pocket, he was far from his ultimate goal but no longer in the dire straits he once was. With the Hell Apartment in his mind and the need to help its residents fulfill their last wishes, continuing his job would be inconvenient. After much deliberation, he decided to resign from the company.


    Upon arriving at the office, Huang Quan didn''t waste any time. He quickly drafted his resignation letter and headed to the boss''s office. The trade company was small, without an HR or admin department, so employees typically resigned directly to the boss. Standing at the office door, he noticed the privacy blinds were drawn, and the door was tightly shut.


    Was the boss not in?


    His boss, Zhang, was a stingy and suspicious man, always fearing that his employees would slack off. As long as he was in the office, his door was always open so he could monitor everyone. Given the company¡¯s recent poor performance, Zhang had been struggling to secure clients and had been punctually arriving and leaving the office every day. So where could he be at this hour?


    Huang Quan sighed, thinking he''d have to find another time to submit his resignation. But just as he was about to turn away, he heard a sound from inside. Was it a mouse? Or had a thief broken in?


    In his haste, Huang Quan didn¡¯t bother knocking and pushed the door open. The sight before him made him wish he could sink into the ground. His boss was kneeling on the sofa, and beneath him was his secretary.


    Hearing the door, neither of them had time to react before Huang Quan barged in, taking in the entire embarrassing scene. The secretary was the first to react, quickly pushing Zhang off her. Already panting, Zhang lost his balance with the shove and rolled onto the floor in a laughable, awkward heap.


    Huang Quan froze for a moment, then quickly closed the door and stepped back outside.


    After a brief silence, Zhang''s voice called out, "What is it? Come in!" His tone was far from friendly, laced with both urgency and anger.


    Huang Quan shook his head, knowing he was in for a lecture. As he opened the door, the secretary scurried out, and Zhang had already settled back into his chair.


    "Xiao Huang, you¡¯ve been with the company for a while now. I told you I was having a meeting with the secretary. How could you just barge in like that without following protocol?" Zhang reprimanded him, glaring as Huang Quan struggled to suppress his laughter, his body shaking with the effort.


    Zhang, noticing this, glared even harder. "Well? What¡¯s so urgent that you had to burst in here?"


    Huang Quan swallowed, forcing himself to stop shaking, and replied seriously, "Mr. Zhang, I¡¯m here to resign."


    Zhang was stunned for a few seconds, clearly unable to believe his ears. "You¡¯re quitting because of what you just saw...?" Zhang¡¯s voice trailed off, awkwardly glancing away.


    Huang Quan shook his head. "No, I came in to resign before I even saw that."


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    This time, Zhang understood. Leaning back in his chair, he looked at Huang Quan with a haughty expression.


    "Xiao Huang, you young people have no patience. You learn a few things and think you¡¯re too good for the job. Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve picked up a few skills, other companies will be lining up to hire you. Even if they do, you¡¯ll start from the bottom¡ªcleaning and making tea. Where else will you get the kind of opportunities you have here?"


    Huang Quan smiled slightly. "I¡¯m grateful for your guidance, Mr. Zhang, but I have personal reasons that make it necessary for me to resign."


    Zhang¡¯s face darkened. Huang Quan¡¯s good looks had helped the company secure several deals, and now that he was leaving, Zhang was worried about losing even the few remaining clients they had.


    "Don¡¯t think you can rely on your looks to find another job. Let me tell you, no one else will hire someone as inexperienced as you. Get back to work before you lose what little chance you have!"


    Huang Quan didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. Seeing his silence, Zhang softened his tone slightly. "Alright, Xiao Huang, I get it. You¡¯re angling for a raise, right? I¡¯ll talk to finance and have your salary increased by five hundred yuan starting next month."


    Huang Quan shook his head. "Mr. Zhang, it¡¯s not about the money. I really need to resign."


    Zhang shot up from his chair, furious. "Don¡¯t push your luck, Huang Quan! I¡¯m being nice, but you¡¯re taking advantage. Who do you think you are, trying to quit on me? Remember, you¡¯ve got a month¡¯s salary that I¡¯m holding onto. If you don¡¯t want it, go ahead and leave now. But if you do, get back to work."


    Huang Quan sighed. That month¡¯s salary wasn¡¯t much to him now, but he had worked hard for it, especially putting in overtime to buy a birthday gift for his ex-girlfriend. He didn¡¯t want to let it go.


    Seeing Huang Quan¡¯s reluctance, Zhang dropped all pretense and sneered, "No ambition, no wonder your girlfriend left you. With your pathetic life, who wouldn¡¯t run off with someone better?"


    At this, Huang Quan¡¯s temper flared. Why did people always bring up his ex-girlfriend as if constantly reminding him of the betrayal? He was already planning to leave, so he didn¡¯t hold back. "Mr. Zhang, I¡¯ve heard your father-in-law is quite wealthy. Didn¡¯t he help you set up this company?"


    Zhang looked puzzled, not understanding why Huang Quan would mention that.


    Huang Quan smiled coldly. "If I were to tell your wife what I just saw, do you think you¡¯d still have a company to run?"


    Zhang inhaled sharply, realizing that Huang Quan had been holding this card all along. Just as he was about to lash out, a voice came from the door. "Xiao Huang, what is it you want to tell me?"


    Zhang¡¯s wife walked in, and Zhang instantly went pale, trembling like a mouse before a cat.


    Huang Quan looked between the boss¡¯s wife and Zhang, feigning a difficult expression. "Well, Mr. Zhang, do you want to tell her, or should I?"


    Zhang quickly forced a smile. "No problem, Xiao Huang. I¡¯ll approve your resignation right now, and I¡¯ll have your back pay transferred immediately."


    Zhang¡¯s wife, still standing in the doorway, was confused. She had distinctly heard Huang Quan mention something important before she entered, but now they were discussing his salary?


    She asked, "Xiao Huang, what exactly is going on?"


    Huang Quan maintained eye contact with Zhang, who immediately picked up the phone and called finance. Within minutes, Huang Quan¡¯s salary was in his account.


    Satisfied, Huang Quan turned to Zhang¡¯s wife. "It¡¯s nothing, really. Mr. Zhang wasn¡¯t going to pay me, so I said I¡¯d tell you if he didn¡¯t."


    She frowned slightly, still suspicious. "Really?"


    Huang Quan nodded earnestly, then turned and left without saying more. Before he left, he glanced at the sofa.


    Following his gaze, the boss¡¯s wife noticed the rumpled sofa, with two distinct knee imprints on it. "So, Zhang, you¡¯ve been sneaking around right under my nose!"


    What happened after that, Huang Quan didn¡¯t know. But as he walked away, he could hear Zhang¡¯s desperate pleas for mercy.


    Stepping out of the company, Huang Quan stretched deeply, feeling as if a new chapter had just begun.


    "Wait a minute... there¡¯s a new tenant in the apartment. How could I have forgotten?"

 A man of steel has his gentle side

    After leaving the company, Huang Quan took his motorcycle to be repaired and checked into the luxurious Longcheng Hotel nearby. Once everything was settled, he finally had time to focus on the matters related to the Hell Apartment. Sitting on the soft, comfortable bed, he closed his eyes, allowing the apartment to materialize in his mind, and then stepped inside.


    Before he even reached the entrance, a figure approached him, as if they had been waiting for a long time. "Apostle, I¡¯ve been waiting for you. Please, you must help me fulfill my last wish," the figure implored.


    Huang Quan looked the man up and down¡ªa towering figure with a full beard covering a pallid face. Despite his ghostly appearance, the man¡¯s eyes were bright, a mix of urgency and deep affection, a stark contrast to his rugged exterior.


    Huang Quan nodded slowly, his demeanor calm and unhurried. "Tell me, what is your last wish?"


    The man¡¯s expression softened further as he spoke. "My name is Wang Biao, from the middle of Wanguo Road. My fianc¨¦e''s name is Yang Xue." His voice trembled with emotion. "I hope, Apostle, that you can help me see her one last time."


    Huang Quan couldn¡¯t help but scrutinize Wang Biao more closely. Such a rough appearance, yet he couldn¡¯t escape the entanglements of love. "Alright, tell me about your life," Huang Quan prompted.


    Wang Biao lowered his eyes, reminiscing for a moment before looking up at Huang Quan again. "Yang Xue and I grew up together, childhood sweethearts. I always thought that if I could marry her, my life would be complete." His voice carried a deep-seated yearning. "I worked hard in the city, all for the day when I could marry the most beautiful bride."


    "At the beginning of this year, we registered our marriage back home. A while ago, I bought a house and renovated it as our new home, planning to bring Yang Xue over and hold the wedding once everything was set." Wang Biao¡¯s voice began to tremble with suppressed anger as he continued. "Three days ago, I went to the train station to pick her up. There, I saw a little girl being beaten and scolded by a man. I intervened, only to find out that she had been kidnapped."


    His eyes, which had been filled with affection, now flashed with anger, though it quickly gave way to anxiety, his entire body trembling. His speech quickened, reflecting the urgency of the situation. "I tried to save the girl. One-on-one, I stood a chance, but after I handed her over to the police and went back to find Yang Xue..."


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    "The trafficking ring lured me to their hideout, where they hung me up and beat me. I just wanted to see Yang Xue one last time, to hold on until my last breath. But then my soul left my body. I watched helplessly as my battered body finally went limp."


    Wang Biao¡¯s voice grew increasingly agitated, his massive frame trembling as tears filled his eyes. Huang Quan sighed and asked, "So, your body is still at their hideout?"


    Wang Biao shook his head in pain, his eyes closed as if the life had drained out of him. "I was rescued by the police, maybe because the little girl revealed their location? I don¡¯t know! But by the time they got me to the hospital, it was too late."


    "The doctors tried to save me. I fought to reenter my body, but too much time had passed. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t get back in. I could only watch as they covered my body with a white sheet and pronounced me dead."


    "Is Yang Xue still waiting for me at the train station? Is she still full of hope? Apostle, I just want to see her one last time, even if it¡¯s just to say goodbye, to make a promise for the next life!"


    Huang Quan felt as if his heart had been struck by a heavy blow. A man of iron with a heart full of tenderness¡ªperhaps this is what people meant by the phrase ¡°a gentle giant.¡± He nodded, his voice softening unconsciously. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you fulfill your last wish."


    Wang Biao opened his eyes again, a glimmer of hope rekindled in them. "Thank you! Thank you, Apostle!"


    With that, Wang Biao turned, his steps unsteady. As a new soul, he was not yet accustomed to his condition, and the emotional outburst had left him shaky as he staggered back into the apartment.


    Yang Mei emerged from the apartment, her eyes already brimming with tears, having clearly heard the entire story. She wiped her eyes, her delicate features made even more endearing by the tears. "I never thought there were still men like this in the world. Why didn¡¯t I ever meet one?"


    She seemed to recall Xu Hai, the man who had hurt her so deeply in the past. Huang Quan, too, was deeply moved, but seeing Yang Mei so affected, he couldn¡¯t resist teasing her. "You think that¡¯s touching? You¡¯ve never seen how devoted I can be!"


    He pointed to himself, feigning indifference. Yang Mei looked at him, tears still on her face, but a smile broke through. "You¡¯re such a smooth talker!"


    "Apostle, does that mean you want to show me just how devoted you can be?" As she spoke, she moved closer, her tear-streaked face beautiful and enchanting, her gaze alluring as her lips curved into a soft smile. Her lips brushed lightly against Huang Quan¡¯s cheek, but he quickly stepped back.


    "You... go comfort Wang Biao. I need to fulfill his last wish; I shouldn¡¯t stay in the apartment for too long." Without wasting a moment, Huang Quan left the apartment, patting his chest as he did. This ghost, always trying to take advantage of him at every opportunity.


    He steadied himself and pulled out his phone, dialing the number Wang Biao had given him. No answer.


    He tried again. No answer.


    He called six or seven more times, but each time, there was only the sound of a busy signal. Huang Quan frowned slightly. What could have happened on the other end?

 Are you not a criminal?

    As Huang Quan communicated with Wang Biao, he learned that Wang was supposed to meet his fianc¨¦e, Yang Xue, at the train station. Could it be that Yang Xue was still waiting there? With a heavy sigh, Huang Quan realized that aside from the phone number Wang had given him, this was his only lead. He decided to head to the train station; even if he couldn''t find her, perhaps he could uncover some clues.


    Huang Quan first picked up his newly repaired motorcycle from the shop. Without wasting a moment, he sped toward the train station. Normally, the ride would take half an hour, but in his urgency, he arrived in just ten minutes. Wang Biao had mentioned that Yang Xue would be waiting at the second exit. As soon as he parked, Huang Quan hurried over to the exit and approached one of the staff members managing the passenger flow.


    "Excuse me, sir, have you seen this girl? She might have been waiting here for a long time, three days ago," he asked, showing a photo of Yang Xue.


    The staff member didn''t even look up, responding coldly, "No, I haven''t."


    Huang Quan, keeping his patience, asked again, "Please, sir, take a look at the photo. This girl came to meet her fianc¨¦ and may have been waiting here for quite a while."


    The man finally glanced at the photo but still responded dismissively, "I told you, I haven''t seen her."


    After a few more questions, the staff member became irritated. "You¡¯re really annoying, you know that? She came to find you three days ago, and now you suddenly remember to look for her? If I were her, I wouldn''t wait for you either! Young people these days, you¡¯ve got one waiting at home while you¡¯re off flirting with who knows how many others. She came to find you, and you¡¯re out playing around somewhere. Now that you¡¯ve had your fun, you suddenly remember her? Let me tell you, it¡¯s too late!"


    Huang Quan sighed, understanding that this was a misunderstanding, and tried to explain, "Sir, it¡¯s not me who was supposed to meet her. It¡¯s her fianc¨¦. He¡¯s been in the hospital for three days, just regained consciousness today, and immediately asked me to find her. Can you please think back? Did you see her?"


    Hearing this, the staff member finally looked up, examining Huang Quan more closely before leaning in to scrutinize the photo. "Actually, I think I did see this girl. She seemed pretty anxious at the time, but¡­"


    "But what?" Huang Quan asked, hopeful.


    "But I think she was taken away by some police officers."


    Police? Huang Quan thought. Could Yang Xue already know what happened to Wang Biao?


    The staff member frowned as he recalled more details. "Hey, you said her fianc¨¦ is in the hospital? But I remember the police took her away, didn¡¯t they?"


    His suspicion growing, the staff member eyed Huang Quan warily. "You¡¯re not some kind of criminal, are you? Maybe you were in on something with this girl, and now that the police have her, you¡ªHey! I¡¯m not done talking!"


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    Hearing that Yang Xue had been taken by the police, Huang Quan didn¡¯t waste any more time. He nodded at the still-ranting staff member and quickly made his way to the station¡¯s police office.


    At the police office, he inquired about Yang Xue, but the officers only remembered Wang Biao. They explained that by the time they reached the traffickers'' hideout, Wang Biao was already unresponsive. They hadn''t had time to ask him about his family before he was taken to the hospital. The police station in charge of the hospital area might have more information.


    Feeling at a dead end, Huang Quan left the station and returned to his motorcycle. He considered his next move¡ªgoing to the hospital police station. But then he thought of someone who might be able to help. He took out his phone and dialed.


    "Hello, Officer Liu? Yes, it¡¯s Huang Quan. I need your help with something." Huang Quan briefly explained the situation, omitting the details about the Hell Apartment, and instead framing it as Wang Biao being in critical condition in the hospital.


    Officer Liu, who had a good impression of Huang Quan, especially due to his connection with Old Master Tang, agreed without hesitation. Huang Quan waited on his motorcycle, and before long, Officer Liu called back.


    He explained that after Wang Biao was sent to the hospital, local police had indeed gone to the train station to bring in Yang Xue. They had also informed Wang Biao''s family, so she might still be at the hospital.


    Checking his watch, Huang Quan realized that less than 72 hours had passed. Wang Biao''s body should still be in the hospital¡¯s mortuary, and it hadn¡¯t yet been sent to the crematorium. He thanked Officer Liu and immediately sped off to the hospital.


    When he arrived, Officer Liu¡¯s information proved accurate¡ªYang Xue was indeed at the hospital.


    Near the mortuary, the atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with a sense of dread. It was a place where people rarely lingered, and the lack of human presence added to the eeriness. Yang Xue was sitting alone on a bench outside the mortuary. Her expression was calm but vacant, as if she had cried herself dry. Her eyes were red, fixated on the door to the mortuary.


    After asking for directions, Huang Quan found her in this state. "She seems normal, not like someone who would do anything drastic," he thought to himself. But something still felt off.


    Just as Huang Quan was about to approach her, a group of people rushed over, crying uncontrollably. They must have been Wang Biao''s family, devastated but still trying to comfort Yang Xue.


    "Xiao Xue, Uncle knows you¡¯re heartbroken. Wang Biao left us too suddenly. He was just planning to marry you after the New Year," one of the family members said, trying to console her.


    "Life and death are part of life. We need to live well to honor the departed," another added.


    "Xiao Xue, Wang Biao wouldn¡¯t want to see you like this. How can he rest in peace if you¡¯re so sad?"


    As each relative offered their comfort, Yang Xue¡¯s eyes, which had been empty, began to show a flicker of life. Her face, once pale, started to regain some color, as if their words were helping her come to terms with the situation. Yet, her gaze never left the mortuary door.


    Huang Quan sighed. Here they were, one alive and the other dead, separated by that door, each longing to see the other. Yet, this desire was now as impossible as reaching for the stars.


    He shook his head and walked back to his motorcycle. He thought it best to give her some time, to let her come to terms with the reality that Wang Biao could no longer accompany her. Meeting now might only deepen her grief and push her toward despair.


    As he waited quietly, a sudden shout from the direction of the mortuary caught his attention. "Find Wang Biao¡¯s wife quickly! They¡¯re taking him to the crematorium and need a signature, but the family can¡¯t be found!"

 Be a couple next life

    Hearing the urgent calls, Huang Quan immediately headed towards the mortuary. As expected, the place was now empty¡ªjust moments ago filled with Wang Biao''s grieving family, but now deserted. A few nurses hurried towards Huang Quan, whispering anxiously to one another.


    "Do you think Wang Biao''s fianc¨¦e might have done something drastic? She''s been here for three days, never leaving the mortuary, day or night."


    "Yeah, it''s really worrying. They had such a strong relationship; I hope she hasn''t done anything impulsive."


    "Let''s hurry and find her! Just a moment ago, she seemed a bit better, even ate something, and now she¡¯s suddenly gone."


    Huang Quan listened, his anxiety growing. He had promised Wang Biao to fulfill his last wish. If Yang Xue took her own life, that promise could never be kept, and who knows what chaos might ensue in the Hell Apartment?


    As he searched, Huang Quan arrived in front of the hospital¡¯s main building and suddenly felt a mysterious force slow his steps. He looked around but saw nothing unusual. When he glanced up at the rooftop, he noticed a pillar of black light. Using his Qi-gazing technique, he observed the black column and saw a faint figure within it. Could it be Yang Xue?


    Without hesitation, Huang Quan hurried to the elevator and rode it to the top floor. The higher the elevator ascended, the thicker the black aura became, as if the entire building was shrouded in the presence of death. When he reached the top and pushed open the door, he saw a lone figure standing at the edge, back turned to him. Even from behind, Huang Quan could feel the overwhelming despair and sorrow radiating from her.


    He cautiously called out, "Yang Xue?"


    Her entire body stiffened, and after a moment, she slowly turned around. It was indeed Yang Xue. Huang Quan quickly made a calming gesture, "Please, don¡¯t do anything rash. Everyone is frantically searching for you."


    Yang Xue suddenly seemed possessed, shouting, "Don''t come any closer! Stay back!"


    Huang Quan stopped immediately, not out of fear for himself, but because he knew that his mission wasn''t complete, and he couldn''t let her die just like that.


    "Yang Xue, if you die now, have you thought about Wang Biao? He desperately wants to see you one last time," Huang Quan said gently.


    Yang Xue began to laugh¡ªsoftly at first, then louder, until it turned into a hysterical, almost manic laughter, tears streaming down her face. "See me one last time? Yes, I¡¯ll see him! I need to ask him why he left me alone. Does he have any idea how much it hurts?"


    She shouted in anguish, her voice gradually softening into a whisper, as if all the energy had drained from her body. Suddenly, her eyes blazed with fury as she stared at Huang Quan. "What do you know about it? All you people say is ¡®death is a part of life¡¯ and ¡®grieve and move on,¡¯ but have you ever watched the person you love most die right before your eyes, unable to even say a final goodbye?"


    As she spoke, her face twisted in pain, tears flowing uncontrollably. The sheer intensity of her agony was palpable, even to Huang Quan.


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    "I''m going to ask him if he remembers that he promised me a happy life¡ªor maybe he¡¯s already forgotten about me!" she cried, turning suddenly and climbing over the railing, half her body already hanging over the edge.


    Huang Quan''s heart raced. He was still too far to reach her in time, but he couldn''t let her jump.


    "Wait! I can let you see him, I can let you see Wang Biao!" he shouted.


    Time seemed to freeze as Yang Xue paused, her body teetering over the edge. Slowly, she turned back towards Huang Quan, her eyes filled with a glimmer of hope. "What did you say?"


    Huang Quan exhaled deeply, calming his voice as he spoke, "I can let you see him, see Wang Biao."


    As he spoke, he carefully moved closer, extending a hand towards her. Yang Xue, trembling, reached out and grabbed Huang Quan¡¯s hand. Without hesitation, he pulled her back over the railing, where she stumbled and fell onto the rooftop, lying on her back.


    Yang Xue quickly sat up, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Who are you? How can you let me see Wang Biao? Are you trying to trick me?"


    Huang Quan, steadying himself, sighed and patiently explained, "I¡¯m here on Wang Biao¡¯s behalf to bring you to him. But remember, everything you see today, including me, must never be mentioned to anyone."


    Though still doubtful, the possibility of seeing Wang Biao outweighed her skepticism, and she nodded in agreement. Huang Quan nodded back, reached out, and gently took her arm.


    "Close your eyes and focus your thoughts on mine. That¡¯s how you¡¯ll enter my space," he instructed.


    Yang Xue did as she was told. Suddenly, she felt darkness envelop her, followed by the appearance of an eerie apartment building, devoid of any life. Just as she was about to ask Huang Quan what was happening, she saw someone emerging from the apartment.


    As the figure approached, Yang Xue¡¯s vision sharpened, and she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. "Wang¡­ Wang Biao?"


    It was indeed Wang Biao. He stood silently, staring at Yang Xue. The moment she recognized him, Yang Xue could no longer hold back her emotions. She broke down, crying her heart out, releasing all the pent-up sorrow, frustration, and pain.


    Wang Biao, seeing his fianc¨¦e in such a state, couldn¡¯t help but cry himself, tears streaming down his face. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her, to hold her close. But when he tried to embrace her, his arms passed through her as if she were made of air.


    Confused and desperate, Wang Biao looked to Huang Quan, asking, "Why¡­ why can''t I hold her?"


    Huang Quan shrugged slightly. "You¡¯re separated by life and death. It¡¯s a miracle you can even see each other. If you could touch her, it would mean you could take her with you. But you want her to live well, don¡¯t you?"


    With that, Huang Quan smiled and stepped aside, giving the couple some space.


    Wang Biao stared at Yang Xue, as if trying to imprint her image in his mind. "Xue''er, live well for me. In the next life, we¡¯ll be together again. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll find you, no matter what."


    Yang Xue, her anger and sorrow washed away, could only nod vigorously, her tears flowing unabated.


    Time passed quickly, and Huang Quan finally approached them, sighing. "It¡¯s time to say goodbye."


    There were so many things Wang Biao wanted to say, but he knew that if he couldn¡¯t let go, Yang Xue would follow him into death¡ªa fate he desperately wanted to avoid. No matter how much it hurt, he could only say, "Take care," before fading away at the entrance of the apartment.


    Yang Xue reached out, trying to grasp Wang Biao, but he was gone, leaving only an empty space where he had stood. In an instant, they were both back in the real world. Yang Xue, still reeling from the experience, sat in silence, while Huang Quan waited patiently by her side.


    After a long while, Yang Xue finally looked up at Huang Quan and bowed deeply. "Thank you for granting us our final wish. Don¡¯t worry¡ªhe asked me to live well for him, and I will. I¡¯ll see the world for him, and when the time comes, I¡¯ll tell him all about it."


    Seeing her resolve, Huang Quan felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He nodded slightly as she walked away, watching her silhouette fade into the distance.


    As Yang Xue left, Huang Quan perched on the rooftop railing, closed his eyes, and returned to the Hell Apartment. Unnoticed, on the wall of apostles, his name glowed faintly, with the words "Merit +1" appearing beside it.

 The Woman Who Glows

    Huang Quan walked into the Hell Apartment, where Wang Biao immediately approached him, bowing deeply.


    ¡°Master Apostle, I¡¯m truly grateful for your help! If you ever need anything from me, just say the word. This is my rent; please accept it.¡±


    As he spoke, Huang Quan felt a surge of energy flowing through his body, growing stronger until it felt like it would burst out of him. He casually waved his hand, and a stream of energy shot out from his fingertips, leaving a small dent in the wall of the apartment.


    A voice echoed in his mind: "Master Apostle, this rent includes mixed combat skills and [Ghost Eye Technique]."


    Mixed combat skills, as the name suggests, would grant him immense strength during a chaotic fight. The [Ghost Eye Technique] presumably would allow him to see the person someone longs to see before they die, without needing to bring them into the apartment¡ªperfect for handling certain tasks without drawing unnecessary attention to the Hell Apartment.


    Huang Quan shook his head. "What kind of rent is this?" he thought. These abilities seemed of little use to him¡ªunless he found himself facing some villainous gang, which wasn¡¯t exactly his line of work. But he chuckled to himself, thinking, ¡°Well, it¡¯s better to have it than not. Who knows when it might come in handy?¡±


    Exiting the apartment, Huang Quan left the hospital and rode his motorcycle back to the hotel. The hotel¡¯s parking lot was a short walk from the main entrance, and as he strolled leisurely, he reflected on the recent events, savoring the brief moment of peace.


    As he walked, feeling unusually relaxed, he remained unaware of the faint, demonic tattoos that had appeared on his back. The tattoos, resembling interwoven muscle patterns, glowed softly, yet no one around him seemed to notice, not even Huang Quan himself.


    Humming a tune, Huang Quan neared the hotel when something in a nearby flowerbed caught his eye. The grass rustled as if something¡ªor someone¡ªwas hidden within. Curious, Huang Quan peered through the gaps in the foliage and noticed a figure, either sitting or kneeling, in an odd position.


    Given the recent strange occurrences he had witnessed, Huang Quan knew he had to investigate. He cautiously approached the flowerbed, gently parting the leaves to reveal a graceful silhouette¡ªa woman, her back turned to him, draped in a thin, translucent veil that barely covered her body, glowing faintly under the streetlights.


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    Startled, Huang Quan quickly let the leaves fall back into place, averting his eyes. "Don¡¯t stare! Don¡¯t stare!" he muttered to himself, though his curiosity was piqued. What was a young woman, barely clothed, doing in a flowerbed in the middle of the night? And why did it seem like no one else had noticed her?


    Steeling himself, Huang Quan parted the foliage again. This time, the woman turned towards him. Fortunately, she was decently covered, but as Huang Quan¡¯s gaze traveled up to her face, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp. The woman was stunning¡ªbreathtakingly beautiful in a way that defied description.


    Her hair, dark and silky, was loosely pinned up, with a few stray strands framing her flawless face. Her skin, pale with a faint blush, seemed to glow from within, untouched by any cosmetic enhancements. Every feature was perfect: her slender eyebrows, her expressive eyes, her delicate nose, and lips the color of dawn. Huang Quan had never seen anyone so beautiful in his life.


    The woman said nothing, merely gazing at Huang Quan with a faint, enigmatic smile. Any other man might have been tempted to take advantage of the situation, but Huang Quan found himself deep in thought. A woman this beautiful, sitting alone in a flowerbed late at night¡ªwas she drunk? Or worse, was she a ghost? If she was, perhaps he could take her in, and maybe she would offer something valuable as rent.


    But then, a voice broke the silence. "Sir, I¡¯ve twisted my ankle. Could you help me out of here?"


    The woman¡¯s soft voice jolted Huang Quan from his thoughts. He hesitated, then quickly decided to leave. ¡°The most beautiful ghosts are often the most troublesome,¡± he reminded himself. He couldn¡¯t afford to get involved with another spirit that might cling to him and cause endless trouble.


    One foot already inside the hotel¡¯s entrance, Huang Quan stopped. If she really was a ghost with a lingering attachment, this could be another opportunity. But if she wasn¡¯t a ghost, just an injured or drunk woman, leaving her could expose her to danger from someone with less honorable intentions.


    "Saving a life is a great merit," Huang Quan reminded himself, turning back to the flowerbed. When he reached the woman again, he didn¡¯t hesitate this time. He gently helped her up and out of the bushes.


    As they walked back to the hotel, Huang Quan couldn¡¯t help but notice the stares from passersby. He sighed inwardly, knowing the situation looked strange. Meanwhile, unnoticed in the shadows, the tattoos on his back pulsed faintly, absorbing a subtle energy from the woman with each step. With each pulse, the tattoos grew slightly longer, though neither Huang Quan nor the woman seemed aware of it.


    Just as they entered the hotel, a luxury stretch limo sped by, heading toward Dragon City¡¯s largest nightclub, "Heaven on Earth." Inside, a man was wrapped in the arms of a scantily clad woman, who whispered provocatively in his ear, making him shift uncomfortably in his seat. In the back of the limo, another woman sat quietly, dabbing at her tears.

 Teach Huang Quan a lesson

    At the entrance of the Heavenly Nightclub.


    A luxurious stretch Lincoln pulled up, and out stepped Ma Wendong. With a confident stride, he waved the car away as it drove off, and entered the nightclub with an air of authority. Inside, familiar faces greeted him warmly.


    "Yo, Brother Ma! What brings you here tonight? Let me treat you to a drink, don''t hold back!"


    "Brother Ma, it''s been too long! Let''s catch up over some drinks, my treat!"


    "Brother Ma, I''ve got a bottle of ''82 Lafite ready at my table. Come and have a taste later!"


    As Ma Wendong made his way through the crowd, smiling and nodding, he finally arrived at a private room. He paused briefly at the door before pushing it open.


    "Well, if it isn''t Wendong! Haven''t seen you in a while; I thought you had gone straight!" The man in the center, with a small mustache, looked up and greeted him.


    Ma Wendong smiled, nodding. "Brother Wang, I''m a wild horse; no one can tame me. How could I go straight? I''m here to treat you to a drink!"


    He approached Wang Shuai, who was surrounded by two heavily made-up women. As Ma Wendong neared, they wisely made space for him. He sat down next to Wang Shuai, raised his glass, and clinked it with Wang Shuai''s.


    "Brother Wang, let''s have a good time tonight. All the expenses are on me." As he spoke, he discreetly slipped something under Wang Shuai''s seat. Leaning in, he whispered, "I really appreciate your help last time. This is to repay you, and tonight''s drinks are my thanks."


    Wang Shuai understood immediately¡ªMa Wendong was referring to the incident where his car was scratched, and he ended up paying a million yuan. Back then, Ma Wendong had borrowed money from all his friends, and Wang Shuai had been the most generous, lending him ten thousand yuan. Ma Wendong had always been grateful and had come to repay the favor personally.


    Wang Shuai didn¡¯t glance at the money under his seat. Instead, he subtly shifted his weight to feel the thickness, and a smile spread across his face.


    "Why talk about thanks between brothers? Let¡¯s drink!" He raised his glass to Ma Wendong, who smiled back, raising his own.


    But before their glasses could meet, a voice interrupted.


    "Brother Ma, I heard that you had to pay a million after your Mercedes got into a fender bender with a motorcycle. Is that true?"


    Ma Wendong froze, his smile faltering. He turned to see who had spoken, frowning at the unfamiliar face. But the man seemed oblivious to Ma Wendong''s displeasure and continued.


    "Yeah, I heard you had to ask around for help with the money. But hey, these rich city boys always talk big about how much money they have, spending like it¡¯s nothing. Yet, when push comes to shove, it seems not many were willing to lend a hand. Makes you wonder, were they not seeing you as a brother, or could they just not come up with the cash?"


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    Ma Wendong''s face darkened. Was this guy deliberately provoking him, or was he just clueless? Wang Shuai, meanwhile, kept smiling as if the remark hadn¡¯t hit too close to home. He smiled at the man who had spoken, who smiled right back, completely ignoring the rising fury in Ma Wendong¡¯s eyes.


    *Smash!*


    The sound of a glass shattering echoed in the room. Ma Wendong had slammed his glass onto the table, picking up the broken pieces and pointing them at the man who had spoken.


    "Say that again, and let''s see if you make it out of here alive!"


    The man feigned fear, clutching his chest. "Oh, I¡¯m so scared! But what if Brother Ma hits me and can¡¯t afford the compensation? What then?" He threw his head back and laughed.


    Ma Wendong felt more humiliated than ever and was about to lunge at the man when a stern voice cut through the tension.


    "Enough!"


    It was Wang Shuai, his tone firm as he downed the contents of his glass in one gulp. Without looking at Ma Wendong, he made a subtle gesture with his hand, and a few burly men, understanding the signal, grabbed Ma Wendong and tossed him out of the room.


    Still processing what had just happened, Ma Wendong stood outside the door, listening to the conversation inside.


    "Brother Wang, you really gave him ten grand? Does he deserve that kind of favor?"


    It was the voice of the man who had insulted Ma Wendong earlier.


    Wang Shuai''s voice followed. "At the time, I thought his family still had some connections worth using. But now that we¡¯ve got better ties, who needs him? And besides, he¡¯s crossed the Old Master Tang''s benefactor. I don¡¯t want to mess with the Tang family."


    "If he had just played along like a good dog, maybe. But he had the nerve to get rough with my people? He must have a death wish."


    Wang Shuai¡¯s words echoed in Ma Wendong''s mind. "Old Master Tang¡¯s benefactor?" When did he offend such a person? He couldn¡¯t recall, but one thing was clear¡ªthese so-called friends would turn on him the moment he was no longer useful.


    Clenching his fists, Ma Wendong spat on the door and stormed into the main hall. At the bar, he ordered a drink, staring at his glass with a stormy expression, ignoring the bartender¡¯s attempts at conversation.


    Just then, someone sat down beside him. "This drink¡¯s on me," the newcomer said.


    Ma Wendong turned to see a burly man in a black vest, his muscular build clearly visible. He didn¡¯t recognize the man.


    Raising his glass, the stranger introduced himself. "Name¡¯s Lei Zhan. You¡¯ve probably heard of me."


    Lei Zhan? The name rang a bell. Ma Wendong racked his brain until his eyes lit up in recognition. "You¡¯re Lei Zhan, the top fighter in Dragon City?"


    Lei Zhan smiled and nodded. "That¡¯s right."


    Ma Wendong, still puzzled, asked, "Why are you here talking to me?"


    Lei Zhan drained his glass and replied with a grin, "Heard you¡¯ve had a rough time. Wouldn¡¯t have happened if it weren¡¯t for that Huang Quan, right? How about I help you teach him a lesson?"


    The mention of Huang Quan made Ma Wendong¡¯s blood boil. He gripped his glass so tightly it creaked. After a moment, he asked, "Why would you help me?"


    He knew better than to believe in favors without strings attached. Lei Zhan must have something to gain.


    Lei Zhan didn¡¯t beat around the bush. "I want to work with the Ma family. If you agree to a partnership, I¡¯ll handle Huang Quan for you."


    Ma Wendong appraised Lei Zhan. He seemed straightforward, more trustworthy than his so-called friends. But the Ma family¡¯s code was clear¡ªnever resort to violence unless absolutely necessary, and never provoke trouble.


    Yet, the thought of Huang Quan made Ma Wendong¡¯s blood boil. Had it not been for him, would he be the laughingstock of his peers? Would he have suffered such humiliation?


    Grinding his teeth, Ma Wendong¡¯s resolve hardened. "Alright, Lei Zhan, it¡¯s a deal."


    Lei Zhan laughed heartily, raising his glass to Ma Wendong. "To our partnership!"


    "To our partnership!" Ma Wendong echoed, finally smiling. "So, how do you plan to deal with Huang Quan?"


    Lei Zhan smirked, refilling his glass. "That fool took your million and checked into a luxury hotel, acting like some nouveau riche. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be watching. When the time comes, we¡¯ll make sure he pays dearly."


    A cold glint flashed in Lei Zhan¡¯s eyes as his muscles tensed.

 Youve messed with the wrong person.

    At around seven in the evening, Huang Quan stepped out of the hotel and casually chose a spot on the street to have dinner. He hadn''t eaten all day, having spent it entirely engrossed in studying the Hell Apartment. Now, with his stomach growling, he was eager to enjoy a hearty meal.


    Just as he was halfway through his meal, several burly men approached him. Leading them was Lei Zhan, who pulled up a chair and sat directly across from Huang Quan. Without even glancing up, Huang Quan continued eating his food.


    ¡°You¡¯re Huang Quan, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lei Zhan asked coldly.


    Huang Quan remained silent, focused on his meal.


    Lei Zhan, not in any rush, continued slowly, ¡°Do you have any idea that you''ve crossed someone you shouldn''t have?¡±


    Still, Huang Quan said nothing, picking up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and placing it in his mouth. He turned to the owner and said, ¡°Boss, you¡¯ve overcooked this meat a bit, but it¡¯s delicious!¡±


    The owner shot a nervous glance at Huang Quan but didn¡¯t dare respond. He recognized the man sitting opposite Huang Quan¡ªLei Zhan, Longcheng¡¯s most feared fighter. Anyone who ended up on his radar was either dead or severely crippled. The owner kept quiet, not wanting to get involved.


    Lei Zhan, however, was still patient, smiling as he looked at Huang Quan, though his eyes already gleamed with murderous intent. But one of his underlings was less so; he slammed a hand on the table and spat, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what our boss just said?¡±


    ¡°Are you pretending to be deaf?¡±


    Lei Zhan waved a hand, still smiling. ¡°Huang Quan, it seems you don¡¯t know who I am. If you¡¯re smart, you¡¯ll cut off one of your arms yourself. It¡¯ll save me the trouble, and it¡¯ll hurt you a lot less.¡±


    ¡°But if I have to do it, it won¡¯t just be one arm.¡±


    Huang Quan gave a cold smile, continuing to eat, showing no intention of acknowledging Lei Zhan¡¯s words. The meal was almost finished, but the last bite, known as the ¡°fortune bite,¡± was the most delicious of all, according to common folks. Just as Huang Quan was about to savor that final morsel, Lei Zhan grabbed a nearby pair of chopsticks and blocked his bowl.


    ¡°You¡¯d better not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! No one¡¯s ever ignored me like this before. I¡¯m offering you a way out, and you¡¯re not taking it. Don¡¯t blame me if things get ugly!¡±


    This time, Huang Quan finally lifted his gaze, giving Lei Zhan a cold, piercing look. He had no intention of letting anyone interfere with his ¡°fortune bite.¡± But after that one icy glance, Huang Quan simply maneuvered the bowl around Lei Zhan¡¯s chopsticks and brought it to his mouth.


    Lei Zhan felt a chill run down his spine¡ªhow could someone¡¯s eyes be so cold? He had encountered many people in his life. Most would be trembling with fear at the sight of him; some would even wet themselves before he made a move. But this Huang Quan showed not an ounce of fear; his gaze was as chilling as ice, as if he were a hunter eyeing his prey. That look made Lei Zhan¡¯s patience waver and his fear rise.


    The more terrified people like Lei Zhan became, the more they felt the need to assert their dominance.


    With a loud crash, Lei Zhan suddenly stood up, knocking his chair to the ground. The other diners, sensing the impending conflict, scattered in all directions.


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    This time, he didn¡¯t use chopsticks to block Huang Quan¡¯s bowl; he went straight for it with his hand. But it was as if Huang Quan had anticipated his move; he leaned back slightly, and the last bite slipped into his mouth.


    ¡°Hmm, the fortune bite really is the best!¡± Huang Quan said, smacking his lips in satisfaction, rubbing his now full belly.


    Lei Zhan¡¯s temper flared, his eyes nearly spitting fire. This guy had not only dodged his move but had also finished his meal right in front of him¡ªa humiliation to a martial artist like him. Infuriated, he flipped the table over, snarling, ¡°Alright, kid, today I¡¯ll show you what Lei Zhan is really capable of!¡±


    With a signal from Lei Zhan, his men encircled Huang Quan. At a nod from their leader, they rushed at Huang Quan, aiming directly for his vital points.


    Huang Quan chuckled. He had thought he would never need to use his close-combat skills in this lifetime, but it seemed the time had come to put that particular "rent payment" to the test.


    Just as the fists came flying toward him, Huang Quan remained unhurried, stepping back with a measured calm. Suddenly, he felt a surge of heat coursing through his back, where his tattoos flickered in and out of visibility. The warmth spread to his limbs, igniting a latent power within him.


    As the fists drew perilously close¡ªmere inches away¡ªHuang Quan gathered his strength and raised his arms in defense. The assailants¡¯ fists collided with his body, producing a resounding "clank" as if they had struck solid steel. Before they could process what had happened, Huang Quan swung his arms with force, releasing a powerful wave of energy that surged from within him.


    The thugs froze in place, feeling the energy ripple through them, shattering their insides as though their organs had been crushed by the sheer force. The impact sent them flying through the air, and when they hit the ground, blood trickled from their mouths.


    Those who had not yet engaged hesitated, their fists raised in uncertainty as they watched the scene unfold. Huang Quan stood at the center, untouched, while the others lay scattered around him, either writhing in pain or completely unconscious.


    Lei Zhan, observing from the outer edge of the fray, was astonished by the display. ¡°Such powerful inner strength!¡± he exclaimed, unable to hide his awe. As a martial artist, Lei Zhan had heard tales of inner strength, but he had never witnessed it firsthand, much less mastered it himself. His experience in combat had always been rooted in brute force, yet today, he had encountered something truly extraordinary.


    With a shout, Lei Zhan rallied his men, ¡°Brothers, grab your weapons!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t afford to lose face¡ªnot as Longcheng¡¯s top fighter. His men obeyed, drawing long knives from behind their backs. At Lei Zhan¡¯s command, they charged at Huang Quan once more.


    But Huang Quan remained unfazed, the blades seemingly insignificant to him. Unbeknownst to his opponents, the tattoos on his body had transformed into pronounced muscles, as if he had donned an invincible suit of armor. The sound of metal striking flesh was replaced by a high-pitched clanging, as if the knives were hitting iron instead of human flesh.


    With a casual flick of his arm, Huang Quan unleashed another wave of energy, combined with the hardness of his body. The force shattered the blades in the attackers¡¯ hands, reducing them to fragments. Huang Quan stood unaffected, the glow of his muscles flickering beneath his skin.


    In that moment, Lei Zhan¡¯s entire crew was defeated, every one of them laid out on the ground, either moaning in pain or rendered unconscious. Only Lei Zhan and Huang Quan remained standing.


    Lei Zhan¡¯s legs trembled, but as Longcheng¡¯s premier fighter, he couldn¡¯t afford to concede. He gritted his teeth and, with a determined resolve, drew the knife strapped to his back, launching himself at Huang Quan.


    Unlike the others, Lei Zhan¡¯s attacks were disciplined, each move executed with precision and intent. Huang Quan acknowledged this with a slight nod¡ªfinally, an opponent worth the effort.


    As Lei Zhan¡¯s knife sliced toward his face, Huang Quan effortlessly dodged, the blade whistling past his ear. Seizing the opportunity, Huang Quan aimed a punch at Lei Zhan¡¯s abdomen.


    Sensing the danger, Lei Zhan quickly retracted his knife, sidestepping just in time to avoid the blow. His eyes widened in realization as he smirked, believing he had gained the upper hand. He swiftly countered with a strike aimed at Huang Quan¡¯s lower spine.


    But Huang Quan remained calm, a small smile playing on his lips.


    A loud "crack" echoed through the space. The onlookers, already laid out on the ground, stared wide-eyed at the two figures still standing, frozen in silence. Then, suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Lei Ge!¡±

 How is compensation calculated?

    Lei Zhan felt a sudden numbness in his lower back, and before he knew it, his legs buckled beneath him, leaving him collapsing to the ground, unable to rise. The scene around them was one of utter chaos; the few remaining underlings who could still move scrambled to help Lei Zhan up. His spine was misaligned, making it impossible for him to sit upright without leaning heavily on his men for support.


    Huang Quan¡¯s muscles, once bulging with power, had now receded, revealing his original, strikingly handsome features. He casually walked over to Lei Zhan, crouched down beside him, and his face showed no emotion as he spoke. "Let¡¯s discuss the matter of compensation."


    "What?" Lei Zhan grimaced, thinking he must have misheard. This man had just wiped the floor with him and his crew, yet here he was, brazenly talking about compensation? "What do you mean by that?"


    Huang Quan glanced around at the chaos¡ªthe overturned tables and chairs of the street-side eatery, the diners who had long since fled the scene. Inside the restaurant, the owner was cowering under the cashier¡¯s counter, trembling with fear. With a calm expression, Huang Quan said, "You started this mess. The damages to the shop, the loss of customers¡ªnaturally, you¡¯re responsible for compensating all of it."


    "Bullshit¡ªah, ah, ah!" Lei Zhan tried to retort, but the pain from his injured spine cut his words short, leaving him gritting his teeth in agony. "If it weren¡¯t for you, Huang Quan, I wouldn¡¯t have wrecked the place! And look around¡ªyou''re the only one here who¡¯s unscathed. Who should really be paying for this? Damn it!"


    Before Lei Zhan could finish his sentence, Huang Quan reached down and firmly grasped his injured back, causing Lei Zhan to grimace in pain, half of his face contorting. "Now, tell me¡ªwho should really be paying for this?"


    Huang Quan''s tone was serene, but the pressure from his grip intensified. "Alright, alright! I¡¯ll pay! I¡¯ll cover all the damages, everything the owner lost¡ªI¡¯ll take care of it!" Lei Zhan stammered, barely able to speak through the pain as he pleaded for mercy. He was willing to cover all the damages just to get out of there and rush to the hospital.


    Satisfied with this response, Huang Quan finally released his grip. He stood up, looking down at Lei Zhan with an icy gaze. "The shopkeeper''s compensation is settled. Now, let¡¯s talk about my losses."


    Lei Zhan nearly leapt up in fury at the suggestion. Trembling with rage, he pointed a shaky finger at Huang Quan. "Don¡¯t push your luck, kid! I¡¯ll cover the owner¡¯s damages, fine¡ªbut what the hell do I owe you? I didn¡¯t even lay a finger on you!"


    "Hmph. If I weren¡¯t stronger than you, we both know how this would¡¯ve ended. Your intent to harm can¡¯t be excused just because you failed," Huang Quan replied, wiping his palms and fixing Lei Zhan with a cold stare. "Let¡¯s put the financial compensation aside. Tell me, did Ma Wendong send you?"


    At the mention of Ma Wendong, Lei Zhan visibly hesitated. He hadn¡¯t uttered Ma Wendong¡¯s name once¡ªhow had this kid figured it out? But Huang Quan didn¡¯t need Lei Zhan to answer; the man¡¯s reaction had already confirmed his suspicion.


    Huang Quan had no desire to keep tangling with Ma Wendong, but it seemed the man was intent on clinging to this grudge. If this continued, Ma Wendong might eventually uncover Huang Quan¡¯s secrets. Since avoiding him was no longer an option, Huang Quan resolved to confront him head-on.


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    Without further word to Lei Zhan, Huang Quan left the scene and headed straight to Tian Shang Ren Jian, where Ma Wendong had been spending his nights. As expected, upon entering the opulent nightclub, Huang Quan spotted Ma Wendong, who was raising a glass in a toast with the crowd around him.


    Without a second thought, Huang Quan walked straight up to Ma Wendong, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him out of the club. The onlookers were left in stunned silence, unsure of what had just transpired.


    Once outside, Huang Quan unceremoniously released his grip, causing Ma Wendong to stumble and nearly fall to the ground, struggling to regain his balance.


    "Who the hell dares to mess with me? Do you know who I¡ª" Ma Wendong was cursing as he struggled to regain his balance, but when he saw who it was, the words died in his throat, and a shiver ran down his spine.


    "Did you send Lei Zhan?" Huang Quan¡¯s voice was cold and direct, without a single wasted word.


    Ma Wendong¡¯s eyes darted nervously. If Huang Quan was mentioning Lei Zhan, then they must have fought. And since Huang Quan was standing here unscathed... "Damn it, that Lei Zhan is useless!" Ma Wendong cursed inwardly. He quickly waved his hands, feigning ignorance. "Lei Zhan? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about!"


    Huang Quan sneered. What a coward. He stepped closer, his gaze locking onto Ma Wendong¡¯s with icy determination. "Lei Zhan¡¯s spine is broken. He can barely walk now. If you want to end up like him, keep lying."


    Cold sweat began to trickle down Ma Wendong¡¯s forehead. He knew exactly who Lei Zhan was, and if someone as formidable as Lei Zhan had been crippled by Huang Quan, then this man in front of him was nothing short of a demon. His legs began to tremble, and he stammered, "H-How much do you want? Name your price, and I¡¯ll pay it if you let me go."


    "Let you go? I was willing to let you off before, but you kept pushing me. Now you want mercy? Keep dreaming." Huang Quan¡¯s voice was icy as he stepped closer, forcing Ma Wendong to retreat until he was backed against a wall, with nowhere left to go.


    Ma Wendong¡¯s legs nearly gave out as he faced Huang Quan¡¯s murderous gaze. He leaned against the wall, barely able to stand, still trying to muster up some last-ditch bravado. "I-I¡¯m telling you, Huang Quan, my family is one of the top fifteen in Longcheng! If you dare lay a finger on me, my family won¡¯t let you off!"


    Huang Quan narrowed his eyes, his expression full of mockery. "Oh? Your family is that powerful? I¡¯m so scared!" He sneered, "Lei Zhan wanted an arm from me, and I think your arm looks pretty good. Should I do it, or will you?"


    As Huang Quan spoke, he placed his hands on Ma Wendong¡¯s arm.


    With that, Ma Wendong couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and collapsed to his knees, a wet stain spreading between his legs. "Big brother, please! Just tell me how much you want, and I¡¯ll pay it. I¡¯ll transfer the money right now, just don¡¯t take my arm."


    His hands shaking, Ma Wendong fumbled to pull out his phone, his fingers trembling so much that he could barely press the buttons. Desperately, he managed to dial, terrified that if he delayed even a moment, he would lose both arms.


    Huang Quan took a step back, standing calmly with his hands behind his back. His fist clenched slightly, and the tattoos on his body glowed faintly before fading, as a wisp of energy slipped into Ma Wendong¡¯s body without him noticing.


    Within minutes, Huang Quan¡¯s phone chimed. He glanced at it¡ªfive million had just been deposited. Huang Quan smiled. "Your arms are worth quite a bit. Consider this your way out. But next time, if you come looking for trouble again, it won¡¯t be so easy to settle."


    He waved his phone at Ma Wendong and then walked away.


    Ma Wendong remained kneeling on the ground, too weak to stand. He cursed silently, "Damn it, Huang Quan! Next time, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re dead before you even have a chance to fight back."


    It took Ma Wendong a long time to gather the strength to get up. He didn¡¯t feel like going back into the nightclub, so he headed home in defeat.


    When he entered his house, he found Cao Tingting sitting on the sofa, watching TV. Seeing her, Ma Wendong¡¯s thoughts immediately turned to Huang Quan. "Damn it! He humiliated me, scared me so bad I pissed myself, but I¡¯ve got his woman. That means I win!"


    With that thought in mind, Ma Wendong approached Cao Tingting and roughly pushed her onto the sofa. He tore at her nightgown, his anger and desire boiling over. But suddenly, his face contorted in pain, his brow furrowed, his cheeks paled, and his lips began to tremble.

 To cut off all descendants

    Ma Wendong couldn''t care less about his physical discomfort. With the arrow on the string, he was determined to desperately take revenge on Huang Quan.


    Cao Tingting was puzzled; Ma Wendong had rarely been so passionate toward her recently. Then she realized something was off. He wasn''t being passionate; he was being violent. It was clear Ma Wendong was venting. Cao Tingting felt pain. She tried to push Ma Wendong away, but he was very strong and slapped her hard.


    "Damn it! How dare you defy me? I''ll make you pay!"


    As he said this, Ma Wendong''s strength increased. He grabbed Cao Tingting''s throat with one hand and supported himself on the sofa with the other. The more she struggled, the stronger he became. Tears of helplessness streamed down Cao Tingting''s face.


    Seeing her tears, Ma Wendong became even more beastly. Just as Cao Tingting thought she might die at his hands tonight,


    "Aah!"


    With a shout, Ma Wendong''s grip suddenly weakened. Cao Tingting gasped for the fresh air she so desperately needed, but before she could take more than a couple of breaths, Ma Wendong collapsed onto her. Instinctively, she shuddered and pushed him away.


    This time, Cao Tingting wasn''t sure if it was because she used all her strength or if Ma Wendong had exhausted his. She pushed hard, and Ma Wendong fell onto his back on the floor.


    Without Ma Wendong''s restraint, Cao Tingting took another deep breath. After some time passed, she noticed that Ma Wendong was lying on the ground without any reaction. Cao Tingting found this strange.


    She carefully sat up, curling into a ball, only slightly leaning forward to look at Ma Wendong on the floor. What she saw frightened her, causing cold sweat to instantly pour down her face.


    Ma Wendong lay on the ground, his face as pale as paper, devoid of any color. His lips were blue and purple, and he was trembling uncontrollably.


    "Could it be that the force was too much just now? But he looks like he''s been poisoned!" Cao Tingting thought to herself. She looked closer and noticed that Ma Wendong indeed appeared poisoned. A faint light seemed to flicker between his eyebrows, which was quite unusual.


    Ma Wendong was still breathing, so Cao Tingting didn''t dare to delay. She immediately picked up the phone and dialed 120.


    At the hospital''s emergency room.


    A stretcher was constantly moving through the emergency room. The person on it was unconscious. The faint light between his eyebrows was now surrounded by a pale gray gas.


    The stretcher headed straight for the emergency room, and a family member grabbed the doctor''s hand, stuffing some money into it.


    "Doctor, you must save my son."


    The doctor nodded urgently, "Don''t worry, Mr. Ma. I''ll do my best." He pocketed the money and stepped into the emergency room. The emergency room light immediately turned on.


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    Ma Wendong''s father, Ma Tiancheng, paced back and forth in the emergency room, while his mother, Liu Ying, sat on a bench in front of the emergency room door, her eyes never leaving the "Rescue in Progress" sign.


    Cao Tingting, still wearing her nightgown, leaned against the wall opposite the emergency room, her expression serious, hands clasped in prayer.


    After some time, everyone began to calm down slightly. Liu Ying caught sight of Cao Tingting out of the corner of her eye and, filled with anger, stood up and walked toward her.


    *Slap!*


    The crisp sound of a slap, though not particularly noticeable in the noisy environment, was evident from the handprint that quickly appeared on Cao Tingting''s face. Liu Ying had used all her strength.


    Cao Tingting covered her cheek with her hand, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Liu Ying in shame and anger. Liu Ying''s eyes blazed with fury as she glared at Cao Tingting.


    "You did this to my son! If anything happens to him, I, Liu Ying, will make you pay with your life."


    Cao Tingting didn''t know why Ma Wendong suddenly fell ill, so she couldn''t retort, but she felt full of grievance, and tears streamed down her face one after another.


    Liu Ying was clearly not satisfied. She grabbed Cao Tingting''s hair with one hand, her eyes showing murderous intent.


    "How dare you cry?"


    Liu Ying yanked harder on her hair, causing Cao Tingting to cry out loud. The already anxious Ma Tiancheng became even more irritated by her crying and pulled Liu Ying''s other arm, pulling her behind him.


    Liu Ying suddenly let go of Cao Tingting''s hair.


    Cao Tingting, her hair disheveled, shivered and looked pitiful. Liu Ying hated her even more for this look and wanted to teach her another lesson, but Ma Tiancheng stopped her.


    "Enough! Our son is still being rescued inside. Don''t you think things are chaotic enough?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, the "Rescue in Progress" sign turned off.


    Ma Tiancheng quickly stepped forward, and Liu Ying, no longer bothering with Cao Tingting, followed him.


    The emergency room door opened, and the doctor walked out first, followed by Ma Wendong''s stretcher bed being pushed out.


    Ma Tiancheng hurried to the doctor and anxiously asked, "Doctor, how is my son?"


    The doctor exhaled, relieved, and said, "Don''t worry, there''s no danger to his life. But..."


    Liu Ying, extremely anxious, asked, "Doctor, but what?"


    The doctor hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to say it, then finally spoke, "But, Ma Gongzi''s condition is somewhat strange."


    "It looks like poisoning, but we didn''t find any toxins in his body."


    "And although he appeared to be in critical condition, during the rescue, we found that there was never any real danger to his life."


    The doctor stopped talking. Ma Tiancheng and Liu Ying exchanged looks, both filled with disbelief.


    "Doctor, are you saying that my son, Wendong, will be unable to have children?"


    The doctor swallowed and nodded slightly, sighing, "Please accept my condolences."


    Upon hearing this, Liu Ying couldn''t bear the blow and felt dizzy.


    "Mom!"


    Ma Jingdong arrived at the hospital just in time to see Liu Ying about to faint. He rushed forward and caught her.


    In Ma Jingdong''s arms, Liu Ying weakly said, "Jingdong, you must find out who did this."


    Ma Jingdong nodded, "Don''t worry!"


    Ma Wendong was wheeled into a high-class ward, and Liu Ying insisted on staying by his side at all times.


    Ma Tiancheng motioned for Ma Jingdong to follow him out of the ward, indicating that he had something to say.


    "Could it be that our move into real estate has angered someone? Did an enemy do this?" Ma Tiancheng rubbed his chin and asked, puzzled.


    Ma Jingdong thought for a moment and shook his head, "I''m not sure, but I was worried that someone might target our family, so I made some arrangements. Who could still make a move?"


    Ma Tiancheng frowned and said gravely, "Jingdong, no matter who it is, you must find out. Anyone who dares to harm the Ma family must not be spared!"


    Ma Jingdong sighed, "Dad, don''t worry. I''ll arrange the demolition work and start the investigation immediately. I won''t let Wendong suffer in vain."


    Satisfied with this answer, Ma Tiancheng finally relaxed and nodded, "Let''s go back inside."


    The two turned around, but before they could enter the ward, a wail came from inside!

 Huang Quan made it onto the assassination list

    "Wendong, what''s wrong with you? Don''t scare Mom!\" The wailing voice of Liu Ying could be heard from the ward. Ma Tiancheng''s heart tightened, and he staggered two steps before regaining his balance without the support of Ma Jingdong. He then swayed into the room.


    Ma Wendong was convulsing all over, his eyes rolling back. The electrocardiogram beside him showed an irregular rhythm. Shortly after, doctors entered the ward.


    "Quickly! Start emergency rescue immediately!"


    Ma Tiancheng stood nearby, his brows furrowed, palms sweaty, constantly glancing at the ongoing resuscitation efforts. Liu Ying sobbed uncontrollably, almost collapsing several times. Ma Jingdong sighed, wrinkles on his forehead deepening as he quietly left the room.


    He picked up his phone and dialed a number.


    "Hello! Ask your people to help me investigate something." After hanging up, the louder cries of Liu Ying inside made him extremely anxious. He made two more calls before feeling slightly reassured.


    When he re-entered the ward, he had the investigation results in hand. By this time, the emergency treatment had ended; Ma Wendong was out of danger but still unconscious. However, Liu Ying¡¯s tears continued unabated, and Ma Tiancheng sat nearby sighing incessantly.


    Ma Jingdong approached and whispered to Ma Tiancheng,


    "Dad! The investigation result is ready!


    Ma Tiancheng''s eyes flashed with light, gesturing for Ma Jingdong to follow him outside the ward.


    "Here is the report, Dad!" Ma Jingdong said, handing Ma Tiancheng a piece of paper listing suspects ranked from least to most likely responsible. At the top were four primary targets:


    They included the Zhao family, long-time rivals of their clan; Hengchuang Real Estate, tenth-ranked in the industry; Da Dong Ge, a notorious local gang leader; and Ning Cheng, one of the Four Young Masters of Longcheng.


    Ma Tiancheng narrowed his eyes and asked, ''Both Da Dong Ge and Ning Cheng are suspects?'' Ma Jingdong nodded solemnly and said, ''Wen Dong offended Da Dong Ge before, supposedly stealing his woman. Da Dong Ge once threatened to kill Wen Dong.'' As for Ning Cheng, he''s now an entrepreneur, but this guy fancies himself a justice crusader. He''s clashed with Wen Dong multiple times in public.'' Ma Tiancheng noticed Huang Quan''s name at the bottom and furrowed his brow, asking, ''Who is Huang Quan? How is he also a suspect?'' Ma Jingdong replied seriously, ''He''s Cao Tingting''s ex-boyfriend. Wen Dong stole his girlfriend and publicly humiliated him.'' However, he''s just a small character. Even if he hated Wen Dong, he couldn''t have caused much trouble, let alone silently eliminating Wen Dong.'' Ma Jingdong trailed off, clenching his fists in anger at the thought of Wen Dong being half-disabled. ''Dad! Rest assured, I won''t spare anyone on this list. Better to mistakenly kill a thousand than let one go.'' Deep down, Ma Jingdong was pleased at the prospect of succeeding his father. ''Very good! Jingdong, Dad is old. In the future, it''ll all depend on you. If you can handle this matter well, Dad will feel confident entrusting the family to you.'' At the same time, in Longcheng Grand Hotel. Huang Quan lay in bed holding an unopened invitation. There was no information on the envelope, and he wondered who would send him an invite in this city.''


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.The envelope was made of fine mesh paper, exuding a scholarly atmosphere, with gold leaf embedded all around it. Rich people! Huang Quan searched his mind but couldn''t think of anyone among his friends who was so artistic and wealthy. Just then, the phone bell suddenly rang.


    An unfamiliar number? Huang Quan muttered to himself and hung up decisively. Less than two minutes later, the phone rang again, still the same number, but this time with four eights at the end, making it look like a bomb number. He looked at the phone number and then at the invitation in his hand, feeling that there might be a connection between them. Huang Quan pressed the answer button, ''Hello!'' ''Benefactor, oh, young brother Huang Quan, you finally picked up!'' This voice was somewhat familiar to Huang Quan, but after searching his memory for a while, he couldn''t quite place it. He furrowed his brows slightly and asked, ''Who is this?'' ''Can''t you recognize my voice? It''s Tang family, the father of the ghost-driven young master, do you remember now?'' With such a clear introduction, Huang Quan instantly recalled the spoiled young man haunted by a female ghost.


    He smiled and said,


    "Of course I remember you, Mr. Tang!"


    Upon hearing the affirmative response, Old Man Tang''s heart was at ease. He chuckled and asked,


    "Young man, did you receive my invitation?"


    "The invitation to celebrate my son''s recovery.\" Huang Quan looked at the invitation in his hand and understandingly tugged at the corner of his mouth, saying,


    "Mr. Tang, I received it, but..."


    "There are no buts, young man. You must come. There will be many influential people there, and you can build some valuable connections. We, the Tang family, have decided to make friends with you. Don''t decline."


    Huang Quan hadn''t finished speaking when Old Man Tang preemptively continued, urging him. Huang Quan pursed his lips. It was true that he now had money, but he lacked power and connections. If he wanted to help ghosts fulfill their attachments in the future, he would need extensive networks, like how he had found Yang Xue through Officer Liu. He nodded and replied,


    "Alright then, I''ll definitely be there on time."


    Old Man Tang seemed very pleased, already laughing heartily over the phone. After hanging up, Huang Quan opened the invitation and saw that the date was imminent¡ªit was tomorrow night.


    The entire city was bustling that evening. The city''s largest assassination organization, Blood Kill Network, announced a bounty hunting task, igniting excitement among every assassin. The target list included both business tycoons and gang leaders, with exceedingly generous rewards. Blood Kill Network hadn''t been this lively for a while.


    Hey! Listen up, I''m not giving up on anyone on this list. I''m just waiting for my cut!


    You keep dreaming! Have you even looked at who''s on it? The Zhao family, Hengchuang Real Estate, and Big Dong. Can you handle them all by yourself?


    Hold on, does anyone know who this last person is?


    Huang Quan? Never heard of him. How could such a small fry belong with these big shots?


    I''m curious now! Huang Quan is mine, don''t try to take him down before me.

 A dogs view belittles people

    The largest five-star hotel in Longcheng, InterContinental Hotel. Luxury cars gathered, afraid that all the officials and nobles in the city have gathered here, just to attend the rehabilitation banquet of Young Master Tang, Tang Ming. It can be said that this is the most grand banquet at the InterContinental Hotel in recent years. Even the hall manager came to the hotel entrance in person to receive guests of honor from all over the place.


    Huang Quan rode his motorcycle all the way to the hotel entrance. The "putt putt" sound of the motorcycle drew the attention of everyone present. With such a big scene today, the Tang family has almost booked the entire InterContinental Hotel. Reasonably speaking, those who come should all be riding in luxury cars. How could there still be people on motorcycles?


    The hall manager furrowed his brows slightly and said irritably to the security guard standing beside him, "Didn''t I tell you to clear the area? What''s going on here?"


    The security guards were also taken aback. They had set up barriers three kilometers away, so how did someone slip through unnoticed?


    The hall manager hurried over to Huang Quan with small steps and waved his hand dismissively like shooing a fly.


    "Go away! Our hotel isn''t serving individual customers today. If you want to eat, go somewhere else."


    Huang Quan got off the motorcycle and smiled as he said I am here to attend Young Master Tang Ming''s rehabilitation dinner


    The lobby manager was taken aback and looked Huang Quan up and down then glanced at the motorcycle behind him with a dismissive expression and said You are here to attend the banquet


    Huang Quan nodded and took out a wrinkled invitation from his pocket and handed it to the lobby manager


    Sorry for riding a motorcycle the invitation got a bit wrinkled in my pocket


    He spoke apologetically but his expression showed no change still remaining calm


    The lobby manager took the invitation and checked it several times flipping it over and over it did not look like a forgery


    However he again sized up Huang Quan from head to toe wearing a worn-out tracksuit and riding a beaten-up motorcycle he seemed nothing like Master Tang''s distinguished guest


    Could this invitation have been stolen by him


    Sir may I trouble you to show your ID I need to verify the information


    The lobby manager said coldly


    Huang Quan frowned No one told me I had to bring my ID to attend the banquet I didn¡¯t bring it


    As soon as he said this the lobby manager became even more convinced of his judgment the invitation must have been stolen by this kid


    At this moment another luxury car pulled up at the hotel entrance and a bearded man got out of the car


    The security guard saw the person and quickly walked over to the man bowing and saying Mr Hu you¡¯re here please come in


    The man handed the invitation to the security guard and strode into the hotel


    Huang Quan pointed at the man with the beard and said Why don¡¯t you verify his identity


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    The security guard glanced at Huang Quan with disdain and sneered That¡¯s Mr. Hu he¡¯s the biggest oil merchant in the city his face is his ID


    What are you to compare with Mr. Hu Pah You¡¯re not worthy


    Huang Quan laughed it¡¯s true there are people with dog eyes everywhere looking down on others


    Then do you think my invitation is fake


    Huang Quan pointed at the invitation and puffed out his chest


    The lobby manager secretly cursed what a show off it¡¯s a waste of breath he said bluntly The invitation is real but whether it¡¯s yours I can¡¯t say


    Huang Quan was speechless what does it mean to judge by appearance he certainly witnessed it today having no ID still doesn¡¯t prove that I am who I am


    He disdainfully chose not to argue with these people if not then he could only leave


    Anyway, he didn''t really want to come; he didn''t like such a noisy scene.


    Huang Quan smiled coldly, shook his head, and was about to ride away on his motorcycle when a familiar figure walked out of the hall. It was the butler of the Tang family.


    When the butler saw the motorcycle, which was the one that Old Master Tang had given to Huang Quan, he hurriedly ran over to Huang Quan, his face full of smiles.


    "Young Master Huang has arrived! Why aren''t you going in? Be careful of catching a cold out here!"


    Huang Quan smiled and said, "You can ask them!"


    He pointed to the lobby manager, looking indifferent, but his tone was somewhat cold.


    The butler quickly turned to look at the lobby manager, who was taken aback and stammered, "Is this really a guest invited by Old Master Tang?"


    With his attitude and implications, the butler instantly understood about eight or nine points of the situation.


    He spoke seriously and clearly, "What do you mean by guest? This gentleman is our Tang family''s savior! Are you just going to block him at the door?"


    Savior?


    Upon hearing this term, the lobby manager''s legs felt a bit weak. Cold sweat immediately broke out on his face as an unnatural smile crept onto his lips.


    "Master Huang, please come in!"


    Huang Quan raised an eyebrow but was not angry, walking into the hall.


    The lobby manager behind him wiped the sweat off his brow, thinking he had just passed this hurdle.


    Huang Quan walked into the hall without looking back, but he knew the butler was right behind him and directly said, "Butler, how will the lobby manager deal with this?"


    The butler smiled and said, "If the Tang family intervenes, he might get a three-month salary deduction? And also lose his bonus!"


    Huang Quan pondered for a moment, "No wonder the Intercontinental Hotel''s service is so poor. Even when the Tang family intervenes, the punishment is still so light?"


    The butler smiled awkwardly, knowing this had a double meaning.


    "What does Young Master Huang think should be the punishment?"


    Huang Quan still wore a smile, completely unaware of what he was really thinking inside.


    "If I were the owner of the Intercontinental Hotel, I would definitely fire someone who insulted God."


    Fire him?


    The butler felt a chill down his spine. The last time at the Tang family, he had also spoken disrespectfully to Huang Quan, yet he had not let Old Master Tang fire him. What a close call!


    "If the butler thinks the Tang family doesn''t have this ability, then let''s forget what I said, and we can just go in."


    Seeing that the butler did not respond for a long time, Huang Quan added.


    The butler quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead and immediately put on a flattering smile, "What is Young Master Huang saying? You are a benefactor of the Tang family. Whatever you say goes!"


    Saying this, the butler waved, and someone came over. The butler instructed a few words, and that person turned to leave, constantly sizing up Huang Quan as he did.


    This person was dressed similarly to Huang Quan. What background does he have that even the usually aloof butler would be so obedient?


    Huang Quan entered through the main door of the hall, radiating authority, while the butler behind him lowered his head and bowed, clearly fearful.


    Several small business owners who had arrived early saw this scene and whispered to each other.


    "Who is this person? Why did the Tang family''s butler come to greet him in person?"


    "I heard the Fourth Young Master of Longcheng also returned to attend the banquet today. With this kind of aura, he must be one of the Fourth Young Masters, no doubt about it!"


    "Then we must welcome him properly and perform well. Maybe we can get on good terms with them."


    In an instant, the area in front of the hall automatically formed two lines, each person holding a glass of wine, all raising their glasses in unison!

 Oh, isnt this Huang Quan?

    Huang Quan walked into the hall and saw two neat rows of people in the middle, each holding a wine glass.


    Upon seeing Huang Quan, they immediately raised their glasses and shouted loudly, "Welcome, young master!"


    Huang Quan was slightly taken aback and asked the butler, "Is this arranged by Old Master Tang?"


    The butler revealed an awkward expression and chuckled, quickly following up on Huang Quan''s words, "Yes, yes, yes, it was arranged by the master."


    "The master said he couldn''t come to welcome Young Master Huang personally, which he feels very sorry about, so he specially arranged this welcoming ceremony. Do you like it?"


    Huang Quan pulled at the muscles on his face; he had never liked such high-profile events. This kind of welcoming ceremony made him feel a bit uncomfortable.


    However, before Huang Quan could express his thoughts, the group of people holding wine glasses surged forward and surrounded him in the middle.


    "Young master, which young master are you? Young Master Ning? No, no, doesn''t look quite right, who could that be?"


    "Ah, young master, with such impressive looks, you must be the renowned Young Master Yang."


    Huang Quan looked through the gaps in the crowd at the butler and saw him smiling and nodding.


    He had no idea where these people came from, but knowing Huang Quan''s vengeful nature, if he felt wronged by Old Master not coming to greet him, the butler would surely be reprimanded.


    If that were the case, it might be better to go along with it; after all, no matter where these people emerged from, if they could make Huang Quan happy and let him know Old Master''s intentions, the butler would feel relieved.


    With a smile, the butler glanced at Huang Quan, confirming that he was being well looked after by these people, then walked away with his hands behind his back!


    The group continued to toast Huang Quan, and in a short while, he had already downed four or five cups.


    The lively crowd caught the attention of two people nearby.


    These two were Ma Tiancheng and Ma Jingdong.


    "Dad! Why does that person being surrounded look so familiar to me?"


    Ma Jingdong frowned, his eyes fixed on Huang Quan.


    Ma Tiancheng followed his gaze, nodded slightly, saying, "I think he looks a bit familiar too, where have we seen him?"


    Ma Jingdong pondered for a moment and suddenly realized, "Dad! Isn''t that Huang Quan? The last person who might have targeted Wendong, the one with the photo, right?"


    Ma Tiancheng looked closely and indeed confirmed, nodding his head, "Isn¡¯t he an obscure nobody? What are these small bosses doing here?"


    Hearing this, Ma Jingdong frowned and said, "Seems like they mistook him for one of the four great young masters?"


    "Pfft! How dare he compare himself to the four great young masters? He should take a look in the mirror to see what he¡¯s really like!"


    A look of disdain flashed in Ma Jingdong''s eyes. He waved to a small entrepreneur nearby who was attached to the Ma family, who ran over eagerly.


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    "Second young master, is there anything you need?"


    Ma Jingdong lowered his head and whispered a few words to the small entrepreneur. The small entrepreneur¡¯s eyes lit up with joy, nodding vigorously, then rushed toward the crowd.


    "Hey! Isn¡¯t that Huang Quan?"


    That person walked into the crowd without even glancing at Huang Quan and spoke casually.


    The small entrepreneurs exchanged glances, wondering who Huang Quan was and what kind of person he was.


    They turned to look at that person, who was pointing directly at Huang Quan and saying, "Hey! I thought I recognized you wrong!"


    "Don¡¯t know me anymore? Last time at the Ma family''s banquet, weren¡¯t you the one who got kicked out for cheating and drinking?"


    "What? This time you snuck in and no one chased you away?"


    Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Huang Quan, realizing that the butler standing beside him earlier was not just flattering him but was actually trying to drive him away.


    No wonder the butler''s expression was so complicated; this guy really had thick skin!


    Huang Quan took a careful look at the person in front of him; he had no impression of him.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Huang Quan said lightly.


    "You, of course, don''t know me, but I certainly remember you, after all, in a lifetime, it''s not every day that one gets to meet someone so shameless."


    The man spoke with vivid detail, and the surrounding small bosses, upon hearing this, hurriedly waved their hands and dispersed, seemingly realizing they had mistaken the person.


    Huang Quan was baffled: ¡°Sir, are you mistaking me for someone else? I¡¯ve never seen you, nor have I attended that banquet you mentioned!¡±


    Seeing that the small bosses were not making it difficult for Huang Quan and were just leaving, the man continued his performance.


    With no audience left, it became rather boring.


    ¡°Really? You look just like the Huang Quan I know!¡±


    After saying this, the man turned and left without even apologizing to Huang Quan.


    However, Huang Quan was quite pleased to have some peace; he had just been surrounded by people and forced to drink, and now he felt the surrounding air was clearer.


    It was nice now that the crowd had dispersed and the air was much fresher; this guy had unintentionally done him a favor!


    Huang Quan went to a corner of the banquet hall and picked up a few pieces of dessert to eat.


    He was inherently quiet, and the banquet was noisy; the center of the hall was particularly rowdy, while this corner was somewhat quieter.


    At that moment, there was another wave of commotion in the hall.


    Huang Quan turned his gaze towards the sound. The few people who had just surrounded him were now surrounding a young man. Although he looked young, he navigated through the crowd with ease.


    As one commotion settled, another started again with yet another young man being welcomed in the same way.


    The noise continued for four rounds before it finally quieted down.


    At this point, in the banquet hall, a person holding a microphone announced loudly, ¡°Let¡¯s give a warm round of applause to the Four Young Masters!¡±


    Suddenly, applause erupted from the audience, those who had just welcomed them clapping enthusiastically!


    Four Young Masters? What a deal?


    Huang Quan thought to himself; no one received this treatment, why were these four people introduced specifically?


    He became curious about these four and used his Insight Technique to observe their fortunes.


    The voice on the microphone sounded again, and the person smiled and said, ¡°First, let¡¯s invite the refined Young Master Yang!¡±


    The first young man to enter walked into the hall. Huang Quan looked up and saw that the Four Young Masters indeed looked different. This man¡¯s fortune radiated a faint golden light amidst the yellow, indicating he was a promising young talent!


    Huang Quan nodded; this man¡¯s fortune was even better than the previous one. The golden light was not just faint but leaned slightly towards orange, suggesting that this person¡¯s achievements were likely higher than the last.


    ¡°Let¡¯s warmly welcome the kind and trustworthy Young Master Ning!¡±


    This was interesting; Huang Quan couldn''t help but want to give a thumbs up when looking at the light above Ning''s head.


    Aside from the orange-golden light, there was also a shimmering brightness, indicating that this person not only had remarkable achievements but was also charitable, a good person!


    ¡°Now, we invite the successful entrepreneur Young Master Wang!¡±


    Huang Quan observed the light above his head carefully; a reddish-golden glow appeared. He had never seen this color in the fortunes he had encountered before.


    He must have an even more outstanding side compared to the other young masters, but Huang Quan wasn¡¯t quite certain yet.


    ¡°Finally, let¡¯s give a warm round of applause and welcome Old Master Tang to the stage!¡±


    Huang Quan''s Insight Technique had not retracted, and he looked up to see the fortune above Old Master Tang¡¯s head, his eyes widening and his mouth slightly agape!

 It turned out to be a thief

    Huang Quan was taken aback; Tang Lao Ye''s aura was also a light yellow, with a golden hue leaning towards orange.


    Compared to the Fourth Young Master, Tang Lao Ye has lived a good half of his life longer, yet the color of his aura was surprisingly similar to that of the Fourth Young Master, and even couldn''t compare to Ning Gongzi and Wang Gongzi.


    This shows that the Fourth Young Master''s standing should not be underestimated!


    Tang Lao Ye walked to the center of the hall, smiling as he picked up the microphone.


    "Today, I¡¯m very happy that everyone took time out of their busy schedules to attend my son¡¯s recovery banquet. Here, I would like to say a few words to everyone."


    Tang Lao Ye was in a good mood, speaking loudly and clearly, as everyone listened intently, their eyes fixed on him.


    However, Huang Quan was quite casual, looking around as he used the Qi Observation Technique to see which pastries had good luck energy, preparing to have a good feast.


    He reached out to grab a piece of mango mousse: "This one looks good, entirely yellow, seems like good luck is coming!"


    Huang Quan tried to avoid crowded places, but he was the only one wandering around, making it easy for Tang Lao Ye to spot him.


    "Ladies and gentlemen,


    "Everyone knows that not long ago, my son encountered some unfortunate events, and thanks to him, my son was saved from the gates of hell."


    "My family and I are grateful to him, Huang Quan, Brother Huang!"


    Tang Lao Ye raised his hand, pointing to Huang Quan''s location. The guests all turned their heads to look at Huang Quan.


    At that moment, Huang Quan was stuffing a piece of mango cake into his mouth, only managing to get half in. He didn¡¯t know whether to swallow it whole or take it out; it was rather awkward!


    Tang Lao Ye found this very genuine and quite endearing. His smile widened as he quietly watched Huang Quan.


    Ultimately, Huang Quan shoved the cake in his mouth, chewed a few times casually, and swallowed it down. His face returned to calmness as he smiled back at everyone present.


    His actions sparked whispers among the guests!


    "I think this kid is really too rude. Old Tang is giving him a grand introduction and he¡¯s out here searching for food!"


    "Exactly! Just at a glance, it''s clear he doesn¡¯t belong in high society. Everyone noticed him, and he actually swallowed the food in his mouth."


    "Such a disgrace! How could such an ordinary person possibly be a ghost master? Maybe he would scare himself to death if he saw a ghost!"


    "Could it be that Old Tang was mistaken and misidentified his benefactor?"


    The guests were full of doubts about Huang Quan, and their gazes were filled with disdain.


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    Suddenly, a person stepped out of the crowd, dressed in Daoist robes and holding a whisk, approaching Huang Quan to examine him closely.


    "Young friend, there are many Daoists in this world that I have encountered, and since you¡¯re so capable, how come I¡¯ve never heard of you before?"


    "Even at our Daoist exchanges, you¡¯ve never attended."


    Huang Quan smiled and looked at the Daoist, casually saying, "I¡¯m not a Daoist, so I naturally wouldn¡¯t attend any Daoist gatherings."


    "Oh? If you¡¯re not a Daoist and you don¡¯t seem like a Buddhist disciple, then what are you?"


    The Daoist waved his whisk and raised an eyebrow.


    Huang Quan nodded: "Indeed, I¡¯m not a Buddhist disciple; I¡¯m just an ordinary person who happens to know a little about the way of ghosts and gods!"


    The Daoist looked him up and down, taking a thorough look before saying, "I¡¯ve grown up in a Daoist temple since I was a child, and I¡¯ve never heard of an ordinary person who can exorcise ghosts!"


    "Especially those that so many professional Daoists cannot handle!"


    The Daoist had long heard of Huang Quan''s deeds and genuinely did not believe him.


    Huang Quan remained unfazed, stating, "Maybe it''s just a coincidence!"


    He looked down on explaining to the Taoist, these people claimed to be extraordinary and saints, yet they didn¡¯t have the basic tolerance to accept others. Huang Quan sighed, this must be a loss for Dao!


    Huang Quan showed some impatience, but the Taoist seemed oblivious and continued speaking confidently.


    "My young friend, so you admit it, you are simply coveting the achievements of others?"


    Huang Quan didn¡¯t want to respond to the Taoist, only smiled without answering.


    At that moment, someone stepped forward, the young boss who had questioned him earlier, approached the Taoist and said, "I heard that when Prince Tang was exorcising ghosts at that time, a Taoist was invited."


    "This kid somehow managed to mix in."


    "And when the Taoist finished exorcising the ghosts, this kid took the credit from the Taoist."


    The corner of the Taoist''s mouth curled slightly upwards, revealing a contemptuous smile as he said, "I see! So he¡¯s a thief!"


    Of course, the young boss didn¡¯t know the inside story, it was Ma Jingdong who had quietly informed him, making Huang Quan uncomfortable in front of everyone.


    Huang Quan neither admitted nor denied it; he simply didn¡¯t want to engage with this group of low-level individuals. This was ineffective networking.


    After a pause, the young boss, with a smug look, said, "Indeed, we are all businessmen, and the thing we dislike the most is this kind of theft."


    Old Tang on the stage, although unable to hear, threw down the microphone, stopped speaking, and walked directly towards where Huang Quan was.


    However, Huang Quan didn¡¯t care at all, letting them blabber; he chuckled coldly.


    "I just said, I merely happened to be at the right place at the right time. At my age, it¡¯s indeed impossible to compare with you experienced ones."


    After saying that, Huang Quan said no more and turned to leave.


    The Taoist and the young boss were still feeling pleased with themselves, thinking they could make a big deal out of Huang Quan not denying it.


    But upon reflection, Huang Quan was mocking both of them, implying they were the real petty thieves.


    However, at this moment, trying to argue with Huang Quan was futile, as he had already blended into the crowd and disappeared.


    Old Tang hadn¡¯t reached Huang Quan yet. Seeing him turn to leave, he thought it must have been resolved.


    This young man is truly remarkable, constantly misunderstood, yet always able to resolve things with an aloofness that is extraordinary. He is a fascinating person!


    After Huang Quan left, he thought about simply greeting Old Huang and leaving.


    Unexpectedly, he noticed a woman among Old Tang''s group, which made Huang Quan slow down and observe closely.


    It wasn¡¯t because the woman was fair-skinned and beautiful or had an outstanding demeanor.


    It was because the color of the fortune above her head was something Huang Quan had never seen before.


    If Prince Wang¡¯s reddish fortune was understandable, as yellow deepens and deepens, it turns red.


    But the fortune above this woman¡¯s head was clearly purple, directly bypassing red. What kind of extraordinary fortune was this! Huang Quan couldn''t imagine it at all.


    Surrounding her were the four young masters, who were now all gathered around this woman.


    She originally followed Old Tang and his group but was stopped in her tracks by the four young masters.


    No wonder they invited the four young masters to a recovery banquet; it seemed they were all here for this woman.


    Huang Quan thought secretly.


    His gaze was fixed on the woman, but he didn¡¯t notice that a group was approaching him.

 Put on airs

    "Fei''er, come and thank your savior!"


    Huang Quan was interrupted by the voice of Tang Laoye, pulling his gaze away from the woman and looking at Tang Laoye instead.


    He smiled and glanced at the man next to Tang Laoye, who was none other than Tang Ming.


    At that time, when he helped Tang Ming exorcise a ghost, he had been so haunted that his face turned pale, and his lips were purple; he hardly looked like a person.


    Now, he indeed looked like a handsome young man.


    Tang Ming also smiled and nodded slightly, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Huang, for saving my life!"


    His voice was calm, and although he expressed gratitude, his tone was icy.


    Huang Quan didn¡¯t care about his attitude, nor did he really mind whether he received thanks. He had his own motives for saving people, and being thanked repeatedly made him feel extremely uncomfortable.


    Tang Laoye, however, was as enthusiastic as ever. He stepped forward and grabbed Huang Quan''s arm, saying, "Little brother, come this way; everyone here is doing business with my Tang family. Let me introduce you!"


    Before Huang Quan could respond, Tang Laoye was already pulling him along to the side.


    "Little brother! This is Mr. Qian, a giant in real estate; our family has a close relationship with him!"


    "And this, this is Mr. Ming, who works in the communications industry. The telecommunications and electricity in Longcheng are all his family''s businesses."


    "And there''s more!"


    Tang Laoye enthusiastically expanded his network while Huang Quan maintained his professional fake smile. Since the elder was so warm towards him, he felt he couldn''t refuse Tang Laoye¡¯s goodwill.


    However, to be honest, Huang Quan looked down on all these people. They were nothing more than a group of ordinary folks with mediocre luck who follow the crowd.


    If anything piqued Huang Quan''s curiosity, it was that woman. Given the chance, he wanted to study her and see just who she was.


    He was about to ask Tang Laoye to introduce him to that woman when two people approached from the side.


    These two people had flattering smiles as they saw Tang Laoye.


    Tang Laoye also noticed them, feeling a chill in his heart. Weren''t these the Ma family father and son?


    He turned to look at Huang Quan, who appeared to have no particular expression on his face.


    After Huang Quan had a run-in with Ma Wendong at the traffic police station last time, Tang Laoye had specifically instructed someone to investigate the relationship between these two.


    He knew there were some past grievances between them, stemming from Ma Wendong stealing Huang Quan''s girlfriend.


    However, the young people nowadays emphasize the importance of good farewells, and there was no need to give up opportunities to expand their networks over one woman.


    Tang Laoye held onto Huang Quan without any intention of letting go, greeting the Ma father and son, "Isn''t this Tian Cheng and Jing Dong?"


    "Yes, they are Ma Tiancheng and Ma Jingdong. You might not be familiar with them; their family is in the freight shipping business and seems to be venturing into real estate lately!"


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    Huang Quan indeed hadn¡¯t heard of Ma Tiancheng, but he had heard of Ma Jingdong.


    Last time at the traffic police station, Ma Wendong had personally said that his second brother was named Ma Jingdong and that their family was in freight shipping¡ªtalk about narrow paths crossing!


    Tang Laoye saw the smile on Huang Quan¡¯s face hadn¡¯t faded and quickly tried to smooth things over.


    "Huang, I know you have a bit of a misunderstanding with their family¡¯s younger son. Today, I am here to play the mediator; having more friends is better than having more enemies."


    "You two are considered acquainted now. Tian Cheng, if you spend some time with little Huang, you¡¯ll know that he is quite a formidable person."


    Ma Tiancheng''s smile was somewhat stiff, his cheeks twitching, and he didn¡¯t say anything.


    Ma Jingdong quickly smiled and said, "Grandpa Tang, what are you talking about? The matter between Wendong and Brother Huang is just about a woman."


    "You know how young people are; it¡¯ll pass in a while. What misunderstandings can we have?"


    Tang Laoye nodded, "Alright! Since Jing Dong has said that, then you two should get to know each other better."


    Let me know if you need any further modifications or help!


    He turned to Huang Quan and said: ¡°Huang, I¡¯ll go entertain the other guests; you and the Ma family father and son can explain things well. Harmony brings wealth, understand?¡±


    Old Tang patted Huang Quan on the shoulder and left with his attendants.


    Huang Quan watched Old Tang¡¯s figure, the corners of his mouth curling up into a pleasing arc. He was calculating in his heart that with the old man gone, he could slip away.


    Just as he raised his leg to leave, a voice stopped him from behind.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? Old Tang asked Brother Huang to communicate with us two, and you just leave like this?¡±


    The speaker was Ma Jingdong, and his voice revealed his complete disdain for Huang Quan.


    Huang Quan¡¯s outstretched foot dropped again as he turned to look at the Ma father and son. He truly didn¡¯t know what to say to them.


    Seeing he wasn¡¯t speaking, Ma Jingdong continued, ¡°However, I find it quite unexpected to see you here today. I thought you were already six feet under!¡±


    Huang Quan frowned. Even if he had some grudges with Ma Wendong, he shouldn¡¯t just come out and curse someone to death, right?


    Ma Jingdong was indeed puzzled; logically speaking, those killers should start with the weakest first. This Huang Quan was clearly the most inconspicuous one on that list; why had no one killed him yet?


    Ma Jingdong scrutinized Huang Quan again. Apart from being somewhat handsome, he didn¡¯t seem particularly special.


    ¡°Little brother, I wonder if you¡¯ve had any contact with Cao Tingting recently?¡±


    Ma Jingdong sought to inquire indirectly about whether it was Huang Quan who had taken action.


    Huang Quan shook his head, a hint of sadness in his eyes: ¡°Not anymore! Ever since your young master got together with her, I haven¡¯t seen her!¡±


    ¡°Well, what about Wendong? Have you seen him recently?¡± Ma Jingdong asked persistently.


    Huang Quan thought for a moment, nodded, then shook his head.


    Ma Jingdong was somewhat puzzled: ¡°So did you see him or not?¡±


    Huang Quan sighed and said, ¡°Yes, I have seen him a few times, but each time he was looking for trouble. You all know my family background isn''t as good as yours; when I see Ma Wendong, I can only take a detour.¡±


    His eyes were filled with sincerity, and Ma Jingdong couldn¡¯t detect even a hint of deceit.


    ¡°Then the night before last, did you see him?¡±


    Huang Quan slightly pouted in grievance: ¡°I did! But he insulted me, and I took the opportunity to run away while he wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡±


    ¡°He even said he¡¯d make me pay! I haven¡¯t been able to sleep for days, but strangely, I haven¡¯t seen Ma Wendong since that day.¡±


    Ma Jingdong sighed, a bitter feeling surging in his heart.


    He stared intensely into Huang Quan''s eyes; the kid¡¯s gaze was clear, and aside from showing a hint of fear and grievance when talking about Ma Wendong, there was nothing else to see.


    Could it be that he was overthinking it?


    Seeing Ma Jingdong no longer so aggressive, Huang Quan¡¯s mouth slightly twitched up, revealing a smug smile.


    Ma Jingdong withdrew his gaze, awkwardly chuckling, and said, ¡°Since Old Tang has made the connection for us, why don¡¯t we collaborate a bit?¡±


    ¡°Coincidentally, the Ma family wants to venture into real estate. You''re so capable; you can drive away ghosts, so you must understand feng shui, right? How about taking a look at our real estate¡¯s feng shui?¡±


    Ma Jingdong wanted to learn more about Huang Quan and see if he was really the one who had pulled tricks on Ma Wendong. The most direct way was to keep him by his side.


    Huang Quan pondered for a moment and said lightly, ¡°Mr. Ma, I haven¡¯t considered entering the feng shui industry yet; you may want to consult someone more experienced!¡±


    Ma Jingdong stood there, caught between laughter and tears. On the surface, Huang Quan appeared calm and sincere, but he gave off an invisible pressure.


    Especially his glasses; Ma Jingdong looked at them and felt there was another world inside.


    ¡°Ahem! How about this? We hired a feng shui master at the time, but we don¡¯t know his level at all?¡±


    ¡°Can you help us take a look?¡±

 Youre insulting me.

    Huang Quan spoke very clearly, but Ma Jingdong still would not give up.


    He always felt that this young man had a demeanor that did not match his age, mature beyond his years, and it was not just a simple case of being cuckolded.


    He thought he had underestimated Huang Quan before; this person absolutely could not be ruled out, and he was even more suspicious than others. He understood how to drive away ghosts and must know how to summon them; it was very likely he was involved in that incident.


    As if afraid Huang Quan would refuse him again, Ma Jingdong turned to leave before Huang Quan could respond.


    Not long after, a sharply dressed man appeared beside him. This man looked righteous, with a square face, thick brows, and large eyes, unlike the Taoist he had seen before.


    However, in Huang Quan''s eyes, the man''s fortune was not impressive at all; it was hardly even a light yellow, let alone golden light.


    It appeared to be a kind of translucent white, almost imperceptible, with a hint of yellow. Could a person like this be called a master? Surely this was a scam!


    Ma Jingdong approached, a smile plastered on his face, no longer holding himself aloof as before.


    "Master Qu, this is the young brother I mentioned to you, Huang Quan."


    The man referred to as Master Qu stared at Huang Quan for a long time; he had noticed this young man when Mr. Tang introduced him earlier.


    Later, when he was questioned by a Taoist, Master Qu had remained a cold observer throughout.


    Now that Huang Quan stood before him, this was their first direct encounter, so naturally, he would look him over a bit more.


    Huang Quan had a delicately handsome face with deep-set features, giving off a fresh and clean impression, but his eyes seemed to carry the weight of countless experiences, making him hard to read.


    Master Qu gazed at Huang Quan for a while, his face breaking into a faint smile as he replied with a noncommittal ¡°hm¡± and did not continue with Ma Jingdong''s conversation.


    Ma Jingdong, however, felt no embarrassment at all; instead, he secretly smiled. This was the effect he wanted; he had invited a master to come and should establish his superiority over Huang Quan.


    "Master Qu, this young brother is no simple character; he is the life-saver Mr. Tang spoke of just now. You mentioned that my land has good feng shui; I would like him to take a look as well.¡±


    Master Qu smiled and said to Ma Jingdong, ¡°Young Master Ma, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can find a feng shui master to verify my assessment.¡±


    ¡°Bringing in someone like that is simply insulting my expertise.¡±


    Huang Quan laughed when he heard that; he was the one being insulted by comparison.


    However, he merely smiled without saying anything.


    Ma Jingdong quickly apologized with a smile, ¡°No, no, no, Master Qu, I didn''t mean to insult you. It¡¯s just that Mr. Tang spoke so highly of you, and I¡¯m also curious.¡±


    ¡°And besides, he is someone who saved Young Master Tang. He can¡¯t be a fool, right!¡±


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    Master Qu squinted at Huang Quan, scrutinizing him up and down: ¡°For us feng shui practitioners, we can tell how much someone understands just from their gaze.¡±


    ¡°This kid certainly has something in his eyes that doesn¡¯t match his age, but those things are too immature.¡±


    ¡°If he were to help you take a look, even if he were to come up with something flowery, he would absolutely not be able to identify the key points, so I say you are insulting me.¡±


    Ma Jingdong seemed to suddenly realize and nodded, ¡°Master, you are right. This young brother clearly seems inexperienced; it would probably be pointless to say anything.¡±


    Huang Quan sneered inwardly; the two of them played off each other quite well.


    He disdainfully decided not to waste his breath on these people and wanted to use the tactic of ¡°self-deprecation¡± to end the conversation.


    ¡°Yeah! You are a master who can tell everything just by looking, especially righteous; you must be exceptional at feng shui. Whatever family''s ancestral tombs you look at, you can definitely benefit their descendants. How could I compare to you?¡±


    ¡°I just happened to know that ghost, and when I beckoned, she came with me. Oh no, perhaps those previous masters already left her dazed and confused; I was merely picking up the scraps, just picking up the scraps!¡±


    Master Qu was different from the previous Taoist; upon hearing this, he understood it was a jab at him and said unhappily:


    ¡°Little brother, your words are sharp. If you understand some of the supernatural, let¡¯s have a contest.¡±


    Huang Quan shook his head vigorously, saying, ¡°That won¡¯t do, I can¡¯t compete with you, I can¡¯t compete with you!¡±


    Little brother, are you looking down on me? Master Qu raised an eyebrow and asked.


    Huang Quan really was looking down on him; competing with someone so oblivious was simply a waste of time.


    He didn''t speak, basically acknowledging it without words.


    Master Qu was usually surrounded by admirers, having never met someone this blind to reality, which left him feeling somewhat displeased.


    "Since you look down on me, today I¡¯ll show a little of my skill so you can see what kind of person is worthy of being called a master."


    After he finished, he didn¡¯t wait for Huang Quan to respond and continued looking at Huang Quan¡¯s face, saying, "From your appearance, you''ve always worked in a small company."


    "Your financial fortune isn¡¯t particularly good, but recently you made a small profit, and now you''re quitting your job?"


    As he spoke, he sighed, "People like you are so unsteady; how could you accomplish anything substantial?"


    Suddenly, Master Qu¡¯s eyes lit up as he pointed at Huang Quan and said, "Just look at you; you make a little money and immediately go splurging like a prodigal."


    Huang Quan originally didn¡¯t want to waste words with him, but the more he listened, the more intrigued he became.


    What this master was saying was indeed related to some recent events in his life.


    He leaned forward with interest and feigned mystery, saying, "So master, can you tell that I¡¯ve been dumped recently?"


    Master Qu immediately followed along with him, "I was just going to say, is your romantic fortune not going well? That¡¯s tied to your financial fortune."


    Huang Quan chuckled and said, "Wow! Master, you¡¯re really accurate. Can you tell who dumped me?"


    Master Qu was momentarily speechless, "As a proper feng shui master, I can only see your fortune; I''m not a charlatan who can tell who dumped you."


    He didn¡¯t know the underlying enmity, but Ma Jingdong beside him felt a bit flushed; Huang Quan was clearly hinting at their family.


    Huang Quan coldly smiled; this was interesting. This master was foolish but in a special way, instantly piquing his playful spirit.


    He looked at the luck above Master Qu''s head; some black was subtly showing in the white. He smiled and said, "Master Qu, is work not going well recently?"


    Master Qu was taken aback but quickly returned a smile, "But I¡¯ve taken on a case for the Ma family; how can I say work isn¡¯t going well?"


    Huang Quan ignored him and continued, "Is it that a certain big estate was selected, but they said it was haunted? And you had to refund them?"


    Master Qu swallowed nervously, feigning calmness, "That¡¯s not true; I¡¯ve resolved that matter quickly."


    Huang Quan laughed; with such mental fortitude, he still claimed to be a feng shui master? He''d only said a few words, and already Master Qu was stammering.


    He sighed and said, "I see from your face that you¡¯re about to experience the disaster of balding."


    "What?"


    Master Qu was startled, "I¡¯m about to experience balding?"


    Before he could finish, a child jumped and was eating cake, but slipped, causing the cake to fly and land directly on Master Qu''s head.


    The child''s parent hurried over to apologize, saying sorry while trying to wipe Master Qu¡¯s hair.


    But unexpectedly, after wiping a couple of times, Master Qu¡¯s wig fell off, revealing a bald head!


    So this is what balding meant!


    Master Qu hurriedly put the wig back on and scurried towards the bathroom.


    Beside him, Ma Tiancheng looked at Huang Quan, the corners of his mouth curving into a strange smile.

 The Goddess of Good Fortune Gets Taken Down a Peg

    Ma Tiancheng approached Ma Jingdong and whispered to him, "We must find a way to investigate this person¡¯s background. I feel that Wen Dong''s matter is definitely connected to him."


    Among those present, only Ma Tiancheng was perceptive enough to see that Huang Quan was definitely not an ordinary person.


    Ma Jingdong looked up in surprise and nodded, indicating to keep it quiet.


    At that moment, the Master Qu, who had gone to the restroom, returned once again.


    However, this time he didn¡¯t come back with such an arrogant attitude. He respectfully said to Huang Quan, "Brother, where did you learn from? How did you see my recent situation?"


    Huang Quan waved his hand, indifferent, "I just guessed!"


    This time, Master Qu was absolutely not convinced that Huang Quan was just guessing, but in their line of work, some people were indeed reluctant to reveal the secrets behind their methods.


    He nodded knowingly, "Brother, you also know that I have been having some bad luck lately. This time, I don¡¯t know if the property I chose for the Ma family will work out."


    "If something goes wrong, I really can¡¯t afford to offend the Ma family."


    "How about this, you help me take a look, and if it works, I¡¯ll give you half."


    Master Qu made a "five" gesture with his hand.


    Huang Quan looked down, slightly shook his head, and made a "eight" gesture.


    Master Qu pouted, swallowed hard. He had done all the preliminary site selection and subsequent practices himself. This kid was just reviewing the final product.


    Giving this kid half was already quite a lot; did he really want to ask for more?


    Master Qu pretended to leave, and Huang Quan did not stop him.


    Halfway, Master Qu thought about it. He had indeed put in some effort, but lately, several of his cases were nearly falling apart. The Ma family was influential both above and below the surface; he really couldn''t afford to offend them.


    So he turned back, stood next to Ma Jingdong, and made a "six" gesture.


    Huang Quan raised an eyebrow and made a "seven" gesture.


    Master Qu gritted his teeth and stomped his foot, nodded in agreement. Deal!


    At that moment, the music in the venue started playing, and everyone walked towards the dance floor in the center.


    Huang Quan looked at the itinerary on the invitation and realized it was time for the ball to begin.


    He wasn¡¯t interested in dancing, and he didn¡¯t like crowds, so he took this opportunity to retreat to a corner.


    Along the way, he overheard everyone discussing.


    "Which of the Four Young Masters do you think Miss Kong Ru from the capital will choose to dance the opening dance with?"


    "Hard to say. Miss Kong Ru is a top socialite from the capital, with high standards. I really don¡¯t know who could catch her eye."


    "Speaking of which, our Four Young Masters aren¡¯t bad either! Several of them are quite young and have collaborated with the capital! I think only those invited by the Four Young Masters can be considered outstanding!"


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    "But Miss Kong definitely isn¡¯t an ordinary person. I remember last year a young man from the capital pursued her, and she didn¡¯t even give him a glance."


    Kong Ru?


    Is that the woman with particularly special luck?


    Huang Quan silently murmured in his heart. The mention of her made him a bit curious.


    Although he was in a corner, his eyes were still on the situation in the venue.


    Sure enough, the four young masters all extended olive branches to Kong Ru at the same time.


    Yet, Kong Ru rejected them one by one.


    She shook her head and said softly, "I¡¯m sorry, I already have a choice for the opening dance. You can find someone else!"


    The Four Young Masters exchanged glances; the four of them had different types and fields of expertise. Couldn¡¯t even one of them catch Kong Ru¡¯s interest?


    Kong Ru''s rejection sparked quiet discussions around them, as everyone speculated who this debutante from the capital would choose.


    Feeling embarrassed from being rejected, the four young masters all left the dance floor and returned to their seats.


    In the dance floor, everyone suddenly disappeared, and the scene became a bit awkward.


    Kong Ru had a smile on her lips, her eyes full of longing, as she walked towards the edge of the venue in her high heels, exuding a powerful aura.


    Everyone''s gaze followed her steps, looking towards the edge.


    Eventually, Kong Ru stopped in front of Huang Quan.


    Everyone was taken aback, and the voices of discussion surged one after another.


    "How can it be him? Such an inconspicuous person actually has the goddess''s favor?"


    "It seems he is the one mentioned by Old Master Tang, the savior!"


    "I don''t see anything special about him. How could Miss Kong refuse Fourth Young Master because of him?"


    Kong Ru nodded slightly, her eyes incredibly clear, staring at Huang Quan for a long time before saying, "Sir, for my opening dance, may I invite you to dance with me?"


    Huang Quan looked around and, pointing at himself, said, "I can''t dance!"


    Kong Ru remained graceful and smiled, saying, "That''s alright, I can lead you, it''s very simple."


    Huang Quan shook his head again, "I don''t like crowds, with so many people watching, I don''t like it."


    Kong Ru''s brows furrowed slightly; this person was indeed quite different. While others were eager to surround her, he was rejecting her.


    However, Kong Ru had a stubborn temperament; the more unattainable something was, the more she wanted it, and the more he rejected her, the more interested she became.


    She looked at Huang Quan in silence, and he remained quiet as well, the two of them locking eyes.


    Seeing this, Old Master Tang hurried forward to break the tension. He patted Huang Quan''s arm and said, "Little brother, this is the eldest daughter of the capital. If you can connect with her, your network¡ª"


    "I don''t care. I never thought I could network well here anyway. Old Master Tang, I came this time just to respect you; I don''t care about anyone else!"


    He smiled, looking at Kong Ru and gently nodding.


    Huang Quan was quite interested in Kong Ru. If there was only one person here he could fancy, it would definitely be Kong Ru.


    However, he really didn''t like being pointed at; if he danced with Kong Ru, it would surely lead to all sorts of commentary.


    If he had to choose between women and quietness, he would definitely choose quietness!


    Old Master Tang smiled awkwardly, pulling Huang Quan aside and whispering, "Little brother, just do me a favor. This banquet can¡¯t go cold.


    Besides, this girl is not someone the Tang family can provoke. Just help me out and dance with her."


    Huang Quan looked up at Old Master Tang, an old man with a face full of pleading, and he truly wanted to get to know Kong Ru.


    If he danced, he could explore Kong Ru''s fortune and do Old Master Tang a favor, making it a worthwhile deal.


    Huang Quan thought for a while, pretending to be very troubled, and said, "Alright then!"


    On the dance floor, a pair of talented man and beautiful woman danced gracefully.


    Kong Ru was like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, her graceful figure incredibly light.


    Huang Quan followed Kong Ru''s steps, a bit clumsy, occasionally stepping on her toes.


    Kong Ru, however, didn''t mind at all, maintaining a noble smile on her face.


    She smiled and asked Huang Quan, "Do you want to know why I chose you?"


    Huang Quan replied nonchalantly, "Because you women are strange; the less you want to deal with someone, the more interest you have."


    "When the ball started, everyone went towards the dance floor, while I was the only one going outside. You must be curious, right!"


    Kong Ru pouted; this man really didn¡¯t understand romance, speaking so matter-of-factly. Most importantly, he was almost spot on.


    Kong Ru was momentarily at a loss for words. The charming man in front of her piqued her immense curiosity, and she even wanted to analyze him.


    On the edge of the dance floor, the four young masters gathered together, drinking. With their glasses raised, they all looked puzzled.


    "What do you think, what is the background of this Huang Quan?"