Chapter 73

When Mikhailov received a call from the coach asking what Chen Yaozu's other identity was, he froze.

He thought, old man, what exactly do you know that you shouldn't? Upon asking carefully, it turned out there was such a story; in that instant, their curiosity was hooked.

Megan had someone directly bring over the surveillance video from the locker room entrance, and then the couple watched it at home.

Whoa, this scene, not ordinary at all!

"This person is the current number one figure of the Fujian Bang; after the previous hall master died, he was the one controlling the entire Fujian Bang's power in Los Angeles.

These two who helped Chen put on this set of purple religious vestments are the new gang leader and his wife, and this gang leader was even designated by Chen to do the job.

So, Chen Yaozu saying he has no designs on the Fujian Bang Los Angeles branch is just a statement he refuses to admit.

Actually, looking at the posture of these gang leaders now, it's obvious this Fujian Bang Los Angeles branch has already fallen into his hands."

Megan pointed out the identities of several people at the scene, and incidentally expressed her own view.

Mikhailov, however, stared very seriously and cautiously at Chen Yaozu in the video, draped in a purple Taoist robe: "This is different; this matter is far bigger than him taking over a gang!

What he wants to take over isn't a gang, but a religion! This is not the same thing as a gang!"

Seeing his expression was off, Megan hurriedly asked: "What did you see?"

Mikhailov pointed at the paused frame in the video: "It's that purple Taoist robe; it let me see his ambition!"

Mikhailov's gravity made Megan take it seriously, waiting for his next words.

"In Eastern religions, the purple Taoist robe is of very high rank; it's not something ordinary religious personnel can wear.

Generally only their leaders, or elders of higher seniority, can don this purple Taoist robe during some major rituals.

Let me give you an analogy: the status of those who can wear the purple Taoist robe is at least a regional Archbishop, possibly even a Cardinal, or the Pope's attire on certain specific occasions.

Of course, Chen Yaozu cannot be of Pope-level rank; he's too young.

The Pope-level rank in the East is called Celestial Master; Eastern Celestial Masters often wear purple robes too, but most of the time when conducting affairs they wear yellow robes."

Megan understood: "That is to say, Chen Yaozu's status is at least a regional Archbishop, possibly a Cardinal, even possibly a Pope-level figure? But such a person suddenly appears in Los Angeles, then coincidentally takes control of a gang, and now the gang's power holder respectfully kneels and presents the ritual robe to him!

Hiss—

This should be a grand scheme; you say……"

Megan looked at her husband: "You say, should we try to get a foot in the door?"

Mikhailov frowned and thought: "If, if he really is such an important religious figure, I'm actually more at ease.

Although I can't guess what he wants to do right now, the Fujian Bang is definitely his first step; next there will certainly be a grand scheme.

At this time, he definitely won't lightly make enemies; even if he grasps certain secrets, he'd rather have more friends.

After all, the great Eastern mentor once said, struggle means making enemies few and friends many.

I believe, since Chen can wear purple, he surely understands this principle!"

His meaning was very clear: to develop Chen Yaozu into a friend, regardless of whether he possesses precognition or not.

Megan was also decisive; she stretched out her hand and passed over the phone: "Then give him a call, find a way to bring up this topic.

Ask what we can do to help!"

These two have execution ability off the charts.

……

Chen Yaozu, Honggun Ayu, Zhou Jiwen, and several others had just returned to Los Angeles when they received Mikhailov's call.

The other party didn't hide it, but directly sold out the old coach: "Chen, I heard from the coach that you seem to possess a very high religious identity?"

Mikhailov was also straightforward; since Chen Yaozu could wear that purple Taoist robe in a public setting, it proved this matter wouldn't be too mysterious or concealed.

Even if it was just the locker room entrance at the stadium, that's still a public setting, so he simply asked directly.

If the team coach knew Mikhailov used him as an excuse, he would definitely greet Mikhailov's butt with the leather shoes on his feet.

Chen Yaozu pondered inwardly whether his Seal Worship Ceremony could let the Mikhailov couple come observe.

Having official qi observe can sometimes make a ritual that might have accidents have fewer mishaps.

Even if this official qi isn't pure.

"Yes, a newly obtained identity; currently preparing to hold a religious ritual to implement this identity.

Since Mr. Sergei called to inquire, that counts as a person of karmic connection.

Here, I extend an invitation to you and Ms. Megan to come observe the ceremony at the scene before 5 o'clock tomorrow.

Of course, only if you have time!"

After all, it's 5 in the morning; you have to respect their willingness to come or not.

Mikhailov didn't expect that before he could even open his mouth to ask, the other party had already issued an invitation to get involved, which made him involuntarily stare blankly.

Then he and Megan looked at each other; they thought the same thing, suspecting whether this was also calculated by Chen Yaozu.

Of course, since Chen Yaozu invited them, they would go; even if it was calculated by Chen Yaozu, they would still go.

"We certainly have time; then please send over the address where the ritual will be held, we will definitely arrive on time."

……

Los Angeles at 5 AM.

Fujian Bang, Incense Hall.

At this time, the Three Pure Ones' spirit tablets had already been set up; no statues, no portraits, returning to the essence — spirit tablets.

At this moment, if there were sharp-eyed people, they could see a jade seal placed before the Three Pure Ones Ancestral Masters' spirit tablets.

On the offering table before the spirit tablets, incense burner, flowers and fruits, and three sacrifices had already been arranged in order.

Mikhailov and Megan arrived early; after being led in, they saw forty-nine bare-chested Asians kneeling in neat rows in the incense hall, holding incense sticks.

Seeing they could come, Chen Yaozu, draped in a purple Taoist robe, nodded at them from afar, then continued bent over the desk writing the prayer text.

【On the Jiachen Year, Jiaxu Month, Guichou Day, Daomen Twenty-Fifth Governance, disciple Chen Yaozu holding the Los Angeles Governance Merit Seal Authority, led forty-nine Dharma Protectors under his sect gathered here, respectfully sacrificing to the Ancestral Master, to express devoutness.

Heaven and Earth vast, Go To Qi eternal.】

The Ancestral Master, with Great Wisdom and Great Compassion, established the Go To to guide people, transmitted the Dharma to save the world, awakened sentient beings, and resolved confusion in the mortal realm; he propagated the Orthodox Go To and spread benevolent thoughts among humankind.

The Ancestral Master's teachings are like a bright lamp hung high, guiding us to cultivate ourselves and establish virtue, to rectify our hearts and make our intentions sincere.

Taking purity and tranquility as the foundation, keeping to the Go To of Non-Action, comprehending the principles of Yin and Yang, and fathoming the mysteries of Heaven and Earth.

Now we disciples, taking the Ancestral Master as our model, cultivate diligently and train hard, advancing vigorously without slack.

Inheriting the Daoist Lineage, propagating the Daoist methods, upholding the Orthodox Teaching, benefiting all beings.

May the Ancestral Master's spirit in heaven protect our sect and bestow blessings upon disciples.

So that our Go To Hearts remain firm and our cultivation bears fruit.

National peace and prosperity, world peace.

We humbly hope you accept this offering!

Chen Yaozu swore this text was not his own invention, but his subconscious told him that copying this sacrificial text exactly was the optimal choice.

After writing it, he signed his own name, along with his identity as the Seal Mastery holder of the Los Angeles Zhi Zhong Gongyin.

Then he took out that small seal enshrined before the Ancestral Master's tablet, dabbed it in ink paste, stamped it over his own name, bowed several times, then lit it, burning it into blue smoke that rose straight up.

"Propagate the Dharma Lineage, support the endangered and relieve the distressed, worship the Ancestral Master!"

After burning the sacrificial text, Chen Yaozu picked up a stick of incense, gave a clear shout, and bowed deeply.

"Propagate the Dharma Lineage, support the endangered and relieve the distressed!" Behind him, forty-nine bare-chested strong men also raised the incense in their hands and prostrated themselves.

In truth the ritual was crude; compared to the Daomen Celestial Master Mansion's Luo Tian Grand Offering, the difference was not a little bit, but worlds apart.

However, at the moment Chen Yaozu led the forty-nine bare-chested strong men to bow in submission, that Jade Seal on the altar table instantly burst into radiant light.

The light enveloped Chen Yaozu and the dozens of bare-chested strong men behind him, flaring and receding in an instant.

Mikhailov and Megan stared wide-eyed, exchanging a glance, each seeing shock in the other's eyes.

A religious Divine Manifestation — this was the first time they had witnessed one; even though they had previously suspected Chen Yaozu could predict the future, could learn others' backgrounds through physiognomy and divination, that was only conjecture.

But today, right before their eyes, someone actually used a religious ritual to make some legendary Divine Manifestation scenes reappear before people.

The moment these bare-chested strong men climbed up from the ground, their faces all carried a few degrees more fanaticism; then one by one they went up and inserted their incense into the incense burner, standing on both sides.

"Please, observing guests, offer incense!"

Mikhailov looked left and right, discovering the observing guests were just the two of them, husband and wife.

When a bare-chested man walked over holding two sticks of incense and handed them over, they noticed this man was actually the Fuzhou Gang's current power holder, that Red Pole.

Looking further ahead, isn't that other bare-chested man the newly installed Tangzhu?

Named Zhou Jiping.

Mikhailov looked at the incense in his hand, then glanced at Chen Yaozu waiting by the incense burner table with a smile.

Gritting his teeth, he brought Megan over: "Mr. Chen, what should we do?"

Chen Yaozu smiled faintly like the warm sun: "Just hold the offering incense, bow three times at the waist — that's enough, as long as your sincerity arrives!"

Hearing this, Mikhailov realized he didn't need to kneel and prostrate like the others, and his expression relaxed considerably.

As for saying they believe in something else and won't worship his god — that has nothing to do with the present situation; under someone else's roof, you have to lower your head.

It was very obvious their couple being invited to observe was deliberately arranged by Chen Yaozu; otherwise why would the only observers be the two of them?

Mikhailov and Megan followed Chen Yaozu's instructions, held the offering incense, bowed three times, then inserted the incense into the burner.

The moment they inserted the incense, they felt a warm current surge into their bodies; their whole bodies grew warm and comfortable, extremely pleasant.

Even the fatigue from getting up at four to rush over, sleeping only two or three hours, vanished without a trace.

Hiss—

In their gazes right now, fanaticism shone.

What is this? This is a genuine religious miracle!

Before they could even be shocked, they were already silently escorted aside by bare-chested disciples.

Only Chen Yaozu's eyes could see a thread of Official Qi like a white snake extracted from their bodies, entering the Jade Seal before the spirit tablet along with this stick of incense.

"Rite complete! Daomen Twenty-Fifth Governance, today opens its mountain gate in Los Angeles; I, Chen Yaozu, am now the Daomen Twenty-Fifth Governance, Los Angeles Zhi Zhong Gong, this seal stands as proof!"

Chen Yaozu walked to the altar table, cradling the Jade Seal; the originally ordinary Jade Seal now emitted faint radiance, displaying its extraordinariness to all.

Placing the Jade Seal back on the altar table, Chen Yaozu said to the forty-nine bare-chested big men before him: "Brothers, from the moment you just burned your nameplates to present to the Ancestral Master, you are Los Angeles Daomen's Dharma Protector Disciples.

You are disciples of the mountain gate opening; accumulating merit in the future, you may not lack Great Fortune!

For example, right now there is an extremely urgent matter needing you to do.

On the American Southeast Coast, the Three States adjacent to Florida suffered heavy casualties among the common people due to a typhoon passing through.

Yet America's Federal Emergency Management Agency failed to rescue the people in time; many in the disaster area suffer hunger and cold, epidemics rampant.

The Ancestral Master has a teaching: born as humans, how can we watch such calamity ravage the world and remain silent?

So I intend to lead you into the typhoon-stricken disaster area to rescue the people, perform an act of merit.

Are you willing?"

"Willing!"

These men, except Zhou Jiping and A Yu, had been told when selected that they must obey once they came.

They came, held this half-solemn-not-solemn yet somewhat solemn ritual, and afterward discovered that after worshipping the Ancestral Master through the ritual, a miraculous power made their spirits excited, some fatigue actually receded like this.

Even some old hidden injuries and past wounds, now they could no longer feel discomfort or pain.

Only then did they realize what dogshit luck they'd had, encountering such a miraculous Great Fortune.

And the one who brought all this was that Daoist surnamed Chen who might have killed the former Tangzhu.

But now everyone is a Los Angeles Daomen Dharma Protector disciple; who still remembers the Former Tangzhu?

Now Chen Yaozu asks if they are willing?

Of course willing! Not knowing a miraculous world existed before was one thing, but now that they know, naturally they must accumulate virtue and do good — won't that let them go further in this miraculous world? Moreover, after learning ghosts and spirits exist, many people wonder if retribution is real; now, as their Dharma Master, the Zhi Zhong Gong, is leading them together to accumulate virtue and do good, they have no reason to be unwilling.

Originally, this batch of people was hand-picked; at the very least, their innate nature had to be passable.

You should know, for A Yu to pick out this many people with suitable dispositions in a short time took a tremendous amount of effort! "Good, I'll prepare supplies, and in two days we'll set out for the disaster-stricken Florida and two other states to rescue disaster victims.

You all prepare as well, settle things at home, so there are no worries holding you back.

Alright, dismissed!"

A group of dumbfounded, bare-chested big men just inexplicably withdrew.

After these people left, Chen Yaozu came before Mikhailov to thank the two of them for coming to observe the ceremony.

But the moment Megan spoke, she stated a cruel fact: "You want to go do disaster relief?"

Chen Yaozu nodded: "Right! If I didn't know, fine, but since I know of this calamity, I naturally have to do my part!"

Megan, however, shook her head, not optimistic about his plan:

"You might not even be able to enter those few states! The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already blockaded every area, and does not allow private civilian rescue teams to enter to rescue disaster victims.

So, your people can't get in, and supplies can't get in either."

Chen Yaozu looked at her with full confidence: "Ms. Megan, I saw the solution in your eyes, and you also intend to help me, don't you?"

"Of course!"

Megan also admitted his guess: "I can indeed solve this trouble for you, but what benefit is in it for me!"

She waited for Chen Yaozu's answer; you should know, California is also a Blue State, belonging to the camp that strongly supports the President.

So, she has a way, but why should she tell you? "Of course it's because we're friends!"

Chen Yaozu wore a matter-of-course expression: "Look, this was originally an internal grand ceremony of ours; by rights, there shouldn't have been outsiders.

But I invited you.

It shows that Mr. Mikhailov and Ms. Megan are very important, very weighty people in my heart.

So we're friends! Friends helping each other mutually — isn't that only right?"

His meaning was very obvious: a few days ago Megan sought him out to cooperate, and he didn't agree.

Now he opens his mouth to say friends should help each other mutually; the meaning is that he agreed to the cooperation matter.

Megan nodded in satisfaction, then gave a very good solution:

"Go register a Religious Sect! Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency will block private civilian rescue teams, it cannot block religious rescue teams.

As long as you are legally registered, even if the President hates that the people of the three Florida states suffer terribly, he still has to let you in.

Because, this is America!"

(Chapter End)