Chapter 300: Cheap Apartment

Translator: Tim Editor: Fish Creek

“The housing information is here; you can take a look,” the woman said, her demeanor suddenly respectful toward Ye Mo. People in her profession feared police investigations most, and this young man had just dismissed the police. He clearly wasn’t ordinary.

Ye Mo sat down at the computer. A large amount of housing information filled the screen. He opened one listing, revealing pictures and descriptions.

Most of the apartments were cheap and located in densely populated areas. Ye Mo frowned; he wasn’t pleased.

Fortunately, many options existed. He soon found a suitable place: Lake Side Villa. This large, unfinished development featured two isolated buildings separated by a vast expanse of empty land overgrown with weeds.

In such a bustling city, he hadn’t expected to find such a large empty lot. The overgrown vegetation suggested it had been vacant for some time. The absence of construction equipment, despite the unfinished state of the buildings, struck him as odd.

Both buildings were twelve stories high, with the left one seemingly further along in construction. A man-made lake sat in front of the completed left building. It was quiet and ideal for cultivation.

The rent was incredibly cheap—less than 2,000 a month. Only levels one through eight were fully finished, and many rooms remained unoccupied.

“I’ll take this one. Since the ninth floor isn’t open, I’ll take room 802,” Ye Mo said, pointing at the room on the listing.

“Huh… You want to live at Lake Side Villa?” The woman looked troubled.

Ye Mo immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Is it already rented? The listing clearly shows many empty rooms.”

“No, it’s not that,” the woman quickly replied. “The left building… it’s unclean. There are stories of hauntings. Several families who moved in experienced deaths and were forced to leave, unable even to sell their units. This stalled construction of the second building. The residents are either unaware of the hauntings or simply drawn to the low rent. Many long-term residents experience various problems. Now, very few people live there.”

“Haunted?” Ye Mo repeated, then said, “I’ll take it. If you can prepare it tonight, this is yours,” he added, placing 1,000 yuan on the table. He wasn’t afraid of ghost cultivators, let alone a haunted building. He’d originally believed ghosts didn’t exist, but his encounter at Shen Nong Jia had changed his mind. Those naturally formed spirits were too weak to pose a threat. He could kill countless with a single fireball. His spirit sense ensured he wouldn’t be caught unaware. In fact, a haunted building meant fewer people, which suited him.

“Huh…” The woman stared at the 1,000 yuan, visibly moved. She usually earned only 100–200 yuan per night. Ye Mo’s generosity was clear.

“Okay, I’ll contact them immediately,” she nodded, accepting his offer. Ye Mo’s determination left her little choice.

Ye Mo nodded. “I need to remind you: I like peace. If you spread word of my move, you’ll regret it.”

The woman quickly nodded, having no desire to offend him.

She proved efficient. Within an hour, she’d contacted her friend and taken Ye Mo to the villa. He paid four months’ rent, including a security deposit. The landlord’s eagerness to rent the place out was evident. Ye Mo appreciated the woman’s honesty; her warning about the building showed kindness.

Lake Side Villa matched the pictures: a large open space with a man-made lake. Despite the surrounding bustle, the villa remained quiet.

Ye Mo closed the door and examined his new apartment. The spacious living room, three bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom were furnished, though dusty from disuse and lacking quilts. He used a cleaning spell to instantly tidy the space.

From the main bedroom balcony, the view was expansive, with visible red and green lights. Yet, the haunting had prevented the sale of such a desirable apartment. Ye Mo shook his head. Apparently, the haunting was confined to the ninth floor, rendering the upper levels inaccessible.

After resting, Ye Mo used his spirit sense to scan the building. The first two floors housed elderly residents, apparently converted into a senior care center. The third floor was a dining hall; the fourth housed two families in business; the fifth held a small, unoccupied office; the sixth and seventh floors were empty; and he was the sole occupant of the eighth floor. Each floor could accommodate two families. His scan revealed nothing unclean.

He took several recovery pills and spent the night meditating, making some progress in his recovery. The old man’s final blow had been brutal; a full recovery might take a month.

He’d paid three months’ rent: one month for recovery, one for pill concoction, and one to reach the Chi Gathering Middle Stage.

The next morning, Ye Mo awoke refreshed. Though his internal injuries hampered his chi manipulation, his body was largely recovered. The remaining healing was merely a matter of time.

He had about 2,000 yuan left, enough for now. He avoided making calls until he could better protect himself, distrustful of everyone. He’d never fulfilled his promise to Han Zaixin, and couldn’t risk his calls being monitored.

As Ye Mo descended the stairs, he encountered two men struggling with a large bag on the fourth floor. The bag contained clothing, suggesting a clothing business. His sudden appearance startled them.

Ye Mo laughed, “Don’t worry, I moved in upstairs last night. I used the elevator. We’re neighbors now.”

He understood their fear. The building’s reputation and the previous vacancy of his floor had understandably frightened them. His words, however, brought relief.

A brief conversation revealed that the two men, Han Sicai (chubby) and Cai Jinyou (slim), were from Zhejiang and ran a clothing business. They’d initially been unaware of the building’s reputation but had lived there for several months, appreciating the environment and low rent.

After eating and buying supplies, Ye Mo returned home, focusing on his recovery.

The quiet environment was ideal. Downstairs residents never came up; the fifth-floor office workers always left promptly at 5 p.m.

The downstairs residents learned of the young man on the eighth floor, though his reasons for living there remained a mystery. They observed his daily routine: early morning exercise, breakfast, and then remaining indoors until the following day.

Ye Mo enjoyed this life. A week later, his wounds showed significant improvement. At this rate, a full recovery within a month seemed possible.

On his ninth day, while preparing to sit on the balcony after cultivation, a rhythmic knocking sound emanated from the floor above. It paused and repeated.

Ye Mo sprang to his feet. The upper floors were inaccessible; the elevator stopped at the eighth floor. The source of the knocking remained a mystery.