The old Taoist priest who had previously fainted suddenly awoke, groaning and calling out, "Boss Lin, ouch... save me, ouch, my leg is broken, you bastard, you hit me too hard..."
The room erupted in a buzz of excitement. Was this the legendary Master Xuanyi?
Of course, there were also some people who hadn't quite grasped the situation yet, and they were immediately worried and felt sorry for their master, who was virtuous, talented, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possessed extraordinary Taoist magic. They quickly gathered around to help him up.
Lin Xiangxi was furious. Now that the old geezer had blurted out this, wasn't he just ruining her reputation even more? But Lin Xiangxi was no ordinary person. She remained calm and composed in the face of trouble. She quietly instructed her two subordinates to quickly take Master Xuanyi to receive medical treatment and to treat his injuries.
Seeing Lin Xiangxi about to leave, Gu Nianceng hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Boss Lin, about this matter, about today's matter..."
"Director Gu, I don't understand, what have I done to offend you!" Lin Xiangxi snorted coldly. She showed absolutely no respect for this deputy director of the municipal bureau.
"What exactly happened just now?" Gu Nianceng asked in a low voice as he hurried to catch up with Lin Xiangxi.
Lin Xiangxi sneered, then smiled bitterly: "There's always someone better. If I, Lin Xiangxi, fall, you won't fare much better."
Gu Nianceng wanted to say something, but was stopped by Lin Xiangxi's subordinates who were trying to curry favor and show their loyalty, and they all spoke up:
"Mr. Lin, what exactly happened just now?"
"Where did that kid go? He's the King of Heaven himself! Just say the word, and I'll chase after him and kill him right now..."
"Yes, Mr. Lin, please give your instructions."
"In this mountain city, we're not afraid even if the UN Secretary-General comes!"
Anyway, bragging is tax-free...
Still dazed and terrified, Gu Nianceng was somewhat exasperated. He pulled out his phone and immediately dialed the police. Oh no, he didn't need to dial the police; he just gave the order: "Special police, send people over immediately! There are armed criminals committing murder in Zhuyuan!"
This is outrageous!
Lin Xiangxi was somewhat satisfied, but her expression remained as cold as if she had just emerged from an ice cave. Moreover, her heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar, unsure of what the outcome would be.
After all, that mysterious young man had inexplicably and swaggered away.
But when Lin Xiangxi and her entourage emerged from the courtyard, followed closely by a group of dignitaries who had kept a distance of more than ten meters behind them, they were astonished to find that the mysterious and arrogant young man hadn't left. Moreover, he seemed completely unconcerned, leisurely and serenely sitting in a pavilion by a pond, sipping tea and enjoying the tranquil scenery.
As the ancients said, "There is nothing inherently wrong in the world; it is only the foolish who trouble themselves."
Xu Zhengyang was still wondering to himself whether he had made a fuss over nothing today.
After venting his anger, Xu Zhengyang's mind had calmed down considerably. He had come here in person today with some hope that he could meet a Taoist priest who truly possessed immortal skills. Even if the other person was not as good as him, he would at least be a unique kind of confidant.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
And along with the disappointment came the wrath of the gods…
He didn't really feel sorry for those high-ranking officials and nobles who had been deceived and hoped to achieve immortality. This was indeed somewhat prejudiced, but that was how Xu Zhengyang truly felt. Now, thinking about it, Xu Zhengyang became increasingly puzzled. How could such a simple, even idiotic, scam have fooled these elites, whose minds were far more intelligent and shrewd than the average person, making them so dizzy and willingly fall for it?
Moreover, atheism has already spread to every corner of the world today.
Even the most devout believers in various religions probably cannot be entirely certain in their hearts whether a true God exists. So-called religious faith, in essence, is not about faith in gods, or yearning for eternal life or an imagined heaven, but rather a state of mind, a spiritual realm, and a level of understanding.
In the minds of the vast majority of believers, what they expect is nothing more than doctrine and rules...
In short, it is simply a boundless state of mind regarding good and evil, love and hate.
In other words, the various propositions and doctrines strongly promoted by the sages of mankind, which are called "isms," inherently possess a strong exclusivity.
Regardless of the circumstances, the starting point was good.
only……
Xu Zhengyang pondered. This idiotic scam had fooled even the elites, but if it became widespread in society, how would the general public perceive, understand, or treat it?
Should they also learn this path of cultivation?
This is absolutely terrifying!
Because the allure of "immortality" surpasses the allure of any other concept, once people accept the existence of such a technique and the possibility of achieving immortality through study and practice, a large number of people would likely abandon all their original pursuits in life and turn to the path of eternal life.
Then, this world will become the cultivation world described in fantasy novels.
What's even more frightening is that this is something that simply cannot be done.
This is fundamentally different from ordinary religious beliefs!
Yes, Xu Zhengyang now considers things from a broader perspective and with greater depth.
"Brother, they're out again," Ouyang Ying reminded him.
Zhu Jun didn't offer any advice. Having spent so much time with Xu Zhengyang, he already understood Xu Zhengyang's personality. When out and about, it's best not to interrupt or remind Xu Zhengyang what to do, even if... there's danger involved. However, a question lingered in Zhu Jun's mind: he was responsible for protecting Xu Zhengyang's safety, but who was truly protecting whom while by Xu Zhengyang's side? Was there anything in this world that could pose a threat to Xu Zhengyang?
Therefore, Zhu Jun fired a shot at that seemingly tense moment!
I am still useful!
At least, it's a way to be worthy of the job and the generous salary and bonuses; it's also a way to comfort myself and impress the boss.
Hearing Ouyang Ying's words, Xu Zhengyang snapped out of his rambling thoughts and couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. He was worrying unnecessarily. Who would dare do that? It would be suicide. To put it simply, a small-scale scam might be acceptable, but on a large scale, once detected by the relevant authorities, then… that would be a cult! It would be ruthlessly suppressed by the powerful state apparatus!
"It's alright," Xu Zhengyang said in his mind with a smile, uttering a meaningless statement.
Ouyang Ying didn't need these words of comfort. In Ouyang Ying's mind, who now possessed unpredictable and mysterious powers, Xu Zhengyang was an omnipotent being. Who could do anything to him?
"Sir, what should we do with them?" Wang Yonggan bowed to Xu Zhengyang and asked for instructions. In fact, according to Wang Yonggan, since these people dared to disrespect the lord just now, they should be immediately controlled and a fight should break out... It didn't matter how many people died.
Who would have thought that the adults would order them to step back temporarily and leave them uncontrolled?
Xu Zhengyang casually instructed, "Just keep an eye on it."
Wang Yonggan immediately bowed in agreement and ordered the ghost messengers to continue sitting on the shoulders of those men with guns.
When Lin Xiangxi and her group saw Xu Zhengyang and Zhu Jun from afar, they couldn't help but stop in their tracks.
That young man has some nerve!
He injured someone and fired a shot in broad daylight—what a sensitive crime this is! And why isn't he leaving? What is he waiting for?
Lin Xiangxi and Gu Nianceng gritted their teeth and walked over, and their subordinates quickly followed behind, somewhat fearfully.
The wealthy and powerful figures stood at the entrance of the villa, watching with a mixture of nervousness and excited curiosity. What kind of show would unfold today? How would it end? What would happen when the police arrived? Anyway, it was none of their business; they were just watching the spectacle…
Xu Zhengyang turned around, lit a cigarette as if no one else was around, and asked while exhaling smoke, "Have you called the police?"
That tone...
The group stood by the pool, less than five meters away from the pavilion nestled in the water.
Lin Xiangxi sneered, "In a society governed by law, there really are such spoiled brats who bully others by relying on their power."
"No matter your identity, if you break the law or commit a crime, you will be held accountable!" Gu Nianceng roared, thinking to himself, "It seems this mysterious figure is indeed fearless... It's just a pity that the police who arrive later are all my trusted men, whom I've arranged. They don't know what's going on, nor do they care about this young man's background. As long as I, Gu Nianceng, give him a slight hint, even if he's the King of Heaven himself, he'll die an 'accidental' death."
As for how to make it "accidental," it's all too simple: playing hide-and-seek, covering oneself with a blanket, a sudden illness...
Even if it's investigated later, so what? Just find a few people to take the blame.
Xu Zhengyang smiled and said, "I don't mind if you treat me like a spoiled brat. Besides, I also want you to know what a spoiled brat with power and influence who is in the right can do..."
Lin Xiangxi was taken aback.
Gu Nianceng's forehead was covered in sweat, but he ordered in a deep voice, "Block him, don't let him get away!"
If it weren't for the large number of onlookers, all of whom were of unusual status, Gu Nianzeng and Lin Xiangxi would have dared to immediately give the order for their armed subordinates to blast this arrogant young man and his entourage to smithereens and sink their bodies into the pool.
Several of Lin Xiangxi's men from the Bamboo Garden Club were slightly taken aback; they had no intention of following Gu Nianzeng's orders.
Lin Xiangxi nodded coldly, and her men all drew their guns.
However, they, Lin Xiangxi, and Gu Nianzeng all shared a common doubt and worry: would pulling out a gun actually work? They were still confused and fearful about what had happened in the room in the villa.
Then a very strange scene unfolded in the courtyard of the "Bamboo Garden Club," which can definitely be called a top-tier club in the entire mountain city.
Quietly.
A group of celebrities stood at the entrance of the villa, each with a peculiar expression, full of curiosity and excitement;
Standing beside a pool of water were Lin Xiangxi, the owner of the Bamboo Garden Club, Gu Nianzeng, the deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and seven or eight burly men holding pistols.
The staff and waitresses of the Bamboo Garden Club stood at a short distance, or in front of the windows, doors, and hallways, all watching intently as what was happening below. Some of the young and pretty waitresses were particularly astonished, wondering to themselves, "Who is that young man surrounded? How come he's not afraid at all? And he's so relaxed... Oh, and he has a bodyguard with him, wielding two guns, so cool!" But coolness doesn't pay the bills. That young man, clearly a rich kid, is so handsome, so stylish, so... I really want to "win him over"!
Under the small pavilion by the pool, Xu Zhengyang calmly drank tea, seemingly oblivious to everyone else; Zhu Jun held a gun in both hands, pointing it arrogantly and coldly at Lin Xiangxi and her group.
Ouyang Ying sat opposite Xu Zhengyang with a grin, looking at his face, which wasn't exactly handsome enough to cause the downfall of a nation, and watching how he was... showing off here.
To put it bluntly, that's just how it is.
Wang Yonggan stood beside Xu Zhengyang, bowing and hunching over like an ancient royal court eunuch, a sinister smile on his face.
The urgent sirens finally drifted in from afar...
Everyone was startled; the police had arrived!
Lin Xiangxi seemed to be reminded by the sound of sirens and just came to her senses. Actually, it was really unnecessary to have her men carry pistols. The other party had no intention of leaving at all. Our appearance of being on high alert was just making us a laughing stock. It was indeed embarrassing.
So Lin Xiangxi quickly ordered her men to put their guns away, otherwise, if the police came in and saw them with guns, it wouldn't look good on them, even with Gu Nianceng by their side.
The police cars outside didn't follow the rules of the Bamboo Garden Club and drive into the parking lot. Instead, they sped across the bridge and rushed into the bamboo forest along a narrow stone path that could barely accommodate one car. This case is serious; armed murder would be a major case anywhere in the country and cannot be ignored.
That's probably why there were several vehicles full of armed police following closely behind.
After the armed police vehicle drove across the bridge, it stopped. A group of armed police officers in camouflage uniforms, armed with guns, jumped out of the vehicle and rushed into the bamboo forest under the command of their leader.
Police cars stopped in front of the bamboo garden, and police officers in ordinary uniforms and special police officers in bulletproof vests, helmets, and carrying guns rushed in. The armed police officers following behind slowed down. Leading the way was a soldier with the rank of major, his brows slightly furrowed, seemingly quite puzzled.
As Gu Nianceng watched the police swarm in, followed by armed police, he cursed inwardly, "Is it really necessary to make such a fuss?" He sighed, "It's my fault for not explaining things clearly."
"Put down your gun!"
Before the police arrived, Gu Nianceng waved and berated Xu Zhengyang and Zhu Jun, displaying a rather imposing official demeanor.
"Put down your guns! Cover your heads!"
The lead policeman brandished his pistol and shouted, while the other policemen and SWAT officers also aimed their guns at the young man sitting in the pavilion, as well as the cold-faced, motionless youth holding two guns.
Xu Zhengyang turned his head and said softly, "Zhu Jun, what are you doing holding a gun? Are you rebelling?"
"Huh?" Zhu Jun was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Xu Zhengyang with a puzzled expression. Actually, he was also feeling uneasy. What should he do? Xu Zhengyang was an eccentric person, and who knew what he was up to? He was responsible for protecting him, and he really hadn't thought about having a gun standoff with the police!
"Show them your ID!" Xu Zhengyang said with a smile.
"Oh." Zhu Jun finally came to his senses, this time putting the two guns back at his waist and taking out his identification from his pocket.
Well, his series of actions immediately heightened the tension on the other side, and a series of deafening shouts rang out:
"Don't move!"
"Throw the gun on the ground!"