Chapter 15: The Con (Part 1)
"The Fuyung Money Shop... hmm, this is the one!"
After leaving the courtyard where the Nie Tian Branch resided, the two of them stopped hiding. They strolled brazenly through the streets for a while before Nie Yun's eyes finally locked onto the largest Money Shop in Luoshui City.
The Fuyung Money Shop wasn't owned by any of the Four Great Families. Instead, it was opened by Li Fu, a local nouveau riche whose wealth was second only to those families.
In his previous life, when the Demon Race launched a full-scale invasion, this same Li Fu had been the first to turn coat and become a Traitor. If he hadn't leaked their secrets, the Four Great Families wouldn't have suffered such catastrophic losses, nearly being wiped out entirely!
Because of this, he became a public enemy to all of humanity in Luoshui City. Many people wanted him dead, but unfortunately, he was always protected by layers of powerful experts from the Demon Race, and no one ever succeeded.
Back then, Nie Yun's own strength had been too low to participate in any of the Assassination attempts, but he still utterly despised scum who, despite being human, were willing to become Traitors!
Although the present-day Li Fu was still just a legitimate businessman and hadn't yet become a Traitor, now that Nie Yun knew what the future held, how could he possibly let him off? Naturally, he had to make an example of him!
'Besides, he's loaded. Taking a little of his money for myself shouldn't be a problem at all!'
Having made his decision, Nie Yun clasped his hands behind his back and walked into the Money Shop with the air of a sagely immortal.
"Welcome, masters. Are you here to make a deposit or a withdrawal?" An attendant greeted them the moment they entered.
A Money Shop could exchange silver notes and store silver taels, functioning much like a bank. Naturally, visitors were there to either deposit or withdraw money.
"Arrogance in the front, deference in the back; a tiger leaping over a dragon. The bright hall turns dark, neighboring the four great evils... Ai, it's been a long time since I've seen such a fiercely inauspicious building!" Without answering the attendant, Nie Yun gently stroked his beard and sighed, his eyes filled with worldly compassion.
"Inauspicious? Sir, don't speak nonsense! We had the Fuyung Money Shop's fortune specially read. It's supposed to have a prosperous business and an ever-flowing stream of wealth!" Before the attendant could even speak, a pot-bellied man emerged from the back of the hall, a displeased look on his face.
'He showed up so quickly... My luck is really good!' Seeing the man, Nie Yun almost died laughing.
It was none other than the future Traitor, Li Fu. Logically, a big boss like him rarely appeared in the shop. Nie Yun had planned to say a few more lines and then find a way to trick the attendant into fetching the owner. He never expected his luck to be so good that the heavens themselves would help him. He'd only said one sentence, and the man had popped out on his own.
Li Fu was in a very foul mood today. Although he was extremely wealthy, with a fortune rivaling that of the Four Great Families, he was completely henpecked. The "tigress" at home was incredibly domineering. With his current wealth and status, having three wives and four concubines would have been perfectly normal. But because of *that one* at home, he couldn't even look at other women, let alone take on multiple wives and concubines!
Everyone has a rebellious streak, and Li Fu was no exception. He broke the rules and secretly kept a mistress outside. He thought he had been extremely careful, but who knew that word would eventually leak out? The moment he got home today, the tigress had cursed him out in front of everyone and given him a savage beating. His whole body was still aching!
And that wasn't all. From the way the tigress was talking, she not only planned to deal with him but also to kill his mistress. Thankfully, he had hidden her in a very secret place, or someone would have truly died today!
'Ai, I hate that tigress, but there's nothing I can do. The family business was inherited from my parents-in-law. Even though the two old folks are long gone, my status at home is still lower than hers!'
It was because he had just been beaten by the tigress that he had returned to the Money Shop in such a foul mood. Who could've known he'd arrive just in time to hear someone call his business "inauspicious"? How could he not be angry? If it weren't for the fact that the "old man" before him had the sagely air of an immortal, he would have flipped out and thrown him out long ago.
"I was merely speaking casually. Please don't take offense. Apprentice, let's go!"
Though he was delighted internally, Nie Yun put on a disappointed expression. He shook his head, and with a flick of his sleeve, he led the burly Yang Yan toward the exit.
"Master, doesn't 'Arrogance in the front, deference in the back; a tiger leaping over a dragon' mean that this building gathers Yin Qi, causing the yin to flourish while the yang withers? It means the man of the house will be suppressed by the woman, right?" Just as they were about to leave the Money Shop, the seemingly simple and honest "apprentice," Yang Yan, suddenly spoke up.
Before they had even arrived, Nie Yun had clearly instructed Yang Yan on what to say. His question at this moment was, of course, deliberate.
The current Li Fu was enjoying a glamorous life, but according to his memories from his past life, Nie Yun knew that in about a week, his mistress's address would be completely exposed. The tigress at home would strip both him and his mistress naked and throw them out the front door, subjecting him to utter humiliation!
The incident had caused a huge sensation in Luoshui City at the time, and everyone knew about it. Li Fu's fear of his wife was exposed to the public, and Nie Yun, having recalled these events before coming, had naturally made his plans accordingly.
"Masters, please wait..."
Li Fu had originally dismissed the pair, but upon hearing the "simple apprentice's" explanation, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he hurriedly called out to them.
'Yin flourishing while yang withers... the man suppressed by the woman... Isn't that describing me exactly? Could it be that I've been suppressed by that tigress all these years because of this building?'
"My apologies, my apprentice spoke out of turn just now. Please don't take offense! We two, master and apprentice, will take our leave now!" Hearing his shout, Nie Yun knew his target had taken the bait, but he feigned reluctance anyway.
People are perverse sometimes. The more you chase after them, the more they ignore you. But the moment you try to leave, they get anxious.
Li Fu was a perfect example of this. He had originally thought the two were con artists, but seeing that they asked for nothing and that their words had hit so close to home, he rushed forward and blocked their path. "Master, it was I who was rude just now. Please, come inside!"
"Heh heh, we are just passing through. We saw that the layout of this building was amiss and merely commented on it casually. We do not wish to get entangled in worldly affairs by altering its layout. Sir, please let us leave!" Nie Yun pushed Li Fu aside and continued toward the door.
'Doesn't wish to get entangled by altering its layout? Does that mean the layout *can* be altered, and I can be free from that tigress's suppression?'
Li Fu was no fool. Hearing the "old man's" words, he felt like he had grasped a lifeline. He excitedly grabbed Nie Yun's arm. "Masters, save me! You absolutely cannot leave...!"
"This..." 'I didn't expect him to be so direct.' Nie Yun had prepared a whole slew of other lines, but the man had jumped right to it. He shook his head helplessly. "Fine. Since we have met, it must be fate. I will help you resolve this! However, this matter is extremely difficult... Ai! Let's go inside and talk."
As he spoke, a troubled expression appeared on his face, as if he were hiding some unspeakable difficulty.
"Yes, yes, please, come inside!" Li Fu led the way.
It wasn't that Li Fu was too stupid. It was that he was a man of considerable status in Luoshui City, and before *that incident,* very few outsiders knew he was henpecked. For a random Wandering Daoist to mention it so casually made him subconsciously believe that the man's words were true!
'Besides, even if they were trying to scam someone, they wouldn't have such an aloof, take-it-or-leave-it attitude, right?'
Upon re-entering the Money Shop, Nie Yun clasped his hands behind his back and pretended to inspect the room again. He suddenly spoke, "The left-hand hall faces the court, higher than the central hall. Forgive my bluntness, but has this gentleman recently committed an act detrimental to his family's harmony?"
"Ah?" Li Fu's affair with his mistress was a secret he desperately hid from the tigress, done with such discretion that even the spies of the Four Great Families might not have known. He never imagined this old man could see it just by glancing at the Money Shop's layout. He couldn't help but jump in shock, while marveling internally, 'A true master is a true master!'
"The right-hand White Tiger lies before the front desk... It seems a struggle between the dragon and tiger is inevitable, and disaster will surely strike from within! My apologies, my Cultivation is shallow. It's best if I don't look any further!"
Seeing that his every word was hitting its mark on the man's psyche, Nie Yun once again shook his head and turned to leave.
He looked as if the matter was too complicated and he no longer wanted to get involved.
"Ah... Master, you can't abandon me!" Hearing the "old man" make it sound so serious and then try to leave again, Li Fu was genuinely terrified.
It would have been one thing if the man had guessed one of his secrets, but he had hit upon two in a row. This was enough to prove that the old man before him possessed genuine skill and could actually help him!
"It's not that I won't help you, but your situation is truly difficult to handle. I have the will to help, but not the ability!" Nie Yun shook his head.
"Eh?" Behind them, Yang Yan had seen Li Fu fall for the trick and was inwardly blooming with joy. Now, hearing Nie Yun refuse again, he couldn't help but get a strange look on his face.
'Logically, we've taken it this far. Even if Nie Yun asked for money now, the guy would definitely give it. Our goal of swindling him has been achieved, so why keep refusing? Isn't he afraid Li Fu will actually believe him and stop trying to hold them back?'
"Master, name your price! Even five hundred... no, a thousand taels of silver is fine!" Seeing the old man refuse yet again, Li Fu gritted his teeth and made the offer.
Although Li Fu was very rich, he was also notoriously stingy. Anyone who knew him would know that for him to offer a thousand taels was unprecedented.
Hearing Li Fu mention a price, Yang Yan gently tugged on the corner of Nie Yun's sleeve, as if to say, 'A thousand taels of silver is a lot! Just take the money. How much more are you trying to squeeze out of him?'
Nie Yun ignored Yang Yan's tug and his expression suddenly changed. "Hmph! Money? Do you think we are common swindlers? In that case, we will not meet again! Farewell!"
With that, he strode toward the exit without a backward glance.
"Ah?" Li Fu had only mentioned money casually, never expecting to infuriate the "old man" so thoroughly. His face paled in fright. It was only then that he realized this person sought neither fame nor fortune; he truly seemed to be acting for his own good. With all doubt erased from his heart, he scrambled in front of Nie Yun, his knees went weak, and—THUD!—he knelt on the floor.
"Master, I was wrong! For the sake of heaven's virtue of cherishing all life, please save me!"