The Charismatic Charlie Wade

As Renard’s enthusiasm to express his sincerity reached Gideon’s ears, a satisfied smile played upon his lips. Everything was
unfolding precisely as he had calculated and the pieces were falling into place just as he had envisioned.
Deep down, Gideon knew he had never been a virtuous person. Aside from his fervent devotion to the Lord, he couldn’t even
uphold the basic moral principles of honesty and integrity in his dealings with others. When he first arrived in the bustling city of
Eastcliff, he had contemplated leveraging the connections and resources of Evercloud Temple to aid him in his search for Maria.
Yet, upon careful consideration, he realized that revealing his true identity solely to exploit the temple’s influence would not be a
wise move. Setting aside whether Evercloud Temple could truly assist him in uncovering Maria’s whereabouts, the presence of a
Taoist priest who had dedicated decades of his life to practicing the ancient teachings was an unnecessary complication he
wished to avoid.
Thus, he had refrained from venturing into Evercloud Temple, despite the growing urgency of his current situation. On one hand,
the Lord had ordered the entire Warriors Den to lay low for a while and Gideon sensed that his time to find Maria was slipping
away. Furthermore, while the Four Marshals held esteemed positions within the Den, Gideon himself was not entirely free to act
as he pleased. His extended freedom during this period was solely due to the Lord’s unyielding desire to capture Maria, but now
the circumstances had abruptly changed with the mysterious death of one of the Marshals. It was entirely possible that one day
the Lord would issue a command, forcing Gideon to return.
Complicating matters further, the Lord was still keen on discovering the whereabouts of Bruce’s son. Gideon could no longer
afford to delay this matter and would soon embark on a journey to Aurous Hill. Therefore, his only option for locating Maria swiftly
was to immerse himself within the confines of the temple. Of course, such a course of action would inevitably expose the fact
that he had lived for over a century and a half. However, if he could find Maria and emerge triumphant, he would consider it a
victory and vow to never set foot in China again.
Unaware of Gideon’s intricate plans, Renard was only aware of his old acquaintance’s long life and his willingness to impart the
secret of longevity upon him. All Renard needed to do was accept a nomination certificate and there was no reason for him to
refuse such an opportunity.
Without hesitation, Gideon seized the moment and swiftly turned to Renard, “Renard, you must work diligently in the coming
days, mobilizing all the contacts at your disposal. Help me investigate the leads I need. I will be heading south. If you come
across any clues or receive any messages, do not hesitate to contact me!”
Renard knelt respectfully on the ground and replied, “Master, rest assured, I will exert all my efforts.”

With a nod of approval, Gideon handed him Maria’s photograph and instructed him, “Find this person in the photo. Remember,
the photo must never be leaked or spread online. Only you should possess it. Let your people use it to identify her in person. Do
you understand?”
Gideon understood the potential ramifications if Maria’s photo were to circulate on the internet. Despite his advanced age, he
had a remarkable grasp of the digital world and was well aware that once something was uploaded to the internet, it was
extremely difficult, if not impossible, to stop its spread. Thus, he entrusted the photo solely to Renard, with the strict condition
that it be never posted online.
Renard accepted the responsibility without hesitation. “Master, fear not, I will ensure its secrecy.”
Curious to gather any general leads about the girl, Renard inquired, “Master, do you have any hints as to her possible
whereabouts?”
Gideon shook his head and replied, “I am uncertain of her location. However, I speculate she might be in China. It would be best
if you gather a group of disciples and conduct a thorough search throughout the entire country.”
Renard nodded, determination gleaming in his eyes. “Consider it done. I will make the necessary arrangements.”
“Very well,” Gideon acknowledged with a slight nod. “I entrust this task to you. Should you acquire any leads, remember to notify
me promptly.”
“Roger that, Master!” Renard eagerly agreed before asking, “By the way, Master, the people waiting outside are all my disciples.
If I am granted the opportunity to seek longevity in the future, may I bring them along? They have all devoted their loyalty to
Evercloud Temple for many years. If each one of them has a chance to pursue longevity, the foundation of Evercloud Temple will
be eternal!”
A smile curved upon Gideon’s lips as he nodded approvingly. “They are all disciples of our esteemed Evercloud Temple. Now
that I have achieved enlightenment, it is only natural to elevate the entire temple to new heights.”
He then shifted his focus and cautioned, “However, this matter must remain confidential for the time being. The world must not
learn of such audacious attempts to defy fate, as it would undoubtedly cause an uproar and bring unnecessary troubles to
Evercloud Temple. After I depart, you must gather them and relay my words precisely, ensuring they keep this knowledge under
strict lock and key.”
“Master, fear not,” Renard reassured “I will impress upon them the importance of absolute secrecy.”

Gideon expressed his satisfaction. “Very good. I eagerly await your positive updates.”
Renard hastened to ask, “Master, I am curious about your current place of residence. If you don’t mind, may I arrange
accommodations for you?”
Gideon shook his head, dismissing the idea. “It is unnecessary, my friend.”
Glancing at the time, he added, “Very well, I won’t take up any more of your time today. I have numerous tasks to attend to, so
please make the arrangements swiftly. I shall leave my contact details with you and we can communicate whenever necessary.”
“Of course!” Renard responded respectfully. “I shall not detain you any further, Master.”