At dusk, the clouds glowing like flames seemed to set half the sky ablaze.
At the Qing City bus station, a man in his late thirties sat beneath a streetlamp in a black jacket, smoking. He grinned, revealing yellowed teeth that looked as though they had not been brushed in ages. He watched the people coming and going through the station, continuously searching for someone.
Suddenly, a seventeen-year-old-looking boy in a simple T-shirt and a pair of faded yellow jeans walked out of the station.
The man calmly stamped out his cigarette and walked straight toward him.
With a bang, the two collided. The middle-aged man cursed viciously, “Can’t you watch where you’re going? Keep your eyes open next time.”
He then turned and left, hurrying into a dark alley. A pleased expression spread across his face as he pulled out what he had stolen from the boy. But when he looked at it, he was dumbfounded. The boy had been carrying a stack of yellow paper, the kind burned as offerings for the dead.
“Damn, what terrible luck.” The middle-aged man threw away the paper. Then his expression changed, and he patted himself down. “Where’s my wallet?”
And it was not only his own wallet that was gone. Several wallets he had stolen earlier had disappeared as well.
On the street outside the bus station, Lin Fan smoked as he held three wallets and looked at the money inside. Altogether, there had to be three or four thousand yuan. “These pickpockets really make money fast.”
As he spoke, he came upon an elderly beggar by the roadside and casually tossed the money into the food container in front of him before walking away.
The begging old man had never seen anyone give so much. He repeatedly kowtowed toward Lin Fan’s back. “You’re a great benefactor! A great benefactor!”
Lin Fan then handed several wallets containing nothing but identification cards to a patrolling police officer. Only after that did he look over the street before him and mutter, “It’s been a year. I finally made it back.”
A year ago, at the start of his second year of high school, Lin Fan had been on his way to school when a disheveled old Daoist suddenly grabbed him and shamelessly insisted on taking him as his disciple.
Predictably, Lin Fan had kicked the old Daoist twice and told him to get lost.
Unexpectedly, the disheveled old man had then produced a bank card containing a full million yuan and said he would give Lin Fan the money if he followed him to study the Dao for a year.
With stars in his eyes, Lin Fan suspended his studies and ran off with the old Daoist.
Lin Fan shook his head as the experiences of the past year surfaced in his mind.
Although he had supposedly been studying the Dao, he had actually followed the old Daoist across the country, encountering all kinds of strange happenings.
Then, two days ago, in a thatched hut deep in the mountains, the old Daoist had clasped Lin Fan’s hand reluctantly and said that he was about to ascend to become an immortal.
Lin Fan knew the old man was about to kick the bucket.
Before his death, the old Daoist had instructed him, “Disciple, you’ve followed me for a year. Back when I was at the sect, everyone looked down on me. My qualifications were poor, and I’ll never make those old bastards acknowledge me in this lifetime. But luckily, I met you before I died. Once your Daoist magic reaches mastery, you must go to Zhongnan Mountain and beat every last one of those people’s disciples into the ground for me!”
“Don’t worry, old man. I’ll work hard and try to beat up everyone who looked down on you, both on the mountain and below it.”
Over the past year, Lin Fan had heard the old Daoist mention many times that his Daoist name was Xuandaozi. He had once been a renowned disciple of the Quanzhen Sect on Zhongnan Mountain, but unfortunately, he had been foolish by nature and suffered endless ridicule from his fellow disciples. Later, he had even been framed and expelled from the sect.
Lin Fan had never seen his father from the time he was a child. Supposedly, his father had disappeared not long after his mother became pregnant with him. After giving birth to Lin Fan, his mother had fallen ill and passed away not long afterward.
Although they had known each other for only a short year, the old Daoist had genuinely treated Lin Fan well. Naturally, Lin Fan had no reason to refuse to carry on his dying master’s wishes.
He shook his head, hailed a taxi, and got in. “Fenghua Residential Complex.”
He had grown up alone without ever seeing his parents. His only relative was his mother’s cousin.
After being away from home for a year, he naturally had to visit her first thing.
His thoughts whirled, and he soon arrived at Fenghua Residential Complex.
He bought some fruit at the entrance and went to his cousin-aunt’s door.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door opened soon after.
A woman in her late thirties opened it. Her name was Zhang Qingshu, and she was Lin Fan’s cousin-aunt.
“Xiaofan.” Zhang Qingshu was delighted to see him standing at the door. “Come in quickly. Let me have a look at you. You’ve grown so much taller in just one year. Where have you been all this time?”
“Auntie.” Lin Fan smiled as he walked inside, avoiding Zhang Qingshu’s question.
A middle-aged man in his early forties sat in the living room, watching the news. He wore a white shirt and glasses and looked rather refined.
This was Zhang Qingshu’s husband, Huang Zhongshi.
When Huang Zhongshi saw that Lin Fan was the one who had come in, his brows immediately furrowed. Then he said, “Come in.”
“Yes, Uncle.” Lin Fan nodded slightly.
His relationship with Huang Zhongshi had never been very good.
Huang Zhongshi worked for a large local company and was considered a minor manager. He was quite smug about it and looked down on his wife’s relatives.
Zhang Qingshu said from the side, “I’ll have Qingqing come out too. She hasn’t seen you in a long time.”
Huang Zhongshi gave a humorless smile. “Qingqing is studying. Why bring her out to see some riffraff?”
A trace of awkwardness appeared on Zhang Qingshu’s face. “Listen to yourself. Xiaofan isn’t an outsider. How can you call him riffraff?”
“He isn’t riffraff?” Huang Zhongshi glared at Lin Fan. “He ran off to play for a whole year and didn’t even attend school. What does he want to do, become some gang boss? What future can a person like that possibly have?”
Huang Zhongshi considered himself something of an ‘upper-class person.’ Having a relative like Lin Fan made him feel embarrassed.
What he had not expected was that Lin Fan’s eyes remained calm beneath his glare, as though he did not care about him in the slightest.
Huang Zhongshi had more than a dozen employees under him. At work, whenever he glared at someone, who among his subordinates would not be frightened?
This made him even more displeased.
Lin Fan truly did not care about Huang Zhongshi’s words. He had come this time simply to visit his aunt.
After following the disheveled old Daoist around, Lin Fan had met wealthy businessmen worth tens of billions who had all treated him with respect. He had seen all kinds of situations. How could he possibly show fear before a ‘big’ manager like Huang Zhongshi?
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Huang Zhongshi felt humiliated when Lin Fan failed to answer him.
Lin Fan said calmly, “You’re my elder. My master taught me that when an elder reprimands you, you should listen.”
Huang Zhongshi sneered. “You really think you’re some kind of gang boss? You even went out and found yourself a master? There are countless swindlers of all kinds out there…”
Lin Fan’s expression finally darkened slightly. “That old man did trick me into following him for a year, but the dead deserve respect, right, Uncle?”
The atmosphere stiffened. Zhang Qingshu stood to the side, unsure what to do.
At that moment, a bedroom door suddenly opened.
A girl in heavy makeup and dressed like a little delinquent walked out.
This was Lin Fan’s cousin, Huang Qing.
“Qingqing, you’re going out to play again?” Huang Zhongshi looked embarrassed.
He had just finished lecturing Lin Fan, only for his own daughter to appear dressed like this.
“What’s it to you?” Huang Qing pouted and walked outside.
“Qingqing.” Zhang Qingshu hurriedly said to Lin Fan, “Xiaofan, go with your cousin. She’s been hanging out with a group of delinquents recently, and I’m worried something might happen.”
“I’ll go take a look.”
Lin Fan had nothing else to do, and this was the only relative he had. He had no reason to refuse her request.
He quickly followed her out.
Inside the apartment, Huang Zhongshi slammed his hand against the table and glared at Zhang Qingshu. “Your useless relatives will never amount to anything. Why bother associating with them?”
Zhang Qingshu’s lips moved slightly, but she did not dare say anything.
At the entrance to Fenghua Residential Complex, Huang Qing had just hailed a taxi and opened the door to get in. Before she could close it, Lin Fan slipped inside as well.
Huang Qing stared at him. “Why are you coming with me?”
“My aunt asked me to accompany you. She’s worried something might happen.”
“I’m only going to sing with my friends. What could happen?” Huang Qing frowned and pointed outside the window. “Get out.”
Lin Fan did not move.
Over the past year, the old Daoist had cultivated his temperament quite well.
At the very least, something of this level was not enough to anger him.
“Drive to Imperial City KTV.” Seeing that Lin Fan shamelessly refused to get out, Huang Qing could not be bothered with him.
Lin Fan was slightly moved. Imperial City KTV was one of the most expensive entertainment venues in the area. Just getting through the door cost at least two thousand yuan.
Although Huang Zhongshi had a decent job, he should not have been able to let Huang Qing spend money like this.
Among the young people who could afford Imperial City KTV, which one was not either rich or powerful locally?
Lin Fan said nothing, and the car soon stopped outside Imperial City KTV.
After paying for the ride, Huang Qing pushed the door open to get out, but Lin Fan said, “Pay the fare.”
“What? You want me to pay?” Huang Qing’s eyes widened. She had never paid when she went out with a man. This was the first time in her life.
“The person who hailed the cab pays.”
“Don’t you have any gentlemanly manners?”
“I’m only here to accompany you. Besides, I don’t have any money.”
Lin Fan was telling the truth. Although he had been generous when giving money to the beggar earlier, he had returned home with nothing to his name. The last of his money had only been enough to buy his bus ticket back to Qing City.
As for the million yuan the old Daoist had mentioned, it had not arrived yet.
Huang Qing gritted her teeth, paid the fare herself, and walked inside, unwilling to bother with Lin Fan.
Unexpectedly, Lin Fan followed closely behind her, looking as though there was no way to shake him off.
Huang Qing then walked into private room 309 with practiced ease.
There were six men and five women inside. Smoke filled the room, and Lin Fan frowned. Men and women were gathered together, and the noise was deafening.
Before he had gone off to study the Dao, he had enjoyed places like this as well. But after spending a year in the mountains with the old Daoist, living a quiet and desireless life, he found the environment somewhat unbearable.
A delinquent-looking young man with a shaved head and an earring stood up and waved. Huang Qing sat down beside him.
He looked at Lin Fan by the door with hostility in his eyes. After all, Lin Fan had come with Huang Qing.
“Qingqing, who’s this?”
“He’s my distant cousin.”
“The cousin you mentioned?”
The group immediately burst into laughter. Clearly, Huang Qing had mentioned Lin Fan to them before, and evidently, she had not said anything nice.
Lin Fan walked over and said, “My aunt asked me to accompany my cousin for a while. I’ll sit here for an hour, then leave.”
With that, Lin Fan went to sit in a corner by himself and did not speak to them.
The group sang and drank, apparently having a wonderful time.
Huang Qing’s boyfriend was named Wang Zhengwei. His family possessed assets worth over a hundred million yuan. He and Huang Qing were classmates, but compared to an ordinary student, he was much more like a thug.
At that moment, Wang Zhengwei and Huang Qing began whispering to each other.
Huang Qing told him little by little how Lin Fan had shamelessly followed her there.
Wang Zhengwei laughed. “This guy probably hasn’t been to such an upscale place before. He shamelessly tagged along just to see the world. Guys, I think it’s about time we asked the stranger to leave.”
With that, Wang Zhengwei switched off the microphone.
With a stranger like Lin Fan there, none of them could enjoy themselves properly.
As soon as Wang Zhengwei stood up, the other five men followed him over, surrounding Lin Fan.
Huang Qing hurried over and whispered in Wang Zhengwei’s ear, “He’s my relative, after all. Don’t hit him.”
“Don’t worry. I know my limits.” Wang Zhengwei nodded, then said to Lin Fan, “Friend, you came to see the world, and you’ve seen it. Isn’t it time for you to leave?”
Wang Zhengwei had seen plenty of people like Lin Fan, nothing more than poor relatives trying to follow Huang Qing there and get to know rich young men like him.
At the thought, he could not help sneering inwardly. Did this guy have no idea of his own status? Everyone they played with came from fairly wealthy families. How could they possibly look favorably upon someone like Lin Fan? Did he even qualify to be friends with Wang Zhengwei?
“Has it been an hour?” Lin Fan had no idea what Wang Zhengwei was thinking. He glanced at his watch and said, “It isn’t time yet. But judging by the looks of things, you don’t welcome me.”
“You’re only realizing that now?” Wang Zhengwei’s eyes seemed to say, Do you have no damn self-awareness?
“That’s fine. I have things to do anyway, so I won’t disturb you.”
Lin Fan stood up and said to Huang Qing, “Let’s go. I’ll take you home, or my aunt won’t be at ease.”
“I said I want you to leave by yourself. Don’t you understand, country bumpkin?” Wang Zhengwei stepped in front of Huang Qing. “If you insist on being difficult, don’t blame us if our fists accidentally hurt you.”
“Don’t!” Huang Qing hurriedly tried to stop them. It was not that she cared particularly much about Lin Fan. If they beat him up, she would have no way to explain it when she returned home.
When Lin Fan heard that they wanted to hit him, he immediately laughed. During the year he had followed the old Daoist, he had learned more than occult techniques. The old man had also put him through devilish physical training.
Could these young men who spent every day drinking and indulging themselves really be his match?
Lin Fan could not be bothered to waste words with them. He was just about to take care of the group when Wang Zhengwei looked at him disdainfully and spoke.
“How about this? You’re Huang Qing’s distant relative, after all, and it wasn’t easy for you to come along and see the world. Let’s settle this civilly. We’ll drink.”
“If you drink yourself unconscious before us, you’ll obediently get lost. Huang Qing can stay and have fun as long as she wants.”
Lin Fan raised his eyebrows slightly. “And what if you’re the ones who drink yourselves unconscious?”
“Do you honestly think that’s possible?” Wang Zhengwei sneered.
Why did Wang Zhengwei have such confidence?
One of the men beside Wang Zhengwei was a fat man named Liu Bin, nicknamed the Lion of Liquor.
Liu Bin’s family ran a small distillery, and he had practically grown up soaking in liquor jars.
When it came to drinking, he had never encountered an opponent.
“Let’s drink baijiu. Beer takes too long.” Lin Fan shook his head at the beer covering the table.
Wang Zhengwei nodded and called to the server at the door, “Bring us some baijiu.”
Before long, more than a dozen bottles of baijiu were placed on the table.
Lin Fan silently picked up his phone and dialed a number.
The six men, including Wang Zhengwei, looked at him strangely, unable to understand what he was doing.
“Hello, is this 120? Imperial City KTV, private room 309. Yes, that’s right. Someone has alcohol poisoning. Yes, it’s pretty serious.”
With that, Lin Fan put down the phone.
Wang Zhengwei and the other five men turned livid. Damn it, even showing off had to have its limits.
They had been drinking with people for years, but this was the first time anyone had been this arrogant.
How much did this guy look down on the six of them?
“Wait here. I’m going to use the bathroom.”
Lin Fan stood up and headed toward the bathroom.
Wang Zhengwei thought he had chickened out. “There’s a bathroom in the room. Don’t even think about running, or we’ll break your legs.”
Lin Fan shrugged, entered the bathroom, and locked the door behind him.
He closed his eyes and softly recited, “Without color or scent, without fear or dread, one spirit talisman, heavenly soldiers ascend, swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the edict!”
This spell could turn someone into an undefeated champion at the drinking table.
The old Daoist had said it was nothing more than a minor trick of the unorthodox arts and told Lin Fan there was no need to learn it. But Lin Fan had found it rather interesting. Now, it had finally come in handy.
When Lin Fan came back out, the dozen or so bottles of baijiu had already been opened.
Seven drinking glasses were arranged on the table.
“How are we drinking?” Wang Zhengwei asked.
“I’ll drink a bottle. Each of you drinks a glass. We’ll see who falls first.”
Liu Bin took off his T-shirt and slammed his hand on the table. “You bastard, do you know that everyone at our school trembles in fear whenever someone mentions going head-to-head with me in drinking? They call me the Lion of Liquor. Do you think you can insult me however you please?”
“If you drink a bottle, I’ll drink a bottle too.”
Lin Fan’s eyes revealed a hint of admiration. “What courage, young hero!”