Ni Manxin watched Dong Yue’s retreating figure, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washing over her, leaving her dazed for a long while.
“Manxin, Manxin, Ni Manxin!”
Ni Manxin was startled by Tang Yubo’s voice, trembling all over. She turned and glared at him fiercely. “What are you shouting for? Can’t you keep your voice down? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“What’s so great about Dong Yue? He’s already gone, and you’re still staring pitifully after him. Your soul’s about to fly off with him—no sense of a lady’s modesty at all.”
Upon hearing this, Ni Manxin mentally cursed his ancestors from head to toe.
She casually picked up a spoon from the table and rapped him hard on the head several times.
Tang Yubo quickly covered his head and circled the table, chasing and being chased by Ni Manxin all morning.
“Young Master, that’s him—the guy who owes us ten million.”
In the top-floor private room of the Starlight Casino sat a man dressed in white. Behind him stood a man in a blue suit, bending over to explain.
“Young Master, he’s been holed up here these past few days, not leaving even once. According to our people below, his luck has been good lately—he’s won quite a bit of money from us.”
“Oh, really?”
The man in white stood up, walked to the door of the private room, and left a message: “Find a way to trip him up. Let him taste plenty of sweetness first, and then…”
The man in white gave him a knowing look before walking out.
Ni Yuan remained completely unaware of the danger approaching him. Looking at the fortune he’d amassed over the past few days, he was thrilled.
Once he made it big, he’d tell his daughter to quit her job. Watching her leave early and return late every day, he pretended to be indifferent on the surface, but his heart ached for her.
After his wife passed away, she was all he had left. Ever since he lost a villa gambling last time, his daughter had barely spoken to him.
Now, to break this deadlock, the only way was to make more money and buy her a new house. Maybe then she’d truly forgive him.
When Ni Manxin returned from work and opened the door, she was surprised to see Dong Yue and Tang Yubo sitting peacefully on the sofa watching TV.
She couldn’t figure out what was going on with these two. They were always at odds, fighting over trivial matters like children.
“Manxin, you’re back! I’m so hungry!”
Seeing Manxin standing at the door, Tang Yubo rushed forward, acting spoiled.
As he reached for the food in Ni Manxin’s hands, his fingers suddenly zapped as if electrocuted, forcing him to pull back.
Thinking about the strange things that had been happening around him lately, he couldn’t make sense of it. Instinctively, he felt it was Dong Yue constantly tripping him up, but he couldn’t understand how Dong Yue managed it.
For example, last night, he was helping Ni Manxin in the kitchen. But before long, his hands somehow got burned by the stove fire.
He couldn’t comprehend it—after all, he’d been a chef for many years. How could such a rookie mistake happen to him? His intuition told him it was Dong Yue’s doing.
But Dong Yue wasn’t even in the kitchen; he’d been watching TV in the living room the whole time. At this thought, he shuddered and glanced around nervously, then leaned close to Ni Manxin’s ear and whispered, “Manxin, I think there’s something off about this place!”
Ni Manxin laughed. “What’s off about it?”
“Ni Manxin, don’t you feel like this house is haunted and eerie?”
Tang Yubo spoke while nervously hiding behind Ni Manxin, peeking around cautiously.
“Have you been watching too many horror movies lately? Has your brain not switched back yet?” Ni Manxin laughed.
Tang Yubo said: “I’m serious, haven’t you noticed how strange I’ve been these past few days? I get injured for no reason – I cut my hand while peeling a pear for you; I tried to massage your shoulders to make you comfortable, but then my hand became immobile; and just now my hand got burned. Isn’t this all very suspicious?”
“No, I must find a Taoist priest or something to check the feng shui of your house. Actually, there’s no time to lose – I’ll go find one right now.”
Before Ni Manxin could fully process this, Tang Yubo disappeared before her eyes, not even staying to eat lunch.
“Where did that Tang Duck go? He looked like he was in such a hurry, as if something major happened?” Dong Yue asked casually.
Tang Duck? Ni Manxin was momentarily stunned, but giving him this nickname wasn’t without reason – indeed, since he arrived, there hadn’t been a single peaceful day in the house.
Ni Manxin laughed: “I think he’s been watching too many mythology dramas lately, saying this house is haunted. How ridiculous!”
“Haunted? He really said that?” Dong Yue was secretly surprised. He hadn’t expected this mortal to be so perceptive. It seemed the recent spells cast on him had made him suspicious.
“Yes, he said he’s going to find some Taoist priest to bring here for inspection. What? You don’t believe him too, do you! He’s been like this since childhood – no one ever knows what’s going through his mind?” Ni Manxin sat nearby eating her meal.
Ye Yue ran over and jumped onto Dong Yue’s lap, worrying barking at him twice. Dong Yue stroked his fur, comforting Ye Yue through mental connection.
That night, Ye Yue transformed into Yan Lie and quietly came to Dong Yue’s residence, kneeling on the ground while looking at the Monarch with a worried expression.
Dong Yue felt gratified seeing that he hadn’t spoiled this little creature for nothing.
“Yan Lie, who am I?”
“You are the supreme Deity who rules over the Netherworld of the Four Seas and Eight Desolations, the Emperor of the Eastern Peak.”
“Then who do you think in all the Four Seas and Eight Desolations, besides my brother Donghua, could possibly subdue me?”
Yan Lie immediately shook his head upon hearing this.
“If all the deities between heaven and earth are no match for me, do you think mere mortals could subdue me?”
Yan Lie said: “Monarch, while that may be true, you still need to be careful!”
Dong Yue patted Yan Lie’s head reassuringly: “It’s fine, don’t worry. I’m actually quite curious about what kind of person he’ll bring to oppose me.”
Dong Yue sat by the bed thinking for a moment: “But Yan Lie, keep an eye on that Tang Yubo for me. I don’t think he’s as simple as he appears on the surface. I always feel his aura is very familiar, yet sometimes I can’t sense it at all.”
Yan Lie was very surprised, suddenly looking up at Dong Yue and urgently asking: “Monarch, aren’t you overthinking this? That guy seems foolish and silly, it shouldn’t be possible!”
Dong Yue nodded while looking at him: “Still, be extra vigilant. Remember to blow the Bone Whistle if anything happens – I can’t always be by your side. Remember this!”
With a serious expression, Yan Lie acknowledged the order, immediately transformed back into a small dog, and returned to Ni Chang’s side.
Even in the mortal realm, Ni Chang finds no peace! Long Chuyao is already targeting Ni Chang, and now another one comes to join the fray. Well, it’s fine—as long as I stay by her side and never leave her.
“Demon Lord, I have completed the investigation. That mortal Fang Yi is actually the Daughter of the Jade Emperor of the Nine Heavens. However, why she has also come here—this humble subordinate has yet to uncover.”
“Fang Yi? Long Chuyao? I know why she has come. You keep watch over the Demon Clan for me. You may leave now!”
The two shadows beneath the great tree vanished in an instant.