Chapter 21: Renting a House

Chapter 21: Renting a Place

Returning to the dormitory, Shi Dong was nowhere to be found; no one knew where he had gone to have fun. Yang Qi checked his bank card and was surprised to find two million yuan in it—more than he had expected.

But upon reflection, it wasn’t that strange. After all, if it hadn’t been for Yang Qi this time, Shen Yuxuan’s loss wouldn’t have been limited to just a few million worth of jadeite.

The two bank cards combined held nearly eight million yuan. Adding the value of the two pieces of jadeite, it approached ten million. Holding such a fortune was something Yang Qi had never even dared to imagine before.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Yang Qi took out the translucent jadeite and began to practice the Haotian Technique.

The energy within the jadeite was far denser and purer than the natural energy in the world, and absorbing it was much faster. As Yang Qi circulated the Haotian Technique, he clearly felt the energy within his body steadily increasing.

After a night of cultivation, his internal energy had grown by twenty to thirty percent—much faster than when he practiced alone.

“Energy crystals really are something wonderful,” Yang Qi thought with deep appreciation.

This piece of jadeite contained enough energy to support three to five days of cultivation. By then, he might be able to reach the six-star warrior apprentice level.

“The world’s energy in the dorm is really thin,” Yang Qi sighed as he tried to absorb the ambient energy in the dormitory.

Compared to the lotus pond area, the energy here was noticeably sparse.

“The dormitory is crowded and chaotic—this isn’t a good place to cultivate. Looks like it’s time to find a new place to live,” Yang Qi decided, casting a glance at the dorm he had lived in for four years. With his two roommates gone, it felt much emptier. He had resisted moving before mainly to avoid spending unnecessary money, but now there was no reason to stay.

“The lotus pond area is suitable for cultivation, and there are teacher apartments for rent there. But that’s not my only option—I can look around and choose a place that’s better for cultivation,” he thought.

Many university teachers in Qingzhou worked other jobs outside school. Except for the newcomers, most veteran teachers had bought homes in the city and rarely stayed on campus. The vacant teacher apartments were rented out. Since most tenants were university students, sometimes even their teachers, it provided a sense of security.

Yang Qi checked online and found most listings were shared apartments, which didn’t interest him much.

“Villa for rent?” Suddenly, a villa rental listing caught Yang Qi’s eye.

The villas near Qingzhou University were modest—just one bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom—but they had two floors and parking in front, giving a spacious feel. More importantly, the environment was much better than dorms or teacher apartments.

“The price…” Yang Qi frowned at the rental fee for the villa’s first floor, and he finally understood why such a nice place hadn’t been rented.

Two thousand yuan a month! And the payment terms were three months’ rent upfront plus one month’s deposit—eight thousand yuan at once.

Most university students in Qingzhou rented cheap places. Rent ranged around three hundred yuan for basic spots, and even the pricier ones barely exceeded four hundred. Two thousand a month was just rent—not affordable for students.

“But it’s quite suitable for me,” Yang Qi smiled slightly, growing more interested in the villa.

With his current wealth, buying a place in Qingzhou was easy. But from his observations these days, crowded places tended to have sparse natural energy. He could buy an elevator apartment without issue, but such places weren’t good for cultivation and thus pointless.

With this in mind, Yang Qi called the number on the listing.

“Is the villa still available for rent?” he asked.

“Yes, of course,” came a pleasant female voice. “But the rent is non-negotiable—two thousand per month, three months upfront plus one month deposit. If you’re interested, you can come see it. If not, that’s fine.”

“The rent’s fine, but I’d like to see the place first,” Yang Qi replied.

“Alright, come on over. The address is...”

“I’m a student at Qingzhou University; I know where it is,” Yang Qi said with a smile. After setting a time, he headed toward the villa.

The villa was next to the lotus pond. Yang Qi soon arrived and called the contact. A woman in a white short-sleeved shirt came out.

“I told you the environment is nice. This place is fully renovated—just move in with your bags. If it weren’t for my teacher’s influence, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to rent it,” the woman said, leading Yang Qi inside to show him the first floor. She smiled warmly.

Yang Qi nodded slightly. The villa’s interior was simple rather than luxurious, which he liked. Being close to the lotus pond meant the natural energy was fairly rich—perfect for cultivation.

“The environment’s good. I’ll rent it,” Yang Qi said.

“Wait, there are some things we need to clarify before you rent,” the woman suddenly said.

“What things?” Yang Qi asked, puzzled.

“First, you can’t just bring people over. You’re responsible for cleaning. Also, since I’m often busy and out for ten days or so each month, and I keep irregular hours, you can’t be too noisy during the day. Lastly, no women allowed to come here,” she listed.

“That many conditions?” Yang Qi’s mouth twitched. The rent was high enough, but to add so many rules—no wonder it hadn’t rented for two months. People willing to pay high rent usually wouldn’t accept such terms.

“If you don’t want to agree, then forget it,” the woman sighed.

She knew these conditions were strict and the rent was high. Most university students dated, and many renters were couples. Finding the right tenant wasn’t easy. Several had come to see the place but left after hearing the conditions.

“No problem. I agree,” Yang Qi smiled faintly. Though the conditions were harsh, he mainly needed the place for cultivation, which required quiet. So he had no reason to refuse.

“You agree?” The woman was surprised, then delighted. “Congratulations on moving in. I’m Zhao Yixin.”

“Yang Qi,” he nodded.

“Mr. Wealthy, can we sign the contract now?” Zhao Yixin asked eagerly.

They signed the contract, and Yang Qi transferred four months’ rent to Zhao Yixin’s account. Then he returned to the dorm to pack. Fortunately, the weather was warm, and he didn’t have much to bring—just clothes and toiletries.

“Qinqin, let me tell you, this guy is definitely a second-generation rich kid. He pulled out eight thousand yuan without even flinching,” Zhao Yixin’s excited voice greeted him as he arrived at the villa.

“Don’t worry, I’m not falling for these rich kids. They’re far from catching me,” she added.

Hearing this, Yang Qi stumbled with his suitcase, nearly falling—was this a warning to guard against fire, theft, and roommates?