Fu Family

"I am Shen Yuan."

Shen Yuan examined the middle-aged man who had entered the courtyard, confirming that he did not know him.

The middle-aged man gave a slight nod. "My name is Fu Hua. Old Master Fu, who rented this small courtyard to you, is my father. I came today to discuss something with you."

Shen Yuan immediately recalled the elderly man in a Zhongshan suit, aged in appearance yet vigorous in spirit.

Old Master Fu was someone Shen Yuan had met while practicing his Breathing Method in the park. In the early stages of cultivating a Breathing Method, certain accompanying fist forms could help one enter the proper state. Shen Yuan had met Old Master Fu while practicing those forms.

Old Master Fu's family seemed to have possessed cultivation methods of their own, but three thousand years of spiritual energy drought had long rendered ordinary cultivation methods useless. Coupled with poor preservation, they had not been passed down.

By the time the Spirit Tide returned, Old Master Fu's household had only a few fist forms and some cultivation insights left.

Relying on those remnants, Old Master Fu remained healthy despite nearing seventy.

Old Master Fu had been deeply interested in such things. After seeing Shen Yuan practice his fist forms, he had deliberately sought his acquaintance, and before long, the two had become friends despite their age difference, often discussing cultivation.

During this process, Shen Yuan had taught Old Master Fu some tricks concerning Breathing Methods. But methods were not passed on lightly, so he had not taught him the complete Cloudmist Breathing Method.

Even so, Old Master Fu had treasured it as though he had obtained a priceless jewel. He had repeatedly tried to repay Shen Yuan, only to be refused every time.

A few months ago, after Shen Yuan left home, Old Master Fu had rented this courtyard to him at a friendship price—half sold, half given.

Without Old Master Fu's help, the few hundred yuan Shen Yuan could afford in rent might have gotten him an independent courtyard in the old district, but it would certainly have been dilapidated and nowhere near this pleasant.

Of course, this was not one-sided assistance. In this age of the returning Spirit Tide, the Breathing Method insights Shen Yuan had imparted were worth ten thousand gold and could not be exchanged for anything. A little rent was nothing by comparison.

Neither side had fixated on mere monetary value. Their relationship carried something of the meaning of a gentleman's friendship, light as water.

And because of that, Shen Yuan understood why Fu Hua had frowned earlier.

Last night, his cultivation had drawn a group of lesser demons. Though Shen Yuan had disposed of them with supernatural means, the courtyard had suffered considerable damage.

At least in Fu Hua's eyes, Shen Yuan was still merely an ordinary tenant.

Seeing Shen Yuan turn the courtyard into this state, no one would have been pleased. The fact that Fu Hua had not voiced it outright already showed considerable restraint.

Since it was difficult to explain the mess in the courtyard, Shen Yuan simply said, "Whatever it is, Mr. Fu Hua, please speak freely."

Fu Hua nodded toward the young man behind him. The young man immediately took a document from his briefcase and handed it to Shen Yuan.

"I came here today because I wish to reclaim the courtyard rented to Mr. Shen."

"The rental arrangement between Mr. Shen and my father was a gentleman's agreement. No lease was signed; you merely agreed verbally to rent the property. Still, reclaiming it early would ultimately violate the agreement with Mr. Shen.

"There is a contract here. If Mr. Shen signs it, I can compensate you with twice the rent you paid.

"If Mr. Shen still wishes to rent somewhere nearby, I can arrange another property for you. What do you think?"

Shen Yuan did not take the contract. Instead, he asked Fu Hua, "Was this Old Master Fu's instruction?"

Fu Hua frowned slightly. "This is my own decision. It has nothing to do with my father."

In Fu Hua's view, he had set aside his business to come see Shen Yuan and had even prepared a compensation contract in advance. That was already more than enough courtesy.

Yet Shen Yuan's manner suggested that he did not appreciate it at all, and a thread of displeasure gradually rose in Fu Hua's heart.

Shen Yuan paid no attention to Fu Hua's attitude. His expression remained unchanged as he said:

"The owner of this house is Old Master Fu. Renting it to me was an agreement between Old Master Fu and me, and it was not a simple monetary transaction.

"If Old Master Fu himself asked, I would move out immediately without a word.

"But Mr. Fu Hua, acting in your father's stead before he has even spoken—aren't you afraid of provoking Old Master Fu's displeasure?"

At last, a trace of anger appeared on Fu Hua's face.

"This courtyard belongs to the Fu family. It is only natural for me to take it back. You don't need to use my father to pressure me.

"You should know that you never signed a contract with my father. Even if I forcibly reclaimed it without giving you any compensation, it would still be legal."

After a brief pause, Fu Hua swept his gaze over the ruined courtyard and the large hole in its center, then continued coldly:

"You damaged the property however you pleased during your stay. The fact that I have not held you accountable already shows great magnanimity. If you know what's good for you, sign the contract, take the compensation, and leave. Otherwise, wait for a court summons!"

Fu Hua's threat finally made Shen Yuan's gaze turn cold. Even the temperature in the air seemed to drop by several degrees.

On the stone table behind Shen Yuan, Bai Xue had been taking advantage of the conversation to secretly fish out a noodle for a taste. Her fur instantly stood on end, and she immediately curled into a trembling ball in the corner of the table.

She could sense Shen Yuan's displeasure.

Last night, Shen Yuan had casually killed so many demons without showing the slightest emotional fluctuation, yet this ordinary human had managed to anger the great devil.

Would the great devil rip out this guy's soul and light a sky lantern with it? Or slaughter the entire city outright?

Bai Xue's thoughts ran wild.

Fu Hua, facing Shen Yuan directly, also felt a chill at once. In a daze, he seemed to see countless dead souls in the courtyard wailing in agony, as if the Nether Ghost Domain had descended upon the world.

In but an instant, cold sweat had soaked Fu Hua's back completely.

Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the gate, followed by two more figures entering the courtyard.

One of them was a beautiful woman in her twenties. Seeing Fu Hua standing frozen in place, she could not help crying out in surprise.

"Big Brother, why are you here?"

Only then did Fu Hua awaken from the illusion of the Nether Ghost Domain as though from a dream.

Seeing that more members of the Fu family had arrived, Shen Yuan paid them no heed. He turned, picked up Bai Xue, who was curled into a ball of fur on the table, and headed toward the gate.

Fu Yu watched Shen Yuan walk out through the gate in confusion, then asked Fu Hua:

"Big Brother, did Father also give you the task of finding Mr. Shen?"

A hint of panic appeared in Fu Hua's expression. "Task? What task?"

Fu Yu asked in confusion, "Father specifically instructed me yesterday to come early this morning and hand the deed to this old residence to Mr. Shen. From now on, this old residence belongs to Mr. Shen.

"If not for that, why did you come to the old residence?"

Fu Hua's face instantly turned deathly pale. He hurriedly called after Shen Yuan, who had just left.

"Sir, please wait!"