Chapter Nine: Driving Away the Vagrant, Successfully Renting a House

The words of the elegant landlady before him confirmed one thing for Wang Fan: that beggar, by some twist of fate, had entered the hall of inheritance and obtained its secrets. He had begun to cultivate, becoming a practitioner.

“Don’t worry, beautiful landlady,” Wang Fan declared with a confident pat on his chest. “If all goes well, I should be able to deal with that fellow for you!” After speaking, he took out his phone and addressed her, “Z City has been chaotic these days. The police will take a long time to handle your case. Why not let me take care of it instead?”

His tone grew ever more assured as he spoke, brimming with boundless confidence—the confidence of a man whose cultivation had reached the peak of the Sea of Suffering realm.

Lady Fang Jie, the noble landlady, fell into deep thought upon hearing Wang Fan’s words. She pondered, weighing his suggestion carefully. Indeed, the city’s security had deteriorated; robberies plagued many neighborhoods, and even more dangerous crimes occurred. The police were overwhelmed and could not respond promptly. She had personal experience with this: before Wang Fan became her tenant, she had waited for the police for half a day, but even after all that time, no patrol car had arrived. This alone spoke volumes about the chaos in Z City.

After much deliberation, Fang Jie gritted her teeth and said to Wang Fan, “Young man, I’ll give you a chance. But remember: don’t overdo it.”

“No problem, leave it to me. And if I solve your troubles, landlady, you’ll rent the apartment to me,” Wang Fan replied, flashing a broad, confident smile.

“OK!”

— — —

In the heart of Z City, on the thirteenth floor of Building A near the botanical garden, Fang Jie drew a deep breath and twisted the key in the door. As the door swung open, Wang Fan had already begun circulating the boundless energy within his Sea of Suffering, the azure vigor coursing through his body, strengthening him immeasurably.

His body surged with power as he stepped forward, moving with the agility of a great ape. In a heartbeat, he flung open the door and charged inside. As he entered, a voice rang beside Fang Jie’s ear: “Leave the rest to me, landlady. Wait outside for the good news!”

Fang Jie halted, standing nervously outside, waiting.

Wang Fan strode like a dragon and a tiger into the living room. The television was still broadcasting the local news—more chaos in Z City. On the sofa lounged a vagrant in a green military coat, stubble covering his face, greasy hair unwashed for who knew how long, and battered army boots on his feet. He sprawled lazily across the cushions.

“Well now, trespassing in someone’s home isn’t exactly proper,” Wang Fan remarked as he stepped before the television, his tall frame blocking the screen, and turned toward the vagrant on the sofa.

The vagrant, enjoying the news blissfully, was startled by Wang Fan’s sudden appearance and sprang up from the sofa.

“Trespassing? That’s none of your business. The landlady here is a woman, if I recall,” he replied, eyes narrowing with serious intent.

“She is, but I’m hardly a stranger to this home. I’m a prospective tenant.” Wang Fan pointed at him. “You have no money for rent. You’d best leave now.”

“Leave? Ha!” The vagrant sneered, a mocking smile curling his lips. “Who do you think you are, telling me to go? You don’t have that right. Don’t tell me you’re a cop?”

“I’m not a policeman, but are you sure you won’t leave?”

“I won’t. In fact, you should get out now. Or I’ll show you how ruthless I can be.” The vagrant clenched his fists and threatened Wang Fan with a cold, confident laugh.

Wang Fan shook his head slightly—and in that instant, he acted. In a single stride, he crossed several meters like a champion hurdler, arriving before the vagrant in a flash. The air flowed with his movement, creating a gust that pressed upon the vagrant with overwhelming force. Wang Fan’s hand shot out, moving like a swift serpent, and seized the vagrant’s neck, lifting him bodily off the ground as if suspending him in midair.

Only then did the vagrant react, trying to resist. He gathered energy from his Sea of Suffering, directing it to his right hand, and chopped fiercely at Wang Fan’s gripping left hand. Yet, as his hand struck Wang Fan’s, it only tore the sleeve, leaving the skin unscathed.

Impossible! My hand strike can cleave marble, yet I can’t even break through his hand!

The vagrant’s face contorted in disbelief, his eyes reddening. He kicked and struggled desperately, trying to free himself from Wang Fan’s grasp, but Wang Fan’s fingers were like iron pincers—no matter how he fought, he could not escape.

“A mere beginner in the Sea of Suffering realm, unable to control your own strength, and you dare cause trouble? Pathetic!” Wang Fan sneered. He raised his right arm high like a hammer, bringing it down on the back of the vagrant’s head. In a single blow, the struggling vagrant fell unconscious. Wang Fan shifted his grip from the neck to the collar, dragged the vagrant out, and hauled him to the doorway.

“Beautiful landlady, he’s been knocked out. Once I’ve dealt with him, the apartment is yours to rent to me,” Wang Fan said, flashing Fang Jie a charming smile.

“Mm,” Fang Jie nodded, the worry that had clouded her features now replaced by a radiant smile—a smile so bright it stunned Wang Fan for a moment.

— — —

Half an hour later, all was settled. Wang Fan had received the rental contract, paid, and signed his name for a three-month lease. With two copies of the contract completed, the right to the apartment was now his.

After securing the apartment, Wang Fan thought for a moment and realized there was nothing of value left in his previous rental. He decided not to return, instead calling his former landlord to announce his departure.

With the old apartment relinquished and a new one acquired, Wang Fan had found a new place to cultivate. This meant that, come nightfall, he could begin his operation—he would infiltrate the botanical garden and pursue his advancement!