Maybe because it was late and everyone was asleep, the corridor outside was completely silent, all the doors tightly shut, but nobody dared to relax; they watched their surroundings warily. Very soon, soone inside asked in a low voice. As soon as Shi Feng heard it, he knew it was one of the protection detail he'd arranged. He reported his na, the door was opened by a capable-looking young man, and Shi Feng turned to Luo Zheng and said, "You going in or not?"
"Sure." Luo Zheng agreed, following Shi Feng into the room.
The room was a two-bedroom suite with a living room. The living room was lavishly decorated. On the sofa sat an Elder Lama with kind brows and benevolent eyes, eyes closed in ditation, murmuring sothing under his breath as he kept fingering a string of prayer beads in his hand, a string of Buddha Beads hanging around his neck. His head was shaved, and he wore a golden Kasaya.
Perhaps sensing soone enter, the Elder Lama opened his eyes a fraction, looked calmly at Shi Feng, then his gaze landed on Luo Zheng. He couldn't help freezing for a mont; the peaceful expression in his eyes gained a hint of surprise as he fixed his stare tightly on Luo Zheng. His face grew more solemn as he asked, "Donor, you carry a very heavy aura of killing. You must maintain a peaceful mind. Cling to a single thought and you beco Buddha; cling to ten thousand thoughts and you beco demon. Donor, what is the thought in your heart?"
Luo Zheng seed to feel sothing solemn emanating from the man; this subtle, mysterious feeling made his own mood grow serious. His expression tightened, and he answered earnestly, "For the nation and the people, to give my life if I must."
"A heart with firm resolve can pass through all obstacles. Donor, your righteous energy is strong, but I fear you face a calamity. If you have need, you may seek out; I may be able to help you escape." the Elder Lama said gravely. His gaze shifted to Shi Feng and fell on the Heavenly Pearl in Shi Feng's hand. Though it was wrapped in red silk, he still looked at Luo Zheng with surprise and joy, saying, "The Heavenly Pearl has returned; there is no greater good than this. Donor, this is your rit. This karmic bond of goodness, my order will rember."
"You haven't even looked at it. How can you be sure the Heavenly Pearl isn't a fake?" Shi Feng asked curiously.
"Of course. I have been with the Heavenly Pearl since I was a child; its aura is engraved in my heart. Whether I look or not is of no consequence. It is indeed our order's Heavenly Pearl. We owe you much, Donor." the Elder Lama said mildly, as if the return of the Heavenly Pearl had always been only a matter of ti and nothing to be overly excited about.
"As long as it's genuine, that makes things easy. How did you know its return had sothing to do with him?" Shi Feng pressed curiously.
"The Heavenly Pearl told ." The Elder Lama said with a smile, speaking in riddles.
Shi Feng certainly didn't believe the Heavenly Pearl could talk. Seeing the Elder Lama unwilling to reveal the truth, he couldn't be bothered to ask more and said with a smile, "Since the Heavenly Pearl is back, you keep it safe. We'll finish the paperwork and get out of your hair."
"As you wish." The Elder Lama called a young Lama out from the next room and had him take the Heavenly Pearl into the inner room.
Luo Zheng keenly noticed that this young Lama had vigorous blood and energy, with a faint sharp aura about him. Looking at his strong build, steady steps, and restrained spirit, he was clearly an expert, most likely responsible for the Elder Lama's security. Luo Zheng didn't ask; he just glanced at Shi Feng. Shi Feng imdiately picked up a note and wrote out a receipt for the Elder Lama to sign.
The Elder Lama was already quite advanced in years and naturally couldn't go to the police station to handle the procedures, so everything had to be kept simple. As long as it was proven the item had been handed over to the Elder Lama, that was enough. Once the paperwork was done, Shi Feng started calling his n back. Luo Zheng was very curious about the Elder Lama, but after thinking about it, he didn't stay. As he reached the door, he heard the Elder Lama say, "Donor, please stay."
Luo Zheng turned back in surprise and saw the Elder Lama was speaking to him, so he asked curiously, "You an ?"
"Donor, you carry righteous energy and need not fear invasion by demons, but the affairs of the world are unpredictable. Within a year, you will surely face a calamity. When the ti cos, you may co to Heavenly Pearl Temple to find . Rember this, rember this." the Elder Lama said sternly. After he spoke, he closed his eyes again and continued reciting the Buddha's na, as if worldly matters no longer concerned him.
Luo Zheng didn't take it to heart, but still replied politely, then walked out of the room and took the elevator down with Shi Feng and the others. When they reached the lobby, he saw Shi Qian was still there, arguing with several detectives from the Major Cris Unit. Apparently so conflict had arisen. Shi Feng walked over and snapped impatiently, "What's going on?"
"Nothing." the detectives from Major Cris quickly said.
"Nothing." Shi Qian also said carelessly.
"Good. If nothing's wrong, we pull back. Major Cris stays to protect the Elder Lama. Rember, all of you keep your eyes open. No more screwups. The morning after tomorrow, the Elder Lama flies out, and our job's done. Last night on the clock—everyone grit your teeth and hold on." Shi Feng scolded irritably.
"Yes." everyone responded quickly.
"The Ard Police stay to help. You're in charge." Luo Zheng said to the Major Cris captain.
"Understood." the Major Cris captain replied at once.
Shi Feng looked at Luo Zheng. Luo Zheng smiled and said, "Nothing left here for , right? I'll head back then."
"Alright. I'm taking this kid back to the station to process him first. I'll give you a ride ho." Shi Feng said politely.
The three of them walked out of the hotel, got into Shi Feng's SUV and left. On the way, Luo Zheng saw the grave look on Shi Qian's face and asked curiously, "What's wrong? What are you worried about?"
"The Heavenly Pearl's return is a good thing, sure, but for so people it's a disaster. They won't let it go, and Twin Gate won't either. There's bound to be a brutal fight coming. With the hotel under heavy guard, it's hard to strike from outside, but Twin Gate has plenty of ways to infiltrate directly into the guest floors. They might even decide to kill." Shi Qian explained quickly, the look on his face growing even more serious.
"Looks like I'll have to bring the SWAT team in." Shi Feng said, his own expression turning grave as he took out his phone and started making calls.
Luo Zheng didn't pay much attention to Shi Feng's deploynts. Instead he looked at Shi Qian in curiosity and asked, "If it were you, how would you infiltrate the inside of the hotel?"
"Too easy. This hotel has an underground waterway, and you can also co in from above. Anyway, there are plenty of ways." Shi Qian said lightly, as if it really wasn't a problem at all.
"The Elder Lama has a personal bodyguard, and he's pretty capable. Plus there are several officers helping, lots of cops in the lobby downstairs, and Ard Police outside. How would you get around them?" Luo Zheng pressed.
"No need to avoid them at all. As long as you get inside the hotel, you use a kind of knockout incense that can drop everyone. This incense is a secret skill of my sect; it can make people experience all kinds of hallucinations, fall asleep on their feet, and not even know when soone walks right up to them. A closed environnt like a hotel is perfect for using knockout incense." Shi Qian explained seriously.
"That's how you got into the exhibition hall, isn't it?" Shi Feng asked irritably.
"Can you stop holding such a grudge, old man? I already turned the stuff in on my own, and I've told you all this intel. That counts for sothing, doesn't it? At least call it a wash—does it have to be like this?" Shi Qian said, equally annoyed.
"A thief is still a thief." Shi Feng snapped angrily.
"Fine, I'm a thief, I won't stoop to your level. I'd like to see how you people plan to protect the Heavenly Pearl." Shi Qian said carelessly, then leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest.
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