The Charismatic Charlie Wade

Gideon trailed behind the Young Taoist priest as they made their way to the side hall of the middle courtyard in Evercloud
Temple. The hall functioned as the temple’s living room, exclusively used for hosting high-ranking guests such as abbots,
supervisors from other Taoist temples and distinguished pilgrims who had made substantial donations to the temple.
According to Taoist internal protocols, Taoist priests were allowed to pay short visits to other temples, but they had to take
precautions to authenticate each other’s identities to prevent any deceitful acts of tourists and worshipers.
As a result, the Young Taoist found that in order to communicate any news from inside, he had to maneuver through numerous
levels of hierarchy, which proved to be more difficult than he had initially expected.
Twenty minutes later, an old man clad in Taoist robes rushed over, a mix of delight and surprise written on his face. He rushed
through the packed room, darting a quick glance at Gideon before coming to an abrupt stop at the threshold, transfixed as if
under a magical trance.
This person was the current head of Evercloud Temple, known as Renard Stone. Renard was the Taoist name bestowed upon
him by his Master when he adopted him as a child. Ever since his early days, his Master had addressed him by this name. After
assuming the position of supervisor, he added the word ‘Stone’ to his name.
Gideon looked at him, gently stroking his long beard and asked with a smile, “Renard, do you recognize me?”
Two hot tears welled up in Renard’s eyes and he choked up as he replied, “Master Alastair... is it really you?”
With a slight nod, Gideon affirmed, “It’s really me.”
Renard Stone was overcome with excitement, his gaze fixed on Gideon. He muttered, “Master Alastair, you appear younger than
Renard now... Could it be... Could it be that you have truly discovered the secret to longevity?”
The mention of this possibility sent shockwaves through several older Taoist priests nearby. They were all core members of
Evercloud Temple who had heard the story of the real Gideon Alastair as told by Renard. Renard had recounted to them that the
last time he had seen Master Alastair was in the late 1950s. Now, nearly seventy years later, the real Gideon Alastair stood
before them looking younger than Renard himself. They couldn’t help but believe that Master Alastair had indeed unraveled the
secret to immortality.
Unlike warriors who used Martial Arts to pursue Taoism, Taoist disciples could enter the path through various means. The
Tranquil Sect, often mentioned in martial arts tales, was one such example. For centuries, the Taoist priests of Evercloud Temple
had been diligently practicing alchemy in their pursuit of the elusive Tao. Despite the unwavering commitment of the alchemists

in their community, their lack of extensive knowledge and expertise in alchemy have led to a shortage of outstanding talents
among their members.
Gideon had become a disciple of Evercloud Temple in the late 19th century. He had resided within the temple for over half a
century until the 1940s. In his pursuit to become an alchemy Master, he had voyaged numerous times to the very edge of the
gateway to Hell. However, he had never fully comprehended the fundamental nature of reiki. Disheartened, he had eventually
made the decision to leave Evercloud Temple and abandoned the pursuit of Tao through pills, seeking alternative methods
instead.
Fate had led him to join the Warriors Den, where, under the guidance and assistance of the Lord, he had gained Mastery over
aura. Over the years, he had returned to China several times, assuming different identities, but he had never set foot in
Evercloud Temple. He had intentionally avoided the temple to ensure that its disciples remained unaware of his discovery of the
path to longevity. In his view, the arduous journey he had undertaken to reach this stage must remain a secret known only to
him.
However, today, he had come to the temple because he had been unable to locate Maria in recent days. The Lord had been
urging him to go to Aurous Hill. He had procrastinated for days, but he knew he couldn’t delay any longer. With the Lord’s
impatience, he would give him an ultimatum in two or three days at most. Thus, he needed to find allies in China who could
assist him.
“Can you help me locate Maria’s current whereabouts within her range?” Gideon asked Renard, seeking his aid.
Throughout the years, Gideon had chosen not to exert his authority among the Warriors Den. As a result, he was left without any
backing, except for the Taoist priests of Evercloud Temple, who were always available to provide help.
As Renard looked at him with eager anticipation, Gideon flashed a nonchalant smile and advised him, “Renard, we can’t discuss
this here. Is the secret room in the backyard still intact? If so, let’s go there and delve into the details!”
Renard nodded hastily and replied, “Yes, it’s still there! Master Alastair, please follow me!”
With Renard leading the way, Gideon, followed closely by Renard’s other disciples, made their way to the underground secret
room located in the temple’s backyard. However, at this crucial moment, Gideon devised a plan. He turned to Renard and said,
“Renard, what we’re about to discuss is of utmost importance. To be cautious, let’s first have a private conversation!”