Esoteric Buddhism: To live as king in America

"Before we begin, let me reiterate the purpose of our visit."

Walking down the streets of Highgarden, Li Zhaoning's voice echoed in the minds of Mi An and the other person through a long-distance communication spell.

"Mr. Mian, in the video Shirley filmed, you desperately shouted 'cannibalistic ritual' while being chased. In that desperate situation, you must have been trying to convey a crucial message. And coincidentally, there have been rumors about cannibalism circulating in Highgarden recently. We're here to investigate these rumors and see if we can find any evidence against the nudist cult."

Where should we begin our investigation?

Mian asked silently.

"here."

The phone rang, and a news report about a missing child was sent to Mian's phone.

"This was the most serious one, right in this neighborhood. A neighbor reported a ruthless man nicknamed 'Old Scar' who was 'doxxing' in his home. The police raided the place after receiving the report, and the result was..."

Li Zhaoning shrugged.

"Nothing was found. Apart from the filth and mess in the house and some suspicious traces of 'tools,' no direct evidence was found. Old Scar himself also acted like he was being framed."

"and then?"

Mian pressed for details, sensing what was to come.

"Then?"

Li Zhaoning felt somewhat sad.

"The neighbor who reported him, a single mother with a child, had her child completely disappear a few days later. There was no trace of the child, neither alive nor dead. The police investigation classified it as a common missing person case."

As he spoke, Li Zhaoning stopped and pointed to a dirty alley not far away.

"Old Scar and the victim's house are in there. Stay alert, but don't be too tense, just be natural. Ain, stick close to him."

Ayn nodded vigorously, trying to mimic the excited yet slightly nervous demeanor of someone entering a complex environment for the first time—even though this was her true state of mind.

Mian sighed.

Why should I, as a teacher, have to deal with cannibalism?

Thinking this, Mian turned around and stepped into the alley without hesitation.

…………

"Hello, Mr. William, are you there? We are students from Shirakawa University and would like to conduct a paid interview with you. We would like to learn about the recent living conditions of residents in Gaoting Ward and some matters related to urban legends. May we open the door?"

In the damp, musty corridor, amidst Li Zhaoning's enthusiastic words, the rusty security door finally opened.

A somewhat timid man appeared behind the crack in the door, with a monotonous and sparsely furnished room behind him that was almost suffocating.

The man was hunched over, his arms gripping the door frame tightly and trembling slightly. If it weren't for the scar that covered almost his entire face, no one would have guessed that this old bachelor was once a notorious and ruthless figure in the underworld.

But that was all in the past. Prison life and time seemed to have taken away all the man's strength, making him appear incredibly short and wretched in front of the young Li Zhaoning and Mi An.

"You've come because you heard about the cannibals?"

Li Zhaoning nodded lively, but her senses, through the body of the old bachelor in front of her, spread throughout the room behind her.

"We saw the news about your neighbor and his child, so we wanted to ask you..."

"No, it wasn't me!"

Before Li Zhaoning could finish speaking, the old scar in front of him roared in response.

But in an instant, his voice immediately lowered, trembling with fear.

"No, it wasn't me! I swear! I... I was a scoundrel when I was young, I was brave and violent, but I have reformed in prison and I have converted to the Lord's command."

Sunlight streamed into the room, illuminating the old scar's hidden left hand and reflecting a metallic sheen. A cross was clutched in his palm, almost embedded in his flesh.

"I have nothing to do with those gang members now; I'm just an ordinary porter. And those cannibals have absolutely nothing to do with me, my neighbor..."

Old Scar's pupils trembled, and his breathing became rapid; clearly, the fear in his heart had reached its peak.

"She reported me. But I don't blame her, she was just too scared... But I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it..."

Tears welled in the man's cloudy eyes, and the metal cross creaked as he gripped it tightly.

"Her child has also disappeared. I don't know, I really don't know anything."

Mi An quietly observed Old Scar. He activated his special senses, carefully examining the down-on-his-luck man before him, trying to see something he couldn't normally see.

But there was nothing, not even a trace. Old Scar was completely clean, without any "phantom" representing monsters or evil forces.

He seemed to be nothing more than a pitiful man crushed by the shadows of the past and the fears of the present, a lonely soul seeking final solace in faith.

"He... is probably innocent."

Mian said.

"I can tell."

Li Zhaoning nodded and answered softly.

Faced with the frightened and remorseful man before her, Li Zhaoning stuffed a hundred-yuan bill into his hand.

"Mr. William, I'm sorry to have reminded you of something unpleasant. That concludes our interview. But one last question: how are your neighbors doing?"

Upon hearing this, Old Scar's eyes glanced at the other door, his self-reproach and fear showing no sign of diminishing.

"Shortly after the investigation results came out, she went insane. A week ago, she ran away in the middle of the night and never came back... I reported it to the police, but they didn't care at all..."

"Understood, thank you, sir."

Li Zhaoning took off her hat and placed it in front of her chest, then bowed to the man in front of her.

Old Scar clutched the hundred-yuan bill, then quickly closed the door, as if some monster would rush in and tear him apart if he left it open any longer.

Mian looked at the iron gate on the other side. It wasn't as rusty as the one at Old Scar's house, but the doorknob was covered in dust.

Is anyone inside?

"Probably not."

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"Outside, all I can smell is the scent of candles."

As Li Zhaoning spoke, Ai Yin nodded in agreement.

"No matter what, I still have to go in and take a look. I'll go find the property management and the landlord."

Mi An turned around, preparing to go downstairs to find the key to open the door, but Li Zhaoning stopped him.

"There's no need to go through all that trouble."

Li Zhaoning raised an eyebrow and flicked a strand of hair that was hanging over her shoulder back.

"The advantages that superhumans have should be used when necessary. It's also to avoid dragging more people into this mess."

She raised her hand and pointed it at the doorknob of her neighbor's room, her fingertips twitching almost imperceptibly.

Several threads detached from her gloves and emerged, like small snakes, burrowing into the keyhole of her neighbor's door.

A few very faint "click" sounds came from inside the lock cylinder, and the door opened.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Li Zhaoning pushed open the door, and a strong scent of candles wafted out, as if it were made of stone, which even Mi An could clearly perceive. The source of the scent was the bedroom in this room.

Ayn rushed in first, but she quickly stopped in front of the bedroom door, her small face filled with horror.

Mian rushed over and saw a corpse lying quietly rotting on the bedroom floor.