Chapter 20: You Have to Pay

That bizarre scene just now involving those two might seem unremarkable to bystanders — merely surprise and bewilderment.

This is the most normal reaction.

But in the eyes of someone with an agenda, it warrants an entirely different interpretation — and that someone is naturally Ben Grillos, who took in everything, along with Ceng Hongbing, who just seized his chance to display divine might.

Chen Yaozu, on the other hand, acted as if it were none of his business; he didn't even move to stand, simply finishing the food on his tray before leisurely peeling a banana.

That composed look of his, as if none of it had anything to do with him.

But Ben Grillos knew those two Mexican brutes who collapsed inexplicably just now were absolutely struck down by that nonchalant Wizard.

Ceng Hongbing thought so too.

The Northeast has always been more superstitious than other places since ancient times; although animals couldn't become spirits after the founding of the nation, there's still the saying that yellow weasels don't pass Shanhai Pass — yet the Northeast lies outside the Pass.

Growing up listening to bedtime stories of Chuma and spirit-mediums, he had greater acceptance for this kind of mysterious aspect.

From the start, he felt Antonio's group of South Americans showed Chen Yaozu an extraordinary reverence, sometimes directly addressing him as "Mr. Wizard."

Moreover, all expenses on the road were fronted by these South Americans for Chen Yaozu without hesitation.

And that beauty named Cindy specially explained local customs along the way, just like a tour guide.

So Chen Yaozu spent the least on this journey; if not for the tropical rainforest requiring his own trekking, it might have been just a leisurely and comfortable trip for him.

At first, Ceng Hongbing actually sneered inwardly at these South Americans — narrow exposure, little experience — Chen Yaozu had likely hoodwinked them with some domestic charlatan tricks.

But Ceng Hongbing felt that if domestic charlatans came to South America and localized their scams, they'd probably thrive here.

A total dimensionality reduction strike! However, from that day in the tropical rainforest when they encountered two pythons over seven or eight meters thick as water buckets, he inadvertently heard that the reason Antonio warned everyone at camp in advance was because Chen Yaozu had given advance warning of the pythons' arrival.

And later, the cougar encountered in the hillside shrubs was also discovered first by Chen Yaozu.

He knew then Chen Yaozu might truly have some real ability.

And that bizarre scene just now was absolutely not luck — it was Chen Yaozu making a move.

Precisely because he had confidence after acting, he continued eating unperturbed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be acting so abnormally now.

Compared to Chen Yaozu eating unhurriedly, not even lifting an eyelid, the others weren't so quiet.

Even whistles and boos had already started.

A mob of old Mexicans gang-beating an Easterner — or rather, an Easterner unilaterally crushing a mob of old Mexicans, then several old Mexicans all lying down — such a battle record instantly stirred up the entire mess hall.

Love of a spectacle is human nature, or rather a common trait.

Thus, high-pitched screams, whistles, boos, and applause instantly resounded through the entire mess hall.

All jeering, but also gasps of amazement.

Some even shouted "Jackchen" and "Chinesekongfu" at the top of their lungs.

Of course, a conflict in the immigration prison mess hall is quite serious in the guards' eyes.

Actually, strictly speaking, an immigration prison isn't like other prisons worrying too much about prisoners rioting.

So the pressure on guards is relatively smaller.

Not to mention this immigration prison is temporary, established these past two years to cope with a sudden surge in illegal immigrants.

Simply put, those able to enter this temporary immigration detention center are all rational people who desire to successfully obtain legal illegal-entry records to work.

As for those who've committed crimes and want to become undocumented entirely, they don't need to go through this process at all — they just sneak across the border.

So compared to prisons for criminals, the temporary immigration detention center is much more peaceful.

But overall, even with men and women separated, there are still several hundred people in this mess hall — once something happens, it's a big deal.

Thus, after the high-ground firepower was in position, a large group of guards rushed in with shields, batons, and tear gas, dispersing the onlookers. The few fallen old Mexicans were dragged away for examination and thrown into the black room.

Ceng Hongbing was also dragged away, thrown into the black room.

"Thanks!"

Before being dragged off, he seriously lowered his voice and thanked Chen Yaozu.

But what the dispersed onlookers standing far away didn't expect was that the Easterner who'd had no presence all along, just eating, now gnawing a banana, was also taken away.

"Mr. Chen, you're miraculous!"

Ben Grillos very politely poured him a cup of coffee.

"Every illegal entrant, we chat with them to understand their background, experiences, and purpose for coming to America.

You know, this is all procedure."

Chen Yaozu also very politely stood to accept the coffee and said thanks.

"I don't know what 'miraculous' means, but my background and experiences — which aspect do you want to know?

Since it's procedure, I'm certainly willing to cooperate!"

"Oky!"

Ben Grillos saw him playing dumb and stopped beating around the bush: "You know, Antonio and I are friends, longtime friends.

The unbelievable thing is, he told me last night you're a miraculous Wizard, and even gave some prophecies about my physical condition!

Mr. Chen, perhaps you can tell me directly, because I desperately want to know how much you understand about my physical condition."

Actually, when Chen Yaozu told Cindy this officer's physical condition, he'd already anticipated this possibility.

But since he'd spoken, he'd also prepared how to handle the situation before him.

He certainly couldn't tell the officer "you're dead," but phrasing it differently was also possible.

"Officer, actually I know what you want to ask — you want to ask about your future fate!"

"Actually, I'm not a Wizard."

"In our East there's a profession called Daoist, and another called Shu-shi, similar to the Priests and Pastors in your churches, and other Clergy.

Both professions have a discipline — divination and fortune-telling, what you call divination.

But between heaven and earth, all things emphasize Energy Conservation — to obtain something, you must possibly lose something.

Our Eastern divination or fortune-telling is the same.

One can expend a portion of one's own lifespan, or Luck, to obtain guidance from heaven, earth, and gods or spirits, thereby glimpsing a person's fortune and calamity.

Officer!

I know your physical condition; this was divined, so it does not cost my lifespan or Luck.

But now, what you want to ask me about is your future destiny.

This requires divination, that is to say, what we Easterners call casting hexagrams and fortune-telling, and since it concerns a life-and-death big deal, performing such divination greatly consumes our Life Energy and Luck……

Although he spoke a long string of pretexts, Officer Ben Grillos's eyes grew increasingly bright.

Although he had not read many books, he understood this kind of rhetorical art: "Then, Miraculous Wizard, if I need you to divine for me, what must be paid?"

Chen Yaozu raised his head, looking at him word by deliberate word: "Since I have paid a great deal, I should also obtain a certain repayment.

That is to say, you have to pay money!"

(Chapter End)