The allure of that kick

It was late at night.

The room was silent.

But Luo Yang's ears knew no peace. From the room next door came the sound of running water from a showerhead. He could even hear hands sliding over skin, fragrant shower gel, masses of bubbles.

Ye Zi was taking a shower.

Luo Yang shook his head gently, trying to drive the sounds of Ye Zi showering out of his mind. But they had taken root there, and nothing he did could dislodge them.

He simply closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind and study the Ancestral Shaman Spirit Infusion Art. Yet the moment he did, an image of Ye Zi bathing appeared in his mind: full breasts, a shapely bottom, snowy skin so delicate it seemed a breath could break it...

My hand ran through your black hair.

His imagination took flight.

A few seconds later, Luo Yang opened his eyes and glanced down at his body. A helpless, wry smile rose to his lips.

He was twenty-five, yet when it came to carrying on the human race, his record remained utterly blank. The Ancestral Witch Spirit Body had also heightened his senses, making him especially sensitive. Even the slightest sound could send his mind spinning with endless fantasies, inevitably producing some embarrassing reactions.

Sometimes, a man really needed a mischievous woman.

A few more minutes passed before the sounds of showering finally stopped.

Luo Yang breathed a sigh of relief and slowly entered a meditative state, retracing the Ancestral Witch Inheritance.

The Ancestral Witch Inheritance had three parts: the Ancestral Shaman Life Seal, the Ancestral Shaman Spirit Infusion Art, and the Primordial Medical Finger.

Now, the Ancestral Shaman Life Seal appeared in his sea of consciousness: a triangular △ seal composed of mysterious symbols and patterns, glowing faintly. Beneath the life seal sat a tiny ancestral shaman with his legs crossed. That was Luo Yang himself.

Only with this seal could one become an ancestral shaman!

As his consciousness shifted, another seal appeared, this one circular and faintly glowing.

It was the seal of the Ancestral Shaman Spirit Infusion Art.

All things possessed spirituality, from something as large as a mountain to something as small as a blade of grass. The Ancestral Shaman Spirit Infusion Art could awaken that spirituality and establish communion with the human spirit. It could also enhance an object's spirituality and improve its functions...

Morning came.

Luo Yang left his room and immediately spotted Ye Zi and Song Meiqi in the dining room.

On the dining table sat three bowls of rice porridge, a plate of vegetable salad, and a plate of smashed cucumber.

"Uncle Luo, come and eat!" Song Meiqi waved her little hand at him.

"Meiqi, you're such a good girl," Luo Yang said with a smile.

Song Meiqi added, "Uncle Luo, you're a lazybones. I was already up while you were still sleeping in."

Uncle Luo's smile froze on his face.

"Meiqi, that's no way to speak to an adult. Apologize to Uncle Luo," Ye Zi scolded.

Song Meiqi giggled. "Uncle Luo doesn't mind. Do you, Uncle Luo?"

Luo Yang walked over and stroked Song Meiqi's head. "Who could mind when Meiqi is so adorable?"

Ye Zi sighed. "You're going to spoil this child."

The moment she said it, she felt the words sounded a little inappropriate. But correcting herself would be awkward, and a blush spread over her pretty face.

Luo Yang felt a little awkward too and quickly changed the subject. "Ye Zi, didn't you say the fridge was empty? How did you make breakfast?"

"There was a bag of rice in the kitchen cupboard, and the housekeeper planted some vegetables in the back garden. I picked a few and threw together a couple of dishes. Sit down and eat before the porridge gets cold," Ye Zi said.

The three of them ate breakfast.

"Uncle Luo, hurry up and make me better. Once I'm well, I want to race you," Song Meiqi pestered him.

Luo Yang smiled. "You're the least afraid of doctors of any child I've ever met."

Song Meiqi lifted her chin and declared proudly, "Of course! I'm the best-behaved child."

Ye Zi burst out laughing. "Talk about blowing your own trumpet. Aren't you embarrassed?"

Song Meiqi pouted at her.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang.

Luo Yang turned his gaze toward the door, his ears twitching slightly.

A second later, his ears picked up a whole cluster of heartbeats and breathing. From the characteristics of those sounds, he could even determine how many people there were and where they stood.

"That might be Mr. Liu," said Ye Zi, who was clearing the bowls. She wiped her hands on her apron and prepared to answer the door.

Mr. Liu was the influential man she had mentioned the night before. His name was Liu Youshui, and he had extensive connections in both the legitimate world and the underworld throughout the Southwest Region.

But Luo Yang shook his head. "Ye Zi, I don't think it's the Mr. Liu you mentioned. There are a lot of people outside. I suspect they're here to cause trouble."

Ye Zi immediately frowned.

The only people who would come here to cause trouble were members of the Song Family.

"Take Meiqi back to the bedroom first. I'll handle this," Luo Yang said.

Ye Zi nodded, picked up Song Meiqi, and headed for the bedroom.

Bang, bang, bang!

The people outside had lost patience and started pounding on the door with their fists.

Luo Yang walked toward the entrance.

He had to open the door. Otherwise, the Song Family might accuse him and Ye Zi of sleeping together in the bedroom. He would not care, but it would be bad for Ye Zi.

The door opened.

Sure enough, a large crowd stood outside-more than twenty people.

The one pounding on the door was Song Dongming. Behind him stood an elderly man with graying hair and a mahogany cane. His face was lean, his eyes sharp, and he exuded an imposing authority even without showing anger.

Without an introduction, Luo Yang could already guess who the old man was: Ye Zi's father-in-law, Song Haichang.

Song Dongming pointed at Luo Yang. "Dad, that's the brat!"

"How dare you disgrace the Song Family!" Song Haichang said coldly.

The crowd surged inside around the father and son.

Outnumbered, Luo Yang was forced to retreat.

Another man entered.

It was Wang Shunli. There was simply no getting rid of this fly.

Wang Shunli gave a sanctimonious sigh. "Ah, Luo Yang, it's my fault for not teaching you properly. You're clever, but you put all that cleverness into crooked schemes. Pretending to be a miracle doctor to deceive Ms. Ye was bad enough, but after latching onto her, you dumped the girlfriend who'd stood by you through thick and thin. It truly pains me."

Luo Yang thought of the photos on his phone. But this old fly's willingness to provoke him openly meant he was already prepared to have them exposed. The Song Family must also have promised him substantial benefits.

Sure enough, Wang Shunli walked straight up to Luo Yang and lowered his voice. "Don't think you can threaten me with those photos again. Go ahead and release them. I don't care. But let me remind you, distributing photos like that is illegal. Liang Hong and I can both sue you until you're penniless!"

Disgust welled up in Luo Yang, and he shoved Wang Shunli away with one hand.

Wang Shunli staggered backward. If someone had not stepped forward to support him, he would have landed hard on his backside.

"You-you... How dare you lay hands on your teacher in front of all these people! You're an animal!" Wang Shunli was nearly beside himself with rage.

"You think you deserve to be a teacher?" Luo Yang said coldly. "Don't insult the word."

"You dare get physical even with me here? You've got nerve!" Song Haichang sneered, then suddenly barked, "Beat him!"

Seven or eight thugs immediately closed in on Luo Yang.

"Stop!" Ye Zi came out of the bedroom with a sharp shout.

No one heeded her. In moments, Luo Yang was surrounded.

"You're trespassing! I'm calling the police!" Ye Zi took out her phone and dialed.

Song Haichang lifted his cane and slammed it against the floor. "Trespassing? This is my son's home!" he snapped. "Meiqi is unfortunate to have a mother like you. I went to great lengths to get Director Wang to treat her, yet you had her discharged. You even let this brat treat her! Meiqi must come with me. I'm doing this for her own good! If you try to stop me today..."

Luo Yang cut him off. "You just want custody of Meiqi so you can take control of the Green Mountain Energy Company, don't you? At your age, you still want to act like a whore and be praised for your virtue. Can't you have some fucking shame? What right does someone like you have to be Meiqi's grandfather?"

Song Haichang was too furious to speak.

Song Dongming flew into a rage and roared, "What are you waiting for? Beat him! Beat him to death!"

The thugs lunged at Luo Yang.

Suddenly, a shout came from the doorway. "Stop!"

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

A tall, long-legged young woman came through the doorway, pushing a wheelchair.

A middle-aged man sat in the wheelchair. He had a round face and held a string of prayer beads, looking kindly and benevolent. But on closer inspection, a beastlike gleam lurked in his narrowed eyes.

"Song Haichang, you're getting on in years, yet you still have such a temper. Aren't you afraid of having a heart attack?" the man in the wheelchair drawled.

The remark was unpleasant, but Song Haichang did not utter a word in reply.

Song Dongming also looked startled and uncertain. His earlier arrogance vanished in an instant.

"Who the fuck are you? Watch your mouth!" One of the thugs suddenly reached out to smack the prayer beads in the middle-aged man's hand.

The young woman behind the wheelchair suddenly turned sideways and drove one long leg into the thug's chest. With a dull thud, the man, who weighed well over a hundred pounds, flew off the ground and sailed several meters before crashing down hard.

One kick silenced the entire room!