C15

I was startled, realizing that today marked exactly seven days.

The room was cramped as Boss Wu entered with two men in tow, all clad in black shirts, broad-shouldered and menacing. Clearly, they were no strangers to violence. And judging by the commotion in the hallway, there were more than just the three of them.

Both Third Uncle and I were broke, not a dime to our names, let alone three hundred thousand.

So, when they barged in with their questions, I was taken aback.

Third Uncle, on the other hand, was an old hand at this. He remained much more composed than I was. Upon their arrival, he even managed to bow to Boss Wu, saying, "Benefactor Wu, I offer my respects."

Boss Wu, visibly annoyed, gestured dismissively, "Cut the crap, Taoist Lee. You spend your days playing at being a monk, and you don't fool me one bit. I don't care whether you're a real Taoist or not; I'm only interested in my money. Hand over four hundred thousand today, including interest, and we'll call it even. Otherwise..."

His tone shifted, and the two henchmen behind him stepped forward, casting a threatening pall over the room.

I clenched my jaw. What a loan shark! The debt had soared by a hundred thousand in just a few days. But there was no one to blame but Third Uncle. He chose an avenue for borrowing money that was outside the law's protection. Now, he was left with no choice but to endure the consequences in silence.

Hearing this, Third Uncle's face fell, and he hastily replied, "Boss Wu, I understand the four hundred thousand, but..."

Boss Wu let out a cold laugh, "What good does your understanding do? I should never have trusted you in the first place..."

With that, he shot a chilling glance at me, standing to the side, his gaze so icy it sent shivers down my spine.

He then turned back to Third Uncle, "Not only have you failed to repay the money, but you've also dragged your own nephew into this mess. Do you even resemble an uncle? I'm embarrassed for your nephew..."

Upon hearing those words, I felt a twinge of displeasure. It had been years since I'd seen Third Uncle, and he wasn't exactly the most reliable, but blood is thicker than water. We could handle our own affairs, but I couldn't stand to see a relative insulted by an outsider. Regardless, Third Uncle and I were now in the same trench.

So, when Boss Wu finished speaking, I let out a cold laugh and retorted, "Boss Wu, we may be out of money, but we still have our lives. Do with that what you will. However, the issues between my uncle and me are none of your concern. I'd advise you to watch your words…"

Considering the situation was already dire, I had nothing to lose and didn't mince my words. Third Uncle glanced at me, his eyes brimming with approval.

Boss Wu, accustomed to being haughty, couldn't handle the slight. His face contorted with anger, and after glaring at me for a tense half minute, he managed a strained, sarcastic smile and said sharply, "Impressive, the young man has backbone. If you're so brave…"

With that, he gestured, and his henchmen moved to apprehend me.

Third Uncle quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "Boss Wu, Boss Wu, there's been a real misunderstanding. I'm not trying to buy time. I'll be straight with you: a couple of days ago, I came across a property, a haunted house. I was planning to cleanse it and flip it for a profit, which would have settled my debt. But this morning, the owner backed out. If you don't believe me, I can show you the call log—it just happened…"

Third Uncle pulled out his phone and offered it to Boss Wu.

Boss Wu didn't take the phone, but his expression shifted noticeably after hearing Third Uncle out. He fixed his gaze on Third Uncle and inquired, "Are you saying... you can cleanse a haunted house?"

At that, Third Uncle straightened up, his demeanor a stark contrast to his earlier timidity.

With a calm assertiveness, Third Uncle declared, "Cleansing a haunted house is a minor feat for me, hardly worth mentioning."

Boss Wu's voice took on a grave tone as he demanded, "Where is this haunted house? Take us there."

We were clueless about Boss Wu's real motives, but in that moment, we had no grounds to refuse, nor the power to do so. Our only option was to comply.

Boss Wu and his crew took Third Uncle and me outside. It felt less like we were being led and more like we were under escort.

Outside, two business vans were parked. I hadn't anticipated that Boss Wu would go to such lengths to handle Third Uncle and me. Boss Wu, Third Uncle, and I got into the first van, and under Third Uncle's guidance, we stopped outside the desolate tower.

"There it is," Third Uncle said, pointing at the building. "Lee Yang and I tackled this place. It was notorious, claimed several lives. If you doubt it, ask around. It's safe now, though."

Boss Wu nodded. "Tell me how you managed to neutralize it," he requested.

Third Uncle relished the opportunity. I could tell his gift of gab far surpassed his mastery of the Tao Arts. To say he spoke with the eloquence of a poet wouldn't be an overstatement. He animatedly recounted the tale of how we dealt with the haunted house, spitting enthusiasm as he painted the scene for Boss Wu and his henchmen.

I'll spare you the details. Suffice it to say, he embellished our true experiences with a touch of the mystical.

Had I not been there myself, Third Uncle's rendition would have convinced me he was more deity than man.

Yet, Third Uncle's boasts were grounded in truth. He skillfully wove fact with fiction, ensuring the realistic parts were believable while adding flair where it was needed. I was utterly captivated, but Boss Wu and his associates listened without giving anything away.

After the storytelling, Boss Wu had his men drive us straight into the city center without disclosing our destination.

Third Uncle and I exchanged glances, our confidence waning. It appeared his performance hadn't made the impression we'd hoped for.

As we passed the soaring skyscrapers, a mix of emotions churned inside me.

Eventually, Boss Wu parked in a high-rise's garage and had his men usher us into what appeared to be a conference room.

Then, we were left alone, just Third Uncle and me, waiting in the silence.

Third Uncle approached the door and gave it a tug, then turned to me with a wry smile. "The door's locked."

I was at a loss for words. With the situation as it was, all we could do was leave it to fate.

We spent a good two hours waiting in the basement. Twice during that time, we knocked on the door, but to no avail. It was an unbearable feeling, like two prisoners awaiting their verdict.

Worn out, Third Uncle and I slumped into our chairs, nearly dozing off.

Come noon, someone finally unlocked the door to deliver a meal, complete with several bottles of beer. Before we could utter a question, the delivery person departed, and the door was promptly locked behind them.

Third Uncle and I exchanged glances, eyeing the lavish spread before us. Under the circumstances, it was incredibly tempting.

We decided to dig in without further ado.

Without a word, Third Uncle and I silently agreed, picked up our chopsticks, and polished off the meal, each downing two bottles of beer.

Patting his belly and belching with satisfaction, Third Uncle remarked, "This kind of life, with all the food and drink you could want, isn't half bad."

I fiddled with a toothpick and teased him, "Third Uncle, as a practitioner, you're not only eating meat but also drinking alcohol. Does that honor the Sanqing?"

Third Uncle retorted, "You don't understand a thing. The wine and meat may pass through the gut, but the essence of the Sanqing stays in the heart. Reverence for the Sanqing is something you carry within, not just for show. My approach is far superior to those Taoist and Buddhist disciples who are all about appearances."

As we were idly chatting away, the door suddenly made a sound. We quickly scrambled off our chairs and stood up.

Two individuals entered, the leader of whom we had never seen before. Dressed in slacks and a crisp white shirt, he exuded a sharp, professional air. His hair was slicked back immaculately, shining with what must have been a generous amount of gel. He appeared to be under fifty, sporting a neatly trimmed black beard, and his eyes were piercing, full of life. After stepping into the room, he scanned Third Uncle and me with a gaze so intense it felt like he could peer into our souls. In his hand, he carried an elegant redwood cane.

The presence he brought into the room was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was a different kind of aura than what Boss Wu exuded. Boss Wu's intimidation was purely based on his ferocity, instilling fear in those around him. However, this man, though not outwardly frightening, managed to exert a pressure that made you feel utterly insignificant in his presence.

Following closely behind him was Boss Wu.

Upon entering and noticing Third Uncle and me, the man gave a slight bow and spoke with courtesy, "I apologize for the delay; I was tied up with some business. I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long. Have you had your meal? Is there anything else you require?"

At that moment, Boss Wu stepped forward and introduced the man, "This is my older brother, Wu Tianyou, the chairman of Tianyou Group."

It was then I realized that the man we had been referring to as Boss Wu was actually Second Wu.

Wu Tianyou appeared slightly annoyed. With just a glance, Second Wu, previously mistaken for Boss Wu, instinctively stepped back, seemingly very wary of Wu Tianyou.

Wu Tianyou addressed Second Wu, "Second, I'd like to have a word with these gentlemen alone."

Second Wu quickly agreed, turning to us, "Please have a thorough discussion with my big brother. We can sort out our business amicably."

After saying that, Second Wu exited, closing the door behind him.

Wu Tianyou offered us an apologetic smile, "Please excuse the scene earlier. My brother Tianxiong has been rather lax since childhood, and I haven't had much time to correct him. If he has caused any offense, I offer my apologies on his behalf."

Third Uncle was quick to respond, "Director Wu, it's not your brother's fault. I'm the one who owes him a significant amount of money. Currently, I'm unable to repay it, but I assure you, I will settle the debt..."

Wu Tianyou raised his hand to halt Third Uncle's words and let out a cold huff, "He's been lending money behind my back again. I'll take care of this matter. You no longer need to worry about repaying it..."

I was astounded by Wu Tianyou's magnanimity. He didn't even inquire about the amount owed before dismissing the debt, which totaled a staggering four hundred thousand yuan, principal and interest included.

Third Uncle was taken aback and hastily responded, "Oh no, Director Wu, we're not the type to renege on our commitments. I borrowed three hundred thousand from your brother, but the interest rates are steep. If you could, please give us some more time to settle the debt..."

Wu Tianyou dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand. "Let's set that matter aside for the moment. The reason I asked you both to come today is that Tianxiong mentioned you have expertise in Feng Shui, is that correct?"