CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 70: RETURN (6.4K)_4

Furthermore, why do businessmen treat the guest of honor as a deity, even though they clearly have more power?

"Alright."

Zhang Feng agreed.

...

That evening, after Zhang Feng finished organizing the information on his phone, he figured out what the so-called collection of five energies was.

As he had suspected, it was a sham.

The general process was that they used various swords to kill people and collect their organs.

After that, they would light the Black Dust Incense, which could absorb odors, creating a kind of smoke.

Then the old daoist would pull out an ordinary hand-sized gourd and circle around the smoke to gather it.

According to the old daoist, this was the Five Elements Yin Yang Bottle, meant to collect the five elements’ energy.

However, the businessman pointed out that the so-called Yin Yang Bottle was actually just an old drinking gourd of the daoist’s friend.

Ever since the daoist’s friend passed away twenty years ago, the daoist became sick with longing and a bit insane.

"This old daoist."

Zhang Feng shook his head, organizing the information in his hand, contemplating whether to submit it to the task force and attempt to utilize official resources.

Within less than two minutes, the phone rang.

A ’Golden Sword Murder’ had taken place on the western outskirts of Jun Mountain.

...

Just a little past seven in the evening.

Zhang Feng and his team quickly arrived at the scene.

It was confirmed that the act was committed by the guest of honor, and the deceased was a drug dealer.

"The five energies have been gathered," Captain Wang shook his head when he saw, "If we follow your cultivation theory, President Zhang, he probably won’t commit any more crimes.

But should we still merge the cases?"

"Yes." Zhang Feng’s gaze swept around, spotting a talisman.

"Collect the evidence first,"

Zhang Feng instructed, and then headed toward the east highway on the left, following the direction indicated by the talisman.

...

Twenty minutes later.

Outside the highway.

An elderly man with ordinary clothes and appearance, with white hair, stood quietly by the roadside.

He appeared no different from others, silently watching the traffic flow, perhaps reminiscing about his youth.

Zhang Feng walked up to him and looked at him.

He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the unfamiliar Zhang Feng, "Fellow Daoist, I recognize you."

Zhang Feng nodded, recognizing the guest of honor by his portrait, "It’s me."

He asked in return, "Shall we go?"

Zhang Feng didn’t know where he wanted to go, but seeing his enthusiasm, he was curious,

"Let’s go."

Zhang Feng and the guest of honor exchanged a smile and began walking aimlessly, leaving the city’s dust behind, heading further into the outskirts.

Thus they walked for ten minutes, an hour.

They walked for an entire night.

They climbed a tall mountain, reaching near the peak.

There was a small platform here, and standing on the edge, looking around, one could feel a sense of being amidst the clouds.

At this time, the sky was faintly brightening, and warm sunlight spilled over the cold mountain peak.

The guest of honor, in an interesting gesture, took off his coat to reveal a daoist robe underneath, signifying his seriousness.

But it was just when he donned the daoist robe.

Zhang Feng realized that he was exactly like the free-spirited old daoist he had imagined.

At the same time, the guest of honor cautiously took out a gourd from his pocket, slowly opened it, and ceremoniously spoke to Zhang Feng:

"This mountain is called Cloud Mountain, and this peak corresponds to the formation’s eye of the five elements.

Inside this Yin Yang Bottle is the five energies. Once I consume them, aided by the power of Cloud Mountain’s elements, I can ascend and achieve immortality.

If I succeed, I will surely guide my fellow Daoist to become immortal."

"Indeed." Zhang Feng chuckled, looking at the guest of honor, knowing that there was nothing inside his bottle, and the mountain wasn’t that mystical.

Zhang Feng, well-read in the principles of Yin and Yang, wasn’t so easily deceived.

Any outsider might have been fooled by the daoist.

But Zhang Feng knew persuasion was useless, so he said:

"Alright then, I’ll wait for you to ’ascend,’ and then I’ll try to convince you."

"Again claiming this is false?" the guest of honor shook his head slightly, "If so, fellow Daoist, then say no more."

"Fine." Zhang Feng nodded, sitting down on a large rock, "Please proceed."

There’s no point in saying more. Better to discuss after he fails.

By then, anything would be easier to say.

"If the heavens don’t accept you," Zhang Feng pointed at himself, jesting, "you and I can debate Tao in this world; there are still many things I want to ask you; your apprentice is also waiting for you."

"Great!" The guest of honor laughed heartily, stepping into the Seven-Star Step, then sat at the mountain front.

The sunlight shone perfectly on the side of the mountain behind him as he took out the gourd and pretended to pour the non-existent energy into his mouth with the rising morning sun.

He then sat cross-legged before the mountain, as if in deep thought, or perhaps visualizing.

But after only a moment, he opened his eyes.

His gaze was filled with confusion, liberation, and also the disappointment of shattered hopes.

Yet the sunlight above remained warm as ever, shining not only on the mountain front but also hundreds of miles to the southwest, on the port, and on the businessman who waited desperately for his master.

The businessman looked up toward the warm morning sun.

Under the morning sun.

Zhang Feng glanced at the guest of honor on the mountain front.

His body was enveloped in the warm sunlight, and his previously confused expression slowly became as clear and lucid as a child’s,

"Fellow Daoist, disciple, I have realized, realized...

In this world...

There’s no such thing as immortality..."

As the words fell, the guest of honor’s spirit was extinguished, and his body slumped forward, vitality dissipating, his life ending before the mountain peak.