Eight-Gate Village was located in the southwestern corner of Province Z. It was a three-hour car ride from Provincial City.
Tang Hao searched it on the Internet and found that it was a small village hidden deep in the mountains.
About three hours later, Tang Hao arrived at the district in which Eight-Gate Village was located.
He continued the rest of his journey with the help of the satellite navigation.
Soon, he arrived near the mountains. He continued driving onto the winding roads.
The sky was starting to turn dark, and the mountains looked gloomy.
Suddenly, he saw a figure dressed in Taoist robes standing next to the road. Tang Hao was surprised. He thought that it was Shabby Taoist Master.
He looked a little more closely and noticed that it was someone else. His robes were rather clean and he wore a pair of sunglasses. He carried a sack and wore a thick gold bracelet on his wrist. He looked rich and trendy.
Tang Hao had never seen him before.
The Taoist master saw the car coming toward him. He stretched out an arm and pointed a thumbs up.
Then, he felt that something was not quite right, and turned the thumb downward.
Once again, he discovered that something was not quite right. He pulled up his robes, showing his bare legs underneath, and stuck one out on the road. He tried to look as seductive as he could.
Tang Hao rolled his eyes several times when he saw that.
‘Is this guy an idiot?
‘Is he trying to attract my attention? He’s not even a sexy woman. That’s disgusting!’
‘Wait… Such a strange figure, don’t tell me he’s from Mao Mountain as well? I’ve never seen him before though!’
He did not remember seeing that person when he was up on Mao Mountain the last time.
As he tried to recognize that person, the car neared the Taoist master.
“Stop! Stop!”
That person jumped into the middle of the road and waved at Tang Hao.
Tang Hao was shocked. He cursed under his breath and floored the brakes.
The car immediately screeched to a halt.
“F*ck! Does he have a death wish?” Tang Hao cursed.
“Hey, Brother! Can you help me? I’m in a rush!” The Taoist master came next to the car and knocked on the window.
“I seem to have gotten lost. Can you give me a ride?” The Taoist master waited for Tang Hao to roll down the windows and stuck his head inside.
He rummaged his pockets and said awkwardly, “I don’t have any money on me, but I have a lot of wondrous items. Here, take a look.”
He opened his sack for Tang Hao to see.
“What do you think of this relationship talisman? It’s very effective. You’re sure to meet with the goddess of your dreams.
“How about this one? It’s an eat-all-you-want-and-never-get-fat talisman. I can guarantee that it’ll work!
“Still not satisfied? How about this good fortune talisman? You’ll be blessed with lots and lots of money!”
He pulled out his talismans one by one and explained them to Tang Hao.
Tang Hao rolled his eyes. All those talismans were definitely fake. There was no such thing as fortune or slimming talismans. However, there might be relationship talismans.
However, those usually brought ruin to the users.
He knew that the runes on those talismans were fake too. They were randomly scribbled.
That person must be a con artist.
“Sigh, you’re still not satisfied? Why are you just like the previous driver? That bastard threw me out of the car when he heard that I have no money.
“Eh, why are you looking at me like that? Do you think that I’m a con artist?”
The Taoist master became angry when he saw how Tang Hao was looking at him, as though his dignity was being besmirched.
Tang Hao rolled his eyes again.
“Let me tell you, I’m not a con artist. I’m from Mao Mountain. I’m also part of a national agency and I’m on a secret mission,” The Taoist master slapped his chest and said angrily.
Tang Hao was surprised when he heard the Taoist master mention Mao Mountain, but when he heard the second half of the sentence, he rolled his eyes again.
‘A secret agent working for the country? Can you be any more ridiculous?’
Tang Hao glanced at him condescendingly.
“You… You… You filthy kid! What’s up with that expression? I’m really a secret agent. Here, look at this. It’s my identification document,” he retrieved a red booklet from his sack as he spoke.
Tang Hao took it to see. The words “Supernatural Response Agency” was printed on the cover page.
He opened the booklet and saw the Taoist master’s photograph and name. There was also an official-looking red seal.
“What the hell? Is this even true?” Tang Hao blurted when he saw that.
“Pah! You don’t know anything! I’m a Taoist master, not a normal person!” The Taoist master said smugly.
Tang Hao looked at the document again, then at the Taoist master.
The identification document looked too simple and not formal at all. He also could not sense the Taoist master’s cultivation base.
There could only be two possibilities. Either he was not a cultivator at all, or he was more powerful.
“I say, if you’re an agent of the country, why don’t you have any money? Oh, that gold bracelet looks not bad! It’s real gold, right?”
The Taoist master jumped backward as though he was shocked by electricity.
“What are you thinking of, you filthy kid? This is my precious treasure. Don’t even think about it!”
He clung to his bracelet like a miser.
Tang Hao was speechless.
Someone so eccentric must be from Mao Mountain.
“Hey, where do you want to go?” Tang Hao thought for a while and asked.
The Taoist master pointed along the road and said, “Eight-Gate Village. It’s not too far away.”
Tang Hao regarded him curiously when he heard that.
The Taoist master looked like the real deal.
However, he had never heard Shabby Taoist Master and the others talk about that agency before.
He thought for a while and decided not to ask any more questions. “Hop on then!” He told the Taoist master.
The Taoist master immediately smiled gleefully.
His glee immediately turned to caution. “Do you want money?”
Tang Hao rolled his eyes. “Do you have money?”
“No!” The Taoist master shook his head like a rattle.
“So that settles it. Get in then!”
The Taoist master happily opened the car door and sat inside.
“Oh, you’re so kind, Little Brother! I’ll get the officials to award you with a silk pennant later,” the Taoist master spoke happily.
“Don’t! Please don’t!” Tang Hao said exasperatedly.
Then, he started the car and continued the journey.
They arrived at the highway exit toward Eight-Gate Village about ten minutes later.
A few vehicles formed a blockade at that exit.
He looked closely and noticed that they were military trucks. A few soldiers wielding rifles were standing there and blocked the exit. There was a huge biological hazard sign too.
“Stop here!” The Taoist master shouted as he pointed at the highway exit.
Tang Hao slowed down and parked near the exit.
The Taoist master got out of the car, then went to the soldiers and showed them his identification document.
The soldiers saluted him and lifted the blockade.
Tang Hao got out of the car and shouted, “Wait!”
The Taoist master was shocked. “Didn’t you say that you don’t need money?”
Tang Hao replied, “I’m actually supposed to be here too. Taoist Master Xuan Ling asked me to come here.”
The second part of the sentence was directed toward the soldiers.
