The Charismatic Charlie Wade

At the base of Greenwood Temple, the situation remained uncertain.
Charlie hadn’t yet committed to abandoning the journey. The thought of simply walking away left him with an overwhelming
sense of dissatisfaction. Yet, Maria’s reasoning couldn’t be dismissed.
Sometimes, a person must remind themselves that persisting stubbornly can amount to nothing more than arrogance.
The word ‘arrogance’ suddenly struck Charlie like a lightning bolt. In the face of the unknown, he had an epiphany about the
limits of his current strength.
After some contemplation, Charlie forced a rueful smile and spoke with composure, “Maria, you are right. I can’t afford to be
conceited. My strength is no match for Morgana’s and she seems to have knowledge of our actions and whereabouts. She’s far
from ordinary.”
He turned to Maria, his expression earnest. “You are sharper than I am. Many issues run deeper than I initially thought and you
possess a greater clarity of vision. Since you’ve also advised me to reconsider, I’d better heed that advice. I suggest we have a
meal and return to Aurous Hill.”
Maria, who had been tense, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had feared that Charlie would dig in his heels and refuse to
budge, no matter what advice was offered. Now, with Charlie showing signs of yielding, she felt relieved.
In a manner reminiscent of a young bride in ancient times, she focused all her attention on her ‘husband’, Charlie. If he was
happy, even the simplest fare would satisfy her. If he was unhappy, the finest cuisine would taste like wax. Her greatest fear had
been that Charlie wouldn’t know how to retreat. Seeing that he was at least accepting the counsel of ‘the master’s wife’ was a
great relief.
Taking Jagoan’s arm, Maria turned and retraced their steps.
Jagoan walked with his head lowered, while Maria brainstormed ways to lift his spirits.
She asked hopefully, “Young Master, do you think the Mother of Pu’er has grown more leaves in the past two days?”
Jagoan replied casually, “It should have grown larger and adding three or five more buds shouldn’t pose a problem.”
With a smile, Maria teased, “When we return, I will pluck those fresh leaves, process them and serve them to the Young Master.”
Curious, Jagoan asked, “Isn’t making Pu’er tea a complex process? Doesn’t it require storage and fermentation?”

Maria explained, “In fact, it can be enjoyed after curing without the full fermentation. While it lacks some of the depth of flavor, it
retains a fresh and mild taste. Typically, only freshly picked tea leaves can be cured immediately. Freshness and timing are
crucial. This is why most people rarely get the chance to taste it.”
Jagoan inquired with a grin, “Aren’t you quite protective of the Mother of Pu’er’s leaves? Why so generous now?”
Maria replied with a shy smile, “The Mother of Pu’er is remarkably resilient. Picking a few leaves shouldn’t harm her, as the
Young Master suggested.”
Jagoan knew that Maria was trying to make him happy. He was touched by her consideration. However, he also wanted to spare
her from unnecessary labor.
He chuckled and said, “Let the Mother of Pu’er grow her leaves. Picking too many might keep you up at night.”
Maria shook her head resolutely and said, “As long as it pleases the Young Master, there’s nothing I can’t endure.”
Jagoan felt a warmth in his heart and nodded approvingly. He recognized Maria’s intentions and was moved by them. He thought
it might be a bit odd for a grown man to have a seemingly young woman pamper and coax him, but he appreciated her kindness.
Jagoan shifted the conversation. “With you here, Morgana is unlikely to trouble China in the near future. The immediate risk is
gone. What are your plans now?”
Maria, sensing the change in topic, smiled and shared, “I intend to return to school, but as a day student. Zilian Villa will tend to
the Mother of Pu’er daily. Additionally, I may require occasional trips to Erlang Mountain in the southern province to care for the
tea garden on weekends.”
Jagoan remarked, “Sounds quite busy.”
Maria nodded solemnly. “I prefer to stay busy. In the past, I was always concerned about Morgana catching up to me, so I dared
not venture far. In recent years, I’ve spent most of my time at home, dabbling in porcelain making, writing, painting and even
considering raising a small and adorable cow. Now, with Morgana’s threat reduced, I can stay busy and content.”
Jagoan couldn’t help but feel happy for her. He understood that, for a young woman who had lived for more than three centuries,
this would be one of the least stressful periods of her life since childhood. Even if she was busy, she would likely find happiness
in the busyness. This realization eased his mood a bit, making him feel that this trip to the southern province had not been in
vain.

As they retraced their steps up the mountain, Maria stopped and turned around halfway. She gazed back at Greenwood Temple
in the distance, lost in thought.
Seeing her pause and look back with a contemplative expression, Jagoan inquired, “What’s on your mind, Miss Jagoan?”
Maria furrowed her brow and whispered, “I’m thinking that the Buddhist nun discussed Morgana, the Warriors Den, hatred,
destiny and even an ancient Greek myth with me. But...”
Jagoan asked, “But what?”
Maria bit her lip and continued in a slightly louder voice, sounding somewhat puzzled, “But she didn’t mention Buddhism.”