Chapter 42: You Should Call Me Uncle

Chapter 42: You Should Call Me Uncle

The leader knew I was not someone to tangle with. But there were more of them, and he had his brothers watching — he could not afford to fold. He squared his shoulders and was just about to snap back when someone behind him caught his arm.

That man studied me for a moment. “You’re Great Dharma Master Xuanhong, aren’t you?”

I nodded. “I don’t deserve that title. I’ve returned to lay life. I’m only a common man now.”

The man dropped to his knees. “Dharma Master, please forgive me — I was blind, I had no idea. My father was at Pingdu Hospital not long ago. Terminal diagnosis, nothing more to be done. You were the one who saved him, free of charge. He’s never stopped telling us to be grateful for what you did. I’ve been hoping to find you ever since and never could. I never imagined I’d run into you here.”

I pulled him to his feet. “Please — the Dharma master belongs to another life. I’ve returned to lay life and gone into business. This elderly couple are from my hometown. Making a living away from home is hard enough. I hope you’ll leave them in peace.”

The burly leader seemed to place me now as well. He bowed again and again, calling himself blind, saying he never could have imagined meeting a living god today, begging my forgiveness.

I had not expected that after so much time, people still remembered me. The stories had probably grown in the telling. In any case, the men’s manner shifted immediately to something approaching reverence.

I raised one palm. “All things arise from cause and condition. I hope you will each make an effort to do good, work off the ill karma you have accumulated, and find your way back before it is too late.”

After seeing the group out, the elderly couple thanked me so many times I lost count. From now on, they said, whatever day I came in, the meal was on the house.

“It isn’t easy running a business,” I said. “If you don’t charge me, you might as well be hanging a sign that says I’m no longer welcome.”

I insisted on paying.

The old man did not know whether to take the money or push it back. He stood there looking thoroughly awkward.

I finally put the money away. “All right. Consider this one your treat. But if you refuse next time, I won’t dare come back.”

“You must come back,” the old couple said together. “You absolutely must. Next time I’ll make you proper, authentic Sichuan food.”

I left their restaurant and returned to the company.

Gu Kunling still had not appeared. The sky was darkening, and I was starting to worry. I had no way of knowing how the transfer was going on her end.

By rights, the Soul Hunters were meant to move at the zi hour, around midnight. But my pursuit of Ren Jingze to Big Bell Temple and the rescue of Gu Qiutang might well have startled the snake. It was entirely possible they had moved early because of me.

I ran back over the map Ren Jingze had shown at Lu Qingyue’s apartment. Two resistance bases — one in the northern suburbs, one in the western suburbs.

Sitting here waiting was pointless. I might as well go and look.

The Soul Hunters’ plan had been to hit north first, then west. But more than four hours had passed since I pulled Gu Qiutang out. If they had moved ahead of schedule, the northern base would already be done. I decided to check the western base first, and the northern one after.

In Pingdu City’s western suburbs lay Xishan Red Leaf Valley, south of Xiangshan — a scenic area that drew visitors only in season. The scenic area administrative office had five or six buildings, and that was the zone Ren Jingze had circled in blue on the map.

I took a company car and drove straight for Xishan Red Leaf Valley.

Because it was early summer, the trees in Red Leaf Valley were all green, and there were not many tourists or passersby.

Passing Fahai Temple, I remembered there was a safe house there.

Gu Qiutang had marked three safe houses for me in total, meant for my own emergencies. I had never expected the first…