Esoteric Buddhism: To live as king in America

On the edge of freedom, just a few steps across the Jefferson Bridge, lies a place that leads to a wider, newer world.

The vintage Bloodsteel 08 is parked here, its cold paint surface glistening with dewdrops. The air on the outskirts of the city always seems this damp, and even cigarettes that you think are well-preserved are not immune.

Even though Shirley tried his best to light it, he only took one puff before the strange, pungent taste made him almost want to put out the cheap cigarette.

The veteran who had experienced hellish war might have long been accustomed to enjoying the brief numbness of cigarettes in the damp jungle, but Shirley could not adapt to or accept it no matter what.

Nevertheless, he forced himself to lean against the vehicle, taking intermittent puffs of cigarettes, as if he were thinking about something or venting something.

Behind him, in the car he was leaning against, two girls exuded a melancholy aura.

The mentally ill knight girl always talked more with her lord. Even though Sherry got to know him better, at most she would tug at his sleeve and call him "uncle." However, even this level of energy withered away as soon as she and her lord became distant.

Lisa—who should have been the most lively of them all—became completely distracted after hearing from Sherry that Mian might have to venture alone into the demon's lair to save the children.

If the tension of the escape while driving could at least distract her somewhat, the silence in this almost safe place was even more deadly, making Shirley feel like she could hardly breathe.

"Waqiu girl."

Shirley put down his cigarette and turned his gaze to Lisa in the back seat of the car. Finally, he made up his mind to break the damned silence.

"can I ask you something?"

Shirley paused, considered her words carefully, and finally continued:

"In your eyes, is Mian an incurable idiot, or just some scheming bastard?"

Mentioning Mian seemed to rouse the distraught girl. She raised her head, her slightly damp eyelashes revealing a puzzled expression.

"Mr. Shirley, why would you say that? Didn't you say that Mr. Mian stayed because of the children? How could someone who stays for the children be a fool, how could he be a bastard?"

Upon hearing this, Shirley pursed her lips and said in a matter-of-fact tone:

"Isn't it obvious? Just because he said he stayed for the sake of the children, he's either an idiot or a bastard."

Shirley paused here, then said in a more determined tone:

"Ultimately, as native-born citizens of Oceania, you've probably heard similar rumors to some extent. Conspiracy theories are undesirable, but they do illustrate a point. These things happen in places we don't know about. It's always been this way, and it's unlikely to stop in the future. Even if we stop it in one place, there will always be others; it's practically a natural law. Would anyone defy the laws of nature when they themselves are in danger?"

Shirley gave a somewhat stiff smile.

"And yet, this guy actually did it. Just because he heard a possibility from the enemy, he did it. Would anyone be that kind? No, in this world, in this country, all the good people are long gone. The only ones left who would do something like this are ignorant fools and bastards who only know how to lie."

Shirley took a deep breath and looked at Lisa in front of her sincerely, asking her question.

"Hey girl, so you're saying he's genuinely kind?"

Lisa blinked at the incessantly talking man before her; as a fortune teller, she was used to this kind of situation. She immediately understood that this bearded man was currently experiencing confusion.

Suddenly, an impulse surged within her, an impulse that seemed to originate from tarot cards, from constellations, from some unseen world.

Lisa never had any objections to Mian's choices. In her eyes, Mian was the kind of person who would stand up for what was right, the kind of person who would take on responsibilities that she could have avoided, and the kind of person who made her feel incredibly safe.

She only ever hated her own powerlessness, hated that she knew all this but couldn't help in any way. Not only that, but in order not to be a burden to the other party, she could only go along with their arrangements and carry out this escape.

But at this moment, for some reason, she vaguely felt that she had a chance to change everything, all she had to do was speak, all she had to do was say those words to Sherry in front of her.

"I don't know if Mr. Mian is a kind person, but he must be a person with his own principles."

Lisa forced a smile.

"He always thinks of others and shares their burdens. You may not know, but the first time I met Mr. Mian was because he rescued me from being harassed by three rich kids. Now I realize the pressure and challenges Mr. Mian was facing at that time. He could have easily ignored it or simply reported it to the police to soothe his conscience. But he chose to intervene directly and ultimately saved me, a useless ordinary person."

The forced smile grew increasingly strained; the low voice rose ever higher.

Lisa clasped her hands together in front of her chest and said to the "Shirley" in front of her with utmost solemnity:

"Regardless, I believe that Mr. Mian, who saved me, is neither a scoundrel nor a fool. He has an unwavering goal in his heart, and he will fight to the end to defend that goal."

Large tears rolled down her cheeks, and Lisa's voice was filled with sobs.

"Mr. Shirley, I'm a useless person. I can't help Mr. Mian, so..."

Before Lisa could finish speaking, Shirley's soft, woman-like hand had already wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

"I see."

Shirley's face lit up with an incredibly bright smile. Lisa felt that the confusion and hesitation she had seen before had completely disappeared from the person in front of her, replaced by an unparalleled confidence and... arrogance?

"Lisa Vachoo, I have to apologize to you. I'm always a bit suspicious, doubting this and that, but I'm always unwilling to believe anything, always wanting to prove something, and always feeling like something is missing. But thanks to your answer, I've decided to skip the lengthy verification and temporarily believe that guy."

Sherry tossed her hair, revealing a completely different aura from before. He looked to the other side, eavesdropping on their conversation, while the little guy, who seemed somewhat eager, reached out his hand to invite Ain.

"Hey, young cub, loyal knight. You know," I said, "I used to be a soldier, so I never say 'escape,' only 'strategic retreat,' which means we can always return to a place we left behind."

Shirley grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth, and said with a smile:

"I've checked. There are no superhumans or troublesome gangs within a two-kilometer radius. Leo is driving over here with that lady's parents. It's safe here. So let's leave the trouble to Leo. Interested in joining me for a spectacular—"

"Strategic offensive?"