Chapter 11: Chapter Ten: Laotaitai Sect

In the morning, Chen Yan went downstairs and found a noodle shop nearby to eat a bowl of Jin Ling large-bowl pigskin noodle, then scanned a shared bicycle and set off.

He had arranged to meet a real estate agent at a nearby real estate agency storefront.

He had contacted them beforehand; when Chen Yan arrived, the young salesperson assigned to greet him was in his early twenties, short in stature, with many acne spots on his face and thinning hair on his head.

His surname was Hu, full name Hu Shangke.

In fact, he had another identity: Chen Yan's university classmate.

This guy had lived in the dorm next to Chen Yan's in school, their relationship neither close nor distant; after four years of interaction, his character was decent.

Yet over those four years, Chen Yan had never grown particularly close to this Hu Shangke.

He was the kind of classmate you could casually put an arm around as if you were buddies.

But in truth, they had never truly opened up to each other.

Because although Hu Shangke's character was acceptable, there was one thing Chen Yan could not stand about him.

This guy was a Hu Tiangou.

The kind who scrimped and saved, took odd jobs during holidays, just to save up and treat his girlfriend to expensive meals.

Let me say it plainly: Chen Yan held the deepest contempt for creatures like Hu Tiangou.

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In truth, Chen Yan's views on romance had been somewhat warped by Laotaitai Sect teachings.

Before Chen Yan left for Jin Ling to attend university, Old Grandma had given him some heartfelt advice.

"Grandson, when you go to university and get a girlfriend, pay attention to this:

Either find a girl who loves money—pay for everything.

Or find a girl who doesn't care about money at all—she'll give you her heart and her money.

The former? Just date casually; treat it like spending money for fun.

The latter? If you find one, bring her home to show Old Grandma."

At the time, Chen Yan thought that in today's world, girls of the latter kind were probably impossible to find.

If that was the case, the former type was fine too—spending money for fun.

The problem was…

He didn't have any money himself!

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Besides that, Chen Yan had been raised since childhood with Old Grandma's teaching that bowing and scraping won't get you what you want.

Old Grandma had once taken him to the entrance of a roast duck shop in town.

"Grandson, if you love this shop's roast duck but have no money, and you beg the owner, flatter him, bow and plead—do you think he'll give you a whole duck for free just because you're so nice?"

As she spoke, Old Grandma fixed her gaze on Chen Yan's eyes, her tone serious:

"No! He doesn't want to give you duck at all, but pretends to be generous for the onlookers, to appear less heartless—he'll just toss you two useless duck necks and duck butts to shoo you away.

But remember, this isn't the owner's fault.

His ducks are meant to be sold for money. You can't afford to pay, yet you think you can trade his unwanted flattery for something he sells for profit.

Why should he give it to you?

That's just you being clueless."

It must be admitted that the old lady's education of Chen Yan was quite successful.

And Chen Yan despised Hu Shangke precisely because of this.

Over four years as classmates, Chen Yan saw clearly that what Hu Shangke did was, in his view, the most idiotic thing imaginable:

He had no money, yet he pursued girls who loved money above all.

He couldn't afford to spend, yet fantasized that groveling could win them over.

That was pure self-inflicted misery.

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When they met, Hu Tiangou showed Chen Yan overwhelming enthusiasm.

There was no choice—working was hard.

This year's autumn recruitment was brutal; Hu Shangke had reluctantly taken this real estate agent job, and he still hadn't met his monthly sales quota—he'd failed last month too, and the store manager's glares at him had grown increasingly hostile.

"Bro, if you're looking to rent, come to me! We're classmates—I'll find you the best value for sure!"

Saying this, Hu Shangke pulled out a set of pre-prepared listings.

All were single-room rentals or shared apartments with monthly rents under 1,500.

To be fair, Hu Shangke had put real effort in—Chen Yan glanced at the listings and found some were actually decent: low prices, reasonably equipped.

For a poor recent graduate with no local family—back then, Chen Yan would've been tempted.

But Chen Yan waved his hand: "Old Hu, I'm looking for a better place this time."

Hu Shangke froze, then his face lit up: "Better? How much better? Tell me!"

Better meant more expensive; more expensive meant higher commission.

Chen Yan paused briefly, then stated his pre-planned requirements:

"Location doesn't matter—it can be remote.

The place must be large, preferably with a big yard!

Neighbors should be far away, high privacy.

Renovation doesn't matter—I'm flexible. Even if it's shabby, as long as there's water, electricity, and internet."

Hu Shangke listened carefully, then thought: "Big yard, distant neighbors, high privacy… brother, you're looking to rent a villa?"

Chen Yan smiled: "A villa's fine too."

Actually, he had specifically requested a relatively large courtyard, not to enjoy a villa.

Rather, he wanted to try practicing the art of array setup as recorded in the secret manual.

Setting up an array requires, in general, a sufficiently spacious area to practice.

Who has ever heard of setting up an array in a two-bedroom apartment with eighty square meters of construction area and sixty square meters of usable space!

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Hu Shangke was somewhat dazed, looking at Chen Yan with confusion.

"I'm not saying this to criticize, brother, but renting a villa is not cheap!"

Chen Yan shook his head: "My family gave me a sum of money to settle down in Jin Ling, and I want to live comfortably."

"No, brother, let me speak from the heart," Hu Shangke, who was actually quite honest, said, "If your family really gave you a sum of money, don't spend it recklessly. I think housing prices will continue to drop a bit.

First, rent something cheap as a transition. By next year, when housing prices stabilize at a low point, you can consider buying a place, making a down payment, and loans are more lenient now.

If you want to settle in Jin Ling, buying a house is the long-term plan.

For future marriage and such..."

Chen Yan interrupted him: "I have no intention of getting married."

Hu Shangke smiled: "You have no intention now, but later..."

"No intention later either," Chen Yan shook his head.

He thought to himself: With the secret manual in hand, I will cultivate step by step, master various strange arts, and become a great power in the mortal world.

By then, money will not be lacking, and of course, I must play with life properly!

Marriage? Finding a woman to tie myself down?

Am I crazy?

Hu Shangke waved his hand: "Then you must at least date... Only with a house will girls take an interest in you."

Chen Yan still shook his head: "I won't date either."

"Ah?" Hu Shangke laughed: "Brother, are you planning to become a Monk?"

Chen Yan looked at this classmate strangely: "Old Hu, I remember at school..."

When you were single, you could eat meat every day in the cafeteria, and occasionally go to the small cafeteria for a stir-fry meal.

Later, after you got a girlfriend, you could hardly eat vegetarian food five days a week, and you didn't buy new clothes for a year.

What were you aiming for?

Are games not fun, is wine not good to drink, or are novels not good to read?"

Hu Shangke couldn't help but be speechless; after all, they were classmates, so he hesitated a bit: "But, a man, there are still some things that are..."

Chen Yan looked at him calmly, then glanced at a tissue box on the table, and then at Hu Shangke's hand.

Hu Shangke: "............"

Chen Yan sighed, patted Hu Tiangou's shoulder: "Let's not talk about that. Just help me check according to my requirements if there are any suitable properties."

"... What about the price?"

Chen Yan spoke with righteous confidence: "Of course, the cheaper the better."

Hu Shangke rolled his Bai Yan: "Brother! Cheap still needs a price range for me to find something for you."

Chen Yan thought for a moment, estimating the million amount currently in his card.

It looks like a lot, but it might not last long, so one cannot be too extravagant.

Setting up a simple entry-level array does not require special materials; some mundane materials can be purchased.

But... it still requires a considerable amount of money.

Estimating a range he could roughly accept, Chen Yan tentatively said: "Within twenty thousand a month."

"Twenty thousand?!"

Hu Shangke's eyes widened: "Are you crazy! Spending so much money on rent?! You, you listen to me, you..."

Chen Yan said nothing, smiling as he looked at this classmate.

Hu Shangke, stared at by Chen Yan's smiling eyes, finally gradually fell silent: "Alright, anyway the money is yours. If you want to look, I will help you look!

But..."

Hu Shangke pondered for a moment: "You want a large courtyard and also require strong privacy... Generally, such houses are only those standalone large villas!

These standalone large villas with high privacy belong to the luxury mansion category; monthly rent must be tens of thousands."

Chen Yan indeed did not understand, asking with confusion: "I saw prices online; some villas in our city are cheap, a few thousand a month, even one or two tens of thousands."

"Those for a few thousand are townhouses, very small, and the courtyard is barely enough to hold a few flower pots.

Those for one or two tens of thousands, you can rent a villa, but they are all compact ones, with neighbors only three to five meters away; you definitely won't get the private space you require.

A large courtyard with good privacy must be a true luxury mansion, a large HOUSE, and the price will not be lower than forty or fifty thousand."

Chen Yan frowned in thought.

With the million in hand, he could afford the rent.

But if he rented it, the liquid cash in his hand would not be much.

Practicing array setup from the secret manual, starting with low-level arrays, also requires buying quite a few materials, which costs a lot.

If too much money is thrown into rent, the funds for buying materials later will be a bit tight.

Chen Yan thought for a moment, feeling somewhat helpless in his heart.

Money, this thing, doesn't last long either.

(Otherwise... should I go to the countryside and find a folk house?)

A remote warehouse or something?

Anyway, his requirements for material life were not high; having a bed to sleep in was enough, and he was not picky.

Hu Shangke was still urging: "With this budget of yours, why are you fixated on a huge villa?

Find a decent residential complex in the city center. I can find you a fully furnished, renovated large apartment—starting with three bedrooms and two living rooms—and I can even secure one in the city center. For all that, it won't even cost ten thousand!"

Chen Yan shook his head: "I don't live in apartment buildings; I need strong privacy."

Privacy...

Hu Shangke really wanted to spit in his face.

I lived in the dorm next to yours in college.

Back then, eight people shared one room; in summer, several guys would strip to the waist and play Guandan in the same room—who the hell hadn't seen who?

And you're talking to me about privacy.

But...

For the sake of the agency fee...

He thought for a moment, flipping through the intranet data in his hand back and forth all day...

Hu Shangke's expression suddenly grew strange; he glanced left and right, lowered his voice, and said: "Brother, actually, there is a type of house that quite fits your requirements. Cheap price, large area, and very strong privacy!"

"Oh?"

"Well..." Hu Shangke glanced left and right again, then leaned closer to Chen Yan: "Brother, do you mind a haunted house?"

"???"

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