Deception (Part 1)

"Fuyun Money House... Hmm, this one!"

After leaving the courtyard where the Nie Tian Branch resided, the two no longer hid themselves. They swaggered around the streets before Nie Yun finally fixed his eyes on the largest money house in Luoshui City.

Fuyun Money House was not an enterprise of the Four Great Families, but belonged to Li Fu, a local tycoon second only to those families.

In his previous life, when the Demon Race launched its great offensive, Li Fu had been the first to defect and become a "Human Traitor." If not for his leaks, the Four Great Families would not have suffered such devastating losses, nearly being wiped out to the last man!

For that very reason, he had become the public enemy of Luoshui City's humans. Countless people had wanted to kill him and be done with it, but surrounded layer upon layer by Demon Race experts, they had never succeeded!

Back then, Nie Yun had been too weak to take part in the attempts on his life, but he had still loathed to the bone this sort of person who, despite being human, willingly became a "Human Traitor"!

Although Li Fu was still merely a proper businessman and had not yet become a "Human Traitor," now that Nie Yun knew what had happened in his previous life, how could he possibly let him off? Naturally, he would start with him!

Li Fu had plenty of money anyway. Taking some to use was no problem at all!

Having made up his mind, Nie Yun clasped his hands behind his back and walked into the money house with the air of an immortal sage.

"Gentlemen, are you here to deposit money or withdraw money?" The moment they entered, a shop assistant came forward to greet them.

A money house could exchange banknotes and store silver, much like a bank. Naturally, visitors came either to deposit money or withdraw it.

"Front bowing and rear leaning, tiger leaping over dragon; the bright hall turns dark, neighboring the Four Fiendish Grounds. Ah, it has been a long time since I saw such a formidable haunted house!" Rather than answer the assistant, Nie Yun lightly stroked his beard and sighed, his eyes filled with pity for the world and compassion for mankind.

"A haunted house? Sir, do not speak nonsense. Fuyun Money House was specially inspected by experts. Its business prospers and wealth flows in!" Before the assistant could speak, a potbellied fat man emerged from the back of the hall, his face displeased.

He came out so quickly... What luck! Nie Yun nearly burst with delight at the sight of him.

It was none other than Li Fu, that "Human Traitor." Ordinarily, a wealthy boss like him rarely appeared at the shop. Nie Yun had originally planned to say a few more things and then find a way to trick the assistant into bringing out the owner. Yet when an idea was good, even heaven lent a hand—he had only spoken one sentence before the man appeared.

Li Fu had been in an awful mood today. Though he was extremely wealthy, with total assets not even inferior to the Four Great Families, he was henpecked. The tigress at home was tyrannical beyond measure. With his wealth and status, having three wives and four concubines would have been perfectly normal, but because of that woman at home, he could not only not have three wives and four concubines—he could not even look at other women!

Everyone had a rebellious streak, and Li Fu was no exception. So he had broken the rules and secretly kept a woman outside. He had thought he was extremely careful, but somehow word still leaked out. The moment he returned home today, the tigress had berated him in front of everyone and given him a vicious beating. His whole body still ached even now!

That was not all. From the tigress's tone, she intended not only to deal with him, but to kill that mistress as well. Fortunately, he had hidden her very carefully. Otherwise, someone truly would have died today!

Alas, he hated that tigress, but there was nothing he could do. The family estate had been inherited from his father- and mother-in-law. Though the two elders had already passed away, his standing at home still could not compare to hers!

It was precisely because he had just been beaten by the tigress that he returned to the money house in such a foul mood. Who would not be angry to hear talk of a "haunted house" the moment he arrived? If not for the immortal bearing of the "old man" before him, he would likely have turned hostile and thrown them out long ago.

"I merely spoke casually. Please do not take offense. Disciple, let us go!"

Though he was delighted inside, Nie Yun showed disappointment on his face. He shook his head, flicked his sleeve, and led the burly Yang Yan toward the exit.

"Master, doesn't 'front bowing and rear leaning, tiger leaping over dragon' mean that this kind of residence gathers yin energy, with yin flourishing and yang declining, so that men are restrained by women?" Just as they were about to leave the money house, the seemingly honest disciple Yang Yan suddenly spoke.

Before coming here, Nie Yun had already instructed Yang Yan on what to say. His question now was naturally deliberate.

Li Fu was enjoying boundless glory now, but from memories of his previous life, Nie Yun knew that in one week, the address of Li Fu's mistress would be completely exposed. The tigress at home would strip both Li Fu and his mistress naked and throw them outside the door, humiliating him beyond endurance!

This incident had caused a sensation throughout Luoshui City back then. Everyone knew about it, and Li Fu's fear of his wife had been exposed as well. Before coming here, Nie Yun had recalled all these matters and naturally made targeted arrangements long ago!

"Masters, please wait..."

Li Fu had not thought much of the pair at first, but upon hearing the "honest disciple's" explanation, his eyes suddenly lit up and he hurriedly called out.

Yin flourishing and yang declining, men restrained by women... Wasn't that exactly him? Could it be that he had been suppressed by the tigress all these years because of this residence?

"My apologies. My disciple spoke out of turn just now, so please do not take offense! My disciple and I shall take our leave!" Hearing him call out, Nie Yun knew the other man had taken the bait, but he still made a show of declining.

People could be quite perverse sometimes. The more you rushed to offer something to them, the less they cared; but once you tried to leave, they became anxious.

Li Fu was like that now. He had initially thought the two were swindlers, but seeing that they asked for nothing and spoke so accurately, he quickly stepped in front of them. "Masters, I was rude just now. Please, come inside!"

"Hehe, my disciple and I were merely passing through. We saw that the layout of this residence was improper and spoke a few casual words. We do not wish to alter its layout and bring trouble upon ourselves. Sir, please allow us to leave!" Nie Yun pushed past Li Fu and continued walking out.

"Does not wish to alter the layout and bring trouble upon himself? Does that mean he can alter the layout and free me from the tigress's suppression?"

Li Fu was no fool. Hearing the old man's words, he seemed to have caught hold of a clue. Excited, he directly grabbed Nie Yun. "Masters, save me! You must not leave..."

"This..." Nie Yun had not expected the man to be so direct. Before he could use the many lines he had prepared, things had already reached this point. He helplessly shook his head. "Very well. Since we have met, it can be considered fate. I will help you resolve this! However, this matter is exceedingly difficult... Ah! Let us go inside and discuss it!"

As he spoke, a troubled expression appeared on his face, as though he had some unspeakable difficulty.

"Yes, yes, please come in!" Li Fu took the lead.

It was not that Li Fu was too foolish. He was a somewhat prominent figure in Luoshui City, and before that incident came to light, very few outsiders knew he was henpecked. Yet a wandering Daoist had casually revealed it, making him instinctively believe the man spoke the truth!

Besides, even if they intended to deceive him, would they act so indifferent and unconcerned?

Upon reentering the money house, Nie Yun clasped his hands behind his back and put on a show of circling the room again. Suddenly, he said, "The left hand faces the court, higher than the central hall. Forgive this old man for speaking plainly, but have you recently done something that violated domestic harmony?"

"Ah?" Li Fu had been terrified that the tigress would discover his mistress, so he had hidden her extremely well. Even spies from the Four Great Families might not know of it. Yet the old man before him had merely glanced at the money house's layout and seen through it, startling him greatly. At the same time, he inwardly praised him. A true master was indeed a true master!

"The White Tiger on the right lies before the counter. It seems dragon and tiger contend, and disaster arising within the family walls is unavoidable! My apologies, but my cultivation is shallow. Better that I not look any further!"

Seeing that every sentence struck at the other man's heart, Nie Yun shook his head once more and turned to leave.

From his manner, the matter seemed too complicated, and he appeared unwilling to meddle in it.

"Ah... Old master, you cannot refuse to help me!" Hearing the old man speak so gravely and seeing him prepare to leave again, Li Fu was truly frightened.

It would have been one thing if the other man had guessed one of his affairs correctly, but he had correctly identified two in a row. That was enough to prove that the old man before him possessed genuine ability—and could help him!

"It is not that I refuse to help you. Your matter is simply too difficult. Though I wish to assist you, I am powerless!" Nie Yun shook his head.

"Uh?" Yang Yan had been blooming with joy when he saw Li Fu fall for it, but hearing Nie Yun decline again, his expression could not help turning strange.

By all rights, with matters brought to this point, even if Nie Yun asked for money, the man would surely pay. Their goal of swindling money had already been achieved, so why did he keep refusing? Was he not afraid the other man would take him seriously and stop trying to hold them back?

"Master, name your price. Even five hundred taels... one thousand taels would be fine!" Seeing the old man refuse again and again, Li Fu gritted his teeth and said.

Though Li Fu was very rich, he was famously stingy. Everyone who knew him understood that for him to offer one thousand taels was already unprecedented.

Hearing Li Fu mention money, Yang Yan lightly tugged at Nie Yun's sleeve, meaning that one thousand taels of silver was already no small sum. They were only here to swindle him—how much more did he want to swindle...

Ignoring Yang Yan's tugging, Nie Yun's expression suddenly changed. "Hmph, money? Do you think my disciple and I look like swindlers? Since that is the case, we shall never meet again! Farewell!"

Without looking back, he strode toward the exit.

"Ah?" Li Fu had only mentioned money casually, never expecting to provoke such fury from the old man. His face changed in fright. Only then did he realize that this man sought neither wealth nor fame and seemed genuinely to be acting for his sake. All his doubts vanished. He rushed in front of Nie Yun, his knees buckled, and with a thud!, he fell to his knees.

"Master, I was wrong. For heaven's virtue of cherishing life, please save me!"

P.S. Favorites... my eternal pain... Everyone, please add this to your favorites... I'm begging you...