Esoteric Buddhism: To live as king in America

People change.

Lisa was still trying to explain herself, hoping the other party would let her go.

"Helping someone out of the ordinary and deliberately putting yourself in danger are two completely different things. If Mr. Mian has suffered so many setbacks, it's only natural that he wouldn't choose to risk his life again."

Half of what Lisa said was true. Although she liked, even admired, Mr. Mian who was willing to stand up for her, it seemed impossible for him to willingly step into a gang's trap for a stranger he had only known for two days.

Although she desperately hoped that Mian could come to save her again like before, it seemed impossible...

But the long-haired man only offered his usual mockery to Lisa's wishful thinking.

"I've known that guy longer than you have. I know he used to be an arrogant elite, and I also know he's an incorrigible goody-two-shoes. Not only is he unwilling to help our gang with the books, but he also goes to great lengths to help people who are about to be purged by the gang, people he's only met once."

The long-haired man slightly raised his head, a nostalgic expression on his face. However, this nostalgia contained no positive meaning whatsoever; rather, it was blatant mockery.

"What an idiot. Just because he's that kind of person, he'll never get back up after he falls down."

The long-haired man let out a sinister grin.

"However, he seems to have learned some new tricks recently, but if he thinks that will turn things around, he's dreaming."

The long-haired man's voice was filled with intense resentment. He still remembered how that guy had used half a mop handle to beat him to a pulp with incredible strength when he went to collect a debt. It almost got him arrested and jailed, and even after he finally got out, he lost all face within the gang.

"I must take revenge on Mian. Maybe I can't do it myself, but I can get others to help him. Even if I don't succeed this time, there will be another time, until I tear him to pieces and make him fall into an abyss of no return. The gang will never allow someone who dares to defy us to exist. I will never allow it."

The long-haired man uttered a vengeful threat, then turned to Lisa, his face contorted with rage, and said:

"Of course, little sister. Even if he doesn't come, we won't let you off the hook. This is a society governed by law now; methods like drowning or shooting are no longer common. But we have our own ways of crippling you, to give those who don't know better a warning and to watch out for anything that involves Mian."

He clapped his hands, and a gang member nearby immediately handed him a syringe. The solution inside shimmered in the sunlight with a light that Lisa found both familiar and frightening.

She recognized it; it was the drug used by addicts. She had witnessed the miserable state of addicts on the streets countless times, so she knew that once she became addicted, only utter ruin awaited her.

"Five minutes left."

The long-haired man glanced at his watch.

"There are still 20 minutes left. If he doesn't come or is late, then I'll treat you to this top-quality stuff. You can rest assured that although I've never seen anyone who can quit this stuff, I think you're quite attractive, and the gang will give you a way to make a living that can afford this stuff."

Upon hearing this, Lisa's body went completely limp.

So that's how it is. Mr. Mian is indeed a good person... But... But how could even the best person be foolish enough to come under these circumstances?

As a fortune teller, Lisa only needed to listen to the long-haired man's few words about his future fate to know that he was a true villain. He would definitely do what he said he would do.

Time ticked by, minute by minute, second by second. The long-haired man, with a rather wicked sense of humor, began the countdown.

Tears welled up in her eyes involuntarily, and despair surged into her heart like a tide. Lisa wanted to break free from this predicament, but the moment she made a move, the gangsters around her would immediately point a gun at her head, telling her—she couldn't do anything.

Why did this happen?

Lisa thought to herself.

Kind-hearted Lisa couldn't blame Mian, because ultimately, he was just a victim of gang persecution. Even without Mian, these gangs were constantly threatening other people's lives, causing families to be torn apart; it was just that this time it was Lisa's turn.

Therefore, just as before. And Lisa, just as before, could only silently accept everything that fate had given her…

No, I can't accept that.

The weak and sensible girl clenched her fists under the immense pressure of despair.

Why? Why should her parents, who lived honest lives, be reduced to the point of almost being killed just because of an accident?

Why should Mr. Mian, a good person who is willing to offend rich kids for the sake of strangers, be harassed and tortured by gangsters because of his debts?

Isn't this unfair? Why is it like this? Why can rich kids act with impunity? Why can gangsters run rampant? While honest people have to endure this kind of thing time and time again?

If this is what they call fate, then how utterly absurd must fate be?

Lisa didn't want to accept it. She didn't want to submit to this damn fate anymore. She wanted to live a healthy life, she wanted to live happily with her parents, and she wanted... to see him again.

When the long-haired man with a perverse sense of humor counted down to the last two minutes, Lisa felt the ropes binding her loosen for some reason.

If she wanted to escape, this might be her last chance. Quietly, without attracting the attention of the other gangsters, she shifted her body, trying to loosen the ropes binding her, and finally, it seemed she had succeeded.

This is the second floor of the unfinished building. There are empty construction sites on both sides, but the right side seems to have more obstacles. There are also fewer gangsters on the right. Find an opportunity when they're not paying attention, slip past them, and then…

"Hey, Little Red Riding Hood, you're not thinking of running away, are you?"

The long-haired man reappeared in front of her at some point and placed both hands on her body. The powerful suppression instantly dissipated the strength that Lisa had managed to muster to escape.

Lisa was in so much pain that tears streamed down her face. Looking at the devilish man before her, she felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

"In the end, there's nothing I can do..."

Utter despair engulfed the girl. But just then, resounding footsteps, carrying the morning sunlight, stepped into the gloom.