Business Came Knocking

The old man turned around and tapped his head. "Look at my memory. I almost forgot."

As he spoke, he pulled out a money pouch and handed it to Huzi. "There's quite a bit of money here. Spend it carefully."

Then he sauntered off without a care in the world. When he reached the gate, he suddenly picked up speed and ran faster than a rabbit.

With the way he was running, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was up to something.

As soon as the old man left, I hurried over to Huzi. "How much did Master leave us for living expenses?"

Huzi counted the money in the pouch, then sighed. "Young Master, I don't think this will last us very long. We'll probably starve to death before the year is out."

"How much, exactly?" I asked.

"Eight hundred and sixty or seventy yuan, plus thirty-five fen," Huzi said.

"Why is there even loose change? Did the old man get this money by begging? And he expects me to earn him ten million in a year on this?" I was so frustrated I could die. The stingy old man was going away for an entire year, yet he'd only left the two of us a few hundred yuan. He wouldn't even let me make money doing anything else. He was practically trying to starve me to death.

Over the years, quite a few people had come to this courtyard house to ask Master to handle various matters, but a large proportion of them were from Yanbei City.

Yanbei was a major, first-tier city. Many people knew Master had settled here, so they came looking for him.

But over the years, Master had instructed Huzi to turn away almost everyone who came asking for his help. As a result, fewer and fewer people had come, until hardly anyone visited at all.

Under those circumstances, earning ten million in a year felt like a pipe dream.

You could have anything in a dream.

What I hadn't expected was that just three days after Master left, someone actually came to the courtyard house.

It was a father and daughter.

Huzi said they'd arrived in a Rolls-Royce. They were clearly rich.

Hearing that instantly perked me up. I hadn't expected a big job to land in my lap right after Master left, so I hurriedly told Huzi to invite them in.

Only when they came inside did I realize that this father and daughter really did have a problem, especially the father. A cloud of black energy hung over his head, the space between his eyebrows was dull and gray, and baleful energy had gathered in his parents' palace. He was almost certainly going through a run of bad luck.

After eight years of training under Master, I could usually get a pretty good read on someone with a single glance.

At that moment, I was sitting upright in the living room. Even after Huzi brought them in, I remained completely still, putting on airs just like Master. Since they'd come to me, they clearly needed something. Even if they were here to give me money, I couldn't let them have their way.

That was what Master had taught me.

After leading them inside, Huzi said respectfully, "Young Master, this gentleman is here to see you."

I nodded and looked at the father and daughter. The sight made me pause. The girl beside the man looked familiar, as though I'd seen her somewhere before, but I couldn't remember where.

Still, the girl certainly caught my eye. She seemed about my age, with delicate features and fair, beautiful skin. Wearing a simple floral dress with her hair tied in a ponytail, she stood quietly beside her father.

The man glanced at me and said very politely, "Hello. I'm Zhang Yucheng, chairman of the Dragon Gathering Group in Yanbei. A friend referred me here to see Sect Leader Li. Is he in?"

"I'm sorry, but my master is away on a long trip. He said he wouldn't be back for a year," I replied.

"This is our young master, Wu Jie, the master's sole direct disciple. Before leaving, the master said that anyone needing help with anything could come to our young master," Huzi added from beside me.

Zhang Yucheng had looked disappointed when he heard that Master wasn't home, but learning that I could handle things too brought a smile back to his face. "That works just as well. As the saying goes, a great master produces outstanding disciples. If you're Sect Leader Li's disciple, I'm sure you're more than capable. I've run into a little trouble, and I'd like to ask for your help, Young Master Wu."

As soon as he finished speaking, I asked, "Mr. Zhang, are you from Yanbei City? Is all your business here in Yanbei?"

Zhang Yucheng smiled. "Yes, it's all in Yanbei. I'm a longtime local. Over the years, I've built up some wealth through my business. You could say I've done fairly well..."

I nodded. "I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang, but I can't help you. Uncle Huzi, please show them out."

Both Huzi and Zhang Yucheng froze at my words. Zhang Yucheng's pretty daughter also looked up at me, her brows drawing together slightly.

Huzi kept blinking at me, as if to say, We don't even have money for food. Why are you turning away business?

"But... Young Master Wu, why? As long as you get it done, just name your price. Money is no object," Zhang Yucheng said.

"This isn't about money. I really can't help you with this. Please leave." As I spoke, I looked at Huzi again.

Huzi shook his head helplessly and could only gesture toward the door, asking the father and daughter to leave.

At that, Zhang Yucheng grew anxious. "Young Master Wu, my daughter Yaoyao is a fellow student of yours. You both go to Yanbei No. 1 High School. Could you please help us for her sake?"

Hearing that, I glanced at the girl again. No wonder she looked familiar. We go to the same school. I must have seen her somewhere before.

The girl was quite pretty, probably one of the school beauties. But Master had kept a close eye on me all these years, and I had to train with him every day. I hadn't given much thought to any of that stuff, so it was only natural that I didn't know her.

"Which class are you in?" I asked curiously.

"I'm... in Grade Three, Class Six," the girl said, looking at me as her face flushed slightly.

Grade Three, Class Six-that was impressive. Yanbei No. 1 High School was the best secondary school in all of Yanbei City, and Grade Three, Class Six was its top class. Almost everyone assigned to that class could get into a prestigious university. They were nothing like a slacker like me. I was lucky the school hadn't expelled me.

Zhang Yucheng had tried to use his daughter to build a connection, assuming I would surely agree.

But after that single question, I simply waved my hand. "Show them out."

"Please leave, Mr. Zhang." Huzi began ushering them toward the door.

Zhang Yucheng gave me a reluctant look, then sighed and could only leave with his daughter.

Once they were gone, Huzi came back and said, "Young Master, we're already dirt poor, and you're still turning people away. How are we supposed to get by?"

"Uncle Huzi, before Master left, he specifically warned me that my first job couldn't be in Yanbei City. Have you forgotten?"