While in Hollywood, I used Taoist magic to quell American terrorism.

The string of zeros on the check made him dizzy.

"$5000?"

Douglas looked up at Cao Kun with an incredulous expression: "Master Cao, what do you mean by this?"

Cao Kun said calmly, "Referral fee. You deserve it."

"No, no, this won't do."

Douglas's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly pushed the check back.

"I introduced Simond to you because I believe you can save his life."

We are friends, I cannot accept this money.

Moreover, Simond is very grateful that I asked you to save him at the crucial moment.

He made many concessions to me in business, and I have already gained enough benefits.

Cao Kun reached out and pressed the check down, looking directly into Douglas's eyes.

"One thing at a time, this is what you deserve."

Cao Kun's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable power.

"If something similar happens again in the future, you can still come to me."

However, my elixirs are very rare, and I can't just introduce them to everyone, you know what I mean?

If it were only a one-time thing, Cao Kun wouldn't have given Douglas this money.

But in the future, if you want to do more of this kind of business, this money will be essential.

Cao Kun knew very well that a matchmaker of Douglas's caliber was far more valuable than an ordinary intermediary.

He provided not just a name, but an endorsement.

Without Douglas's strong endorsement, Simond's wife would never have dared to place her bet on a young Chinese exorcist.

Sometimes, resources are the most valuable thing.

Douglas looked at Cao Kun, rubbing his hands repeatedly on his knees.

That's fifty million US dollars.

Even for him, this was a huge windfall.

More importantly, this money represents Cao Kun's attitude.

"Okay." After a slight hesitation, Douglas finally reached out and picked up the check.

His movements were somewhat slow, and as his fingertips touched the check, a complex mix of emotions welled up within him.

It feels like only yesterday that he first met Cao Kun at Wenxin Hall, with that arrogant attitude he had.

At that time, he looked down on Cao Kun, this Chinese-American exorcist.

But now, so much has changed.

The referral fee that the former junior exorcist casually tossed out was already a huge sum of money that he had to take seriously.

"Master Cao, thank you."

Douglas chuckled self-deprecatingly and put away the check: "I'll keep an eye out for things like this in the future."

After seeing Douglas off, Cao Kun put away the black gold card on the table.

"Chris, transfer the money to my account as soon as possible, otherwise Douglas's check won't be able to be cashed."

"Understood, Master, I'll begin now."

Chris responded.

A few minutes later, her voice rang out again: "It's ready, Master."

Cao Kun was taken aback: "So fast?"

Chris appeared, her arms crossed over her chest, squeezing a certain area quite hard.

She reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead: "Of course, don't you know who I am?"

Late at night, in Beverly Hills.

Cao Kun sat in a leather chair in his study, with Chris standing behind him.

Long, slender fingers gently pressed on his shoulder, the movement tender.

"Ring ring..."

The phone vibrated, breaking the silence in the room.

Cao Kun took it and saw that it was Ivanka.

At this time, it's late at night in Los Angeles, and it should be 3 a.m. in New York.

Cao Kun answered the phone, and before he could even speak, he could hear Ivanka's slightly rapid breathing coming through the receiver.

With a barely suppressed panic.

"Cao, I've encountered some... strange things."

Cao Kun's eyes flickered slightly, but his tone remained calm: "Speak."

Ivanka paused for a few seconds, seemingly organizing her thoughts: "I can't distinguish between reality and illusion anymore."

This afternoon, I saw with my own eyes that the water glass on my desk fell to the ground and shattered into pieces, making a very loud noise.

But when I bent down to pick it up, there was nothing on the ground.

I looked up and saw that the cup was still safely in its original place.

Cao Kun frowned: "Anything else?"

"And before that."

Ivanka's voice trembled slightly, "I clearly sent a very important email to the board of directors."

I clicked send.

But five minutes ago I checked the outbox and it was completely empty, with not a single record.

I asked the secretary, and she said she hadn't received it at all.

"Have you seen a doctor?" Cao Kun asked.

"I saw it. They said I've been under too much stress lately and was experiencing temporary hallucinations."

Ivanka gave a cold laugh. "But I know that's not it."

Cao Kun stood up, walked to the French windows, and looked at the dark shadows of the trees outside.

Have you been to any unusual places recently? Or met any strange people?

"no."

Ivanka denied it outright, saying, "To avoid the trouble caused by that mark, I've been staying at the company and at home."

They even turned down social gatherings.

Cao Kun thought for a moment and asked, "Look at that mark on your lower back, how are you reacting now?"

On the other end of the phone, there was a rustling sound of fabric rubbing together.

A moment later, Ivanka's voice rang out, tinged with uncertainty.

"It... seems to be slightly warm."

It's not obvious, like sticking on a hand warmer that's about to expire.

The color did not darken, and there was no bleeding.

Slightly warm.

Perhaps that mark sensed something and caused the change.

It seems I need to make a trip to New York.

"Stay in New York and don't move."

Cao Kun instructed in a deep voice: "Don't trust your eyes or any sudden situations you see."

If you see something in the mirror or hear someone talking in your ear, hold the bracelet I gave you tightly.

That will protect your safety.

Ivanka asked eagerly, "And what about you? Are you coming over?"

Cao Kun said calmly, "I'll set off first thing tomorrow morning. Remember, don't trust anyone before I arrive."

The next morning, at Los Angeles private airport.

Simond personally attended the farewell ceremony, and he looked remarkably well.

If you ignore his white hair, he looks every bit the energetic young man.

"Master Cao, the plane is ready, and we've secured the fastest flight route."

Simond handed over a box: "I have several properties in New York; you are welcome to stay there."

Cao Kun did not accept it: "No need, I have a place to stay."

After speaking, Cao Kun stepped onto the extremely luxurious Gulfstream G650.

Three hours later, at Kennedy Airport.

As soon as Cao Kun stepped out of the VIP passage, he saw Ivanka waiting there.

She was wearing a black cashmere coat and huge sunglasses.

Cao Kun looked at her and found that she didn't have any yin energy.

Cao Kun wasn't surprised.

With the bracelet he gave her, ordinary yin energy could not touch Ivanka.

However, illusions directly affect the mind and spirit, and bracelets really can't deal with them.

Ivanka strode forward, ignoring the stares of those around her, and grabbed Cao Kun's arm.

"You've finally come." Her voice was low, carrying a hint of reliance after surviving a disaster.

Cao Kun could feel the coldness of her palm. He grabbed her wrist with his other hand and transferred a stream of pure magic power to her.