Screech...
The ear-splitting sound of a sharp emergency brake pierced the air.
The Cayenne came to a sudden halt, and a flustered female driver hurriedly stepped out.
Fang Yan rubbed his legs hard. Although they ached a bit, there were genuinely no injuries.
Phew, thank goodness. Fate wasn't playing that many tricks on me...
Fortunately, I awakened the power within my Dantian in advance; otherwise, that impact might have sent me right back.
"I'm so, so sorry! Are... are you all right?"
Fang Yan frowned and looked the female driver up and down. She was in her early twenties, wearing a dark women's business suit with the collar of a white shirt turned out over it, giving her a somewhat capable look.
The neckline was quite open, yet nothing was revealed—it probably wasn't much to speak of.
A cascade of beautiful hair fell over her shoulders, and delicate features were set in a fair face, her red lips adorned like precious stones.
She could be considered a beauty with a refined temperament.
However, the pain radiating from his legs quickly put an end to his appreciation.
He rubbed his knees and said, "Are you trying to run me over?"
"Ah? Of course not," the woman said, momentarily stunned. "I... I didn't mean to. It was all my fault—I was looking at the navigation system just now. Let me take you to the hospital?"
Although she had hit him, fortunately, she braked in time, and with the protective energy of his Dantian, it was only a bit of surface pain.
"Forget it, it's not that serious. Though if you'd hit me any harder, going to the hospital probably wouldn't have helped anyway."
Fang Yan shook his head and stood up, though walking was still a bit difficult.
At that very moment, however, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura.
Hmm? Why is there an aura of spiritual energy coming from this woman?
He looked at her again. Could it be that Cultivators have existed in this world all along?
Seeing the way Fang Yan was walking, the woman quickly offered, "How about I still take you to see a doctor? Get in the car first."
The aura of spiritual energy on the woman had undoubtedly caught Fang Yan's attention.
"No need, I just need to rest for a bit."
The woman looked at Fang Yan with some confusion. "Of course, but get in the car first. If you feel uncomfortable, we can head to the hospital at any time."
As soon as Fang Yan got into the car, a wave of fragrance rushed over him.
The scent of perfume and cosmetics wasn't overpowering, mixed instead with the natural, intimate fragrance of a young woman.
It was very pleasant.As Fang Yan turned his head, he caught sight of a potted plant sitting on the back seat.
Fire Leaf Ganoderma?
As a rare medicinal herb, the value of the Fire Leaf Ganoderma was by no means low. Not only did it possess traditional medicinal properties for expelling dampness and cold, but if consumed by a Cultivator, it could also aid in cultivation.
Although Fang Yan had not yet cultivated his physique, his eyes still lit up at the sight of something so rare.
However, a flash of disappointment quickly crossed his eyes. This Fire Leaf Ganoderma... was fake.
A normal Fire Leaf Ganoderma possessed spiritual energy, but this one had none.
After resting for a moment, the woman asked, "Sir, are you feeling better?"
Fang Yan nodded.
"Where are you going? I'll give you a ride," the woman offered politely.
Fang Yan thought about it. Continuing to search blindly probably wouldn't turn up any places rich in spiritual energy anyway, so he simply said, "Qingshui Garden."
The woman drove Fang Yan to the entrance of the residential complex and immediately took out her phone.
"Sir, my name is Chen Nuo'en. Let's exchange phone numbers. If you feel unwell, just call me, and I'll definitely take responsibility."
Fang Yan initially wanted to refuse, but as if remembering something, a somewhat conflicted expression appeared on his face.
"Sir?" Chen Nuo'en called out again.
"Oh, oh, sure. But... actually... when someone gets hit... paying a little compensation is fine, right?"
As he said this, Fang Yan had only one feeling: burning with embarrassment.
A supreme emperor of his generation, and yet at this moment, he was acting like a scammer staging a fake accident.
Helpless, even a heroic Cultivator could be stumped by a single penny. He was indeed desperately short on cash.
Who would have thought that Chen Nuo'en would simply nod? "Compensation? Sure, let's add each other on WeChat, and I'll transfer it to you!"
Hoo, fifty thousand yuan?
This woman... certainly didn't hold back!
His short-term financial problem was solved!
Looking at Chen Nuo'en before him, Fang Yan pondered for a moment and spoke again.
"Miss Chen, you and I are mere strangers, but I'll still give you a warning: if you bought that thing in the back thinking it was a Fire Leaf Ganoderma, you've been scammed.""What? You're saying... that's fake? Impossible, I bought this at Zhiyuanzhai!"
Fang Yan chuckled, leaned back into the car, and lightly rubbed his finger against the Fire Leaf Ganoderma.
A smear of bright red instantly stained his middle finger.
Fang Yan then stepped out of the car, leaving Chen Nuo'en sitting inside, utterly stunned and unable to recover his senses for a long time.
Who... on earth was he?
Without looking back, Fang Yan walked straight toward his apartment building.
As soon as he entered the building, however, he heard a commotion coming from upstairs.
"What are you doing? Why are you hitting people?"
"Hitting people? I'd rather treat you ladies right. Let me tell you, either cough up the rent for me right now, or else..."
The man let out a lewd laugh. "Hehe, the two of you spend the night with me, and I'll waive the rent!"
"Brother Kui, these two girls still look like virgins!"
"Haha, right? Otherwise why would I waive the rent? Two months' rent is two thousand yuan!"
"What do you think you're doing..."
"You're nothing but thugs, get out of here right now!"
Fang Yan's eyes widened in fury. Those were clearly the voices of his sister and Su Wan'er!
And the man's voice belonged none other than to the landlord, Zhang Kui!
In truth, this Zhang Kui wasn't the real landlord at all, but rather a local neighborhood ruffian.
Since the actual property owner had too many properties and found collecting rent troublesome, he had hired Zhang Kui specifically to collect it.
This guy was usually extremely tyrannical, beating people up if they couldn't pay. Even when they did pay, if the tenant happened to be a young unmarried woman or a newlywed, he would inevitably try to grope them.
Fang Yan instantly remembered. In his past life, there was once a time when Su Wan'er had come to visit him, right as Zhang Kui showed up to collect the rent.
They hadn't been able to pay, resulting in him getting beaten to a pulp, while his sister and Su Wan'er were harassed by Zhang Kui.
It was happening today?
Taking two steps at a time, he rushed upstairs as fast as he could.
Thud!
Fang Yan threw a punch, sending one of the men crashing to the ground.
The leader turned his head, glaring at Fang Yan with wide eyes. "Damn it, so it's you, you little punk. You dare lay a hand on my men? Don't you recognize Zhang Kui?"
"Brother..." Fang Miaoxue cried out.
"Fang Yan, why didn't you pay the rent?" Su Wan'er immediately demanded.
To her, it seemed that Fang Yan was the one at fault, even though these rent collectors were resorting to violence...
Ignoring Zhang Kui and Su Wan'er entirely, Fang Yan walked straight toward Fang Miaoxue. "Miaoxue, did they bully you?"
"They almost pushed Miaoxue down just now. If you'd come back any later, they would have bullied both of us!"
Su Wan'er spoke up first, her tone full of resentment.
Fang Yan turned to look at Zhang Kui, his gaze as cold as ice!
Zhang Kui couldn't help feeling surprised.
He had seen Fang Yan before when collecting rent; the kid was just a penniless nobody. But today... he seemed somewhat different.
A moment later, he glared. "What are you staring at? Looking to die, kid?"
"Which hand pushed my sister?"
Fang Yan asked in a cold voice.
"Huh?"
Zhang Kui was taken aback, and his lackeys behind him looked equally bewildered.
Had this kid lost his mind? How dare he talk to Brother Kui like that?
At that moment, even Su Wan'er grew somewhat frightened.
They had known each other since college, and she had never seen Fang Yan look like this before...
"Fang Yan, why are you still asking about this? Hurry up... hurry up and pay the man his rent!"
Ignoring her, Fang Yan kept his cold eyes locked on Zhang Kui.
"I asked you which hand pushed my sister!"
Zhang Kui raised his chin and glared fiercely.
"You little brat, what are you acting so tough for? I used both hands to push her, so what? Let me tell you, if you don't pay the rent, I'll make these two chicks keep me company..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp "snap" echoed!
Moving with incredible speed, Fang Yan grabbed Zhang Kui's right wrist and twisted it backward, instantly triggering the crisp sound of snapping bones.
"Ah..."
Zhang Kui let out a cry of agony.
Before he could make any move to retaliate, however, Fang Yan had already grabbed his left wrist and snapped it as well!
"Snap!"
"You pushed her with both hands, so I'll cripple both of your hands!"