Chapter 60: Chapter Fifty-Three: The Boss Fang

Behind Luoyunzhai, in the innermost courtyard of the three-court compound, the western wing was Qing Shu’s own bedroom.

Although the entire compound was built in an ancient style, Qing Shu had meticulously renovated it after acquiring the property, equipping the interior with modern amenities.

It had full air conditioning and underfloor heating, along with all manner of smart appliances.

A few days ago, rats invaded the courtyard and caused chaos; although Luoyunzhai temporarily closed its shop, Qing Shu still lived in the back courtyard—this place was effectively his home.

The courtyard had been thoroughly cleaned inside and out, and professional disinfection had been carried out.

That evening, Qing Shu sat in his room, leaning back in a recliner, scrolling through his accounts on his phone.

Following Old Zi’s orders, he had refunded the money he’d swindled in the previous three scams, which left him in agonizing pain.

During the day, his junior sister had visited Fang Laoban and agreed to a massive compensation payment, instructing him to transfer the money tomorrow…

Now, alone in his room at night, after drinking two taels of liquor, he recalled these events and grew increasingly indignant.

I earned that money by my own skill—why should I return it?

While calculating his accounts, he suddenly heard a loud “bang!” from outside the courtyard.

Qing Shu froze, his body jerking violently; the resentment the alcohol had stirred vanished instantly, leaving him trembling with fear.

Could it be… that master who used mysterious arts to torment me has come back for more?

He spun quickly behind his chair and snatched up a peachwood sword hanging on the wall—his only available weapon.

Forcing himself to muster courage, Qing Shu shouted: “Who’s out there?!”

Bang! Crash!

Another muffled thud came from outside.

Qing Shu nearly dropped the peachwood sword in terror, yelling: “Who?! Who is it!! I’m calling the police!!”

At that moment, the door suddenly burst open with a loud crash, its two panels shattering into pieces and collapsing inward.

Qing Shu screamed, his legs giving out, and he collapsed onto the floor, shrinking behind the chair, tossing the peachwood sword aside: “Spare me!! Master, spare me!!”

He looked outside—and froze in utter shock.

In this courtyard, Qing Shu’s main living quarters were in the eastern wing.

The eastern wing’s door faced directly toward the western wing.

Now, as Qing Shu knelt on the floor behind his chair, he could see straight across to the western wing through the collapsed doorway.

No!

More accurately—there was no longer any western wing.

Half the walls of the low building had completely collapsed, bricks and debris scattered everywhere.

Fortunately, the beams still held, preventing immediate collapse; but the roof sagged precariously, tiles clattering down in a steady rain.

In the center of the courtyard, there had once been a cassia tree.

Now, only a hollow pit remained.

Standing there in the courtyard was a small figure—slender, clearly the form of a delicate young girl.

Yet she held in one hand a massive object… a cassia tree, thicker than her entire body.

The cassia tree he had bought at great expense had been uprooted, carried single-handedly, then swung like a monk wielding a vajra club—crashing into the western wing’s walls until they shattered!

In an instant, Qing Shu’s mind flashed a ludicrous thought, like one he’d seen online:

Lin Daiyu uproots a willow tree?!

Hearing Qing Shu’s scream, the girl turned her head. Qing Shu saw she wore a plain cotton jacket; in the dim light, her face was indistinct.

She casually tossed the cassia tree—straight into the main hall. The roof caved in with a crash, and a large section of the wall collapsed instantly.

Qing Shu’s eyes nearly popped out; his spine turned icy, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

The girl suddenly beckoned to him—and an invisible force yanked him out of the room, dragging him face-down across the ground until he slid into the courtyard.

He lay on the ground and saw a pair of feet slowly approaching.

“Look up,” came a soft, delicate voice.

Qing Shu, though a seasoned traveler, suddenly had a flash of insight; he clasped his head with both hands, burying it and refusing to lift it, shouting: “I understand the rules! I won’t dare look up!!”

“Good. Since you’re willing to submit, I’ll save some effort.” A pause, then the voice continued slowly: “Do you know why I’ve come?”

Qing Shu trembled but forced himself to speak, head still down: “I know! I know! I was blind, I did wrong, and I offended the master!”

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyi paused, then quickly said: “I have a task for you. Will you do it?”

“Of course! Whatever you ask, I’ll do it!”

At that moment, Qing Shu heard distant shouts and pounding from the street outside the shop, and frantic ringing of the doorbell.

Probably neighbors, alarmed by the noise, had come to investigate—or the commercial street patrol had been called.

As Qing Shu pondered this, he felt a foot press down on his back—suddenly, his entire body felt crushed beneath a mountain; his breath choked in his throat, no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t exhale, and his bones cracked ominously, as if about to snap.

“Do you understand the word ‘waiver’?”

Just as Qing Shu felt his vision darkening, the girl’s soft voice spoke again.

Qing Shu’s heart jolted—waiver?

So… it was for this?

He and his junior sister had speculated endlessly, guessed left and right…

Yet never imagined that the one who summoned dark energy with talismans, and now came to demolish his house…

Was here for this?

Why didn’t you say so sooner!!

Do you have any idea how much money I’ve lost today!!

He wanted to speak, but his breath was trapped—he couldn’t utter a word, only nodded frantically.

Instantly, the foot lifted, and the crushing pressure vanished.

The girl’s soft voice continued: “Finish it tomorrow. If you don’t, I’ll come back. Next time, I won’t tear down your house—I’ll break your bones.”

Then, silence.

Qing Shu lay on the ground for over ten seconds before cautiously lifting his head—around him, the courtyard held only debris, no trace of the girl.

Shaking, he rose to his feet, stood dazed in the courtyard for a moment, then heard the pounding and shouting from the street growing louder—he shuffled weakly toward the exit.

Outside the shop, five or six people stood: neighboring shop owners and commercial street patrol officers.

As soon as Qing Shu opened the door, they shouted: “Luo Boss! What are you doing in your courtyard?! I heard all that banging—did you tear down your house?!”

“Yeah! We were afraid something bad happened! We’re right next door—your noise was insane…”

Qing Shu glared at them, teeth clenched: “What I do in my own courtyard is none of your business.”

One neighbor snapped: “How ungrateful are you? I heard the noise and worried you might be in danger…”

Luo Qing waved them off, his heart full of rage: “Don’t trouble yourselves—I’m perfectly fine!”

The patrol leader frowned: “Luo Zong, are you sure nothing’s wrong?”

He studied Luo Qing—his body was covered in dust, his face filthy.

“I’m tearing down my house—so what? I’m tearing down my own house, isn’t that allowed? My courtyard was overrun with rats—I don’t want to live here anymore, can’t I demolish and rebuild?!” Luo Qing exploded.

“…,” the patrol leader said grimly: “Luo Boss, I must remind you—this property is rented. It belongs to the street authority. You have no right to demolish it.”

“None of your concern! I’ll handle it with the street office myself tomorrow—I’ll pay compensation!”

With that, Luo Qing slammed the door shut.

His heart ached as if bleeding.

The innermost courtyard was nearly destroyed. In this bustling tourist commercial district, such properties were extremely valuable—not ordinary residential houses, but replica ancient buildings built by the local government’s tourism corporation.

As a tenant, he had no right to demolish anything—the compensation would be enormous.

Over the past few days, Luo Qing had bled out repeatedly; he was truly drained.

As he stumbled back into the courtyard, staring at the ruins, his heart bled…

Suddenly, an idea struck him!!

The one who came to attack him—he’d suffered, yes… but now, his long-standing suspicion was confirmed!

This master came to avenge those three lowlife thugs!

He didn’t know how three street thugs had connected with such a powerful figure…

But that didn’t matter now!

What mattered was…

Since the master came for those three thugs who attacked him…

Then the other payments… like the compensation owed to Fang Laoban?

Maybe… he didn’t have to pay after all!! The sum his junior sister promised was the largest!

I fear that master—not that fat Fang!

·

The next morning.

Fang Zong sat in his office chair, playing a game on his computer.

Three knocks came at the door, then his assistant Yan entered, his expression strangely complex.

“Boss!”

Fang Zong poked half his head out from behind the screen, saving his black monkey’s progress.

Damn it, I can’t beat this level anyway—I’ve died over twenty times this morning. Tiger Vanguard must be full of monkey meat!

If I can’t win… maybe I should join a sect?

Fang Zong idly mused, then asked casually: “What is it?”

“Boss… I followed your instructions and contacted Uncle Qing at Luo Yunzhai. Didn’t Master Zi come by earlier and promise to deposit a sum into our company’s account? I just reached out to Uncle Qing to discuss invoicing… he… he…”

Director Fang frowned: “What trouble is Luo Qing causing now?”

“He’s denying it,” Assistant Yan said grimly. “He says there’s no such payment, and he won’t pay it.”

What the hell?

Director Fang’s face darkened instantly as he slammed his fist on the desk!

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