Chapter 113: Storming the Qi Residence

Master sat up with a puzzled look and came over to my side. Li Muyang, who had been silent until then, also approached. Master looked at the yellow talisman in my hand and asked, “What are you planning to do, kid?”

I looked at the talisman and smiled faintly. “Fulfilling a promise.”

With that, I waved the talisman, and a ghostly aura drifted out, settling across from me. Master’s eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, “Kid, what’s going on here?”

Li Muyang reacted strongly as well. Upon seeing the summoned spirit, he suddenly became serious, pulling out a yellow talisman of his own. “Vengeful ghost, how dare you cause trouble in the living world? I’ll capture you!”

He lunged toward the spirit, but it trembled and floated behind me. I shook my head and took the talisman from Li Muyang’s hand. “Don’t get excited. He’s not a vengeful ghost.”

Li Muyang stared at me in confusion. I then pocketed the talisman and turned to the summoned spirit. “Do you remember swearing a ghost’s oath?”

The spirit nodded quickly, like a chicken pecking at rice. I smiled gently and said, “Good. Since you swore that oath that night, I’ve also taken a vow. I promised that once this was over, I would send you back to the underworld. Are you ready?”

The spirit brightened and nodded again. “Master—no, benefactor—I’m ready.”

I nodded back and looked at Master. I truly didn’t know how to escort souls back to the underworld, so I had to rely on him. Master met my gaze, nodded, and with a wave of his hand, a terrifying black gate of the underworld appeared inside the room. I looked at the gate and spoke solemnly: “Go now. May you be reborn into a better life. Farewell.”

The spirit stared at the gate, sensing the deathly aura emanating from within. Thoughts swirled in his heart. He bowed deeply to both Master and me and thanked us before slowly stepping into the gate. At the threshold, he paused, turned back, and said, “Benefactor, goodbye.”

I nodded, and the spirit lowered his head and disappeared into the gate. Master’s hand turned, and the dark portal vanished. I exhaled deeply and sank onto the soft bed. Li Muyang yawned and said, “Senior, Lin Xuan, I’m heading back to my room to sleep.”

Master nodded. I was momentarily startled and looked at Master, who then looked at me and said, “I arranged a room for this kid too. Otherwise, we’d only have two beds. Do you like sleeping with men?”

I immediately shook my head in disgust. Master chuckled and lay down on the bed. “Enough. Time to sleep.”

I nodded and crawled under the covers. Master turned off the light, and soon the sound of his snoring filled the room. Though I had slept most of the day, I was still very tired. I lay back and quickly drifted off to sleep.

***

The next morning, I woke early. It was the most restful sleep I had had in a long time. Yawning, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash up. Master got up soon after. I went to Li Muyang’s room to wake him. Once the three of us were ready, we left the hotel.

Walking down the street, I saw many people out for their morning run, while vendors lined the roadside selling breakfast. Master led us to a small noodle stall. We sat down, and he ordered three bowls of plain noodles.

After we finished eating, Master wiped his mouth, paid the vendor, and asked, “Are you both full?”

Li Muyang and I nodded. Master stood up and said, “Let’s go. We’re heading to the Qi family.”

Li Muyang looked pleased at the mention of the Qi family—it was the home he had lived in for over ten years. I was also happy, knowing another spectacle was about to unfold. Master’s fiery temper would surely unsettle Qi Han, and all I would have to do was watch the drama.

We hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address. Soon, we arrived at the Qi family estate. Two bodyguards stood at the gate, eyeing our car suspiciously. Master smiled slightly, stepped out, and the guards stiffened. One approached and asked, “Sir, what brings you here?”

Master had his hands behind his back, a cigarette dangling from his lips. “Why shouldn’t I come? Where’s your master?”

The guard glanced behind him. “The master is in a meeting. Should I notify him for you?”

Master waved his hand dismissively, smiling. “No need.”

The guard was taken aback, puzzled by Master’s confidence. Li Muyang and I got out of the car as the driver drove off. Li Muyang stood behind Master and said, “Brother Ming, Brother Xiong, I’m back. This is my senior and my friend. Let’s go in.”

The two guards looked at Li Muyang, surprised. “Muyang, what are you doing here? Weren’t you always at the Qi estate?”

Li Muyang chuckled. “Grandpa sent me out on some errand a few days ago. Didn’t you two know?”

The guards shook their heads. Master then spoke: “Enough. I have business with your master. Let me pass.”

One guard hesitated and said, “Sir, I understand, but our master is in a meeting right now. It’s really inconvenient. How about I notify him, and you wait in the reception hall?”

The other guard looked embarrassed as he added, “Would that be okay?”

***

Master frowned slightly, said nothing more, and strode forward. The guards tried to block him, but an overwhelming aura radiated from Master, forcing them to retreat repeatedly. Without a shred of courtesy, Master kicked open the gate and shouted, “Qi Han, come out here!”

I followed inside. Passing the two guards, I glanced at them sideways, ignoring their presence. Li Muyang helped them to their feet and said, “Brother Ming, Brother Xiong, don’t get involved in this. Take my advice, seriously.”

The guards looked at Master’s retreating figure and then at Li Muyang, disgruntled. “Damn it, who is this guy? How dare he barge into our Qi family?”

Li Muyang shook his head. “I don’t know. Only that my senior is formidable. His disciple’s surname is Lin. Grandpa said he might be the head of the Lin family. You’ve been here longer than me—you must have heard of the Lin family.”

“The Lin family? Damn, no way, such a young head? We all know the Lin family. When the old head was in power, we guarded this estate precisely because of them. The Lin family almost wiped out the Qi family. Damn, what has the head offended to have so many coming after him?”

“One after another? What do you mean by that, Brother Ming?” Li Muyang asked, puzzled.

“Not long ago, the young master of the Liang family, Liang Chen, also came here. Our two families have business ties. Seems the Qi family head cheated the Liang family, so they came to challenge us. You wouldn’t know—our head was fierce, saying if they didn’t concede, there’d be a fight. Liang Chen is no pushover either, no respect given, both young and hot-tempered. They almost clashed right in the courtyard. Luckily, your grandpa stepped in and resolved it. The Liang family retreated, but I reckon the Qi family is now at odds with them. Being head isn’t easy.”

Brother Ming sighed deeply. Li Muyang frowned, silent, and looked at us. Master and I stood in the Qi estate courtyard. Qi Han, who had been sitting at the head of the meeting room, looked toward us after hearing Master’s shout. He whispered something to a nearby person before stepping out, smiling broadly as he approached.

“Ah, senior, what wind has blown you here? I was just in a meeting. Sorry about this. Why don’t you wait in the reception room for a while?”

Master’s eyes narrowed at Qi Han’s insincere smile. He returned a smile and said, “Qi Han, you really are forgetful. Don’t try that with me. I came today just to get some answers.”

Qi Han feigned confusion. “Answers? Senior, I don’t understand what you mean.”

Master smiled again and said, “Keep pretending if you want. I’ll tear through your Qi estate in no time. Try me.”

Qi Han’s derisive expression finally faded as he looked at Master and me, his face gradually darkening.