Chapter 48: The Haunted House
Mu Lichuan had always adhered to the principle of not provoking others if unprovoked. They had just arrived in the capital and couldn’t possibly have offended anyone. Even without asking, he knew who was behind this.
"Tell your employer to be careful, lest they lose both their reputation and wealth." Some people flaunt their status as mistresses, whether for love or money, but that was their personal affair. It had nothing to do with him, and he had no interest in meddling.
"Y-yes, yes!" The gang leader nodded frantically, shrinking back in fear of another beating. His stomach still ached terribly. Who would’ve thought this unassuming pretty boy could pack such a punch?
With that, Mu Lichuan left. He still needed an agent to help him rent a place. In his past life, he’d rarely bothered with daily trivialities—even his clothes were custom-made. Back then, his focus had been solely on work and study.
The capital’s prosperity far surpassed Chuan City’s, but so did its rents. The money in his hands was far from enough to buy property.
"Young Master Mu?" The agent had been chattering away when he noticed the boy staring fixedly at one listing. "This one?" he asked cautiously.
Mu Lichuan pointed. "Why is this house so cheap?" A villa for two million, with a decent interior area to boot.
The agent quickly pulled him aside, whispering, "Young Master, that place is uninhabitable. They say it’s haunted, every new tenant ends up dead. Over time, the price kept dropping." He loved money, but not at the cost of someone’s life. He lacked that kind of nerve.
"I see." Mu Lichuan nodded sagely. A haunted house would naturally scare buyers off. "Can you take me to see it?"
The man paled. "Young Master, you can’t be serious! I can’t let you—"
"It’s fine. I’ve got a strong fate. I even want to see what a ghost looks like." Despite his youthful appearance, Mu Lichuan’s demeanor made it easy to forget his age.
Zhao Xiaoyun sighed. Another rich kid bored enough to chase thrills. He’d met plenty like him.
"Fine. I’ll take you during the day, but I’m not going in." Zhao Xiaoyun valued his life. He’d warned the boy, if he didn’t listen, that was on him.
Mu Lichuan agreed. His courage came from skimming a "Ghost Subjugation" manual in his spatial storage last night. The knowledge was etched in his mind, all that remained was practice.
He wasn’t sure if it was due to his soul’s tempering in his past life, but his senses and memory had sharpened dramatically. Anything he read stuck instantly.
Upon arrival, his first impression was desolation, but no eerie aura. It was odd. Yesterday, the ghost energy around Zhang Jin’s mother had been palpable. Perhaps the daytime kept spirits at bay.
The villa stood isolated, likely by design when built. The overgrown trees lent an unnatural silence, almost oppressive.
The main house spanned three to four hundred square meters. The front yard’s once-luxuriant plants now thrived wildly, giving Mu Lichuan the unsettling feeling of being watched. Yet when he turned, only potted trees greeted him.
The unlocked door revealed dust-coated furniture, about sixty percent new - barely used before abandonment.
Mu Lichuan entered the house. Dark, congealed stains, likely blood, were splattered near the staircase in the living room, leading up to the second floor. In contrast, the second-floor hallway was dusty but spotless otherwise.
Besides the master bedroom, guest rooms, and study, the other side opened to a terrace connected to the living room. Plants blocked most sunlight, making the space cool and pleasant in summer but bleak in winter.
Though no feng shui expert, Mu Lichuan found the layout deliberately oppressive, as if designed to block all light. Prolonged darkness would sour anyone’s temperament.
Zhao Xiaoyun waited outside, shivering despite the daylight. The villa’s chill seeped into his bones. A rustle of birds taking flight startled him into falling on his backside, arms clutched over his head.
"D-don’t come near! I’m a good man, I’ve done nothing wrong!" he wailed.
"It’s me." Mu Lichuan’s calm voice made Zhao leap up.
"Young Master! Thank heavens you’re back. This place, even fifty thousand wouldn’t tempt anyone." Zhao Xiaoyun rubbed his arms. No wonder colleagues fell ill after visiting. A true haunted house, terrifying even by day.
Mu Lichuan’s eyes glinted. "If you can get it for fifty thousand, I’ll give you a hundred thousand commission."
He hadn’t detected anything supernatural yet. Perhaps nighttime would reveal more.
Zhao Xiaoyun looked horrified. "You can’t be serious!" Who gambled with their life? Even rich kids had limits. What if he ended up jailed for manslaughter?
"Since when do I joke? I just fancy buying a haunted house for fun. But my allowance..." Mu Lichuan trailed off meaningfully.
Zhao Xiaoyun didn't understand spoiled rich kids. First, there was the Zhang family's reckless son, and now this crazy one. What was he supposed to do?
"Fine. But are you sure?" The villa was a hot potato. Only a fool would waste money here.
Mu Lichuan shook his head. "A deal’s a deal. What’s there to fear?" If they survived, business would flourish.
Truthfully, Mu Lichuan planned to specialize in the supernatural - cases science couldn’t explain. Ordinary careers held no appeal. His path was cultivation.
Fifty thousand was pocket change to the wealthy but substantial for commoners. Initially, Mu Lichuan hadn’t planned to buy a property, just browse. But the agent’s comment made him propose it casually. If it fell through, renting would suffice.
Back at the hotel, he discussed the "haunted house" with his grandfather, who warned against rash action. The capital’s strong imperial aura meant this wasn’t just a simple haunting.
Sure enough, visitors arrived that afternoon.
"Are you the ones interested in the western villa?" A middle-aged man with graying hair looked at them with hopeful eyes.
"Depends on the price. We’re just country folk with shallow pockets." Mu Lichuan smiled. Negotiations were his forte. His grandfather’s expertise lay in cultivation, not haggling.
"So you’re the masters." The man showed no disdain. "When we built that villa, we uncovered something. A master suppressed it, but the place became unsellable. Too many deaths."
As a modern man, he’d dismissed superstitions, until years of misfortune forced him to seek help. Even the previous master had died mysteriously, deepening his dread.
"If you can lift the curse, the villa is yours," Su Yun said sheepishly. His family had fled abroad, leaving him to resolve this alone.
Mu Lichuan laughed coldly. "What a bargain. Who knows what horrors you dug up? No wonder no one dares touch this."
Despite his worn appearance, Mu Lichuan knew he was a cunning businessman - one who had probably made his fortune through questionable means.
"Young Master Mu is sharp." Su Yun had expected the elder to be the real expert. But hearing the boy had inspected the villa, he dared not underestimate him.
Mu Lichuan’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "You brought the unearthed object with you, didn't you?" The man's arrival seemed to bring a dark, ominous energy.
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