Chapter 30: Borrowing Lifespan
Yuanmai Villa, the mountain-view residence of the Li family.
Li Kang sat in a wheelchair, pushed by the housekeeper onto the balcony to soak in the humid sunlight. Sometimes he laughed, sometimes he cried, sometimes drool covered his face. His eyes held nothing but terror from beginning to end. Living was worse than dying—Li Kang embodied that phrase.
Behind Li Kang stood a middle-aged man in a suit, his face dark with worry. “Master Liu, according to what you said, my son Li Kang ended up like this because vengeful spirits are after his life?”
The suited man was Li Changshou, Li Kang’s father, a renowned real estate tycoon in Rong City, worth several billions.
“That’s right,” replied Master Liu, a white-haired elder with a childlike face dressed in white training robes, exuding a more ethereal air than Master Cao himself. Yet the hooked nose and beady mouse-like eyes lent him an air of cunning. His name was Liu Sen, known as Master Liu.
Li Changshou pressed, “Is it that wretched girl Zhao Qingqing?”
“No, I’ve already checked with the Underworld; Zhao Qingqing reported to the nether realm a month ago. The one who harmed your son must be someone else,” Master Liu replied.
“Find out who did this to my son, and I’ll give you five million!” Li Changshou was a man of means. He hadn’t yet seen the true extent of Master Liu’s abilities, but five million was a bet he could afford.
Master Liu smiled faintly. “Five million isn’t enough to buy my services. What I want isn’t money—it’s years of life.”
“What do you mean?” Li Changshou frowned.
“I want fifty years of life, no matter whose. Once you agree and appoint the candidate, I’ll handle the rest,” Master Liu extended his palm.
Li Changshou had never heard of trading years of life; it sounded mystical and strange. He called for his most trusted aide and explained the transaction roughly.
The aide, Li Changshou’s right-hand man, eager for a chance to solve his employer’s troubles, didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits and agreed without hesitation.
“You truly accept? Trading years of life requires voluntary consent. There’s no turning back,” Master Liu narrowed his eyes.
The aide laughed, scoffing at superstition. “The fortune-teller said I’d live to a hundred. For Mr. Li, what’s fifty years?”
---
“Good!” Master Liu gave a cold smile. “Before I begin, I need a deposit—twenty years of life.”
“Take it!” The aide didn’t care in the slightest.
Master Liu snorted, suddenly grabbing the crown of the aide’s head. The laughter stopped abruptly; terror flooded his eyes, his complexion paled, as if his life force was draining rapidly.
Li Changshou watched, horrified.
In just a few minutes, the aide transformed from a young man in his twenties to a balding, emaciated middle-aged man, skin and bones.
Master Liu released him, and the aide collapsed, limbs twitching uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Master Liu’s white hair receded, replaced by glossy black locks—he now looked barely thirty years old.
“Master Liu… truly worthy of your reputation. Such powers are almost supernatural!” Li Changshou exclaimed.
“The deposit is collected. When I fulfill your request, I’ll come for the rest. Now, let me trace the origin of your son’s affliction,” Master Liu said.
He produced a paper crane from his sleeve, plucked a hair from Li Kang’s head, tied it to the crane’s neck, and recited an incantation. The lifeless paper crane fluttered its wings and flew out the window.
Li Changshou was stunned. “This… is a miracle!”
“Just a minor trick,” Master Liu sneered. “Mr. Li, I’ll find the culprit. But remember my payment—otherwise, the consequences will be far worse than you imagine.”
“Don’t worry, Master Liu,” Li Changshou replied, glancing coldly at the half-dead aide at his feet. “He agreed himself. Even if he regrets it, it’s already too late.”
---
Early in the morning, Yan Yu rose, washed, took Dahei for a stroll, flirted with the jogging girls nearby, then returned to Xia Liu’s house to enjoy breakfast with her family.
Afterwards, he and Zhou Xiaowan were driven to Rongcheng No. 1 High School by Zhou Lide.
Zhou Lide seemed to have accepted Yan Yu’s presence, refraining from harsh words. Yet, over the past month, Zhou Lide’s resentment toward his daughter Zhou Xiaowan had only deepened.
“I have an engagement tonight. You’ll walk home yourselves. Also, tell your mother I won’t be sleeping at home tonight,” Zhou Lide said, then stepped on the gas and left.
---
“Uncle Zhou seems a bit off lately,” Yan Yu frowned.
Zhou Xiaowan sighed. “Because I testified against Li Kang, the Li family has been making things difficult for my dad’s business…”
“Birds of a feather,” Yan Yu snorted.
“But I understand Dad—he’s under a lot of pressure.” Zhou Xiaowan shook her head.
Yan Yu patted her shoulder. “Xiaowan, it’s not just Uncle Zhou. I feel like you seem a bit strange today too.”
“Me? What’s wrong?” Zhou Xiaowan asked, puzzled.
“You’re… suspiciously pretty today,” Yan Yu replied.
Zhou Xiaowan froze, then realized he was teasing her. Her brows relaxed, cheeks flushed, and she gave him a playful glare.
The two entered the campus together and parted ways at their classroom. After Yan Yu entered Class 2, he heard the boys shouting, “IG is awesome! IG is awesome!!”
“Egypt is awesome? What’s so awesome about Egypt? Did the pharaoh come back to life?” Yan Yu wondered aloud.
Fatty and Hao Zhuang came over. “Boss, you don’t know IG? Are you even a man?” Fatty said.
“What does being a man have to do with IG?” Yan Yu kicked Fatty.
Hao Zhuang laughed. “IG is our country’s LOL team. They won the world championship yesterday. Any summoner would be proud—it’s our lost youth, our unrecognized persistence!”
“Is it really that dramatic…” Yan Yu had grown up in the mountains, never touched video games.
“Of course! Electronic sports used to be considered digital poison by parents nationwide, but in reality, it was just a scapegoat for failed education. Now it’s called gaming—fifteen years ago, it was called puppy love; thirty years ago, idols; thirty-five years ago, Hong Kong movies; forty years ago, wuxia novels!” Fatty thumped his chest like a passionate orator.
Hao Zhuang agreed. “When I was little, I wanted to be a pro gamer. When I told my parents, they nearly sent me to a gaming addiction rehab center. I heard there’s a Professor Yang there—terrifying, with an electric shock therapy that scares everyone…”