“This is my Daoist instrument. It requires no incantation to activate; it will function automatically, subduing demons and evil spirits... Once my business is done, I will come back to reclaim it myself.”

So that’s how it is. I thought he was being generous and just giving it away...

Jason Brooks muttered to himself, but he still felt he had achieved his intended goal. Judging by what the other had said, this bell was a powerful magical tool, more than enough to deal with that demon—so that was sufficient.

He cleared his throat, about to ask some questions about Daoist arts that interested him, but Calvin seemed to have already seen through his thoughts and smiled, “Young master, you are a man of wealth and status; our paths are different and cannot be pursued together. I take my leave.”

With a wave of his hand, he somehow produced a horsetail whisk, gave it a gentle shake, and in an instant, vanished from where he stood. The next moment, he appeared more than ten meters away, and with another transformation, disappeared without a trace.

Jason Brooks was left dumbfounded—this Daoist magic was truly profound and unfathomable, astonishing and enviable. If possible, Jason Brooks would certainly pursue it eagerly and seek to become a disciple. But given the current situation, the other party clearly had no such intention, dismissing him with a single sentence.

It seemed that even if the path to immortality existed in this world, it was not easy to learn, and not easily accessible.

Holding the bell, Jason Brooks stood in a daze, suddenly realizing that although he now possessed the magical instrument, how to get Franklin Warren to accept it and carry it with him was still a big problem.

If he told the truth, Franklin Warren was already deeply entangled and would never accept it. Thinking this way, he realized he needed to come up with another plan...

Several ideas circled in his mind, but none seemed reliable. Finally, seeing that it was getting late and fearing his mother would worry, Jason Brooks stopped thinking and hurried down the mountain to go home.

Just as he reached the village entrance, he saw Olivia Morgan and Belle coming out, apparently looking for him. Seeing Jason Brooks return safely, the anxiety on their faces finally faded.

Olivia Morgan reproached him, “Liuxian, where did you go?”

Jason Brooks answered evasively, “I just happened to run into a friend and had a chat...”

Over there, Belle opened her eyes wide, finding it rather strange that Jason Brooks had actually made friends with a Daoist priest. But she was clever and didn’t say anything more.

At Jason Brooks’s repeated request, Belle agreed to stay at the The Brooks Family for dinner.

After dinner, the young girl was the first to rush to clear the table and wash the dishes.

When everything was done, Belle was about to return to the Earth God Temple, but Jason Brooks said, “It’s getting dark, let me walk you back.”

Belle was about to refuse, but swallowed her words.

Night fell early in winter. Though a few stars could be seen, they were all dim and faint, so Jason Brooks took an old lantern from home and carried it to light the way.

The village was shrouded in darkness and deep silence, with only the occasional bark of a dog—because kerosene was expensive, the villagers cherished it greatly, usually lighting lamps only briefly before blowing them out early and going to bed.

All the way, Jason Brooks was lost in thought and said nothing; since he was silent, Belle also remained quiet. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed on the village path, rustling like the melody of a song.

Before long, they arrived at the Earth God Temple.

Jason Brooks raised the lantern to light Belle’s way inside. Seeing the simple bedding within, a scene of utter poverty, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness.

“Brother Liuxian, you should go back.”

“Alright, you get some rest early.”

Jason Brooks stepped out of the small temple, but hadn’t gone far when suddenly, in the darkness outside, a staggering figure approached. In the dim light, he could see the person was tall, with disheveled hair, and was mumbling something indistinctly.

Jason Brooks frowned, but before he could think further, the man had already bumped into him, clearly trying to rush into the Earth God Temple, reeking of alcohol.

“Stop! Who are you?”

Jason Brooks shouted.

The man’s tongue was thick from drink, who knows how much he’d had, and he slurred, “And who are you, standing here? I’m here to see Belle...”

By the lantern’s light, at close range, Jason Brooks finally saw the man’s face clearly—a man in his thirties, with a brutish face and drunken, bleary eyes.

It was the rascal Sam.

Jason Brooks recognized him as a loafer from a neighboring village, a bit of a scoundrel, relying on brute strength to bully others in the countryside.

“Brother Liuxian, what’s going on?”

Belle came out at the sound, and when she saw Sam, she was startled and quickly hid behind Jason Brooks.

As an orphan, and a naturally beautiful girl at that, even though she was young, Belle had often been harassed by such ruffians. She always pretended not to hear their crude remarks, but tonight, perhaps because Sam was drunk and acting crazy, he had actually come to the Earth God Temple at night. If Jason Brooks hadn’t happened to be there, it was unthinkable what might have happened.

If it were an ordinary day and Sam was sober, he wouldn’t dare do anything upon seeing Jason Brooks, and would avoid him. But now, drunk and lust-clouded, seeing Belle come out, he immediately leered and reached out, trying to touch Belle’s face.

“How dare you!”

Jason Brooks’s brows shot up, and he struck out suddenly, slapping Sam across the face.

Pa!