In the last fifteen years, Mrs. Clayton had never once agreed to any of Zi Han’s requests, and on any other occasion, she would have never even listened to his demands. But since their apartment was at stake, she tried to make herself agreeable for a change and put on a meek appearance.
“What could you possibly want from us?” she asked, forcing a smile on her wrinkled face.
“How about the spare keys to the apartment for starters?” Zi Han put his hand out and stared at her with a stony expression. “Since I am clearing off the mortgage payments, it would only be right that I have unrestricted access to this apartment whenever I wish. Don’t you agree?”
Mrs. Clayton turned around and looked at her husband, her desperate eyes pleading for intervention. But Mr. Clayton felt boxed in from all sides.
Instead of arguing with Zi Han, he reached into his pocket and took out a bunch of keys attached to a rusty keyring. “Here you go, son. This is your home as well. Don’t mind my harsh words. I was just…worried last night."
“Of course, dad. I know you didn’t mean it from your heart,” Zi Han replied and casually grabbed the keyring from Mr. Clayton.
The Clayton’s were finally ready to breathe a sigh of relief, but Zi Han wasn’t done yet. He stopped on his way to the car and turned around again.
“Oh, I almost forgot. There is one more thing,” he said, suppressing a grin. “Since we are the only ones paying the mortgage, I think it’s our responsibility to get rid of any ‘freeloaders’,” he added, putting extra emphasis on the last word.
“I don’t understand what you mean.” Mr. Clayton’s face darkened, and his brow creased in anxious anticipation of what was to come.
Zi Han smiled and replied, “I don’t think I would like to sleep in the kitchen after paying off the mortgage, so I want my dear step-sister, Minnie, gone from this apartment. Just call her and tell her she isn’t welcome anymore because she doesn’t pay the bills.”
The words stabbed Mr. and Mrs. Clayton’s hearts like daggers. Minnie was the apple of their eyes, and they couldn’t even dream of turning their dear daughter out of their house, especially since she had just landed a new internship.
“How dare you even say something like that?” Mr. Clayton barked like a wild dog. “I would never turn her away from our house. She is my own daughter, for God’s sake!”
Zi Han glared silently at his stepdad and shut both the cash-laden briefcases. “I guess you should ask Minnie to handle the payments then.”
Though Mr. Clayton was fuming inside, Mrs. Clayton understood the reason behind Zi Han’s strange request.
Minnie had never treated Zi Han like her brother. Whenever he was in the house, she mocked him for his habits and even poked fun at his dead parents.
Even though Zi Han had never openly quarreled with her, it was clear from the way he avoided her that he hated her with all his soul.
Seeing Zi Han ready to leave with the money, Mrs. Clayton called him back. “Please, don’t be so harsh on Minnie. She is your little sister after all. I am sorry for what she did. In fact, I will make sure she apologizes to you for her bratty behavior when she returns tomorrow.”
Zi Han put the suitcases down on the car’s hood and turned around again. “I don’t want an apology. It’s a simple deal. I’ll pay the mortgage as long as you kick her out of this house. So, what’s it gonna be?”
“I don’t have all day, Mr. Clayton!” Mr. Meng snapped, glaring at his watch. “You either give me the money now, or I’ll ask my people to seize all your valuables.”
Pressed into a corner, Mr. Clayton finally succumbed. “I will do as you asked, Zi Han. Just let her stay here for this month, and then we can arrange—”
“Minnie isn’t staying here a day longer. She will get the same treatment as I did,” Zi Han cut in sharply. “Now call her and tell her she can’t come back here.”
Mr. Clayton looked at his wife, his eyes imploring her to do something, but Mrs. Clayton shook her head helplessly.
“Just do as Zi Han says. Minnie is all grown up now. I am sure she can find another accommodation nearby.”
Though unwilling, Mr. Clayton finally relented and took out his cell.
“Hello dear. It’s me. There has been some problem here at our apartment. I…think it’s best if you stay somewhere else for now.”
“What are you talking about, dad? Have you been drinking again?” A sharp, high-pitched voice questioned from the other side. “I can’t afford to stay somewhere else. I am not going anywhere.”
“Please try to understand, my pumpkin,” Mr. Clayton spoke in a subdued voice.
“I don’t care, dad. Now just stop playing around!” Minnie snapped back at him.
“It’s about the mortgage—”
Before Mr. Clayton could finish, his wife snatched the phone from him and yelled at her daughter. “You are not coming back here. You’re working now, so I am sure you can find your own lodging. Goodbye!”
Zi Han smiled at Mrs. Clayton and handed one of the cash-filled suitcases to Mr. Meng. “That one has half a million in it.” He then grabbed two more wads of cash from the other suitcase and placed it in Mr. Meng’s left hand. “Fifty thousand for the overdue fees and another fifty for you. I hope we can stay in touch.”
Mr. Meng’s disposition changed in seconds as he felt the warmth of the money in the palm of his hand. “We sure will, Mr…”
“It’s Zi Han. Remember the name.”
Mr. Meng nodded and left with his two cronies after signing a legal document declaring the mortgage as fully paid.
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton expected some breathing room at last, but instead of leaving, Zi Han walked up to them with a victorious smile on his face.
“Just remember who paid off your mortgage. You owe me now, and I will be back to collect it someday,” he whispered before bidding them goodbye.
As Zi Han got back inside the car, Zhen Lee took his seat beside him and instructed the driver to head for Qianlong Square.
“We could have just beaten them up and snatched the keys, boss. Would have saved us the money,” one of the henchmen said.
“There is no fun in beating up old people. I am better than that,” Zi Han replied before Zhen Lee could open his mouth. “Besides, my foster parents did take care of me when I was young. Now this settles all my old debts.”
“And that is why Master Zhao Long is known as the great Overlord. He is as wise as he is kind,” Zhen Lee added.
Zi Han was starting to enjoy his power now. He smiled with satisfaction as he recalled the look on his foster parents’ faces. It was something he would never forget.
‘I guess this isn’t so difficult after all. I could get used to this power,’ Zi Han thought to himself.
Although the gangster life looked dangerous from the outside, Zi Han was starting to feel he could grow accustomed to this pretty quickly. After all, who could go against him when he had the Black Dragons at his command?
However, he still needed to be careful about revealing his new identity to the wrong people since the Black Dragons had plenty of enemies all around the city.
The car was about to take the first left down Shan Cheng Avenue when suddenly Zhen Lee spotted something in the side view mirror. It was a pair of black bikes tailing them from a distance.
“We are being followed. Its’ the damn Sand Scorpions!”

Latest Chapter
A delicate friendship
As Zi Han and his friends left the restaurant, Feng Xiao thanked him for the treat and wished him good luck for this upcoming match. “I am confident that you can pull off another magnificent win, but you must find your edge before the match begins,” he advised, before bidding him good night.Once the boys had left, Bridgette and Daisy cosied up to Zi Han again.“It’s already too late. My house is pretty far from here,” Bridgette said, making a puppy face at him. “You wouldn’t mind if we spent the night at your place, would you?”“I…could just drop you off if you—”“I told you he doesn’t consider us as his friends,” Daisy cut in, pulling Bridgette by her arm. “Zi Han still thinks we are trying to take advantage of his kindness.”“I understand.” Bridgette looked away and turned to go. “Wait. It’s nothing like that!” Zi Han called them back. “You can stay the night. I have plenty of extra rooms at my place.”Bridgette smiled faintly, with her back still toward Zi Han. Her act had foole
The Oriental Connection
Zi Han read the name again before glancing at the details scribbled under it. Ingrid wasn’t just a smart businesswoman, but a cultivator as well. And shockingly enough, her Sacred Art was also Elemental Manipulation.“Do you know why I asked Bridgette to suggest this restaurant for our celebration?” Feng Xiao asked.Zi Han’s brow furrowed, and his voice turned dead serious as he looked at Feng Xiao. “Why?”Feng Xiao leaned over the table and whispered, “Because your opponent owns Oriental Delights. She uses the restaurant to source rare ingredients required for brewing her most potent potions. It’s an easy way to keep things out of the public eye and conduct business with utmost secrecy.”Zi Han couldn’t believe that Ingrid not only owned a restaurant in Zhuxin but also carried out her secret business deals right under their noses. It was just the perfect front for smuggling rare herbs and spices without causing a stir.All this new information made Zi Han realize that even though the
Flipping the script
Lisa’s wild accusation infuriated the manager. He couldn’t believe a mere waitress like her could insult such a high-profile customer.“That's enough! You’re fired! Don’t freaking show your face in this restaurant again!” he shouted, showing her the door.“But I did read them the menu!” Lisa cried out indignantly. “Just listen to her lie. She has been standing here like a mute mannequin for ten minutes now,” Bridgette joined in, taking Zi Han’s side. More than defending her friend, she enjoyed watching the lowly waitress make a fool of herself in front of the manager.Even Yutai and Lefan got in on the game without any invitation.“I don’t think a waitress has been this rude to us before,” Yutai said.“Perhaps she is too lazy to attend tables,” Lefan quipped. “I am surprised more people haven’t complained about her till now.”Seeing all her friends joining the fun, even Daisy got down and dirty.“You should teach your waitress how to behave with customers. She is the most obnoxious an
What goes around, comes around
“Why the hell are you staring at Han like you’ve never seen a good-looking guy in your whole life?” Daisy scoffed, giving Lisa the condescending side-eye.Bridgette noticed Lisa’s shell-shocked expression as well. But she couldn’t tell if she was genuinely astounded by Zi Han’s appearance or if it was something else.“Hello!” She snapped her fingers in front of Lisa. “Aren’t you supposed to greet the guests and guide them to their table?”“I think this one is still under training,” Yutai sneered. “We should ask for another waitress who knows basic etiquette.”Lisa quickly came back to her senses and snapped out of her stupor. “I am so sorry. I just thought your friend looked awfully familiar to someone I used to know.”“Who was this friend of yours?” Zi Han asked, stepping forward. “Tell me about this friend. Did he used to work here with you?”At first, Lisa had thought she was just thinking too much, but hearing Zi Han’s voice, she realized it wasn’t a case of mistaken identity. This
A dish best served cold
Before the next lecture could start, Zi Han excused himself and walked out of the classroom. Making his way to a quiet corner overlooking the cafeteria, he dialed Chef Roland’s number.“Hello. Who is this?”Since Zi Han had switched to a private number, the chef had no idea who was calling. However, since the name was hidden, he automatically assumed it was someone important.“Hello? Can you hear me?” he repeated. “I am Chef Roland Jenkins from Oriental Delights. How may I help you today?”Zi Han waited a while longer, testing the man’s patience just for fun.“I am going to disconnect if you have nothing to say. It’s the middle of the day. We are awfully busy here, so please—”“Good afternoon, Mr. Roland,” Zi Han spoke at last. “I was hoping to make a reservation at your restaurant. I hear it’s a pretty upscale establishment.”The head chef cleared his throat and put on his best behaviour.“You have heard right, sir. Oriental Delights is among the best fine dining experiences in the ci
Campus Heartthrob
The next day, as Zi Han returned to college, the whole campus greeted him with roaring cheers and a loud round of applause. By defeating the cultivator from the School of Lunging Shadows, he had brought honor to the entire college and proved his worth as a martial artist.Even the principal came out to greet him with a friendly smile. “That was some incredible performance. The best I have seen in years,” he said, shaking Zi Han’s hand. “We are honoured to have a cultivator like you study in the Argos College of Commerce. You have already made our hearts swell with pride, but I am confident you are made for even greater things.”“I just did my best,” Zi Han replied politely, showing little emotion.This gesture broadened the principal’s smile, and he patted Zi Han on his shoulder. “I like your confidence. Keep training, and the college promises to support you in every way possible. You can skip your lectures whenever you deem fit, and I will find someone to do your assignments as well.
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