Broadly speaking, Lungmen's slums could be divided into dozens of blocks.
Compared to downtown's towering buildings and clean streets, the slums were cramped, low, broken, and old.
Even so, there were still "better" and "worse" parts.
Closer to downtown was better. Farther out was worse.
The better areas were still old apartment blocks; the worse ones were basically self-built shantytowns.
Building 29 sat on Jinsha Street—a five-story walk-up with peeling exterior paint, dim and worn.
In the pitch-dark stairwell, smells mingled into a brutal stew: food, rot, cigarette smoke. Texas's sharp nose immediately rebelled; she frowned and covered it.
The landlord, Uncle Hua, was a middle-aged Vulpo. Tank top, sandals—classic "renting uncle" attire. But the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose somehow made him look like a real estate agent.
"Hahaha. Not used to the environment yet, little lady? I was the same at first."
Chen Xiu followed behind him up the stairs. The stairwell was so narrow it could barely fit one person. The steep stone steps were chipped and uneven—exactly the kind that could randomly kill an elderly woman.
"Uncle Hua," Chen Xiu asked, "you weren't from the slums either?"
"What kind of question is that?" Uncle Hua snorted. "Who's born wanting to live in a dump like this? People are here because they've got no choice."
They turned a few corners. Uncle Hua reached the third-floor landing and stopped at the second door from the right, counting counterclockwise.
Chen Xiu scanned the floor. Six units. The corridor was already clogged with junk—chaotic, cramped.
Uncle Hua fumbled with keys, jangling for a while before finding one that finally fit.
"Come on in. You two lovebirds are really lucky—this one's a steal!"
Texas froze. Her tail straightened. She shot Chen Xiu a quick side glance.
Chen Xiu's expression didn't change, as if he hadn't even heard it, and he walked inside.
Two young people—one male, one female—renting together. Misunderstanding was normal.
The unit was… surprisingly decent.
"One bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, one bathroom, and a little balcony." Uncle Hua stood in the living room, pitching hard. "Utilities are on you. Gas tank you swap yourself. Furniture's old, sure, but in this place, having furniture at all is a luxury. So—satisfied?"
Neither Chen Xiu nor Texas answered right away. They walked around and inspected.
There was only one double bed. But the living room had a battered sofa.
Texas immediately planned: she'd take the sofa.
That way, if someone broke in, she'd be the first barrier. And if anything happened in the bedroom, she could respond in time.
Uncle Hua watched them, smiling as he calculated how much he could charge.
A rich Columbian girl running away with a broke Sarkaz boy?
They looked new to the area. That usually meant they still had money.
If so… could he raise the rent a little?
If you don't slaughter a fat lamb, what are you even doing?
Chen Xiu finished his inspection and smiled. "Uncle Hua, tell me the rent."
"1,200 Lungmen dollars a month," Uncle Hua said smoothly. "Six months minimum. Deposit three, pay three. Rent due upfront. Break the contract, deposit's forfeit. Damage the place, you pay."
He said it like he already owned them.
"Don't complain it's expensive. This building is in Grey Tail Hall's coverage area. Safety's guaranteed."
Texas looked at Chen Xiu. The rent was… not outrageous, but his money might not be enough.
If needed, she'd lend him some to secure the place first.
"1,200?" Chen Xiu's brows jumped. His face cooled.
So Uncle Hua knew the unit had a problem, didn't lower the price—and had the nerve to raise it?
Was he banking on them being young outsiders, easy to scam?
Chen Xiu's mind curled into a cold smile.
Seeing Chen Xiu's expression, Uncle Hua quickly added, "Think it's too much? Fine. I can shave a little off—"
"Uncle Hua," Chen Xiu cut in, staring straight at him, "I asked around before coming. This unit used to rent for 1,000."
Uncle Hua's mouth fell open, caught off guard.
Texas's gaze slid over as well—cold as a knife.
"Uh… it was 1,000 before," Uncle Hua recovered fast, "but the place doesn't lack renters. I decided to raise it!"
He got more fluent with every word, until he sounded righteously indignant. Old salesman habits—the kind that made lying feel like breathing.
"Is that so?" Chen Xiu laughed softly and paced. "Funny. A unit where someone just died doesn't get a discount… you're in a hurry to raise the rent. Uncle Hua—want to explain the logic?"
"You—how do you know that?!" Uncle Hua blurted—then clapped a hand over his mouth.
He'd slipped.
The previous tenant's sudden death—he was sure he'd handled that cleanly. How did this Sarkaz kid know?
Texas instantly realized Chen Xiu wasn't bluffing. She'd almost been fleeced.
She didn't care whether someone had died here. If necessary, she could sleep in a graveyard without blinking.
But price-gouging was another matter.
If Chen Xiu hadn't been here, she might've paid the inflated price and never even realized.
Weak body or not, she had to admit: this guy was capable.
Texas's eyes brightened slightly as she watched Chen Xiu dismantle the scam.
"Get out!" Uncle Hua snapped, tossing the keys into his palm like he could still reclaim dignity. "Get out—this unit's not for rent anymore!"
Then Chen Xiu said something that made him freeze.
"How about 500?"
For a "tainted" unit, it was already fair.
But Uncle Hua's heart bled. He'd set up so much to keep the price stable—
"No. Lowest is 800!"
These two kids clearly weren't well-off. Otherwise they wouldn't come even after learning the unit had a death. They'd come because they needed the discount.
So yes—he still had negotiating space. Neither side had good options.
Chen Xiu didn't indulge him.
"300. Or I'll go around telling everyone it's a haunted unit."
"You—how can you do that?!" Uncle Hua's face twisted; even his glasses went crooked.
Chen Xiu said nothing, giving the man time to suffer through the mental gymnastics that "losing money" required.
After a long while, Uncle Hua's clenched fist finally loosened.
"Fine. 350?"
He rushed to add, almost pleading, "That's the absolute floor. Any lower and I'd rather leave it empty!"
Chen Xiu's voice was ice.
"One price. 325 a month. Rent it or don't."
-------
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